Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by gsmith2424

I already see the series losing a couple teams over this due to the increased costs. It will be a miracle if in 2022 the 500 will see more than 30 teams.

That's a very good point and one that seems to have been overlooked. If other manufacturers do come on board, it will make it harder for them to absorb the cost, as they will be supplying fewer teams.

[Formulahistory]

I think it's the only chance to attract a third manufacture and that is absolutely necessary for the long term health of IndyCar.


But if they fail to get a new manufacture, then it could be a big problem because of costs...

[broadrun96]

If anything adding an off the shelf hybrid adds more incentive for another manufacturer to come on board. The name is what they are selling and I'm guessing they'll be smart with GM and Honda both in IMSA, likely with its own on the shelf system, and make sure things are pretty damn close. The engine lease is a loss no matter how you slice it but selling a loss with hybrid on the side is slightly easier than without.

More importantly is what the hell will hybrid do to the racing? Other than a year or two of smaller teams getting lucky with their simulation or light footed driver it's going to be an every worse fuel number festival. Especially on ovals, the lift and coast will drive Robin Miller insane at Indy as they try to get one more lap every chance they can. At least they have a good mix of road/street and ovals. What insanity is NASCAR gonna have with their primary oval schedule and their hybrid engines. I know GM and Ford especially want hybrid but that's going to kill it. And sadly I don't think Indy or IMSA will be able to pick up the scraps. Maybe a few sponsors IF IMSA can survive without but I think fans will just leave rather than move to another series

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

If anything adding an off the shelf hybrid adds more incentive for another manufacturer to come on board. The name is what they are selling and I'm guessing they'll be smart with GM and Honda both in IMSA, likely with its own on the shelf system, and make sure things are pretty damn close. The engine lease is a loss no matter how you slice it but selling a loss with hybrid on the side is slightly easier than without.

More importantly is what the hell will hybrid do to the racing? Other than a year or two of smaller teams getting lucky with their simulation or light footed driver it's going to be an every worse fuel number festival. Especially on ovals, the lift and coast will drive Robin Miller insane at Indy as they try to get one more lap every chance they can. At least they have a good mix of road/street and ovals. What insanity is NASCAR gonna have with their primary oval schedule and their hybrid engines. I know GM and Ford especially want hybrid but that's going to kill it. And sadly I don't think Indy or IMSA will be able to pick up the scraps. Maybe a few sponsors IF IMSA can survive without but I think fans will just leave rather than move to another series

I'm not sure they have figured out exactly how the hybrid will work, but it sounded like they are going to use it for push to pass. So not really a fuel economy ploy but more of an extra power thing. But as you point out, oval usage will be interesting. They are thinking about a regenerative braking system, but how much braking is there on ovals? Enough to charge the system?

[bjohnsonsmith]

This is an interesting article from Marshall Pruett.

https://racer.com/2019/08/01/pruett-...e-for-indycar/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

This is an interesting article from Marshall Pruett.

https://racer.com/2019/08/01/pruett-...e-for-indycar/

Interesting he thinks some manufacturers who were interested in IMSA may do Indycar now instead, or in addition, due to the similar engine formulas.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

The engine lease is a loss no matter how you slice it, but selling a loss with hybrid on the side is slightly easier than without.

Originally Posted by joeb

Interesting he thinks some manufacturers who were interested in IMSA may do Indycar now instead, or in addition, due to the similar engine formulas.

I agree with both. Now it's the time to step into the future, since manufacturers want it.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Conor Daly gets Andretti Autosport seat for the season finale at Laguna Seca.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/145305

[S griffin]

Good to have him back, hope he gets a good result

[ArcticRacing]

McLaren officially with 2 cars in IndyCar for the whole 2020 season with SMP & Chevrolet.
The question now is, will Alonso be one of the drivers? Will it do the whole season or a partial program such as just Indy500? Who will be driver number two?

[broadrun96]

It appears McLaren has bought their way in to Indy through Arrow SPM. Interestingly they have continued the promise of a seat to Robert Wickens when he is willing and able to return to racing. It appears to be a partnership rather than McLaren buying shares from the current owners. Gil will become the McLaren fulltime Indy racing director working with the guys from SPM. It will remain a 2 car operation so wonder if they will add an Indy third car for Alonso.

And of course importantly that moves SPM-Honda to Arrow McLaren SP-Chevrolet and changes the balance of teams. It also leaves Hinch and Honda in a tough spot with the national publicity this year. They did not announce any drivers but where could Hinch go to stay with Honda? Ask and MP will answer, McLaren open to adding a third for Alonso for 2020, and McLaren believes they could find funding to make it work for the full season if he is interested.

It also leaves Meyer-Shank and Jack Harvey outside looking in now, no way Shank is going to give up the Honda tie-in he has built over the years. It seems like they may have known and are working on a new multi-year program. Any chance we could see a CGR partnership for them?

Hopefully this stat will change now and didn't realize this before, from MP's engine article: Since the 2017 NTT IndyCar season, Team Penske has delivered every win for Chevy – 23 in total, including two Indianapolis 500s – while its other partner teams have struggled to find Victory Lane.

[S griffin]

Less chance of them failing to qualify by doing a full season. If Fred does it, that is a big chance for him to win the triple crown

[Bcarr6]

I hope Mclaren can have some success here, cool to see them accepting they need to put some solid ground work in and are working with a partner team so they arent starting from scratch.

