IndyCars - The off-season: Series news and comment until the March 2014 kick-off

[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Lime Rock Park - the Michelin Pilot Challenge race…

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…was one of the most hotly contested MPC races of the season, as on the small Lime Rock circuit the TCR class cars were often as fast as the GS class cars, and that created lots of packs of cars, all vying for top spots on the island of pavement. In the end the WINNERS of the GS class and overall were starter Jeff Mosing and closer Eric Foss in the # 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT GT4. P2 at the end was Stevan McAleer in the # 23 Notlad Racing by RS1 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 he co-drove with Patrick Gallagher, while P3 went to hard-charging IndyCar driver Jan Heylen in the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport he shared with Ryan Hardwick. Heylen made up 4 spots in the last stint to claim his 4th podium in 5 season races, launching him into a tie for first place in the points with Bill Auberlen and Dillon Machavern.

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The key for the Murillo boys was to take on only two tires on their final pit stop, following the 4th full-course caution. Foss was also blessed with great timing, able to pass a large scrum of cars right at the restart, while McAleer was stuck behind tyraffic long enough for Foss to make his escape. Once past the crowded field, McAleer was actually faster than Foss, but ran out of time to catch him. The last WIN for Jeff and Eric was in the old ST class at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2017.

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Your happy GS class podium - Left to right, That’s Stevan McAleer & Patrick Gallagher in P2 on the left, Jeff Mosing & Eric Foss in P1 in the middle and Ryan Hardwick & Jan Heylen in P3 on the right:

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The WINNERS of the TCR class were starter Taylor Hagler and closer Michael Lewis in the # 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster N TCR. Closer Tim Lewis chased Michael Lewis to take P2 with teammate and starter Roy Block in the # 5 KMW Motorsports w/ TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR - the car’s first podium of the season. P3 went to Tyler Maxson in the # 27 Copeland Motorsports Hyundai Veloster N TCR co-driven by Tyler Gonzalez, who started from pole.

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TCR class was a close battle all through the race and right to the finish line, as Michael Lewis made the pass for the lead with six minutes to go and finished off the hectic final stint to win by just 0.134 seconds. It was the first season WIN for Hagler and Lewis and extended their points lead in the class.

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Your happy TCR class podium - left to right, that’s Tim Lewis & Roy Block in P2 on the left, Taylor Hagler & Michael Lewis in P1 in the middle and Tyler Gonzales & Tyler Maxon in P3 on the right:

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With these results, here are the TOP THREE in points in each class, leaving Lime Rock Park:

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GS class -

1 - Bill Auberlen, Dillon Machavern, 1540
1 - Jan Heylen, 1540
3 - Robby Foley, Vincent Barletta, 1490

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TCR class -

1 - Michael Lewis, Taylor Hagler, 1850
2 - Ryan Eversely, 1600
3 - Parker Chase, 1560

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Next up for the Michelin Pilot Challenge will be the Road America 120 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 7th.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Lime Rock Park - The WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race…

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…was cut short by lightning and gave starter Roman De Angelis and closer Ross Gunn their 2nd unorthodox WIN this season in the GTD class in the # 23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The # 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo of starter Madison Snow and closer Bryan Sellers was second while the # 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RCF GT3 of closer Jack Hawksworth and qualifier Aaron Telitz - both IndyCar guys - rounded out the podium.

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De Angelis had a great first stint and was the class of the field when he brought the car in for its only race stop and the driver exchange. Gunn took over and kept the pace up until lightning shortened the scheduled 2 hour, 40 minute race to just 90 minutes. The red flag came out and despite a long wait by IMSA, the race was finally called.

This is the 2nd WIN of the season for Heart of Racing Team, which also WON at Detroit when the P1 car was disqualified after post-race inspection. De Angelis and Gunn take over the points lead, as a result. Previous points-leaders Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley had a fairly miserable day, with a penalty at the start of the race and not much luck thereafter. They would finish in P5, nonetheless.

