2019 IndyCar Miscellaneous

I'm glad to see they're buying ad time with NBC. I look forward to finding out what a 'digital financial service' is. Hopefully they'll explain in in words of one syllable (or less).
 
FLRacingFan said:
Another dumb NBC Sports Gold offering - basically, take everything that was free and put it behind a paywall. This OTT stuff gets worse by the week.

INDYCAR Pass launches on NBC Sports Gold, opening path to the most INDYCAR content
https://www.indycar.com/News/2019/02/02-07-INDYCAR-Pass-NBC-Sports-Gold-launch
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****s wild, but Comcast is out for blood with IndyCar and Supercross. They know the fanbases, as niche as they are, will pay for it. Supercross is 75 dollars anually and IndyCar will be 55 anually after the early bird special. They are going to make money from this TV contract one way or another.
 
Eh. As far as IndyCar goes, I watch only the top-tier races themselves. As long as those are still on cable / satellite, I'm good. On the other hand, if I was a more dedicated fan, $55 seems pretty reasonable. If the entire schedule moved behind a paywall, I'd drop $100 for it. I could pay that back pretty quickly by dropping a cable tier.

Frankly, if I wasn't in a NASCAR fantasy league, I probably wouldn't care about P and Q in the Cup series either.
 
Kiante said:
****s wild, but Comcast is out for blood with IndyCar and Supercross. They know the fanbases, as niche as they are, will pay for it. Supercross is 75 dollars anually and IndyCar will be 55 anually after the early bird special. They are going to make money from this TV contract one way or another.
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Charlie Spencer said:
Eh. As far as IndyCar goes, I watch only the top-tier races themselves. As long as those are still on cable / satellite, I'm good. On the other hand, if I was a more dedicated fan, $55 seems pretty reasonable. If the entire schedule moved behind a paywall, I'd drop $100 for it. I could pay that back pretty quickly by dropping a cable tier.

Frankly, if I wasn't in a NASCAR fantasy league, I probably wouldn't care about P and Q in the Cup series either.
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$55 alone isn't terrible, but on principle alone I am tempted not to purchase just because it was previously free and a good way for any prospective fans (especially internationals) to get a taste before diving in. Gold in general I feel like is a huge rip-off because as @Kiante said they're doing this 'pass' for a lot of different niche series and leagues and it could easily begin to add up for not all that much more content. The pass is effectively a way to get revenue both from subscription fees (races) and OTT content (everything else), which is why the pass itself has no live race streaming. In all honesty I'd like to see enough fans say enough is enough and just not buy it. Would be interesting to see how NBC adjusts it next year if it turns out to be a big flop.

Of course, I could just be making a big deal out of nothing, which wouldn't be the first occasion.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Free as in you weren't paying for it at all, or free as in the cost was hidden in your cable / satellite / streaming service charges?
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This is the same content they used to stream for free each event weekend across Twitter/YouTube/Facebook. If you went to their timing & scoring site during practice or qualifying they'd always have the YouTube stream embedded there too. It sounds like USF2000 and Pro 2000 content will still be streamed on those, but everything Indy Lights (not sure about P & Q for this one) and IndyCar that's not available on TV is no longer available there and instead behind this new paywall.
 
Steinbriener IV must be on a tight leash. He's bringing money, but damn that would be horrendous if he can't drive next year. I wonder if Andretti will get some placeholder sponsors ie, military.com for Pato? Sucks that Pato does not have the blessings of Slim behind him.
 
Kiante said:
Steinbriener IV must be on a tight leash. He's bringing money, but damn that would be horrendous if he can't drive next year. I wonder if Andretti will get some placeholder sponsors ie, military.com for Pato? Sucks that Pato does not have the blessings of Slim behind him.
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Hank made it clear that George IV needs to do this and make it work on his own. Ok, fair. Herta sounds to be good to go for the full season, but I saw earlier this morning that the other engine lease is reportedly only for the 500 and additional races. That would be disappointing because I think Pato is REALLY special, certainly better than Colton. I agree with you, he'd be perfect for the Telmex family but it doesn't seem to be in the cards. Of course, it doesn't help that Mr. Harding is seemingly losing/going to lose A LOT of money to his (ex-?) wife...
 
