Indycar News & Rumors.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

In case you were hoping for a return to Fontana aka Auto Club Speedway, things just a bit more complicated: the track will be transformed into a half-mile short track beginning next season (!).


More here

I guess I'll repeat comments from the other thread - need more variety of tracks, 1/2 mile ovals are fun and I liked Fontana when it was called Michigan International (or Texas World Speedway, if we must).

Strange move, but wonder if they'll attempt to keep a road course. I assume the drag strip will be unmolested.

[TheMightyM]

Longer article here, with a map.


Lowlight: This is very bad for local racing in Cali:

“[Auto Club] serves as the home for almost every amateur motorcycle racer in Cali,” tweeted Asian Le Mans Series champion Cody Ware. “Auto Club is the only track in California that hosts a championship like CCS/ASRA & WERA regularly. Willow Springs occasionally does, and Vegas is the next closest thing. Not to mention all the SCCA stuff.”

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I guess I'll repeat comments from the other thread - need more variety of tracks, 1/2 mile ovals are fun and I liked Fontana when it was called Michigan International (or Texas World Speedway, if we must).

Strange move, but wonder if they'll attempt to keep a road course. I assume the drag strip will be unmolested.

Per the plans posted in the article linked above, the drag strip stays but the road course is gone.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Per the plans posted in the article linked above, the drag strip stays but the road course is gone.

Thanks! Yeah, that's an odd move and peculiar design. The drag strip is outside the back stretch, so this looks like a complete redo here with removal of the front stretch grandstands and that's a paperclip of a track!! It's also a pretty rough sketch, but this will be interesting to follow! Seems like yesterday when the place was built

[bjohnsonsmith]

Reading that article,, it seems shame and a little short sighted to destroy the track and replace it with a paper clip, when the Auto Club as it is, is used for other series. I'm with Anthony Alfredo, I wish there was a way to keep the big track and add the new short track.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Reading that article,, it seems shame and a little short sighted to destroy the track and replace it with a paper clip, when the Auto Club as it is, is used for other series. I'm with Anthony Alfredo, I wish there was a way to keep the big track and add the new short track.

I saw the comparison earlier when google map searching it, but thanks for the sidebyside, bjs. I now think they intend to keep the grandstands, bring the parking, drag strip and everything else to inside the original "footprint" of the facility. As alluded to in the longer article, it might be part of the plan to shrink it (along with Chicagoland) and sell property.

Sign of the times, I'm afraid, but bring on a short track! Wish I could have it all but I'd take this.

I'm more concerned with losing the road courses, per that article in that smaller series and amateurs use the place a lot.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I saw the comparison earlier when google map searching it, but thanks for the sidebyside, bjs. I now think they intend to keep the grandstands, bring the parking, drag strip and everything else to inside the original "footprint" of the facility. As alluded to in the longer article, it might be part of the plan to shrink it (along with Chicagoland) and sell property.

Sign of the times, I'm afraid, but bring on a short track! Wish I could have it all but I'd take this.

I'm more concerned with losing the road courses, per that article in that smaller series and amateurs use the place a lot.

But would IndyCar race on a half-mile oval? I don't see it my self. Iowa I think is about as short an oval can get.

[TheMightyM]

I’d guess this is just a business move. ACS doesn’t draw like it use to (if it ever really did). ISC knows it can’t fill the place for the one NASCAR weekend each year. The track is due for a repave, which will cost some money. It’s also a big facility — lots of land and buildings, so lots of maintenance costs plus substantial property taxes. While the SCCA, motorcycle events, and racing school help, I doubt they cover the costs of the facility.

Agree that it looks like they're keeping the front grandstands and bringing everything else closer in. What they’re also effectively doing is taking over the local short-track racing market from Irwindale Speedway, which has been on the verge of closing for the past few years.

This also makes Long Beach even more important for IndyCar and IMSA — before ACS was at least vaguely possible as a replacement. Not anymore.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

But would IndyCar race on a half-mile oval? I don't see it my self. Iowa I think is about as short an oval can get.

I think they could or should try it. Then again, I think they should try to race on dirt, too soooo.....

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

I’d guess this is just a business move. ACS doesn’t draw like it use to (if it ever really did). ISC knows it can’t fill the place for the one NASCAR weekend each year. The track is due for a repave, which will cost some money. It’s also a big facility — lots of land and buildings, so lots of maintenance costs plus substantial property taxes. While the SCCA, motorcycle events, and racing school help, I doubt they cover the costs of the facility.