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Your happy, lightning-free GTD class indoor podium - left to right, that’s Bryan Sellers & Madison Snow on the left in P2, Ross Gunn & Roman de Angelis in P1 in the middle and Jack Hawksworth & Aaron Telitz in P3 on the right:

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In the top GTLM class the WINNER in class and overall was the # 3 Corvette C8.R of closer Antonio Garcia and starter Jordan Taylor, while P2 went to the # 4 Corvette with starter Tommy Milner and closer Nick Tandy, both cars for Corvette Racing. P3 went to the # 79 WeatherTech Porsche 911 RSR - 19 with Cooper MacNeil starting and Mathieu Jaminet closing. The WIN just extends the points lead for Gacia and Taylor, who have WON all but 1 race, this season.

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Your happy, lightning-free GTLM class indoor podium - Left to right, that’s Nick Tandy & Tommy Milner in P2 on the left, Jordan Taylor & Antonio Garcia in P1 in the middle and Cooper MacNeil & Mathieu Jaminet in P3 on the right:

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With these results, here are the TOP THREE in points in each class, leaving Lime Rock Park:

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GTLM class -

1 - Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor, 1852
2 - Nick Tandy, Tommy Milner, 1661
3 - Cooper MacNeil, 1604

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GTD class -

1 - Roman de Angelis, Ross Gunn, 1606
2 - Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, 1578
3 - Bryan Sellers, Madison Snow, 1536

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The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship will now head to Road America on August 5-8.

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[MarkyS]

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On friday, the 16th, Sage Karam married Abigail Guman…

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…and the IndyCar driver had a bunch of his fellow competitors there to cheer him on…

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left to right, Sage, Marco Andretti, Sage’s dad Jody and Abigail

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The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Left to right, Marco Andretti, Alexander Rossi and Sage Karam - sox were optional.

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Sage, Abigail and their pastor Dr. Jarrod Spencer

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Buds holding Sage up, left to right, Conor Daly, Alexander Rossi, James Hinchcliffe, Marco Andretti, Josef Newgarden and Tony Kanaan.

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Sage’s last IndyCar race was the 2021 Indy 500, where he took the Dreyer & Reinbold # 24 Chevrolet from a 32nd place starting spot on the last row to P7 at the end. Will someone PLEASE get this guy a full time ride???

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CONGRATS to Sage and Abby Karam!!

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[MarkyS]

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He’s back!..Santino Ferrucci will drive for Rahal Letterman Lanigan at Nashville…

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…for the innaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Ferrucci has driven the Hy-Vee Groceries-sponsored # 45 Honda 4 times previously in 2021 with a P6 at the Indy 500, a P7 and a P10 at the Detroit double-headers and a P9 at Mid-Ohio.

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Said Santino, “I’m super excited to be back driving for RLL and Hy-Vee. It’s going to be an incredible race as it’s our first time racing in the streets of Nashville. The track has an incredible layout that has us racing over a bridge. I have been to the track before on a scooter so I at least know a little about the layout. I’m excited to get the chance to continue with consistent top-10 finishes for the team but I definitely think we can challenge for a win if the weekend goes smoothly.”

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Santino Ferrucci

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With the exception of the Indy 500, the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will have the highest number of starters at 28 (or more) since the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2013. The addition of Ferrucci justs ramps up the WOW factor.

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[MarkyS]

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IndyCars at Laguna Seca today…

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Between now and the Big Machine Music Grand Prix at Nashville on August 8th, the IndyCar community will be testing at various tracks. Today, 11 cars showed up at Laguna Seca to test, including the four Andretti Autosport cars of Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe, the four Team Penske cars of Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Scott McLaughlin, making his Laguna Seca debut, and the three cars of Rahal Letterman Lanigan, with Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato and Santino Ferrucci.

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They’re just concluding their day but we have a few pieces of video of Graham Rahal making a lap.

