tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15200140495410603922024-03-19T00:20:20.909-04:00For The Love of IndyCovering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2635125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-88558238947838119212024-03-18T08:09:00.001-04:002024-03-18T08:09:47.891-04:00Musings From the Weekend: What Are We Doing?<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...</div><div><br /></div><div>IMSA announced its 2025 schedule, so it's got that going for it. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global took victory with Louis Delétraz, Jordan Taylor and Colton Herta. Sebring had about three passes that could have been pass of the year, and that isn't even taking into consideration Formula E had a candidate in São Paulo. MX-5 Cup had another stellar photo finish. There was less dirt at Bristol, and somehow NASCAR avoided a tire debacle. There was testing at North Wilkesboro. Kamui Kobayashi is going to run the NASCAR Cup race in Austin next week. However, focus is on a race next week that is technically for nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>What Are We Doing?</u></b></div><div>Soon, the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains will be hosting IndyCar, but the second event of the 2024 season is not greeted with much fanfare. Despite only one race in the previous six months, the excitement has dipped from the St. Petersburg season opener ahead of the "$1 million" exhibition race held at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California. </div><div><br /></div><div>New track, new format, big (albeit inaccurately stated) prize, and yet, the general sense is everyone is waiting for Long Beach in over a month's time. </div><div><br /></div><div>For a series that does not do much outside the box, IndyCar's exhibition race at Thermal Club is different. It is something the series has never done before, but it has fallen flat and was not received with warmth when it was first announced late last year, nor has the sentiment changed in the last few months. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar only has 17 races a year as it is. The offseason is as long, if not slightly longer, than the season itself. Does IndyCar really warrant having an exhibition race? </div><div><br /></div><div>The answer is yes because Thermal Club is paying for it. IndyCar isn't going to say no to a paycheck that is large enough. As has been the case for going on two decades now, not many tracks are lining up to host IndyCar. Anytime one is showing up at the door and waving money around, IndyCar must listen, even if the proposal is for a convoluted exhibition race that will neither draw in new viewers nor please those already watching. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the announced prize, does this event even matter? </div><div><br /></div><div>It is being billed as an "all-star race," but there are the same drivers already competing in IndyCar that really isn't turning that many heads. No offense to Nolan Siegel, but he isn't going to be the new face that gets the people excited. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is being billed as a "$1 million prize," bur it is only $500,000 for the winner after the decision to split the prize with a Thermal Club member was dropped. Whether that was dropped over the poor optic of giving a millionaire another half-million remains to be seen. Either way, the promoted prize really isn't the prize. It might be more than every other non-Indianapolis 500 IndyCar race winner has received, but it really isn't enough to make anyone gasp nor grease any peaches with excitement. </div><div><br /></div><div>What is the point of this race and how should we treat it? </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know. Without this weekend, IndyCar would be in the middle of a six-week break between the first and second championship races, and no on would be happy about that either. Yet, it is still another month until the next event with championship implications. Arguably, the one thing that could grab people's attention is a race with stakes that carry over the entire season. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is also the fact that the limited $2,000 tickets that were being sold to non-Thermal Club members were reduced to $500 tickets a few weeks ago, and fans that had purchased at full price were given $1,500 back. I don't think there is a better way to illustrate how this event has been received and a lack of an embrace than a 75% reduction on ticket prices. </div><div><br /></div><div>This race will be different from other IndyCar races, but isn't an earth-shattering format. The field will be split in half for two 10-lap heat races with the top six from each race advancing to the 20-lap main event. The main event will be held in two 10-lap segments. It doesn't lead one to believe what one will see on track is really going to make them tune into Long Beach next month. </div><div><br /></div><div>After all, 12 cars on a three-mile circuit isn't all that breathtaking. It is actually constraining what is best about IndyCar. There will not be traffic nor any strategy the teams must work through.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the hope is this will be an all-out event where drivers don't have to worry about tires or fuel and everyone will be tight together for the entirety of each race, well, Hollywood is a few hours west. Bring your script with you. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar is doing something different. It is the stereotypical back-and-forth between fans and sanctioning body...</div><div><br /></div><div>Fans: "Do something different."</div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar: (Does something different).</div><div><br /></div><div>Fans: "No, not that!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Some credit is due to IndyCar. It is using this weekend as a test of sorts for procedural elements of the series. During the qualifying session ahead of the heat races, teams will be allocated 40 seconds push-to-pass to use during the session. Push-to-pass will reset mid-race, and perhaps that is an element that could be used in actual races moving forward. It is a new track, though Thermal did host the preseason testing ahead of the 2023 season. This was always going to be a networking event, attempting to showcase IndyCar to millionaires who might not be involved in a series but has a company that could use the advertising space or maybe is having a mid-life crisis and either wants to purchase a team or start a team. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar is living in a state of cognitive dissonance. It is a series that requires millions of dollars to compete with drivers making more than they have in the previous two decades and it requires wealthy individuals for the series to exist. Simultaneously, it is a series with an overwhelmingly primary fanbase that is firmly in the middle class and does not spend exorbitant amounts of tickets that thinks $100 for a seat is too much let alone $2,000 just to get in the door. IndyCar needs both but pleasing both is a challenge.</div><div><br /></div><div>With how the lead up has gone to year one of this race, it is difficult to imagine there being a year two. It was always going to be an event where if one side of the series' economy divide is happy with how it turns out, the other will be disappointed and IndyCar would lose in some way. If this is a one-and-done, IndyCar will have lost a nice payday despite the celebrations that would come from the existing fanbase. If Thermal Club does turn out to be a success and the club members are willing to pony up more for next year, a return would alienate its Midwestern base even more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Conversations will continue beyond Thermal Club about what must be done to increase IndyCar's exposure and interest in the series. Just remember, in the end, money always wins.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about the overall Sebring winner, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>The #18 Era Motorsport Oreca-Gibson of Ryan Dalziel, Connor Zilisch and Dwight Merriman won the LMP2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The #14 VasserSullivan Lexus of Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood won the GTD Pro class. The #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG of Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis and Russell Ward won in the GTD class.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sam Bird won the São Paulo ePrix with a last lap pass on Mitch Evans. It ended a 35-race winless drought for Bird.</div><div><br /></div><div>Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup race from Bristol. Christian Eckes won the Truck race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jett Lawrence swept the Triple Crown races to win the Supercross round from Indianapolis, his third consecutive victory and fifth of the season. Cameron McAdoo won the 250cc round with finishes of first, secon and third. Haiden Deegan and Tom Vialle won the other two races in the Triple Crown format. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>The aforementioned IndyCar exhibition in Palm Springs.</div><div>Formula One will be in Melbourne.</div><div>Supercars will be on the Melbourne undercard.</div><div>MotoGP is at Portimão.</div><div>World Superbike is across the Iberian peninsula in Barcelona. </div><div>NASCAR is in Austin. </div><div>Supercross sweeps into Seattle.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-45288123449900724082024-03-14T06:59:00.000-04:002024-03-14T06:59:06.731-04:00You Cannot Be Afraid Of Getting YoungerIndyCar's fanbase is old. <div><br /><div>Overwhelmingly old.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Seventy-percent born before 1970 old. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is what <a href="https://racer.com/2024/02/29/indycar-emphasizing-growth-of-younger-fan-demographics-in-2024/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">we learned</a> ahead of the 2024 season opener. Due to a supermajority of the fanbase approaching retirement age, the series is planning on emphasizing attracting younger fans this year, and that was unfortunately met with backlash that IndyCar was abandoning its current fanbase. </div><div><br /></div><div>A fanbase is not an exclusive club. There are not a finite number of seats in the place and if one comes in, one must leave. It can accommodate everyone, and frankly, everyone should be welcoming newcomers. </div><div><br /></div><div>The combined percentage of the present fanbase between the ages of 18 and 44, born between 1980 and 2006, is 12%. That is not a healthy distribution, especially when you break the older portion of the fanbase down further and find out 45% is 65 years or older. That is not a stable foundation to be standing on. It is part of the population that is retiring, living on more fixed incomes and approaching death. If the average IndyCar race draws one million viewers, 450,000 people are 65 years or older. Not all those 450,000 people will not be around in 20 years, and even fewer will be around in 30 years </div><div><br /></div><div>If IndyCar does not attract more younger fans, it will be in a critical position within the next two decades. You can argue it is in a critical position now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fandom is not a precise science. IndyCar isn't just going to have new fans show up when they turn 65 years old because there is something in the air that makes 65 years old watch IndyCar. The current 65-year-olds have been watching likely for most of their lives. They grew up watching A.J Foyt, Mario Andretti, the Unsers and Rick Mears, and the only video games they grew up with were down at the arcade or Pong.