Indycar News & Rumors.

[mstets]

With the announcement of the Cadillac F1 power unit, can we expect GM to continue to support the Indycar program?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by mstets

With the announcement of the Cadillac F1 power unit, can we expect GM to continue to support the Indycar program?

Both Chevrolet and Honda recently completed further testing of the Hybrid Assist program at IMS, so it doesn't look like GM will be quitting IndyCar anytime soon.

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...unit/10543282/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by mstets

With the announcement of the Cadillac F1 power unit, can we expect GM to continue to support the Indycar program?

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Both Chevrolet and Honda recently completed further testing of the Hybrid Assist program at IMS, so it doesn't look like GM will be quitting IndyCar anytime soon.

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...unit/10543282/

Honda managed both programs quite nicely over the years. Can't see it being a problem for GM either.

[broadrun96]

Yeah, especially as GM contracts the engine work out anyway. I would guess the funds for Indy wouldn't be a penny on the F1 budgets

[mstets]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Yeah, especially as GM contracts the engine work out anyway. I would guess the funds for Indy wouldn't be a penny on the F1 budgets

Probably true as to the cost of Indycar vs. F1. I hope you are right about their long term commitment.

[broadrun96]

Looks like 4 seats open outside of Indy/one-offs

https://racer.com/2023/11/20/indycar...to-take-shape/

Foyt 55 and 14 Chevy
DCR 18 and 51 Honda

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Looks like 4 seats open outside of Indy/one-offs

https://racer.com/2023/11/20/indycar...to-take-shape/

Foyt 55 and 14 Chevy
DCR 18 and 51 Honda

I could either see them being filled by nice surprises or big disappointmemts

[NaBUru38]

Indeed.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Pato O'Ward becomes McLaren's F1 reserve driver.

https://racer.com/2023/11/23/mclaren...eserve-driver/

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Pato O'Ward becomes McLaren's F1 reserve driver.

https://racer.com/2023/11/23/mclaren...eserve-driver/

Glad he’s been given the role, he deserves it

[joeb]

American Legion sponsorship will now be on Lundqvist car for 2024.

https://racer.com/2023/11/27/america...-car-for-2024/

[broadrun96]

I can't believe the Legion has the money to run the sponsorship this long, can remember them as basically NJ All-Star baseball and charity drives wanting donations. Guess they're getting it done.

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I can't believe the Legion has the money to run the sponsorship this long, can remember them as basically NJ All-Star baseball and charity drives wanting donations. Guess they're getting it done.

Yeah, I’m also a bit surprised by the American Legion’s longevity as a sponsor. And what’s perhaps even more surprising to me is the American Legion’s sponsorship will on a car with a foreign driver…

[E.B]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

And what’s perhaps even more surprising to me is the American Legion’s sponsorship will on a car with a foreign driver…

Remind me whose car 'American Legion' backed last year.... IIRC it was Alex Palou, and he is hardly an American himself, being Spanish.

Just sayin......

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Yeah, I’m also a bit surprised by the American Legion’s longevity as a sponsor. And what’s perhaps even more surprising to me is the American Legion’s sponsorship will on a car with a foreign driver…

As it is, Ganassi doesn't have any American drivers.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by joeb

American Legion sponsorship will now be on Lundqvist car for 2024.

https://racer.com/2023/11/27/america...-car-for-2024/

The Charity Navigator gave the American Legion a 96 score in accountability and finance. Self-reported program expenses are 88.5% of total expenses, which is pretty high. Kars4Kids has just 60%, and Wheels for Wishes a paltry 37%.

[broadrun96]

Expense vs total percentages is a BS number, most of those with very low numbers rely on volunteer or loophole reduced cost labor, ie special ed folks with minimum wage as low as 25 cents an hour

[NaBUru38]

Of course, the point is that some of these charities spend too much money on non-program salaries and advertising.

[bjohnsonsmith]

An interesting article regarding the hybrid engine for next season and the retaining of the DW12, over a new chassis.


https://racer.com/2023/12/04/optimiz...chassis-miles/

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

An interesting article regarding the hybrid engine for next season and the retaining of the DW12, over a new chassis.


https://racer.com/2023/12/04/optimiz...chassis-miles/

Not a surprise that IndyCar prioritize the hybrid over a new chassis: wasn't going to a hybrid a condition of keeping at least one of its current engine suppliers?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Another article on the hybrid engine, intimating the ERS may not be ready for the season opener at St. Pete.


https://racer.com/2023/12/07/indycar...st-petersburg/

[HighParker]

Originally Posted by rwintle

... If NASCAR persists in keeping their race on Friday, that might help too, because they'll be cleared out and gone by Saturday morning...

The 2024 Nascar Canada Series schedule does not include Exhibition Place in Toronto, and has them in Saskatchewan on that weekend.

The most recent article I could find regarding the proposed new hotel/entertainment venue at Exhibition Place has its proponents still claiming that they somehow intend to eventually build it, despite apparently not having the money to do so.

IndyCar's contract with the city of Toronto was strangely renewed for only one more year (2024) instead of the usual three years.

Every time I see something about the Downsview Airport lands, it makes me think of how that might have been a good place for a temporary or semi-permanent race track. Even now, it seems that a large part of the airfield will not be developed for maybe another 30 years, with much of it hoped to be used "for concerts, large events, and major festivals". I'd assume there would be more than enough room for a temporary track to be used one weekend a year in the summer, though of course it would have to involve the property owner willing to allow it, and someone paying to pave a track layout and build whatever other facilities would be required. Mosport/CTMP apparently no longer had a long enough pit lane for their IMSA event to include the headlining GTP class, so maybe they could also be interested in joining such a proposal? (This is all hypothetical, with absolutely nothing suggesting it was actually being considered.)

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Another article on the hybrid engine, intimating the ERS may not be ready for the season opener at St. Pete.


https://racer.com/2023/12/07/indycar...st-petersburg/

Newgarden thinks it's a sensible move. He's probably right:

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...ness/10556146/

[mstets]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Newgarden thinks it's a sensible move. He's probably right:

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...ness/10556146/

Seems to me that all the drivers in the series should get an equal number of laps in the hybrid before it is raced.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The hybrid engine saga continues, as IndyCar announce postponement of the system until after the 500.



https://racer.com/2023/12/07/indycar...fter-indy-500/