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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

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And here, Santino Ferrucci pushes it past the limit and spins in the Corkscrew, but keeps it on the island and keeps it running:

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

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Santino’s reply? “Working on my hand brake 360 turns”

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We’ll bring you any info we can get.

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[MarkyS]

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Laguna Seca test results - unofficial, of course…

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In a private test session times are never released by the IndyCar series, but that doesn’t prevent anyone with a stopwatch and a notepad from getting unofficial times, and we have such info from yesterday’s IndyCar test at Laguna Seca.

We were supposed to have 11 drivers out there but Takuma Sato for Rahal Letterman Lanigan was unable to travel, and that left Santino Ferrucci and Graham Rahal alone to run up the RLL flag, while the four Team Penske cars of Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Scott McLaughlin and the four Andretti Autosport cars of Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe also circulated.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCar test at Laguna Seca, with times for all: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske - time of 01:11.55s

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2 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:11.65s

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3 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske - time of 01:11.71s

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4 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:11.89s

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5 - Scott McLaughlin [R], Team Penske - time of 01:12.02s

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6 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:12.21s

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7 - Santino Ferrucci, Rahal Letterman Lanigan - time of 01:12.26s

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8 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:12.41s

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9 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan - time of 01:12.48s

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10 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:12.87s

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Notable:

• Note the nice mix between Andretti guys and Penske guys, but without any Chip Ganassi Racing guys on site, it’s hard to guage if these big teams are ready to WIN the remaining series races. Josef Newgarden certainly looks that way, coming off his WIN at Mid-Ohio.

• Nice showing for rookie Scott McLaughlin who had only seen Laguna Seca on TV before this day.

• Santino Ferrucci is certainly making his bid to be the proposed 3rd full-season car at RLL in 2022. We think he deserves it.

• There were lots of spins but nothing that damaged cars or egos.

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The next test will be at World Wide Technolgy Raceway - aka Gateway - on July 27th, where all four Andretti cars will be joined by two each from AJ Foyt Enterprises, Ed Carpenter Racing and Dale Coyne Racing, as well as Scott McLaughlin for Team Penske. One of the Dale Coyne cars SHOULD BE rookie Romain Grosjean, taking his first bite of the oval apple, to decide his future on them.

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[MarkyS]

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It was bound to happen, sooner or later, and great to see…

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…as the now FOUR IndyCar veterans who have WON four Indy 500s got together for a historic picture.

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Left to right, AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and the newest member of the club, Helio Castroneves:

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What are the chances of adding a fifth driver to the club anytime soon?

Living three-time WINNERS of the Indy 500 are Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford and Dario Franchitti - all retired from racing. Living two-time WINNERS of the Indy 500 are Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr, Arie Luyendyk, Juan Pablo Montoya and Takuma Sato. Only Montoya and Sato still drive and both are capable of another WIN or even two, given the opportunity.

Takuma is 44 years old and JPM is 45. Al Unser was 48 when he WON # 4 and Helio was 46, so realistically, Takuma and Juan Pablo need to WIN TWICE in the near future, to join the club.

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But, of course, Helio can WIN # 5 and put himself pretty much out of reach. It boggles the mind.

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[MarkyS]

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One-word description: Cheeky!

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Scott McLaughlin

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[MarkyS]

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Very nice piece from IndyCar - Romain Grosjean at Mid-Ohio…

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The Dale Coyne rookie IndyCar driver thought he might be terminally damaged in the lap-1 shunt that temporarily sidelined Ryan Hunter-Reay and Felix Rosenqvist but Romain soldiered on with some nose damage to finish a remarkable P7 from his P18 start.

