2012 Indianapolis 500 Picks & Predictions
By Drew Sharper
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (TheSpread) – The 2012 Indianapolis 500 is the biggest race in IndyCar. Here is a look at three picks to consider for this year’s classic.
Ryan Briscoe 3/1
Briscoe is in the lead spot and that is a big edge in this race as 20 drivers that won the pole have won the race. Briscoe has not had much success at this track, but we think he will breakthrough this year and shine for Team Penske.
Will Power 6/1
It is hard to go against Power, mainly because of the year he is having. He has already won three of the four IRL races this season. Though his record at Indianapolis Motor Speedway isn’t overwhelming, he does have a top 5 and a good starting spot (5th). Power is worth some thought and should be in contention at the end.
Marco Andretti 9/1
The name Andretti is synonymous with success at the Indy 500. Though Andretti hasn’t been a great force in IRL racing as a whole, he has always been a threat in this race, finishing third twice and second once. He will start fourth on Sunday, which puts him in prime position to contend for the championship.
2012 Indianapolis 500 Matchup Odds – Dario Franchitti vs. Scott Dixon
By Drew Sharper
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (TheSpread) – Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti are former Indianapolis 500 winners. Here is a look at the odds for them to best the other.
According to oddsmakers, Franchitti is the favorite to win this race, as he has odds of -140 to beat Dixon while Dixon has a money line of -110 to beat Franchitti.
Dixon has competed in nine Indy 500’s and won one, back in 2008. He has finished in the top 6 of his last six Indy 500 appearances. Franchitti has won two Indy 500’s in his career, back in 2010 and 2007. He has five top 7’s in eight Indy 500 appearances. This year, Dixon will start 15th, which is his worst starting position in Indy 500 history. Franchitti will begin from the 16th position.
When looking at this year’s IRL standings, Dixon sits sixth while Franchitti is 10th. Dixon has a pair of second-place finishes this year, but has finished outside the top 15 in his last two races. Franchitti has not finished worse than 15th in any race this year, but has just one top 5. He has won the IRL season title the last three years.
The Indianapolis 500 will take place Sunday, May 27 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Noon ET.
2012 Indy 500 Matchup Odds – Dario Franchitti vs. Scott Dixon
Dario Franchitti -140
Scott Dixon -110
2012 Indianapolis 500 Matchup Odds – Ryan Briscoe vs. Will Power
By Drew Sharper
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (TheSpread) – Will Power and Ryan Briscoe are among the favorites to win Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. Here is a look at their odds against one another.
According to oddsmakers, Briscoe is the slight favorite to win this matchup, as he has a money line of -130, while Power has odds of -120 to finish ahead of Briscoe.
Power will be starting fifth on Sunday while Briscoe qualified 1st. Power has never won this race, and has one top 5 in four appearances. Last year Power started fifth as well, but finished 14th. Briscoe has not performed well at the Indy 500. He has just one top 5 in six appearances. He has finished 10th or worse in the other five races.
This year, Power has been very dominant in the IRL series. He has won three of the four races and is the points leader. Briscoe did beat him in the first race of the year, placing fifth, while Power took seventh. Briscoe has finished outside the top 10 in two of the four races this year and is eighth in the current point standings.
The Indianapolis 500 will take place Sunday, May 27 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Noon ET.
2012 Indy 500 Matchup Odds – Will Power vs. Ryan Briscoe
Ryan Briscoe -130
Will Power -120
Indianapolis 500 Odds: Preview and Racing Picks
By Greg Engle
Covers.com
The 96th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will no doubt be tinged with sadness as the racing world remembers the defending winner, but the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 will go on as scheduled in Speedway Indiana Sunday.
Dan Wheldon, who lost his life in a racing accident last year, will be there in spirit as 33 of the world’s best open-wheel racers vie for the biggest prize in motorsports. With a field full of rookies and seasoned veterans, anything can happen. But look for experience when picking a winner.
Ryan Briscoe (+250) starts on the pole Sunday and, while he delivered the 17th pole for team owner Roger Penske, he’s not presenting the best value in the Indy 500. Not only has he not won an IndyCar race in two years, but Briscoe has struggled at the Brickyard. In six starts at Indianapolis, his best finish is a fifth-place showing in 2007 and he’s crashed out of the race in the past two years. It’s a different story for his teammate Helio Castroneves.
Castroneves has won three Indy 500’s - the last coming in 2009 - and with the power of Penseke (which has 15 Indy 500 wins, five in the last 11 years), he’s the clear favorite. He will roll off in sixth Sunday. Castroneves won the first race of the season in St. Petersburg and could guzzle the milk for the fourth time Sunday.
Another driver with a lot of experience is Chip Ganassi Racing driver, Dario Franchitti. Franchitti is a two-time winner with his last Indy victory coming in 2010. His only handicap is his starting position of 16th, but he has the skill and the equipment to work his way to the front.
Racing fans shouldn’t count out Will Power. He’s never won at Indy but has dominated this season, winning three of the four races. He was 14th last year and has only one Top-5 performance in four starts at Indy. So while he’s not the favorite, he does have a great shot at winning the biggest race of his career.
Head-to-head
Marco Andretti vs. Tony Kanaan: Both are popular drivers with experience, but no wins at Indy. Andretti has three Top-5 finishes while Kanaan has two Top-5 showings and a pole position. So far this season, Andretti has struggled while Kanaan has shown some life in the last two races. Look for Kanaan to finish ahead of Andretti.
James Hinchcliffe vs. Ryan Hunter-Reay: Both drivers will be starting from the front row. Hinchcliffe has one Indy start while Hunter-Reay has four. Neither has a remarkable record at Indy, Hinchcliffe finished 13th last year in his only start, Hunter-Reay’s best finish was sixth in his first start in 2008. But so far this season, both drivers have solid records with each having two Top-5 finishes. However, come Sunday look for the more experienced Hunter-Reay to come out ahead of Hinchcliffe.
Bottom Line
In perhaps the biggest tribute to Dan Wheldon, the new Dallara DW12 chassis will make its superspeedway debut Sunday. The completely redesigned machine, with numerous safety innovations that stem from the fatal 15-car crash at Las Vegas last October, has yet to be raced on an oval. Turbocharged engines have also made their return to the series for the first time since 1996. However, after nearly a month of practice and testing, most drivers agree that Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 will be as exciting as always and the changes won’t affect the racing.
Picks
Helio Castroneves (+500)
Dario Franchitti (+1,000)
Will Power (+500)