Alright, all you resident experts - who will win Indy??

I expect Stoner to prevail -- he can't keep crashing, can he??

1. Stoner (keeps it on 2 wheels, but championship remains out of reach)
2. Rossi (after a slow start to the weekend, Val sucks it up but just doesn't have quite the horsepower to get by the Duc)
3. Hayden (all those parade laps pay off)

Can't ever count Rossi out... who are the quickest track learners?? Dovi and Pedrosa did well at laguna their first time there, so expect those guys to do well- in spite of PP being on bridgestones! Expect the Amricans to be fired up as well. Edwards is good at new tracks, and we all know this could be his best shot at that first win!!

"It is like three tracks in one with the new MotoGP section from turns 1-4, the old Formula One course, and the traditional Indy course, including the main straight," said Tohru Ubukata, Bridgestone Motorsport's manager of Race Tyre Development. "Because of this, there are different types of asphalt over the lap from very smooth to abrasive, so our tyres will have to cope with all variations."

Based on this I'm guessing the Michelins will suck and there is also a chance of rain.

Rossi is my pick, but if it rains it's a crap-shoot.

DARBY - 10 September 2008 10:51 AM

Alright, all you resident experts - who will win Indy??

I expect Stoner to prevail -- he can't keep crashing, can he??

He should have won the last 3.After Laguna,his strategy seemed to get away early to keep from matching race craft skills with Rossi and it has got him in trouble early.So far,Rossi has not proven he can leave Stoner in the dust at any track.If Casey will be patient and not worry about winning by 8-10 seconds,he will be fine.Rossi broke him mentally at Laguna,winning with a much slower bike and Stoner hasnt been the same since.I do think this track might favor the Ducati so i will pick Casey this weekend.

DARBY - 10 September 2008 10:51 AM

Alright, all you resident experts - who will win Indy??

I expect Stoner to prevail -- he can't keep crashing, can he??

It is probably going to be a rain race and the walls might scare some of the riders so the winner might be somebody who has nothing to lose and wants to be a hero.I hope nobody gets hurt and the riders do not try to boycot the race for safety reasons.

I want Rossi to win, but I think it will be Stoner.

I will watch with interest how Pedrosa does. For all intents and purposes, he has a new bike (well, tires and engine, but i'd say that's significant).

I say it's wide open with that new track. Hopefully, Nicky will be a little extra pumped being so close to home and adrenaline will mask any pain in his heel. But ultimately superman, AKA the doctor will prevail.

Man, I hope there is not a boycott if it rains. And I hope it doesn't rain for the mile Saturday night, either.

1 Stoner if he stays upright.
2 Rossi (#1 if Stoner bins it).
3 Pedrosa

Hopefully Nicky, Hopper and Edwards will have good showings as well as Spies.

Is Spies a wildcard entry?

Call me pessimistic, but I think there will be no race if it rains.