Love to see you guys are back! My predictions are: Most pole position: Scott McLaughlin Most Wins: Josef Newgarden Dark Horse Felix Rosenqvist ROTY: Benjamin Pedersen Best team: Penske Indy 500 poll AND winner: Scott Dixon 5. Pato O'Ward 4. Scott Dixon 3. Scott McLaughlin 2. Josef Newgarden Series Champion: Alex Palou Bold prediction Herta gets 3 poles and wins 3 races but DNFs keep him out of the top 5.
Most Poles - If AM works, Felix or Pato. If not, Herta. Most Wins - If AM is working, Rossi. If not, Newgarden. ***Steven, don't forget Pato didn't do himself any favors with some of the comments he was making during the whole driver drama. Like saying McLaren/Zak don't stick to the promises they make. He might not be their golden boy any more with Rossi coming in. Best Race of the Year - PORTLAND. Cuz I get to go!!! The whole deal. Seats right on the start/finish line, Champions Club, Paddock pass, Pit access and Sunday Grid Walk!!!!! So HYPED!!!! Darkhorse - If AM working, Felix. If not, Ferrucci (if he doesn't keep crashing into things). Rookie - It's going to be tight between and Canapino and Robb but AC doesn't have any Indy style experience, so going with Robb. Sorry, without ovals, Armstrong doesn't have a chance. Team - Ganassi has 4 full time cars to Penske only having 3. Ganassi will pull it out this year. Indy Pole - VeeKeay. 100%. Ed Carpenter is always super quick at Indy. Indy Winner - If AM strong, Rossi or Tony Kanaan! If not, Dixon. (6. Dixon, 7. Herta, 8. Powers, 9. Felix, 10. Rinus) 5. Pato 4. Palou 3. McLaughlin 2. Rossi 1. Newgarden
Best team - Arrow McLaren! I am being loyal to Pato on your behalf Steven 😉 strong driver line up, great liveries and exciting to see how it all unfolds this season.
McLaughlin should lift it this year, he's such a great driver and although finishing equal 4th last year had some real bad luck races. It was reported that Scottie drove that LMP2 pretty hard at Daytona, reckoned it reminded him of the Supercar, definitely didn't look like one. Engine Capacity stays the same.
Welcome back lads. I would disagree on Indy. I thought the race last year was unimpressive. The aero package isn't conducive to good racing IMO. Last year, you saw cars leap-frogging in pairs pretty much the whole race. Dixon was super-fast all month and day, but was stuck at the end of the line after his last stop and could only pass Marco Andretti in the last 20 laps. Jimmie Johnson has gone back to NASCAR as driver,/part owner of the Richard Petty team. I think Indy was a "bucket list" thing, and with Carvana barely staying afloat, that money has dried up. Most poles: Herta, still super-fast, and still inconsistent. Most wins: McLaughlin really gets his feet under him. Hard to believe that just three years ago, he was racing tin-tops Dark Horse: Veekay. He puts the consistency together for a good season on his way to a bigger team (such as RLL or ASMP) Champion: Newgarden has fewer missteps this year, and doesn't need to battle back late in the season. He has been runner-up in points the last three years to three different drivers, two all-time greats in Dixon and Power, and a charmed Palou in a crazy 2021, aided greatly by the idiotic double points at Indy where he finished 2nd and Josef ended up 12th. The 500: Newgarden for both pole and win. The Chevy engine hasn't been the preferred one to have for a few years and Joe-Zeph has been a bit star-crossed at the Speedway, but it all comes together this year. I don't feel the need for a 3rd manufacturer, or any for that matter. Manufacturers are ambivalent about racing. They view it as marketing and leave when the numbers stop adding up, often leaving chaos in their wake. Again I would point to 2006 after Chevy and Toyota left and there was real concern about Honda going as well. There was doubt that the 500 would even have 33 cars. Sports cars the world over are a testament to what happens when carmakers get too entrenched. As an aside. I enjoy your F1Fanatics channel, but agree and wouldn't be upset if you mothballed it. There are many other F1-centric channels to chose from. F1 has lost much of my interest since Bernie left.
Great to see you back Scott! And great to see your opinions as always. I'd love to share your optimism with Newgarden. Absolutely brilliant driver, I just don't know if he's creeping into the almost and what if driver category. He shouldn't be there as he's an immense talent but the past 3 season must be tough to take winning nothing substantial in that time. I hope you are right and I am wrong. Agree the 500 wasn't necessarily a thriller last year, think the previous year with Helio was a fantastic race. I think as you always know its everything around the 500 that just makes it such a special occasion.
@@IndyFanatics It just underscore what a massive shadow the 500 casts. Ericsson had a great run last year but was little fancied anywhere else and I personally view him as a Buddy Rice type. Budrick had the one good year and was clearly had the fastest car in '04, richly deserving his win. He is also somewhat of a footnote as his other accomplishments don't amount to much. Indy is just weird like that. The main source for my optimism for Joe-Sef is that he is with the best team, and in the prime of his careers While Indy isn't a traditional oval, only Dixon has more oval wins, and his oval starts dwarf (177-60) Jo-Seph in oval starts. Could he end up in the Michael Andretti category? Perhaps, and honestly, he hasn't had many great runs at Indy. His best year was in'16, when he started 2nd and finished 3rd, for ECR.
