IndyCars: St. Petersburg - The 2020 season begins!....Sort of

[MarkyS]

Today should be the first day of the 2020 season of IndyCar racing, with on-track activity in the Road to Indy, but the pandemic of the Coronavirus is going to affect the race weekend. What we are hearing is that there WILL BE a…

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Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

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…But it will be run in front of empty stands, as no one but drivers, crew members, media and necessary race personnel will be permitted inside the street course. No one without a hard card (an official entry I.D.) will be admitted to the track, so that means no race fans and no autograph sessions. The race SHOULD BE broadcast on NBC-SN at the scheduled time on Sunday. If that changes we will let you know.

At this time the weekend has been condensed down to support activities on Friday, practice and qualifying for the IndyCars on Saturday and the race on Sunday. All three Road to Indy series will run their two races each, with only one qualifying session to cover both races - not the usual, but necessary in the condensed schedule.

At this time it looks like there will be no practice sessions for the support series running, but for the three Road to Indy series the good news is they are fresh off the Spring Training testing at Homestead-Miami, last weekend, so this won’t hurt as much.
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The track remains the same and it’s one of the better temporary street courses on the schedule, relatively smooth and fast at 1.8-miles, the 14-turn (5 lefts, 9 rights) circuit incorporates streets of downtown St. Petersburg and a runway of the Albert Whitted Airport. That runway is the longest straight and very wide but it funnels down into a very sharp right-hander, followed by a quick left-hander that catch out a lot of drivers.

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The racing will be almost constant on the condensed schedule because it was very busy on the original schedule, with no less than 13 races. If that holds up they will be:

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• SRO GT4 America - 2 races
• SRO TCR America - 2 races
• IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA - 2 races
• USF2000 - 2 races
• Indy Pro 2000 - 2 races
• Indy Lights - 2 races

…and of course the IndyCar race will be on Sunday

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Let’s look at that support racing -
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First off, SRO GT4 America, SRO TCR America (both formerly Pirelli World Challenge series) and IMSA Porsche Cup are all splendid production car-based racing series that regularly produce talents who end up in the highest echelons of SportsCar racing, but no IndyCar guys will be competing in them this weekend, so we will wish them safe and happy racing and concentrate on all the open-wheel stuff, where the IndyCar drivers are.

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continued…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Support series…(continued)…

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USF2000 - On the Road to Indy ladder system that trains IndyCar series drivers, this is typically the first series that young aspirants will come to. The cars are often the first winged and slick-tired formula cars they will try. The carbon-fiber Tatuus USF-17 is the chassis, meeting current FIA F4 safety standards, but with an upgraded front bulkhead structure for the oval racing we do here. It’s powered by an Elite Engines 2.0 liter MZR normally-aspirated 4-cylinder, developing 175 horsepower with Cosworth engine management. The gearbox is a Sadev SL75 six-speed sequential transmission operated by paddle-shifters on the Cosworth steering wheel. Brakes are four-pot calipers by PFC and are driver-adjustable for bias. The suspensions front and rear are fully adjustable with 6 different spring rates available. Tires - regulars and wets - are by Cooper.

The fields for USF2000 are usually large, with lots of young drivers from all over the world who have proven themselves in usually either karts or in F1600 cars, and are ready to make the leap into winged formula cars. Some of them will be struggling to find speed while others will already be truly excellent.

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Last year’s Champion Braden Eves, driving his USF-17 for Cape Motorsports

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Indy Pro 2000 - This is the middle rung series on the Road to Indy ladder. The car is the Tatuus PM-18, which is an upgrade of the Tatuus USF-17 chassis, making it possible to buy one chassis and race in two different series, just by changing the add-ons. The engine is the 2.0-liter MZR-PM-18A by Elite Engines with 275 horsepower. Also controlled by a Cosworth management system, this normally-aspirated 4 cylinder is torquey and loud, making it unmistakable and thrilling on the racetrack. The gearbox is a somewhat bigger Sadev SL82 six-speed sequential transmission operated by paddle-shifters. Brakes and suspensions of the PM-18 are similar to the Tatuus USF-17. Tires - regulars and wets - are by Cooper, but are substantially larger than on the USF-17. Similarly, the wings on the PM-18 are larger and the car produces significantly more downforce than the USF-17. This is a perfect car to transition to more power and more grip.

The fields in Indy Pro 2000 are somewhat smaller than USF2000, but the talent level generally is much higher across the board. Most of the drivers here have already developed good racecraft in lesser series, so the competition for the top is far greater. More series drivers can win on any race weekend.

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Last year the series champion was Kyle Kirkwood, driving for RP Motorsport USA

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Indy Lights - The top rung of the ladder, Indy Lights cars are much closer to full-size IndyCars in speed, in acceleration feel and especially in handling characteristics. The chassis is the Dallara IL-15 while the engines are by AER. While the same displacement at 2.0 liters, these 4-cylinders are turbo-charged and produce 450 horsepower, while having “Push-to-Pass” available - just like on the big cars - giving the car a limited burst of 50 additional horsepower under certain race conditions. The IL-15 uses a bigger gearbox by Ricardo, bigger brakes, bigger Cooper tires and bigger suspensions and wings than the two lesser cars. It is considered an excellent training ground to make the transition to full-size IndyCars.

