I can play this sort of golf under pressure when I need to.I am | Forum
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Dec 25 '17
STEAM CORNERS, OHIO -- Road racing has become the bread and butter of the Verizon IndyCar Series, and the open-wheelers headline one of Americas top summer road racing festivals this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Adam Gotsis Jersey .?The Honda Indy 200 weekend features not only the IndyCar Series, but the full Mazda Road to Indy lineup as well as multiple classes in the Pirelli World Challenge, creating three days of dawn-to-dusk action.?While oval tracks like Texas Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway struggled to fill the seats this summer, business was booming for IndyCar in June on its return to the Road America road course in Wisconsin after a nine-year absence. The Honda Indy Toronto also demonstrated a substantial increase in attendance this year as well, and Long Beach, St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park continue to perform well for IndyCar at the gate.?Boosted by the presence of the Columbus-based Truesports team and driver Bobby Rahal, open-wheel racing built a substantial crowd base in Ohio when the CART-sanctioned IndyCar Series raced there from 1983-2003. After dropping off the calendar in the latter years of the IndyCar split, Mid-Ohios crowds have grown every year since 2007, the year the modern IndyCar Series made its debut on the 2.38-mile road course located -- logically enough -- midway between Columbus and Cleveland.?The IndyCar event, known as the Honda Indy 200, succeeds almost in spite of itself. Mid-Ohio was built in the early 1960s, updated and expanded in the early 80s, and it is still state-of-the-art 1983. Thats part of its charm, but its also frustrating to think just how much potential the venue would have if track owners Kevin Savoree and Kim Green would make the same kind of investment that has resulted in Road America maintaining its old-fashioned allure while providing modern amenities to spectators and competitors.?At Mid-Ohio, its the facility itself that continues to draw people. The hilly, wooded terrain is perfect for camping and hiking, and the race track that winds through the land is a gem for spectators, compact enough to walk most of a lap and watch from almost all of the 14 corners in an hour.?Its a favorite among drivers too. Youll often hear words like technical, challenging, and physically demanding come up in discussion.?The corners range from the 50-mph hairpin known as the Keyhole to the fearsome Turn 1, an off-camber, 90-degree left-hander taken flat in fifth gear more than 100 mph faster. Theres hard braking into the Keyhole and the unique banked Esses, and many good qualifying efforts have been thrown away when a driver failed to properly negotiate the Carousel that ends the lap.?Its a course that really has a bit of everything, observed Chip Ganassi Racings Charlie Kimball, who earned his only Indy car win with a dominant drive in 2013. Tight corners, flowing corners, elevation changes -- it can be challenging, for sure.?More than any other team, Ganassi Racing has gotten a handle on Mid-Ohio and its quirks. Ganassi drivers have won six of the last seven Indy car races at Mid-Ohio, with a total of 10 wins since 1996.?Four-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon is responsible for half of those victories, taking the honors in 2007, 09, 11, 12 and 14. There have been times when the New Zealander has been simply peerless, such as in 2009 when he won by nearly 30 seconds.?Dixon arrives at Mid-Ohio this year not only needing a win to get back into championship contention (hes fourth in the IndyCar Series standings, 83 points behind leader Simon Pagenaud) but also to gain some momentum and positive attention for Ganassi in the wake of this weeks news that longtime sponsor Target Stores is ending its support of the team at the end of the 2016 season after 27 years. ?Dixon was unofficially fastest in a recent open test at Mid-Ohio, reported lapping about 0.1 second under his track record of 1:04.55.?Its a place that we always feel that all four of our teams will have a shot at winning, and there arent many tracks out there where your confidence level is that high as a team, Dixon stated. We always have a stable platform to work with at Mid-Ohio and its a track that really feels like home.?Mid-Ohio truly is a home track for Graham Rahal, who despite no longer living in greater Columbus, has taken on his fathers mantle as the local favorite.?Graham Rahals victory at Mid-Ohio in 2015 was one of the most popular wins in recent memory, and he made it even more special to the partisan crowd by wearing a helmet designed to look like an Ohio State Buckeyes football helmet.?This year, Rahal has refined the design, adding additional buckeye stickers to signify the five podium finishes