2019 IndyCar Miscellaneous

Andretti optimistic about keeping Rossi, Honda
https://racer.com/2019/07/14/andretti-optimistic-about-keeping-rossi-honda/

I was surprised to hear Leigh Diffey say during the broadcast today that Colton Herta has received interest from several potential suitors recently, although not necessarily within the IndyCar paddock. After losing Pato O'Ward to Red Bull at least for now, it would be even more disappointing to lose another one to Europe. Somewhat bittersweet if you at least consider it good that F1 finds IndyCar and Road to Indy another place to draw talent from again.
 
FLRacingFan said:
we fed 15,000 hours of indycar on nbc to a bot and here's what happened
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ROTFLMAO...

BELL: [Strange grimacing, inhaling, whoa-ing noise]

DIFFEY: THE RED CAR OF GRAHAM RAHAL AND MARCO ANDRETTI THE TWO FAMOUS NAMES GOING SIDE-BY-SIDE, WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD THAT. LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT THIS! LOOK AT THIS! AWWWOOHHHH, LOOK AT THIS!

TRACY: I’m confused why he pitted for fuel. When I won this race, no one pitted, just hard racing without fuel...

Bell: OHHHHH!

TRACY: Oh.

DIFFEY: OH! OH! OHHHHHH!
 
He'd be the best driver at ASPM the moment he signed, if you ask me. He's in the paddock at Mid-Ohio this weekend.

Nasr to test for Arrow SPM
https://racer.com/2019/07/23/nasr-to-test-for-arrow-spm/

Alex Palou (Super Formula) is also expected to test with Dale Coyne Racing at Mid-Ohio. Oliver Askew (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing) will be testing at Portland on August 7th. Askew is currently leading Lights running for Andretti Autosport, so the CGR link-up is interesting.
 
FLRacingFan said:
He'd be the best driver at ASPM the moment he signed, if you ask me. He's in the paddock at Mid-Ohio this weekend.

Nasr to test for Arrow SPM
https://racer.com/2019/07/23/nasr-to-test-for-arrow-spm/

Alex Palou (Super Formula) is also expected to test with Dale Coyne Racing at Mid-Ohio. Oliver Askew (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing) will be testing at Portland on August 7th. Askew is currently leading Lights running for Andretti Autosport, so the CGR link-up is interesting.
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If they hire Nasr, what happens to Ericsson?
 
Ericsson has been making great progress and can become quite good if he's given some more time. I hope he gets a chance to stay here. I'm sure he would rather be here with a chance to win than standing around on F1 weekends with about a 2% chance of ever getting into the car, and a no-hope Sauber at that.

Then again, Nasr would be a great addition to any Indycar team.

We need more cars.
 
Doc Austin said:
If they hire Nasr, what happens to Ericsson?
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Ericsson has backers so I imagine if he wanted to - and I think he does - he could certainly stay in IndyCar. I read recently he's been negotiating with the team for 2020. I guess ASPM could also expand to three or if you really believe the latest McLaren news, Nasr could be in an ASPM-supported McLaren entry. I would say both of those are more unlikely than not, though. Several IndyCar teams, including RLL, have had their eyes on Felipe since his F1 career ended so he might have more than one potential landing destination. He tested with Rebellion at the Prologue this past week but there shouldn't be any schedule conflicts between the 2019/2020 WEC and 2020 IndyCar calendars.
 
Pocono seems more than willing to do almost whatever to stay on the IndyCar calendar. I think the hangup is Mr. Deals still wants to expand only internationally so it's one or the other with Richmond and Pocono...although I think he is in the minority in that belief even within IndyCar management. Jay Frye certainly and probably Stephen Starks as well want to do both.
 
FLRacingFan said:
This would appear to be the interest Colton was receiving from 'outside of the IndyCar paddock' Leigh Diffey mentioned a few weeks ago.

Sources: McLaren pursuing Colton Herta, full-season partnership with IndyCar team for 2020
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2019/07/29/sources-mclaren-colton-pursuing-herta-partnership-indycar-team/1849736001/
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I read somewhere that Michael Andretti said losing the McLaren partnership would "kill me," so I think he will do whatever it takes to make it happen. Looks like McLaren and Herta are the two most valuable chess pieces on the board. I also think Mikey will go above and beyond to keep Herta.
 
Also worth noting is Dixon raced his way to the front at Mid O, and this a week after coming from dead nowhere a lap down to finish second at Iowa. He's still a ways back, but with that kind of form I'm not going to rule him out. Pocono will be the big tell. A good result would serve him well, and a bad ne could finish him off, the exact circumstances where Dixon really shines.

So, watch out for Dixon.
 
