Big news on 2 fronts today ... first, the driver news
Hideki Mutoh to AGR
This has been a very poorly-kept secret over the last few weeks, but it will be official Wednesday that Hideki Mutoh will fill the open seat in the AGR stable, the seat vacated when Dario Franchitti turned into a taxi driver. The official announcement is expected Wednesday. A Silly Season update will soon follow.
Expect to see more on this over the next couple of days.
My personal take: Mutoh has a TON of talent, and he (like Alex Lloyd) is very deserving of a top ride in the series. I was very, very impressed with his run at Chicago. Obviously, it is very important to Aguri Suzuki and Honda that a Japanese driver fare well in the IRL (and I'm glad success in the IRL is important to them), but from a big picture perspective, I'd have liked to have seen the Super Aguri ride stay with Panther Racing rather than go to AGR, and therefore at least boost the car count by one. Hopefully, Panther still has enough resources to field two cars this season, for Vitor and possibly a talented young American driver (Phil Giebler needs a ride). If not, Alex Barron needs to be *somewhere* next year.
Cavin also notes in his blog entry today that he doesn't expect to see much more movement until around Christmas. He also notes the talk around the Penske camp that Kurt Busch's owner points might be transferred to Sam's stock car so he can get the 35/8 provisional for at least the first five races and guarantee himself a spot in the field.
PEAK the official motor oil of the IndyCar Series
Last week, we were foretold that there would be several category sponsors in the IRL. The first is set for Halloween, and it's official now -- the official motor oil of the IndyCar Series is Peak Lubricants. Affiliated with already-IRL sponsor Peak Antifreeze (which sponsors Danica & the Chicago race), bottles of Peak oil will have the ICS logo on the side. Note the official website already has the IndyCar logo and a link to the website.
Getting to know ...
... Ed Carpenter, the "Average Joe" of the IndyCar Series who just happens to be such an ordinary average guy, that he's in line to possibly inherit leadership of IMS and the ICS someday.
Speaking of Dario
On the day Hideki Mutoh is announced to fill his seat, the AP catches up with the defector.
IRL news & notes
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' Halloween costume will have an IndyCar theme, while TK keeps racing and the IRL's SEMA schedule is announced in the IRL News & Notes.
And finally
Who says IndyCar and NASCAR people can't work together?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Oct. 27 newsstand: Looking forward to SEMA
IRL marketing momentum
For weeks, we've wondered what "big announcement" for the IRL was coming on Halloween at the SEMA show. We've heard it is "big," with potential driver, team and series implications. The Indianapolis Business Journal lets the cat out of the bag a little bit, looking ahead to the Oct. 31 announcement, plus ones in the near future (including one Jan. 1).
Notable: The IRL is rolling out "category" sponsors, in energy drink, motor oil and soft drinks. Each is expected to be a multi-year, multi-million dollar sponsorship deal, and each is expected to be activated in other ways, through signage/displays in stores, et al.
The energy drink sponsor is anticipated to be Frank's Energy Drink, an Austrian drink named for Frank Stornach, an Austrian native who has spent much of his time in Canada. He is now a millionaire, making much of his $$ in the automotive and horse racing industries.
The story said IRL officials denied that Lucas Oil is the official motor oil, but the story also anticipates that it is the announcement it expects to see Wednesday. The soft drink is a deal with a major company that is noted as "intriguing." Coke & Pepsi are really the only two major soft drink companies left, and (you'll need to scroll down to notice this) Pepsi has recently lost the pouring rights at ISC tracks (and therefore is no longer spending on sponsorship of races at said tracks). IMS, however, is a Coke track -- at least for now. There has also been some speculation that Budweiser/Anheuser Busch might increase (ahem, renew) its open-wheel involvement now that it has curtailed its NASCAR sponsorship, pulling back from sponsorship of the Busch Series, being the "official beer of NASCAR" and switching its sponsorship from Dale Jr. to Kasey Kahne.
Quotes:
From motorsports marketing consultant Mel Poole: "A multiyear deal is a comitment. It takes time to develop ... promotion strategies and this shows their new corporate partners are ready to do that."
From Terry Angstadt of the IRL: “We have an unprecedented level of sponsorship activity and opportunity in the Indy Racing League right now. We have a level of aggression and professionalism that we simply haven’t had before.”
From Zak Brown of Just Marketing (who is also trying to land a title sponsor): "We’re not going to get Kellogg’s selling corn flakes in the IRL. We’re looking for lifestyle products, electronics, technology and things that involve affluent, discretionary spending. This is not about competing with NASCAR. The IRL has a different consumer than NASCAR.”
Sam's southern sojurn (now 0-for-6)
Sam Hornish Jr. had another DNQ in an attempt to enter this weekend's NASCAR race at Atlanta, where he had been optimistic going in. Yahoo also mentions Sam's struggles in this "OW exodus" rehash.
Dario's southern sojurn
Dario Franchitti continued his run through NASCAR's minor leagues today, starting third and finishing 32nd at Memphis, largely thanks to getting into a couple of incidents. Winner David Reutimann was impressed with Dario, saying "For a guy's second race, it was pretty amazing, pretty impressive. I'm not sure what he's got in store for us. He's going to do nothing but get better, and he's already good.'' (Uh, the guy has won an Indy 500 and an IRL championship. I don't think it's his second race, unless you don't count non-stock car experience).
Other Dario stories, from Autosport and Fox Sports.
Lee Spencer's Fox Sports story is worth a read ... one of the best of the Dario features to date.
Dario talks about how his back surgery in 2004 helped him realize how lucky he is. He also mentions his flying episodes during a return to Kentucky Speedway for testing. "I wanted to see if there was still a dent in the wall. That was a big one and completely avoidable. My knees took off the steering wheel. (The accidents) were a small part of it — a very small part of it. I've done what I wanted to accomplish and the timing coincided with a call from Chip. So it all worked out."
Also, from Dario: "Do I expect to win this week? Probably not. But I'm here to run up front and be competitive. That's why Chip hired me. Chip wants to be successful, I have no doubt about that. And I know I'm going to be pushing hard to give it everything I have — and I know Juan is too."
The Gang on Helio
Jeff Olson gives his take on Helio's participation in DWTS.
Says the author: "Something about what he’s doing is honestly entertaining and honestly good for racing. ... Castroneves knows exactly how many people are watching him dance, and he knows the potential to boost his true calling."
The latest fad
One thing you notice as you read a lot of motorsports news is that the NASCAR media horde has a very uncanny way of being like a pack of dogs -- one person coins a storyline and the rest follow in line. A few weeks ago, it was the talk of the "open-wheel exodus" (and they even piled on about the "exodus" at the move of Patrick Carpentier and Buddy Lazier's truck one-off, when neither guy has had a full-time IndyCar ride in a couple of years). Anyway, the new storyline is "how will NASCAR's xenophobic redneck fan base accept the furriners?" (which is a question I posed years ago when Christian Fittipaldi started trying to run cabs, but alas ...). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has one such story.
And finally
Another business story. Bruton Smith threatened to move Lowe's Motor Speedway -- the site of the worst single moment/race in IRL history -- over political posturing a few months back. The point of conflict? Bruton wanted to build a dragstrip and the county said "no." Now, Bruton says he's 90% certain he's going to move LMS out of the county and bulldoze the current track. All over a political squabble. It's amazing the $$ some people in racing will spend out of spite. Given Bruton's indifference/hostility towards all things not NASCAR, something tells me IRL cars won't be welcome at this version of LMS, either.
For weeks, we've wondered what "big announcement" for the IRL was coming on Halloween at the SEMA show. We've heard it is "big," with potential driver, team and series implications. The Indianapolis Business Journal lets the cat out of the bag a little bit, looking ahead to the Oct. 31 announcement, plus ones in the near future (including one Jan. 1).
Notable: The IRL is rolling out "category" sponsors, in energy drink, motor oil and soft drinks. Each is expected to be a multi-year, multi-million dollar sponsorship deal, and each is expected to be activated in other ways, through signage/displays in stores, et al.
The energy drink sponsor is anticipated to be Frank's Energy Drink, an Austrian drink named for Frank Stornach, an Austrian native who has spent much of his time in Canada. He is now a millionaire, making much of his $$ in the automotive and horse racing industries.
The story said IRL officials denied that Lucas Oil is the official motor oil, but the story also anticipates that it is the announcement it expects to see Wednesday. The soft drink is a deal with a major company that is noted as "intriguing." Coke & Pepsi are really the only two major soft drink companies left, and (you'll need to scroll down to notice this) Pepsi has recently lost the pouring rights at ISC tracks (and therefore is no longer spending on sponsorship of races at said tracks). IMS, however, is a Coke track -- at least for now. There has also been some speculation that Budweiser/Anheuser Busch might increase (ahem, renew) its open-wheel involvement now that it has curtailed its NASCAR sponsorship, pulling back from sponsorship of the Busch Series, being the "official beer of NASCAR" and switching its sponsorship from Dale Jr. to Kasey Kahne.
Quotes:
From motorsports marketing consultant Mel Poole: "A multiyear deal is a comitment. It takes time to develop ... promotion strategies and this shows their new corporate partners are ready to do that."
From Terry Angstadt of the IRL: “We have an unprecedented level of sponsorship activity and opportunity in the Indy Racing League right now. We have a level of aggression and professionalism that we simply haven’t had before.”
From Zak Brown of Just Marketing (who is also trying to land a title sponsor): "We’re not going to get Kellogg’s selling corn flakes in the IRL. We’re looking for lifestyle products, electronics, technology and things that involve affluent, discretionary spending. This is not about competing with NASCAR. The IRL has a different consumer than NASCAR.”
Sam's southern sojurn (now 0-for-6)
Sam Hornish Jr. had another DNQ in an attempt to enter this weekend's NASCAR race at Atlanta, where he had been optimistic going in. Yahoo also mentions Sam's struggles in this "OW exodus" rehash.
Dario's southern sojurn
Dario Franchitti continued his run through NASCAR's minor leagues today, starting third and finishing 32nd at Memphis, largely thanks to getting into a couple of incidents. Winner David Reutimann was impressed with Dario, saying "For a guy's second race, it was pretty amazing, pretty impressive. I'm not sure what he's got in store for us. He's going to do nothing but get better, and he's already good.'' (Uh, the guy has won an Indy 500 and an IRL championship. I don't think it's his second race, unless you don't count non-stock car experience).
Other Dario stories, from Autosport and Fox Sports.
Lee Spencer's Fox Sports story is worth a read ... one of the best of the Dario features to date.
Dario talks about how his back surgery in 2004 helped him realize how lucky he is. He also mentions his flying episodes during a return to Kentucky Speedway for testing. "I wanted to see if there was still a dent in the wall. That was a big one and completely avoidable. My knees took off the steering wheel. (The accidents) were a small part of it — a very small part of it. I've done what I wanted to accomplish and the timing coincided with a call from Chip. So it all worked out."
Also, from Dario: "Do I expect to win this week? Probably not. But I'm here to run up front and be competitive. That's why Chip hired me. Chip wants to be successful, I have no doubt about that. And I know I'm going to be pushing hard to give it everything I have — and I know Juan is too."
The Gang on Helio
Jeff Olson gives his take on Helio's participation in DWTS.
Says the author: "Something about what he’s doing is honestly entertaining and honestly good for racing. ... Castroneves knows exactly how many people are watching him dance, and he knows the potential to boost his true calling."
The latest fad
One thing you notice as you read a lot of motorsports news is that the NASCAR media horde has a very uncanny way of being like a pack of dogs -- one person coins a storyline and the rest follow in line. A few weeks ago, it was the talk of the "open-wheel exodus" (and they even piled on about the "exodus" at the move of Patrick Carpentier and Buddy Lazier's truck one-off, when neither guy has had a full-time IndyCar ride in a couple of years). Anyway, the new storyline is "how will NASCAR's xenophobic redneck fan base accept the furriners?" (which is a question I posed years ago when Christian Fittipaldi started trying to run cabs, but alas ...). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has one such story.