That is born out by the level of driver talent in Indy Lights. While the fields are the smallest of the three series, they are generally ready to drive IndyCars, and competitively, too. The two most recent Champions and the two most recent Vice-Champions from the series WILL ALL BE driving IndyCars in 2020. In fact, about half the field in IndyCars are former Indy Lights Champions or competitors.

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The Champion of the series last year was Oliver Askew - now an IndyCar driver.

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We await a revised weekend schedule from the series and from the venue. Hopefully, by tonight we will have a better idea of who will be on track and when for the rest of the weekend.

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Stay tuned!!

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M

[MarkyS]

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Well…The party’s over. In an abundance of caution IndyCar is suspending all racing for the weekend and for the foreseeable future - the first four races of the season, at least. Here is their statement, issued moments ago:

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Official Statement from INDYCAR

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After careful consideration, including regular communication with our event promoters, health officials, and the city administrations in our respective race markets regarding COVID-19, we have made the decision to cancel all NTT INDYCAR Series events through April. This begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg which was to begin today and run through Sunday, March 15 and continues through the AutoNation INDYCAR Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas which was to take place April 24-26. Although we are disappointed to delay the start to this INDYCAR season and will miss our incredible fans who support us each year in St. Petersburg, Birmingham, Long Beach, and Austin, the safety of our fans, participants, staff, partners, and media will always remain our top priority. We will continue to coordinate with public health experts and government officials as we determine the appropriate plans for resuming our schedule."

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This also includes the three Road to Indy series, so St. Petersburg is completely done. A shame, all three Road to Indy series were able to get in a practice session this morning and they showed us some real stuff.

We are going to present all three sessions, just because of what they say about the current state in each series, but this is the last of the weekend driving.

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M

[MarkyS]

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The first and only appearance of USF2000 cars this weekend at St. Petersburg…

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…was also the first on-track activity of the day, as the little guys put in their weekend practice in anticipation of qualifying and racing, later today. That is not to be, however, so this is the only glimpse of what might have been.

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Here was the order of speed for the USF2000 P-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Pabst Racing - time of 01:13.5152s for a speed of 88.145mph

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2 - Christian Rasmussen, Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 01:13.7139s for a speed of 87.907mph

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3 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Cape Motorsports - time of 01:13.7716s for a speed of 87.839mph

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4 - Reece Gold, Cape Motorsports - time of 01:13.9698s for a speed of 87.603mph

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5 - Christian Brooks [R], Exclusive Autosport - time of 01:14.1684s for a speed of 87.369mph

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6 - Matthew Round-Garrido, Pabst Racing
7 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Pabst Racing
8 - Kiko Porto [R], DEForce Racing
9 - Christian Bogle, Jay Howard Driver Development
10 - Nolan Siegel, Jay Howard Driver Development

11 - Prescott Campbell [R], Exclusive Autosport
12 - Kyle Dupell, Cape Motorsports
13 - Cameron Shields, Legacy Autosport
14 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
15 - Jordan Missig [R], Newman Wachs Racing
16 - Manuel Cabrera, Exclusive Autosport
17 - Mathias Ramirez [R], DEForce Racing
18 - Josh Green [R], Cape Motorsports
19 - Ayrton Ori [R], Legacy Autosport
20 - Wyatt Brichacek [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

21 - Max Kaeser [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

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Notable:

• Not much to surprise us here, based on what we saw at Spring Training, last weekend. Dudu Barrichello easily TOPPED that weekend and here he is, back on top, with Denmark’s Christian Rasmussen in P2, as he was at Homestead-Miami.

• Rookie Michael d’Orlando also impressed at Spring Training, as did sophomore Reece Gold, who is still but 15 years old. We even picked rookie Christian Brooks to be a contender after a few races and he’s already pushing that notion.

• Not so expected in the TOP TEN was Christian Bogle. The big Cajun WON two races in F4 United States last year and should be getting better in a USF2000 car, but he didn’t show it in Spring Training. Kiko Porto is also doing a bit better than last week. We think Kiko has a lot of potential, based on previous experience in F4 US.

• Matt Round-Garrido and Yuven Sundaramoorthy were both TOP TEN material at Homestead, as was young Nolan Siegel, who like Reece Gold is still just 15. All three could be on podiums this season - if we have a season.

• We expected a bit better out of both Cameron Shields and Josh Green, but Cam is very rusty and Josh is a rookie, so we want to see what they can do with more seat time.

• Wyatt Brichacek went off course early in the session, bringing out a red flag, but he was able to rejoin. Yuven Sundaramoorthy also tapped the wall in Turn 12, but was able to rejoin with no damage.

• New to the grid is SR3 Radical racer Jordan Missig for Newman Wachs Racing - their first and only entrant, so far. We’ll do a short profile on Jordan in the Off-Season thread.

