Indycar "racing"

Well some fans in Indycar think he might "follow the money" outta Indycar. The problem with that is the money has dried up in Nascar too.

 

'Don't think he'll figure it all out for himself?

 

4 drivers testing 2018 cars at Sebring today.

 

One to the groin for indycar.

https://www.wired.com/story/general-motors-electric-cars-plan-gm/amp

 

Unless they extend longevity and shorten "pit stop" (charging) times to under 5 minutes, I guess I won't be buying a new GM car.

 

I'm liking the new cars.

 

Sorrowfully, 'not new. 'Same 'ol DW12s.

 

But no less than Sebastien Bourdais has come out and openly stated that the previous aero kits
hurt Indy Car.

The DW12s may be the same under the skin, but the new bodywork is going to provide a better
platform for them to race.

Says the four time Champ Car champion,
"I think if we can go back towards more of a philosophy of the DW12 where the thing worked really well,
we had awesome races and it was somewhat possible to come back from not such a good qualifying and
not be stuck in traffic.

"I think first and foremost when you have a spec series you need to put on a good show for the fans to
enjoy and for the drivers to have fun and for the race to be dynamic, so hopefully it achieves that.

"It seems like in the early running the guys have been quite in agreement that the car does follow a lot
easier, so that should raise the possibilities of passing, which is what it needs to be."

Now that the cars aren't going to look like a sixth grader's idea of what a racing car should be, perhaps
they'll start getting back to reality and putting cars on the track that look the bit.

https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/bourdais-aerokit-indycar-hurt-961168/

BHW

 

If the body work doesn't help, this might ........http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/139552-ojjeh-mclaren-open-to-full-time-indy-return

 

Certainly, if McLaren is considering a full time move to Indy Cars, if would be a serious boost
to the series especially if they come in with their own chassis/engine combination.

If they bring over Alonso, Button or whomever else may be jumping from F-1 to Indy Cars, that
would really bring in the International interest once again. Just look at the interest the 500
garnered this year from Alonso's fans around the world especially in Spain and England.

As long as some Indiana bumpkin doesn't screw everything up and say stupid crap like "Dang
furrin' drivers with dem dere funny names" the way they did during the CART/IRL split, which
is always a possibility when they see the likes of Sato-San win the Indianapolis 500.

McLaren's entry into Indy Car would be the life preserver they've been looking for. Would be
great if happens.

BHW

 

Yes it would. And with it, we may actually see a real rule book allowing engines based on cubic capacity and chassis based upon size and dimensions, not specifications. With that, many of use would be able to take a stab at the 500 again.

 

They've seen it 16 of the 22 500s since the split, why would they start now when there's no opposing open wheel series here in the 'States?

 

Ain't holding my breath....

 

It's funny, I have friends in the business and those whom work closely with Indy Car.

Everyone seems to be in agreement, Indy Car is moving in positive directions. And, whereas I was
making statements last year to the effect that the death of Indy Car was at hand and the whole thing
would be sold out to NASCAR/ISC for pennies on the dollar was, perhaps, a bit premature.

Whereas Indy Car off-seasons lately have been a virtual black hole, I would expect this off season
to be full of news about driver signings, testing, developments etc. right up to the season opener in
St. Petersburg in March.

And, there were open comments made about Sato-San's great victory at Indy this year. One in
particular was about how one guy had a problem with a Japanese winning a U.S. race on Memorial
Day weekend and how it was almost akin to Fittipaldi drinking orange juice in victory lane rather than
the milk.

 

I don't get the Sato thing. It's not like he was a Kamikaze that somehow survived on Dec 7, 1941 and came back to win Indy on Memorial Day weekend nor is he (as far as I know) anti-American. It seems like those that have issues with that have personal problems they need to address first imo. He's always been very respectful on TV interviews and I assume he treats his colleagues the same.

What Fittipaldi did iirc was him plugging a personal investment (in the orange industry) over tradition, which imo is wrong.

 

Neither am I.

 

Then again, on retrospect, it would be rather silly wasting good technology on an unappreciative audience.....what when you can have the excitement of the coin toss.

 

Sorry to nitpick, but the Kamikaze appeared near the end of the war. But you might call his last lap passing attempt in 2012 a bonsai move.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRwDq6R_fH8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmv_hDSsrIM

 

Har dee har, har harrrr.

 

Robert Wickens (of DTM fame) will be in Indy next season alongside Hinchcliffe.

 

No Alonso at Indianapolis in 2018, McLaren wants him in Monaco that weekend. But he did say he will be back in the future.

-F

 

Verizon out as title sponsor after 2018.

It seems the big comm companies haven't made for a good fit as title sponsors.

Verizon remaining with Penske as team sponsor.

https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/verizon-to-quit-indycar-series-sponsorship-remain-with-penske-968047/?s=1

BHW

 

One may consider the fact the the ratings and the attendance are not economically working. For the amount of funds provided,the value just isn't there in the return. As the market continues to reject the current product, one may have to ask as to how much longer can this continue? Over priced club racing doesn't seem to have the same appeal to younger generations as real racing did when the baby boomers enjoyed the sport. The powers that be should reconsider their business plan. After 20+ years of "spec" racing, one needs to consider this......"it ain't working" guys!

"Turbopanzer" ..........bringing warmth and sunshine into the Indycar world!

 

More fun stuff,,,,,,,http://sports.usatoday.com/2017/10/16/mclaren-boss-were-years-away-from-fielding-indycar-team/

I guess Alonso is doomed to F1 and the gobs of money that come with it. Poor guy!

That life preserver just got tossed into the closet BHW!!!

 

There will be a title sponsor to step up and replace Verizon, that may be assured.

McLaren's rumored move to join the Indy Car ranks was nothing more than that, a rumor (or Robin Miller's
wishful thinking). While McLaren may have enjoyed the attention their brand got for entering Alonso at Indy, the
fact is that nothing on that car sans perhaps the paint scheme had anything what so ever to do with McLaren.
The car was an Andretti entered Honda/Dallara.

McLaren is in a perplexing position. They're in F-1 with a Honder (Leigh Diffey pronunciation) this year and
changing to Renault next year. They're in sports car series such as Blancplan and Pirelli World Challenge with
their 650S GT3s utilizing their own engines with McLaren badges on the engine covers.

Then, the possibility of returning to Indy Cars again with a Honder, what exactly is in all this for McLaren?

When I go to the Collection here in Miami and see McLarens on display in their showroom, the engines have
McLaren badges on the engine covers just like their sports racing cars. Why can't they do this for their F-1
cars as well?

McLaren is in the same market segment selling cars as Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, et.al. All companies
which race their own engines. If McLaren is success in F-1 or Indy Cars, Honder and/or Renault get all the
credit. So, if one is impressed enough with the McLaren F-1 car and goes to a dealer and sees that the engine
is not a Honder after all, does this not create market confusion?

It just seems a strange way to go racing...

BHW