And finally
Another business story. Bruton Smith threatened to move Lowe's Motor Speedway -- the site of the worst single moment/race in IRL history -- over political posturing a few months back. The point of conflict? Bruton wanted to build a dragstrip and the county said "no." Now, Bruton says he's 90% certain he's going to move LMS out of the county and bulldoze the current track. All over a political squabble. It's amazing the $$ some people in racing will spend out of spite. Given Bruton's indifference/hostility towards all things not NASCAR, something tells me IRL cars won't be welcome at this version of LMS, either.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Oct. 25 newsstand
Being in offseason mode, we catch up when it's needed (or when I have time ... my winter pastime is coaching high school girls basketball, so I might be a bit busy until February).
Anyway, here's the lowdown on all the IRL news that's fit to print from the last week.
Musical drivers
OK, not the Champ Car version, where teams shift drivers on a weekly basis, but Curt Cavin has joined Robin Miller in anticipating Hideki Mutoh as "likely" to fill the 27 car, likely with Aguri Suzuki's money helping foot the bill.
Mutoh is a talented shoe who will do rather well in IndyCars, especially if he gets a plum ride like the 27 car. Unfortunately, that isn't good for Panther Racing, as Aguri has teamed with Panther to field the team's second car in the past year (and teamed with Fernandez Racing in prior years).
Cavin's SillySeason update is similar to ours:
Confirmed returnees: TK, Danica, Marco with AGR; Helio with Penske; Wheldon/Dixon with TCGR; Meira with Panther; Manning with Foyt; Sharp with RLR; Carpenter with Vision.
Confirmed newcomers: Lloyd part-time with TCGR.
"Expected/Likely": Mutoh in fourth AGR car, Briscoe in second Penske car, Rice with D&R, RHR with RLR, Roth driving his own car.
Expected but no driver yet: Vision 2nd car (Foyt or Scheckter), Roth 2nd car.
TBA: Panther 2nd car (has been funded with Super Aguri money, that appears to be going to AGR), D&R 2nd car, Vision 3rd car.
"Unlikely:" Foyt 2nd car (has been rumored).
That, if the "expected/TBA" cars are back, puts the FT grid at 19 cars, with nothing for Kingdom Racing or Anderson/Fernandez Racing, which have either stated their intentions or have been rumored to be considering running in 2008.
History stuff
While 220 and 230+ is now a fact of life at Indy, Speed TV looks at the quest for 200 mph at the storied racetrack in the 1960s and 1970s. While it's full of tech stuff, this is a great read.
Says Jim McGee: "A lot of times, during that era, we did things while not really understanding what was going on."
And says "Gas Man" Tom Sneva, the first man to go 200 mph at Indy, about the comparative lack of fascination with speed today: "There are so many other forms of sports entertainment competing for the fan’s attention. I think the other big thing is how popular NASCAR has become. The perception is all NASCAR, which is too bad, because the IRL, with their current rules, is more entertaining."
Danica's a stylish woman
And she's taking that side of her to market her personality a bit more.
Says Danica: "So many people know me as Danica Patrick, race car driver. Well, there's another side to me. A side I really enjoy as far as fashion."
Also, Danica takes on NASCAR: "The big bucks lure of NASCAR is always lurking. If I felt like I had a better chance to win races over there, I would do it. I could have made a truckload if I wanted to. But that's not where my heart is right now. I love to see the growth and expansion of IndyCar. People working hard. More people watching it." ... "I love driving the (Indy) car. The sensation that you get out of an open-wheel car vs. a NASCAR is going to be extremely different. It's going to be a lot more fun to drive an open-wheel car as far as what you get through your hands and through your butt and feet and everything. It's just a higher level of technology and driving."
Speaking of Danica, the IRL notes that it is becoming a more popular baby name, especially since Ms. Hospenthal burst onto the scene in 2005. The release of Winnie Cooper's book about hot girls being smart didn't have anything to do with it. (It probably didn't, because about only about 2% of us know Winnie Cooper's given name is Danica McKellar). You learn something new every day: Danica is a Slavic name meaning "morning star."
In the "I surely haven't heard this before" category
Mario Andretti is disappointed with the state of IndyCar racing. Mario is also one of a few lights out there who are begging TG to throw a lifeboat out to Champ Car, too.
Says Mario: "I think it's a wake-up call. I would like to hope that decision makers will wake up and see that they need to do something. They are allowing this to happen by maintaining status quo, not seeing the forest through the trees. That saddens me greatly."
The IRL's Terry Angstadt responds: "We've lost one driver. It's interesting that here is the `mass exodus,' clumping in Jacques Villeneuve, Scott Speed, and Sam Hornish who hasn't committed. It's far from gloom and doom." (The story notes that Angstadt pointed out that Speed has never competed in the IRL and Villeneuve hasn't run an IndyCar race in 12 years).
IRL guys running in the off-season
Apparently, being a new father isn't enough excitement for Tony Kanaan. Since the end of the IRL season, he became a dad and ran an Acura for AGR in the final two ALMS races of the year. Now, he's headed to Japan to run a Formula Nippon race at Suzuka, in cars that are very similar to IRL machines. TK finished 6th in the ALMS finale, just behind former IndyCar rival Adrian Fernandez.
Scott Dixon, meanwhile, is doing his share of globetrotting and racing during his vacation.
Former IRL guys running in the off-season
He's run a truck, now Dario Franchitti is headed to a soon-to-be-no-longer-called Busch Series event at Memphis. Dario finished 33rd in a truck race at Martinsville last week.
Says the Indy 500 winner: “It was a good experience - it was interesting, if you ignore the result. The result is pretty disappointing - like, very disappointing. But at the same time we’re here to learn right now and it’s a long way to go.”
The AP also catches up with Dario. So does USA Today.
Meanwhile, you have to scroll down in this David Poole story, but Dario gets a dig in at Paul Tracy.
The Miami Herald does its version of the "exodus" story.
Eddie Gossage called it a "monkey-see, monkey-do thing":''It may be a fad that burns out quickly or it may work out well, the question is, will the fans accept these drivers? NASCAR fans have been reluctant to accept Toyota, so will they accept foreign drivers? There was a period of time they were reluctant to accept a driver outside of North Carolina.''
Sam Hornish Jr. is also quoted, and has a pointed remark that might show how he's leaning: ''It's not that I believe the IRL cars aren't safe, but to envision yourself running there past 35 years of age is probably not that smart of a thing to do. They're looking for younger drivers. The longevity isn't the same.''
IRL guys dancing in the off-season
The Sacramento Bee's Debbie Arrington catches up with Helio Castroneves (who, BTW, survived on to next week in DWTS).
Says Helio: "I had no idea how big this thing was. I didn't understand how big its audience was each week. It's crazy. Usually, I'm just in my own little world (in racing). The last two weeks, people have been coming up to me in airports, in restaurants, on the sidewalk; people who saw me on the show. ... It really surprised me."
IndyCar.com discusses how Helio & Julianne are trying to reformulate things.
Kentucky back under the lights
While we knew that to be true when we saw the IRL schedule announced, it is notable that the official Kentucky Speedway announcement has the IPS race listed after the ICS event. That happened this year (ICS at 6:30, IPS at approximately 9 p.m.). I thought it worked very well, as it strung out the traffic leaving the Speedway and avoided the massive jams we experienced in 2005. (Then again, Crimson was not very appreciative of the circuitous route that we were forced to take coming out of the track, which made the drive home about 30 minutes longer, thanks to the "new traffic pattern" the local smokies forced on us).
Speaking of Kentucky, the Cincinnati Enquirer catches up with the track's PR guru. It's notable that the largest contingent of foreign media comes for the ICS race. Then again, every other event Kentucky has is a stock-car race, where there isn't exactly a market in Brazil and Japan. Yet.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the 27 car's sponsor
Read about Canadian Club's marketing strategy.
Congrats to Bobby Rahal
1986 Indy 500 winner (and 1994 winning car owner) Bobby Rahal has been enshrined as a Legend of Laguna Seca.
IPS news
Sam Schmidt Motorsports is looking for Alex Lloyd's replacement, and was impressed with drivers James Davison and Cole Morgan, who come from Star Mazda and F2000.
And finally
A sad note, as we mark the passing of former motorsports writer Shav Glick.
Anyway, here's the lowdown on all the IRL news that's fit to print from the last week.
Musical drivers
OK, not the Champ Car version, where teams shift drivers on a weekly basis, but Curt Cavin has joined Robin Miller in anticipating Hideki Mutoh as "likely" to fill the 27 car, likely with Aguri Suzuki's money helping foot the bill.
Mutoh is a talented shoe who will do rather well in IndyCars, especially if he gets a plum ride like the 27 car. Unfortunately, that isn't good for Panther Racing, as Aguri has teamed with Panther to field the team's second car in the past year (and teamed with Fernandez Racing in prior years).
Cavin's SillySeason update is similar to ours:
Confirmed returnees: TK, Danica, Marco with AGR; Helio with Penske; Wheldon/Dixon with TCGR; Meira with Panther; Manning with Foyt; Sharp with RLR; Carpenter with Vision.
Confirmed newcomers: Lloyd part-time with TCGR.
"Expected/Likely": Mutoh in fourth AGR car, Briscoe in second Penske car, Rice with D&R, RHR with RLR, Roth driving his own car.
Expected but no driver yet: Vision 2nd car (Foyt or Scheckter), Roth 2nd car.
TBA: Panther 2nd car (has been funded with Super Aguri money, that appears to be going to AGR), D&R 2nd car, Vision 3rd car.
"Unlikely:" Foyt 2nd car (has been rumored).
That, if the "expected/TBA" cars are back, puts the FT grid at 19 cars, with nothing for Kingdom Racing or Anderson/Fernandez Racing, which have either stated their intentions or have been rumored to be considering running in 2008.
History stuff
While 220 and 230+ is now a fact of life at Indy, Speed TV looks at the quest for 200 mph at the storied racetrack in the 1960s and 1970s. While it's full of tech stuff, this is a great read.
Says Jim McGee: "A lot of times, during that era, we did things while not really understanding what was going on."
And says "Gas Man" Tom Sneva, the first man to go 200 mph at Indy, about the comparative lack of fascination with speed today: "There are so many other forms of sports entertainment competing for the fan’s attention. I think the other big thing is how popular NASCAR has become. The perception is all NASCAR, which is too bad, because the IRL, with their current rules, is more entertaining."
Danica's a stylish woman
And she's taking that side of her to market her personality a bit more.
Says Danica: "So many people know me as Danica Patrick, race car driver. Well, there's another side to me. A side I really enjoy as far as fashion."
Also, Danica takes on NASCAR: "The big bucks lure of NASCAR is always lurking. If I felt like I had a better chance to win races over there, I would do it. I could have made a truckload if I wanted to. But that's not where my heart is right now. I love to see the growth and expansion of IndyCar. People working hard. More people watching it." ... "I love driving the (Indy) car. The sensation that you get out of an open-wheel car vs. a NASCAR is going to be extremely different. It's going to be a lot more fun to drive an open-wheel car as far as what you get through your hands and through your butt and feet and everything. It's just a higher level of technology and driving."
Speaking of Danica, the IRL notes that it is becoming a more popular baby name, especially since Ms. Hospenthal burst onto the scene in 2005. The release of Winnie Cooper's book about hot girls being smart didn't have anything to do with it. (It probably didn't, because about only about 2% of us know Winnie Cooper's given name is Danica McKellar). You learn something new every day: Danica is a Slavic name meaning "morning star."
In the "I surely haven't heard this before" category
Mario Andretti is disappointed with the state of IndyCar racing. Mario is also one of a few lights out there who are begging TG to throw a lifeboat out to Champ Car, too.
Says Mario: "I think it's a wake-up call. I would like to hope that decision makers will wake up and see that they need to do something. They are allowing this to happen by maintaining status quo, not seeing the forest through the trees. That saddens me greatly."
