Eight potential winners for the 2013 IndyCar season

The Kiwi has won multiple races for seven straight seasons and don’t expect that string to end now.  Dixon will be battling for the championship for sure and several podium finishes will be the norm for this excellent driver out of the Chip Ganassi stable.His championship last year for Andretti will only propel him to bigger and even better day and years ahead.  He always had the talent but once it was proven Hunter-Reay could beat the best when he has to, the future looks amazingly great for the American who should collect at least a couple wins if not more in 2013. This Australian knows how to win and his talent for grabbing poles and staying in front on street and road courses will likely earn him multiple wins in 2013.  In fact, don’t be surprised if Power sweeps a weekend of races during double-header events.  And expect the Penske driver to garner the most wins this year, which could end up being a handful or more.View the list »
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In 2012, the IZOD IndyCar season had eight race winners including four wins by the ultimate champion of the series, Ryan Hunter-Reay.

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With teams now settling in for a second year with the same chassis and engine set-ups, will some teams do better than others and produce more winners? Or, could the fact that there will be more races in 2013, not the least of which incorporate double-header weekends, offer attrition and in-turn, bring unexpected victories?

Hunter-Reay led the way last year with four checkered flags and runner-up Will Power grabbed three-in-a-row early in the season. Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon doubled up in the win column for 2012, while Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti joined Justin Wilson, Ryan Briscoe and Ed Carpenter as driver who snagged single wins during last season.

There will be three double-headers – all on street courses -- including Detroit right after the Indy 500, Toronto in mid-summer and Houston late in the year. With that said, drivers will have 19 events in total in which to become a victor compared to just 15 last year. Let’s take a look at the list of eight potential winners for the 2013 IndyCar season.

Sources: Racing Reference, IndyCar

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View the list
  • This Australian knows how to win and his talent for grabbing poles and staying in front on street and road courses will likely earn him multiple wins in 2013.  In fact, don’t be surprised if Power sweeps a weekend of races during double-header events.  And expect the Penske driver to garner the most wins this year, which could end up being a handful or more.
  • His championship last year for Andretti will only propel him to bigger and even better day and years ahead.  He always had the talent but once it was proven Hunter-Reay could beat the best when he has to, the future looks amazingly great for the American who should collect at least a couple wins if not more in 2013. 
  • The Kiwi has won multiple races for seven straight seasons and don’t expect that string to end now.  Dixon will be battling for the championship for sure and several podium finishes will be the norm for this excellent driver out of the Chip Ganassi stable.
  • All he did is win one race last year (a little event called the Indy 500) while finishing a disappointing seventh in the point standings for Ganassi.  However, Franchitti will rebound in 2013 and anticipate at least a couple wins for the now single Scot – that’s right, no more constant shots of Ashley Judd in the pit area or her hanging all over him. 
  • The Brazilian, who moonlights as a dancer, should add to his win list.  Castroneves stays near the front most races, which helped him stay in contention for the 2012 title.  Although he doesn’t dominate like he used to, the Penske driver's penchant for Waltzing to the front ought to help him capture at least one victory in 2013.  
  • Even though Kanaan has only one victory over the past four seasons, the Brazilian from KV Racing is never far from the front.  The hunch here is that this driver, who is one of fittest athletes in the world (see related articles), will be in contention all season for a victory … and he might just nab the biggest prize of all – the Indy 500.
  • It’s hard to believe that Seabass hasn’t ever won an IndyCar race.  Last year didn’t start off well what with the Lotus debacle; but his luck may be changing after the Dragon Racing Frenchman stands in the center of the podium.  For someone who is winless in the series, there isn’t a more talented driver than Bourdais and it would be surprising if he doesn’t win at least one race in 2013.
  • The Canadian was in the top five in points almost all season before fading at the end.  The talented driver for Andretti has what it takes off the track; and in 2013, Hinchcliffe will have what it takes on the track to grab his first IndyCar win while also being in contention for the championship. 
View the list

, Paso Robles Motorsports Examiner

Daryle Hier has been involved in business as an owner for 30 years with many of them involving the auto industry. He also has been a sports fanatic with motorsports and football as his true loves. Other interests include Hawaii and the California Central Coast. He is a Top 100 writer for...

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