An American GP2?

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Is there any way you could have Indy Lights running to GP2 regs (and hey, maybe Super Formula too), or would the ovals make that impossible? It'd be great to see the same cars across the three formulae, maybe with different engines - but then, I'd like to see engine competition in GP2...

At the speeds they would run, they would A) Be faster than IndyCar, B) Need much beefier monocoques. The short wheelbase FIL cars with 200 less horsepower were doing 190-200 mph at Indy. GP2 cars, unless they turned the wick way down, would do 220+

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by somebodysb2

I would personally rate IndyCar to be on the same level as Super Formula. The grids may be a bit small compared to IndyCar but the standard of driving is still very high with recent Le Mans winners and ex-F1 drivers. Their cars are also built to 2010 F1 safety standards and the organisers have openly stated that they wanted a VJM06-level of performance.

I'm interested if the Indy Lights organisers could possibly adapt older cars for racing. Why construct new ones when older cars are lying around? Just throw a restrictor on a Swift 017.n/FN09/SF13 (ex-Super Formula 2013), Panoz DP09B (ex-Superleague Formula 2011), Dallara IR07 (ex-IndyCar 2011), Williams JPH1B (ex-Formula Two 2012), etc.

Could these older formulae prove to be an attractive option for 2015 and beyond? Could a restrictor reduce running costs and minimise dangerous tendencies like Dallara IR07 flipping? Surely longer being able to compete in a current championship has driven values down significantly?

It would take too much effort to BOP those radically different cars. IndyCar is too lazy, and Andersen doesn't have the resources.

[somebodysb2]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

It would take too much effort to BOP those radically different cars. IndyCar is too lazy, and Andersen doesn't have the resources.

So how about just the old IndyCars? they are pretty much all lying around NA so the logistics are very simple in comparison to the others. Would also serve well for driver development/future driver selection. Kind of like doing things like the F1/GP2/GP3 Abu Dhabi test, just meet up at a place, and take off those restrictors while IndyCar team representatives observe and take notes. V8SC already does this with the Dunlop Development series running old cars.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Dallara are introducing a new car for 2015. If they "beefed it up" then it could be better.

[Baigu]

For Indy Lights to have "sucess" ( meaning not going bankrupt), it needs to stop tagging along the indycar train to every race weekend. Indy Lights needs to go to other major races during the season like F1 ( Montreal & Austin), 24 Hours of Daytona, Sebring 12h, & Petit Le Mans...

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

GP2 America would destroy Indy Lights if a GP2 America went ahead. Even if Indy Lights was strong, it'd hit them

If a GP2 America project did go ahead, Indycar would be better off unofficially positioning itself as the first alternative to F1 and pick up drivers that way.

GP2 is an expensive series to run in. Any home based support series in North America has to be cost effective and with relatively easy to operate cars. That is not GP2. FR3.5 is much more cost effective yet even that is probably too expensive.
If high speed ovals were not a consideration something like the final Mazda powered Atlantic series (Swift 016) would be a closer to meeting the need series than anything else.

Whatever Andersen takes us to will be an improvement on the last couple of years of Indy Lights. Not because of the cars but simply having some ambition and purpose and running the Indy Lights series with some vision.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Baigu

For Indy Lights to have "sucess" ( meaning not going bankrupt), it needs to stop tagging along the indycar train to every race weekend. Indy Lights needs to go to other major races during the season like F1 ( Montreal & Austin), 24 Hours of Daytona, Sebring 12h, & Petit Le Mans...

That is a fair point. Playing a supporting role to the US and Canadian GP especially would be very good for the series. Sebring and Daytona are too early...

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Baigu

For Indy Lights to have "sucess" ( meaning not going bankrupt), it needs to stop tagging along the indycar train to every race weekend. Indy Lights needs to go to other major races during the season like F1 ( Montreal & Austin), 24 Hours of Daytona, Sebring 12h, & Petit Le Mans...

Pro Mazda could do that, since many will end up in sorts car racing.

But Indy Lights drivers have a single goal: jump into IndyCar. With only 10 rounds in 2013, it's the best to join IndyCar weekends only.