The IRL's Terry Angstadt responds: "We've lost one driver. It's interesting that here is the `mass exodus,' clumping in Jacques Villeneuve, Scott Speed, and Sam Hornish who hasn't committed. It's far from gloom and doom." (The story notes that Angstadt pointed out that Speed has never competed in the IRL and Villeneuve hasn't run an IndyCar race in 12 years).
IRL guys running in the off-season
Apparently, being a new father isn't enough excitement for Tony Kanaan. Since the end of the IRL season, he became a dad and ran an Acura for AGR in the final two ALMS races of the year. Now, he's headed to Japan to run a Formula Nippon race at Suzuka, in cars that are very similar to IRL machines. TK finished 6th in the ALMS finale, just behind former IndyCar rival Adrian Fernandez.
Scott Dixon, meanwhile, is doing his share of globetrotting and racing during his vacation.
Former IRL guys running in the off-season
He's run a truck, now Dario Franchitti is headed to a soon-to-be-no-longer-called Busch Series event at Memphis. Dario finished 33rd in a truck race at Martinsville last week.
Says the Indy 500 winner: “It was a good experience - it was interesting, if you ignore the result. The result is pretty disappointing - like, very disappointing. But at the same time we’re here to learn right now and it’s a long way to go.”
The AP also catches up with Dario. So does USA Today.
Meanwhile, you have to scroll down in this David Poole story, but Dario gets a dig in at Paul Tracy.
The Miami Herald does its version of the "exodus" story.
Eddie Gossage called it a "monkey-see, monkey-do thing":''It may be a fad that burns out quickly or it may work out well, the question is, will the fans accept these drivers? NASCAR fans have been reluctant to accept Toyota, so will they accept foreign drivers? There was a period of time they were reluctant to accept a driver outside of North Carolina.''
Sam Hornish Jr. is also quoted, and has a pointed remark that might show how he's leaning: ''It's not that I believe the IRL cars aren't safe, but to envision yourself running there past 35 years of age is probably not that smart of a thing to do. They're looking for younger drivers. The longevity isn't the same.''
IRL guys dancing in the off-season
The Sacramento Bee's Debbie Arrington catches up with Helio Castroneves (who, BTW, survived on to next week in DWTS).
Says Helio: "I had no idea how big this thing was. I didn't understand how big its audience was each week. It's crazy. Usually, I'm just in my own little world (in racing). The last two weeks, people have been coming up to me in airports, in restaurants, on the sidewalk; people who saw me on the show. ... It really surprised me."
IndyCar.com discusses how Helio & Julianne are trying to reformulate things.
Kentucky back under the lights
While we knew that to be true when we saw the IRL schedule announced, it is notable that the official Kentucky Speedway announcement has the IPS race listed after the ICS event. That happened this year (ICS at 6:30, IPS at approximately 9 p.m.). I thought it worked very well, as it strung out the traffic leaving the Speedway and avoided the massive jams we experienced in 2005. (Then again, Crimson was not very appreciative of the circuitous route that we were forced to take coming out of the track, which made the drive home about 30 minutes longer, thanks to the "new traffic pattern" the local smokies forced on us).
Speaking of Kentucky, the Cincinnati Enquirer catches up with the track's PR guru. It's notable that the largest contingent of foreign media comes for the ICS race. Then again, every other event Kentucky has is a stock-car race, where there isn't exactly a market in Brazil and Japan. Yet.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the 27 car's sponsor
Read about Canadian Club's marketing strategy.
Congrats to Bobby Rahal
1986 Indy 500 winner (and 1994 winning car owner) Bobby Rahal has been enshrined as a Legend of Laguna Seca.
IPS news
Sam Schmidt Motorsports is looking for Alex Lloyd's replacement, and was impressed with drivers James Davison and Cole Morgan, who come from Star Mazda and F2000.
And finally
A sad note, as we mark the passing of former motorsports writer Shav Glick.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Oct. 18 newsstand: Lloyd & other stuff
Alex Lloyd to TCGR
We had this yesterday, but here is a redux from Eurosport.
Lots more stuff: Lloyd to TCGR & Mutoh possibly to AGR?
Robin Miller follows up with the Lloyd-to-TCGR story, with some good quotes from Chip about the development program: “Because finding good Indy-car drivers is tough and they can’t learn anything by sitting around, they don’t get any faster if they’re not driving. We’ve got plenty of cars and ideas and now we’ve just got to find a way to get him in a car.” ... “I have every intention of having (Scott) Dixon and (Dan) Wheldon in my cars for years to come, but my team was really impressed with Alex when he tested – they raved about him."
Robin says Chip might farm Lloyd out to another team (say, D&R), rather than run a third Target car (the last time TCGR did that, they had by far their worst season in their IRL history).
Some other big stuff from Robin: Aguri Suzuki is possibly looking at taking his $ to AGR to put Hideki Mutoh in the No. 27 car. Suzuki has partnered with Fernandez & Panther so far to field cars for Roger Yasukawa and Kosuke Matsuura in the last couple of years ... if Canadian Club goes to NASCAR with Dario (which I still think is unlikely given sister product Jim Beam already has a strong NASCAR presence with Clint Bowyer). ... he furthers the Justin Wilson-to-Newman Haas story (and staying in Champ Car) ... RLR fired 12 employees and Vision has apparently cleared house in its engineering department.
The Halloween Surprise
An announcement is brewing on Oct. 31 regarding the IRL. Curt Cavin says in his Oct. 16 blog that it "is significant with driver, race and series implications." Possible league title sponsor? In the above notebook, Robin Miller corroborates some Internet rumors that Budweiser/Anheuser Busch might be involved in the announcements, which makes sense now that Busch has some free cash to throw around motorsports now that it isn't sponsoring NASCAR's Happy Hour Series and Dale Jr.'s car (one would think Kasey Kahne is probably a bit cheaper).
Not quite sure what this means for the future, but
IPS driver Sean Guthrie recently tested Playa Del Racing's IndyCar at Chicago. Given it's a Panoz, it's highly unlikely there's anything there beyond an Indy one-off.
Stock cars and Sam
Since we have this story every day, let's continue with JPM's version: moving to NASCAR isn't easy.
Says JPM of Sam Hornish Jr.: "Right now, I would think he's thinking about bailing (on NASCAR). But he's just got to be patient. I asked him why he wasn't running Busch, and he said his team doesn't have enough people. If they want him next year here, he should be running as many races as he can right now. He needs seat time and he needs miles."
Short tracks, through the eyes of an owner
While we're on NASCAR, the IRL was founded on guys like Tony Stewart and dirt-trackers. Here, Tony talks about short-track racing, and also hints at some problems -- everybody who is anybody in USAC-style open-wheel racing in America is getting wrapped up in some NASCAR driver development program where they get buried running ARCA until they're too old to try IndyCars.
And finally
IndyCar.com notes Ethanol's growing impact in America.
We had this yesterday, but here is a redux from Eurosport.
Lots more stuff: Lloyd to TCGR & Mutoh possibly to AGR?
Robin Miller follows up with the Lloyd-to-TCGR story, with some good quotes from Chip about the development program: “Because finding good Indy-car drivers is tough and they can’t learn anything by sitting around, they don’t get any faster if they’re not driving. We’ve got plenty of cars and ideas and now we’ve just got to find a way to get him in a car.” ... “I have every intention of having (Scott) Dixon and (Dan) Wheldon in my cars for years to come, but my team was really impressed with Alex when he tested – they raved about him."
Robin says Chip might farm Lloyd out to another team (say, D&R), rather than run a third Target car (the last time TCGR did that, they had by far their worst season in their IRL history).
Some other big stuff from Robin: Aguri Suzuki is possibly looking at taking his $ to AGR to put Hideki Mutoh in the No. 27 car. Suzuki has partnered with Fernandez & Panther so far to field cars for Roger Yasukawa and Kosuke Matsuura in the last couple of years ... if Canadian Club goes to NASCAR with Dario (which I still think is unlikely given sister product Jim Beam already has a strong NASCAR presence with Clint Bowyer). ... he furthers the Justin Wilson-to-Newman Haas story (and staying in Champ Car) ... RLR fired 12 employees and Vision has apparently cleared house in its engineering department.
The Halloween Surprise
An announcement is brewing on Oct. 31 regarding the IRL. Curt Cavin says in his Oct. 16 blog that it "is significant with driver, race and series implications." Possible league title sponsor? In the above notebook, Robin Miller corroborates some Internet rumors that Budweiser/Anheuser Busch might be involved in the announcements, which makes sense now that Busch has some free cash to throw around motorsports now that it isn't sponsoring NASCAR's Happy Hour Series and Dale Jr.'s car (one would think Kasey Kahne is probably a bit cheaper).
Not quite sure what this means for the future, but
IPS driver Sean Guthrie recently tested Playa Del Racing's IndyCar at Chicago. Given it's a Panoz, it's highly unlikely there's anything there beyond an Indy one-off.
Stock cars and Sam
Since we have this story every day, let's continue with JPM's version: moving to NASCAR isn't easy.
Says JPM of Sam Hornish Jr.: "Right now, I would think he's thinking about bailing (on NASCAR). But he's just got to be patient. I asked him why he wasn't running Busch, and he said his team doesn't have enough people. If they want him next year here, he should be running as many races as he can right now. He needs seat time and he needs miles."
Short tracks, through the eyes of an owner
While we're on NASCAR, the IRL was founded on guys like Tony Stewart and dirt-trackers. Here, Tony talks about short-track racing, and also hints at some problems -- everybody who is anybody in USAC-style open-wheel racing in America is getting wrapped up in some NASCAR driver development program where they get buried running ARCA until they're too old to try IndyCars.
And finally
IndyCar.com notes Ethanol's growing impact in America.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Oct. 17 newsstand: Alex Lloyd to TCGR
The first SillySeason domino is down ... IPS champ Alex Lloyd has signed a development deal with Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
It's likely he'll drive a third car for TCGR as a part-time entry in the IndyCar Series and also in Grand Am.
IndyCar.com notes the news
Says Alex: "I can really learn the traits of the IndyCar Series and grow within the team. I feel that although I won't be doing a full season next year, the races that I will be doing I will be in one of the best cars out there with a team I've admired for years way before I came over. For me, that's actually a more exciting thing than saying I'll be doing a full year in a mid-field car."
Says Mike Hull: "He is a talented driver and a perfect candidate for our development program. In the span of 10 days, he took the wheel of two very different race cars for the first time. He showed at Sebring that he is ready to race an IndyCar, and then at Infineon Raceway for the Grand Am event, proved under race conditions that his skills were immediately equal to the best drivers in the very competitive high-horsepower Daytona Protoypes."
The SpeedTV story is somewhat similar.
This is also noted in the official IRL news & notes
Also, teams will be allowed four test days during the off-season in addition to the open tests, and 41-year-old Italian motorcycle racer Alex Pigione tested an IPS car for Cheever Racing.
ICS drivers in other series
Buddy Rice 15th in A1GP, TK to run season finale with Herta in ALMS
We can't have a newsstand without a DWTS story
So here is one, from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Of note: Eddie Gossage has offered the first one to be voted off the show -- Helio or Mark Cuban -- a chance to dance before the taxicab race at TMS in November.
This isn't going to play well
in some NASCAR circles. NASCAR Scene's Kenny Bruce says open-wheel defectors are good for taxicab racing.
But this might: The best of the OW-to-cabs stories
I'm trying to stay away from these stories, because they're like a broken record. But this, by far, is the best, most thorough analysis of the OW-to-taxicabs stories, from USA Today.
Casey Mears gets the award for throwing eggs out of the rearview mirror: "There's no question open-wheel racing just keeps getting worse in the U.S.That's the biggest reason why you're seeing guys come over here. It's not, 'Hey, I want to go stock car racing like I've dreamed all my life.' It's, 'Wow, there's nothing there. I've got to go stock car racing to make a living.' There's nowhere else to go."