Doc Austin said:
I read somewhere that Michael Andretti said losing the McLaren partnership would "kill me," so I think he will do whatever it takes to make it happen. Looks like McLaren and Herta are the two most valuable chess pieces on the board. I also think Mikey will go above and beyond to keep Herta.
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Andretti took themselves out of the McLaren equation when they signed the multi-year Honda deal. If Arrow SPM think they can salvage the Honda/McLaren relationship many say they are sorely mistaken. Reportedly they have only one year left on their Honda deal so it's possible they could get out a year early or set something up with McLaren and Chevy for 2021, but how Hinch factors into that as the face of Honda's marketing efforts here in America also remains to be seen. But there will not be a Honda in the back of a McLaren anything any time soon; they're adamant they want nothing to do with the papaya people.
 
A few weeks ago Marshall Pruett mentioned on his podcast that Helio was looking to get back into IndyCar. I didn't think much of it because he seems like a Penske lifer and there didn't really look to be anywhere worth going to for him. Tonight I'm listening to the Conor Daly/Jim Ayello podcast and Conor drops that the rumor is Helio might partner Kanaan at Foyt next year. Wtf?
 
FLRacingFan said:
A few weeks ago Marshall Pruett mentioned on his podcast that Helio was looking to get back into IndyCar. I didn't think much of it because he seems like a Penske lifer and there didn't really look to be anywhere worth going to for him. Tonight I'm listening to the Conor Daly/Jim Ayello podcast and Conor drops that the rumor is Helio might partner Kanaan at Foyt next year. Wtf?
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Please tell me you're joking about this rumor.

I wonder how much patience ABC Supply has left.
 
Kiante said:
Please tell me you're joking about this rumor.

I wonder how much patience ABC Supply has left.
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Charlie Spencer said:
I could understand Helio wanting to run IndyCars again. I don't get why he'd voluntarily climb into a Foyt chicane.
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I wish I were joking. No one wants to see Dale Jr. come out of retirement to run for Premium Motorsports...I can't imagine watching Helio go out running for 17th in a Foyt car. It sounds like he still feels he was pushed out of IndyCar too early, thinks he still has some in the tank, and is much more keen to use whatever he has left in IndyCar than in IMSA. I'm not sure what he thinks he can accomplish at Foyt besides ride into the sunset with TK. Wants to be the guy to finally take the team out of the doldrums? I guess him being at the track a lot more recently doing things like the two-seater and NBC TV work makes a lot more sense now.

Whatever happens with Helio, they said Leist and the team have mutual interest in not staying together after this season. Kanaan is still onboard.
 
Helio probably has that sportscar ride for as long as he wants it, so his best bet is to make the most of that. That Acura is racing's biggest golden parachute. Helio is the ripe age for sportscar racing, has a competitive drive and is probably making decent money. After three Indy 500 wins, I'de be happy enough ride that into the sunset.

Helio is in a really good position.
 
FLRacingFan said:
I wish I were joking. No one wants to see Dale Jr. come out of retirement to run for Premium Motorsports...I can't imagine watching Helio go out running for 17th in a Foyt car. It sounds like he still feels he was pushed out of IndyCar too early, thinks he still has some in the tank, and is much more keen to use whatever he has left in IndyCar than in IMSA. I'm not sure what he thinks he can accomplish at Foyt besides ride into the sunset with TK. Wants to be the guy to finally take the team out of the doldrums? I guess him being at the track a lot more recently doing things like the two-seater and NBC TV work makes a lot more sense now.

Whatever happens with Helio, they said Leist and the team have mutual interest in not staying together after this season. Kanaan is still onboard.
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I cannot see Spider-man accomplishing anything in a Foyt ride that would do anything to enhance his reputation. I see it as an adventure in new levels of frustration.

If he isn't enjoying IMSA, it's his choice to leave and I think he's earned a 'Well Done' for helping get that program off the ground. But Foyt? Really? REALLY? Does the ****pit on that Acura not seal well enough to keep out the monoxide?
 
FLRacingFan said:
I wish I were joking. No one wants to see Dale Jr. come out of retirement to run for Premium Motorsports...I can't imagine watching Helio go out running for 17th in a Foyt car. It sounds like he still feels he was pushed out of IndyCar too early, thinks he still has some in the tank, and is much more keen to use whatever he has left in IndyCar than in IMSA. I'm not sure what he thinks he can accomplish at Foyt besides ride into the sunset with TK. Wants to be the guy to finally take the team out of the doldrums? I guess him being at the track a lot more recently doing things like the two-seater and NBC TV work makes a lot more sense now.

Whatever happens with Helio, they said Leist and the team have mutual interest in not staying together after this season. Kanaan is still onboard.
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I guess Helio just loves to race and 10 IMSA races a year are just not enough for him.
But I doubt he would do himself a favour by running at the back of the pack every week.
 
I think part of it could be that Roger was very noncommittal in regards to another Indy 500 one-off for next year, unlike after his 2018 appearance.
 
donthaveanickname said:
I guess Helio just loves to race and 10 IMSA races a year are just not enough for him.
But I doubt he would do himself a favour by running at the back of the pack every week.
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12 IMSA, but who’s counting?

Heck, start cherry picking rides. Go to NASCAR and run the Truck or Xfinity road course events. He’d likely wind up in something more competitive than Foyt.
 
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