Well.....here is some news. https://wtf1.com/post/mclaren-will-not-return-to-the-indy-500-in-2018/ The mothership will need to find a media spin for this puppy !
Spin what? It was only possible because of their Honda relationship last season. Now that they're with Renault it won't happen.
Yes, obviously with the new aero and electronics, there is more of a reason for testing. Hope you're wrong about next year though as surely they're seeing the benefit of having test sessions for the teams throughout the off-season. BHW
Seems to me that Boullier and Brown ruled out a return to Indy or a full season of Indy Car some time ago. Let Robin Miller connect those dots. BHW
More exciting news from the hipster world....https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/2021-indycar-plans-to-be-resolved-late-next-year-990653/amp/ Decisions decisions decisions!
Hopefully, they'll come to their senses and listen to feedback as they have with the stupid "aero kits" and open things up to multiple chassis manufactures. BHW
Not a huge Indy Car fan, but I do watch the 500 when I can. The McLaren "surprise" last May was very interesting. Too bad the motor broke. I do like the looks of the Indy Cars better than F1. This 2018 concept rendering is quite nice. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hopefully? In the 20 plus years of this nonsense do you really expect more than one? They can't even find a third engine manufacturer let alone chassis. As for them coming to their senses.....I am leaning toward that when "hell freezes over" thing. Or that " I will be 6 feet under" thing of Edesel Ford on both counts.
Hopefully they keep to their senses and not go the open chassis route. Indy car has been on a tremendous up swing over the last 5 years and is now a great series with true world class drivers again with some of the best on track action out there. In today's post tobacco money environment where the more and more people see cars as an evil necessity rather than an aspirational possession, the big money just isn't there. If you open it up to free or multiple chassis manufacturers again you'll instantly drive half the field into bankruptcy and loose the momentum the series has. There is a tremendous amount of freedom for what is a spec series that makes a massive difference between the Penske's and the back of the grid. People keep saying the aero kits were a bad idea because they were ugly and expensive. That's only a fraction of the cost, complexity etc of what an open formula would bring. Maybe once it's re-established itself as the true pinnacle of North American Motorsport again over (a fading) NASCAR and the sponsor base is will to fund teams to the tune of $20-50mil rather then than the $1-15mil today they could consider it. But right now open chassis would kill it instantly. Also an open formula, if it were sustainable, would probably instantly drive dirty aero that is already the bane of F1. Right now Indy car dictate a universal aero package that makes following the car in front, and thus create passing opportunities, possible. Even with the limited aero kits we had over the last two years we were starting down the harder to pass route. No I dont' see this as a chicken and egg situation where open chassis would foster more interest. That only accounts for the hard core fans. Paint all the F1 grid the same and 90% of fans couldn't differentiate and Ferrari from a Williams today. The series has a long way to go, but it's very much in the ascendancy which is more than I can say for F1 or NASCAR.
The Motor Speedway blanketed by snow ending 2017 into 2018. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes he Yes he did along with his brother Jacque. They raced several brands but he got notice when help build and pilot the twin track Alouette in 73. He won the World Snowmobile championship also. His real deal came in 75 when he went on a tear with the Kawasaki/Skiroule. It was the first fully independent front suspension snowmobile that worked. He ate up the competition. It help level his way thru Formula Ford and then to F1. I knew him when he raced sleds. I ran against him in the NY State Championships in 1975. He had tremendous talent ad did his brother.
Turbopanzer-- When did mfrs. start using the same riders from race to race? I had college friends from Rhinelander WI, one of them was recruited for the local race by one of the mfrs....late '60s. Don't know if I heard the whole story about this....
You need to get this book....https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-winter-previously-history-snowmobile/dp/0930820010 It is an excellent read and even TP's home track gets mentioned. The book can tell the whole story. It is the truly history of why we race. I can assure you that it will be the best read you have had in a long time.
Back to the subject at hand... Indy Car racing staying in the news for the right reasons during the off season, teams testing again at Sebring this week. This is what has been sorely missing from Indy Car the past few years. Off season testing news which during the CART era at least, was virtually as intriguing as the season itself and kept me busy as a photographer from the end of the season right to the start of the next season. They're finally slowly coming around. https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/jones-feeling-both-pressure-and-confidence-at-ganassi-994924/ BHW
This will last about 15 minutes. Once they determine the cars likes andb dislikes, they will "adjust" accordingly. You can't change anything else can you? So then we go back to looking at pretty colors and shiny bobbles.
I am glad to see that Indycar seems to “get it”, and is heading in the right direction regarding that most important part of the experience, SOUND! From an article about the future engine regulations: “Everybody wants more power, so that's what we're working on giving our fans with this plan. 'Fast and loud,' brother, that's the thing we're going for." Oh how I wish F1 could grasp that simple concept. http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/146847-indycar-engine-development-agreement-new-formula-coming Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In this regard, what teams must be doing a better job of is giving their sponsors ROI. That means keeping their logos in the public eye year round, not just from March until September. There must be off-season testing to keep the teams and drivers in practice and, believe me, the sponsors are very keen about this as well. During the CART era, Sebring International Raceway made more bank from testing than all the other track activities such was the amount of testing that went on from virtually the day after the season ended right up to the first race the next season. For far too long, the complete lack of off-season testing or any sort of news coming from Indy Car was rather curious. The best way to stay in the news is to have cars on track turning laps and finally Indy Car seems to be grasping this. BHW
Marchionne "pensando en" Alfa Romeo en IndyCar https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/marchionne-thinking-about-alfa-romeo-in-indycar-997199/
New cars, new paint and I see good news with some new sponsors, a view of some the liveries of the 2018 season: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It would be better to go canopy like some of the top fuel. It at least could be made to look good even though it loses the open cockpit purpose. The halo and windshield are half-ass. Either go full canopy or go nothing imo.