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the same time, just because you don't have a 30-year-old watching now doesn't mean you will not get them in 15 years when they are 45 years old. A nine-year-old that is obsessed with race cars might not be as interested and hardly watch 20 years later when he or she is on the verge of turning 30. </div><div><br /></div><div>It must be a constant cycle to try and attract fans of all ages. Gains must be made across the board for overall health of the series. </div><div><br /></div><div>Motorsports isn't as transferable as football, baseball, basketball, soccer or hockey. You cannot just pick it up in the backyard. It isn't accessible to a number of people depending on where they live. Exposure might not come until an older age. Interest might not develop until an older age. </div><div><br /></div><div>A person might not see the appeal at the age of 12 and think it is just cars going around in circles, but at the age of 20 or 21, while studying engineering in college, that person might see motorsports in a different light and spark an interest in how the cars work and want to be apart of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>While some people might grow into it, there will always be that life-long fan, someone who was enthralled from the age of five seeing the cars zoom by and the noise and colors. They will play with the toy cars on the carpet, going around in circles and mimic engine sounds for hours. It will continue into teenage years with video games, birthday parties at the indoor go-karting place and that person will continue watching races and attending races and it will become a passion into adulthood and for decades to come. You cannot rely on every fan following this path. This is the anomaly. </div><div><br /></div><div>No series will have all its future fans locked up when those people are seven years old. People will come and go at various different points in their lives. The important thing is to have various jumping-on points for people of all ages. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the present moment, IndyCar must turn its attention to drawing young adults and those recently out of college. That doesn't mean IndyCar is turning its back on older fans. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are already watching IndyCar races and you are 55 years old, IndyCar is happy to have you. Just because it is having a concert during a race weekend with a musical group you have never heard of doesn't mean you are no longer welcomed. Just because IndyCar is going to college campuses and offering ticket packages doesn't mean you are being cast aside. </div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't a competition. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar isn't telling the older fans to scram. It is attempting self-preservation because it needs more people it can count on that will be fans 20 and 30 years from now. It cannot afford to lose a segment of the population for decades. Motorsport in general, but IndyCar in particular at this moment, needs a rather causal following. </div><div><br /></div><div>The best thing we can do is use non-motorsports specific avenues to gauge what the interest is in motorsports. As a listener of The Tony Kornheiser Podcast, last month, the famous co-host of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, Tony Kornheiser noted he tuned in for the finish of the Daytona 500, something he feels is important to do because of the importance of the Daytona 500 to NASCAR. When asked if his son Michael tuned in, Michael said no. When he asked his assistant Nigel saw it, Nigel said no. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is only three people, but it is a microcosm of motorsports in the general sports landscape in the 2020s. To Kornheiser, the Daytona 500 represents an important American sporting event that has been around his entire life and is meaningful. However, to the younger members of his show, both in that late-30s to early-50s range, neither thought it was worth tuning into even as causal sports fans. This will likely be the case come May, where Mr. Kornheiser will tune into the Indianapolis 500 somewhat out of a generational reflex to the Memorial Day holiday while a younger crowd, represented by his son, will likely go through the weekend and have no clue the race even happened. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is what every motorsports series is facing today. That is what IndyCar is facing today. The Indianapolis 500 winner was once something the average person might have known on the street. Today, you could probably stroll through New York City on Memorial Day and ask 10,000 people if they saw a lap of the "500" before finally finding someone who did.</div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar isn't going to get 100 million people watching the Indianapolis 500. It would be an accomplishment just to get ten million people watching, but it must improve awareness of the series, and at least having more younger people willing and comfortable to tune in, or possibly attend a race if it is in their local area, and give it a shot. </div><div><br /></div><div>The 450,000 65-plus viewers still have a seat at the races. IndyCar isn't looking to kick people out and take away from that current 450,000 number and fill it elsewhere. IndyCar is looking to add to that 450,000 number in other younger age groups. Only about 120,000 people between the ages of 18 and 44 are watching. IndyCar is trying to make that number bigger, perhaps having it equal the 450,000 senior citizen crowd. </div><div><br /></div><div>There cannot be fear that IndyCar is trying to get younger, especially from older fans. Don't forget, you were once young as well. There should be some encouragement to increase the size of the congregation and fill in more seats, if not force more seats to be added. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone that is new will not have the same amount of knowledge or experience with the series. They are going to learn about the drivers, the past, the rules, etc. Just because they don't know everything doesn't mean they don't belong. Not everyone at a baseball game is analyzing bullpen decisions and not everyone at a hockey game is thinking about rotating line mates. Some people are just there to have a good time, and occasionally dip in to care about what is happening on the field. A race can be the same way. What we should be happy with is a person is choosing to have a good time at a race. That is progress. </div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't an either/or situation. This isn't choosing one over the other. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is about bringing many different people together from different backgrounds and age groups. That is what a truly healthy IndyCar will look like. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-59144493090293298392024-03-11T06:59:00.000-04:002024-03-11T06:59:19.178-04:00Musings From the Weekend: Money, Money<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...</div><div><br /></div><div>Carlos Sainz, Jr.'s appendix kept him from racing, but it did allow Oliver Bearman to become the third youngest Formula One starter, and Bearman finished seventh. Haas used Kevin Magnussen's penalty to its advantage to earn a point. It rained for Supercross' first trip to Birmingham. The Daytona 200 was only 200 miles this year. Despite a wet start on Friday, MotoGP began its season without any other issues. Josef Newgarden won the St. Petersburg season opener for IndyCar, but that isn't what is on everyone's mind after this weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Money, Money</u></b></div><div>It is going to be one of those years in IndyCar. It could be one of those years in motorsports in general. </div><div><br /></div><div>No matter what happens on the track, the discussions off the track will seize control, putting in the backseat what is trying to be sold, but so goes it. </div><div><br /></div><div>We couldn't get through the first race before Michael Andretti dropped a bombshell of a quote on the paddock. Speaking to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star on Friday of the St. Petersburg weekend, Andretti said if series owner Roger Penske was not going to invest more that Penske should <a href="https://t.co/JckrIlArC9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sell the series</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>It has already been an acrimonious relationship between the team owners and IndyCar this offseason, as the team owners are looking for greater equity from the series to increase value in participating full-time. Discussions of an adaptation of the current Leader Circle program into something more in line with NASCAR's charter system have been ongoing with a pivotal hurdle being guaranteed participation in the Indianapolis 500. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is currently at an impasse with the hope it will be settled before this year's Indianapolis 500. Also on the series' plate is a new television contract, which the series has said it would like settled before the Indianapolis 500, as the series also hopes to introduce the hybrid system sometime after the Indianapolis 500. Not is also not including work on new regulations with the hope of those being introduced come the 2027 season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's just say, IndyCar has a lot on its plate over the next two and a half months. </div><div><br /></div><div>But let's address the newest drama to the series. On the morning of Monday November 4, 2019, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the Hulman-George family was selling the track after nearly 75 years of ownership, as well as the IndyCar Series, to Roger Penske. In less than five years, a team owner is calling for a change in leadership. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is a gutsy call considering it was just under four years ago, in the midst of a global pandemic, everyone was saying there was no way an IndyCar Series season would have happened in 2020 without Roger Penske's ownership. Penske had spent millions on renovations to the 2.5-mile Speedway over the winter of 2019-20 only for his first year of track ownership to see its biggest events held behind closed doors with zero revenue coming in. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is also coming at a time when the NTT IndyCar Series has 27 full-time entries when five years ago, the season prior to Penske's ownership, the average number of entries in non-Indianapolis 500 races was 22.875 cars. Not to forget mentioning, IndyCar directed $17 million more toward marketing last year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chip Ganassi mentioned Penske's guidance through 2020 in a <a href="https://t.co/nakjrCyIIb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rebuttal interview</a> issuing more support for current series ownership with Brown after Andretti's quotes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Things can be two things. IndyCar can be doing more and things can be better, and yet, more can still be done. </div><div><br /></div><div>More can always be done. The problem is the money must come from somewhere. </div><div><br /></div><div>That $17 million marketing increase came from the Leaders Circle program. Each entry received about $150,000 less money than it did in 2022. That money has returned to the teams for 2024. Where else could the series find money to give the teams?