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Eduardo Barrichello - taking up where he left off, last week

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Next up, the Indy Pro 2000 gang got in a practice…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Indy Pro 2000 puts in their one and only appearance of the weekend…

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Following the kids from USF2000 the next series on track were the middle-rung drivers of Indy Pro 2000, giving us a few surprises.

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Here was the order of speed for the Indy Pro 2000 P-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Braden Eves [R], Exclusive Autosport - time of 01:08.5986s for a speed of 94.463mph

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2 - Kory Enders, DEForce Racing - time of 01:09.1821s for a speed of 93.666mph

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3 - Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing - time of 01:09.2364s for a speed of 93.592mph

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4 - Lucas Petersson [R], RP Motorsport USA - time of 01:09.2832s for a speed of 93.529mph

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5 - Parker Thompson, DEForce Racing - time of 01:09.3071s for a speed of 93.497mph

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6 - Artem Petrov [R], Juncos Racing
7 - Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing
8 - Colin Kaminsky [R], Pabst Racing
9 - Phillippe Denes, RP Motorsport USA
10 - Sabre Cook [R], Team Benik

11 - Lucas Kohl, Turn 3 Motorsport
12 - Moises de la Vara, DEForce Racing
13 - Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing
14 - Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!

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Notable:

• No surprise at the top. Braden, the 2019 USF2000 Champion, was also the fastest guy in Spring Training. He was the only guy to crack into the 1:08s today - more than half a second up on Kory Enders. Eves WON both races at St. Pete in 2019 in USF2000 cars - the first two of six he took to the title.

• The two mild surprises in the TOP FIVE are Kory Enders and Lucas Peterson. Kory is an excellent driver and he expected to be the team captain in 2020, but the late addition of Parker Thompson to the DEForce squad stole some thunder. He’s trying to recapture some of it and succeeding. This is better than he showed at Spring Training.

• Petersson, a Swede raised in Dubai, has been a middling performer in other series, but RP Motorsport USA saw something in him that told them he has the potential. This is a good start to proving them right.

• Sting Ray Robb, Parker Thompson and Artem Petrov are no surprise at all in the top half of the field but Petrov was the first guy to leave the track today. He was able to rejoin.

• Phillippe Denes was TOP THREE for most of the session, but while other closed out stronger he faded at the end. Still, RP Motorsport has great faith in him.

• Hunter McElrea put in the least laps of anyone and it showed. This guy should be TOP TEN all the time and TOP FIVE most of the time, based on his 2019 USF2000 career, ending as series Vice-Champion and only by a few points off Braden Eves.

• Indy Lights driver Lucas Kohl was substituting for Antoine Comeau, who had other commitments this weekend, but Antoine should be back in the car if and when racing resumes.

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Braden Eves - fast, fast, fast.

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Next up, the Indy Lights take to the track…

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M

[MarkyS]

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The Indy Lights put in their one and only practice session of the weekend…

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…and possibly for many months to come. We did get a big surprise out of them, anyway, to give us all something to ponder.

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Here was the order of the speed for the Indy Lights P-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - David Malukas, HMD Motorsports - time of 01:06.2663s for a speed of 97.787mph

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2 - Kyle Kirkwood [R], Andretti Autosport - time of 01:06.3926s for a speed of 97.601mph

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3 - Rasmus Lindh [R], Belardi Auto Racing - time of 01:06.3988s for a speed of 97.592mph

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4 - Danial Frost [R], Andretti Autosport - time of 01:06.6372s for a speed of 97.243mph

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5 - Robert Megennis, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:06.7428s for a speed of 97.089 mph

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6 - Toby Sowery, Belardi Auto Racing
7 - Santiago Urrutia, HMD Motorsports
8 - Antonio Serravalle [R], HMD Motorsports
9 - Nikita Lastochkin [R], Exclusive Autosport
10 - Tristan Charpentier [R], Andretti Autosport

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Notable:

• David Malukas is a sophomore and declared 2019 as a learning year. He obviously learned a lot, to top this group. Every one of the TOP SEVEN are capable of WINS and podiums, based on their previous experiences. They are all that good - including Malukas who placed P4 in both races here last year, with two podiums elsewhere.

• Even rookie Antonio Serravalle performed well this morning at only 0.6 seconds off Dave’s time. As usual, Indy Lights has the most talent per capita of any Road to Indy series.

• The TOP SPOT in Indy Lights switched back and forth between David, teammate Santi Urrutia and Kyle Kirkwood for most of the session, with each holding it more than once. David’s final top lap came with just 5 minutes to go.

• Toby Sowery had a possible TOP LAP going, based on sector times, when Santi went off in the Turn 4 run-off area, bringing out a red flag and spoiling the Brit’s chance to top the session. Santi was able to rejoin on his own.

• Rookie Tristan Charpentier was the first guy off and slapped the wall between Turn 13 and Turn 14 on lap 4, resulting in enough damage to suspend all the rest of his efforts for the session. He was only scheduled to drive the first three races of the season. Let’s hope he gets the chance to do more than 4 laps for the entire season.

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David Malukas - former star of the reality series, "Kart LIfe"

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That’s it. That is all we are going to get from St. Petersburg. Let’s just all hope it’s not all we are going to get for the whole season.

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