2017 IndyCar Stuff

So Ganassi tested Jan. 6th at Sebring. Should I read anything into that regarding future IndyCar schedules, or was it just a convenient location near the Rolex Roar just up the road?
 
Charlie Spencer said:
So Ganassi tested Jan. 6th at Sebring. Should I read anything into that regarding future IndyCar schedules, or was it just a convenient location near the Rolex Roar just up the road?
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A lot of teams actually test on the short course at Sebring. It cuts off the Ulmann Straight, Sunset Bend, and the front stretch but it's a very good challenge for the car and driver and convenient for the teams with location and weather and everything.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
So Ganassi tested Jan. 6th at Sebring. Should I read anything into that regarding future IndyCar schedules, or was it just a convenient location near the Rolex Roar just up the road?
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Traditionally, IndyCar goes out to test at Sebring before the season starts.

Would it be awesome to see IndyCar at Sebring? Hell yes, that would be awesome though!
 
FLRacingFan said:
... and convenient for the teams with location and weather and everything.
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Ya know, that raised a question for me I've never thought to ask before. With a few exceptions, NASCAR teams have their shops within a few miles of Charlotte / Concord NC. Are the IndyCar teams similarly clustered together? If so, where?
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Ya know, that raised a question for me I've never thought to ask before. With a few exceptions, NASCAR teams have their shops within a few miles of Charlotte / Concord NC. Are the IndyCar teams similarly clustered together? If so, where?
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Most teams are in Indianapolis, Indiana.

KVSH was in Florida, the other half of AJ Enterprises in Texas, and Dale Coyne is in Illinois.
 
2018 IndyCar aero kits contract drawing interest from '11 or 12 different companies'
INDYCAR PROMISES NEW AERO KITS WILL BE 'VISUALLY EXCITING' TO THE FANS

http://autoweek.com/article/indycar...drawing-interest-11-or-12-different-companies

As IndyCar moves into the “Universal Aero Kit” era beginning with the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season, as many as 12 different companies are hoping to get the contract to build the body kits that will be used on the Dallara chassis for the Chevrolet and Honda teams.

“We’ve actually had interest and proposals from 11 or 12 different companies that want to build the universal kit,” IndyCar director of development Tino Belli told Autoweek. “That was quite a surprise because I’m not sure many race fans knew there were that many companies capable of designing and building the universal kit.
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Supposedly we could be hearing some things from NAIAS in Detroit over the next couple of weeks.
 
Mark Miles, the CEO of Hulman & Co. who also serves as IndyCar CEO, visited with several interested international automakers in December. He has been working with IndyCar president of competition and operations Jay Frye on luring new manufacturers to the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“We let prospective OEMs know what we are doing and our thought process,” Frye told Autoweek. “The reason we did that was if we came up with a plan and took it to prospective OEMs, they may not like what we have come up with. They are aware of what we are doing, and there seems to be some enthusiasm.
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http://autoweek.com/article/indycar...-indycar-braces-one-or-two-more-manufacturers
 
Cool, but as long the manufacturer is not half-hearted *cough* Lotus *cough* and be piss poor. I'll be okay, would be cool to see Cosworth jump on and Toyota or even promote a brand like Alfa Romeo over here in the states.
 
Kiante said:
Cool, but as long the manufacturer is not half-hearted *cough* Lotus *cough* and be piss poor. I'll be okay, would be cool to see Cosworth jump on and Toyota or even promote a brand like Alfa Romeo over here in the states.
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I can definitely see three happening by 2019. Four is a little ambitious but who knows. It sounds like there's enough interest though and not having to pay for developing aero and support as many teams as OEMs need to now will definitely help.
 
FLRacingFan said:
I can definitely see three happening by 2019. Four is a little ambitious but who knows. It sounds like there's enough interest though and not having to pay for developing aero and support as many teams as OEMs need to now will definitely help.
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It would be great, it would be like the old CART days where Honda, Toyota, Ford, and Mercedes battled it out. Would be nice to see Honda and Chevy get some pressure off of their backs. Competition and engine manufacturer variance could equal some great days ahead for IndyCar.
 
