Indycar News & Rumors. - Page 191

Nick Woodbury · 11 Feb 2020, 20:14 (Ref:3957061)

If anyone is keen on watching Indycar testing at COTA, which for some reason Indycar has unlisted, you can click the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzNx...ture=emb_title

**bjohnsonsmith** · 11 Feb 2020, 20:20 (Ref:3957064)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

If anyone is keen on watching Indycar testing at COTA, which for some reason Indycar has unlisted, you can click the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzNx...ture=emb_title

It's on their website, I posted the link earlier. #4747

**bjohnsonsmith** · 11 Feb 2020, 23:06 (Ref:3957104)

Not much testing today because of the rain. However, seven times NASCAR Chmpion expressed an interest in racing next year in IndyCar. Testing resumes tomorrow at 9:00am local time, hope the rain holds off.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2020/02...R-COTA-Tuesday

rwintle · 12 Feb 2020, 14:49 (Ref:3957233)

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_cat

Sergio Sette Camara and Felipe Nasr to share the second Carlin seat. Rounds not divided up yet but apparently neither has expressed any reservations about racing on ovals. Nasr has a clash for the Richmond round, and depending on contracts/schedule may end up doing a double-duty of sorts for Long Beach and Detroit (unless he’s made to miss them).

Also, apparently Carlin and negotiating for Conor Daly to replace Chilton for the oval rounds. Daly of course will be spare whilst Ed Carpenter takes the seat over

Very interesting, and I see Sette Camara and Nasr tested at COTA. Was it announced anywhere that they would be in the race season? I've only seen the Chilton announcement.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 13 Feb 2020, 13:12 (Ref:3957423)

This report by IndyCar on the COTA test is worth a read.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2020/02...COTA-Test-Wrap

**bjohnsonsmith** · 13 Feb 2020, 13:59 (Ref:3957432)

Scott McLaughlin to take part in IndyCar's oval rookie test at TMS on Friday.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/148238

rwintle · 13 Feb 2020, 14:37 (Ref:3957441)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwintle

Very interesting, and I see Sette Camara and Nasr tested at COTA. Was it announced anywhere that they would be in the race season? I've only seen the Chilton announcement.

Answered my own question (thanks bjohnsonsmith for the link to the article). Per IndyCar, nothing confirmed for the Carlin #31 car as yet, and they note that Nasr is confirmed for the full IMSA schedule.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2020/02...COTA-Test-Wrap

**joeb** · 13 Feb 2020, 15:24 (Ref:3957451)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

This report by IndyCar on the COTA test is worth a read.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2020/02...COTA-Test-Wrap

I am still not used to seeing those aeroscreens!

Good testing report, and i was surprised to see McLaughlin up so high in the scoring.

Also didn't realize that the Shank car is going to be doing a full season for the first time. That is great news for Harvey.

rwintle · 13 Feb 2020, 16:53 (Ref:3957472)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeb

Also didn't realize that the Shank car is going to be doing a full season for the first time. That is great news for Harvey.

Yes indeed. That makes 23 full time entries confirmed (unless my counting is faulty, which is possible). Pretty solid, especially given all the doom and gloom talk about IndyCar over the last several years. Plus the usual slate of part-time (Dragonspeed? McLaughlin, etc.), 500-only entries, and possible late entrants (e.g. #31 Carlin if it comes to pass).

**bjohnsonsmith** · 15 Feb 2020, 10:52 (Ref:3957696)

There are going to be some changes to the Indy 500, including a $2million prize fund, as well as changes to qualifying.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/148266

broadrun96 · 15 Feb 2020, 19:14 (Ref:3957748)

The speedway is working outside of the actual track property to improve Speedway as well and the fan walk to the track. He's also added multiple big name sponsors but no information about how they're working with Indy, Pennzoil, Verizon, Snap-On Tools, DEX Imaging,*Road and Track*magazine and Global Medical Response.

The 2 million is added to the Winner's Circle purse though so it won't help one off teams at first report. Hopefully that will change and be spread across the field. Clausen made less finishing 16th than it cost to run the month according to the team. It seems like the math is off a bit as well, they released a 125k per full season team additional but that's 2.75 million not 2.

Steel Wheels · 18 Feb 2020, 23:00 (Ref:3958345)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

There are going to be some changes to the Indy 500, including a $2million prize fund, as well as changes to qualifying.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/148266

Looks like Andretti will be running Hinchcliffe after Honda vetoed the Alonso deal.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 18 Feb 2020, 23:40 (Ref:3958350)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

Looks like Andretti will be running Hinchcliffe after Honda vetoed the Alonso deal.

It does look like it.

https://racer.com/2020/02/18/andrett...-for-indy-500/

broadrun96 · 19 Feb 2020, 19:31 (Ref:3958570)

Well The Mayor will be in town for the month of May now, and Texas.

https://racer.com/2020/02/19/andrett...500-and-texas/

Article rumors he was ready to sign with RLL and it fell through on his end. But it appears Alonso may return to the McLaren fold and run the 500 with SPAM

rwintle · 20 Feb 2020, 17:00 (Ref:3958784)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwintle

Yes indeed. That makes 23 full time entries confirmed (unless my counting is faulty, which is possible). Pretty solid, especially given all the doom and gloom talk about IndyCar over the last several years. Plus the usual slate of part-time (Dragonspeed? McLaughlin, etc.), 500-only entries, and possible late entrants (e.g. #31 Carlin if it comes to pass).