</div><div><br /></div><div>Unless there is something we don't know about, IndyCar isn't known for its high-profile contracts. It isn't making billions from television and its title sponsor. Compared to NASCAR and Formula One, it is making a fraction to those behemoths. There surely is money in the bank, but emptying the vault for the sake of the teams isn't a viable long-term strategy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Throwing money at a problem only solves so much. Would $100 million more toward marketing make a difference? Would it double the average viewership, drawing two million people to their televisions on race day instead of the customary one million? Would it increase the average attendance at every race to 100,000 spectators? Would it make Josef Newgarden, Patricio O'Ward, Scott Dixon and Álex Palou household names? But more importantly, would IndyCar be able to make its sizable invest back?</div><div><br /></div><div>I doubt it.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is the important thing. You can only burn so much money. Roger Penske is not a risk-taker. He also isn't a foolish man. He isn't going to throw caution to the wind on an investment. He isn't looking to make take a loss. Let's not forget Tony George <a href="https://www.espn.com/racing/racing/indycar/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=4866815" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lost an estimate $500 million</a> over his time leading the series when he was removed from his role in 2009. This is new ownership, but IndyCar was losing money for a significant period of time and the series wasn't growing then. How would losing tens, if not hundreds of millions dollars, be for the best of the series? Whatever is chosen will be done after methodically weighing the risks and the rewards. </div><div><br /></div><div>I get it. <a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2022/09/musings-from-weekend-indycars-playbook.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I have written</a> about it <a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2024/01/musings-from-weekend-indycars-one-show.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">multiple times</a> over <a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2023/06/musings-from-weekend-should-indycar-be.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recent years</a>. At a time when other series are doing new things, taking risks and being exciting, IndyCar is sticking to its playbook. It isn't being flashy. It isn't risking going over its skis. NASCAR and Formula One are seeing a boom of sorts. IndyCar is making baby steps with the status quo. </div><div><br /></div><div>We want something exciting that stands out, something IndyCar hasn't done in a very long time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Michael Andretti might be knee-jerk, but he is also right about a few things. He is right that IndyCar should look to expand its regulations to entice multiple new manufacturers instead of just focusing on adding a third. Adjusting the rules to potentially allow IMSA engines could be a great thing for the series. It isn't a guarantee to work, but the current plan isn't drawing a third manufacturer as it is.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, we were supposed to have new 2.4-litre V6 engines introduced with the hybrid system until IndyCar decided with the manufacturers it would just bolt the hybrid to the existing 2.2-litre engine because why force Honda and Chevrolet to adopt a new engine structure when Honda and Chevrolet are still the only manufacturers' competing? </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar is saying it will have new regulations in 2027. We were supposed to have a new chassis two years ago, along with hybrid engines. Developing a common chassis that can accommodate a range of engine structures seems to be an easy thing the series and teams can agree upon, and honestly, we could put it to bed this afternoon and commit to it, along with a loose formula that allows for a variety of engine sizes from displacement to cylinders, for in three years time. We can lock that down and not hem and haw leading to any further delays. Then attention can be turned elsewhere. </div><div><br /></div><div>Would it likely require IndyCar to adopt Balance of Performance and new regulations for competitiveness? Yeah, probably, but it is the unnecessary evil in modern motorsports. Without Balance of Performance, sports car racing likely doesn't have the number of manufacturers and entries we are seeing in IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship at this moment. The question is, how bad do you want it for IndyCar? Because you are likely not going to get increased manufacturer participation in the way you want it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andretti wants what is best for IndyCar. He wants IndyCar to grow and garner more attention and present itself in the best possible way. It wants the series to take itself seriously. It sounds like every other team owner in the series agrees. The issue is this is a series that has been successfully operating under the slow and steady philosophy for 15 years at this point, well prior to Penske's ownership. </div><div><br /></div><div>The series doesn't make many big gambles. It will take a moment to persuade it to do so. Throwing more money is doing something, but it must yield some kind of produce to make it worth it. If IndyCar is the same size with no discernible change in average viewership and general awareness five to ten years after such a staggering investment, you cannot blame series ownership for being upset and then pulling in the reigns.</div><div><br /></div><div>Penske might have been the guy that could lead IndyCar through this rough patch, through a global pandemic. The series might have grown in size with more cars taking part full-time, and there could have been modest increases in viewership and race attendance. However, Penske might not be the guy willing to pull the trigger on a nine-figure investment that has a low-chance of breaking even. Whether such a fervor from those within the paddock is enough to twist his arm and de-vest from the series he purchased less than five years ago is a game of political chess that likely will not have a clear and satisfying winner. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is also important to remember be careful of what you wish for. Just over four years ago, everyone was applauding Roger Penske taking over the series. Now, here we are.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winner From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about <a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2024/03/first-impressions-st-petersburg-2024.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Josef Newgarden</a>, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>Max Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, his ninth consecutive victory dating back to last season.</div><div><br /></div><div>Francesco Bagnaia won MotoGP's Qatar Grand Prix. Jorge Martín won the sprint race. Alonso López won the Moto2 race. David Alonso won the Moto3 race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Christopher Bell won the NASCAR Cup race from Phoenix. Chandler Smith won the Grand National Series race. </div><div><br /></div><div>Josh Herrin won the 82nd Daytona 200, his second consecutive Daytona 200 victory and third total Daytona 200 victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nolan Siegel won the Indy Lights race from St. Petersburg. Lochie Hughes and Nikita Johnson split the USF Pro 2000 races. Max Garcia swept the U.S. F2000 races.</div><div><br /></div><div>Richard Verschoor (sprint) and Enzo Fittipaldi (feature) split the Formula Two races from Jeddah.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomoki Nojiri won the Super Formula race from Suzuka. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jett Lawrence won the Supercross race from Birmingham, his fourth victory of the season. Tom Vialle won the 250cc race, his second consecutive victory.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>12 Hours of Sebring.</div><div>Formula E is back in São Paulo.</div><div>NASCAR is racing on Bristol's concrete.</div><div>Supercross heads to Indianapolis.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-35679873922176490212024-03-10T15:57:00.002-04:002024-03-10T15:57:17.284-04:00First Impressions: St. Petersburg 20241. Coming into this season, it was noted that for all of Josef Newgarden's oval success, his form on road and street courses hurt him in 2023. It took all of one weekend for Newgarden to get back on top. Pole position, most laps led, victory in convincing fashion. The Tennessean had not finished on the podium on a street course since his Long Beach victory in 2022. <div><br /></div><div>For a year where Newgarden wants to focus on his craft, something he was already quite excellent at, this is just what one offseason can do. He was flawlessly all weekend, and after getting off to slow starts the last three years, starting out in first is a much better position to be in. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a long-way to go in this season. There will be tough days for everyone, but for Newgarden, he isn't climbing out of a hole. He isn't looking up. He holds serve and the next race is Long Beach. If the team is this good at St. Petersburg, how do you think they must be feeling about Long Beach?</div><div><br /></div><div>Expanding beyond this weekend and 2024, this was Newgarden's 30th career victory, the 13th driver to reach the milestone, and he did it in his 199th start. </div><div><br /></div><div>Who else had 30 victories in their first 200 start? <br /><div><br /></div><div>A.J. Foyt<div>Sébastien Bourdais</div><div>Will Power </div><div>Al Unser</div><div>Mario Andretti </div><div>Michael Andretti</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, add Josef Newgarden.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's it. That's the list. Are those guys any good? </div><div><br /></div><div>Newgarden is 33 years old. His career is just getting started. He is one victory behind tying tenth all-time. One of those drivers tied for tenth is Dario Franchitti. When Franchitti turned 33 years old, he had 14 victories, zero championships and zero Indianapolis 500 victories. Think about the career Franchitti ended with. The sky is the limit for Newgarden and we should already be appreciating his ability.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. The mid-race restarts played into Patricio O'Ward's favor as being on the alternate tire while others struggled to get the primary tires up to speed allowed O'Ward to move up to second. He didn't have anything for Newgarden today, no one did, but he was able to capitalize on an opportunity, and it earned him a few spots up the order. Second consecutive year starting with a second, but this one feels significantly better than last year. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. If it wasn't for Josef Newgarden's dominance, I think Scott McLaughlin had the best performance. McLaughlin went from ninth to sixth in turn one at the start, his crew had a fine first pit stop to get him another position, and holding off on using the alternate tire until the final stint put him on the podium. Solid run on what was a solid day for Team Penske.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Rounding out Team Penske was Will Power in fourth. Like McLaughlin, Power held off on the alternate tire until the final stint. That got him a few more spots. It was always going to be a race where Power was going to finish in the middle of the top ten. The cautions and the strategy got him a few more spots. Either way, Team Penske looks good. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. On the flip side of the tires, Colton Herta probably lost a podium finish because he started on the alternates and he was swallowed up on each restart with new primary tires. Herta lost spots to McLaughlin and O'Ward the first time. He lost another spot to Power the second time. That's three spots and he was fifth. This wasn't as bad as last year for the Andretti Global team. Unfortunately, it is another case of the team not coming to grips, mind the pun, with one of the tire compounds and it costing them.