Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Marco Andretti to compete in the No. 98 KULR Technology Group, Inc. Honda in the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Marco Andretti to compete in the No. 98 KULR Technology Group, Inc. Honda in the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500.

When i first read this i thought it said Mario because i had just seen that he tested a recent McLaren F1 car. But Marco makes much more sense!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Marco Andretti to compete in the No. 98 KULR Technology Group, Inc. Honda in the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500.

For his sake, he needs to show a better job than he has recently

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by S griffin

For his sake, he needs to show a better job than he has recently

I sort-of had the impression that Marco has been good at Indy, but pole in 2020 aside, it's quite a while since he's finished in the top 10 (8th place in 2017). Still, an Andretti in the Indy 500 will always be a popular choice.

[bjohnsonsmith]

IndyCar have this article, with a little more info on the Thermal Club.


https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/10...hermal-feature

[joeb]

Another new track has broken ground, this time in Tennessee and it is called Flatrock Motorsports Park.

Aim is to host future motorcycle and indycar events.


https://racer.com/2022/10/26/new-fla...s-destination/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by joeb

Another new track has broken ground, this time in Tennessee and it is called Flatrock Motorsports Park.

Aim is to host future motorcycle and indycar events.


https://racer.com/2022/10/26/new-fla...s-destination/

Interesting to read it's designed by Tilke.

This is what the layout of the track will look like.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Interesting to read it's designed by Tilke.

This is what the layout of the track will look like.

It is so hard for me to judge what the track will look like from maps like these. I saw another one on their website that showed elevation change and it appears to be quite hilly. Which makes it all the more funny that the facility is named Flatrock

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by joeb

It is so hard for me to judge what the track will look like from maps like these. I saw another one on their website that showed elevation change and it appears to be quite hilly. Which makes it all the more funny that the facility is named Flatrock

This has the elevation changes and yes, it's not flat at all.

[S griffin]

Looks like that will be quite a tricky circuit to get around. So good work on the design there

[bjohnsonsmith]

Honda had their first hybrid engine test at IMS this week.


https://racer.com/2022/10/28/honda-h...-tests-at-ims/

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

This has the elevation changes and yes, it's not flat at all.

Interesting layout. Almost like a mini Nurburgring or larger Sonoma/Laguna Seca. Average speeds projected to be about 100mph for a GT3 car.
Combined circuit length of 5.9 miles.is almost 1,5 times Road America.

[gert]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Looks like that will be quite a tricky circuit to get around. So good work on the design there

I'd only call that good design work if the layout is able to produce good racing.

It can be set in a beautiful setting or be nice to drive a single lap on or challenging to get your lap together but if the racing is 'follow the leader' then IMO it is a shitty design.


So, we'll have to see.

[fieldodreams79]

Yeah, I don't like the looks of it. Looks far too busy, but we'll indeed see. It's in a beautiful part of the world.

And it's a mere 2.5 hours from VIR so hope it compliments racers in that neck of the woods and doesn't detract.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Yeah, I don't like the looks of it. Looks far too busy, but we'll indeed see. It's in a beautiful part of the world.

And it's a mere 2.5 hours from VIR so hope it compliments racers in that neck of the woods and doesn't detract.

2.5 hours? I have three tracks within two hours of my home, one is 50 minutes, one and hour 40min, the other is two hours away. A fourth is 4 hours away. Shortest is 1.7 miles. The others between 2 to 3 miles long, two up to FIA grade 2.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

2.5 hours? I have three tracks within two hours of my home, one is 50 minutes, one and hour 40min, the other is two hours away. A fourth is 4 hours away. Shortest is 1.7 miles. The others between 2 to 3 miles long, two up to FIA grade 2.

Okay. So it's a good thing?

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Okay. So it's a good thing?

I don't think it's a bad thing unless they deliberately step on each other's toes.
If they schedule competing events close together that is stupid.
If they are wise and space events out being cognizant that their schedules should be complimentary of each other's events that will be a strength for the sport in the region.
Example: You wouldn't run two pro events on consecutive weekends like an IMSA evert at one track and an Indycar event at the other circuit a week apart, nor two Indycar or IMSA events on consecutive weekends, one at each track.
You would rather have one track earlier in the season and the other some months later.

[broadrun96]

Or you have Laguna who multiple times ran back to back at their own track for IMSA and Indy

And keep in mind the track overview has at least 5 layouts in the there

[bjohnsonsmith]

NTT are leaving Chip Ganassi Racing for Arrows McLaren SP. As the Racer article says, it is believed Alex Palou was to have been included in the original plan.

https://racer.com/2022/11/01/cgr-no-...ntt-departure/

NTT DATA will be sponsoring the No. 6 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, driven by Felix Rosenqvist. When Rosenqvist drove for Chip Ganassi Racing, his car was sponsored by NTT DATA. He joined AMSP for the 2021 season.

More here.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/11/11-1-ntt-amsp

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

NTT are leaving Chip Ganassi Racing for Arrows McLaren SP. As the Racer article says, it is believed Alex Palou was to have been included in the original plan.

https://racer.com/2022/11/01/cgr-no-...ntt-departure/

NTT DATA will be sponsoring the No. 6 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, driven by Felix Rosenqvist. When Rosenqvist drove for Chip Ganassi Racing, his car was sponsored by NTT DATA. He joined AMSP for the 2021 season.

More here.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/11/11-1-ntt-amsp

I get the feeling the management teams at McLaren and Ganassi won't be exchanging Christmas cards for some time.

[broadrun96]

I think a couple crew members also left Ganassi for AMSP as well. Hire good people and half your work is done, although I notice few ever get hired away from Penske

[bjohnsonsmith]

History was made on Sunday, when Team Penske became the first team to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season.


https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/11...-penske-double

[bjohnsonsmith]

Renovation work has started at Laguna Seca and about time.



https://racer.com/2022/11/09/laguna-...h-anniversary/

[joeb]

Some safety upgrades for the coming season to the front of the Dallara

https://racer.com/2022/11/28/indycar...uator-in-2023/

[broadrun96]

That's only the front for Jimmie sir