Plus, missing the major sports car races means that Indy Lights drivers could enter those races as a third or fourth driver.

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Is there any way you could have Indy Lights running to GP2 regs (and hey, maybe Super Formula too), or would the ovals make that impossible? It'd be great to see the same cars across the three formulae, maybe with different engines - but then, I'd like to see engine competition in GP2...

Why not engine and chassis competition in GP2 like in F3 or LMP2? There is a cost cup in LMP2 and the different suppliers support the teams also with money because they want winning. And in F3 the different engines supplier have own Junior kaders and support teams as well. I think that could also help GP2.

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by JacobP

One of the problems with GP2 is the high cost. Is the American series going to address that?

But I can see the possibilities. If you attended the last Austin GP weekend, then besides the F1 race, qualifying, and practice, all you else you would see is the "gentlemen" racers in their Ferrari Challenge competition. The North American F1 races are in a dire need of having good support races. If down the road we end up with four North American F1 GPs (2 USA, 1 Canada, 1 Mexico), I think that would be a good time to jump start the North American GP2 series or similar.

Why must an American GP2 be expensive? Why not with a cost cap? I think there is a chance for running this series for just an million dollar or something like that.

And with different chassis and engine suppliers it could work.

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by Marcus666

And, I must say:

To introduce that AER engine will probably save this series. Dan Anderson should be proud over making that decision!

Why?

[Paradise City]

I don't see them ever abandoning the single chassis formula - GP2 - and they wouldn't let any GP2 America undercut them by doing it either.

[Formulahistory]

- So my thoughts about it:



+- GP2 America could be more attractive for F1 and United Sports car Championship than Indy Lights is now (only for IndyCar). The cars are not as fast as GP2 cars and for many European drivers going to Indy Lights is a step back, GP2 America would not be a step back


- GP2 America would also help IndyCar to become more popular as it could become the first option if F1 doesn't function.



-. I think there would be interest in such series as Carlin is considering Indy Lights for 2015 and if the cars are the same as in Gp2 Main Series many teams could also compete there. America is a popular market for teams, sponsors and so on.



- GP2 America must be a support series for F1 races (now Austin and Montréal, perhaps also Interlagos, Mexico and New Jersey), IndyCar (Indianapolis, Long Beach and Texas) and United Sportscar Championship (Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta).



- The problem: In America Formula Racing is not very popular any more, as NASCAR is dominating. So will there be money for such series? Perhaps we need more than one chassis and engine supplier and a budget cap as in LMP2 class.

[

[JacobP]

IMHO, American GP2 will be simply a support series for the Formula 1 races. It can't be a support for IndyCar because people in GP2 don't race on ovals, and besides IndyCar has its own support series. TUSCC has its support series too (Continental Challenge). Almost no one will show up for a stand-alone GP2 race, except uber-nerds. So, there could be 4-6 GP2 America races each year at best as long as so many F1 GPs exist: 2 in US, 1 in Canada, 1 in Mexico, and perhaps one in Brazil or Argentina. It could be kind of like the GP2 Asia series that folded a couple of years ago, but without a GP of New Jersey and Mexico, it's just a pipe dream.

[ptclaus98]

America needs a healthy Formula 3 type series before it can even think of propping up a GP2 series.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

America needs a healthy Formula 3 type series before it can even think of propping up a GP2 series.

Indy Lights. Sorted.

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by JacobP

IMHO, American GP2 will be simply a support series for the Formula 1 races. It can't be a support for IndyCar because people in GP2 don't race on ovals, and besides IndyCar has its own support series. TUSCC has its support series too (Continental Challenge). Almost no one will show up for a stand-alone GP2 race, except uber-nerds. So, there could be 4-6 GP2 America races each year at best as long as so many F1 GPs exist: 2 in US, 1 in Canada, 1 in Mexico, and perhaps one in Brazil or Argentina. It could be kind of like the GP2 Asia series that folded a couple of years ago, but without a GP of New Jersey and Mexico, it's just a pipe dream.

In my points the American GP2 will also drive on Ovals (Indy for example) and it will replace Indy Lights.