IndyCar reaches back to its roots with a "Team INDYCAR" program at the Chili Bowl:

"Our heritage closely connects INDYCAR with iconic events like the Chili Bowl Nationals and the list of greats who have competed in short-track open-wheel cars for decades," said C.J. O’Donnell, chief marketing officer of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We’re proud to announce the Team INDYCAR contingency award program and our list of entrants competing in Tulsa this week. This effort recognizes some greats of the sport along with some promising young talent that we hope to someday see in an Indy car. We join midget racing followers across the country in following their progress at the Chili Bowl."

The Team INDYCAR program includes a sponsorship for each car plus contingency prizes that include a $5,000 bonus should a Team INDYCAR driver win Saturday’s championship feature race. Other bonuses include $1,000 to any team driver who finishes second or third in the championship feature, $500 to any team driver qualifying for the championship feature and an additional $500 for the best finisher among Team INDYCAR.
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http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/01/01-11-Team-INDYCAR-at-Chili-Bowl
 
Dallara will continue supplying safety cells through the 2020 season: http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/01/01-12-Dallara-extension

Initial 2018 aero kit concepts revealed: http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/01/01-12-Car-concept-drawings

01-12-New-2018-Car-Concept-Sketches-BottomWebsite.jpg
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Dallara deal helps price, parts regulation

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137672-indycar-dallara-deal-loosens-cost-component-regulations

Most of the components that are opened up in 2017 will affect costs rather than performance, but Frye said that the list will continue to grow after this season.

"An example is the driver ****pit," said Frye. "Before, there wasn't a lot of flexibility in pedals and different things, so we've opened that up.

"There's probably 15 things that they'll be able to do in 2017. There's four or five that are performance related, and then the other 10 are where, if I'm a race team I think I can build stuff better than anybody else, and I think I can build it more efficiently and cost-effectively, so we've given them an opportunity to build some of their own stuff in 2017.

"In 2018 there will be more, and then it's part of the plan, how we go through that process.

"

Frye also hopes that allowing increased freedom of suppliers for some components will help to support the cottage industry of smaller, independent suppliers that worked with teams prior to the components freeze that accompanied the arrival of the DW12 in 2012.

"The other part is there's five manufacturers now that the teams will be able to buy direct [from]," he said. "We're trying to recreate some of the cottage industry. The stuff that they can build on their own and the stuff that they can buy direct now is going to create opportunities for others to build things and to create development.
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Charlie Spencer said:
The sketches remind me of A-Ha's 'Take On Me' video of the mid-80s.

They don't appear to include a higher wind screen or other enhancement to debris protection.
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Regarding ****pit protection...http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137673-indycar-several-head-protection-options-possible

I think this sort of technology is still a few years out. The FIA has done several different tests and hasn't concluded on any one system, although the halo seems to be the favorite going forward. Something like the Red Bull windscreen might be more apt for IndyCar. As of right now the paddock seems fine with the status quo though and I wouldn't really expect anything before 2019. It might even be better to do it in conjunction with the new chassis that's coming around in 2021 or 2022.
 
Last year, IndyCar researched the appeal of its product to millennials, or Generation Y, and the generation following them, Generation Z. C.J. O’Donnell, chief marketing officer of Hulman Motorsports, which owns IndyCar, said the research also examined the effectiveness of IndyCar’s marketing.

The results showed that IndyCar’s marketing and product remained appealing to younger generations. However, the results also revealed that the sanctioning body needed to switch up how it delivers its product to them.

As a result, O’Donnell said IndyCar will shift its marketing dollars away from print advertising, and to a lesser extent television advertising, and more toward digital video production and paid social media advertising, which are seen as better mediums to reach youth. He said IndyCar will devote about 40-50 percent of its marketing spend to digital and paid social this year, compared to 15-20 percent in the past.