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. And here in sixth we find Álex Palou. For the first 60% of this race, it didn't feel like he was going to finish in the top ten. Then one pit stop, one stint on the alternate tires to close the race, and he is sixth. Even on a bad day for the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing crew they find a way to pick off a respectable result. The team didn't panic. Palou is a capable set of hands. They stuck to the plan and pulled out something to be pleased with on a weekend that wasn't great for the Ganassi team across the board.</div><div><br /></div><div>7. It is difficult to look at seventh for Meyer Shank Racing and Felix Rosenqvist and say it was a bad day. If you had offered MSR and Rosenqvist seventh at the start of the weekend, they would have bitten off your hand. This is the team's best finish since Toronto 2022. The problem is Rosenqvist was keeping up with Newgarden in that opening stint. Like Herta, the primary tire did not suit Rosenqvist and he lost spots on every restart. This is an abject failure on the team considering this was a car that spent practically the entire day in the top five and MSR couldn't spend a lap in the top ten for its life in 2023. This is a great starting point for this new combination.</div><div><br /></div><div>8. Alexander Rossi finished eighth. That's really all that needs to be say. He made up a few spots on each stint, but did nothing exceptional. He started 15th. There was a gap between O'Ward and the other Arrow McLaren cars this weekend. Entering the race, a few teams looks like that with one driver clear of the others. Rossi did the minimum today. At some point, he must do more.</div><div><br /></div><div>9. Scott Dixon was ninth. Palou found something in the closing stages of the race. The rest of the Ganassi team was not a factor in this race. It appeared the entire team was struggling with the balance of the car. Dixon had a few squirrelly moments. Marcus Armstrong had an error under braking put him in the tires. Not a great day for Dixon, but it could have been much worse.</div><div><br /></div><div>10. Rinus VeeKay spent a fair amount of the race in the top ten, and he finished tenth. VeeKay ended 2023 heading in the right direction and he picked up 2024 heading in an upward trajectory. He did lose some spots over the closing laps. I think some of that can be pinned down to the likes of Power and Palou finishing on the alternate tire versus VeeKay on the primary. </div><div><br /></div><div>11. Santino Ferrucci spent the entire race somewhere between 15th and 11th and he ended up finishing 11th. Through practice, it didn't feel like Ferrucci would be on the cusp of the top ten. There wasn't anything to suggest he would have been on the bubble to advance from the first round of qualifying, and yet he was. He backed up that speed today. It is one race. The technical alliance with Team Penske is bound to yield some results.</div><div><br /></div><div>12. Kyle Kirkwood was stuck outside the top ten all race. He started 18th, he really couldn't make up much ground. He looked like he could push for a top ten but ended up bogged down in 12th. It felt like Kirkwood should have been up there with his teammates through practice. One off qualifying session set him back and this was the best he could do.</div><div><br /></div><div>13. Considering he was a substitute, 13th should be feel unfulfilling for Callum Ilott. Ilott didn't get much time in the car as David Malukas' deputy, but there must be some disappointment Ilott wasn't more of a threat for the top team while O'Ward ended up third and Rossi in eighth. Every race is an audition. This one wasn't make or break, but he probably feels he could have done better.</div><div><br /></div><div>14. Credit to Kyffin Simpson because he ended up 14th and ran respectably well. He didn't make any mistakes and for someone who didn't have outstanding Indy Lights results, he started his IndyCar career as well as the average rookie. Not bad. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>15. We are going to start hitting teams and drivers in bunches. Not the opening weekend Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing likely hoped for. Once Christian Lundgaard's tire was punctured on the opening lap, his race was ruined. He was kept out under the first caution to put him out front and hopefully run about five to eight laps to open a gap and maybe help him. Of course, Sting Ray Robb then broke down and that Hail Mary strategy was cancelled out. Lundgaard had to settle for 20th.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pietro Fittipaldi was best in the team finishing 15th, but he never showed great pace. Graham Rahal struggled with electrical issues all weekend, and he fought to finish 16th. For a team hoping to be clear of the issues from last year, they haven't quite ironed everything out.</div><div><br /></div><div>16. Tom Blomqvist was 17th. It is an improvement from his first three races but he has a long way to go. Agustín Canapino ran wide in turn one at one point, losing Canapino a few spots, and he still finished 18th. Jack Harvey went from 27th to 19th. It isn't worth throwing a parade but considering how late everything was put together at Dale Coyne Racing, how good did you really think Harvey and this team would do? </div><div><br /></div><div>17. Christian Rasmussen was having issues prior to the start and the team got the car sorted just before the race went green. It did mean Rasmussen had to start at the back, which isn't saying much since he was starting 21st anyway, but it was six more cars ahead of him than expected, and he still finished 21st. </div><div><br /></div><div>18. Colin Braun's IndyCar debut will never turn into a feature film, but it did have a flashy moment when it appeared the fuel hose broke apart on one stop and it sent Braun out in a burst of flames, literally. The fire put itself out and it wasn't much of a scene. Braun did run wide in turn nine at one point. Despite all this, Braun remained on the lead lap and finished 22nd with only one day of testing prior to the season. Again, how good did you really think Coyne would do this weekend?</div><div><br /></div><div>19. Romain Grosjean spun Linus Lundqvist in turn nine. It was just after the final pit stops had concluded. No one was caught out, but this did cost Grosjean a possible top ten. Lundqvist had been the top running rookie for most of the race up to that point. To add insult to injury, Grosjean's race ended 18 laps early with what sounded like a gearbox issue. </div><div><br /></div><div>20. Two other cars broke down. Marcus Ericsson lost power while running in the top ten. There was the aforementioned incident with Sting Ray Robb stopping on course. Robb wasn't making waves prior to that incident. Ericsson was running in the top ten as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>21. St. Petersburg has a small problem. The race reverted back to 100 laps in 2020, during the pandemic. It has remained 100 laps for the last five seasons. When it was 110 laps, we saw greater variety in strategies, better battles because it was a three-stop race, but a three-stop race with large pit windows. At 100 laps, it is a two-stop race with small pit windows. </div><div><br /></div><div>After <a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2022/05/first-impressions-barber-2022.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a few</a> races last year, I suggested IndyCar should mandate each tire compound must be used twice during a race. It would at least break a race up. Either that or IndyCar should shortened St. Petersburg by another ten laps. It isn't going to return to 110 laps in all likelihood. Those races always took over two hours and television doesn't want a race that takes two hours and 12 minutes to complete. Even 100 laps is a little long. This is the longest street race by over 12 miles and it is 29 miles longer than Toronto. </div><div><br /></div><div>Shortened this race to 90 laps. It would be 162 miles in length, in the ballpark with Long Beach and Detroit. Everyone ended today's race with stints between 34 and 37 laps in length. If a stint is an average of 35 laps, you are talking about drivers able to pit as early as lap 20 and being able to make it to the finish. Or you could go 35 laps. It opens it up, and adds some variety in strategy.</div><div><br /></div><div>22. Let's get out of here. There is two weeks until an exhibition race from The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California, and only... 42 days until race number two of the season in Long Beach. Oh boy. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-13425283869527670292024-03-10T06:55:00.001-04:002024-03-10T06:55:00.129-04:00Morning Warm-Up: St. Petersburg 2024<div>Josef Newgarden won pole position for the season opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a lap of 59.5714 seconds in the final round of qualifying. It is Newgarden's first pole position since Belle Isle in 2022 and the 17th in his career. The Tennessean has won four times from pole position in his career, most recently at Mid-Ohio in 2021. He has never won from pole position on a street course in his career. This is his sixth pole position on a street course. Newgarden has failed to finish in the top fifteen in the last three season openers. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Felix Rosenqvist makes his debut with Meyer Shank Racing from second on the grid, after coming up 0.0058 seconds shy of pole position. This is Meyer Shank Racing's best starting since Jack Harvey started second at St. Petersburg in 2021. This is the eighth front row start of Rosenqvist's career. Since finishing fourth on his IndyCar debut in 2019 at St. Petersburg, Rosenqvist has an average finish of 16.5 in four St. Petersburg starts. The Swedish driver's best finish when starting on the front row is fifth. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Patricio O'Ward had the top three covered by 0.0826 seconds, as O'Ward matches his career best starting position at St. Petersburg. The Mexican driver started third last year in this race before finishing second with 23 laps led. O'Ward enters this weekend with ten consecutive top ten finishes, the longest streak of his IndyCar career. </div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>Colton Herta put himself fourth on the grid. This will be Herta's fifth top five starting position in the last seven races. However, he did not finished in the top five in the final seven races of last season, the longest drought since Herta went 13 races between top five finishes during his rookie season. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Romain Grosjean will start fifth in his first race for Juncos Hollinger Racing. JHR did not have a top five start at all last season. After finishing runner-up in consecutive races last year at Long Beach and Barber Motorsports Park, Grosjean had only one top ten finish in the final 13 races of 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>Marcus Ericsson starts besides the driver he is replacing in the #28 Honda for Andretti Global in sixth position. Ericsson could become the fourth driver to win consecutive St. Petersburg races. Ericsson has only had podium finishes in the same race in consecutive years once in his career. That was the Indianapolis 500, which he won in 2022 and finished second in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Rinus VeeKay was 0.0119 seconds shy of making the Fast Six, and VeeKay will settle for seventh on the grid, his best street course starting position since starting fourth at St. Petersburg in 2022. The Dutchman has not finished in the top ten in his last nine street course starts. His most recent street course result was sixth in the 2022 St. Petersburg race. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Will Power was only 0.0212 seconds outside the top six, and Power will start eighth. This is the third time in the last four St. Petersburg races Power has not started on the front row. In his first 12 St. Petersburg starts, Power started off the front row only twice. Power led 242 laps in his first eight St. Petersburg starts, including leading 50 laps or more in three races. In his last seven St. Petersburg starts, Power has led only 27 laps, and the most laps he has led in a St. Petersburg race is 17.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Scott McLaughlin finds himself starting ninth. This is the third time McLaughlin has qualified ninth in his career. He has finished worse than his starting position in the prior two occasions. McLaughlin has led 87 laps in four St. Petersburg starts. He ranks eighth all-time in laps led in the history of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Marcus Armstrong rounds out the top ten, the top Chip Ganassi Racing driver. Last season, the only time Armstrong was the top Ganassi qualifier was in the summer race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He will make his 13th career start this weekend. The most recent driver to have their first career victory come in their 13th career start was Marco Andretti at Sonoma in 2006. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Scott Dixon takes 11th on the grid and makes it three consecutive New Zealanders in the starting lineup. Each of Dixon's three victories last year came from a starting position outside the top ten. Dating back to 2022, his last four victories have come when starting outside the top ten. Dixon's eight victories from outside a top ten starting spot are the most in IndyCar history, and double the next closest drivers. Dixon has five consecutive top five finishes in St. Petersburg and eight consecutive top ten finishes in this race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Christian Lundgaard rounded out the second round of qualifying, his second consecutive year starting on row six at St. Petersburg. The Dane has finished 11th and ninth in his first two St. Petersburg visits. Lundgaard was the top Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing finisher in ten of 17 races last year.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Álex Palou begins his title defense from 13th starting position. Palou missed out on advancing form round one by 0.1695 seconds. He failed to make it out of the first round of qualifying only once in 2023. That was at Toronto. Palou is attempting to become the first defending champion to win the season opener of the following season since Dario Franchitti won at St. Petersburg in 2011.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Santino Ferrucci fell 0.0242 seconds off advancing from group two, and Ferrucci will start 14th, his best starting position on a street course since he started 12th for the second Belle Isle race in 2021. Since finishing third in the 2023 Indianapolis 500, Ferrucci's best finish in his last 11 starts was 13th at Gateway, his only top fifteen finish during that span. His average finish on road/street courses last year was 19th. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Alexander Rossi leads an all-Arrow McLaren row eight. This is the fourth consecutive year Rossi will start outside the top ten in St. Petersburg. He has led 84 combined laps over the last three seasons. In Rossi's prior four seasons, he had never led fewer than 83 laps in a season. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Callum Ilott will be to Rossi's outside on row eight. Ilott is driving the #6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in place of an injured David Malukas. Last year, Ilott went from 22nd to fifth, the biggest mover in the race. It was his first career top five finish. Ilott was fifth in the 2023 season finale from Laguna Seca. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tom Blomqvist was the top rookie qualifier in 17th. This is the best starting position of Blomqvist's IndyCar career. His previous best was 20th on debut last year in Toronto. The Brit made three starts last season driving for Meyer Shank Racing. Blomqvist had finishes of 25th, 24th and 26th in those events.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Kyle Kirkwood ended up 18th in qualifying, Kirkwood's worst starting position since he started 20th at Texas last year. This will be the fifth consecutive race and seventh in the eight that Kirkwood has started outside the top ten. His first two victories have come on street courses. The last driver to have his first three victories come on street courses was Mike Conway from 2011 to 2014. All four of Conway's victories came on street courses.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Linus Lundqvist's first race for Chip Ganassi Racing will come from 19th starting position. Lundqvist started in the top 12 in each of his three starts last year with Meyer Shank Racing. The Swede scored fastest lap in two of his first three career starts. Since 1993, the fastest to three fastest laps in a career is five starts, which Tomas Scheckter did in 2002.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Agustín Canapino rounds out the top twenty. Last year, Canapino started in the top twenty in five races, four of which were on road/street courses. Canapino had an average finish of 16.6 in the street races last season, including three top fifteen results. His best finish was 12th, which came at St. Petersburg.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Christian Rasmussen will make his IndyCar debut from 21st starting postion. Rasmussen becomes the sixth Danish driver to compete in an IndyCar race. In eight Road to Indy starts at St. Petersburg, Rasmussen had one victories and six top five finishes.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Graham Rahal starts 22nd, only the third time Rahal has started outside the top twenty at St. Petersburg. Rahal has only two top five finishes in 16 St. Petersburg starts, his first career victory in 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2018. He started 24th in that runner-up finish six years ago.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Kyffin Simpson ended up 23rd in qualifying. Born in Bridgetown, Barbados and representing the Cayman Islands, Simpson will be the first driver from a Caribbean Island to start an IndyCar race. Simpson was 11th and tenth in his two Indy Lights races at St. Petersburg.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Sting Ray Robb qualified 24th, the fourth consecutive race he has qualified 24th. Robb ended the 2023 season with his best finish of the season, 12th at Laguna Seca. Laguna Seca was only the second lead lap finish Robb had in 2023. The other was at Road America. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Colin Braun will start 25th for his IndyCar debut. Braun will become the fourth driver born in 1988 to start an IndyCar race. The other of three drivers born in 1988 to start in IndyCar are Mario Moraes, Simona de Silvestro and J.R. Hildebrand. Of the "class of 1988," Hildebrand is the most recent to make his IndyCar debut, coming on August 8, 2010.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Pietro Fittipaldi makes his first IndyCar appearance since May 30, 2021 in the Indianapolis 500, and it will come from 26th on the grid. This will be Fittipaldi's tenth career IndyCar start. The average number of days between his ten starts is 240.4.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Jack Harvey rounds out the 27-car grid. Harvey is coming off a 30-race stretch with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing where he had one top ten finish and an average finish of 18.4. Harvey's best St. Petersburg result was fourth in 2021 with Meyer Shank Racing. </div><div><br /></div><div>NBC's coverage of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg begins at noon ET with green flag scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET. The race is scheduled for 100 laps.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-37179372349150130972024-03-07T07:30:00.000-05:002024-03-07T07:30:05.162-05:00Track Walk: St. Petersburg 2024<div>The first race of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series is on the streets of St. Petersburg, as for the 14th time the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg opens a season. Three different teams have won the last three years at St. Petersburg, and it is only the third time St. Petersburg has had three different teams winning in three consecutive years. There has never been a streak of four consecutive different teams winning this race. Four different drivers have won the last four years, the longest streak at St. Petersburg since there were five different winners from 2011 through 2015. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Coverage</u></b></div><div>Time: Coverage begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday March 10 with green flag scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET.<br />Channel: NBC<br />Announcers: Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe will be in the booth. Marty Snider, Kevin Lee and Georgia Henneberry will work pit lane.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>IndyCar Weekend Schedule</u></b></div><div><i>Friday:</i></div><div>First Practice: 3:00 p.m. ET (75 minutes)</div><div><div><i>Saturday:</i><br /></div><div>Second Practice: 10:00 a.m. ET (60 minutes)<br />Qualifying: 2:00 p.m. ET <br /><i>Sunday:</i><br />Warm-up: 9:10 a.m. ET (30 minutes)<br />Race: 12:30 p.m. ET (100 laps)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>* - All sessions will be available live on Peacock</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Ganassi's Title Defense</u></b></div><div>Walking into this season, Chip Ganassi Racing is the team to beat. Ganassi won nine of 17 races last year, its most since 2009. Ganassi went 1-2-6 in the championship, and it enters this season on a four-race winning streak. Ganassi is looking for five consecutive victories for the first time since 1998. The team also enters as the defending St. Petersburg winners. </div><div><br /></div><div>Álex Palou has not finished outside the top ten since 2022. Last year, Palou's worst finish was eighth, one of which came at St. Petersburg. He completed 2,258 of 2,260 laps as he won five times with ten podium finishes. Palou was on the podium in the last three street course races, including a victory in Detroit. The Catalan driver has 13 consecutive top ten finishes in street races entering this season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Besides Palou, Ganassi has Scott Dixon, a driver who won three of the last four races to close out the 2023 season. Dixon had 11 top five finishes last year, and he enters this season with 14 consecutive top ten finishes. His retirement at Long Beach last April was Dixon's only result outside the top ten last season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ganassi had a top five finisher in every race in 2023, and it has had a top five finisher in 19 consecutive races dating back to 2022. The team had multiple top five finishers in 11 races last year. Marcus Ericsson was one of the reasons behind those results. Ericsson is no longer with the organization, and Ganassi has two rookies and a sophomore rounding out an expanded five-car team. </div><div><br /></div><div>Marcus Armstrong started all 12 road/street races in 2023, and he will now be full-time in the #11 Honda. Armstrong had five top ten finishes with two finishes of 11th and a 13th allowing him to capture rookie of the year honors despite not running a full schedule. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ganassi will attempt to claim its second consecutive rookie of the year honors with Linus Lundqvist, who replaces his fellow Swede in the #8 Honda. Lundqvist made three starts last year with Meyer Shank Racing, where he scored fastest lap twice, including on debut, and his best finish was 12th. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the fifth Ganassi entry will be rookie Kyffin Simpson driving the #4 Honda. Simpson spent the last two seasons in Indy Lights where he had two podium finishes and six top five finishes in 27 starts. Simpson won the European Le Mans Series LMP2 championship last year and he also won in the LMP2 class at the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ganassi's St. Petersburg victory last year was only its second, coming 12 years after Dario Franchitti earned its first.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Driver Changes</u></b></div><div>Ganassi is keeping its top two drivers from 2023, and it is promoting one to a full-time gig, but the likes of Lundqvist and Simpson are just two of 12 drivers that are in different seats from last year. </div><div><br /></div><div>We know Lundqvist replaced Ericsson at Ganassi, as Ericsson has moved to Andretti Global, taking over the #28 Honda. Ericsson replaces Romain Grosjean, who has moved to Juncos Hollinger Racing to drive the #77 Chevrolet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lundqvist and Simpson are two of four rookies in the 2024 field. Tom Blomqvist ran three races at the end of last year, but the IMSA champion will be full-time in IndyCar this year, driving the #66 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing as MSR underwent a re-numbering of its second full-time entry. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Christian Rasmussen will be the fourth rookie in 2024. The 2023 Indy Lights champion, Rasmussen will drive the #20 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing in every road and street course race this year, as Ed Carpenter will drive the oval events in this entry. ECR is scaling back and not running the additional third car for Carpenter this year, reverting to the two-driver setup the team used in the #20 Chevrolet from 2014 through 2021. Rasmussen will be entered in a third ECR car for the Indianapolis 500 as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>While Blomqvist has a new number, he will also have a new teammate as Felix Rosenqvist moves to the #60 Honda for MSR. Rosenqvist had spent the prior three seasons at Arrow McLaren.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sting Ray Robb moves from Dale Coyne Racing to A.J. Foyt Racing's #41 Chevrolet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dale Coyne Racing's other driver from 2023, David Malukas, will drive the #6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet this season, however, a wrist injury suffered last month in a mountain biking accident will keep Malukas out of the car for St. Petersburg. Substituting for Malukas in the season opener will be Callum Ilott, who spent the previous two seasons at Juncos Hollinger Racing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ilott is driving full-time this season in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where he is in the #12 Porsche 963 for Hertz Team Jota. Ilott is coming off a second-place finish in the WEC season opening Qatar 1812 km last week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not a rookie, and not unfamiliar to IndyCar, Pietro Fittipaldi will take over Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's #30 Honda entry in a full-time effort. Fittipaldi has nine IndyCar starts to his name, but his most recent was the 2021 Indianapolis 500 and his IndyCar debut came nearly six years ago. Fittipaldi remains a test/reserve driver to Haas F1. He ran for Team Jota in WEC's LMP2 class last year, where he was victorious at Monza. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dale Coyne Racing will field Jack Harvey in the #18 Honda while Colin Braun will make his IndyCar debut in the #51 Honda. Harvey is slated to compete in 14 races for Coyne while Indy Lights driver Nolan Siegel will drive at Long Beach, the Indianapolis 500 and Toronto, as well as the exhibition race at Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California. Braun is only scheduled to run St. Petersburg and at Thermal Club, but the Texan could run additional races this season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>What Did Testing Tell Us?</u></b></div><div>IndyCar had a two-day test last week at Sebring International Raceway ahead of the season opener. The field was split over each day with half the entries testing on Monday February 26 and the other half testing on Tuesday February 27. The entire field never experienced the same track conditions. </div><div><br /></div><div>This split meant those testing on Tuesday swarmed the top of the combined results. The top five were all from Tuesday, as were seven of the top ten. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andretti Global's Marcus Ericsson led the session around Sebring's short course at 51.9512 seconds, only 0.0564 seconds ahead of Will Power. Patricio O'Ward was only 0.0592 seconds back in third with Meyer Shank Racing's Felix Rosenqvist in fourth, 0.0793 seconds behind his fellow Swede. Graham Rahal was in fifth, the first driver over a tenth off Ericsson. Álex Palou made it six different teams represented in the top six, 0.1371 back. Palou was the top Monday participant.</div><div><br /></div><div>Christian Lundgaard and Josef Newgarden also ran on Monday, and they were seventh and eighth. Kyffin Simpson and Linus Lundqvist rounded out the top ten. Colton Herta was in 11th, only two ten-thousandths off Lundqvist. </div><div><br /></div><div>Santino Ferrucci was 12th ahead of Alexander Rossi, who was just over three-tenths behind Ericsson. O'Ward ran on Monday in the #6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in place of the injured David Malukas, and O'Ward was 14th, just two thousandths behind Rossi. Scott Dixon rounded out the top fifteen, 0.3158 seconds slower than his former teammate. </div><div><br /></div><div>Romain Grosjean was 16th ahead of Marcus Armstrong, Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen. Scott McLaughlin rounded out the top twenty after competing on Monday. Seven of the bottom eight ran on Monday. McLaughlin was 0.5921 off Ericsson. Rinus VeeKay was 21st ahead of Pietro Fittipaldi, Tom Blomqvist, Agustin Canapino and Sting Ray Robb. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dale Coyne Racing took the bottom two spots with Tuesday's runner Colin Braun ahead of Monday's runner Jack Harvey. Braun was 0.9657 seconds off Ericsson with Harvey 1.1254 seconds back.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Street Course Guessing Game</u></b></div><div>Last season, four different drivers won the five street course races held. Dating back to 2022, there have been eight different winners in the last ten street course races.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kyle Kirkwood was the only winner of multiple street course races in 2023. The Andretti Global driver won at Long Beach and Nashville. Marcus Ericsson, Álex Palou and Christian Lundgaard won the other three street course races, as Honda swept the street events last year. Honda has won seven consecutive street course races dating back to 2022. </div><div><br /></div><div>It should come as no surprise that Palou led all drivers in street course points last year with 185, 19 points more than Kirkwood and 29 points more than Ericsson. Despite not winning a street race, and having only one top five finish in the street races, Scott McLaughlin was fourth on 137 points, one more than Scott Dixon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last season was the second time in three seasons Team Penske failed to win a street race. It won the first three street races in 2022 with all three of its drivers, Scott McLaughlin at St. Petersburg, Josef Newgarden at Long Beach and Will Power at Belle Isle. Scott Dixon won the final two street course races that year at Toronto and Nashville.</div><div><br /></div><div>Familiar names struggled on street courses last year. Patricio O'Ward may have been second at St. Petersburg, but his next best street result was eighth and he finished outside the top fifteen in two of those races. O'Ward was tenth in street points on 108, two fewer than Marcus Armstrong. Colton Herta had three fewer points than O'Ward, and Herta finished outside the top ten in three of five street races, including finishing 20th or worse in two of them. </div><div><br /></div><div>While Alexander Rossi was in the top five in two street races, he was outside the top fifteen in the other three, ending up 14th in street points on 96, one fewer than Romain Grosjean, who was second at Long Beach, but outside the top fifteen in three street races. Graham Rahal scored only 88 points in the five street races last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last four first-time winners in IndyCar have all come on street courses, including Kirkwood and Lundgaard last season. For three consecutive seasons, at least one first-time winner has occurred in a street race. </div><div><br /></div><div>There will be 13 drivers entered at St. Petersburg looking for a first career victory. Three times has St. Petersburg produced a first-time winner. Those were Graham Rahal in 2008, James Hinchcliffe in 2013 and Scott McLaughlin 2022. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Procedural Changes</u></b></div><div>A few things will look different this IndyCar season, and you will see them straight away at St. Petersburg, specifically in first practice. </div><div><br /></div><div>In an effort to increase participation in the practice session, the first 20 minutes of practice will be open to every car to participate. After the first 20 minutes, the field will be divided into two groups, determined by alternating pit boxes, and each group will get to take to the track in alternating ten-minute increments. </div><div><br /></div><div>Group one will get the first ten minutes before being called to pit lane where group two will get the next ten minutes. The groups will alternate until all 75 minutes of the practice session has elapsed. </div><div><br /></div><div>This new practice format will be trialed at St. Petersburg and future use will be decided based on how this weekend goes. </div><div><br /></div><div>During the race, there will be a new restart procedure. A restart line will be painted at the exit of the final turn. Drivers must remain in line and cannot pass until a driver has crossed the line. </div><div><br /></div><div>This has been introduced after a number of accidents on restarts, most notable in last year's season finale at Laguna Seca. Three of the eight cautions in that Laguna Seca race were due to incidents in the final corner with cars coming to the restart. </div><div><br /></div><div>One thing you will see on the race cars will be a new LED light strip on the edge of the rear wing endplates in an effort to improve awareness of a car ahead on track in wet conditions. With the introduction of aeroscreen and the center bar down the middle, the LED rain light on the rear attenuators was obscured to the trailing drivers. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Road to Indy</u></b></div><div>The Road to Indy brings 64 cars to St. Petersburg this weekend for the opening road in all three series. Indy Lights has 21 cars entered, the most since July 4, 2009 at Watkins Glen, a race that J.R. Hildebrand won, and in which James Hinchcliffe was last. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nolan Siegel is the top returning driver from the 2023 championship, Siegel was third in points, and he already has a foot in IndyCar, as he is scheduled to run three championship races for Dale Coyne Racing this year, including the Indianapolis 500, as well as the exhibition race at Thermal Club. The Californian began last season with four podium finishes, including two victories, in the first six races, but he had only one podium result in the final eight events.