Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Quite an interesting article on the costs, though it does largely pertain to the 500. Nevertheless, it gives a breakdown of the costs for components, even how much a paddle shift is.

https://indychronicle.com/how-much-d...indy-car-cost/

[S griffin]

This is a big step for the series, it has a lot riding on it. Hopefully it can at least be affordable, if nothing else

[justracing]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Quite an interesting article on the costs, though it does largely pertain to the 500. Nevertheless, it gives a breakdown of the costs for components, even how much a paddle shift is.

https://indychronicle.com/how-much-d...indy-car-cost/

Thanks for posting, fascinating reading.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by S griffin

This is a big step for the series, it has a lot riding on it. Hopefully it can at least be affordable, if nothing else

????

[S griffin]

So what are people's predictions for Texas? McLaughlin got his first win at St Pete, but can he do the same on an oval? Hopefully it will be a close race more than anything

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by justracing

????

Hybrid powertrains

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

https://indychronicle.com/how-much-d...indy-car-cost/

"IndyCar has given contestants a choice between two engine manufacturers: Toyota and Chevrolet"


Doesn't seem a trustworthy source...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by justracing

Thanks for posting, fascinating reading.

It's one side of racing that doesn't often get looked at. There are discussions about cost caps but rarely does that go into the detail that's in that article.


Here is more from Racer.com on the hybrid engine and the new chassis.

https://racer.com/2022/03/03/support...id-powerplant/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

"IndyCar has given contestants a choice between two engine manufacturers: Toyota and Chevrolet"


Doesn't seem a trustworthy source...

They have an article called 'who makes indycar engines' and they got it right there, so...?

https://indychronicle.com/who-makes-indycar-engines/


I have duly informed them of their error, regarding the car cost article.

[broadrun96]

As expected by many, JR in for Calderon at Foyt on the ovals

https://racer.com/2022/03/11/hildebr...ar-oval-races/

[joeb]

Apparently the series is trying to improve the surface at Texas after Nascar had laid down a traction chemical in the 2nd lane that is not working for Indycar.

https://racer.com/2022/03/14/indycar...action-issues/

[broadrun96]

They've tried a couple things previously without success, unless they grind it I don't think it will help. If more rubber helped then late in the race you could go higher but it hasn't been the case

[crmalcolm]

Would a potential solution be to apply PJ1 across the full width?

[broadrun96]

NO, the product itself is the problem. The Firestones don't work well with it, they end up in the wall when they put 4 wheels in it. Full track and they would need short track aero to keep them tracking and far slower speeds

[bjohnsonsmith]

PJ1, or TrackBite, is used to provide extra traction in the corners and create a second groove, on what would be a single groove track. However, the problem for IndyCars is they are lighter than Nascars and use harder tyre compounds. The marbles from the tyres collect on the track surface that's been sprayed with PJ1 and this leads to a very slippery second groove.

[S griffin]

Sounds like it might be better to leave it as it is, as this sort of work doesn't seem to really suit Indycars. The last thing you need is loads of marbles on an oval and the problem sounds like it might be made worse

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Sounds like it might be better to leave it as it is, as this sort of work doesn't seem to really suit Indycars. The last thing you need is loads of marbles on an oval and the problem sounds like it might be made worse

Leave what as it is, the PJ1 on the track surface? You do that and the marbles will just build up, resulting in a boring one groove race.

[broadrun96]

The PJ1 is not on the surface currently, it has filled the small pores. It's not a marbles problem but the actual interaction of the compound and the Firestone compound, they don't work well together and work to repel each other a bit. The track is dragged after the Cup race with a metal grating to attempt to clear it but concrete is very porous and it gets in everywhere. It only became a problem after the track was reprofiled to create double banking for the Cup cars and it didn't work, so compounds were used. In this instance it's a problem for other cars, it will be interesting to see if it is needed for the next gen cars.

[Hawkwood]

O'Ward considering a move when his contract expires? He'd be a big loss to McLaren!


https://racer.com/2022/03/15/oward-w...-amsp-mclaren/

[broadrun96]

It reads MUCH more like MP running a headline to draw clicks and O'Ward doesn't have a deal for 2023. A mature driver tests the market if reports of AMSP cars being a bit of a dog are accurate, why sign there is AA or Penske could have interest?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It reads MUCH more like MP running a headline to draw clicks and O'Ward doesn't have a deal for 2023. A mature driver tests the market if reports of AMSP cars being a bit of a dog are accurate, why sign there is AA or Penske could have interest?

Well put.

[S griffin]

I think O'Ward will just find another seat, he's happy in this series and I think he sees no reason to change at this time

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It reads MUCH more like MP running a headline to draw clicks and O'Ward doesn't have a deal for 2023. A mature driver tests the market if reports of AMSP cars being a bit of a dog are accurate, why sign there is AA or Penske could have interest?

At St Pete the announcers talked about how Pato needs to be able to drive a car that goes away from him. And how he struggled last year when the car wasn't right. I had the question then, if that was happening on the regular basis last season, is it his driving style that causes the car to fade during a race or something else on the car?

[broadrun96]

I think a large portion of it is he's crazy hard on the tires and if the car is as well it just makes things worse. And if he or the team can't articulate what's really needed to tune the car and improve as the weekend goes along they won't get better. It would be interesting to know how much is the team not improving the car/knowing what to tune or tweak and how much is Pato not being able to identify what's wrong.

[bjohnsonsmith]

It looks like 500 is stuck at 32 drivers.

https://racer.com/2022/03/18/indy-50...e-stuck-on-32/