O’Donnell, who has been in his position since 2013, said the timing is right to start what he calls Phase 2 of his marketing plan for the series. For the past three years, IndyCar rode more traditional marketing — focused on lapsed fans — to a 34 percent increase in TV ratings. The series averaged 1.278 million viewers a race in 2016 across ABC/ESPN and NBC Sports.
.....

O’Donnell said that IndyCar’s spend in the digital/social realm is more than tripling. IndyCar worked with New York-based Miner & Co. Studio on the research effort. IndyCar works with Johnson & Wolverton, New York, on marketing.

O’Donnell cited IndyCar partner Gannett as an example of a media outlet that IndyCar will look to use differently moving forward. Specifically, he envisions IndyCar spending more money on USA Today’s For The Win digital property and less on USA Today’s print issue.

He also noted the potential benefits of layering in paid social media posts to complement usual free posts.

“(IndyCar’s social media channels) are getting to a point where the critical mass number of followers is meaningful, but we’ve done everything so far on an organic base,” O’Donnell said. “The rules of Facebook and Twitter these days really limit the reach (for free posts), so it’s both their business strategies as well as the need to reach new audiences that led us to change.”
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http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/01/16/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/IndyCar.aspx
 
Aleshin sounds like his IndyCar career might be closing because he does not have a lot of money for funding. I think this is because of the drop in oil prices and SMP Racing is starting going to turn into LMP1 in WEC as well. It would be a damn shame as he's one of the most fun to watch and he's damn quick as well, fearless. I hope Aleshin is able to stay or he's out, it might be that Dorrbecker dude who was testing who might be in the 7 car.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137732-indycar-aleshin-in-doubt-at-spm

Also, some good news as Pigot is good to go with ECR in the #20 car on the road/street courses. Come on Ed, hang up the helmet already...

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137736-indycar-pigot-seals-ecr-road-street-deal
 
Kiante said:
Aleshin sounds like his IndyCar career might be closing because he does not have a lot of money for funding. I think this is because of the drop in oil prices and SMP Racing is starting going to turn into LMP1 in WEC as well. It would be a damn shame as he's one of the most fun to watch and he's damn quick as well, fearless. I hope Aleshin is able to stay or he's out, it might be that Dorrbecker dude who was testing who might be in the 7 car.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137732-indycar-aleshin-in-doubt-at-spm

Also, some good news as Pigot is good to go with ECR in the #20 car on the road/street courses. Come on Ed, hang up the helmet already...

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137736-indycar-pigot-seals-ecr-road-street-deal
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That would really suck, Mikhail is really fun to watch. He had some really good pace down the stretch. Really had a great shot at winning Mid-Ohio and Pocono. I guess this explains the Dorrbecker test now.
 
NAPA signs back on with Rossi and Andretti Autosport for seven races (St. Pete, Long Beach, GP of Indy, Indy 500, Road America, Watkins Glen, Sonoma): http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/napa-expands-deal-with-rossi-andretti-autosport-866603/

Carlin's IndyCar jump looking more likely for 2018 than 2017. They were apparently making a run for Aleshin but the hangup with him seems to be SMP's hesitance to back a U.S. effort. Also cites the cheaper running costs that should come along with the 2018 rule changes: http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/carlin-unlikely-to-enter-indycar-in-2017-866639/

Pastor Maldonado :eek: is also in negotiations with KV Racing regarding a road course/street circuit program. Sounds like this is KV's last shot at staying on the grid: http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/kv-racing-in-talks-with-maldonado-866653/
 
FLRacingFan said:
NAPA signs back on with Rossi and Andretti Autosport for seven races (St. Pete, Long Beach, GP of Indy, Indy 500, Road America, Watkins Glen, Sonoma): http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/napa-expands-deal-with-rossi-andretti-autosport-866603/

Carlin's IndyCar jump looking more likely for 2018 than 2017. They were apparently making a run for Aleshin but the hangup with him seems to be SMP's hesitance to back a U.S. effort. Also cites the cheaper running costs that should come along with the 2018 rule changes: http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/carlin-unlikely-to-enter-indycar-in-2017-866639/

Pastor Maldonado :eek: is also in negotiations with KV Racing regarding a road course/street circuit program. Sounds like this is KV's last shot at staying on the grid: http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/kv-racing-in-talks-with-maldonado-866653/
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Pastor would make a solid addition to the field. If he has money, it could save KV. I would rather see that than the team just go away.
 