I'm so behind but happy to see you guys!! Can't wait for the season to start! I agree with Mid Ohio being a great choice for you guys to attend since I'll be there 😂 but any of them would be amazing! Which F1 races are you planning to attend this year if any?
Hey! Great to see you, you may have been late to the video, but we are late to the comment 😂 was a great start to the season! We would love to get across to a race and mid ohio, guess we better start pumping out some more videos to pay for it 😂 unfortunately no f1 races this year as the price was just too damn high! Hopefully we can get back to live motorsport in 2024 as we miss it!
My predictions: Ilott wins a race with Juncos Ericsson only multiple race winner at Ganassi Power retires at seasons end and Ernie Francis Jr will take his seat Herta/Palou leave Indycar for Andretti’s F1 program McLaughlin champion Newgarden again 2nd Rosenqvist Indy 500 winner Colapinto surprises with rookie of the year Juri Vips replaces Harvey for 2024 at RLL as Harvey returns to Shank for 2024 replacing Castroneves
Love to see you guys are back! My predictions are:
Most pole position: Scott McLaughlin
Most Wins: Josef Newgarden
Dark Horse Felix Rosenqvist
ROTY: Benjamin Pedersen
Best team: Penske
Indy 500 poll AND winner: Scott Dixon
5. Pato O'Ward
4. Scott Dixon
3. Scott McLaughlin
2. Josef Newgarden
Series Champion: Alex Palou
Bold prediction Herta gets 3 poles and wins 3 races but DNFs keep him out of the top 5.
HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PALOU
Got to see you both back for the 2023 season!
Great to see you back Fellers
Great to be back!
Return of the Kings
We are indeed back!
I am sat here grinning like the cheshire cat coz you are back 😁
Welcome back! Was just thinking about if we'd we see you again and when!!
When you least expect it! But hopefully more regularly from now on 😊
OMG! How did you know I needed a dose of indy Fanatics today?!!!! 😊🙌 Welcome back awesome peeps.
Because everyone always needs a dose of Indy Fanatics 😉😊
@@IndyFanatics damn right they do!
Loved hearing from you again. Think I agree with most things you said. For me a dark horse is Veekay (at least I hope so)
Most Poles - If AM works, Felix or Pato. If not, Herta.
Most Wins - If AM is working, Rossi. If not, Newgarden.
***Steven, don't forget Pato didn't do himself any favors with some of the comments he was making during the whole driver drama. Like saying McLaren/Zak don't stick to the promises they make. He might not be their golden boy any more with Rossi coming in.
Best Race of the Year - PORTLAND. Cuz I get to go!!! The whole deal. Seats right on the start/finish line, Champions Club, Paddock pass, Pit access and Sunday Grid Walk!!!!! So HYPED!!!!
Darkhorse - If AM working, Felix. If not, Ferrucci (if he doesn't keep crashing into things).
Rookie - It's going to be tight between and Canapino and Robb but AC doesn't have any Indy style experience, so going with Robb. Sorry, without ovals, Armstrong doesn't have a chance.
Team - Ganassi has 4 full time cars to Penske only having 3. Ganassi will pull it out this year.
Indy Pole - VeeKeay. 100%. Ed Carpenter is always super quick at Indy.
Indy Winner - If AM strong, Rossi or Tony Kanaan! If not, Dixon.
(6. Dixon, 7. Herta, 8. Powers, 9. Felix, 10. Rinus)
5. Pato
4. Palou
3. McLaughlin
2. Rossi
1. Newgarden
Best team - Arrow McLaren! I am being loyal to Pato on your behalf Steven 😉 strong driver line up, great liveries and exciting to see how it all unfolds this season.
McLaughlin should lift it this year, he's such a great driver and although finishing equal 4th last year had some real bad luck races. It was reported that Scottie drove that LMP2 pretty hard at Daytona, reckoned it reminded him of the Supercar, definitely didn't look like one. Engine Capacity stays the same.
500 pole sitter - *switches cheerleading mode on* G to the O to the J to the A to the C to the K to the G to the O 🙌
Welcome back lads.
I would disagree on Indy. I thought the race last year was unimpressive. The aero package isn't conducive to good racing IMO. Last year, you saw cars leap-frogging in pairs pretty much the whole race. Dixon was super-fast all month and day, but was stuck at the end of the line after his last stop and could only pass Marco Andretti in the last 20 laps.
Jimmie Johnson has gone back to NASCAR as driver,/part owner of the Richard Petty team. I think Indy was a "bucket list" thing, and with Carvana barely staying afloat, that money has dried up.
Most poles: Herta, still super-fast, and still inconsistent.
