Ryan Briscoe and Will Power. Hardly household names are they? Yet the Aussie pair, teammates at the legendary Penske team in the IndyCar series represent the best chance for Aussie sporting success on the international scene. The third? A familiar name who proved a big point on Sunday.
Power and Briscoe may not command back page headlines but they deserve to, especially Briscoe who, after claiming the opening round of the IndyCar series last weekend in St. Petersburg, is now one of the clear favourites to claim the series title and the prestigious Indy 500 in May.
Schooled in Europe and unlucky not to break into Formula 1, Briscoe has become a polished driver quick on the variety of circuits on the schedule.
Power meanwhile was substituting for Helio Castroneves, the Brazilian who was involved in a highly publicised tax evasion trial. When Castroneves was acquitted and returned to the team, Power jumped into the team’s third car and duly qualified on pole for the race in Long Beach, a stunning performance confirming his remarkable talent on street circuits.
While he is confirmed in the third car at the Indy 500, question marks abound whether the team has the funds and capability to run him for the whole season.
You may be wondering whether IndyCar racing matters but after a decade plus of the devastating split between the IRL and Champ Car, the reunification of the sport into the one series last year has propelled it back into the forefront of motorsport as potentially the second most important open wheeled category after Formula 1.
Sadly the category won’t be returning to the Gold Coast this year, disappointing given we have a potential champion.
As result of the politics and our natural focus on European rather than American based sports the success of Briscoe and Power has gone rather unnoticed. As they continue their remarkable performances hopefully more people pay attention to their exploits.
Meanwhile the much-maligned Mark Webber proved his talent at the rain soaked Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix with a second place behind teammate Sebastian Vettel.
The skeptics will use his inability to beat his younger teammate as fodder for their preconceived and unshakable view of Webber.
But Vettel’s sublime wet weather talent was unbeatable, as it was at Monza last year. Webber too displayed incredible car control to finish in such horrendous conditions and hold off championship leader Jenson Button.
Five months ago Webber was in hospital with a broken leg. We cursed his luck yet again.
Now with a competitive car, finally after years of breakdowns and heartaches, his first win could be just around the corner.
Powerhouse team Ferrari are pointless, defending champion Lewis Hamilton only has four points as the traditional Formula 1 formbook has been turn up.
Thankfully Webber and Red Bull have found themselves on the up in the new order.
Webber, Power and Briscoe deserve high praise for waving the Australian flag proudly overseas even if their efforts are sadly underappreciated in their homeland.
Since the Aussie's last victory, he has claimed seven second-placed finishes after being unable to catch Alex Palou.
Theo Pourchaire replaces David Malukas, who got injured and then fired before he could even sit in the car.
The third ever Miami Grand Prix is in the history books and finally Lando Norris has tasted the victory champagne. That is one of…
The Australian finished second but had to work for it, as he fought off food poisoning, a race day engine change, and his own overheating body.
Nico Hulkenberg's move to a German team will hopefully bring back some of the German flare Formula 1 had just seven years ago.
Given how exclusive and precious a commodity scoring an F1 point is, why is it that mediocrity should be rewarded?