Dreyer and Reinbold have confirmed Sage Karam for four races including Toronto. That makes 24 at Toronto, which is beyond the 23 pit boxes in the article someone posted above. Plus there's still the slight possibility of another Carlin entry I suppose.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Feb 2020, 01:40 (Ref:3958899)

NBC Sports are to show 8 races on NBC, the rest will be on NBC Sports Network. If you scroll down there's a grid with all the races, relevant channels and start times. Unfortunately Long Beach won't be aired on NBC.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2020/02...age-of-INDYCAR

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Feb 2020, 15:02 (Ref:3959030)

Looks like Dick Johnson might let Scott McLaughlin go and race in IndyCar full time, as soon as next year.

https://racer.com/2020/02/20/johnson...-indycar-move/

Nick Woodbury · 21 Feb 2020, 16:12 (Ref:3959042)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Looks like Dick Johnson might let Scott McLaughlin go and race in IndyCar full time, as soon as next year.

https://racer.com/2020/02/20/johnson...-indycar-move/

I wonder, with Scotty M's inevitable move to IndyCar full time in '21, could this lead the organization to getting their a$$ in gear by finding a proper broadcasting contract for Australia and NZ? At this point, anything is better than the piecemeal 30 min highlights package they suffer with now.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Feb 2020, 16:23 (Ref:3959047)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

I wonder, with Scotty M's inevitable move to IndyCar full time in '21, could this lead the organization to getting their a$$ in gear by finding a proper broadcasting contract for Australia and NZ? At this point, anything is better than the piecemeal 30 min highlights package they suffer with now.

I was wondering of this might pave the way for a round in Australia?

broadrun96 · 21 Feb 2020, 17:30 (Ref:3959067)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I was wondering of this might pave the way for a round in Australia?

The problem is what time of year? Doesn't Surfer's Paradise want a race but only late in the year? Would be hard to convince Indycar to end the season not live on TV. It's already hard enough to convince them ending in the summer isn't good but at 2am down under? Would any advertisers want to be a part of that?

**bjohnsonsmith** · 21 Feb 2020, 17:47 (Ref:3959071)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

The problem is what time of year? Doesn't Surfer's Paradise want a race but only late in the year? Would be hard to convince Indycar to end the season not live on TV. It's already hard enough to convince them ending in the summer isn't good but at 2am down under? Would any advertisers want to be a part of that?

I don't know if Surfer's Paradise only want a race late in the year. During the CART era, Surfers used to hold the race at the beginning of the season, from 1991-1997. Anyway at this juncture it's just a thought.

Nick Woodbury · 21 Feb 2020, 18:10 (Ref:3959077)

A new team in "Citrone/Buhl Autosport" is looking to form an effort for the Indy GP as well as the 500 this year. Headed in part by former CART driver Robbie Buhl. Robbie Buhl drove for several years for Dale Coyne at the end of his driving career, so I'm curious to see if this new team will align with Dale's.

Press release below...

https://buhlsport.com/news-press/202...dycar-for-buhl

HighParker · 24 Feb 2020, 14:36 (Ref:3959568)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwintle

...That makes 24 at Toronto, which is beyond the 23 pit boxes in the article someone posted above. Plus there's still the slight possibility of another Carlin entry I suppose.

I think 2020 is the last year of the existing contract for the race? If the promoters have to pay for road work to move utilities for an extended pit lane, I assume they would also want it to be accompanied by another 3 year contract, but then that may depend on a possible new grand scheme from the city and province for the site to have more permanent year-round attractions and a subway station.

Nick Woodbury · 24 Feb 2020, 16:48 (Ref:3959587)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighParker

I think 2020 is the last year of the existing contract for the race? If the promoters have to pay for road work to move utilities for an extended pit lane, I assume they would also want it to be accompanied by another 3 year contract, but then that may depend on a possible new grand scheme from the city and province for the site to have more permanent year-round attractions and a subway station.

And if it is not renewed and they don't return? What next....Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Mosport?

rwintle · 25 Feb 2020, 16:33 (Ref:3959796)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

And if it is not renewed and they don't return? What next....Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Mosport?

Any of the above might be awesome.

Mont Tremblant is probably a non-starter since the wealthy neighbours love to complain about noise. And it's owned by Lawrence Stroll who's probably way too busy with F1 to be bothered. Plus it's pretty inconvenient to get to. Quebec motorsport fans would probably pack the place though.

I love Mosport but IndyCars there would likely be a bit of a procession with little passing (this from a conversation with Sebastien Bourdais in 2014 when IndyCar and Green Savoree were considering moving the 2015 race to avoid the Pan Am Games). Maybe with the newer cars it would be better than with the old aero. Plus safety upgrades needed, but probably the most likely option. And there are so many great spectator areas.

Montreal has restrictions on the number of events each year (two if I remember correctly?). So maybe. Again, Quebec fans would likely fill the place.

All that said, I want it to stay in Toronto...

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