FLRacingFan said:
Hank made it clear that George IV needs to do this and make it work on his own. Ok, fair. Herta sounds to be good to go for the full season, but I saw earlier this morning that the other engine lease is reportedly only for the 500 and additional races. That would be disappointing because I think Pato is REALLY special, certainly better than Colton. I agree with you, he'd be perfect for the Telmex family but it doesn't seem to be in the cards. Of course, it doesn't help that Mr. Harding is seemingly losing/going to lose A LOT of money to his (ex-?) wife...
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Michael put a lot into Pato, I doubt he lets him walk for nothing. I have a feeling they will have a backup plan. Pato is better than Colton, we all know Colton is a very good driver. Lets be honest, his Dad and him having the George IV's money has been big for him. Pato out raced Colton a lot last season, so I wonder if Michael will have some backup plans. Sponsors are abundant with the primary team, lets hope someone will step up and back Pato.
 
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Yet Ferrucci has no issue with sponsorship yet previously being an asshat in F2. **** is wild.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Herta sounds to be good to go for the full season, but I saw earlier this morning that the other engine lease is reportedly only for the 500 and additional races.
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Pato seems to have just figured this out too...

O’Ward splits from Harding Steinbrenner Racing
However, despite the promising statements made last year that he would again partner his Indy Lights teammate Colton Herta as HSR expanded to two cars, it later emerged that the team’s deal with Honda was for one fulltime engine lease and another for the Indy 500.

Today, O’Ward announced the relationship with HSR is now over.

“The Harding Steinbrenner Racing team supported my decision to seek a new opportunity by releasing me from my contract and allowing me the opportunity to find a new team before the start of the 2019 season," he said.


“Now, I am fully focused on finding the right opportunity and how I will use my scholarship from Indy Lights for 2019."
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https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/oward-splits-from-harding-steinbrenner/4335874/?nrt=86

This team's a farce.
 
Terrible.

Pato has two options. Either knock down Juncos or Carlin's doors to get something going. Kimball is only a part-time this year and Pato is much too talented to get ****** over. This is looking like another Kaiser situation IMHO. All the talent possible, but no money. **** I wish he was in Slim's stable.
 
Kiante said:
Terrible.

Pato has two options. Either knock down Juncos or Carlin's doors to get something going. Kimball is only a part-time this year and Pato is much too talented to get ****** over. This is looking like another Kaiser situation IMHO. All the talent possible, but no money. **** I wish he was in Slim's stable.
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something probably will turn up at the last minute. If he is good they almost always get rides.
 
Kiante said:
Terrible.

Pato has two options. Either knock down Juncos or Carlin's doors to get something going. Kimball is only a part-time this year and Pato is much too talented to get ****** over. This is looking like another Kaiser situation IMHO. All the talent possible, but no money. **** I wish he was in Slim's stable.
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StandOnIt said:
something probably will turn up at the last minute. If he is good they almost always get rides.
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Share the #23 with Kimball and Enerson is the most likely scenario I'm imagining as well...except I'm not sure how the 500 works into that because Kimball already has a 500 ride locked up and the Lights scholarship covers the 500 entry. Maybe Carlin for a few races and Juncos for the 500. But damn, what a **** situation. Too late in the game for this to happen. I know Andretti like him a lot but I'm not sure what they can do at the moment.
 
Kiante said:
****s wild, but Comcast is out for blood with IndyCar and Supercross. They know the fanbases, as niche as they are, will pay for it. Supercross is 75 dollars anually and IndyCar will be 55 anually after the early bird special. They are going to make money from this TV contract one way or another.
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NBC got me to pay the $90 for the combined SX and MX season packages to avoid the tape delayed showings and generally have a higher level of access to the races both live and archived. I'm not sure whether I'll do it again next year, as I'm realizing that sometimes I may not want to build every Saturday around the 'value' of watching Supercross live. (My wife would say that's a burden, not a value, LOL.)

I would defend these NBC Gold packages as a good value for true hardcore fans who want every minute of coverage they can get. I'm a regular weekly viewer, but I don't feel the need to watch qualifying and practice sessions often. For those who do, the cost of these is a drop in the bucket compared to almost anything else fans do to financially support a series, such as attending a single race.