Take a look:

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NTT INDYCAR SERIES

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[MarkyS]

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WHOA!..Big Silly Season news released today, as it’s Helio in and Jack out…

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…at Meyer Shank Racing for 2022. That’s right, Helio Castroneves will be a full season driver at MSR in the # 06 for 2022, but Jack Harvey will NOT be the full time driver of the # 60 Honda for the team. He will finish out the '21 season with the team and apparently has a better deal for '22 elsewhere, as he recently backed out of renewal negotiations at the last minute, when the team thought he was sewn up.

NO WORD yet on who will drive the # 60 at MSR and NO WORD yet on where Jack is going, but he is apparently taking AutoNation sponsorship with him. MSR will soon announce their replacement for Jack and it MAY also have AutoNation sponsorship for the # 60’s new driver.

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Helio in…

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…and Jack out, but going to where???

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Jack immediately wrote a very gracious letter thanking Jim Meyer and Mike Shank and the team for everything they have done for him and everything they have done together to make MSR a top performing team, capable of WINNING the Indy 500, which it did in 2021, but with Helio driving.

There is a ton of speculation on where Jack is going and who will be replacing him. Among the possibilities being thrown around:

• Jack goes to Andretti Autosport to replace Ryan Hunter-Reay while Kyle Kirkwood will replace James Hinchcliffe.

• Jack will go to Rahal Letterman Lanigan to replace Takuma Sato in the # 30 while Santino Ferrucci gets the # 45 car with the team. (Sato recently missed the team tesing at Laguna Seca, fueling that speculation.)

• Jack will go to RLL to replace Takuma Sato and Oliver Askew will take over the # 45 for the team, with a test at Barber Motorsports Park in the works, right now.

• Jack will go to Arrow McLaren SP to replace Felix Rosenqvist OR become a third Chevrolet car with the team. (much less likely, as Honda likes Jack).

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Meanwhile, Helio’s fans are over the moon at the prosepct that the veteran will get another full season in IndyCars, with a “Drive for Five” go at a fifth WIN at the 106th Indy 500 in 2022. There’s nothing so fascinating to watch as IndyCar’s Silly Season.

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[MarkyS]

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Conr Daly will drive in the BC39 for the third time this August…

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One of the reasons Daly is among the most popular IndyCar drivers is his willingness to try other forms of racing, unafraid to look like the rookie he is in them. In 2018 and in 2019 Conor drove a Midget on the 1/4 mile dirt oval situated in the Turn 3 corner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Driven2SaveLives BC39 - a USAC-sanctioned race dedicated to the late Bryan Clauson and the organ donor cause he is now associated with. The Ed Carpenter Racing driver is also a two-time veteran of the Chili Bowl, racing in the indoor Midget classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2019 and 2020.

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Conor Daly

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Daly has signed up for his 3rd BC39, driving the # 47D Midget fielded by Diaedge Racing. He will be joined in the race by reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott who will compete in his first-ever Midget Championship event, driving the # 9 entry fielded by Paul May Motorsports.
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Conor’s Midget

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Chase Elliott joins the fun

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Chase will be there because the race, on Thursday the 19th, follows the big IndyCar / NASCAR weekend, August 13-15 at the Speedway, where the NASCAR Cup and XFinity cars join the IndyCars to all compete on the Indianapolis Road Course - the first time for the Cup cars.

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[MarkyS]

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USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 cars will get updated for 2022…

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The cars that both Road to Indy series use in competition are already the safest F4-spec cars in the world, because of their added protection in the tub for the unique rigors of oval racing, but for 2022 both series cars are getting a new, wider monocoque with the addition of a Halo as well as new sidepods, underfloor, engine cover, air ducts, damper covers and fuel cell, making them as safe as their Indy Lights and IndyCar bretheren.

The upgrade kits are so significant that the cars with them installed will get whole new appellations. The current USF-17 for USF2000 will become the USF-22, while the current PM-18 for Indy Pro 2000 will become the IP-22. The upgrades will extend the life of the Tatuus chassis until 2026, ensuring that teams will not have to invest in whole new chassis to be competitive in both series.

