SB Nation Indiana - ...But this is Indiana!

Guy Fieri to Drive Pace Car at Indianapolis 500

2012-05-15T14:24:25Z

At times, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been treated like a drive-in (you can still park in the infield) and a dive (see: Snake Pit), so perhaps it is appropriate that the host of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," Guy Fieri, will drive the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 pace car for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27.

In a release, Fieri said:

"There are races and then there are races. And without a doubt, the Indy 500 is the race that I've always wanted to attend. And now, to be driving the Corvette Pace Car ... this is going to be unbelievable."

An avid car collector, Fieri's ties with Chevrolet run deep. He owns a red 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible that is featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Among others, Fieri also has a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup, 2006 Chevrolet Kodiak C4500 4x4, 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV.

IMS president and CEO Jeff Belskus noted Fieri's chops, saying:

"We look forward to welcoming Guy Fieri to the Indianapolis 500. He's full of energy and is a longtime 'car guy' - a perfect match for 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' I'm sure he'll remember forever the moment he fires up the incredible 2013 Corvette ZR1 and paces the field to the green flag."

NFP: Colts Building Around Andrew Luck, Passing Game

2012-05-14T14:51:01Z

From Greg Gabriel at National Football Post:

There has been much written about Andrew Luck. I feel he is the best quarterback prospect I have seen since Peyton Manning. He has many of the same intangibles that Manning possesses such as work ethic and passion for the game. It won’t be long before the league sees how good this player can be. Second pick Coby Fleener is another in the line of "new breed" tight ends. They are not really tight ends because they seldom line up as inline blockers. They are usually flexed out or in motion. Fleener is perfect for this role with his speed and athleticism and of course he has already played with Luck. Dwayne Allen is different than Fleener in that he is a more traditional tight end. He got a bum rap from some draftniks who said he wasn’t a strong blocker. Wrong! All they had to do was go back and look at 2010 tape when Clemson ran a different offense and they could see what kind of blocker Allen really is. T.Y. Hilton is a very fast slot receiver who doubles as a more than adequate return specialist. Going to a 3-4 defense, the Colts had to find a traditional nose tackle. They found their guy in Josh Chapman from Alabama. He should do a good job anchoring the middle. Vick Ballard doesn’t have any special trait but he is a tough and consistent inside runner. He won’t be the bell cow type but should be excellent in a rotation.

In case you don't know Gabriel's background, he's a former scout for the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants, and was (at one time) Director of College Scouting for the Chicago Bears.

The Colts drafted eight players on offense with ten picks in 2012, including two quarterbacks, two wide receivers, and the two tight ends mentioned above. That's a not-so-subtle hint that they plan to build their "new era" around Andrew Luck, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, and the passing game.

Chevrolet Appeal of Honda's Turbocharger Denied

2012-05-11T18:43:58Z

As the engine competition in the IZOD IndyCar Series escalates, Honda picked up a key ruling in its quest to improve engine performance, as Chevrolet's appeal of INDYCAR's decision to allow a revamped turbocharger for Honda.

Via Borg-Warner, Honda changed the compressor cover for its single turbocharger to a 0.71 A/R, theoretically better improving its performance to compete with Chevrolet. Naturally, Chevrolet appealed the decision by INDYCAR to permit the changed cover, but former Indiana Supreme Court Justice Ted Boehm ruled on Honda's behalf in his decision.

Per INDYCAR Rule 13.11, the decision is final and binding.

With Chevrolet having won the first four races of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, Honda will be looking to maintain its grip on victories at Indianapolis. The manufacturer has won every 500 since 2004, albeit as the sole supplier of engines to the series from 2006-2011.

Honda is optimistic that the single turbocharger design will allow for higher-end speeds on ovals, as opposed to the two turbocharger set up favored by Chevy.

The first indications of how the engines will perform will come this weekend, as practice opens for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday.

Big Ten Continues It Basketball Attendance Dominance

2012-05-11T18:22:55Z

The Big Ten is known for its rabid fans, especially since the once mocked Big ten network is now the gold standard for how to market collegiate athletic programs. It is no surprise then that the conference once again led the nation in attendance for men's basketball. According to an official release earlier today, the Big Ten has led the nation for 36 years running:

The Big Ten led the nation in men's basketball attendance for the 36th consecutive season according to figures recently released by the NCAA. The Big Ten led all conferences with an average attendance of 12,868, which is more than 1,300 higher than the next-closest conference.

