Cheat Sheet: Watkins Glen 2007

OK, let's all study the pattern here. Going into this race Helio Castroneves has won the pole for both ICS races at The Glen, but Scott Dixon has won twice.

This just in: Helio won the pole for the third straight year. Dixon was going to be the Cheat Sheet pick regardless, but this rather solidified Iceman as "the favorite" for Sunday.

So as a public service, we are going to try something different this week and explain why no one other than New Zealand's Finest has any shot at winning the Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix. Scott's fellow Kiwi Wade Cunningham won the first IPS race, so you might as well all pull over and let the #9 by, boys and girls. Here's why:

Castroneves - Has only won 3 of the last 12 races he started from the pole. Clearly it's there's nowhere to go from there but backwards.

Franchitti - Seven career wins, all on ovals. Don't you DARE call him a "road course specialist". Yet.

Kanaan - Only one of Kanaan's nine career wins has come when he started fourt. (I know, I'm reaching here.)

Hornish - Highest career road course finish is 7th. Formula One is so NOT calling Sam.

Wheldon - Has yet to break the Top 5 on a twisty with TCGR. Chip wants his money back.

Andretti - Bryan Herta is not present to spin out late on this road course (just kidding!)

Rice - Only once before in his career has Buddy finished in the Top 5 in three straight races - and that was in 2004.

Scheckter - Best finish on a road course is 10th, which means he's either eating too many or too few White Castles.

Sharp - He's finished ninth here twice, which is his career best on a road/street course. And they say Uncle Sam has problems with right turns.

Carpenter, Fisher, Foyt, Manning, Matsuura, Meira, Patrick, Simmons - As a group they have the same amount of ICS wins as me or you. Well, most of you.

Money says: "Dixon, yo."

One final note of interest is that last year there were quite a few unexpected results. After Dixon, the next five drivers were:
2. Meira (Panther)
3. Briscoe (Dreyer & Reinbold)
4. Buddy Rice (Rahal Letterman)
5. Felipe Giaffone (Foyt)
6. Ed Carpenter (Vision)

Although none of these is more bizarre than Giorgio Pantano's (who?) P4 finish in 2005. Yes, Georgio!

Expect the unusual, other than Dixon winning of course. Enjoy the show!