Indycar News & Rumors.

[Mies7337]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

Some testing video I shot of Indycars at Sebring this week. This was Hinchcliffe's first test with Schmidt Peterson. Also running, Dixon, Kanaan, Kimball, Sage Karam, Gabby Chavez, and GP2 drivers Daniel De Jong, Rodolpho Gonzalez, Stefano Colletti, and Davide Valsecchi.

http://youtu.be/rnmlyp_D6OQ

With what teams were Karam, Chavez, De Jong, Gonzales, Coletti and Valsecchi driving? Especially Coletti and Valsecchi would be great to see in a championship as great as the Indycar. De Jong would be nice as well, because he's a Dutchie, although he doesn't appear as one of the greatest talents of all time.

[10TENTHS]

Originally Posted by Mies7337

Conway out of the Indycar actually is a miss. But he smashed his chances of driving in the Indycar by saying that he's not going to drive on ovals any more.

It's not just the oval issue, Toyota can outbid Ed Carpenter (and did, by the looks of it).

Originally Posted by Mies7337

And why is Justin Wilson still not confirmed, is he talking to other teams, or is his seat really in danger?

Wilson's contract with Coyne is up, he's free to negotiate with other teams.

Originally Posted by Mies7337

With what teams were Karam, Chaves, De Jong, Gonzales, Coletti and Valsecchi driving?

http://www.indycar.com/News/2014/12/...es-for-holiday

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports - Gonzalez, Valsecchi, Coletti

Bryan Herta Autosport - Chaves, De Jong (who isn't seriously looking at Indycar, he merely paid for a test day)

Karam is still under contract with Ganassi and is expected to fill the fourth seat.

Originally Posted by Mies7337

Especially Coletti and Valsecchi would be great to see in a championship

Valsecchi might be okay but I can think of better candidates from both sides of the Atlantic. Dean Stoneman and Gabriel Chaves, for example.

Originally Posted by Mies7337

De Jong would be nice as well, because he's a Dutchie, although he doesn't appear as one of the greatest talents of all time.

Like I said, he's staying in Europe for 2015. Robin Frijns is Dutch too you know ;-) and an infinitely better racing driver.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Looks like Kurt Busch has Tony Stewart's blessing to attempt ''The Double'' again, next year.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2014/12/...double-attempt

I'm very interested in drivers switching disciplines.

[Mies7337]

Originally Posted by 10TENTHS

It's not just the oval issue, Toyota can outbid Ed Carpenter (and did, by the looks of it).



Wilson's contract with Coyne is up, he's free to negotiate with other teams.



http://www.indycar.com/News/2014/12/...es-for-holiday

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports - Gonzalez, Valsecchi, Coletti

Bryan Herta Autosport - Chaves, De Jong (who isn't seriously looking at Indycar, he merely paid for a test day)

Karam is still under contract with Ganassi and is expected to fill the fourth seat.



Valsecchi might be okay but I can think of better candidates from both sides of the Atlantic. Dean Stoneman and Gabriel Chaves, for example.



Like I said, he's staying in Europe for 2015. Robin Frijns is Dutch too you know ;-) and an infinitely better racing driver.

Thanks for the info. I also think that Valsecchi would be the best choice for Schmidt Peterson, but can they afford it to run two cars without a paying driver?
And I would absolutely love to see Frijns in an Indycar. He's such a big talent with a bit of a big mouth. He made the worst mistake by rejecting a Red Bull talents program seat. But he fits in the Indycar, by driving on risk and flair. It's not what he'd hoped for, but still.

[10TENTHS]

Originally Posted by Mies7337

Thanks for the info. I also think that Valsecchi would be the best choice for Schmidt Peterson, but can they afford it to run two cars without a paying driver?

They ran it without external funding when they still had Hewlett Packard as a primary sponsor on Pagenaud's car. It'll probably be a 50:50 this year.

Originally Posted by Mies7337

And I would absolutely love to see Frijns in an Indycar. He's such a big talent with a bit of a big mouth. He made the worst mistake by rejecting a Red Bull talents program seat. But he fits in the Indycar, by driving on risk and flair. It's not what he'd hoped for, but still.

