2016 Indy-Lights silly-season

[Formulahistory]

Kyle Kaiser (Juncos)
Garett Grist (Juncos) ?
RC Enerson (Schmidt Peterson)
Ethan Ringel (Schmidt Peterson)
Scott Anderson (Schmidt Peterson) ?
Heamin Choi (Schmidt Peterson) ?
Ed Jones (Carlin)
Max Chilton (Carlin) ?
Félix Serrallés (Belardi) ?
Juan Piedrahita (Belardi) ?
Dalton Kallett (Andretti)
Shelby Blackstock (Andretti) ?
Weiron Tan (Andretti) ?
Sean Rayhall (Pelfrey) ?
Santiago Urrutia (Pelfrey) ?

[Juntos]

Leading GP2 entrant Racing Engineering is taking a hard look at expanding into it:
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/12...-u-s-expansion

[Rob Howden]

Hi guys,

I'm the play-by-play announcer for the Mazda Road to Indy, and I also publish a blog that offers up 'insider' info on all three rungs of the MRTI and other open wheel junior formula series. Seeing as you guys are chatting about our Silly Season, have a read of this to get more insight. The 2016 season is looking pretty good and I expect to see between 14-17 cars on the grid for the opener at St. Pete.

This is my most recent post:
http://roadtoindyinsider.com/2015/12...s-2016-update/

Here's a link to my first Indy Lights 2016 Prediction piece:
http://roadtoindyinsider.com/2015/10...s-indy-lights/

I'm happy to answer any questions that you all might have. There's great stuff in the works for next year in terms of being able to tune into all the action.

[Formulahistory]

Indy-Lights update:



Veach confirmed at Belardi

Carlin perhaps with a four-car line-up

no news on Ganassi and KVSH about joining the series.

McCormack tested with Davey Hamilton jr.



Kyle Kaiser (Juncos)
José Gutiérrez (Juncos) ?
RC Enerson (Schmidt Peterson)
Ethan Ringel (Schmidt Peterson)
Heamin Choi (Schmidt Peterson) ?
James French (Schmidt Peterson) ?
Ed Jones (Carlin)

Max Chilton (Carlin) ?
Zach Veach (Belardi)
Félix Sérralles (Belardi) ?
Shelby Backstock (Andretti)
Dalton Kellett (Andretti)
Weiron Tan (Andretti) ?
Sean Rayhall (Pelfrey) ?
Santiago Urrutia (Pelfrey) ?
Davey Hamilton jr. (McCormack) ?

[peebee2]

Serralles at Carlin

[NaBUru38]

Hi, Rob! Thanks for joining.

No news on Santiago Urrutia's budget. I think he's about half way. This year Uruguay's economy has dipped a bit, especially because the Brazilian real has been devaluating.

[NaBUru38]

Oh, Urrutia is travelling to Florida for a three-day test with Schmidt Peterson.

Mario Uberti (F1 announcer in Uruguay in the 1980s-2000s) says he "will surely race with them" (still unconfirmed of course).

[10TENTHS]

He does have a ~$600k Mazda scholarship which is about 2/3 of the cost

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Hi, Rob! Thanks for joining.

No news on Santiago Urrutia's budget. I think he's about half way. This year Uruguay's economy has dipped a bit, especially because the Brazilian real has been devaluating.

Thanks guys. I was at the PRI Show in Indy this week, and helped MC a few announcements. My media friends and I are hearing Urrutia is all but signed with SPM, and as the mod said, he does roll into the negotiations with the Mazda scholarship money.

I'd say that there is no chance for Ganassi or KVSK to join the series yet, although Andretti still presents their desire to run 4 cars.

And yes, I'm hearing Serralles at Carlin, but none of my sources can confirm this.

I think that Euro F3 champ Felix Rosenqvist testing with Team Pelfrey next week is the most interesting news right now. I like seeing potential GP2 drivers looking to the MRTI instead, with its lower budget and higher championship payoff.

