Speed and power: a look ahead to the 2020 Indy 500

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Indy 500. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Carey Atkin

 

Sports are massive across the whole of the US, and IndyCar racing is certainly one with a big following. IndyCar fans will be eagerly looking ahead to the start of the new season in March 2020 and the Indy 500 during May 2020 in particular. The Indy 500 is the premier race of the whole series, and 2020 will see a surge in sports betting Indiana wide as people can now legally back their favorite driver at online sportsbooks. 

Of course, it is wise to look ahead before putting any money down to see how it all may pan out. Even if you do not plan to wager on the race, looking ahead to the next Indy 500 will get you fired up for the new season. What could we expect from this race in 2020?

Increased safety 

There is no doubt that IndyCar racing is one of the most exciting sports, but it can also be dangerous. This is certainly true at the Indy 500, where drivers have to power through 200 laps around the famed circuit. What we should see this year though is a safer race. Drivers at the next event (and all other races in the coming series) will have advanced cockpit protection in their cars. Developed by Red Bull, this technology will deflect debris away from drivers’ heads.

Can Simon Pagenaud win again? 

IndyCar fans will remember 2019’s race well as French driver Simon Pagenaud won it from pole position for Team Penske. This made him the first driver to win from pole since 2009 and could see him all set to earn another victory in 2020. Pagenaud is driving for Team Penske again in the coming year and this bodes well for another victory. The most pressing danger to a repeat win could come from reigning champion Josef Newgarden, who will also be trying hard for the win in a bid to mount another title challenge. 

Hélio Castroneves will aim for a momentous victory

Newgarden is not the only fly in the ointment when it comes to a consecutive Pagenaud win at the Indianapolis Speedway in 2020. Hélio Castroneves has already won the race three times and will be gunning hard for a historic fourth win in May. This driver actually left full-time IndyCar racing after the 2017 campaign but was tempted back to race on a part-time basis for Team Penske in recent years. This will surely see him turn out at the Indy 500 again and get all race fans very excited. While he did not do that well in 2019, the prospect of a huge fourth win is simply awesome.

Team Penske to triumph again? 

The premier team in IndyCar is Penske and they love the Indy 500. As noted above, they took victory in 2019 but also have the 2018 title to their name as well as victories from the early 2000s. Although boss Roger Penske will not be as involved in the team this year due to ownership responsibilities, it could be a hat-trick of victories for them in 2020. When you consider that they have Will Power, Pagenaud, Newgarden and Castroneves on their team for this year, it looks pretty ominous for the others!

Can Chip Ganassi or Andretti Autosport spoil the party? 

If there is one team to rival Penske at the Indy 500 in 2020, it is Chip Ganassi. This team have actually been the most successful overall, with eight IndyCar series to their name. They have been particularly dominant in the 2000s and look set to have another great year.

Chip Ganassi have done relatively well at the Indy 500 in the past with four victories to date. One of these was from ace driver Scott Dixon, who will be with them in 2020 again. With Dixon looking to add to his five overall IndyCar trophies, might we see him take the race this year? The only other possibility in terms of race winners could be Andretti Autosport, who have a decent record in the last few years in Indianapolis. With 2014 race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay on board for Andretti again in 2020, could he be ready to bag another victory for his team? 

 

Indy 500 2020 set to be a great event 

 

While it still seems far away, this year’s Indy 500 is set to be a tremendous event as usual. It will surely have an impact on the overall championship standings and set the tone for the rest of the season to play out. Who will win is open to question, but the above points are worth taking into account.

 

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