I think KV is done, everything is packed and the last three employees are gone.

Damn this is upsetting, but I hope Carlin purchases the equipment. Also, I hope that Vasser continues to be involved with IndyCar as a strategist. He's one of the best in the field at it, but Kalkoven, I just don't know what else he can offer. I hope continues to be involved, but I think he's done with it. In the 14 years his team has been through hell and high water. I'm happy he was apart of the field and that '13 Indy 500 with TK was one of the best feel good stories in the past couple of years. Bourdais brought success as well proving he's still got "it".

Going to be weird to see KV gone, but I respect the decision on both sides.

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/end-of-the-road-for-kv-racing-867314/
 
FLRacingFan said:
That would really suck, Mikhail is really fun to watch. He had some really good pace down the stretch. Really had a great shot at winning Mid-Ohio and Pocono. I guess this explains the Dorrbecker test now.
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Agreed. That sucks. Aleshin was fun to watch last year.
Except the money, there is no reason for giving that seat to Dörrbecker. He has never competed in any significant development series.
 
Rule updates/modifications for the 2017 season. I have to say, I like the change to P2P becoming more of a KERS-like system.

• Phoenix and Gateway qualifications: Qualifying at two oval tracks – Phoenix Raceway and Gateway Motorsports Park – will be held on the same day as those Saturday night races. The first day of those two-day event weekends will focus on a pair of practice sessions, the latter falling within the same evening time slot as the race.

• Firestone alternate tires: At road and street courses, each car will receive an additional set of Firestone’s red-sidewall alternate tires, bringing the total to four sets of the softer-compound Firehawks available for the weekend and allowing teams to better gauge performance characteristics of the alternate tires in comparison to Firestone’s more-durable, black-sidewall, primary-compound tires prior to qualifications. Each entry must return one set of tires – either primary or alternate – following the first practice session of a weekend and another set – the opposite compound from the first returned set – following the second practice session.

• Overtake assist time allotment: Push-to-pass overtake assist in road and street races will be based on a maximum time allotment for each car instead of the number of uses. The events at the streets of St. Petersburg, Raceway at Belle Isle Park and Sonoma Raceway will have a total overtake time allotment of 150 seconds for each race, with the other road/street races set for 200 seconds. When a driver engages the overtake via a button on the steering wheel, it increases engine turbocharger boost pressure by 15 kilopascals (kPa) to 165 kPa – good for about 60 added horsepower. Once engaged, push-to-pass will run for a pre-established duration equivalent to approximately the time needed to drive the length of the track’s main straightaway (15-20 seconds). Drivers will now have the ability to disengage an overtake activation midway through its use to save time for a later use. In addition, push-to-pass will not be available at the start of a race or for any restarts, with the exception of a restart commencing with two laps remaining in the race.

• INDYCAR Grand Prix schedule: Verizon IndyCar Series on-track action at the INDYCAR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course will consist of two days, Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, to create a more action-packed event. All three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder will still have track activity on Thursday, May 11.

• Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix qualifications: For the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix doubleheader in June, qualifying sessions for each race will see the field divided into two groups based on practice times, with 12 minutes of track time allotted for each qualifying group (with five minutes of guaranteed green-flag time). Previously, qualifying for the first race followed the advancement round format used at other road/street events. Qualifying groups for Belle Isle will be based on best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding Race 1 qualifications. If a car causes a red-flag situation during a qualifying session, its best two timed laps will be disallowed and it will not be permitted to continue in the session. One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group on both days.

• Standardized road/street practice times: Practice sessions on the first day of most road/street course event weekends will have standardized start times of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. local. Each session will be 45 minutes in duration.
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http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/02/02-06-Weekend-schedule-rules-changes
 
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