</div><div><br /></div><div>Siegel is one of ten HMD Motorsports supported drivers this season. Also in the team will be Myles Rowe, the 2023 USF Pro 2000 champion, who will be driving the Force Indy supported entry. Reece Gold, Josh Pierson and Christian Bogle are back as well. There are five other rookies with the team, including Caio Collet, a Brazilian moving over from FIA Formula Three. Callum Hedge joins the team after winning the 2023 Formula Regional Americas Championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Browne, Nolan Allaer and Niels Koolen round out the HMD lineup. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are seven returning regulars from last season, including three of the four Andretti Global entries. Louis Foster was fourth in the championship last year, and his 2023 season ended up the upswing. After having only three podium finishes in the first ten races, Foster was on the podium in three of the final four events. James Roe, Jr. was seventh in the championship with only one podium result, and Jamie Chadwick is back after her best finish was sixth at Portland. </div><div><br /></div><div>American Bryce Aron rounds out the Andretti lineup. Aron spent the previous four years competing in Europe. His best achievement was finishing fifth in the 2020 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, and then finishing third in the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone later that year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andretti Global is also running two cars in partnership with Cape Motorsports. Salvador de Alba and Michael d'Orlando both move up from USF Pro 2000. D'Orlando is currently only confirmed for St. Petersburg. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jacob Abel was fifth in the championship last year, but fell short of a race victory. Abel is back with Abel Motorsports, and he will have Josh Mason and Yuven Sundaramoorthy as his teammates. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lindsay Brewer and Jack William Miller round out the Indy Lights grid. Both drivers are moving up from USF Pro 2000 with Juncos Hollinger Racing and Miller Vinatieri Motorsports respectively. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Indy Lights race is scheduled for 45 laps or 55 minutes, and it will take place at 10:10 a.m. ET on Sunday March. </div><div><br /></div><div>Twenty-two USF Pro 2000 cars will be competing this weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 2023 U.S. F2000 champion Simon Sikes moves up with Pabst Racing, where his teammates will be Christian Brooks and Jace Denmark. Denmark is the top returning driver to USF Pro 2000. He was seventh in the championship last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nikita Johnson was runner-up in U.S. F2000, and Johnson won two races at the end of last USF Pro 2000 season. He continues on with VRD Racing. Shawn Rashid will be Johnson's teammate this weekend. Lochie Hughes makes it the top three from U.S. F2000 graduating up a level. Hughes is one of five Turn 3 Motorsport cars on the grid along with Adam Fitzgerald, Danny Dyszelski, Tyke Durst and Ethan Ho. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mac Clark moves up with DEForce Racing after finishing fifth in U.S. F2000 the year before. Clark's teammate from last year Jorge Garciarce also moves up with DEForce. They will have Nicholas Monteiro join the team in a three-car lineup. </div><div><br /></div><div>BN Racing had two quick drivers in testing with Colombian Nicolás Baptiste and Mexican Ricardo Escotto. Exclusive Autosport sees the return of Braden Eves, a past USF Pro 2000 race winner who did not compete last year. Avery Towns will be in a second Exclusive Autosport seat. TJ Speed Motorsports has entered three cars for Liam Sceats, Hunter Yeany and David Morales. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jay Howard Driver Development is down to one car for Frankie Mossman. Logan Adams will drive for Comet/NCMP Racing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Race one for USF Pro 2000 will run at 11:55 a.m. ET on Saturday March 9 with the second race on Sunday March 10 at 8:00 a.m. ET. Each race will be 25 laps or 45 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>For U.S. F2000, 21 cars will be on the grid. </div><div><br /></div><div>Evagoras Papasavvas was fourth in the championship last year, and he is back with Jay Howard Driver Development with Tanner DeFabis and Michael Costello as his teammates. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pabst Racing will be looking to retain the championship with a three-driver lineup with Max Garcia, Sam Corry and Hudson Schwartz. VRD Racing has Nico Christodoulou and Max Taylor leading the way. Cole Kleck and Xavier Kokai round out the VRD team. </div><div><br /></div><div>USF Juniors champion Nicolas Giaffone joins the series with DEForce Racing in a five-car lineup. DEForce has the top two from USF Juniors last year, as Quinn Armstrong will drive for the team. Lucas Fecury, Maxwell Jamieson and Brady Golan are in the other three cars. </div><div><br /></div><div>Exclusive Autosport is running a three-car team with Jack Jeffers, Joey Brienza and Thomas Schrage. DC Autosport has entered Carson Etter and Ayrton Houk this weekend. Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development continue with Elliot Cox this season. </div><div><br /></div><div>U.S. F2000 kicks off the racing this weekend at 4:20 p.m. ET on Friday March 8. The second race will be at 4:45 p.m. ET on Saturday March 9. Both races are scheduled for 20 laps or 45 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Fast Facts</u></b></div><div>This will be the fourth IndyCar race to take place on March 10 and the first since Josef Newgarden won at St. Petersburg in 2019.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other March 10 winners were Bobby Unser at Ontario in 1974 and Cristiano da Matta at Monterrey in 2002.</div><div><br /></div><div>All three March 10 winners have gone on to win the championship in those three respective seasons. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chip Ganassi Racing has won three of the last four season openers with three different drivers at three different circuits (Scott Dixon at Texas in 2020, Álex Palou at Barber Motorsports Park in 2021 and Marcus Ericsson at St. Petersburg in 2023).</div><div><br /></div><div>Chip Ganassi Racing has not won consecutive season openers at the same venue since Dan Wheldon won at Homestead in 2006 and 2007.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last year, Marcus Ericsson won with only four laps led. It is the fewest laps led for a St. Petersburg winner. The previous lowest laps led for a St. Petersburg winner was ten laps by Dan Wheldon in 2005.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Of the ten teams on the grid, only Arrow McLaren, Ed Carpenter Racing, Meyer Shank Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing have never won an IndyCar season opener. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andretti Global has not won a season opener since James Hinchcliffe won at St. Petersburg in 2013. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's only season opener victory was Homestead in 2000 with Max Papis. A.J. Foyt Racing's most recent season opener victory was the 1996-97 Indy Racing League opener at Loudon with Scott Sharp.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Since reunification, five of the 16 champions won the season opener.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since reunification, 14 of 16 champions have finished in the top ten of the first race of the season. Nine of those 16 drivers were on the podium in the opening race and ten of 15 finished in the top five.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The average starting position for a St. Petersburg winner is 5.25 with a median of fourth. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Last year, Marcus Ericsson became the sixth driver to win from fourth starting position at St. Petersburg. Fourth starting position has produced the most St. Petersburg winners, including in four consecutive years from 2013 to 2016.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Four times has the pole-sitter won at St. Petersburg, including in two of the last three years.</div><div><br /></div><div>The third-place starter has never won at St. Petersburg. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Only twice has the St. Petersburg started outside the top ten (Sébastien Bourdais from 21st in 2017 and Sébastien Bourdais from 14th in 2018).</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The average number of lead changes in a St. Petersburg race is 6.45 with a median of seven. </div><div><br /></div><div>Five of the last seven St. Petersburg races have had seven or more lead changes. </div><div><br /></div><div>The average number of cautions in a St. Petersburg race is 4.15 with a median of five. The average number of caution laps is 18.15 with a median of 18.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last year's St. Petersburg race had five cautions for 26 laps. It was the 11th St. Petersburg race to feature at least five cautions and the tenth St. Petersburg race to feature at least 20 caution laps.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Predictions</u></b></div><div>Colton Herta gets off the snide early this season and wins a thriller over Scott McLaughlin. Álex Palou continues his top ten streak. There will not be a seven-car pileup on the first lap. No car will be launched into the air. One of the Dale Coyne Racing entries will have a mechanical issue. Patricio O'Ward has no engine woes this weekend. Callum Ilott will qualify ahead of Alexander Rossi and at least make the second round of qualifying. Linus Lundqvist will be the top rookie by at least five positions and finish in the top ten. Sleeper: Marcus Ericsson.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-16900679556243965552024-03-06T09:12:00.002-05:002024-03-06T09:12:49.993-05:002024 Road to Indy Preview<div>It is set to be a banner year for the Road to Indy series. All three divisions in IndyCar's development system have entry lists that exceed 20 cars for the season opening round. Indy Lights is set to have its largest since July 4, 2009 at Watkins Glen. </div><div><br /></div><div>Indy Lights will run a 14-race season while USF Pro 2000 and U.S. F2000 will each contest 18-race seasons. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Indy Lights</u></b></div><div>The 2024 Indy Lights championship begins in St. Petersburg on March 10. The series will then have six weeks off until round two at Barber Motorsports Park. The first of two doubleheader weekends will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course over May 10-11. </div><div><br /></div><div>There will be four races in June, starting on the streets of Detroit on June 2. A week later, the series will be at Road America. The final doubleheader will be Laguna Seca, held over the weekend of June 22-23, and that will bring the series into the second half of the season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mid-Ohio will be on July 7 before the first oval race at Iowa on July 13. A month later, Indy Lights will race at Gateway before heading to Portland on August 25. Milwaukee hosts the penultimate round on August 31 with the season finale being September 15 from Nashville Superspeedway. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Teams:</i></b></div></div><div><div><b><u>HMD Motorsports</u></b></div><div><div><b>Christian Bogle: #7 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 11th in Indy Lights on 266 points with one top five finish and three top ten finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> In three Indy Lights seasons, Bogle has finished 11th in the championship each season. He has had only one top five finish in each of the last two seasons. A fourth year should benefit him. This is a large Indy Lights field but not necessarily a stronger Indy Lights field. