The Natural

The legacy of the Target Chip Ganassi Racing #10 could suffocate every driver in the IndyCar paddock but one. Scott Dixon. And that's whether he ever wins another race in it, or not.

Here's why: He's a seasoned Target representative, established team member and teammate to Dario, and he's the only one that gets a "pass" in that car until it or he retires. In other words, he's the only driver that doesn't draw unnecessary scrutiny and allows TCGR to carry on its winning ways without a hitch.

The rest stay right where they are. Charlie already has a close tie to a sponsor other than Target and hasn't fully proven he's a rising star. My opinion. Tony Kanaan is in the twilight of his career and will do just fine without the pressure of being in the "9" or "10."

So who fills the hole Scott leaves behind? A young shoe that clearly shows all the signs of super stardom. Pick a name, but it's not clear to me, yet. Or, an available vet that's a proven winner. I threw out the first two that came to mind in my tweet.

Thanks for reading.

—Chris

Beware the Slippery Slope

Scott Dixon drives in the shadow of Ryan Hunter-Reay at the finish of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. With the introduction of innovation, is he even in the frame? 

"We all miss innovation but would it make more people watch? Or is there a better chance it would fracture the competition like in days gone by? I imagine you could try a more open set of rules for the Indy 500 and buttoned-down set for IndyCar’s regular season but at what cost? It’s a slippery slope for the new leadership."

--Robin Miller