2017 IndyCar Stuff

Am I the only one that's not the biggest fan of ovals for IndyCar?

I like the mix already and IMHO I would like to see Michigan and Homestead back on the calendar. I also thought Richmond was a good track as well, but just a nice mix. We don't need IRL again pre road course mix.
Yea I'm with you. I'd be happy if Michigan, Texas, Gateway, Milwaukee, Iowa, Richmond, Phoenix and Indianapolis were ovals on the schedule.I figure you get a variety with that in terms of 4 super speedways, 3 short tracks, and an intermediate with Phoenix. The rest can be road courses, real road courses. Not a fan of the street circuit really.
 
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Gotta start getting great American oval drivers again. That's the problem, Indy doesn't get the great sprint car drivers anymore to jump over. Imagine if Stewart, Gordon, Larson, Stenhouse were all in Indycar how much better the talent would be?

Gotta get more ovals on the circuit
Newgarden and Rossi are a start. They could really have an awesome rivalary, Indy Car isn't just ovals anymore. Sam Hornish was great in IRL and it did zilch to put that series on the map. The next great American Indy Car driver will have to race and win on the variety of Indy Tracks, as well as maybe race in the Rolex 24, take a stab at F1 and maybe do a little NASCAR.
 
Man I love seeing all these guys interested in Indycar, especially those who went through Indy Lights. But I don't know who would get pushed out of the series. I really like this core of drivers Indycar has. Castroneves I feel Indycar still needs. Kanaan I have liked for years and I know his best days are behind him but I would love to see him have a last season to kind of say goodbye, like we have seen in Nascar the past few years.
I really hope Roger can be convinced to keep Helio in IndyCar, because the performance is obviously still there. I know he wants a big name along with JPM to jumpstart the IMSA program but he truly does have IndyCar time left in him.
Well I'm surprised, wonder who between Munoz and Daly is losing their seat? And will ABC be sponsoring both cars or did TK bring some money? http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143967-kanaan-expected-to-drive-for-foyt-in-2018
Munoz for sure. I fear he might be done with IndyCar entirely after this.
 
I really hope Roger can be convinced to keep Helio in IndyCar, because the performance is obviously still there. I know he wants a big name along with JPM to jumpstart the IMSA program but he truly does have IndyCar time left in him.

Munoz for sure. I fear he might be done with IndyCar entirely after this.

Munoz could go back to AA for the "fifth" car or could be a candidate for one of the new teams.

I've been hoping Vautier would come back as well, he's too good not to be in IndyCar.
 
Schmidt, Honda strengthen ties
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143961-schmidt-honda-strengthen-ties

First I've heard of Earl Bamber being in contention for an IndyCar seat. Interesting.
Schmidt: Hartley, Wickens on "28-driver" shortlist for 2018 ride
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/...-on-28-driver-shortlist-for-2018-ride-951203/

Harvey gaining 2018 IndyCar traction
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143923-harvey-gaining-2018-indycar-traction

Kimball draws interest as CGR talks 'long way apart'
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143900-ganassi-talks-still-a-long-way-apart-kimball

Third car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan in 2018?
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143924-third-car-for-rahal-letterman-lanigan-in-2018
 
Munoz could go back to AA for the "fifth" car or could be a candidate for one of the new teams.

I've been hoping Vautier would come back as well, he's too good not to be in IndyCar.
Budget is his problem. His family money ran out, and he's not really impressive enough to get a big sponsor or OEM to back him. Not a problem with Foyt's longstanding ABC sponsorship, but I don't know where else he could find that.
 
Gotta start getting great American oval drivers again. That's the problem, Indy doesn't get the great sprint car drivers anymore to jump over. Imagine if Stewart, Gordon, Larson, Stenhouse were all in Indycar how much better the talent would be?

Gotta get more ovals on the circuit
Whatever oval advantage they'd have they lose on road courses and street circuits, so it'd be a wash. The difference in skill set required to be good in an Indy car on an oval and on a road course is huge, I mean there are guys who will only race on ovals and only on road courses within the series itself.

I'd like another oval or two but they'd have to put in the promotional effort Gateway did and bring in crowds like Gateway did to make it work. These road course and street circuit crowds kill oval attendance, and that's why they're mainstays while ovals have lacked continuity until just recently. Pocono and Texas were improvements this year but it has to keep trending in that direction. Fans gotta put their money where their mouth is.
 
Am I the only one that's not the biggest fan of ovals for IndyCar?

I like the mix already and IMHO I would like to see Michigan and Homestead back on the calendar. I also thought Richmond was a good track as well, but just a nice mix. We don't need IRL again pre road course mix.
If they went back to Homestead I'd be there in a heartbeat. Been hoping for that one to return for a while.

Fontana was great. Sucked that they could never make scheduling work between TV, the track, and the series.
 