During the 2011-12 regular season, the Big Ten welcomed 2,856,785 fans over 222 games, which marks the conference's all-time total attendance record and is the 20th straight year the conference eclipsed the two-million mark.

Six conference schools ranked in the top 25 in average attendance, while no other conference had more than four top-25 programs. Wisconsin led the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally with an average of 17,181 fans per game. Ohio State (16,511) and Indiana (16,462) ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, followed by No. 14 Illinois (14,986), No. 15 Michigan State (14,797) and No. 21 Purdue (13,324). The Buckeyes and Hoosiers also posted two of the largest increases from the previous season.

Indiana Offers Florida DE-LB Recruit, Malik Smith

2012-05-08T16:29:10Z

Indiana has offered Malik Smith, a defensive end/linebacker recruit out of Orlando, Fla. per the Orlando Sentinel. According to the report, Smith has been in contact with Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Louisville, Northern Illinois and Central Florida. Indiana is Smith's first scholarship offer. The Hoosiers have yet to gain a commitment from the Class of 2013.

The 6'1" defensive prospect has the tools of a D1 football player, but his high school team's lack of success might have hindered his recruitment. Smith is ranked No. 54 in the Sentinel's class of 2013 Central Florida Super60. other players ranked in the Super60 that Indiana has offers out to include RB Jojo Kemp at No. 16 and Mikey Dorcely at No. 39.

Rivals.com has Smith labeled as three-star recruit. The Hoosiers are looking to improve upon its second-to-last ranked recruiting class in the Big Ten this past year.

See a highlight video of Indiana's recruit after the jump.

Malik Smith, OL/DL, Class of 2013 - Highlight Video (via OakHammockEnt)

For more on the Indiana Hoosiers, check out The Crimson Quarry

Kentucky Fans Strike Back At Indiana Fans

2012-05-03T14:45:49Z

This past college basketball season the Indiana Hoosiers won the December battle at Assembly Hall with Christian Watford's game-winning three-pointer, but the Kentucky Wildcats won the war in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers now have a tasteful display of last season's return to national relevance at Assembly Hall, but Kentucky fans have already gotten a hold of it:

tltaworl Says:
May 2nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
Haha, people would be asking if Cal had lost his touch if we finish in the Sweet 16.

Eric K Says:
May 2nd, 2012 at 11:59 am

What a joke! That’s a real good reason to stop playing the LOOSIERS!! What a joke!! GO CATS!!

Some of the comments should make for interesting fodder for the next meeting between the two teams, especially since Kentucky is the defending national champion, but Indiana could enter the 2012-13 season ranked No. 1 in the country.

Metta World Peace At It Again With Elbow

2012-04-23T01:59:04Z

Die hard fans of the Indiana Pacers had to hate the 2010 NBA Finals, where Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) hit a huge three-pointer to win an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. Artest, of course, cost Reggie Miller one last shot at a championship with his melee in Detroit during the 2004-05 season, resulting in a season-long suspension. He later said all the right things in trying to return the next year, only to essentially hold the team hostage before finally being traded.

He was up to his old tricks on Sunday with a vicious and unprovoked elbow on James Harden, which prompted an ejection and likely further disciplinary action.

via assets.sbnation.com

Quite simply, Artest (or whatever he is calling himself this week) should be suspended for the remainder of the season. He has a long history of issues with the league, and holds the NBA record for a suspension resulting from an on-court incident after he sat 86 games for the Detroit incident. He also once sat three games for destroying a TV camera at Madison Square Garden. considering that was before the brawl in Detroit and it was far less vicious than the Harden elbow, it is likely David Stern will sit Artest for awhile.

Wade Cunningham to Make Indy 500 Debut for Foyt

2012-04-18T18:33:33Z

Wade Cunningham has captured the Firestone Indy Lights Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway three times, but has never run in the Indianapolis 500.

That will change this may, when Cunningham will pilot the No. 41 entry for A.J. Foyt Racing in the Indianapolis 500.

Cunningham drove three races in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2011, finishing seventh at Kentucky and helping to open Foyt’s eyes to the driver.

Cunningham will participate in the Rookie Orientation Program on May 10 ahead of the opening of IMS for practice at noon on May 12.

Pole Day Qualifying is May 19. The 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on ABC May 27 starting at 11 a.m. (ET).