he achieved in the last year -- and a few grass stains too. Hell also wear a firesuit that incorporates Steak n Shake branding into an OSU football uniform theme.?To win at Mid-Ohio is a career accomplishment that I will never forget or take for granted, Rahal remarked. The way it all came together last year, every aspect of it, made it perfect for me.?Other drivers to watch this weekend include points leader Pagenaud, who has seen his margin shrink to 47 points over Will Power. Helio Castroneves is 74 points back as Team Penske drivers hold down positions 1-2-3 in the IndyCar Series championship standings.?Pagenaud was pleased with his recent Mid-Ohio test program, declaring Were ready to go.?Castroneves owns two Mid-Ohio wins, but they came back in 2000 and 01 in the CART-sanctioned Indy car series. Team Penskes fourth driver Juan Montoya won at Mid-Ohio for Ganassi Racing in 1999.?Surprisingly, Power has never won at a track that would seem to suit him. Hes earned multiple poles and led many laps, but never bettered a second place finish.?Weve built a lot of momentum in the middle part of the season and well look to keep it going at Mid-Ohio, Power said. Weve gotten ourselves into the championship fight, but its still a little early to be counting points. We just need to keep doing what we have been and let the points manage themselves.?It is not a track that Ive won at before, so this would be a great time to do that, he added. But well need to work hard to accomplish that. Riley Dixon Jersey . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. Jared Crick Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. http://www.broncosrookiesproshop.com/virgil-green-broncos-jersey/ . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead.Rory McIlroy believes he needs to improve his mental approach despite a strong finish to a frustrating week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The four-time major champion went in to the final round 16 shots adrift of Jason Day after a disappointing week at Bay Hill, but carded two eagles and five birdies to close with an encouraging seven-under 65.McIlroy was never in contention for a first win of the season after Fridays second-round 67 was sandwiched between two 75s, while a double-bogey at the 14th during the final round was his sixth of the week and his most ever in a PGA Tour event. The world No 3 has carded more double-bogeys this week than any other tournament in his PGA Tour career I cant keep beating myself up mentally, McIlroy told Sky Sports. Thats something that Ive done this week for hitting bad shots and making mistakes. If I can be just a bit better mentally then hopefully thatll be the key for me.Even today I threw in a double-bogey, which has been the story of not just my week, but my season so far. I just need to eradicate the mistakes.If I can get rid of those mistakes and play some of the golf that I have been playing, then theres no reason why I cant go on and content a lot of weeks this year.McIlroy followed a long-range birdie at the second with back-to-back gains from the fourth, before chipping in to eagle the sixth and picking up another stroke at the ninth. McIlroy carded two eagles during his final round After reaching the turn in 30, McIlroy struggled to make further movement up the leaderboard and ran up a double-bogey at the short 14th.However, the world No 3 recovered well to post a second eagle at the par-5 sixth before finishing his week by draining a long-range birdie from almost 60 feet.Bryson [DeChambeau] and myself both got off to a great start, McIlroy said. I think we fed off one another early on and we were just trying to keep it going.I hit a little bit of a lull at the start of the back nine when I was really trying to push on and make a few more birdies but made up for that with my finish on the last three holes. Todd Davis Jersey. Rory McIlroy sinks a monster birdie putt to end his final round at Bay Hill on 65 Its a nice way to round off the week. I was really disappointed coming off the course yesterday after feeling like my game was in really good shape coming here.Weve seen glimpses of that this week with a 67 which could have been a lot better on Friday and then a 65 today.McIlroy is back in action next week when he attempts to defend his WGC Dell Match Play title, in what will be his final appearance before next months Masters.Its all about Augusta, the 26-year-old added. Next week is a bit of a weird week for my final competitive week going into Augusta, but it will be great to get some matches under my belt.Match play is like being in contention on a weekend from the very first hole so I think thats going to be a great thing for me to see if I can play this sort of golf under pressure when I need to.I am excited for next week but obviously looking ahead, Im very excited for Augusta. 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