And Clint Bowyer gets the "them furriners are takin' our jobs" award: "I just don't want to see young drivers like myself lose chances of getting here because of a big name getting a freebie. I hate to see too many of those spots taken by people with a big name that have already been successful in other sports and just think, 'Hey, let's try this out. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, then it doesn't.' " (Uh, Clint, Dario Franchitti won an Indy 500 and an IRL title; JPM won an Indy 500; JV won a world championship; Sam Hornish Jr. won an Indy 500 and 3 IRL titles ... and what exactly have you done beyond the Busch Series?).
Says A.J. Allmendinger, with some not-so-good words for CCWS: "In the long term, if I make NASCAR work, am I going to make more money? Hell yeah. But it also was that I was in a series that I didn't know was going to be around the next year."
And, says IRL PR guru Terry Angstadt: "We feel good about the stable of talented drivers who are getting to be well known. We've got lots of work to do marketing our series, but we feel we've got a lot to sell. We could not feel more optimistic about the future."
In other series news
According to Justin Wilson, CC's RuSports team is closing down. This can be IRL-related in two ways: 1) Losing one of their top teams can be a death blow to a CC field that is already down to 17 cars, and 2) Wilson & sponsor CDW have long been rumored to be shopping their wares to the IndyCar Series (or possibly ALMS).
However, JW says: "I hope I will be back in Champ Cars, but you can never be certain. I will just have to see what my options are for next year."
It's likely he'll drive a third car for TCGR as a part-time entry in the IndyCar Series and also in Grand Am.
IndyCar.com notes the news
Says Alex: "I can really learn the traits of the IndyCar Series and grow within the team. I feel that although I won't be doing a full season next year, the races that I will be doing I will be in one of the best cars out there with a team I've admired for years way before I came over. For me, that's actually a more exciting thing than saying I'll be doing a full year in a mid-field car."
Says Mike Hull: "He is a talented driver and a perfect candidate for our development program. In the span of 10 days, he took the wheel of two very different race cars for the first time. He showed at Sebring that he is ready to race an IndyCar, and then at Infineon Raceway for the Grand Am event, proved under race conditions that his skills were immediately equal to the best drivers in the very competitive high-horsepower Daytona Protoypes."
The SpeedTV story is somewhat similar.
This is also noted in the official IRL news & notes
Also, teams will be allowed four test days during the off-season in addition to the open tests, and 41-year-old Italian motorcycle racer Alex Pigione tested an IPS car for Cheever Racing.
ICS drivers in other series
Buddy Rice 15th in A1GP, TK to run season finale with Herta in ALMS
We can't have a newsstand without a DWTS story
So here is one, from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Of note: Eddie Gossage has offered the first one to be voted off the show -- Helio or Mark Cuban -- a chance to dance before the taxicab race at TMS in November.
This isn't going to play well
in some NASCAR circles. NASCAR Scene's Kenny Bruce says open-wheel defectors are good for taxicab racing.
But this might: The best of the OW-to-cabs stories
I'm trying to stay away from these stories, because they're like a broken record. But this, by far, is the best, most thorough analysis of the OW-to-taxicabs stories, from USA Today.
Casey Mears gets the award for throwing eggs out of the rearview mirror: "There's no question open-wheel racing just keeps getting worse in the U.S.That's the biggest reason why you're seeing guys come over here. It's not, 'Hey, I want to go stock car racing like I've dreamed all my life.' It's, 'Wow, there's nothing there. I've got to go stock car racing to make a living.' There's nowhere else to go."
And Clint Bowyer gets the "them furriners are takin' our jobs" award: "I just don't want to see young drivers like myself lose chances of getting here because of a big name getting a freebie. I hate to see too many of those spots taken by people with a big name that have already been successful in other sports and just think, 'Hey, let's try this out. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, then it doesn't.' " (Uh, Clint, Dario Franchitti won an Indy 500 and an IRL title; JPM won an Indy 500; JV won a world championship; Sam Hornish Jr. won an Indy 500 and 3 IRL titles ... and what exactly have you done beyond the Busch Series?).
Says A.J. Allmendinger, with some not-so-good words for CCWS: "In the long term, if I make NASCAR work, am I going to make more money? Hell yeah. But it also was that I was in a series that I didn't know was going to be around the next year."
And, says IRL PR guru Terry Angstadt: "We feel good about the stable of talented drivers who are getting to be well known. We've got lots of work to do marketing our series, but we feel we've got a lot to sell. We could not feel more optimistic about the future."
In other series news
According to Justin Wilson, CC's RuSports team is closing down. This can be IRL-related in two ways: 1) Losing one of their top teams can be a death blow to a CC field that is already down to 17 cars, and 2) Wilson & sponsor CDW have long been rumored to be shopping their wares to the IndyCar Series (or possibly ALMS).
However, JW says: "I hope I will be back in Champ Cars, but you can never be certain. I will just have to see what my options are for next year."
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Silly Season update (Oct. 14)
Not many updates, but I wanted to keep this out there.
2008 lineup
Andretti Green Racing (4)
7-Danica Patrick (Motorola, 3rd-year FT driver, 1st year with AGR). Under contract through 2009.
11-Tony Kanaan (7-11, 5th year FT driver, all with AGR, 2004 champ). Under contract through 2008.
26-Marco Andretti (NYSE Group, 2nd year FT driver, all with AGR). Staying with AGR.
27-TBA ... The ride Dario Franchitti is vacating. possible drivers Jaime Camara (AGR IPS driver), Tomas Scheckter (free agent). According to Curt Cavin (Sept. 10), the short list also possibly includes Darren Manning and possibly Alex Lloyd. One might expect Justin Wilson to be a candidate for this job, as well, as he appars to be leaving Champ Car along with sponsor CDW and looking at either ALMS or the IRL.
Team Penske (2)
3-Helio Castroneves (Team Penske, 6th-year FT driver, all with Penske, 2-time I500 champ). Under contract to Penske through 2008.
6-TBA. Likely to be either a return of Sam Hornish Jr. (Team Penske, 8th-year FT driver, 4th with Penske, 3x ICS champ). or Ryan Briscoe (Penske ALMS driver).
**Hornish is 0-for-4 in NASCAR qualifying, and has said if he doesn't qualify for any races, it would be difficult to come back. However, Curt Cavin & others say Penske officials are still optimistic about Sam, and all signs still point to him being in NASCAR in 2008, with a possible Indy one-off in the equation. Tim Cindric has been quoted as saying Briscoe is the frontrunner to replace Hornish. Briscoe finished fifth in the Indy 500 this year for Penske satellite Luczo Dragon Racing.
Target Chip Ganassi Racing (2)
9-Scott Dixon (Target, 5th-year FT driver, all with TCGR, 2003 champ). Under contract for 2008.
10-Dan Wheldon (Target, 5th-year FT driver, 2nd with TCGR, 2005 champ). Under contract through 2008. There are whispers that Wheldon might be jumping teams, upset that Chip Ganassi would keep him in the IRL but hire Dario Franchitti for a NASCAR job. Wheldon has been eyeballing NASCAR.
Possible 3rd entry ??-Alex Lloyd??: A lot of directions could go with this one. Lloyd has said a lot that he's working something out and will be in the ICS next year with a frontrunner team. Lloyd drove Ganassi's Grand Am car at Infineon and tested a TCGR IndyCar at Sebring a couple of weeks before.
Rahal Letterman Racing (2)
8-Scott Sharp (Patron, 12th-year FT driver, 1st with RLR, 1996 champ). Announced during the week of Oct. 7 that he is confirmed to return for 2008, "at least."
17-Ryan Hunter-Reay (Ethanol, rookie, former CC driver). Mid-season replacement was the IndyCar Rookie of the Year. Looks to be
**Sept. 8 update: RHR would like to be back in the IRL next year. Ethanol car requires an American driver, and Rahal seems happy with him.**
Panther Racing (2)
4-Vitor Meira (Delphi, 6th-year FT driver, 2nd with Panther). Confirmed for 2008, according to comments on a radio show the week of Oct. 7.
55-Hideki Mutoh (Panasonic, 1st-year FT driver). Mutoh had a nice run in the final season race, and the Super Aguri ride has always been reserved for a Japanese driver. Kosuke Matsuura said at Chicago that he isn't sure what he's doing this year, and Mutoh's one-off with Panther at Chicago seems to indicate he'll be in this car next year.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (1-2)
15-Buddy Rice (RollCoater, 6th-year FT driver, 1st with D&R). Has had a lot of success this season, given the fact that D&R generally has struggled.
Vision Racing (1-3)
20-Ed Carpenter (Hitachi Power Tools, 4th-year FT driver, 3rd with Vision). Confirmed for 2008. The only confirmed Vision car for 2008.
The other two cars are unconfirmed ...
TBA: 2-Tomas Scheckter (Joost, 6th-year FT driver, 2nd with Vision). Has been mentioned in connection with the open AGR ride, and TG has turned him loose in case Vision goes to two or one cars.
TBA: 22-A.J. Foyt IV (Indy Vision, 4th-year FT driver, 1st with Vision). Free agent until funding can be found. Again, has been turned loose by TG.
**Sept. 8 update: Scheckter rumored to be talking with AGR about the 27 car. Both Scheckter and Foyt said they don't know what their plans are for 2008.**
A.J. Foyt Racing (1)
14-Darren Manning (ABC Supply, 3rd-year FT driver). Contract extended through 2008.
**Foyt is exploring the option of adding a second car, pending funding.**
**Part-Time or New Entries**
SAMAX Racing (1)
23-Milka Duno (Citgo - rookie). Duno will be invited back only if she satisfactorily completes off-season testing. Spent the last half of the season on probation.There is the possibility of SAMAX fielding a second car for Tomas Enge (or someone else) or not coming back.
Roth Racing (2)
25-Marty Roth: Plans to run 2 full-time cars next year.
76-P.J. Chesson: Would like to stay with Roth if things go well, according to comments at Chicago.
**Roth Racing is planning to run the full 2008 schedule as a two-car team, according to a team press release.**
Racing Professionals (1)
Jon Herb: As for the future, it's probably part-time at best.
Beck Racing (1)
TBA: Although Beck ran some early-season events, the Beck machine hasn't been seen since Indy. Beck has said he'd like to be back in the IndyCar game, and his comments at the TEAM announcement seemed to indicate that is possible.
Fernandez Racing (1-2?)
From Curt Cavin's blog (8/8/2007), Adrian Fernandez's team still has its IndyCar equipment and Tom Anderson is apparently interested in a return to the IRL, but things "haven't been worked out." Sept. 8: Cavin said funding isn't there yet for this team, but it would like to get back in. Cavin says on Aug. 13 that he knows of two individuals to keep an eye on for new 2008 teams, but hasn't seen any sign of $$ backing them. An Indy 500 one-off is likely, at the very least, if not the full season.
Sarah Fisher Racing (1)
TBA: Sarah Fisher (AAMCO, 6th FT season, 2nd with D&R). Has sponsorships from AAMCO and AAA. But Fisher has said she has a lot of options for 2008, and all signs are pointing at the fact that they don't involve running at D&R. She was also quoted as saying D&R is going down to one car next year. Robin Miller threw out the possibility of Fisher owning her own team next year.
Kingdom Racing announced its plans to field a team for 2008 on Aug. 16. Led by Houston businessman George Del Canto, the team plans to be based on a Christian philosophy, with several pastors and Christian leaders on the board of directors. They've been announcing new partnerships as recent as Sept. 28, when evangelical leader Patrick Morley came on board.
PDM Racing would like to run a partial season of ovals in 2008 and become full-time in 2009. It would be more than good to see this longtime program back in the ICS full-time.
Unlikely for next year, but for the more distant future?
Cheever Racing ... the Aug. 28 IRL press release quotes Eddie's nephew Richard Antinucci as looking to get into the ICS (and get the team back into the ICS) long-term, if, of course, the $$ comes together.