Agree that it looks like they're keeping the front grandstands and bringing everything else closer in. What they’re also effectively doing is taking over the local short-track racing market from Irwindale Speedway, which has been on the verge of closing for the past few years.

This also makes Long Beach even more important for IndyCar and IMSA — before ACS was at least vaguely possible as a replacement. Not anymore.

The Irwindale deal I hadn't thought of....

[broadrun96]

Sweet, Indy cars on dirt. Bet you want roadsters and Offy power as well.

But back to modern times and no old guys yelling off the porch to get off my lawn.

6k tickets for Indy this weekend so limited fan attendance.
https://racer.com/2020/09/08/mid-ohi...-at-6000-fans/

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Bet you want roadsters and Offy power as well.

Now you're just being ridiculous.

[broadrun96]

But I'm not wrong am I? If they announced tomorrow Offy roadsters at Indy you'd tune in to watch.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

But I'm not wrong am I? If they announced tomorrow Offy roadsters at Indy you'd tune in to watch.

damn right and so you would you, sir.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I'd definitely watch that.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

damn right and so you would you, sir.

On bicycle tires with wire wheels as God intended.

[fieldodreams79]

Speaking of old, Jimmie Johnson to IndyCar.

Ugg. JJ is old... *sigh*

[gert]

Indycar team owners take note: Perez to leave Racing Point after 2020.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15...he-end-of-2020

If Sato and Rossi can win Indy and be outright championship contenders then I can see little reason why Perez can't be successfull either.
Other than that, he probably also has a nice sponsorship package (at least he did while at Sauber and Force India / Racing Point)

[Mystery]

I'm going to guess he already has a McLaren / SPAM contract in his pocket.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mystery

I'm going to guess he already has a McLaren / SPAM contract in his pocket.

That would mean either O'Ward or Askew leaving and there has been no indication SPAM are unhappy with either., unless, SPAM are planning on running a third car?

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That would mean either O'Ward or Askew leaving and there has been no indication SPAM are unhappy with either., unless, SPAM are planning on running a third car?

I'd thought that until recently too but I've sensed from chatter, such as on shows like Kevin Lee's, the occasional comment on how much of a difference there has been between Askew and O'Ward this season. I think their experience levels are very different though and personally I'd hope it was a third car. I think Perez's sponsors could help sort it out.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Mystery

I'd thought that until recently too but I've sensed from chatter, such as on shows like Kevin Lee's, the occasional comment on how much of a difference there has been between Askew and O'Ward this season. I think their experience levels are very different though and personally I'd hope it was a third car. I think Perez's sponsors could help sort it out.

It 's not a given Sergio will go to Indycar, but if the choice is between a Haas or Sauber/Alfa in F1 or an interesting Indycar seat, I know what I would prefer

If the sponsorship package can be transfered to Indycar, that could mean an extra car here or there and tht would be all for the better, no?

[peebee2]

I don’t get it. Why would Perez, a quick and experienced F1 driver who is very highly paid AND brings an eight-figure annual sponsorship package be thinking of leaving F1? He’s hardly likely to be short of offers.

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I don’t get it. Why would Perez, a quick and experienced F1 driver who is very highly paid AND brings an eight-figure annual sponsorship package be thinking of leaving F1? He’s hardly likely to be short of offers.

I don't know. I think he could find a home in Haas but his statement today implied the end of an F1 journey. He's good enough to be in F1 for sure. But that's precisely why I think he has a deal lined up - he could stay in F1 in a worse position than he is now, or he could walk away

[gert]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I don’t get it. Why would Perez, a quick and experienced F1 driver who is very highly paid AND brings an eight-figure annual sponsorship package be thinking of leaving F1? He’s hardly likely to be short of offers.

Why would he want to spend the next few years at Haas or Sauber/Alfa?
That seem to be the only offers on the table, and both look like a demotion.

On the other hand, he could consider a switch to Indycar or WEC or similar and be competing for podiums and wins.


It probably depends on what he prefers.
I think he is too good to be running around at the back without a realistic hope at many points in 2021 (with the current cars remaning)

[broadrun96]

Plenty of offers? Most seats are full already.

Haas x2 likely open
Alfa x1 possible but Ferrari might want another young driver slot
Alfa Tauri x1 if they release Kyvat but not many rumors that way

Remaining seats are filled so basically it's Haas or out of F1 for him.

His sponsors can get much more for their money in Indy and get Veach's seat with Andretti in a second.