Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Mr Penske must have tax lawyers on staff just to deal with the problems of his racing drivers

The Captain's no slouch.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Most of them either had part or whole funding sourced or linked to drivers.

So Ganassi, Penske, Andretti, Schmidt, Herta, Rahal, KV, Foyt, Panther & Fisher Hartman are the minority??????????

[cmk]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

So Ganassi, Penske, Andretti, Schmidt, Herta, Rahal, KV, Foyt, Panther & Fisher Hartman are the minority??????????

Really? Without even thinking too hard...

Ganassi - Kimball
Andretti - Viso
Rahal - Jakes (and sorta Rahal)
KV - Simona

IZOD was willing to back AJ for a few races too, if that makes Penske count. I bet there are some less obvious links for some of the other teams as well.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by cmk

Really? Without even thinking too hard...

Ganassi - Kimball
Andretti - Viso
Rahal - Jakes (and sorta Rahal)
KV - Simona

IZOD was willing to back AJ for a few races too, if that makes Penske count. I bet there are some less obvious links for some of the other teams as well.

Ganassi had only one car run with the Target livery all season and that was Dixon's, otherwise Franchitti's car had a variety of co-sponsors throughout the season.

[HJJ]

IndyCar Series fans will have to wait to see what kind of sponsors and livery will be featured on Panther Racing's No. 4 Chevy, but team owner John Barnes tells RACER the tug-of-war with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing over National Guard funding won't delay Panther's plans or preparation for 2014. “We're doing well overall, moving hard on our second-car program and have some drivers we're going to test in the next three weeks,” he said. “Our engineers are working hard on new projects and our mechanics are doing the same.”
A significant number of Panther crew members were let go last week, leading to speculation the team was being shuttered. Barnes clarified the situation, pointing to the staff reduction as an annual occurrence that has taken place after the season finale. Another source confirmed almost the exact number of layoffs took place in 2012, and is below the figure of 31 layoffs that has been making the rounds.
“We tend to over-hire for the race season so it's easier on our core guys, especially when we have a bunch of back-to-back-to-back races,” Barnes added. “But you can't keep everyone once the season is over if you have very little to do. The NFL doesn't do it, baseball doesn't do it, the PGA doesn't do it *. The first place you look to save money is your most expensive resource, and that's employees. Especially if you're forced to sit around for so long with nothing to do, for the most part. So we've had to do this the past few years, and I wish we didn't.”
Barnes favors a busier off-season, which he says would allow Panther to minimize the number of redundancies. Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles has outlined a plan that would have IndyCar Series teams taking part in a secondary championship to bridge the 2014-to-2015 season.
“You can't keep a cast of thousands on between the seasons, especially with five months between the end of this season and the start of the next one,” he continued. “I was speaking with [Mark] Miles about this, and said it's tough to employ a strong workforce when you have so much time off, the cars are essentially spec so you can't do anything to them, and the number of test days are so heavily restricted.”
It's likely former Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe, who drove for Panther in six races this past season after JR Hildebrand was released, would have been confirmed by now, but with the sponsorship questions facing the program, news of the Australian's expected place within the team has been kept quiet.
Provided the National Guard funding falls in Panther's favor, Briscoe's confirmation would be considered little more than a formality and some of the drivers being considered for a second car would remain in that position. If the team finds itself in search of a new primary sponsor, the seat in the No. 4 entry could remain open until the budget is completed by sponsors or a funded driver.

.

* yeah, those caddy layoffs are really hurting the PGA

[HJJ]

and...

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was a fixture in the IndyCar Series before a budget-related pause forced an end to their 2013 activities after Oriol Servia placed 11th for the team in May at the Indy 500 (LEFT). DRR partnered with Panther Racing after switching from Lotus to Chevy power in 2012, racing under the Panther DRR banner, and with the program sitting idle, team co-owner Dennis Reinbold tells RACER DRR could be back in 2014 under a similar partnership, albeit with a different team.
“We're talking with a lot of different people right now, and don't want to give too much away because we're still negotiating,” he said. “It's going to take a little while to see if it's all going to work out.”
It's believed DRR is talking to Ed Carpenter Racing about some form of alliance, and while Reinbold (LEFT) declined to name the teams he's been in contact with, he did explain some of the options in front of him.
“It may be something simple like leasing our shop – where we aren't sure yet how much DRR as a team is going to be involved, but it could also be a lot more than just housing another team,” he added. “I've kept most of our employees, I have all of our equipment to run and we've said all along we're going to run Indy next year, so if we can get back – full time or even part time – we hope to be able to do so with a good partner team.”
Reinbold has also continued his search to find sponsors for the No. 22 Chevy.
“For us to come back and do Indy is an easy thing, but we've really been focused on trying to find sponsors that will allow us to do more races,” he continued. “I'd like to do the season in a bigger and better way because it's hard to show up at Indy and think you're going to challenge the full-time guys. That's a hard position to be in, so if we can get back and start the season off and run through Indy, at least, that would be a great place to start for us.