2009 schedule news
The 2009 schedule may expand to 20 races, according to IRL brass. Michigan has already been mentioned as a possible re-addition to the schedule, in a Detroit News story. Expect Barber Motorsports Park to get a look, given positive comments after the IRL's test Oct. 12, and owner George Barber saying he'd like to have an IRL race there in the future. The upcoming Rusty Wallace-designed oval track in Sacramento is also an option for the more distant future.
Confirmed for 2009: Indianapolis (signed forever), Texas (signed through 2009), Iowa (signed through 2009), Milwaukee (signed through 2009), Detroit (signed through 2011).
2008 lineup
Andretti Green Racing (4)
7-Danica Patrick (Motorola, 3rd-year FT driver, 1st year with AGR). Under contract through 2009.
11-Tony Kanaan (7-11, 5th year FT driver, all with AGR, 2004 champ). Under contract through 2008.
26-Marco Andretti (NYSE Group, 2nd year FT driver, all with AGR). Staying with AGR.
27-TBA ... The ride Dario Franchitti is vacating. possible drivers Jaime Camara (AGR IPS driver), Tomas Scheckter (free agent). According to Curt Cavin (Sept. 10), the short list also possibly includes Darren Manning and possibly Alex Lloyd. One might expect Justin Wilson to be a candidate for this job, as well, as he appars to be leaving Champ Car along with sponsor CDW and looking at either ALMS or the IRL.
Team Penske (2)
3-Helio Castroneves (Team Penske, 6th-year FT driver, all with Penske, 2-time I500 champ). Under contract to Penske through 2008.
6-TBA. Likely to be either a return of Sam Hornish Jr. (Team Penske, 8th-year FT driver, 4th with Penske, 3x ICS champ). or Ryan Briscoe (Penske ALMS driver).
**Hornish is 0-for-4 in NASCAR qualifying, and has said if he doesn't qualify for any races, it would be difficult to come back. However, Curt Cavin & others say Penske officials are still optimistic about Sam, and all signs still point to him being in NASCAR in 2008, with a possible Indy one-off in the equation. Tim Cindric has been quoted as saying Briscoe is the frontrunner to replace Hornish. Briscoe finished fifth in the Indy 500 this year for Penske satellite Luczo Dragon Racing.
Target Chip Ganassi Racing (2)
9-Scott Dixon (Target, 5th-year FT driver, all with TCGR, 2003 champ). Under contract for 2008.
10-Dan Wheldon (Target, 5th-year FT driver, 2nd with TCGR, 2005 champ). Under contract through 2008. There are whispers that Wheldon might be jumping teams, upset that Chip Ganassi would keep him in the IRL but hire Dario Franchitti for a NASCAR job. Wheldon has been eyeballing NASCAR.
Possible 3rd entry ??-Alex Lloyd??: A lot of directions could go with this one. Lloyd has said a lot that he's working something out and will be in the ICS next year with a frontrunner team. Lloyd drove Ganassi's Grand Am car at Infineon and tested a TCGR IndyCar at Sebring a couple of weeks before.
Rahal Letterman Racing (2)
8-Scott Sharp (Patron, 12th-year FT driver, 1st with RLR, 1996 champ). Announced during the week of Oct. 7 that he is confirmed to return for 2008, "at least."
17-Ryan Hunter-Reay (Ethanol, rookie, former CC driver). Mid-season replacement was the IndyCar Rookie of the Year. Looks to be
**Sept. 8 update: RHR would like to be back in the IRL next year. Ethanol car requires an American driver, and Rahal seems happy with him.**
Panther Racing (2)
4-Vitor Meira (Delphi, 6th-year FT driver, 2nd with Panther). Confirmed for 2008, according to comments on a radio show the week of Oct. 7.
55-Hideki Mutoh (Panasonic, 1st-year FT driver). Mutoh had a nice run in the final season race, and the Super Aguri ride has always been reserved for a Japanese driver. Kosuke Matsuura said at Chicago that he isn't sure what he's doing this year, and Mutoh's one-off with Panther at Chicago seems to indicate he'll be in this car next year.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (1-2)
15-Buddy Rice (RollCoater, 6th-year FT driver, 1st with D&R). Has had a lot of success this season, given the fact that D&R generally has struggled.
Vision Racing (1-3)
20-Ed Carpenter (Hitachi Power Tools, 4th-year FT driver, 3rd with Vision). Confirmed for 2008. The only confirmed Vision car for 2008.
The other two cars are unconfirmed ...
TBA: 2-Tomas Scheckter (Joost, 6th-year FT driver, 2nd with Vision). Has been mentioned in connection with the open AGR ride, and TG has turned him loose in case Vision goes to two or one cars.
TBA: 22-A.J. Foyt IV (Indy Vision, 4th-year FT driver, 1st with Vision). Free agent until funding can be found. Again, has been turned loose by TG.
**Sept. 8 update: Scheckter rumored to be talking with AGR about the 27 car. Both Scheckter and Foyt said they don't know what their plans are for 2008.**
A.J. Foyt Racing (1)
14-Darren Manning (ABC Supply, 3rd-year FT driver). Contract extended through 2008.
**Foyt is exploring the option of adding a second car, pending funding.**
**Part-Time or New Entries**
SAMAX Racing (1)
23-Milka Duno (Citgo - rookie). Duno will be invited back only if she satisfactorily completes off-season testing. Spent the last half of the season on probation.There is the possibility of SAMAX fielding a second car for Tomas Enge (or someone else) or not coming back.
Roth Racing (2)
25-Marty Roth: Plans to run 2 full-time cars next year.
76-P.J. Chesson: Would like to stay with Roth if things go well, according to comments at Chicago.
**Roth Racing is planning to run the full 2008 schedule as a two-car team, according to a team press release.**
Racing Professionals (1)
Jon Herb: As for the future, it's probably part-time at best.
Beck Racing (1)
TBA: Although Beck ran some early-season events, the Beck machine hasn't been seen since Indy. Beck has said he'd like to be back in the IndyCar game, and his comments at the TEAM announcement seemed to indicate that is possible.
Fernandez Racing (1-2?)
From Curt Cavin's blog (8/8/2007), Adrian Fernandez's team still has its IndyCar equipment and Tom Anderson is apparently interested in a return to the IRL, but things "haven't been worked out." Sept. 8: Cavin said funding isn't there yet for this team, but it would like to get back in. Cavin says on Aug. 13 that he knows of two individuals to keep an eye on for new 2008 teams, but hasn't seen any sign of $$ backing them. An Indy 500 one-off is likely, at the very least, if not the full season.
Sarah Fisher Racing (1)
TBA: Sarah Fisher (AAMCO, 6th FT season, 2nd with D&R). Has sponsorships from AAMCO and AAA. But Fisher has said she has a lot of options for 2008, and all signs are pointing at the fact that they don't involve running at D&R. She was also quoted as saying D&R is going down to one car next year. Robin Miller threw out the possibility of Fisher owning her own team next year.
Kingdom Racing announced its plans to field a team for 2008 on Aug. 16. Led by Houston businessman George Del Canto, the team plans to be based on a Christian philosophy, with several pastors and Christian leaders on the board of directors. They've been announcing new partnerships as recent as Sept. 28, when evangelical leader Patrick Morley came on board.
PDM Racing would like to run a partial season of ovals in 2008 and become full-time in 2009. It would be more than good to see this longtime program back in the ICS full-time.
Unlikely for next year, but for the more distant future?
Cheever Racing ... the Aug. 28 IRL press release quotes Eddie's nephew Richard Antinucci as looking to get into the ICS (and get the team back into the ICS) long-term, if, of course, the $$ comes together.
2009 schedule news
The 2009 schedule may expand to 20 races, according to IRL brass. Michigan has already been mentioned as a possible re-addition to the schedule, in a Detroit News story. Expect Barber Motorsports Park to get a look, given positive comments after the IRL's test Oct. 12, and owner George Barber saying he'd like to have an IRL race there in the future. The upcoming Rusty Wallace-designed oval track in Sacramento is also an option for the more distant future.
Confirmed for 2009: Indianapolis (signed forever), Texas (signed through 2009), Iowa (signed through 2009), Milwaukee (signed through 2009), Detroit (signed through 2011).
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Oct. 13 newsstand: Sharp's confirmed for 2008
A lot of the news today is buried in notebooks, like this one ...
Looking ahead
Scott Sharp confirms he's going to run for RLR in 2008.
Not that there was much concern, but he was seen around ALMS circles (and the more delusional folks in the CC camp began chirping about Sharp switching sides). Scott is back, with Patron sponsorship.
The Detroit News' Angelique Chengelis expects to see Dan Wheldon start sniffing stock cars in 2008 and Danica Patrick in 2009.
So, let's go hear from Danica, in the IRL news & notes: "It's an option. It's something out there, especially the last year and a half when I was dealing with my contract negotiations for when I went to Andretti Green. I love IndyCar. I love driving these cars. I'm sure any of the NASCAR guys could tell you that have driven an open-wheel car versus theirs it's the difference between a Lamborghini and a Taurus. It's not really comparable. They feel very different, and I like the sensation an IndyCar gives. I like the racing. This is what I grew up watching with my family. This is where my heart is right now."
Anyway, back to Dario, whom the Fredricksburg Freelance Star says must "prove" he can make the leap. The fact that NASCAR folks seem to treat the IRL and F1 like they're some sort of fifth-rate racing series (and lower than ARCA and trucks, of course) is semi-comical.
Other drivers looking ahead
TK is going to run the final ALMS race of the season
DWTS stuff
The Detroit News says Helio has raised his profile and that of the IRL with his DWTS role.
You have to scroll down a bit, but Dan Wheldon is the St. Pete Times' DWTS judge, now.
Looking ahead
GA's Koni Challenge series will be a support race for the Glen.
What's Gene up to?
Despite putting monsters on Marty Roth's cars, of course, he's pimping the IRL.
And, finally
When you're in the Indy area, check out the new "Speed" exhibit at the Indiana State Museum.
Looking ahead
Scott Sharp confirms he's going to run for RLR in 2008.
Not that there was much concern, but he was seen around ALMS circles (and the more delusional folks in the CC camp began chirping about Sharp switching sides). Scott is back, with Patron sponsorship.
Says Scott: "We're committed to the IRL for another year, at least, although we might add a sports-car race here or there."
Barber test stuff
Official IRL news & notes from the Barber Motorsports Park test. TK was fastest.
Says Scott Dixon of paddle-shifting: “I think it makes the car easier to drive; it’s not as difficult physically. You’re more relaxed in the car; you don’t have other things to think about. All you have is knowing how many gears you have to go down and pushing the little lever."
Says Helio of variable-rate steering: “It seems to be a little better on the high speed turns."
Meanwhile, Vitor Meira called Barber "the best track we've been to," presumably for testing.
IndyCar.com notes the drivers were enthusiastic about the new stuff.
The event was a hit with drivers and fans, says the Birmingham News.
There was a big crowd, too, which could portend future things
Says TK of the crowd of 1,900 that showed up to watch 7 drivers test: "We're 30 miles from Talladega and look how many people got to know Indy cars. I bet all of these guys will be watching us when they take the weekend off from NASCAR. I'm not saying they're going to give up NASCAR, but maybe they'll watch us a little more closely. It took me 15 minutes to get here from pitlane because I was signing autographs. They saw the access they can have to us and how fast the cars go. To me, the most important thing of the day was getting these fans."
Meanwhile, George Barber would like to have an ICS race at his track.
The story doesn't endBarber test stuff
Official IRL news & notes from the Barber Motorsports Park test. TK was fastest.
Says Scott Dixon of paddle-shifting: “I think it makes the car easier to drive; it’s not as difficult physically. You’re more relaxed in the car; you don’t have other things to think about. All you have is knowing how many gears you have to go down and pushing the little lever."
Says Helio of variable-rate steering: “It seems to be a little better on the high speed turns."
Meanwhile, Vitor Meira called Barber "the best track we've been to," presumably for testing.
IndyCar.com notes the drivers were enthusiastic about the new stuff.
The event was a hit with drivers and fans, says the Birmingham News.
