Wait, all John Cusack movies are really annoying…
And all Joan Cusack movies for that matter…
But specifically, the one with Jack Black (also annoying) where they list their top five whatevers…

I hate John Cusack movies, but sometimes you have to fake it.  I mean, girls go crazy over stupid John Cusack romantic comedies, even more so than any movie featuring Meg Ryan, so I’ve sat through my fair share of them.  I especially hate the one where he was an air traffic controller. 

Well anyway, here’s your Top 5 Moments of the 2009 IndyCar Series season:

#5  Richmond OMG

It was something else.  It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  It was the race that led Brian Barnhart to have a Network moment and say, "Enough is enough, and I’m not going to take it anymore."  It was, quite possibly, the most boring oval race in the history of the IndyCar Series.

It was what it was.

I actually got to attend the race, because it was the closest race to home.  Richmond is gone now, and it may be for the best.  I’ll miss it, though.  I got to meet a handful of really nice people there from this small world of ours, including The Great Chris Estrada, Allen Wedge, and Winchester, VA’s favorite meteorologist, Cassie Behofist. So even though the race sucked, I enjoyed myself.

#4 Ed Almost Wins Kentucky

Before there was Milka Duno and Marty Roth, Ed Carpenter took the brunt of the venom spewed towards the IndyCar Series.  I mean, the guy just got beaten up by the beautiful people of the internet back in the day. 

Since then, he’s had some good showings, but he’d never really challenged for a win.  Well, after the Richmond debacle, the rules were opened up a bit and the oval tracks came back in play.  It was probably a combination of many factors, not the least of which was the absolute lack of practice that occurred before the race, that led to Ed being able to hold his own with Ryan Briscoe, but he did.  I don’t remember screaming at a TV as much as I did that evening. 

It was the oval race of the year.

#3  VERSUS! (feat. Lindy Thackston)

Ignore ratings.  Be entirely self-centered, live for the moment, and just consider the production.  After years of mistreatment on The Mouse, Versus doubled the amount of coverage per race that we were used to.  They treated the product as a cornerstone of their network, not as an excuse to hold a NASCAR infomercial. 

No, we weren’t graced with the presence of Rusty Wallace or Todd Harris.  We had a real broadcast team and a real broadcast…

…and it was beautiful.

Also, Versus inspired the title of this entry and what I would consider the most underrated photoshop of the year (honorable mention goes to Kevin Kalkhoven, American Hero).

#2 Justin Wilson Wins for Dale Coyne Racing at Watkins Glen

J-Dub pulled off what could be argued as the biggest underdog victory in the history of American Open Wheel Racing.  Dale Coyne had never won a race in his three centuries as a team owner.  Everyone knew Justin was good, but the real question all season was is he good enough?  Well, he was.

But that’s a minor point.  What was really awesome about the J-Dub/DCR win was the MAD AIR it got is it May yet? favorite Meesh Beer and OpenWheelWorld.net for grabbing the best photos of the year.

#1.5  Marty Reid Saves Humanity

When you had to deal with it for seventeen or eighteen races a year, it was unbearable.  But when they cut it down to five races, it got fun.  Real fun.  Marty Reid should be cherished and relished.  He’s like a fine wine.  Well, that or a bottle of Mad Dog.  Either way, it took me years, but this season, I learned to stop hating and start loving.  It also corresponded to what I’d have to personally consider the photoshop of the year (mustaches excluded, of course).

#1  May

Dude…look at the name of the website.  Indy ALWAYS wins here.

So what was your Top 5?   

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 7:42 pm and is filed under ICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.