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The new USF-22

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The new IP-22

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The initial supply of 40 upgrade kits slated for shipping in August and September have already sold out - evidence of the popularity of the series and the desire of teams to be in the Road to Indy. Everyone coming to the Road to Indy’s Chris Griffis Memorial Test in October will be fitted with the kits.

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[MarkyS]

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We were told we weren’t going to see this in 2021…

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…but once the season started, we suspected that wasn’t going to be the case, as it became very clear that Formula One ex-pat Romain Grosjean for Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing was a really good racer and a game guy, and so, here he was testing today on the World Wide Technology Raceway oval - his first-ever oval circulations. The decision hasn’t been made yet, but we’re betting he did very well out there and thus will be in the car when the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at WWTR (aka Gateway) race comes around on August 21st.

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Who did you think you were kidding, Romain? NO WAY you don’t do this race.

Rick Ware Racing

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He wasn’t out there alone. Also testing today were the AJ Foyt Enterprises guys Sebastien Bourdais and Dalton Kellett, the Andretti Autosport quadruple threat of Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Colton Herta and James Hinchcliffe, Ed Carpenter and Rinus VeeKay, both from Ed Carpenter Racing, Scott McLaughlin for Team Penske and Romain’s DCR teammate, Ed Jones. .

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If we get any information on who did what we will pass it on. Now, if we can just convince Jimmie Johnson’s wife to let him come out and play with the boys…

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[MarkyS]

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Jeez, we say it, and it starts to happen…

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No, we’re not taking credit for it, but just after we mention in the post above that 7-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson needs to start looking at oval racing in IndyCars, we learn that Jimmie is indeed planning on turning his first oval laps in his # 48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda during a test in late August at Homestead-Miami Speedway in south Florida.

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Jimmie Johnson

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It’s all about the comfort level he has with the safety of IndyCars on ovals:

“Ultimately, I’m trying to understand the safety level of the Indy car on the ovals. That’s the part that’s worrying me as a father of two and a deal I made with my wife a long time ago about the Indy 500. I’ve kind of watched the ovals and really never thought that I could be out there.

“But then participating this year as a television commentator and being around the sport all season long like I have, seeing a few big crashes at the Brickyard and speaking to the drivers after, I’m becoming much more comfortable with the ovals and with the crash dynamics that take place with softer walls, the halo, the aeroscreen, the tub of the car.

“Yes, I need to go make laps and need to understand what that experience is like, but ultimately I’m just trying to understand the safety level of the car, and as I get more comfortable with that, my participation level on ovals will increase.”

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Teammate Alex Palou had a big shunt at Indy in practice, this year, but walked away unscathed. That had Jimmie re-thinking everything he thought prior.

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Yeah…it’s only a matter of time.

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[MarkyS]

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So, we have numbers from Gateway…

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Yesterday, 11 IndyCar drivers circulated around World Wide Technology Raceway for a private test on the 1.25-mile oval we know informally as Gateway. The series doesn’t time private tests, so any numbers we can get are from fence-hangers with stop watches, and while not deadly accurate, they are still useful for comparisons. We have the speeds from the 11 cars - Four from Andretti Autosport, two each from Dale Coyne Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing and AJ Foyt Enterprises and one from Team Penske.

The testing started in the heat of the early afternoon and lasted well into the cooler night, befitting testing for a nighttime race, which the upcoming Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will be. The green track quickly rubbered up, and times soon dropped while speeds increased.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCar open test, with top speeds for all: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport - speed of 180.990mph

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2 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport - speed of 180.755mph

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3 - Scott McLaughlin [R], Team Penske - speed of 180.395mph

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4 - Ed Jones, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan - speed of 180.123mph

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5 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - speed of 180.062mph

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6 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport - speed of 179.397mph

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7 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing - speed of 179.042mph

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8 - Romain Grosjean [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing - speed of 177.427mph

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9 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises - speed of 176.758mph

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10 - Dalton Kellett, AJ Foyt Enterprises - speed of 176.046mph

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11 - Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing - speed of 175.672mph

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Notable:

• This was the first-ever drive around Gateway for Scott McLaughlin, who was mighty impressive out there. But then, he was mighty impressive at Indy and mighty, mighty imprerssive at Texas, where he pulled in Race 1 at P2, this year.

