Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Why would Firestone throw more money at something they already spend a ton on? And if Honda is really saving money by not being the title sponsor, that would be a decent chunk for Firestone to pick up.

How big a presence do Firestone have in Canada?

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Also Honda could feel like being a sponsor of the race without being involved as engine builder is worth it if the price isn't crazy high. Honda also throws a ton of money at the Barber race, like Mid-Ohio there is a plant locally and they do a lot of promo work. And Acura may want a piece of the sponsorship and maintain Long Beach with IMSA as pointed out above, and maybe add some funds in to other events.

If Ilmor become the sole engine supplier and Honda can rebadge Ilmor engines as Honda engines then yes. I wasn't aware Honda were still involved with Barber, as they stopped being the title sponsor after 2022.

I'm sure Acura will consider funding other events, if their success in IMSA continues.

[broadrun96]

They are the top presenting sponsor on all the media and the website for it behind the main sponsor an insurance group and Childrens of Alabama. They do a huge corral but again there's a plant 30 miles away so they have a presence, but that's the same as the Acura and Honda plants close to Mid-Ohio.

[HighParker]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

How big a presence do Firestone have in Canada?..

Ihere's a FirestoneTire.ca website that mentions the Indianapolis 500, but the Honda Indy website lists Cooper Tires as a sponsor.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I came across this article in Autosport and was wondering how much this has to do with HPD's, now renamed Honda Racing Corporation USA, continued presence in IndyCar after 2026?

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ho...rtin/10559291/

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by HighParker

Ihere's a FirestoneTire.ca website that mentions the Indianapolis 500, but the Honda Indy website lists Cooper Tires as a sponsor.

I don't think we need to make too much of that. Cooper Tires is the supplier for the Road To Indy and (as I'm sure you know, so for everyone else's benefit) there's been Cooper Tires branding at turn 5 in Toronto for years.

How much presence does Firestone have in Canada? That's a good question - it's not a brand that jumps to my mind and certainly not one that my (Honda) dealer offers routinely. Not sure how many Firestone tires I'd see around on road cars, but maybe I should start looking.

[broadrun96]

I would guess you wouldn't see many, most of their street branding is Bridgestone. Weirdly I think of Firestone as the tire, oil and light service centers than tire branding. But they have a HEAVY YouTube presence, or at least on stuff I watch, for the Firestone Complete Auto Care service centers over tire advertising

[joeb]

I have Firestones on multiple work vehicles because the shop is just down the street and it is easy. And they have great customer service.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Ferrucci gets the #14 Foyt drive.


https://www.indycar.com/news/2024/01...-ferrucci-foyt

[fieldodreams79]

Found through an MP tweet. Didn't see it posted anywhere else. Move if we need.

NIMBY neighbors sue Laguna Seca racetrack over excessive noise, traffic

https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/...e-18585307.php

Super annoying. You should know what you bought and where...

[bjohnsonsmith]

There is the possibility of a non-championship, post season race in Argentina at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo road course, which also plays host to an annual round for the MotoGP series in October.


https://racer.com/2024/01/16/indycar...na-race-plans/

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Found through an MP tweet. Didn't see it posted anywhere else. Move if we need.

NIMBY neighbors sue Laguna Seca racetrack over excessive noise, traffic

https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/...e-18585307.php

Super annoying. You should know what you bought and where...

Have a feeling that's going right in the bin where it belongs. Someone tried that earlier and the "exemption" they claim from the CARB is specifically in the original bill for racing and other off road events predating the bill and the track does. It never said only x, y, z events but rather use. I fell down the rabbit hole once and it's been fought over time and time again but I'm sure we'll find out the lawyers live or own property there and want concessions in cash to "settle their fees" that far outweigh the actual work.

Plus side, it is the government they are suing and thus a much harder uphill task to sue than a privately held track.

[broadrun96]

Track tours cancelled but who let Kimi out in an old car for one lap?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Track tours cancelled but who let Kimi out in an old car for one lap?

Lame. Get a rally car and put up some cones!

[bjohnsonsmith]

IndyCar's first test of 2024 starts today, with three days at Homestead, Miami. Followed by a second hybrid test, also at Homestead, for February 20-22, with the entire field scheduled for a two-day teams’ test at Sebring, from February 26-27, before the March 8 season opener at St. Pete.


https://racer.com/2024/01/18/indycar...-test-of-2024/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Herta tops second day of testing.


https://racer.com/2024/01/23/herta-o...-at-homestead/

[joeb]

And in the 3rd day of testing a non-indy driver Siegel finished 6th

https://racer.com/2024/01/25/siegel-...ut-with-coyne/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Kirkwood tops final day at Homestead.


https://racer.com/2024/01/24/kirkwoo...omestead-test/

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I came across this article in Autosport and was wondering how much this has to do with HPD's, now renamed Honda Racing Corporation USA, continued presence in IndyCar after 2026?

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ho...rtin/10559291/

I would say a lot more than anyone actually is prepared to officially admit to.

If there are three races you can be successful at in the USA. then the return on successful competition at those three races is likely to provide more return than success at one 500 mile race, no matter how much of a US institution the 500 mile race is.

This basically comes down to the notion that Indycar is a great domestic racing series, one of the best most competitive series in the world, but it hasn't grabbed the attention of the US public as much as F1 does.

Regardless of whether I'm right in that assumption, or wrong about it, Indycar needs to become great again, much like CART was in the 90's, if Honda (or any other OEM) are going to think again.

[bjohnsonsmith]

For those of you don't follow the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, a number of IndyCar drivers will be competing in this weekend’s 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2024/01...pEcFi01AOPtpVb

[joeb]

Chip Ganassi ran over Devlin DeFrancesco's dog

https://www.espn.com/auto/story/_/id...rancesco-puppy

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by joeb

Chip Ganassi ran over Devlin DeFrancesco's dog

https://www.espn.com/auto/story/_/id...rancesco-puppy

Ironically the dog was called Lucky.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Ironically the dog was called Lucky.

That’s too cruel to even think about

[bjohnsonsmith]

A positive summary from Marshall Pruett on the recent hybrid test at Homestead.


https://racer.com/2024/02/01/indycar...-test-of-2024/

[bjohnsonsmith]

The 2024 season of 100 Days to Indy will start streaming on February 16 on Paramount+.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Arrows McLaren unveil their 2024 driver's liveries.

David Malukas



Pato O'Ward



Alexander Rossi