“And then we'll see how much more we can put in place, hopefully, to run beyond Indy. A lot is up in the air right now, but we're working hard to put Dreyer & Reinbold Racing back out there where we want to be in the IndyCar Series.”

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by HJJ

.

IndyCar Series fans will have to wait to see what kind of sponsors and livery will be featured on Panther Racing's No. 4 Chevy, but team owner John Barnes tells RACER the tug-of-war with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing over National Guard funding won't delay Panther's plans or preparation for 2014. “We're doing well overall, moving hard on our second-car program and have some drivers we're going to test in the next three weeks,” he said. “Our engineers are working hard on new projects and our mechanics are doing the same.”
A significant number of Panther crew members were let go last week, leading to speculation the team was being shuttered. Barnes clarified the situation, pointing to the staff reduction as an annual occurrence that has taken place after the season finale. Another source confirmed almost the exact number of layoffs took place in 2012, and is below the figure of 31 layoffs that has been making the rounds.
“We tend to over-hire for the race season so it's easier on our core guys, especially when we have a bunch of back-to-back-to-back races,” Barnes added. “But you can't keep everyone once the season is over if you have very little to do. The NFL doesn't do it, baseball doesn't do it, the PGA doesn't do it *. The first place you look to save money is your most expensive resource, and that's employees. Especially if you're forced to sit around for so long with nothing to do, for the most part. So we've had to do this the past few years, and I wish we didn't.”
Barnes favors a busier off-season, which he says would allow Panther to minimize the number of redundancies. Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles has outlined a plan that would have IndyCar Series teams taking part in a secondary championship to bridge the 2014-to-2015 season.
“You can't keep a cast of thousands on between the seasons, especially with five months between the end of this season and the start of the next one,” he continued. “I was speaking with [Mark] Miles about this, and said it's tough to employ a strong workforce when you have so much time off, the cars are essentially spec so you can't do anything to them, and the number of test days are so heavily restricted.”
It's likely former Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe, who drove for Panther in six races this past season after JR Hildebrand was released, would have been confirmed by now, but with the sponsorship questions facing the program, news of the Australian's expected place within the team has been kept quiet.
Provided the National Guard funding falls in Panther's favor, Briscoe's confirmation would be considered little more than a formality and some of the drivers being considered for a second car would remain in that position. If the team finds itself in search of a new primary sponsor, the seat in the No. 4 entry could remain open until the budget is completed by sponsors or a funded driver.

* yeah, those caddy layoffs are really hurting the PGA

The NFL's hardly a good comparison and neither is MLB. The NFL post season usually ends in the first week of February. There is a hyatus of roughly two months for new players who attend OTAs, organized team activities, in late April, early may, with training camp in July, pre-season games in August and the regular season starting in Sptember, so it's not as if players are sitting around doing nothing from February to September.

As for MLB, Spring Training starts in mid February, with the regular season staring on the first Sunday in April and finishing on the first Sunday of October. If a team gets to the play offs and the World Series, then they can be playing up until the last week of October. That can give a team just a three month break.

Barnes doesn't know what he's talking about and who ever interviewed him should have taken him to task.

[icemachine]

I think when you think of personnel needed to run a baseball or football stadium, a lot of that is seasonal workers who see a 5 month break if there stadium is shuttered for the winter

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by icemachine

I think when you think of personnel needed to run a baseball or football stadium, a lot of that is seasonal workers who see a 5 month break if there stadium is shuttered for the winter

I can see that being the case with staff who sell food, drinks and merchandise etc. and some of the ground staff but the coaching staff, will be present at Spring Training and the OTAs and don't forget some of these stadia doubleup for Baseball and Football.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by cmk

Really? Without even thinking too hard...

Ganassi - Kimball
Andretti - Viso
Rahal - Jakes (and sorta Rahal)
KV - Simona

IZOD was willing to back AJ for a few races too, if that makes Penske count. I bet there are some less obvious links for some of the other teams as well.

Whats your definition of a pay driver?

All those guys are decent drivers who should be on the grid.

Viso, aside using the above definition does that make Sebastien Vettel a pay driver?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Whats your definition of a pay driver?

All those guys are decent drivers who should be on the grid.

Viso, aside using the above definition does that make Sebastien Vettel a pay driver?

Sebastien Vettel a pay driver? Where's that come from?

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Whats your definition of a pay driver?

All those guys are decent drivers who should be on the grid.

Viso, aside using the above definition does that make Sebastien Vettel a pay driver?

Someone who brings in money, may be personal funds or sponsors (like Memo Rojas and Telmex in GA).

Pay drivers can be and many are decent drivers. Money has nothing to do with talent, just better opportunities.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Sebastien Vettel a pay driver? Where's that come from?

Vettel has had his whole career bankrolled by Red Bull, he was placed in teams with Red Bull's money behind him, i'm assuming that is what DRT is meaning.