Whatever oval advantage they'd have they lose on road courses and street circuits, so it'd be a wash. The difference in skill set required to be good in an Indy car on an oval and on a road course is huge, I mean there are guys who will only race on ovals and only on road courses within the series itself.

I'd like another oval or two but they'd have to put in the promotional effort Gateway did and bring in crowds like Gateway did to make it work. These road course and street circuit crowds kill oval attendance, and that's why they're mainstays while ovals have lacked continuity until just recently. Pocono and Texas were improvements this year but it has to keep trending in that direction. Fans gotta put their money where their mouth is.
I kick myself in the ass, really should have went to Gateway this year. Next year for sure, it's been a bit since I attended an Indy Car race
 
If they went back to Homestead I'd be there in a heartbeat. Been hoping for that one to return for a while.

Fontana was great. Sucked that they could never make scheduling work between TV, the track, and the series.
I liked Fontana but kind of want them to steer away from the big tracks until they get 8 or so ovals that are stable to where they could experiment with other ovals, street circuits or road courses ( Cleveland, Edmonton, Portland hello)
 
Schmidt, Honda strengthen ties
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143961-schmidt-honda-strengthen-ties

First I've heard of Earl Bamber being in contention for an IndyCar seat. Interesting.
Schmidt: Hartley, Wickens on "28-driver" shortlist for 2018 ride
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/...-on-28-driver-shortlist-for-2018-ride-951203/

Harvey gaining 2018 IndyCar traction

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143923-harvey-gaining-2018-indycar-traction

Kimball draws interest as CGR talks 'long way apart'

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143900-ganassi-talks-still-a-long-way-apart-kimball

Third car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan in 2018?
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143924-third-car-for-rahal-letterman-lanigan-in-2018
Interesting articles, I really hope Sage Karam gets another shot. I thought he had so much potential
 
Am I the only one that's not the biggest fan of ovals for IndyCar?

I like the mix already and IMHO I would like to see Michigan and Homestead back on the calendar. I also thought Richmond was a good track as well, but just a nice mix. We don't need IRL again pre road course mix.

But that's the thing is you can't keep losing these top American kids coming up. NASCAR does a fabulous job at swiping up basically all the top talent by getting them in K&N asap with their big teams and leading right into Trucks-Xfinity and then Cup.

IMO I'd love to see the Charlotte roval and Bristol added. I think those would be incredible
 
Newgarden and Rossi are a start. They could really have an awesome rivalary, Indy Car isn't just ovals anymore. Sam Hornish was great in IRL and it did zilch to put that series on the map. The next great American Indy Car driver will have to race and win on the variety of Indy Tracks, as well as maybe race in the Rolex 24, take a stab at F1 and maybe do a little NASCAR.
What I like about IndyCar drivers is that they participate elsewhere a solid amount. You usually see them at the Rolex, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans, and they're starting to go back to Le Mans too. Overprotective sponsors and team owners ruined NASCAR stars running in the Rolex (and the Indy 500 for that matter).
 
I liked Fontana but kind of want them to steer away from the big tracks until they get 8 or so ovals that are stable to where they could experiment with other ovals, street circuits or road courses ( Cleveland, Edmonton, Portland hello)
lol, Those are literally the three road/street circuits I want to see back on the calendar the most. Especially Cleveland and Portland.
 
I like Sato but he can be an obstacle at times.

He was a joke at Watkins Glen.
 
Where have you been? lol

I heard he was having wastegate issues.

Just my usual break from this place.

I've been catching up on Indycar and finally saw the last race yesterday night. Been pulling for Castroneves.

Such a good guy. Cant believe Penske wants to move him after all this time. Specially since he seems fresher and speedier since his winning days.
 
What I like about IndyCar drivers is that they participate elsewhere a solid amount. You usually see them at the Rolex, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans, and they're starting to go back to Le Mans too. Overprotective sponsors and team owners ruined NASCAR stars running in the Rolex (and the Indy 500 for that matter).
Yea Indy Car ends early enough and the schedule has enough off weekends where a driver could run other series with no problem, getting out there for exposure would be a good thing. A lot of the Indy guys run the Rolex which is cool.
 
Cant believe Penske wants to move him (Castroneves) after all this time.

It might just be that Roger can't get the funding to run him, or four cars is too much a stretch of resources and people with the IMSA project looming.

If you have to cut just one driver, do you cut the defending champion, the championship leader, or the fastest guy in the series? You can't cut any of those guys or they will come back and beat you, so the best bet is to just give Helio and Juan a really stellar opportunity to drive for a major manufacturer in IMSA's ready to explode with success DPI division, not to even mention a possible Lemans entry.

