Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., a consultant and driver coach for the Indy Racing League, shared his insights about IndyCar Series drivers for 2009.
Marco Andretti
“Marco is with a great team. With teammates like Danica (Patrick) and Tony Kanaan, they have the depth to bring Marco a second win. I feel like he really wants to bring another Indy 500 win to the Andretti family that has eluded them for so many years. He’s got the car, he’s got the team, and he’s got the talent. It would be a great thing to see an Andretti win the Indy 500, and Marco has the capability to get that done.”
Stanton Barrett
“Team 3G is a good team. Owen Snyder is the crew chief on that car. He was my crew chief when I won my first Indy 500 and my first national championship. Stanton has a good team, and he seems to catch up on stuff on the car really quick. He comes from a stock car background, so he’s spent most of his life in NASCAR. He uses his head when he drives, he thinks about it. He’s going to run well. He’s a contender for Rookie of the Year. He’ll give Raphael Matos a run for his money.”
Ryan Briscoe
“Ryan is definitely one of the favorites to win Indy and the championship. He’s been with Team Penske now for several years, including his time in ALMS. Roger (Penske) brought him into the IndyCar Series for a reason. Great talent, experience, he’s proven he can win races in the IndyCar Series, so he is definitely one of the favorites to win the championship.”
Jaime Camara
“He was a rookie last year with a strong road course background. He works hard at it. He’s very passionate about it, as most Brazilians are, bringing a lot of love, hard work, dedication.”
Ed Carpenter
“Ed is with a good team with Vision Racing. He’s come from the oval background. Ed’s been working real hard, trying real hard, and he’s got plenty of experience now. He’s definitely capable of winning races with a little luck coming his way. I feel that he can score a first win for Vision Racing on an oval.”
Mike Conway
“Mike Conway is one of the rookies, so I haven’t seen enough of him. For being the first time on an oval in his life (at Homestead-Miami Speedway), he picked up on it real quick. He’s got lots of talent. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is a good, hardworking team. From what I’ve seen, the talent is there. It’s all about the learning curve. If it progresses the way it did at the spring training test at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he’s very capable of bringing the team a victory.”
Scott Dixon
“Past Indy 500 champion, two-time IndyCar Series champion. He’s definitely a favorite to win the championship. Scott has been quick since the first test of the season. The team hasn’t lost anything over the winter. If anyone is the man to beat, it’s the defending champion. He doesn’t have the No. 1 on his car, but all his competitors see him as the guy, and they’re all aiming for Scott Dixon.”
Robert Doornbos
“Robert is with a great team, teammate to Graham (Rahal) in the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing stable. He’s a road racer. First time ever on an oval (at the Homestead-Miami Speedway test) and he picked up on it extremely fast. As far as the rookies, the favorites have to be Rafa (Matos) and Robert Doornbos. Those two are going to go at it neck and neck all season long. They both have great teams, and they both have great talent.”
Milka Duno
“Milka is the most improved driver without question. She’s trying very hard, she’s very passionate, and she loves driving these cars. She’s going to do alright. Milka asks a lot of questions. From where she started to where she is today is a huge gain. It’s really a pleasure to see the gains that she has made from year to year.”
Dario Franchitti
“Dario is a past Indy 500 winner and a past IndyCar Series champion. He’s with a great team and has lots of experience. He’s going to win some races and is one of the favorites to win the championship.”
Tony Kanaan
“Man of steel. This guy is physically the strongest man out there, and he will drive the car as such. He tends to go places that few men dare to go. He has a great team with AGR. If there’s a number one at AGR, it’s Tony Kanaan. He’s one of the favorites to win Indianapolis and the championship. He’s really focusing on Indy. He’s won the IndyCar Series championship. The one that is eluding him right now is the Indy 500. If anyone is owed – if effort and all of that comes back, and it does in racing – TK is one of the favorites to win the Indy 500 this year. That’s the one he’s really concentrating on.”
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