There was a big crowd, too, which could portend future things
Says TK of the crowd of 1,900 that showed up to watch 7 drivers test: "We're 30 miles from Talladega and look how many people got to know Indy cars. I bet all of these guys will be watching us when they take the weekend off from NASCAR. I'm not saying they're going to give up NASCAR, but maybe they'll watch us a little more closely. It took me 15 minutes to get here from pitlane because I was signing autographs. They saw the access they can have to us and how fast the cars go. To me, the most important thing of the day was getting these fans."
Meanwhile, George Barber would like to have an ICS race at his track.
The Detroit News' Angelique Chengelis expects to see Dan Wheldon start sniffing stock cars in 2008 and Danica Patrick in 2009.
So, let's go hear from Danica, in the IRL news & notes: "It's an option. It's something out there, especially the last year and a half when I was dealing with my contract negotiations for when I went to Andretti Green. I love IndyCar. I love driving these cars. I'm sure any of the NASCAR guys could tell you that have driven an open-wheel car versus theirs it's the difference between a Lamborghini and a Taurus. It's not really comparable. They feel very different, and I like the sensation an IndyCar gives. I like the racing. This is what I grew up watching with my family. This is where my heart is right now."
Anyway, back to Dario, whom the Fredricksburg Freelance Star says must "prove" he can make the leap. The fact that NASCAR folks seem to treat the IRL and F1 like they're some sort of fifth-rate racing series (and lower than ARCA and trucks, of course) is semi-comical.
Other drivers looking ahead
TK is going to run the final ALMS race of the season
DWTS stuff
The Detroit News says Helio has raised his profile and that of the IRL with his DWTS role.
You have to scroll down a bit, but Dan Wheldon is the St. Pete Times' DWTS judge, now.
Looking ahead
GA's Koni Challenge series will be a support race for the Glen.
What's Gene up to?
Despite putting monsters on Marty Roth's cars, of course, he's pimping the IRL.
And, finally
When you're in the Indy area, check out the new "Speed" exhibit at the Indiana State Museum.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Oct. 11 newsstand: Sam sputters & Dario's racing a truck
Sam's still undecided?
Yeah, we know, this is the worst-kept secret in motorsports, but Sam Hornish Jr. insists that he's still undecided on next year. He DNQed for this weekend's Charlotte race, and he's still failed to qualify for a Cup race yet. With results like that, I'm beginning to be inclined to believe him.
Anyway, what Sam has to say to the AP's Jenna Fryer: "Some of the Formula One guys, there is no where else for them to go and this was a place where they could have an opportunity. And Dario, I hear he had his deal to come to NASCAR for two years, and he didn't have a whole lot of success in the IRL until this year. So that may have been a case of `Let's go try something different.' But for me, this has been something that's always intrigued me. I always wanted to run the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400. And I know in order to ever have a chance to win, you've got to be doing it fulltime."
However, this makes it sound like his mind is made up: "I've tried to really stay with the IRL and do all the things I could do. I feel I can only do so much — somebody will replace me. It might not be today or tomorrow, but there will always be the next American driver. I think I've tried to do the best I could for myself, the league and open wheel racing in general. But sooner or later, I'm going to quit racing. I am not always going to be able to do it."
My feelings: He's probably gone, but his heart is with open-wheel racing. If he does go south, he won't finish his career in a stock car. But if he DNQs for the entire Chase, he might be in the No. 6 Dallara-Honda next year at Homestead. Sam has even said that.
Before we get back to cab stuff, let's look at real IRL news
If you're around Indy this weekend, several ICS and IPS drivers will be competing in the Mazda Robo-Pong 200 kart race at New Castle Motorsports Park. Mark Dismore built the track a few years back, and the 1.1-mile road course is first-rate (I know from experience, having driven on it), as are the facilities surrounding it. This race is a fun event ... Dan Wheldon & Mark Dismore Jr. won the inaugural one a couple of years back. Wheldon, Scott Dixon, Vitor Meira, A.J. Foyt IV, Scott Goodyear, Jay Howard, Robbie Percorari and Travis Gregg are on the entry list. So is track owner Mark Dismore, a veteran of several IRL seasons.
Seven drivers are getting ready to test some new toys this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. They'll be testing variable-rate steering and paddle shifters. Could it be a preview of something else?
Says Dan Wheldon: "It's always exciting to take part in the evaluation of a new venues and possible additions to the IndyCar Series schedule. I've heard a lot about the track and can't wait to drive it first hand."
From the official IRL News & Notes. Congrats to Ed & Heather Carpenter on the birth of their daughter, Makenna Alayne. And congrats to grandpa Tony George.
Congrats to D&R co-owner Robbie Buhl, who was honored for his work with Racing For Kids.
Buddy Rice is set to run this weekend in the A1GP race in the Czech Republic.
Dario is racing a truck
If it's embarrasing to watch an F1 world champion driving a truck for a living (because he has few other options), it's just as so to watch the current IRL champion and Indy 500 winner relegate himself to throwing a pickup around Martinsville, as Dario will do in two weeks.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram follows Dario around a bit, as well as Bryan Clauson, a guy who is exactly the type of driver ICS teams need to be looking at as a good, talented, young American driver to put into an IndyCar.
Dario does discuss a few things in a press conference announcing his move to the No. 40 NASCAR car. Says Dario: "I think that the IndyCar Series will get on just fine without me or without Sam, if he chooses to come over to NASCAR. It is one of those things. You see drivers retire or move on to other things and a young driver comes in and takes their place. I think the IRL will do just fine." He also talks about Dan Wheldon, now a part of the same racing family: "I don't want to speak or Dan here, but I believe he still has the goal of winning another 500 and trying to win a championship before he does anything."
Guys without other options taking on NASCAR
Like Patrick Carpentier, an IRL driver from a few years back. The 36-year-old has signed with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. And, of course, this continues the Southern spin that all of OW's drivers are flocking to Cup ... without mentioning that Carpentier hasn't driven an IRL race in quite a while.
The Arizona Star handicaps the OW invaders.
David Poole says the OW invaders will have a steep climb in stock cars.
One of my favorite bloggers is Diecast Dude, a lone voice supporting the OW masses at the NASCAR blog Restrictor Plate THIS! He has his take on this issue, and it's pretty much mine, just said better.
Helio is enjoying DWTS
So says the Kansas City Star.
Says Helio: “Trust me, everybody has been very supportive. Jeff Gordon has called. Jimmie Johnson. Mark Martin. It’s amazing. When it comes to the race community, everybody, even my colleagues, have been supportive and impressed. I don’t see any jokes around, I just see positive things.”
This week's DWTS update from IndyCar.com.
Old news, but
Infineon Raceway has announced its 2008 schedule, with the ICS race Aug. 24.
If you're around the Glen this weekend
Go see Sam Posey this Saturday in Watkins Glen. This story calls him a "popular" commentator, but you make your own judgments. No word on whether or not Bobby Unser will show up to dispute everything that Sam has to say.
And a great story to finish
Alex Zanardi never drove in an IndyCar event, but he was a great OW driver and would've been an ICS multi-race winner if not for the horrible crash in Lausitz. However, his comeback continues, as he plans to compete in the New York Marathon on Nov. 4, using a handcycle.
Yeah, we know, this is the worst-kept secret in motorsports, but Sam Hornish Jr. insists that he's still undecided on next year. He DNQed for this weekend's Charlotte race, and he's still failed to qualify for a Cup race yet. With results like that, I'm beginning to be inclined to believe him.
Anyway, what Sam has to say to the AP's Jenna Fryer: "Some of the Formula One guys, there is no where else for them to go and this was a place where they could have an opportunity. And Dario, I hear he had his deal to come to NASCAR for two years, and he didn't have a whole lot of success in the IRL until this year. So that may have been a case of `Let's go try something different.' But for me, this has been something that's always intrigued me. I always wanted to run the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400. And I know in order to ever have a chance to win, you've got to be doing it fulltime."
However, this makes it sound like his mind is made up: "I've tried to really stay with the IRL and do all the things I could do. I feel I can only do so much — somebody will replace me. It might not be today or tomorrow, but there will always be the next American driver. I think I've tried to do the best I could for myself, the league and open wheel racing in general. But sooner or later, I'm going to quit racing. I am not always going to be able to do it."
My feelings: He's probably gone, but his heart is with open-wheel racing. If he does go south, he won't finish his career in a stock car. But if he DNQs for the entire Chase, he might be in the No. 6 Dallara-Honda next year at Homestead. Sam has even said that.
Before we get back to cab stuff, let's look at real IRL news
If you're around Indy this weekend, several ICS and IPS drivers will be competing in the Mazda Robo-Pong 200 kart race at New Castle Motorsports Park. Mark Dismore built the track a few years back, and the 1.1-mile road course is first-rate (I know from experience, having driven on it), as are the facilities surrounding it. This race is a fun event ... Dan Wheldon & Mark Dismore Jr. won the inaugural one a couple of years back. Wheldon, Scott Dixon, Vitor Meira, A.J. Foyt IV, Scott Goodyear, Jay Howard, Robbie Percorari and Travis Gregg are on the entry list. So is track owner Mark Dismore, a veteran of several IRL seasons.
Seven drivers are getting ready to test some new toys this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. They'll be testing variable-rate steering and paddle shifters. Could it be a preview of something else?
Says Dan Wheldon: "It's always exciting to take part in the evaluation of a new venues and possible additions to the IndyCar Series schedule. I've heard a lot about the track and can't wait to drive it first hand."
From the official IRL News & Notes. Congrats to Ed & Heather Carpenter on the birth of their daughter, Makenna Alayne. And congrats to grandpa Tony George.
Congrats to D&R co-owner Robbie Buhl, who was honored for his work with Racing For Kids.
Buddy Rice is set to run this weekend in the A1GP race in the Czech Republic.
Dario is racing a truck
If it's embarrasing to watch an F1 world champion driving a truck for a living (because he has few other options), it's just as so to watch the current IRL champion and Indy 500 winner relegate himself to throwing a pickup around Martinsville, as Dario will do in two weeks.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram follows Dario around a bit, as well as Bryan Clauson, a guy who is exactly the type of driver ICS teams need to be looking at as a good, talented, young American driver to put into an IndyCar.
Dario does discuss a few things in a press conference announcing his move to the No. 40 NASCAR car. Says Dario: "I think that the IndyCar Series will get on just fine without me or without Sam, if he chooses to come over to NASCAR. It is one of those things. You see drivers retire or move on to other things and a young driver comes in and takes their place. I think the IRL will do just fine." He also talks about Dan Wheldon, now a part of the same racing family: "I don't want to speak or Dan here, but I believe he still has the goal of winning another 500 and trying to win a championship before he does anything."
Guys without other options taking on NASCAR
Like Patrick Carpentier, an IRL driver from a few years back. The 36-year-old has signed with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. And, of course, this continues the Southern spin that all of OW's drivers are flocking to Cup ... without mentioning that Carpentier hasn't driven an IRL race in quite a while.
The Arizona Star handicaps the OW invaders.
David Poole says the OW invaders will have a steep climb in stock cars.
One of my favorite bloggers is Diecast Dude, a lone voice supporting the OW masses at the NASCAR blog Restrictor Plate THIS! He has his take on this issue, and it's pretty much mine, just said better.
Helio is enjoying DWTS
So says the Kansas City Star.
Says Helio: “Trust me, everybody has been very supportive. Jeff Gordon has called. Jimmie Johnson. Mark Martin. It’s amazing. When it comes to the race community, everybody, even my colleagues, have been supportive and impressed. I don’t see any jokes around, I just see positive things.”
This week's DWTS update from IndyCar.com.
Old news, but
Infineon Raceway has announced its 2008 schedule, with the ICS race Aug. 24.
If you're around the Glen this weekend
Go see Sam Posey this Saturday in Watkins Glen. This story calls him a "popular" commentator, but you make your own judgments. No word on whether or not Bobby Unser will show up to dispute everything that Sam has to say.
