Our second 2020 NTT IndyCar Series wrap-up will see us drop to the bottom and cellar-dwelling regulars A.J. Foyt Racing. This was an odd year for the organization. After another driver shakeup, the pandemic completely re-arranged the driver schedule. Good results continued to be hard to come by, but the good news is Foyt may have turned a corner late in the season and be looking toward a bright 2021.
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| Charlie Kimball's first year with Foyt was difficult |
Charlie Kimball
After a part-time ride with Carlin in 2019, Kimball returned to full-time competition with A.J. Foyt Racing, his third team in four seasons. The results were not up to the Charlie Kimball standard. Very few days saw the one-time IndyCar race winner pull out a top ten finish from nothing, but most of the time he kept the car on the track and out of the barriers.
What objectively was his best race?
Kimball picked up an eighth-place finish in the final race of the season at St. Petersburg. His only other top ten finish was a tenth in the second Road America.
What subjectively was his best race?
None of Kimball's races really stand out, but I think a special shout out should go to his from 22nd to 11th in the first Road America race, and he also went from 29th to 18th in the Indianapolis 500. However, that Indianapolis 500 is a bit lackluster when you consider he made up 11 positions and still wasn't in the top half of the field. He did complete all 500 miles, so that is something.
What objectively was his worst race?
In the first Harvest Grand Prix, Kimball ended up 23rd after starting 24th and the only cars he was ahead of were part-timer Sage Karam and his teammate Dalton Kellett.
After a part-time ride with Carlin in 2019, Kimball returned to full-time competition with A.J. Foyt Racing, his third team in four seasons. The results were not up to the Charlie Kimball standard. Very few days saw the one-time IndyCar race winner pull out a top ten finish from nothing, but most of the time he kept the car on the track and out of the barriers.
What objectively was his best race?
Kimball picked up an eighth-place finish in the final race of the season at St. Petersburg. His only other top ten finish was a tenth in the second Road America.
What subjectively was his best race?
None of Kimball's races really stand out, but I think a special shout out should go to his from 22nd to 11th in the first Road America race, and he also went from 29th to 18th in the Indianapolis 500. However, that Indianapolis 500 is a bit lackluster when you consider he made up 11 positions and still wasn't in the top half of the field. He did complete all 500 miles, so that is something.
What objectively was his worst race?
In the first Harvest Grand Prix, Kimball ended up 23rd after starting 24th and the only cars he was ahead of were part-timer Sage Karam and his teammate Dalton Kellett.
What subjectively was his worst race?
If 11th is your subjectively worst race of a season, you did something wrong that day, and Kimball and his team made a foolish decision in the Texas season opener. Kimball was running sixth when the caution came out for Felix Rosenqvist's accident in turn two. There were only 11 cars on the lead lap. Kimball was the only lead lap car to pit to take tires before the final restart.
If 11th is your subjectively worst race of a season, you did something wrong that day, and Kimball and his team made a foolish decision in the Texas season opener. Kimball was running sixth when the caution came out for Felix Rosenqvist's accident in turn two. There were only 11 cars on the lead lap. Kimball was the only lead lap car to pit to take tires before the final restart.
However, IndyCar did not wave around lap cars, it was a single-lane racetrack because the traction compound put down for the NASCAR race stained the top half of the racetrack and made grip non-existent for the Firestone tires and instead of being a rocket against a bunch of sitting ducks. Kimball, hoisted by his own petard, spun on the backstretch and instead of finishing sixth and maybe sneaking into the top five with one late pass, he ended up 11th, outside the top ten in his first race with the team.
It was shaping up to be a banner start to the 2020 season for A.J. Foyt Racing and instead it was another one for the blooper reel.
Charlie Kimball's 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 18th (218 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top Tens: 2
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 0
Average Start: 19.785
Average Finish: 15.428
Charlie Kimball's 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 18th (218 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top Tens: 2
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 0
Average Start: 19.785
Average Finish: 15.428
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| Rain fell on Tony Kanaan's retirement tour |
Tony Kanaan
Kanaan had planned for 2020 to be his farewell season where he would compete only in the oval races to close out an IndyCar career that stretched over two decades. He was unable to compete in front of spectators at most events and his all-time consecutive start streak came to an end. There were a few good days, however, it was a bittersweet end.
What objectively was his best race?
Kanaan had a ninth-place finish in the first Gateway race from 21st on the grid.
What subjectively was his best race?