• This was Romain Grosjean’s first-ever oval test, and he did it with his family in attendance. In fact, he insisted they be there, so the choice of whether or not he races on one, this season, is a family decision. The answer is YES! Romain will be in the Bommarito Automotove Group 500 in August.

• Grosjean said anyone who thinks ovals are easy doesn’t have a clue. They are like putting together 4 excellent high-speed corners in a row on a road course, but then do it immediately again, and again, and again…It takes high concentration and high physical effort. He is still learning the tools he has at his disposal in the car. He is still learning the effect of banking. He is still learning the limits of his tires. He is learning A LOT, but feels he can compete.

• Grosjean did have a half-spin during his practice, but it was a slow spin and completely harmless, as he hit nothing and pulled it down quickly. Ed Jones spent the early part of the testing helping to dial in Grosjean’s car and that helped a ton. .

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Cotlon Herta - speediest by a slim margin

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The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will be a nighttime race on August 21st.

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[MarkyS]

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On Monday Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing tested two young lions at Barber…

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It’s no secret that RLL wants to run 3 cars in 2022. One will be for Graham Rahal, and another may be for Jack Harvey, who recently ended negotiations for another season with Meyer Shank Racing for 2022, because he apparently had a better deal elswhere.

The third car is much more up for grabs and RLL is testing drivers for a possible seat in 2022. Former Road to Indy ace and Indy Lights Champion Oliver Askew was tested at Barber Motorsports Park on Monday, as was F2 race WINNER Christian Lundgaard.

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Christian Lundgaard

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20-year-old Lundgaard is part of the Alpine driver academy, but his chances of getting into their Formula One car soon are slim, with other drivers ahead of him being groomed. That has led him to IndyCar, but to get the seat he will need to show what he can do, beyond a test, and that means finding the funding for a few races, this season. He and Askew also have to persuade RLL that they are better for the seat than Santino Ferrucci, who has really impressed the team in the 3rd car for the outings he has had, this season - All TOP TEN with a best of a P6 at the Indy 500.

Askew will have to do a lot less persuading, with his enviable career record. He added a Rolex 24 at Daytona LMP3-class WIN, this year.

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Oliver Askew with RLL guys at Barber

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[MarkyS]

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Ahhhh, yes. The Bobby Rahal Miller Genuine Draft commercial…

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In 1992 MGD put out one of the greatest 30-second beer spots ever with this blurb featuring Bobby Rahal in his # 12 Lola T 92/00 with Chevrolet V8 power. The premise is simple: Bobby isn’t impressing his crew chief all that much until he spots a beautiful blonde in the stands and he puts on a clinic. It’s quick and exciting and funny, too - virtually everything a quick commercial needs to be.

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Remember this one?

1992 - Miller Genuine Draft - Bobby Rahal Commercial

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Bobby went on to take his 3rd Championship in 1992, with 10 podiums, including 4 WINS, for Rahal Hogan Racing.

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Bobby Rahal, now and then

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We wish all commercials were this good and all IndyCars that pretty.

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[MarkyS]

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More testing this last week…

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On Wednesday RC Enerson was at Sebring testing for Top Gun Racing in the # 75 Chevrolet with the intent of being ready for the team’s first attempt to qualify for an IndyCar race since the Indy 500, this time for the year’s second race on the IMS Road Course, August 14th.

RC put in over 100 laps on the bumpy and iconic circuit without any problems and with times comparable to other recent IndyCar testers.

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RC Enerson - ready to race.

