AWD - Good info! After taking out the 1st 5 you have Graham Hill, Juan Montoya, and Helio. Well Hill had already won an F1 world championship before his Indy victory. Montoya had won the FIA Formula 3000 championship and the CART championship before he won on his first try at indy. Castroneves, I don't know much about, except he likes indy, two wins there, and a long karting and open wheel career before his rookie win at indy.


So...I don't think Danica is bringing the type of racing portfolio to the table....not much chance of her winning. But it should be interesting to watch and maybe in a couple of years with more experience she could will do it.

 

Oh...and this is way off topic, but since we were talking about canada....thought i would throw this in....funny molson comercial from canada

Joe Canadian Rant

 

I got hooked early on, on the SPETACULAR crashes NASCAR had to offer. That and teh old Can-Am races. The Chapparell's and their table-top wings. Later, RAC Rallye and the SuperB's. Later still, road courses and production-based racs cars. Nowadays, I can honestly say that ANY motor racing, from kids in go-carts to the hyper-powerful and super-fast Offshore Cats is interesting to me. As long as te competition of close. If anybody is TOTALLY dominating I kinds drift off, or channel surf.

In fact, it doesn't even have to be MOTOR racing. I've got a Mountain bike, and know where a couple of good fire roads/back trails are. Anybody here think they can take me? I'm 40-something y/o, I work in a cube, if I cuc fit either of my cars through the front door I'd drive to teh bathroom each morning... And, if it came down to it, I'd pedal 'il my heart LITERALLY exploded, if that's what it would take to WIN!!! Any takers? I understand exploding hearts are a sight to see[8D]

 

First race I saw was a Can Am race at Riveside Int Raceway (sadly it is now a sub division). Fantastic cars...Jim Hall was there with one of the vacum cleaner chapperals, dennie hulm and bruce mclaren were in their orange monsters....I was hooked.


AWD - what mt. bike do you ride? I'm just switching over from road riding...so I don't have much bike handling skills...but it is fun.

 

I've got two mtn bikes, actually. One's a Raleigh, something-or-another. British bike, hard-tail, had it for about 15 years, now. It's set up for hardpack and road riding, but with the sturdier mtn frame (needed, IMO, for inner-city riding) and no drop-bars. It's got everything I could think to add onto it, including skinny tires, extra bottle mounts, an electric (battery) horn to warn folks with on those FAST downhills. I'll hafta tell ya, one day, the phunnie-***'d story of what happend when I rode it home from the store.

My other bike is an EXOTEC FSX-1. Full-floater. Minimal accessories. Lights, front & rear, and a trip computer w/cadence. My sister-in-law and I, along with her two children, I think, plan to ride a portion of teh C&O canal this summer. If you're NEwhere near DC you're welcome to join us. From what I understand teh trail is alternatively paved or hardpack, so you cud even bring your road bike, if you wanted.

 

Ok...my prediction....she'll spend the early part of the race in the top 10....Rahl will let her know not to go out like a rabbit, no nead to chase the early leaders, or get involved in any early lap mishap.

If her car can handle well in traffic, then she'll just ride the middle of the race biding her time, trying to catch the breaks on pit stops and cautions. Then step it up at the end...cautiously. Top 7 finish, rookie of the year.


AWD - I have a trek oclv carbon, hardtail....nice bike, but like they say, it is not the bike, it is the rider. I'm working on my part of the equation.

Thanks for the invite. Not sure if a trip to the d.c. area is in the plans, but I'll keep it in mind.

 

If the summer ride goes well I'm considering tackling some portion of the Applacian trail this fall. I'm not 100% sure but I think the northern reaches extend into NY. ...???

Sooner or later I'd like to take a month off and ride the whole thing.

 

Yep it does...actually goes all the way to Maine. That would be quite an accomplishment if you ride it...


here is another pic of danica

 

"Danica Patrick staked her claim as a favorite to win the 89th Indianapolis 500 by posting the top speed in Miller Lite Carb Day practice today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 225.597 mph."
Source: www.indy500.com

"She’s 23 and a hotshot who’s been racing competitively since she was 10 and has paid all the dues any driver can pay."
Source: www.msnbc.com

Sounds like she's got more competitive driving experience than many of us on this forum.

 

I dunno, I can be 1 hot beeyotch when it comes to jockying for position in teh supermarket line, and I've been doing that almost twice as long as Damica's be on teh planet...