I'd love to see Nasr as one of the full season drivers.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It appears McLaren has bought their way in to Indy through Arrow SPM. Interestingly they have continued the promise of a seat to Robert Wickens when he is willing and able to return to racing. It appears to be a partnership rather than McLaren buying shares from the current owners. Gil will become the McLaren fulltime Indy racing director working with the guys from SPM. It will remain a 2 car operation so wonder if they will add an Indy third car for Alonso.

And of course importantly that moves SPM-Honda to Arrow McLaren SP-Chevrolet and changes the balance of teams. It also leaves Hinch and Honda in a tough spot with the national publicity this year. They did not announce any drivers but where could Hinch go to stay with Honda? Ask and MP will answer, McLaren open to adding a third for Alonso for 2020, and McLaren believes they could find funding to make it work for the full season if he is interested.

It also leaves Meyer-Shank and Jack Harvey outside looking in now, no way Shank is going to give up the Honda tie-in he has built over the years. It seems like they may have known and are working on a new multi-year program. Any chance we could see a CGR partnership for them?

Hopefully this stat will change now and didn't realize this before, from MP's engine article: Since the 2017 NTT IndyCar season, Team Penske has delivered every win for Chevy – 23 in total, including two Indianapolis 500s – while its other partner teams have struggled to find Victory Lane.

I'm a McLaren F1 fan but I don't find this approach endearing at all. I'd rather them not bother than disrupt the series with no increase to the car count.

Forcing Hinch to find a new ride won't be popular either. McLaren had an opportunity to make a big splash but this ain't it.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

I'm a McLaren F1 fan but I don't find this approach endearing at all. I'd rather them not bother than disrupt the series with no increase to the car count.

Forcing Hinch to find a new ride won't be popular either. McLaren had an opportunity to make a big splash but this ain't it.

It is a tough one, a partnership like MSR had with Arrow SPM would have been better and added to the field. Feels like this will be a net zero gain as we will likely have 33 again for Indy whether Fred joins us or not. At best it is plus one, BUT it kills off the face of Indy for a majority of the non-race fans if HInch can't find a Honda seat. I haven't seen any Chevy ads like his Honda stuff, but Honda has always done more like that including a couple years with the voice of Honda, Fred Savage for some reason, doing Indy to street car ads.

And Arrow always had a tight clean livery, doubt we will see it and more of the McLaren "Papaya" with Arrows logos in 2020.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It is a tough one, a partnership like MSR had with Arrow SPM would have been better and added to the field. Feels like this will be a net zero gain as we will likely have 33 again for Indy whether Fred joins us or not. At best it is plus one, BUT it kills off the face of Indy for a majority of the non-race fans if HInch can't find a Honda seat. I haven't seen any Chevy ads like his Honda stuff, but Honda has always done more like that including a couple years with the voice of Honda, Fred Savage for some reason, doing Indy to street car ads.



And Arrow always had a tight clean livery, doubt we will see it and more of the McLaren "Papaya" with Arrows logos in 2020.

I just finished building a Honda store and Hinch/SPM is plastered all over the place. Looks like the deal was made without consideration of SPM's current contract with Honda:

https://amp.indystar.com/amp/1958582...mpression=true

Edit - good point about Meyer Shank too. It puts that entry at risk.

[NaBUru38]

McLaren obviously wants to win Indianapolis. I think they need drivers with experience. Who could they get? Kanaan, Hélio, Jones, Muñoz?

[JHamilton]

Brown and Hinch confirm that he will be with the team next year.

Honda have to be beside themselves.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

McLaren obviously wants to win Indianapolis. I think they need drivers with experience. Who could they get? Kanaan, Hélio, Jones, Muñoz?

Nasr tested for them last week.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Quite an indepth article from Autosport on this.

https://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/145316

[Bcarr6]

So Nasr and Hinch? That’d be pretty decent!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Brown and Hinch confirm that he will be with the team next year.

Honda have to be beside themselves.

Gotta keep Hinch, he has still been a top 10 guy, plus you need some continuity in the program.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Brown and Hinch confirm that he will be with the team next year.

Honda have to be beside themselves.

They must have had some inkling and spent to keep Rossi and Andretti in the fold too. Especially since Brown had mentioned multiple times about trying to get an Andretti partnership, although take everything he says with a LARGE grain of salt.

Wonder what kind of clauses were added to Hinch's personal services deal with Honda Canada? He had a deal and his team was running Hondas but a decision was made above him, he has one year left on his SPM contract. Hopefully the Honda Canada is a year to year deal and the out includes team changing suppliers. I'm guessing all your Hinch products were just taken off the walls this morning. Hopefully they weren't attached too permanently.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

McLaren obviously wants to win Indianapolis. I think they need drivers with experience. Who could they get? Kanaan, Hélio, Jones, Muñoz?

Kanaan isn't top material anymore sadly and think he's happy settling in at Foyt, Jones isn't going anywhere since he's got a great Indy ride at ECR and there's no way Helio is leaving a Penske ride in IMSA and his ride at Indy with the Captain any time soon.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

So Nasr and Hinch? That’d be pretty decent!

With Hinchliffe's deal with Honda Canada, couldl Honda create room for him at RLL?