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On Friday 8 IndyCars went to Portland International Raceway for the last private test before we resume racing, next weekend at Nashville. In attendance were Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist for Arrow McLaren SP, Jack Harvey and Helio Castroneves for Meyer Shank Racing and the quartet of Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Marcus Ericsson and Jimmie Johnson for Chip Ganassi Racing.

As with all private tests, the series neither records nor releases times posted, but times are taken nevertheless by interested bystanders and those numbers get leaked, unofficial as they are. We have them, such as they are.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCar test at PIR, with times for all: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP - time of 59.360s

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2 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 59.462s

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3 - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 59.492s

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4 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing - time of 59.510s

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5 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP - time of 59.594s

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6 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 59.614s

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7 - Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing - time of 59.621s

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8 - Jimmie Johnson [R], Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 60.376s

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Notable:

• There was a nice mix of young lions and old veterans here, all within a second of each other, including an ever-improving Jimmie Johnson, who was only a second off Pato O’Ward’s time.

• The track was very hot for much of the test and there were at least 5 spins, bringing out red flags, but no one hit anything. That’s why they test - to find the limits - and they often have to exceed them to know them.

• This was the first-ever visit to Portland for Alex Palou, Marcus Ericsson and Jimmie Johnson but that didn’t faze any of them.

• Pato O’Ward has never been to Portland in an IndyCar before, but his last visit to the track was in Indy Lights in 2018. He WON both races that weekend and went on to take the title. Clearly, he understands the track dynamics.

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Pato O’Ward

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The next time IndyCars are fired up it will be in anger, at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, next weekend in Nashville.

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M

[MarkyS]

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“Ten with Tim” is about to get IndyCar’s Jack Harvey in trouble with Gracie…

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Champweb’s Tim Hauraney asks Jack ten quick questions and the last one is designed to get the Brit in serious trouble with his gorgeous supermodel GF Gracie Norton.

Take a look:

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Champweb

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Jack Harvey and Gracie Norton

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M

[MarkyS]

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Ed Carpenter Racing is looking at Nico Hulkenberg for 2022…

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The cat’s out of the bag. ECR is looking at two possible drivers for the road course / street course seat in the # 20 Chevrolet for 2022. (Ed drives the car each season on the ovals). That seat is currently filled by popular American driver Conor Daly, but if Conor cannot renew his contract with the Air Force for sponsorship, he will have to find sponsorship elsewhere or be replaced.

One of two possible replacements is 33-year-old German driver Nico Hulkenberg, who has been confabbing with Carpenter over a possible test. Hulkenberg was the 2009 GP2 Champion for ART Grand Prix, with 5 WINS and 10 podiums.

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Nico Hulkenberg

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After that great GP2 season Nico drove a season of Formula One for Williams, then moved to Force India, then Sauber, back to Force India and finally his last full F1 season in 2019 for Renault. He is currently a reserve driver for Aston Martin F1, but is a long shot to return to Williams in 2022. In the mean time, he has always had an interest in IndyCar, after speaking with his friend, former IndyCar driver Simona De Silvestro, who was with Sauber at the same time as Nico.

Nico’s F-1 career mirrors IndyCar rookie Romain Grosjean, also successful in GP2 but unable to get a competitive ride in Formula One for many years, and now finding a great home in IndyCar. Nico might want some of that.

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The other driver that ECR is considering for the # 20 seat, if needed, is current Indy Lights driver David Malukas, who drives for HMD Motorsports and is currently battling Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Autosport for the title. At the moment David has 9 podiums, including 4 WINS, with 8 races to go.

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David Malukas

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Malukas has stated that he’s in talks with a few IndyCar teams for the 2022 season, and clearly ECR is one of them. David has been invited to sit in with the team during some races and listen in to the team chatter, in person and on radio. Again, it all depends on sponsorship, but if David can take the Indy Lights title he will get at least enough scholarship money to run three IndyCar races with some team - including the Indy 500.

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