Which driver winning would be best for IndyCar?

[Danny Noonan]

Okay, the obvious - Danica. But other than that she, which driver winning could make the biggest media impact? Here is my list:

Fisher - unlikely, but for same reason as Danica
Marco - worldwide name recognition
Foyt IV - ditto
Rahal - ditto
Helio - very small company with 3 wins
Rice - American, 2nd win
Wheldon, 2nd win
Lazier - unlikely, but 2nd win in subpar equipment

Kanaan and Dixon are probably the favorites and are very deserving, but it just wouldn't add the same punch.

[MichaelP]

Okay, the obvious - Danica. But other than that she, which driver winning could make the biggest media impact? Here is my list:

Fisher - unlikely, but for same reason as Danica
Marco - worldwide name recognition
Foyt IV - ditto
Rahal - ditto
Helio - Dancing with the stars winner wins Indy
Rice - American, 2nd win
Wheldon, 2nd win
Lazier - unlikely, but 2nd win in subpar equipment

Kanaan and Dixon are probably the favorites and are very deserving, but it just wouldn't add the same punch.

Fixed it.

[Kanaanfan123]

After the 3 girls,

1. Helio
2. Rahal

[Kanaanfan123]

Okay, the obvious - Danica. But other than that she, which driver winning could make the biggest media impact? Here is my list:

Fisher - unlikely, but for same reason as Danica
Marco - worldwide name recognition
Foyt IV - ditto
Rahal - ditto
Helio - very small company with 3 wins
Rice - American, 2nd win
Wheldon, 2nd win
Lazier - unlikely, but 2nd win in subpar equipment

Kanaan and Dixon are probably the favorites and are very deserving, but it just wouldn't add the same punch.

I think Helio and Wheldon are bigger favorites than Kanaan, but you're right, of the big 4, only 1 is known by a ton of people and thats becuase of indy success and dancing with the stars.

But to us Indy people, we know how long Dixon and Kanaan have been disserving... we'll have to see.

[SportscarBruce]

What would be best? The driver with the best combination of performance and luck irregardless of marketability.

Keep it real and it shall endure.

[Coyote]

I think it helps more when someone really at the front of the IRL wins it, such as Tony Kanaan. Yeah, some of those mentioned would get more pub, so maybe it's Sarah Fisher or Danica. Probably is actually.

But I prefer Kanaan, or Dixon, or Helio. Someone that would continue to back it up with their performances so people will say "yeah he's really GOOD."

If someone like IV wins he's not going to be getting other wins. At least not this year. So people then denigrate the 500 by saying it must not be so tough or great since you don't have to be a great driver.

Like sportscarbruce I just want someone who wins to have earned it, and they will. I hope it's one of our better shoes such as Kanaan (who I really want to win a 500 before he's through) but whoever wins it I'll respect I'm sure.

[DamonG19]

1. Marco

2. Graham

3. Helio

[indyracefan]

...about any IndyCar regular winning the '500' would be good for the series. One would think that someone like Scheckter winning the '500' would make some wonder why he wasn't racing full-time which would be the only negative I could see for the series.

I have more 'favorites' wanting to win this year than I've had in recent years.....Castroneves, Briscoe, Dixon, Wheldon, Scheckter and Kanaan are all strong candidates. And then I also like as longshots Foyt, Carpenter, either Andretti, Rahal, Power, Servia and Wilson. This year's '500' has the makings of being a great one.

[Truth Detector]

Either of the girls

Anybody named Andretti

[debdrake]

Two that haven't been mentioned - Andretti (John, that is) and Hamilton.

Davey would be a great story, and John winning when Michael never did....

[NoviVespa]

Now that it is mentioned, Hamilton would be a big story. The injured driver comes back successfullly. Plus, a big boost, Fisher finishes second.

[Sea Fury]

We don't need a NASCAR-style "Call." But I'd sure love to see Helio win. He's popular, he's fun to watch when he wins, he'd join the exclusive 3-time-winner club, and it might further encourage him to stick around long enough to try for 5.

Plus, popularity aside, he is, in fact, THAT GOOD.

And we shouldn't count Danica or Marco out, folks. They both run well in The Race.

[Sea Fury]

Either of the girls

OK, since "either" implies a choice between 2, and there are THREE females in the field, which one of the three do you NOT consider a girl, and why? LOL

[NDGator]

I hadn't thought about it, but three wins does make a statement from a historical perspective.

1978
1980
1988

It's been awhile for that club, and Lil Al, Emmo, and Arie never stepped up for a third in the 90's or 00's.

Rutherford accomplished the feat in even fewer years.

Plus it makes a statement about stability of the 500 at a time when it needs it.

With that I am still pulling for Buddy, Sam and Al Jr. (so I am a Dreamer... )

[Doc Austin]

If we have a good, clean, hard fought race, we will have a deserving winner and that's what best for the sport, no matter who it is.