And a great story to finish
Alex Zanardi never drove in an IndyCar event, but he was a great OW driver and would've been an ICS multi-race winner if not for the horrible crash in Lausitz. However, his comeback continues, as he plans to compete in the New York Marathon on Nov. 4, using a handcycle.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Oct. 7 newsstand: Lots o' taxicabs
The rumors are past. Now, we're actually seeing open-wheelers run taxicabs this weekend, which means lots o' stories about open-wheelers running taxicabs.
Sam Hornish Jr. was relegated to the back of the garage and DNQed (again) at Talladega, but Kyle Petty is at least being nice to him. Read the second item in Brent James' notebook in the St. Pete Times. Sam was 13th fastest, though, and still didn't qualify. (Meanwhile, A.J. Allmendinger DNQed despite being ninth-quick).
The St. Pete Times catches up with Dario in Talladega.
NASCARworld is funny at times -- a fan base full of the culture of the American south meets a desire to be the biggest thing going in the world. So, sometimes, we have screw-ups, like an ARCA official leaning into Dario's car and asking "You speak English?" (Uh, what language do you think they speak in Scotland? ... or, for that matter, Dario's hometown of Nashville).
Anyway, JPM seems happy that Dario stayed a year. And so is Dario. "(Montoya) said, 'Hey man, I bet you're glad I came over last year. I said, 'Absolutely, I got an Indy 500.' Everything happens for a reason, I guess."
Dario then finished 17th in the Talladega race.
Says Dario about stock-car racing: "It's a bizarre feeling just to go and ram someone there but a couple of guys were really helping me. In the last two stints I was having it flat-footed the whole way, no brake and nothing. Just trying to get momentum. Just a great learning experience."
The Indianapolis Star also has a piece on Dario.
They love our guys when they come over, but they hate them when they come over
There was a story a few weeks ago about NASCAR guys blaming the open-wheel people for "dirty driving" and blocking. Tony Stewart gets in on the game.
"I think it’s a little more physical of a sport as far as we can get into each other and it doesn’t necessarily crash somebody like it does in the open-wheel cars. In open-wheel racing, they’re really bad about chopping each other off and coming across each other’s noses and things like that."
Morris News Service catches up with former IndyCar driver Jacques Villeneuve, who is supposedly not qualified to run at Talladega if you listen to the taxicab conventional wisdom, but somehow the underqualified F1 and Indy 500 champ put his cab sixth on the grid.
Says JV: "Apparently, no matter what you're driving, nobody likes the new boy. Any time anybody got into F1, we didn't like it, and we made their life hard. So that's a little bit natural."
Meanwhile, the Peoria Journal-Star notes the drivers' whining about JV's entrance into the Cup world this weekend. I wonder if Jacques' name were Jack Villone from Mobile, if they'd be complaining this loudly.
Says Jeff Gordon: "But I don't care if you are Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve, Dario Franchitti or the greatest driver on the planet - you should not be running your first race this weekend." (Uh, this isn't Jacques' first race, nor is it even his first stock-car experience).
Bruce Martin says the NASCAR people are calling JV a carpetbagger. Meanwhile, Carl Edwards inserts some sanity at the end of this IndyStar story.
Says Edwards: "Somehow we manage to wreck cars without those guys. The bottom line is, we all have to start somewhere. And, like I said, we've wrecked each other without Jacques Villeneuve in this race plenty of times."
Anyway, more whining about the guy who is starting in the sixth position of today's race, from the Mobile Register
Big picture stories
Welcome to NASCAR-land conventional wisdom: The St. Pete Times' Brent James says the IRL should just give up and become a NASCAR undercard series. I wonder what would've happened 40 years ago if the Frances had just given up and folded NASCAR into USAC and became its' stock-car division?
The Concord (NH) Monitor notes the drivers heading south, but also more importantly, it notes a possible buyer for New Hampshire International Speedway, a former IRL (and current taxicab) track. Jerry Carroll of Kentucky Speedway was reportedly in the running, but he's not listed as the possible buyer.
This Winston-Salem News-Journal column spends much of its time calling for the Busch/Nationwide Series to become an international version TransAm Part II, but it does have an interesting note at the bottom. A NASCAR exec says: "You see IRL guys coming over, but what we're really looking at is developing some young talent in (Canada and Mexico)."
Actual IRL news
Rumors have abounded that Newman-Haas-Lanigan has bought Dallaras and is headed to the IRL, but the NHL CC team denies them.
And, finally
Things aren't all hunky-dory in the NASCAR world, as the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser points out.
Among the pearls of wisdom:
"A Canadian in NASCAR. What is the world coming to? That's like a small step away from a Frenchman. I mean, you might as well be putting Osama in a car out there." (OK, that part was a joke on the writer's behalf, but he's not far off of the conventional wisdom).
"The guys in the garage in the old NASCAR were like the shade-tree guy down the block who could get 15 more horsepower out of a lawnmower. The guys behind the wheel were like the guys you could find any Friday or Saturday night at a dozen different dirt tracks. They all talked like the folks around here. They looked like the folks around here. We knew these guys. ... People in the South could relate to all of it. And on the backs of these fans, the France family built an empire. But ever so slowly over the last several years, they've been moving the sport as far away from those loyal fans as they can get. Mark my words: It's going to backfire."
Sam Hornish Jr. was relegated to the back of the garage and DNQed (again) at Talladega, but Kyle Petty is at least being nice to him. Read the second item in Brent James' notebook in the St. Pete Times. Sam was 13th fastest, though, and still didn't qualify. (Meanwhile, A.J. Allmendinger DNQed despite being ninth-quick).
The St. Pete Times catches up with Dario in Talladega.
NASCARworld is funny at times -- a fan base full of the culture of the American south meets a desire to be the biggest thing going in the world. So, sometimes, we have screw-ups, like an ARCA official leaning into Dario's car and asking "You speak English?" (Uh, what language do you think they speak in Scotland? ... or, for that matter, Dario's hometown of Nashville).
Anyway, JPM seems happy that Dario stayed a year. And so is Dario. "(Montoya) said, 'Hey man, I bet you're glad I came over last year. I said, 'Absolutely, I got an Indy 500.' Everything happens for a reason, I guess."
Dario then finished 17th in the Talladega race.
Says Dario about stock-car racing: "It's a bizarre feeling just to go and ram someone there but a couple of guys were really helping me. In the last two stints I was having it flat-footed the whole way, no brake and nothing. Just trying to get momentum. Just a great learning experience."
The Indianapolis Star also has a piece on Dario.
They love our guys when they come over, but they hate them when they come over
There was a story a few weeks ago about NASCAR guys blaming the open-wheel people for "dirty driving" and blocking. Tony Stewart gets in on the game.
"I think it’s a little more physical of a sport as far as we can get into each other and it doesn’t necessarily crash somebody like it does in the open-wheel cars. In open-wheel racing, they’re really bad about chopping each other off and coming across each other’s noses and things like that."
Morris News Service catches up with former IndyCar driver Jacques Villeneuve, who is supposedly not qualified to run at Talladega if you listen to the taxicab conventional wisdom, but somehow the underqualified F1 and Indy 500 champ put his cab sixth on the grid.
Says JV: "Apparently, no matter what you're driving, nobody likes the new boy. Any time anybody got into F1, we didn't like it, and we made their life hard. So that's a little bit natural."
Meanwhile, the Peoria Journal-Star notes the drivers' whining about JV's entrance into the Cup world this weekend. I wonder if Jacques' name were Jack Villone from Mobile, if they'd be complaining this loudly.
Says Jeff Gordon: "But I don't care if you are Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve, Dario Franchitti or the greatest driver on the planet - you should not be running your first race this weekend." (Uh, this isn't Jacques' first race, nor is it even his first stock-car experience).
Bruce Martin says the NASCAR people are calling JV a carpetbagger. Meanwhile, Carl Edwards inserts some sanity at the end of this IndyStar story.
Says Edwards: "Somehow we manage to wreck cars without those guys. The bottom line is, we all have to start somewhere. And, like I said, we've wrecked each other without Jacques Villeneuve in this race plenty of times."
Anyway, more whining about the guy who is starting in the sixth position of today's race, from the Mobile Register
Big picture stories
Welcome to NASCAR-land conventional wisdom: The St. Pete Times' Brent James says the IRL should just give up and become a NASCAR undercard series. I wonder what would've happened 40 years ago if the Frances had just given up and folded NASCAR into USAC and became its' stock-car division?
The Concord (NH) Monitor notes the drivers heading south, but also more importantly, it notes a possible buyer for New Hampshire International Speedway, a former IRL (and current taxicab) track. Jerry Carroll of Kentucky Speedway was reportedly in the running, but he's not listed as the possible buyer.
This Winston-Salem News-Journal column spends much of its time calling for the Busch/Nationwide Series to become an international version TransAm Part II, but it does have an interesting note at the bottom. A NASCAR exec says: "You see IRL guys coming over, but what we're really looking at is developing some young talent in (Canada and Mexico)."
Actual IRL news
Rumors have abounded that Newman-Haas-Lanigan has bought Dallaras and is headed to the IRL, but the NHL CC team denies them.
And, finally
Things aren't all hunky-dory in the NASCAR world, as the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser points out.
Among the pearls of wisdom:
"A Canadian in NASCAR. What is the world coming to? That's like a small step away from a Frenchman. I mean, you might as well be putting Osama in a car out there." (OK, that part was a joke on the writer's behalf, but he's not far off of the conventional wisdom).
"The guys in the garage in the old NASCAR were like the shade-tree guy down the block who could get 15 more horsepower out of a lawnmower. The guys behind the wheel were like the guys you could find any Friday or Saturday night at a dozen different dirt tracks. They all talked like the folks around here. They looked like the folks around here. We knew these guys. ... People in the South could relate to all of it. And on the backs of these fans, the France family built an empire. But ever so slowly over the last several years, they've been moving the sport as far away from those loyal fans as they can get. Mark my words: It's going to backfire."
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Oct. 4 newsstand: TEAM, Dario & Dancing
Finally, a bit of a breather in the schedule (a non-stop schedule involving my day job, my night job and punctuated by some extremely late-night baseball watching).
A TEAM announcement
The IRL has finally announced its revenue-sharing plan.
The details:
$1.2 million per full-time car next year (includes a guaranteed $300,000 minimum Indy purse)
Bonuses paid for Top 5 finishes in races + the top 5 finish in the season standings.
Record purse for the Indy 500, with $2.5 million guaranteed to the winner, $300,000 guaranteed to all starters from full-time teams and $270,000 guaranteed to one-off qualifiers.
TEAM money is guaranteed to 24 teams.
Indianapolis Star
The world's worst-kept secret is out: Dario Franchitti is a taxicab driver. His first ARCA race is this weekend at Talladega.
Indianapolis Star
Eurosport
Says Chip: Last year, he called Dario and said. "I'd like for you to drive for us.' He said 'I'd like to drive for you. Let's do something.' I had the unenviable position to call him up a few days later and tell him: 'You know what? There is one guy on the planet that could have called and knocked you out of that seat (Juan Montoya) and he and I had that conversation so that seat is no longer available.'"
Tampa Tribune
Says Dario: "It is going to be a heck of a challenge to learn everything. You know, just sitting here with the experience of zero, and I am going to be relying a lot on my new teammates."
ESPN.com's John Orevicz says this could be an obvious fit, while ESPN's David Newton notes that Chip is now fielding NASCAR international.
The Hartford Courant notes that Dario will not likely attempt to defend his Indy 500 win.
New York Times
Scotsman.com
UK Sporting Life
Autosport
Associated Press: Oct. 3 and Associated Press Oct. 2
The official CGR press release.
SpeedTV: AGR releases Franchitti
And, finally, one of my favorite NASCAR bloggers takes on the Dario-to-NASCAR backlash in a humorous way.
Quote: "If the objective of these comments left in regard to Franchitti is reinforcing the image of NASCAR's fan base consisting of white trailer trash, they're doing an excellent job."
