Can someone break Lloyd’s winning streak?: How does someone break Alex Lloyd’s five-race winning streak? That’s the question circulating through the Indy Pro Series paddock as 25 cars prepare for two 18-lap races on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway June 16-17.
Indy Pro Series television commentator Robbie Buhl knows the frustration of the drivers who have watched the rear wing of Lloyd’s No. 7 Lucas Oil/Isilon Systems/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car disappear ahead of them. Buhl was in a similar situation 12 years ago when Greg Moore won the first five Indy Lights races.
“They had a dominating car, and we were the only ones who could challenge them as the year went on, ” said Buhl, who watched Moore win at Miami, Phoenix, Long Beach, Nazareth and Milwaukee before putting an end to the streak with a victory at Detroit. “He was the guy to beat.
“It was a classic case of as they kept winning races, their confidence kept increasing. In the same way, Alex Lloyd and (engineer) Tim Neff keep gaining confidence in each other. If one of them suggests a change, the other one believes it will work and goes out and makes it happen. They’re in a zone where they keep gaining momentum and trust. No matter what the competition does, you can’t break that momentum. It feeds off of itself. ”
Meanwhile, the competition, including second-place finishers Wade Cunningham, Chris Festa (twice), Hideki Mutoh and Mike Potekhen, must contain their frustration and continue to work on improving.
“It does frustrate you, ” Buhl said. “You wonder, ‘What have they got going on? ’ Everything is working in their direction. As a competing driver, you absolutely are working hard to beat them. You’re always working hard. Why are they strong? Your focus goes to them as the competition. What are their intervals, how do we keep improving and getting closer to them? However, when you’re trying to make a name for yourself at that level, you’re working as hard as you can around the clock. ”
Buhl also knows the satisfaction, albeit temporary, that comes from winning.
“When you do win, it’s very satisfying, ” said Buhl, a co-owner of IndyCar Series team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “But I remember getting out of the car and saying, ‘How do we get better? ’ That’s what every driver, even Alex, is doing after every session. You’re constantly critiquing to get better as a team. ”
Practice and qualifying for the Liberty Challenge is scheduled for June 15.
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