Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

For those who don't follow IMSA, Alexander Rossi and Helio Castroneves, part of a four man drivers team, won the Rolex 24 At Daytona driving for Wayne Taylor Racing.

[S griffin]

Big news story there. Good work from Rossi and Castroneves. Helio has had plenty of sportscar experience, Alex not so much, so it’s credit to both of them they helped get the job done. Once again Daytona proves the perfect start to the racing year

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Helio has had plenty of sportscar experience, Alex not so much, so it’s credit to both of them they helped get the job done.

Not so much......

It's not so much the sportscar experience as road racing experience.
Castroneves 1991-95 before CART in '96.
Alex had a bunch before IndyCar.....2007 & 08 here in the U.S.; 2009-2015 overseas.

It's pretty much only us (U.S.) that seem to worship oval racing.

[S griffin]

Still Helio spent more time in sportscars recently. But Helio has got so much experience in different forms of motorsport. He's come a long way from racing in British F3 and has had a very successful career in single seaters in America. And Alex Rossi has done quite a bit, just not as much as Helio. He was really going well in his early days in America and when he came over to Europe he was looking like a future star, even if it never worked out for him

And I like the fact that US racing remains unique with it's oval racing, that's part of the charm

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by jimclark

Not so much......

It's not so much the sportscar experience as road racing experience.
Castroneves 1991-95 before CART in '96.
Alex had a bunch before IndyCar.....2007 & 08 here in the U.S.; 2009-2015 overseas.

It's pretty much only us (U.S.) that seem to worship oval racing.

Yeah, cause a DPi is just like an Indy car. Come on, I know you like to argue but really? More important to point out if you want to argue would be Rossi's position as Roger's enduro driver the last 3 years. That has given him some pretty good experience in the car, the same car for both of them mind you, the last few years.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Still Helio spent more time in sportscars recently. But Helio has got so much experience in different forms of motorsport. He's come a long way from racing in British F3 and has had a very successful career in single seaters in America. And Alex Rossi has done quite a bit, just not as much as Helio. He was really going well in his early days in America and when he came over to Europe he was looking like a future star, even if it never worked out for him

And I like the fact that US racing remains unique with it's oval racing, that's part of the charm

What do you mean, ''even if it never worked out for him''? It's not as if Rossi's career is over and it's hardly surprising he hasn't done as much as Helio, he hasn't been racing for as long.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Yeah, cause a DPi is just like an Indy car. Come on, I know you like to argue but really?

That's silly. What argument? I made a statement, and stand by it.
The previous road racing experience period is more important than what type of car as opposed to having your majority of experience on ovals.

I am quite aware that a DPi is not "just like" an Indy car, however....

.....did you hear Jimmy explaining that he was glad to have the opportunity because it would help him prepare for IndyCar road courses as they drive similarly (braking and handling as opposed to a stocker)? I assume you didn't, you wouldn't have asked that question.

Having driven karts, Formula Fords, an ASA stocker, and a March 83G/Chevy, I guarantee you that the karts and FF (which, of course, had no downforce) experience, years earlier, on those road courses, was far more important than the ASA car on ovals (tho' far more powerful) to be able to drive the March.

edit: bjohnsonsmith....I think S griffith was referring to Rossi's European experience "not working out" for him, not Indycar.

[S griffin]

We compare apples and oranges at times. Of course having any type of racing experience is helpful, but some categories are so specialised that experience in other forms of motorsport count for the minimum, including Indycars

However some drivers are good in whatever category they are in. And sometimes the characters of different of forms of racing are similar that it can help. It all depends

I do have nothing but appreciation for those who are good in no matter what they do. And what you pick up early in your racing career can come in handy in whatever form of motorsport you are in. I'm sure plenty of drivers have been reminded of what they've learned in lower formulas when they've least expected it

BTW I was referring to Rossi's European experience. Great talent who was never able to show it, for whatever reason, but he's made quite a nice career in Indycar which was has been quite a change for him in some many ways

[chunterer]

Rossi showed fairly well in FR 3.5 and was up against some pretty strong opposition. I suggest that's his level. Decent pedaller but not a star. Suspect he would blow the likes of Stroll or Latifi away given the chance to do F1 properly but that's all gone for him now.

[joeb]

Pato was fastest at Sebring test yesterday:

https://racer.com/2021/02/01/oward-q...-sebring-test/

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 AMSP Chevy (51.79s)
Alexander Rossi, No. 27 Andretti Honda (51.93s)
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Penske Chevy (52.06s)
Colton Herta, No. 26 Andretti Honda (52.06s)
Oliver Askew, No. 29 Andretti Honda (52.24s)
Felix Rosenqvist, No. 7 AMSP Chevy (52.26s)
Takuma Sato, No. 30 RLL Honda (52.30s)
Conor Daly, No. 20 ECR Chevy (52.31s)
Graham Rahal, No. 15 RLL Honda (52.36s)
Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 ECR Chevy (52.36s)
Will Power, No. 12 Penske Chevy (52.36s)
Simon Pagenaud, No. 22 Penske Chevy (52.38s)
Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 28 Honda (52.46s)
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Penske Chevy (52.47s)

[chunterer]

Askew in the 29 Andretti?

[S griffin]

That’s what it says on the timesheets on the link

[joeb]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Askew in the 29 Andretti?

Just filling in the test role because he was already in Florida from Daytona.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by joeb

Just filling in the test role because he was already in Florida from Daytona.

Ah! Thanks Joe 👍🏻

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by joeb

Just filling in the test role because he was already in Florida from Daytona.

Isn’t the seat free for every race apart from the 500?