Most wins: McLaughlin really gets his feet under him. Hard to believe that just three years ago, he was racing tin-tops
Dark Horse: Veekay. He puts the consistency together for a good season on his way to a bigger team (such as RLL or ASMP)
Champion: Newgarden has fewer missteps this year, and doesn't need to battle back late in the season. He has been runner-up in points the last three years to three different drivers, two all-time greats in Dixon and Power, and a charmed Palou in a crazy 2021, aided greatly by the idiotic double points at Indy where he finished 2nd and Josef ended up 12th.
The 500: Newgarden for both pole and win. The Chevy engine hasn't been the preferred one to have for a few years and Joe-Zeph has been a bit star-crossed at the Speedway, but it all comes together this year.
I don't feel the need for a 3rd manufacturer, or any for that matter. Manufacturers are ambivalent about racing. They view it as marketing and leave when the numbers stop adding up, often leaving chaos in their wake. Again I would point to 2006 after Chevy and Toyota left and there was real concern about Honda going as well. There was doubt that the 500 would even have 33 cars. Sports cars the world over are a testament to what happens when carmakers get too entrenched.
As an aside. I enjoy your F1Fanatics channel, but agree and wouldn't be upset if you mothballed it. There are many other F1-centric channels to chose from. F1 has lost much of my interest since Bernie left.
Great to see you back Scott! And great to see your opinions as always. I'd love to share your optimism with Newgarden. Absolutely brilliant driver, I just don't know if he's creeping into the almost and what if driver category. He shouldn't be there as he's an immense talent but the past 3 season must be tough to take winning nothing substantial in that time. I hope you are right and I am wrong.
Agree the 500 wasn't necessarily a thriller last year, think the previous year with Helio was a fantastic race. I think as you always know its everything around the 500 that just makes it such a special occasion.
@@IndyFanatics It just underscore what a massive shadow the 500 casts. Ericsson had a great run last year but was little fancied anywhere else and I personally view him as a Buddy Rice type. Budrick had the one good year and was clearly had the fastest car in '04, richly deserving his win. He is also somewhat of a footnote as his other accomplishments don't amount to much. Indy is just weird like that.
The main source for my optimism for Joe-Sef is that he is with the best team, and in the prime of his careers While Indy isn't a traditional oval, only Dixon has more oval wins, and his oval starts dwarf (177-60) Jo-Seph in oval starts. Could he end up in the Michael Andretti category? Perhaps, and honestly, he hasn't had many great runs at Indy. His best year was in'16, when he started 2nd and finished 3rd, for ECR.
I'm so behind but happy to see you guys!! Can't wait for the season to start! I agree with Mid Ohio being a great choice for you guys to attend since I'll be there 😂 but any of them would be amazing! Which F1 races are you planning to attend this year if any?
Hey! Great to see you, you may have been late to the video, but we are late to the comment 😂 was a great start to the season! We would love to get across to a race and mid ohio, guess we better start pumping out some more videos to pay for it 😂 unfortunately no f1 races this year as the price was just too damn high! Hopefully we can get back to live motorsport in 2024 as we miss it!
2023 IndyCar champion - JH for the win! If by some weird series of events he doesn't win then my back up is Pato 🇲🇽
Dark Horse...well you know there is an actual Jedi in the series right? He is def one to watch 👀
The IndyCar off seasons have been painfully boring, and long. It is good to see you guys again. Although, I am late.
WELCOME BACK!!! Herta wins the championship, Grosjean wins a road race and the Indy 500, Raikkonen qualifies for the Indy 500.
If you get chance to do the odd F1 Fantasy video to discuss the merits of turboing K-Mag that would be very cool 😉😊
My guess would be another Penske Three way for the championship. Scott McLaughlin as the champ
They did look a strong trio last year!
Taraaaaa! Hello 👋😻
My predictions:
Ilott wins a race with Juncos
Ericsson only multiple race winner at Ganassi
Power retires at seasons end and Ernie Francis Jr will take his seat
Herta/Palou leave Indycar for Andretti’s F1 program
McLaughlin champion Newgarden again 2nd
Rosenqvist Indy 500 winner
Colapinto surprises with rookie of the year
Juri Vips replaces Harvey for 2024 at RLL as Harvey returns to Shank for 2024 replacing Castroneves
Sorry if you answer this later in the video.. it was Will Power who got the most pole positions last year (5).
Most pole positions - Jack Harvey 😉 You know where this is going right? 😉😂
Most wins..what is that driver called again? 🤔 He is driving the number 30 car for RLL this season... Jack something? it's on the tip of my tongue! 😂
2023 Some minor clues of F1 popularity decline.
Ooo and what might they be?
@@IndyFanatics In the US less tickets sold to races. I don’t see younger people getting into motorsport, especially F1. Too boring.
Steven!!!! How did it take you THAT long to mention your guy? 🙄 honestly 😉 Poor Pato!
500 winner - he drives a car with a white and red livery 🤔
anybody watching after Laguna Seca? 😅