Penske, Ganassi look to extend dominance at Indy
Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi stood in front of the cameras at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday morning and placed their hands on Borg-Warner Trophy given annually to the Indy 500 winner.
After the flashes stopped, Penske relaxed and took a step back. Ganassi didn't miss a beat, playfully taking a firmer grip of the coveted prize.
Forgive the rest of the IndyCar Series if they hope both men are out of the picture on Sunday afternoon.
``People are tired of seeing the Penske/Ganassi show,'' said Ryan Hunter-Reay, who will start 17th for Andretti Autosport. ``It's like if the Patriots went to the Super Bowl and won and won and won. Everybody gets tired of that, and it's bad for the sport.''
You won't hear Penske or Ganassi complaining.
Their drivers have turned the series into their own personal playground over the last four years, combining to win 52 of the last 70 races since the start of the 2006 season. That period includes two 500 wins and a points title for Team Penske and a pair of season championships and a 500 victory for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing.
Another team breaking up the party at the Brickyard on Sunday looks like a long shot.
The five drivers that comprise the series' top organizations - pole-sitter Helio Castroneves, points leader Will Power and Ryan Briscoe for Penske and Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon for Ganassi - all will start in either the first or second row when the green flag drops at the 2.5-mile oval.
The growing frustration of other teams scrambling to keep up isn't lost on Penske.
``Quite honestly, I'm sure a lot of people don't want to see Penske or Ganassi win this race,'' said Penske, who is looking to add to his record 15 wins in the 500. ``They want to see someone else. That could happen. We understand that. We really have to face that. That motivates me even further to make sure we execute.''
Nobody does it better at Indy.
Whether it's Castroneves, a three-time winner, or four-time winner Rick Mears, Penske has discovered a formula that works at the historic circuit. Ganassi isn't exactly slacking. Emerson Fittipaldi gave him his first 500 win 21 years ago. Juan Pablo Montoya added to the collection in 2000, and Dixon kissed the yard of bricks two years ago.
For a series hoping to court new fans or reclaim old ones who have migrated to NASCAR, watching the same two teams swapping titles week after week doesn't create the most captivating product.
Castroneves is quick to defend the series, saying relative new faces such as Power and Briscoe have added some excitement. Mention that both drivers work for Penske and the ebullient Brazilian just laughs.
``For sure they do, but they won't be the only ones coming along,'' he said.
Real change at the top, however, might still be a year or two away.
CEO Randy Bernard commissioned a seven-member panel to review possible design changes to the current chassis. A new one might come on line by 2012, and the focus has been to make it safe and cost-effective. If it looks cool, too, great.
Bernard is optimistic that by keeping costs down, more sponsors will come on board and field sizes will grow. And a new car means everyone starts from scratch.
Until then, it might be difficult for other teams to make serious inroads on Ganassi and Penske. Their deep pockets, experienced personnel and talent behind the wheel is difficult to match.
``When you have a car that is this old and been so much money put into aerodynamics, the best teams are going to be up front,'' Bernard said.
The Big Two used to be the Big Three. But Andretti Green Racing, now Andretti Autosport, has slipped the last two seasons. The outfit has a handful of drivers in the 500, including Hunter-Reay, Danica Patrick and Tony Kanaan, hoping to start the program's climb back to prominence.
Owner Michael Andretti knows what it's like to be the one being chased. He doesn't begrudge Ganassi or Penske their success.
``It's hard out there. When you're on top of your game, you know it's not going to last forever, and you've got to enjoy it while you can,'' he said. ``Yeah, they're having a good run, but there's teams like ours that will try to knock them off.''
There are signs of progress. Hunter-Reay led 64 laps on his way to victory at Long Beach in April, becoming just the second non-Penske or Ganassi driver to win in the last two seasons. Justin Wilson pulled it off for Dale Coyne Racing at Watkins Glen last summer.
``Things are definitely getting more competitive in the series,'' said Hunter-Reay, who is fourth in points. ``You see it on the road courses. On the ovals, Penske and Ganassi still have a bit of a stranglehold.''
Kanaan's win at Richmond in 2008 is the last victory on an oval by a driver who didn't work for Penske or Ganassi. Ending the streak on Sunday will be difficult. That doesn't mean the rest of the field will be content vying for sixth.
``I don't really now what the solution is,'' Hunter-Reay said. ``I just get in the car and drive the hell out of it.''