It would probably be that first Gateway race, although, he started and finished tenth in Texas, though he likely only got a top ten finish because of his teammate's feeble pit strategy. Kanaan was also in the top ten for most of the night in the second Iowa race after starting eighth, but lost tenth position on the final lap to Marco Andretti.
What objectively was his worst race?
On paper, he was 19th in the Indianapolis 500 and 19th in the second Gateway race.
What subjectively was his worst race?
None of these races were great for Kanaan this season, and his two 19th-place finishes were equally lousy. I think the worst thing is Kanaan planned this to be his final hooray, and the pandemic hit. Sure, it allowed him to extend his consecutive start streak by one race thanks to Texas becoming the season opener, but he raced in front of empty grandstand for two of six races, including the Indianapolis 500, and the other four were significantly reduced.
Kanaan had planned for 2020 to be his farewell season where he would compete only in the oval races to close out an IndyCar career that stretched over two decades. He was unable to compete in front of spectators at most events and his all-time consecutive start streak came to an end. There were a few good days, however, it was a bittersweet end.
What objectively was his best race?
Kanaan had a ninth-place finish in the first Gateway race from 21st on the grid.
What subjectively was his best race?
It would probably be that first Gateway race, although, he started and finished tenth in Texas, though he likely only got a top ten finish because of his teammate's feeble pit strategy. Kanaan was also in the top ten for most of the night in the second Iowa race after starting eighth, but lost tenth position on the final lap to Marco Andretti.
What objectively was his worst race?
On paper, he was 19th in the Indianapolis 500 and 19th in the second Gateway race.
What subjectively was his worst race?
None of these races were great for Kanaan this season, and his two 19th-place finishes were equally lousy. I think the worst thing is Kanaan planned this to be his final hooray, and the pandemic hit. Sure, it allowed him to extend his consecutive start streak by one race thanks to Texas becoming the season opener, but he raced in front of empty grandstand for two of six races, including the Indianapolis 500, and the other four were significantly reduced.
Talk about planning your swan song and then having one of the greatest buzzkills steal your goodbye.
If there is any solace, Kanaan might give it one more go next year. It is not clear if it will be all the oval races (there are only four), but the Indianapolis 500 appears to be a definite. And Kanaan could probably do the Indianapolis 500 for another two or three years after that if he really wanted to.
Tony Kanaan's 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 24th (106 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top Tens: 2
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 0
Average Start: 16.667
Average Finish: 14.333
Tony Kanaan's 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 24th (106 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top Tens: 2
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 0
Average Start: 16.667
Average Finish: 14.333
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| Dalton Kellett made eight IndyCar starts... good for him |
Dalton Kellett
After a subpar Road to Indy career, Kellett moved up to IndyCar and things were not any better at the top level of the ladder system.
What objectively was his best race?
Kellett cracked the top twenty in both Road America races, with finishes of 20th on each day.
What subjectively was his best race?
Pick one of the two Road America races.
What objectively was his worst race?
Kellett suffered an accident on lap 83 of the Indianapolis 500 and it ended his day with a 31st-place finish.
What subjectively was his worst race?
Oof... Kellett was always going to struggle in this situation. Between the pandemic cutting down his seat time, driving for A.J. Foyt Racing and him not quite having all it takes to be an IndyCar driver, a year that consists of six finishes outside the top twenty, an average starting position of 23.625 and an average finish of 23rd was the best it could be, though terrible no matter how you slice it.
After a subpar Road to Indy career, Kellett moved up to IndyCar and things were not any better at the top level of the ladder system.
What objectively was his best race?
Kellett cracked the top twenty in both Road America races, with finishes of 20th on each day.
What subjectively was his best race?
Pick one of the two Road America races.
What objectively was his worst race?
Kellett suffered an accident on lap 83 of the Indianapolis 500 and it ended his day with a 31st-place finish.
What subjectively was his worst race?
Oof... Kellett was always going to struggle in this situation. Between the pandemic cutting down his seat time, driving for A.J. Foyt Racing and him not quite having all it takes to be an IndyCar driver, a year that consists of six finishes outside the top twenty, an average starting position of 23.625 and an average finish of 23rd was the best it could be, though terrible no matter how you slice it.
If we had to pick out low moments, it was spinning into the gravel and causing a caution in the second Mid-Ohio race and in his final start at the second Harvest Grand Prix race, starting and finishing 25th, dead-last. He never finished on the lead lap. He finished multiple laps down in his final three starts. I am sure he is a good guy and he had some good results last year in sports cars. I think he could have a good career in LMP2 or LMP3 racing as a professional driver in a pro-am driver pairing.