However, from a marketing and audience building standpoint, I suspect they'd be smarter to drop prices or offer tiered service levels, offer free trials, etc. Anything to get people in the door, build marketing lists, etc. They should offer a single race for free on a recurring signup, offer single races for $3.99 and the season for about half what these current packages are. Or again, offer tiers that start cheaper. I believe they are erring on the side of protecting the content and milking an existing niche fanbase instead of trying to expose the content as much as possible. I have the same criticism of a lot of dirt oval track streaming stuff, but some of those services are starting to either come down in price or offer more races.
 
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Rossi deposes Herta in IndyCar Spring Training final session
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/rossi-deposes-herta-cota-test/4337281/

Combined times (all four sessions):

1. Colton Herta (R) 1:46.6258
2. Alexander Rossi 1:46.8535
3. Will Power 1:47.1044
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay 1:47.1757
5. Simon Pagenaud 1:47.2116
6. Felix Rosenqvist 1:47.2941
7. Graham Rahal 1:47.3662
8. Scott Dixon 1:47.3684
9. James Hinchcliffe 1:47.5379
10. Santino Ferrucci 1:47.5970
11. Josef Newgarden 1:47.6625
12. Helio Castroneves 1:47.6949
13. Takuma Sato 1:47.7183
14. Marcus Ericsson 1:47.7958
15. Jack Harvey 1:47.8892
16. RC Enerson (R) 1:47.9094
17. Marco Andretti 1:47.9993
18. Sebastien Bourdais 1:48.0166
19. Matheus Leist 1:48.1485
20. Zach Veach 1:48.1888
21. Ed Jones 1:48.1955
22. Max Chilton 1:48.3640
23. Spencer Pigot 1:48.3987
24. Tony Kanaan 1:48.5553
25. Kyle Kaiser (R) 1:48.8496
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McLaren, Carlin forge alliance as Fernando Alonso's Indy 500 program comes together
https://www.indystar.com/story/spor...alonsos-indy-500-program-develops/2859574002/
 
Will be run from the 500 onwards. Not quite sure this will do a whole lot, but it's okay for a short-term solution, I suppose. The first iteration of the windscreen reportedly failed heavy impact testing. Perhaps a more permanent solution could be fitted onto the 2020 car, but more realistically I think it'll be a fundamental component of the all-new 2021 car.

INDYCAR TO INTRODUCE NEXT PHASE OF ****PIT SAFETY
https://www.indycar.com/News/2019/02/02-19-****pit-safety-device-Advanced-Frontal-Protection-AFP

deflector2-1.jpg
 
Apparently Chris Windom and Tyler Courtney were at the Clauson-Marshall press announcement yesterday. I think that is a good sign for more potential USACers attempting the 500, which I still think is important. I don't know if I'm making this up but I think I read/heard not too long ago that Windom is probably attempting the Freedom 100 again this year after his unfortunate practice mishap in a Belardi last year.

rd45usa said:
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I am more skeptical of potential South American events than any other (financing, mostly), and I'm not sure what this means in regards to the potential Gold Coast race early next year, but I appreciate Mr. Juncos's dedication to the sport. Truly a self-made man. If it is good enough for World Superbike, it must be a pretty decent course. I do think there's a pretty good amount of untapped open wheel potential down in SA though, and think it's a good market to at least explore opportunities in.
 
rd45usa said:


More info here: https://www.indianapolismotorspeedw...y-schedule-packed-with-action-excitement-2019
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Not really a fan of the 'Last Row Shootout'. Not really a fan of BOTH the Fast Nine and Last Row Shootout being run in the heat of the day, with three hours of practice afterwards...have to believe this is an NBC decision. Probably an NHL conference final game on NBC after those two Sunday sessions are done. To me, one attempt is certainly not bumping. At Indy, it should be the race against 6 PM or bust. I think Saturday might actually be more interesting with the traditional 11-6 qualifying window, with bumping to get both into the Fast Nine and to avoid the dreaded Last Row Shootout.
 
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