[gomick]

Ganassi & Penske joining with 2 or 3 cars each would be great for Grid #'s too

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by gomick

Ganassi & Penske joining with 2 or 3 cars each would be great for Grid #'s too

Not in the cards for 2016. I did speak briefly with a Ganassi engineer who told me that they were indeed contemplating a Lights program, but I think we all know that a fully-funded driver will need to walk into Chip's office and actually request a effort for it to happen.

Adding either of these IndyCar teams would certainly be a huge uplift for the Lights program, but I personally believe that the series is enjoying great momentum without their inclusion.

[Rob Howden]

Here's my most recent update, guys. Lots in the works, and more stuff hitting my desk today. I'm expecting another solid update next week.

http://roadtoindyinsider.com/2015/12...cember-update/

[Formulahistory]

nice work!

[canamman]

Originally Posted by Rob Howden

I'm happy to answer any questions that you all might have. There's great stuff in the works for next year in terms of being able to tune into all the action.

Have you heard if Sean Rayhall is guaranteed a full season car at Pelfrey?
I think at this point in his career he needs to get a full season under his belt
in open wheel.

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by canamman

Have you heard if Sean Rayhall is guaranteed a full season car at Pelfrey?
I think at this point in his career he needs to get a full season under his belt
in open wheel.

Sean has been racing and testing sports cars and prototypes, so it looks like he may end up going in that direction. He most definitely will not be with Pelfrey. They are testing two drivers today and tomorrow and have another driver in contract negotiations, I believe.

[10TENTHS]

Last I saw, he tested a Ligier LMP3 over at Barcelona. No confirmation yet on where Sean is racing in 2016.

[canamman]

Originally Posted by Rob Howden

Sean has been racing and testing sports cars and prototypes, so it looks like he may end up going in that direction. He most definitely will not be with Pelfrey. They are testing two drivers today and tomorrow and have another driver in contract negotiations, I believe.

Thanks! I will keep an eye on twitter for anything.

[Rob Howden]

As the Indy Lights grid continues to form, we had an interesting test this past week at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida, and then one at Homestead as well. Three teams were in attendance.

Scott Hargrove and Felix Rosenqvist tested with Team Pelfrey. They have two cars, and one additional driver is supposedly in negotiations for one of the seats. Word is that both drivers were very fast.

2015 rookies RC Enerson and Ethan Ringel were back with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and they were joined by Pro Mazda champion Santiago Urrutia and EuroFormula F3 driver Henrique Baptista.

Juncos Racing was in attendance as well at PBIR, and ran just Zach Claman DeMelo. Kyle Kaiser ran at Homestead on Friday.

I'm still predicting between 14-17 cars for 2016.

[canamman]

14 - 17 taking the green flag will be outstanding.

[Rob Howden]

Hey guys,

Here's my newest blog installment. Things continue to heat up:

http://roadtoindyinsider.com/2015/12...oliday-update/

[NaBUru38]

http://motormario.com/urrutia-final-...a-un-gran-2015

Santiago Urrutia hasn't competed his budget to race with Schmidt Peterson. He has offers from other teams but he prefers to close a deal with SPM.

[Formulahistory]

Thank you once again for the updates!

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

http://motormario.com/urrutia-final-...a-un-gran-2015

Santiago Urrutia hasn't competed his budget to race with Schmidt Peterson. He has offers from other teams but he prefers to close a deal with SPM.

Looks like some solid posturing to me. With teams like Carlin and Andretti appearing like they're ready to add a third car, and Belardi still needing a teammate for Zach Veach, he might be pushing to get the best deal from SPM that is possible.

[NaBUru38]

You're welcome, Formulahistory.

Uruguay's economy is getting colder. Ancap (state monopoly of fuel and Urrutia sponsor) has lost over 800 million dollars in the past few years, and are losing 500k per day.

Fuel costs 1,40 per liter. A barrel costs under 50 dollars. It's insane.

[NaBUru38]

In other news, Santiago Urrutia just scored a penalty kick at the 8th all star charity football match in Punta del Este. It's airing on GolTV and features Uruguayan sports, music and television celebrities.