Here it is Memorial Day weekend and as usual the Indy 500 is on the front burner of racing fans. It doesn’t matter if you are a NASCAR or an Outlaws fan the Indy is a big race. At no other time during the year does open wheel receive the press it receives this weekend. One thing I noticed is that I don’t recognize a lot of names, some of the last names are familiar but the drivers are not. True I don’t follow open wheel, since they refused to allow Ashley Judd to wear a skirt and Danica fell by the wayside, I lost interest, but then except for Indy I never really had that much to begin with. Watching the save Graham Rahal made to avoid John Andretti almost made me a fan again. His driving skill along with some luck and good genes were a thrill to watch. True there have been several saves in NASCAR this year that were fantastic and almost unbelievable, but they were as much the COT as driver ability. I am not trying to take anything away from NASCAR drivers but the COT has helped them to regain control as it was designed to do. I really hope that the Rahal team can do well; it is time for some new blood to replace Penske, Andretti, and Ganassi teams. I really think Danica could be a surprise winner if she gets some breaks and lady luck smiles on her but then anyone who gets the breaks and luck can win. Is Jeff Gordon going to use this bad back for a reason to retire it would be an easier out then admitting he has lost his edge; he doesn’t drive like the Jeff of old.( I wrote this before he qualified 3rd) Ryan Newman on the pole I underestimated Tony Stewart I thought his first year would be OK but that team has done great. Of course they had a great team to build on. Mayfield give it up you got caught move on. Carl Long suspended for 12 races, NASCAR is saying don’t cheat because they are going to make it hurt. In his defense it did sound like an honest mistake but then a lot of the times they do. I do think that the .001 NASCAR is fining him for is a little too close to call. But then he never really was competitive and I am sure the team is done. The COT is getting a lot of credit for 3 wide racing and better racing but I also think Goodyear deserves some credit their tires lately have been wearing well and maintaining handling for several more laps then we have seen in a long time. Prior to this year a pit stop at Darlington without changing tires would have been a prelude to a crash, but there were several this year. 600 miles this Sunday and going from sunshine to the lights will be interesting. Would like to Mark Martin pull off a win but I think Jimmy Johnson has the edge, Joey Logano may pull off a surprise. I hate to say it but I may have underestimated him.