No guarantees there, especially with the Verstappen\Kvyat signings coming out of left field.

[PZippy]

Do you guys really think Coyne will hire Alex Rossi? I for one, would be totally enthused with that decsion. Based upon the fact that Honda was present at Rossi's visit to Coyne, it would lead me to believe that Honda would be supporting that move as well. I actually like the way this year's silly season is ending up.

[NaBUru38]

Nice theory.

[David A Scott]

Originally Posted by PZippy

Do you guys really think Coyne will hire Alex Rossi? I for one, would be totally enthused with that decsion. Based upon the fact that Honda was present at Rossi's visit to Coyne, it would lead me to believe that Honda would be supporting that move as well. I actually like the way this year's silly season is ending up.

I wouldn't read anything into Honda being there. Honda won't let it's sealed, leased motors run without their techs being there.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Here is some more on aero-kits.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2015/01/...it-regulations

[Peat]

I have a horrible feeling that these kits will have a detrimental effect on the racing. The stock Dallara was so inefficient and crass that you could knock bits off and still go just as fast (if not faster).

Having said that, It's definatley time for a spruce-up. I felt the momentum of 12 & 13 waning towards the end of 14.

[David A Scott]

Momentum?

[mountainstar]

Yes, momentum? Not seeing it.

The aero kits are the same type of gimmicky, quickly forgotten band aids this series tries to use.

I expect the kits will have near zero impact for the general public out there.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I expect the kits will have near zero impact for the general public out there.

On a related note, I'm wondering if they will have any kind of impact on the cars' performance or not (q.v. the comment above about knocking bits off, etc.). Or if one aero kit solution turns out to be so superior that everyone adopts it and we end up with all the cars looking the same... again.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Yes, momentum? Not seeing it.

The aero kits are the same type of gimmicky, quickly forgotten band aids this series tries to use.

I expect the kits will have near zero impact for the general public out there.

Thanks again for offering your opinion and speaking on behalf of the entire general public :rollseyes:

The aero kits are a positive for the series and I can only see this as a positive offering a differential and new story line for pre season testing and the 2015 season.

Fingers crossed we see some more designers try their hand a aero kits beyond Honda and Chevy

[David A Scott]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Thanks again for offering your opinion and speaking on behalf of the entire general public :rollseyes:

The aero kits are a positive for the series and I can only see this as a positive offering a differential and new story line for pre season testing and the 2015 season.

Fingers crossed we see some more designers try their hand a aero kits beyond Honda and Chevy

Lipstick on a pig. No one watches and no one is going to start to watch because of a few areo pieces. From what I have seen in the spy shots it is even uglier. If that could be possible.

As for others making them, maybe Lotus will make one. Oh wait...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by David A Scott

Lipstick on a pig. No one watches and no one is going to start to watch because of a few areo pieces. From what I have seen in the spy shots it is even uglier. If that could be possible.

As for others making them, maybe Lotus will make one. Oh wait...

People do watch, just not enough at current levels to entice new sponsors and thus sustain the series for the long term. It didn't help that it took so long to replace the ageing Dallara IR5 with the DW12, not exactly the beauty of the race track, though Dallara seem to have got it right with the new Lights car.

Having said that, the DW12 has produced some excellent racing and hopefully the aero-kits will produce the variety and visual interest bereft of a spec series and draw a bigger audience. I think this season will be pivotal.

[David A Scott]

Formula Vee provides excellent racing too. Watching these ugly slugs plod around a street and road course is painful. The crowds have spoken. Just look at the crowds at the Molson Indy Toronto back in the 90's. More people were there for Saturday qualifying than show up for an entire three day weekend now. Grandstands are coming down everywhere.

The irl is the motorsport's version of onion gum.

[Paradise City]

The ratings will continue to be dismal of course.

But so long as there's racing, I'll still be watchin'.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by David A Scott

Lipstick on a pig. No one watches and no one is going to start to watch because of a few areo pieces. From what I have seen in the spy shots it is even uglier. If that could be possible.

