We mentioned some of these predictions during our race show, this morning.  But, since we didn’t get to all of them on the air, here’s the list of predicted winners courtesy of some local dignitaries:

Sen. Evan Bayh                 Ryan Briscoe

Sen. Richard Lugar            Helio Castroneves

Rep. Andre Carson            Rooting for Danica.  Believes Marco Andretti will win

Rep. Mike Pence                Dan Wheldon

Rep. Steve Buyer               Dan Wheldon

Rep. Dan Burton                Dan Wheldon

Coach Jim O’Brien, Indiana Pacers:              Dan Wheldon

Gerry Dick, Inside Indiana Business               Tony Kanaan

Scott theFace, MyINDY TV                    Helio Castroneves   (or Marco Andretti)

Dave Smiley/Z-99.5            Scott Dixon

Ed Wank/Hank 97.1           Tony Kanaan

Dave O’Brien/Hank 97.1     Scott Dixon

Scotty Davis/Radio Now     Al Unser, Jr.

Shy/Radio Now                  Danica Patrick

McKinzie/Radio Now          Danica Patrick

The most lasting image of Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 is that of Speedway security chief Charles Burns convincing Danica Patrick that she should end her pursuit (on foot) of Ryan Briscoe and get out of the pits. 

Folks at the Statehouse should remember Charles and the fact that he has been the subject of international news before.  Burns was a state trooper before entering private industry and served on the governor’s detail during the Bayh administration. 

He was in uniform during a KKK rally at the Statehouse in the early ’90’s and, when a guy threw something at African American protesters, Burns chased him down and took him down in convincing fashion.  You might say the guy ate some sidewalk.  The dramatic images were relayed around the world by CNN and then-Governor Evan Bayh enjoyed telling how he saw the take-down while in Germany. 

He knew right away that it was Trooper Burns getting the job done.