Danica Patrick

Top Ten reasons, while waiting out rain delays, not to look for a dominant performance from Rahal Letterman Racing and Danica Patrick in qualifying for the 90th Indy 500:

10) “This year all the Honda engines are the same. I think that gives us a real good chance,” says Tim Cindric of Penske Racing about his team’s opportunity to win the pole. That about sums up practice thus far. Unlike last year when Rahal Letterman was one of the few front-line teams with Honda power, this year everybody’s got it.

9) The Panoz chassis is not necessarily a dud, but has yet to prove itself this year.

Last year, Buddy Rice tore ligaments in his neck with a practice crash while trying to hustle the Panoz chassis into competitive shape. This year, the team is trying to take it step-by-step. Alas, Rice’s car again stepped out on him and crashed, this time bruising knees.

7) The Ethanol sponsorship deal comes with a price. The team needs the money, but in place of the experienced Vitor Meira (who finished second last year), Rahal Letterman has a rank rookie who took over for the fatally injured Paul Dana.

6) Danica does not need to prove herself. Last year, being the fastest on several occasions was necessary to get the point across about not being just another pretty face.

5) The weather. Due to the step-by-step approach with the Panoz chassis, the sessions shortened by rain earlier in the week and Friday’s rain have impacted the Rahal Letterman team as much, if not more, than any other.

4) The new “one engine” rule has further cut down on practice time prior to qualifying for all teams, but impacts the Panoz runners’ need to dial in a car with a narrow performance window.

3) Last year’s power advantage and Rice’s injury, plus the dramatic return of the sidelined Kenny Brack in place of Rice may have also hampered chassis development at that time while those struggling on power such as Penske and Ganassi were forced to concentrate on their chassis last year. That has paid big benefits for them this year versus Rahal Letterman and Andretti Green Racing, last year’s winners.

2) As far as qualifying goes, for all of the above reasons Rahal Letterman will be concentrating on getting their cars into the race.

1) It’s better to be lucky than good. (See race prediction in the first post.)

Bonus play: There’s no other woman driver for Danica to beat.

Today’s Triva Question — Who set the fastest lap in the month of May last year, when was it set, what was the speed and what was this driver’s speed secret? (Three of four will suffice for the prize — an autographed copy of America’s Hottest Racer from the author.)