As for others making them, maybe Lotus will make one. Oh wait...

I dont disagree with your first sentence - but I would also suggest people are not watching because of the aesthetics of the current cars either.

I dont know what spy shots you are looking at but I would very much disagree.

As for Lotus - I dont think the next aero design will come from a manufacturer.

I also love the posters who think they have a lightbulb moment when they say crowds are down compared to the 90's.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

The ratings will continue to be dismal of course.

But so long as there's racing, I'll still be watchin'.

I'll still be watching as well and hopefully the aero-kits will help improve crowd attendance and TV ratings but they are missing a trick by not introducing them at the opening round in Brasilia. Generate some interest with the season opener, it's a marketing gift.

[David A Scott]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I dont disagree with your first sentence - but I would also suggest people are not watching because of the aesthetics of the current cars either.

I dont know what spy shots you are looking at but I would very much disagree.

As for Lotus - I dont think the next aero design will come from a manufacturer.

I also love the posters who think they have a lightbulb moment when they say crowds are down compared to the 90's.

Nice personal attack. If you don't like the comparison to the 90's how about the last year of ChampCar? St Pete's, Long Beach, Edmonton, Toronto? Attendance fell in all races when the irl showed up.

The spy shots were on Racer. As for anyone making body kits. Good luck with that. There is no money to be made. Penske? Nope. That will mean he'll have to make them available to everyone who wants one.

Tony George sure fixed things, didn't he.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by David A Scott

Nice personal attack. If you don't like the comparison to the 90's how about the last year of ChampCar? St Pete's, Long Beach, Edmonton, Toronto? Attendance fell in all races when the irl showed up.

The spy shots were on Racer. As for anyone making body kits. Good luck with that. There is no money to be made. Penske? Nope. That will mean he'll have to make them available to everyone who wants one.

Tony George sure fixed things, didn't he.

Lola originally came up with the idea of aero-kits, when the ICONIC committee were deliberating about a replacement for the Dallara IR5 but still wanted to run a spec series.

I personally think the biggest mistake the IRL made since CCWS and the IRL merged, was not to go with Lola, when the opportunity presented itself.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by David A Scott

If you don't like the comparison to the 90's how about the last year of ChampCar? St Pete's, Long Beach, Edmonton, Toronto? Attendance fell in all races when the irl showed up.

More my point was that attendances dropping when Champcar were at those events - this is nothing new. Hence making comparisons to the 90's is like having a conversation about the world being round.

Originally Posted by David A Scott

The spy shots were on Racer. As for anyone making body kits. Good luck with that. There is no money to be made. Penske? Nope. That will mean he'll have to make them available to everyone who wants one.

Tony George sure fixed things, didn't he.

I am not sure what Tony George has got to do with a conversation about aero kits.

Looking at the number of spares teams would be ordering - a good aero package that interests a number of teams could be profitable for a designer or company.

Aero kits arent going to change the world but they also arent going to make things worse - so I am all in favour.

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Lola originally came up with the idea of aero-kits, when the ICONIC committee were deliberating about a replacement for the Dallara IR5 but still wanted to run a spec series.

I personally think the biggest mistake the IRL made since CCWS and the IRL merged, was not to go with Lola, when the opportunity presented itself.

Lola's pitch as well was for the tub to be common and used for Indy Lights as well making it easier for teams to "move up" to Indycar. I'm convinced that if there is a way to %#$*-up racing, IndyCar will.

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by HJJ

Lola's pitch as well was for the tub to be common and used for Indy Lights as well making it easier for teams to "move up" to Indycar. I'm convinced that if there is a way to %#$*-up racing, IndyCar will.

It's because the chassis proposal was a lock in for dallara and they paid lip service to pretending it was open to tender, like a boss of a company pretending to interview for a new position and eventually giving it to a family member in the end.

While it's only my personal opinion that the series would be in a better state had they gone with lola (and the cars would've looked better too) what can't be debated ia that with such an order lola would be in a much much better position than it is now *sob*