Driver of the Half}(tie)Sam Hornish, Jr. and Helio Castroneves. Both have been at the top of the points standings all here, and account for 5 wins combined this year(Castroneves' at St. Pete, Motegi and Texas; Hornish, Jr. at Indy and Richmond).
Rookie of the Half} Marco Andretti. Unlike last year, when Danica Patrick had to earn pretty much every point in winning series rookie honors, Marco's had it easy. Granted, one driver's team went belly-up after Indy, and the second began the season 2 races into the proverbial hole, but I don't recall anytime in series history where a rookie competitor has not faced a serious challenge from his or her opponents.
Team of the Half} Marlboro-Team Penske. In 2005, they were the only team to seriously challenger Andretti-Green Racing(and that was w/out the benefit of Honda power); this year, the extra effort they spent on the team's aero package has paid off handsomely. With the exception of Target/Ganassi Racing, no other team has seriously challenged them this year. With seven races to go, it doesn't look very likely to change.
Race of the Half} Homestead. When series officials learned of Paul Dana's passing that March morning following the practice crash he was in, they could've easily cancelled the race, and no one would've blamed them. Yet, as Speed's Robin Miller put in that night on Wind Tunnel....."we race, and then we mourn." While the race wasn't the most exciting of the year, the fact that they decided to run the event after all is why this race is listed here.
Hard-Luck Award of the Half}(tie)Michael Andretti and Marco Andretti. First, Michael, after coming out of retirement, comes w/in less than 10 laps of finally getting an Indy 500 win, only to have his son pass him for the lead. Then, Marco, after blocking an attempt by eventual race-winner Sam Hornish, Jr. on lap 199 to take the lead, watches as Hornish slingshots by to win at the checkered flag.
Surprise of the Half} Vision Racing. Last year, this team was one of the dregs of the IRL, struggling to even post top-10's. This year, with new co-owner Patrick Dempsey and former Panther Racing driver Tomas Scheckter in a second Vision car to partner Ed Carpenter, they've stepped up their game and now compete for wins each race, not just for top-10's.
Well, that should wrap up the first half of the season........please feel free to comment, good or bad, positive or negative.....just keep it clean, okay?
