FLRacingFan
Team Owner
Robin Frijns will test with Andretti Autosport later this month: http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/131755-indycar-frijns-set-for-andretti-test
Red Bull expressing an interest in IndyCar is very intriguing. Newey's next project?The Verizon IndyCar Series has yet to decide the fate for its aero kits, but it would appear a final direction is on the horizon. RACER has learned a freeze on the current aero kits produced by Chevy and Honda is the most likely scenario to be adopted for 2017 where all of the parts and pieces associated with the 2016 kits would be locked into place.
The freeze would serve many purposes, beginning with cost savings. Both manufacturers would be barred from developing new components, and that savings would be passed onto teams which would not have to purchase or test new aero kit pieces.
The second purpose involves giving IndyCar an expanded timeline to develop a brand-new, common aero kit that would replace the individual Chevy and Honda aero kits in 2018. It's believed a number of potential service providers, ranging from Dallara to Red Bull, have supplied the series with renderings to consider.
"It is getting later every day for 2017," IndyCar competition president Jay Frye told RACER. "I think it is better to do it right, right, whatever it is, 2018 or whatever the date would be."
The possibility of the freeze in 2017 and a new kit in 2018 was met with great interest by team owners who spoke with RACER.
Decision time nearing over aero kits
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/131795-indycar-decision-time-nearing-over-aero-kits
Red Bull expressing an interest in IndyCar is very intriguing. Newey's next project?
Of course, he would be developing a car within the box of whichever aero direction IndyCar decides to go in. It increasingly sounds like in a couple of years they'll be generally reducing downforce as well as moving some of it to the underfloor. That said, I'm not sure he would even be a part of such a project with the Aston Martin-Red Bull program he has going on now.I dunno if I like Adrian Newey involved in the project... His cars are beautiful but are usually super aero-sensitive designs... Also, I don't have a whole lot of confidence in his knowledge of oval racing. JMO
Of course, he would be developing a car within the box of whichever aero direction IndyCar decides to go in. It increasingly sounds like in a couple of years they'll be generally reducing downforce as well as moving some of it to the underfloor. That said, I'm not sure he would even be a part of such a project with the Aston Martin-Red Bull program he has going on now.
Gateway Motorsports Park is set to return to IndyCar with an August 2017 race date: http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/132706-indycar-gateway-set-to-join-2017-race-slate
Lots of big schedule additions over the last couple of years. Awesome.
It's better for ratings. Mid-September isn't bad. If they expand anywhere it should be into February.Woooo!
Only if they would stop being so afraid and do some racing past Labor Day...
Cheaper to run and Alfa Romeo has been exploring a return to North American racing recently to bolster their return to the market. Haven't heard anything on it in a while but they were exploring an IMSA DPi program. It's no harm to make contact and gauge interest.Alfa Romeo? If Fiat won't let Dodge play, what makes the IRL think it would be interested in open wheel?
Conor Daly @ConorDaly22
We've decided to honor our friend and teammate @BryanClauson by running the #88 at Pocono next weekend. Gotta #ParkIt for him! #BCforever
This is really surprising to me. Just back in mid-August Vasser was saying they were going to get together and start talking about 2017, but I'm figuring it boils down to not having the finances in place at the moment. Which is really unfortunate; I think Seb and KV have been a really solid partnership over the past few years. And Seb really just doesn't seem like the DCR mold.@FLRacingFan
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/133868-indycar-bourdais-to-sign-with-coyne-for-17
Holy sh!t dude. It seems like Seb and Kalkoven have not been in talks about an extension, so of this true I expect Dale Coyne to really push to get a third car that is fully funded. The thing is with DCR being so small... I really don't see that happening. Daly and Enerson have been great, Filippi and Chaves were also impressive stand ins.
The first time in a long time that Coyne might actually like a decent spot to be.
Will KVSH even be a team next year? They already downsized the team to one car, so where do they go from here?
This sh!t is getting scary though, I have never seen so many blanked out cars with no sponsors on them in a while. Something good needs to happen or we are going to lose a nice chunk of the field.
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/133907-indycar-newgarden-to-andretti"I think everybody is after him," Andretti (pictured) told RACER. "The problem for me and Chip is we have to go raise money. Roger doesn't have to raise money. I'd love to make him an offer right now and say 'come on' but I have to put the budget together to be able to do that. It's difficult. You can't put the cart before the horse."
Among the other Newgarden-related chatter at Watkins Glen, some insiders have suggested an offer was was extended by Ganassi, and the most consistent rumors position the 25-year-old as having his name on a contract to replace Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 2 Penske Chevy. Newgarden isn't talking about what he has or hasn't signed, but if he's available, Andretti says he would welcome the chance to go after him for 2017.
Re: The Josef Newgarden sweepstakes -
http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/133907-indycar-newgarden-to-andretti
A couple of days ago during practice Robin Miller was also talking about how Roger doesn't seem to want JPM as a full-time IndyCar driver next year, but rather as a lead driver for a sports car program Robin thinks Penske has in the pipeline plus an Indy 500 specialist. Except, Juan doesn't want to be an Indy-only driver. He also said Vasser and Foyt have inquired about him, and that Chip has talked to him.
So Munoz is going to be the one to go? Man of Munoz does not have a seat and Marco does?
Man IndyCar is cut-throat.