Full Throttle

Courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel’s Ed Hinton:

Time was when there was no greater achievement for a driver, anywhere, than winning the Indianapolis 500. Now, it might get you a NASCAR ride, with zero guarantee of success there.

I say might because only two of the last three Indy 500 winners, Franchitti from this year and Sam Hornish Jr. from last year, are headed into NASCAR next year.

The third, 2005 winner Dan Wheldon of England, wanted sorely to make the transition, but was passed over by team owner Chip Ganassi in favor of Franchitti and his sponsor- and publicity-attracting wife, actress Ashley Judd.

Of the last 12 Indy winners, six either have broken into NASCAR or aspire to. Four others have retired.

Can I get an Amen?! (TG, you’re excluded.)

And speaking of swimming in a flooded sub-basement, we were talking the IRL weren’t we, Clint Bowyer goes from living in the penthouse last week to the sub-basement this week. He starts in the back of the field at 42nd after having to qualify on owner’s points by virtue of not recording a lap speed.

Sam Hornish Jr. failed to make the field in his second attempt at making his Cup debut. Not good, but hardly unexpected. In a sign of how hard it is to make the starting filed the first 36 starters are all within the 23 second bracket.

J.J. is on the pole with Juan Montoya on his right shoulder.