Not really different to plenty of other drivers on the F1 grid, nor the Indycar grid.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by one five five

Vettel has had his whole career bankrolled by Red Bull, he was placed in teams with Red Bull's money behind him, i'm assuming that is what DRT is meaning.

Not really different to plenty of other drivers on the F1 grid, nor the Indycar grid.

A pay driver is one who brings money with him or her, in the form of sponsorship, to a team in order to obtain a drive in that team. Vettel brought no money to RBR but was/is part of the Red Bull driver programme, similar to Marlboro's when tobacco money ran motorsport, the purpose of which is to look for and promote driver talent. The ulimate goal is to have those drivers race in F1 for Torro Rosso and then RBR.

That's quite a lot different to most drivers on the F1 grid.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Hulman and Co CEO Mark Miles completes the leadership team.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111190

Let's hope this leadership team can provide the leadership that's been sorely lacking and pull Indy Car out of the mire, it's got itself into.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Whats your definition of a pay driver?

All those guys are decent drivers who should be on the grid.

Viso, aside using the above definition does that make Sebastien Vettel a pay driver?

My definition of pay driver is irrelevant. I was responding to your suggestion that the teams you listed were exceptions to having "either had part or whole funding sourced or linked to drivers". The examples I listed all very clearly fit that bill.

[D.R.T.]

My post was more directed that those teams required to turn down other drivers to take money to field cars.

Eg. AJ Allmendinger and Penske doesnt fit that mould.

Pay drivers and drivers with sponsorship (or teams selling sponsorship based on drivers) is an entirely different situation in my book.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I've moved HJJ's post #1593 to The Current State of IndyCar thread, as I think it's best served there.

[HJJ]

11/11/13 More Indy 500 gimmicks Pole day for the Indianapolis 500 could be a day later than in the past, Mark Miles confirmed today.

Miles, the CEO of Hulman & Co., which owns IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said his staff is working on a plan that would have the No. 1 starting position decided in the final minutes of qualifying weekend, which in 2014 would be May 18.

Throughout most of the 500’s history, pole day was reserved for the first qualifying day.

Miles said the potential change is based on a general desire to strengthen the 500’s events. That includes IndyCar’s first road race at IMS on May 10 and having two meaningful days of qualifying for the 500 (May 17-18).

Although not official yet, Miles likes the idea of all the cars qualifying on Saturday, May 17, with the Sunday session reserved for setting the order of those cars.

The fastest nine from Saturday would take part in a lineup-setting session at the end of Sunday’s action, and that’s when the pole position would be determined.

“I think the idea of culminating (qualifying) at the end of the day makes a lot of sense,” he said.

Miles said he told IndyCar teams about the possible changes at last month’s IndyCar race in Houston.

Miles acknowledged that qualifying both days will be taxing on the teams, but he said there could be financial incentives. Indy Star

.

[gomick]

Why not change it up...

So the roadcourse race & 500 will both be in May, I like it...

[bjohnsonsmith]

IndyCar changes testing rules.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111280

[Lanky Turtle]

Quote:
11/11/13 More Indy 500 gimmicks Pole day for the Indianapolis 500 could be a day later than in the past, Mark Miles confirmed today.

Miles, the CEO of Hulman & Co., which owns IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said his staff is working on a plan that would have the No. 1 starting position decided in the final minutes of qualifying weekend, which in 2014 would be May 18.

Throughout most of the 500’s history, pole day was reserved for the first qualifying day.

Miles said the potential change is based on a general desire to strengthen the 500’s events. That includes IndyCar’s first road race at IMS on May 10 and having two meaningful days of qualifying for the 500 (May 17-18).

Although not official yet, Miles likes the idea of all the cars qualifying on Saturday, May 17, with the Sunday session reserved for setting the order of those cars.

The fastest nine from Saturday would take part in a lineup-setting session at the end of Sunday’s action, and that’s when the pole position would be determined.

“I think the idea of culminating (qualifying) at the end of the day makes a lot of sense,” he said.

Miles said he told IndyCar teams about the possible changes at last month’s IndyCar race in Houston.

Miles acknowledged that qualifying both days will be taxing on the teams, but he said there could be financial incentives. Indy Star

.
I don't think this will change things much regarding fan interest. In fact I feel like they are just changing things to change them at this point. Why not have Jim Belushi sing "Back Home Again In Indiana"?

[NaBUru38]

Doing Bump Day on Saturday and Pole Day on Sunday makes perfect sense. It reduces the time required by part-time entries, and increases the activity for top entries.

[Victor_RO]

https://twitter.com/marshallpruett/s...78063108071424

Very sad, but not entirely unexpected news that @dariofranchitti's injuries from Houston have forced him into early retirement.

I may not like Dario that much, but it's really sad to see a career end with a crash like that.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Luyendyk Jr to test with Dale Coyne.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111310