The sky isn't falling, however
No matter what everyone parroting the company line from Daytona Beach says, the world in open-wheel racing isn't caving in, according to a few IRL drivers.
Says Scott Dixon: "I think our series is definitely on the up. It's producing a lot of great drivers. I think a lot of what's going on is what the drivers are feeling and what they want to do. But you're going to have plenty of talent that's going to come in and fill those spots."
Says Dan Wheldon: "Times change and people want to move on. I'm sure both of those seats are going to be filled with talented individuals."
Dario's AGR teammates react to the move.
Says Marco Andretti: "It does hurt the series, because you lose a name you’ve had forever. But it also hurts me because I was able to look at his data and learn from him. He’s a unique individual and a very talented individual, and was very tough to beat. It’s going to hurt me to lose a teammate like that – but as a competitor, it’s one less guy to beat.”
Iowa testing
AGR, TCGR and Penske drivers are at Iowa Speedway trying to get the package right.
Quotable: From Danica: "We don’t want to come back with the same package we did last year. If you want the same results, just keep doing what you’re doing. And we’re not doing that. I have no doubt the racing will be more racy and more exciting ... To me, it defeats the purpose of making cars uncomfortable if you can’t get close to (each other),” Patrick said. “We’re trying to figure out what would be the best approach. We’re throwing out ideas, and we’ll work on them. By process of elimination, we’ll come up with what’s best. Hopefully we’ll come back at the beginning of next year with a better idea as to what will work."
SpeedTV checks in, as well.
The Des Moines Register notes that Helio Castroneves has been shifting a lot, from DWTS to the No. 3 car.
Alabama testing
The IRL hits a new venue to test: Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The goal -- test road-course package changes.
The Birmingham News fetes the "star drivers" coming. (Wait, didn't this Southern paper get the fax from Daytona that all of the "stars" are in NASCAR now?)
A possible future event venue, according to track president Gene Hallman: "It will be the first step for exploring a possible event in 2009. It's early but we want to know what it would take to accommodate the IRL. It is the premier open-wheel series in the U.S. and it draws tremendous crowds." (My comment: Barber is much like Mid-Ohio in that it's probably too small for IndyCars, but it might be a great testing venue. While the schedule needs to expand, the IRL needs to concentrate on getting more ovals on the schedule before adding parades).
DWTS
It can't be an IRL blog without dancing references anymore, can it?
Curt Cavin spent a few days in LA and told us how Helio went Hollywood.
IndyCar.com notes that Helio "won" Week 2.
Heck, even Motor Trend is getting in on the story.
Brian Barnhart is doing his part to vote for Helio.
And this blogger thinks Helio is the favorite.
Guys who are staying running in the off-season
AGR's team, with Vitor, readies for Petit Le Mans
Herta, Kanaan and Meira will be gunning for the LMP2 title at Road Atlanta.
IndyCar.com says the development never stops for AGR.
Darren Manning will also be running PLM in an LMP2 for Embassy Racing.
SpeedTV's David Phillips notes that ALMS doesn't seem to care much for TV ratings.
The first IRL guy to go south
Tony Stewart discusses a few things, including the differences between an IndyCar and a stock car, in a Joe Gibbs Racing Q&A.
Attendance & stuff
ISC's quarterly earnings report notes that Richmond had a 25% increase in weekend attendance, bolstered by the SunTrust Indy Challenge.
IPS news
The Indy Pro Series schedule is out. The highlight is the Freedom 100 at Indy on Carb Day. Doubleheaders at St. Pete, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio and Infineon, with 16 total races on the docket.
Oh, and go Cubs!
A TEAM announcement
The IRL has finally announced its revenue-sharing plan.
The details:
$1.2 million per full-time car next year (includes a guaranteed $300,000 minimum Indy purse)
Bonuses paid for Top 5 finishes in races + the top 5 finish in the season standings.
Record purse for the Indy 500, with $2.5 million guaranteed to the winner, $300,000 guaranteed to all starters from full-time teams and $270,000 guaranteed to one-off qualifiers.
TEAM money is guaranteed to 24 teams.
Indianapolis Star
Says Brian Barnhart: "We're just trying to provide a stable platform. It's difficult to look into the crystal ball, but this moves us in the right direction from a business standpoint. It gives our teams an opportunity to hire the best people and retain the best people, including drivers."
SpeedTV's Robin Miller compares the new revenue sharing system to CART's old franchise system. Robin also talks to a lot of Champ Car owners, none of which are considering switching.
ESPN.com's John Oreovicz checks in
Says Eddie Gossage, TMS whiz: "I think all IndyCar Series fans want to see 30-car fields from a competition standpoint, as do the promoters. If this program ensures full fields for promoters and stability for the team owners, I think it's a great concept for the health of the sport."
SpeedTV
IndyCar.com
Associated Press
Press conference transcript
The official IRL news & notes have a lot of items about TEAM
Says John Barnes: "I think this is something that needed to happen for a long time. This moves the IndyCar Series from the way it was in the early 20th century to something we needed to move us into this century."
Says Greg Beck: The program gives us an opportunity to get back in the series full time, which is what we've been trying to do. This gives us a great base to work from. We've already talked to some of our sponsors and they are willing to participate because there's already some funding in place."
It's finally officialSpeedTV's Robin Miller compares the new revenue sharing system to CART's old franchise system. Robin also talks to a lot of Champ Car owners, none of which are considering switching.
ESPN.com's John Oreovicz checks in
Says Eddie Gossage, TMS whiz: "I think all IndyCar Series fans want to see 30-car fields from a competition standpoint, as do the promoters. If this program ensures full fields for promoters and stability for the team owners, I think it's a great concept for the health of the sport."
SpeedTV
IndyCar.com
Associated Press
Press conference transcript
The official IRL news & notes have a lot of items about TEAM
Says John Barnes: "I think this is something that needed to happen for a long time. This moves the IndyCar Series from the way it was in the early 20th century to something we needed to move us into this century."
Says Greg Beck: The program gives us an opportunity to get back in the series full time, which is what we've been trying to do. This gives us a great base to work from. We've already talked to some of our sponsors and they are willing to participate because there's already some funding in place."
The world's worst-kept secret is out: Dario Franchitti is a taxicab driver. His first ARCA race is this weekend at Talladega.
Indianapolis Star
Says Chip: "When good drivers are available, I think you have to look at them and take them. You are doing your team an injustice if you don't. No. 2, I am not raiding the IRL. Nobody is a bigger supporter of open-wheel racing than me."
Says Dario: "I've been doing open-wheel racing for so long that it was time to try something else. I love the competition of (stock cars) and learning something completely different, something that I really at this point have got no clue about. Winning the Indy 500 and the championship made that decision even easier because I had achieved what I wanted to achieve."
USA Today Q&A
Says Dario: "It's the toughest challenge in my career, but it's probably the reason I'm doing it. I was lucky this year to achieve everything I wanted to achieve in the IndyCar Series, and I was looking for that next challenge, and life without a challenge can be kind of boring. I think the IndyCar Series is very difficult, but this is something completely new."
USA Today Q&A
Says Dario: "It's the toughest challenge in my career, but it's probably the reason I'm doing it. I was lucky this year to achieve everything I wanted to achieve in the IndyCar Series, and I was looking for that next challenge, and life without a challenge can be kind of boring. I think the IndyCar Series is very difficult, but this is something completely new."
Eurosport
Says Chip: Last year, he called Dario and said. "I'd like for you to drive for us.' He said 'I'd like to drive for you. Let's do something.' I had the unenviable position to call him up a few days later and tell him: 'You know what? There is one guy on the planet that could have called and knocked you out of that seat (Juan Montoya) and he and I had that conversation so that seat is no longer available.'"
Tampa Tribune
Says Dario: "It is going to be a heck of a challenge to learn everything. You know, just sitting here with the experience of zero, and I am going to be relying a lot on my new teammates."
ESPN.com's John Orevicz says this could be an obvious fit, while ESPN's David Newton notes that Chip is now fielding NASCAR international.
The Hartford Courant notes that Dario will not likely attempt to defend his Indy 500 win.
New York Times
Scotsman.com
UK Sporting Life
Autosport
Associated Press: Oct. 3 and Associated Press Oct. 2
The official CGR press release.
SpeedTV: AGR releases Franchitti
And, finally, one of my favorite NASCAR bloggers takes on the Dario-to-NASCAR backlash in a humorous way.
Quote: "If the objective of these comments left in regard to Franchitti is reinforcing the image of NASCAR's fan base consisting of white trailer trash, they're doing an excellent job."
The sky isn't falling, however
No matter what everyone parroting the company line from Daytona Beach says, the world in open-wheel racing isn't caving in, according to a few IRL drivers.
Says Scott Dixon: "I think our series is definitely on the up. It's producing a lot of great drivers. I think a lot of what's going on is what the drivers are feeling and what they want to do. But you're going to have plenty of talent that's going to come in and fill those spots."
Says Dan Wheldon: "Times change and people want to move on. I'm sure both of those seats are going to be filled with talented individuals."
Dario's AGR teammates react to the move.
Says Marco Andretti: "It does hurt the series, because you lose a name you’ve had forever. But it also hurts me because I was able to look at his data and learn from him. He’s a unique individual and a very talented individual, and was very tough to beat. It’s going to hurt me to lose a teammate like that – but as a competitor, it’s one less guy to beat.”
Iowa testing
AGR, TCGR and Penske drivers are at Iowa Speedway trying to get the package right.
Quotable: From Danica: "We don’t want to come back with the same package we did last year. If you want the same results, just keep doing what you’re doing. And we’re not doing that. I have no doubt the racing will be more racy and more exciting ... To me, it defeats the purpose of making cars uncomfortable if you can’t get close to (each other),” Patrick said. “We’re trying to figure out what would be the best approach. We’re throwing out ideas, and we’ll work on them. By process of elimination, we’ll come up with what’s best. Hopefully we’ll come back at the beginning of next year with a better idea as to what will work."
SpeedTV checks in, as well.
The Des Moines Register notes that Helio Castroneves has been shifting a lot, from DWTS to the No. 3 car.
Alabama testing
The IRL hits a new venue to test: Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The goal -- test road-course package changes.
The Birmingham News fetes the "star drivers" coming. (Wait, didn't this Southern paper get the fax from Daytona that all of the "stars" are in NASCAR now?)
A possible future event venue, according to track president Gene Hallman: "It will be the first step for exploring a possible event in 2009. It's early but we want to know what it would take to accommodate the IRL. It is the premier open-wheel series in the U.S. and it draws tremendous crowds." (My comment: Barber is much like Mid-Ohio in that it's probably too small for IndyCars, but it might be a great testing venue. While the schedule needs to expand, the IRL needs to concentrate on getting more ovals on the schedule before adding parades).
DWTS
It can't be an IRL blog without dancing references anymore, can it?
Curt Cavin spent a few days in LA and told us how Helio went Hollywood.
IndyCar.com notes that Helio "won" Week 2.
Heck, even Motor Trend is getting in on the story.
Brian Barnhart is doing his part to vote for Helio.
And this blogger thinks Helio is the favorite.
Guys who are staying running in the off-season
AGR's team, with Vitor, readies for Petit Le Mans
Herta, Kanaan and Meira will be gunning for the LMP2 title at Road Atlanta.
IndyCar.com says the development never stops for AGR.
Darren Manning will also be running PLM in an LMP2 for Embassy Racing.
SpeedTV's David Phillips notes that ALMS doesn't seem to care much for TV ratings.
The first IRL guy to go south
Tony Stewart discusses a few things, including the differences between an IndyCar and a stock car, in a Joe Gibbs Racing Q&A.
Attendance & stuff
ISC's quarterly earnings report notes that Richmond had a 25% increase in weekend attendance, bolstered by the SunTrust Indy Challenge.
IPS news
The Indy Pro Series schedule is out. The highlight is the Freedom 100 at Indy on Carb Day. Doubleheaders at St. Pete, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio and Infineon, with 16 total races on the docket.
Oh, and go Cubs!
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