source:
paddocktalk.com / Iain Shankland
With a busy and distracting off-season, the start of the 2005 Champ Car season
has snuck up on me and almost caught me by surprise. So, after watching this
past weekend's Champ Car preview on SpeedTV, I decided it was high time I gave
some serious consideration to the new season and my predictions for its outcome.
First of all, it looks like we're in for a real treat in 2005 with a healthy
repertoire of veteran drivers being joined by a great cross section of rookies,
not to mention a handful of second year drivers whose experience in 2004 makes
them much better prepared to take on the Champ Car World Series. As ex-Formula 1
drivers, 4 previous champions and 6 rookies prepare to share the field I can
already imagine the excitement and entertaining wheel to wheel racing we're in
for this year. It's going to be fantastic!
While I'm going to give you my predictions, I have a strong feeling that there
won't be an out-and-out winner until the very last race of the season.
Personally, I think there are too many talented drivers this year for Bourdais,
Junquiera and Tracy to run away from the rest of the pack - they're going to
have their hands full!
Without further a due, here are a few of my predictions for the year....
Most Wins - Bourdais. Why is he not in F1?! Why is Monteiro there and not
Bourdais? It's a mystery to me!
Most Improved Driver - A.J. Allmendinger. He was great last year! And though he
made a couple of rookie mistakes in 2004, I think he'll be a real championship
contender in seasons to come. In the meantime, he's gonna kick butt in '05.