Sadly people get old, and that applies even moreso to drivers. Helio is solid all the way around, but you don't often see him dominating on road courses like he used to. This is simply a function of racing being a young man's game. Getting older doesn't seem to be as much of a problem in oval racing, especially at Indianapolis, where age, experience and savvy is more important than sharp reflexes and blinding speed. Helio may not get an Indycar championship, but he will have three Borgs (and maybe more since he will still be running the 500) to go along with whatever championship he is likely to win in sportscars. When you add the IMSA accomplishments that are surely to come with three Indy 500 wins, Helio will go down as one of the guys you have to consider when discussing the greats all rounders.

Yeah, I would hate to see him out of the Indycar series, but I believe now he can just chase the Indy 500 with no championship pressure, and he still gets to race fast, badass super cars year round. Instead of feeling bad for Helip, I am glad he's going to have such great opportunities.

Helio has absolutely nothing left to prove in Indycars because three 500 wins is more than enough for any one driver. His lack of a championship in spite of consistently high placings just underlines that in many of those lost championships it was just bad luck that stopped him. Even the times he did lose he did it with grace and went down swinging, so he can't have any regrets. If he never gets a championship it will not diminish his greatness in the overall scheme.

And don't forget, he still has that victory in Dancing with the Stars. That's a pretty well rounded career.
 
I loved the Airport circuit in Cleveland so much, Burke Lakefront airport right?
Yep, that's the one. There's never been anything else like it, not even close.
Back in 2015 a big sponsor approached the guy who used to promote back in the 80's and early 90's, asking if he'd be willing to do it again. He wasn't and referred them to Roger Penske, who also declined because he already has the Belle Isle doubleheader on his hands. I don't think discussions went anywhere else after that, but it's good to know someone big out there was interested in reviving it not too long ago. Finding a capable promoter can be difficult though.
 
Well, it's supposedly Zach's money so he's probably safe.
We'll find out on Friday, but it's supposed to be someone big who's bringing in the range of $18-20 million through 2020. A lot of what I've heard about Zach is that he spends a lot of time hanging out at the track and is involved in a lot of stuff you might not necessarily see (coaching, radio commentary, etc.) so it sounds like he just networked his ass off. We'll see though.
 
We'll find out on Friday, but it's supposed to be someone big who's bringing in the range of $18-20 million through 2020. A lot of what I've heard about Zach is that he spends a lot of time hanging out at the track and is involved in a lot of stuff you might not necessarily see (coaching, radio commentary, etc.) so it sounds like he just networked his ass off. We'll see though.
18-20 mil? That's gotta be a big time recognizable sponsor.
 
Chip, in his usual cheery manner, doesn't quite make it sound like a done deal but it appears that Brendon will be with CGR next year. It'd be cool if he could nab Rosenqvist too, but it sounds like he's being held hostage by Formula E.

Hartley tipped to join Ganassi
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/144043-hartley-tipped-to-join-ganassi

IndyCar's 2018 bodywork pricing set

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/144049-indycar-s-2018-bodywork-pricing-set

Any news on what's happening with Kaanan? And Chilton for that matter.

The last couple of races they've been stingy about behind the scenes stuff.
 
Any news on what's happening with Kaanan? And Chilton for that matter.

The last couple of races they've been stingy about behind the scenes stuff.
TK is supposed to be going to Foyt. No one really knows about Max, except that he's not going to be back with CGR. A lot of people speculate he could help bring Carlin up to IndyCar, since he ran British F3/GP2/Indy Lights with them and the team is part of the group that his dad is CEO of.
 
TK is supposed to be going to Foyt. No one really knows about Max, except that he's not going to be back with CGR. A lot of people speculate he could help bring Carlin up to IndyCar, since he ran British F3/GP2/Indy Lights with them and the team is part of the group that his dad is CEO of.

Good news on TK. At least he gets to stay at Indy.
 
I hate that it didn't work out for JR, but it's Spencer's time. He's put on a show in the races he's been in.

 
I hate that it didn't work out for JR, but it's Spencer's time. He's put on a show in the races he's been in.



Btw if JR decides on not getting a seat. He should be an engineer or take a Vasser type of role behind the scenes.

His intellect behind the wheel us other-worldly. An engineer or a driver coach, he would fit perfectly into that role.
 
Chip, in his usual cheery manner, doesn't quite make it sound like a done deal but it appears that Brendon will be with CGR next year. It'd be cool if he could nab Rosenqvist too, but it sounds like he's being held hostage by Formula E.

Hartley tipped to join Ganassi
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/144043-hartley-tipped-to-join-ganassi

IndyCar's 2018 bodywork pricing set

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/144049-indycar-s-2018-bodywork-pricing-set
Hartley was a Mercedes F1 reserve driver right? I'm pretty sure he was. Is Rosenqvist that good haven't seen him race ever
 
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