Dalton Kellett's 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 26th (67 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top Tens: 0
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 0
Average Start: 23.625
Average Finish: 23
Dalton Kellett's 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 26th (67 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top Tens: 0
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 0
Average Start: 23.625
Average Finish: 23
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| A.J. Foyt Racing may have found something special in Sébastien Bourdais |
Sébastien Bourdais
After a lengthy delay, Bourdais finally got into an IndyCar for the final three races of 2020, a year he spent primarily in sports cars with respectable success. Once in the cockpit of the #14 Chevrolet, things started slow, but it ended on a high note and everyone should be encouraged heading into 2021.
What objectively was his best race?
A fourth-place finish at St. Petersburg from seventh on the grid.
What subjectively was his best race?
Hands down it is St. Petersburg. After a woeful Harvest Grand Prix weekend, Bourdais hit the streets of his adoptive hometown blazing.
After a lengthy delay, Bourdais finally got into an IndyCar for the final three races of 2020, a year he spent primarily in sports cars with respectable success. Once in the cockpit of the #14 Chevrolet, things started slow, but it ended on a high note and everyone should be encouraged heading into 2021.
What objectively was his best race?
A fourth-place finish at St. Petersburg from seventh on the grid.
What subjectively was his best race?
Hands down it is St. Petersburg. After a woeful Harvest Grand Prix weekend, Bourdais hit the streets of his adoptive hometown blazing.
A.J. Foyt Racing had not shown any significant pace all season, especially on road courses. Prior to St. Petersburg, Foyt's best starting position on a road course was 13th at the second Road America race with Kimball. It was the only top fifteen start on a road course for the team until Bourdais at St. Petersburg. Bourdais' second outing of 2020 showed the Frenchman remains one of the strongest drivers on the grid.
What objectively was his worst race?
His first race of the season was a 21st-place finish in the first Harvest Grand Prix.
What subjectively was his worst race?
The entire Harvest Grand Prix weekend was difficult. Bourdais struggled starting 16th and 21st in the two races. His finishes were 21st and 18th. He had been out of an IndyCar since the one preseason test day in February. It was a weekend where a lot of rust had to be knocked off.
Sébastien Bourdais' 2020 Statistics
Championship Position: 28th (53 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 1
Top Tens: 1
Laps Led: 0
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 1
Average Start: 14.667
Average Finish: 14.333
An Early Look Ahead
We know part of A.J. Foyt Racing's plan for 2021 with Bourdais signed to drive the #14 Chevrolet. Outside of Bourdais, there are still questions.
Before the Bourdais news, I was ready to write Foyt should downsize to a one-car team and focus on running one car successfully for Kimball instead of running two mediocre cars. With Bourdais announced, it could still be a one-car team and Kimball could be the odd man out. However, both cars got Leader Circle money, and if Kimball still has funding, I think Foyt will remain a two-car outfit. Although, Kimball might still be the odd man out, as a rumor of Pietro Fittipaldi combining with Kanaan in that second car was mentioned around the St. Petersburg weekend.
Things did not improve for Foyt in 2020. Somehow the results got worse compared to the previous few seasons. This has to be rock bottom, which means the only way the team can go is up in 2021.
This year started promising between Bourdais' pace in the damp at Austin testing and the team's run at Texas, and it plummeted from there onward.
Bourdais has lifted every team he has competed at. Between Dragon Racing, KV Racing and Dale Coyne Racing, Bourdais turned each organization into a podium contender and in the latter two cases regular race winners. Foyt last won a race in 2013. It has one podium finish in the last five years. Foyt hasn't had a driver finish in the top ten of the championship since 2002 with Airton Daré.
Teams have been able to turnaround the results in one year before, but Foyt is a different animal.
With the right people around him, I think Bourdais could be competitive, get a handful of top ten finishes and maybe sneak into the top five once or twice. If Bourdais can get those results, then I think Kimball sees an uptick in results and gets a few top ten finishes.
We have watched Foyt clean house three times in the last four seasons. They have gone young, they have gone old, they have gone Brazilian, and they even changed engine manufactures. They have tried a bunch of things and none have gotten the team any closer to victory or competing for a top ten championship spot. Looking at the results, there is skepticism because nothing has worked for Foyt. Maybe, with Bourdais leading the way, 2021 will yield improved results.
