The Triple Crown is back in IndyCar, but the big question is, can anyone actually win it?

Al Unser is the only driver to win the IndyCar’s Triple Crown. He did it in 1978, winning 500-mile races at Indy, Pocono, and California. Those were the only three races that Unser won that season. Several factors have contributed to no one else being able to win the Triple Crown.

While it’s not out of the question for a driver to win it in 2013, it’s hard to imagine it happening. Obviously winning the first leg at Indianapolis is a life-time achievement in itself. The third leg at Fontana is difficult to judge because of the possible circumstances. It’s the final race of the season, and the Championship battle could come into play.

The second leg is the really interesting part. The “Tricky Triangle” could live up to its name next year. Obviously none of these drivers have raced here before, and each one of the three turns carry unique traits. IndyCar will likely hold a test session there before the start of the 2013 season.

With the depth of quality talent this series has shown over the past couple of years, it would be quite an accomplishment for one driver to win all three. There will be a $1 million check waiting for them if they do pull it off though. If a driver wins two of the three legs, they can still earn a nice $250,000 bonus. That will give us another story line to watch in Fontana, even if we have two different winners at Indianapolis and Pocono.

Bringing back the Triple Crown is obviously a positive move for the sport moving forward. It’s a tall order for any driver, but there are plenty of them capable of scoring the hat trick.