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Reece Gold: #10 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Eighth in Indy Lights on 334 points with a victory, two podium finishes, four top five finishes and seven top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Gold has good spats of results, but he also stumbled into slumps. He should be more settled into the top ten of the championship, but I don't think he will enter that top group.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Nolan Allaer: #11 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> SCCA National Champion in Formula Continental and Formula F. Sixth in the BRSCC National Formula Ford Championship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> This is a massive leap up from SCCA competition and British Formula Ford. Considering the depth of the HMD lineup alone, it will be tough to be in the top five of the team let alone the entire championship. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Josh Pierson: #14 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 15th in Indy Lights on 173 points after starting only nine races. Pierson was also fifth in the FIA World Endurance Championship's LMP2 class championship with a victory in Portimão. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Pierson will focus on Indy Lights this year, and his results should be better. He should be competing for the podium in a few races, and he has an outside shot at the championship. It will require a big step forward, as his best finish last season was sixth. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b>Callum Hedge: #17 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Formula Regional Americas Champion 13 victories from 18 races. Second in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship with three victories and nine podium finishes in 15 races. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Track record is hit-or-miss for drivers from Formula Regional Americas coming to Indy Lights. Other past Formula Regional Americas champions include Kyle Kirkwood and Linus Lundqvist. David Malukas won races in the series. Another past champion was Kyffin Simpson, who did not have great Indy Lights results, and then there was Benjamin Pedersen. Hedge will have competitive days, but I don't think the championship will go through him. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Caio Collet: #18 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Ninth in the Formula Three championship on 73 points with a victory, four podium finishes, seven top five finishes and eight top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Collet did well in Europe, and he should be a sleeper. It would not be surprising if he picked up a victory or two and ended up on the podium semi-regularly. He should make the championship top ten. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Jonathan Browne: #23 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Eighth in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 230 points with two podium finishes, five top five finishes and 11 top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> A few good days, but ending up in the back half of the field more times than not. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Niels Koolen: #33 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 37th in the Formula Regional European Championship on zero points with his best finish being 19th. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Nothing from Koolen's career in Europe shouts he will be competitive in Indy Lights. Bottom of the championship.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Nolan Siegel: #39 HMD Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Third in Indy Lights on 415 points with two victories, five podium finishes, six top five finishes and nine top ten finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Siegel was a surprise championship contender last year. A rocky second half knocked him out of contention. He will run in four IndyCar events this year, including the Indianapolis 500. Expectations are much higher than last year. Siegel will need to be firmly at the top of the championship. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Andretti Global</u></b></div><div><b>Louis Foster: #26 Copart/Novara Technologies Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fourth in the Indy Lights on 410 points with two victories, six podium finishes and nine top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Foster found his form in the latter stages of last season. He should have the speed to be in the title mix. A few victories is the minimum.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Bryce Aron: #27 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fourth in the Euroformula Open Championship on 238 points with three victories, five podium finishes and 13 top five finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Aron did ok in Europe, but wasn't lighting the world on fire. He should be behind Foster, but he has a chance to be the second best of the Andretti group. Any trip to the podium will be a good sign.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Jamie Chadwick: #28 VEXT Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 12th in Indy Lights on 262 points with five top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Improvements from 2023, and Chadwick felt more confident in testing. It is unlikely she will regularly be on the podium or finishing in the top five, but she should be in the top ten more and break into the top five once or twice. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>James Roe, Jr.: #29 TopCon Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Seventh in Indy Lights on 335 points with one podium finishes, four top five finishes and ten top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Roe, Jr. performed better than expected in 2023. I don't expect much improvement from where he was last year. Another year in seventh would not be a surprise. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Abel Motorsport</u></b></div><div><div><b>Jason Mason: #21 Abel Motorsports Dallara</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Competed in eight Formula Two races with PHM Racing by Charouz with his best finish being 12th. Six starts in Euroformula Open Championship with a victory and three podium finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Tough days because Mason is coming to Indy Lights on late notice and without any real testing. All the tracks are new. Top ten in the championship would be a great year for him. That might be out of reach. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Yuven Sundaramoorthy: #22 </b><b>S Team Motorsports </b><b>Dallara</b></div><div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 15th in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 121 points with five top ten finishes in 13 starts. Sundaramoorthy also started four Indy Lights races last year with his best finish being ninth.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Sundaramoorthy has been good in the Road to Indy, but not great and it has usually taken him a few years to get up to speed. This feels like a step too soon. He should be outside the top ten in the championship. </div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Jacob Abel: #51 Abel Construction Dallara</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fifth in Indy Lights on 397 points with four podium finishes, eight top five finishes and 11 top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Abel was a surprise fifth in the championship and was on the verge of a victory for most of the season. That victory should come in 2024. A championship push could be possible, but the top of the field is strong.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Juncos Hollinger Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Lindsay Brewer: #76 C4 Smart Energy Dallara</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 18th in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 108 points with her best finish being 11th.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> If you were 18th in USF Pro 2000 in a full season effort, 18th in Indy Lights is the starting point. If enough drivers don't run the full season, she will end up in the top fifteen by default. </div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b><u>HMD Motorsports with Force Indy</u></b></div><div><div><b>Myles Rowe: #99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> USF Pro 2000 champion on 391 points with five victories, nine podium finishes, 13 top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Rowe got up to pace quickly in testing. He did show teething issues in U.S. F2000 and USF Pro 2000. He should have a few podium finishes, possible a victory or two. The championship is not out of the question, but it is not a given. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Andretti Cape</u></b></div><div><div><b>Salvador de Alba: #2 Grupo Indi Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Third in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 291 points with one victory, four podium finishes, seven top five finishes and 14 top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> De Alba had a good results in USF Pro 2000, and he should have some good days this season. A few podium results should be a good start. A victory would be great. Somewhere in the championship top ten. </div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div><b>Michael d'Orlando: #3 Andretti Cape Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fourth in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 288 points with four victories, six podium finishes, seven top five finishes and ten top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> At the moment, this is d'Orlando's only Indy Lights round. He was streaky last season, but when he wasn't getting into incident, d'Orlando was one of the best in USF Pro 2000. He could be competitive in a full season effort. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Miller Vinatieri Motorsports</u></b></div><div><div><b>Jack William Miller: #40 Patterson Dental Haven Go by SAAM Dallara</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Ninth in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 212 points with two podium finishes, three top five finishes and eight top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Miller has had good days in the Road to Indy, but he has never been the knockout driver. It will be tough to crack the championship top ten this season.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>USF Pro 2000</u></b></div><div>There will be eight race weekends this year for USF Pro 2000, including one standalone event. St. Petersburg opens the calendar with a doubleheader. The lone standalone race will be a triple-header at NOLA Motorsports Park over the weekend of April 5-7. </div><div><br /></div><div>The month of May will start with a triple-header on the IMS road course over May 9-11. The only oval race will be at Indianapolis Raceway Park on May 24. The final triple-header will be at Road America over June 7-9. </div><div><br /></div><div>There will be a doubleheader at Mid-Ohio over the weekend of July 6-7. The penultimate round will be a doubleheader at Toronto over July 20-21. The season will end at Portland on August 24-25. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Teams:</i></b></div></div><div><div><b><u>Pabst Racing</u></b></div><div><div><div><b>Simon Sikes: #18 Mockett/Bell Racing/Sabelt Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> U.S. F2000 champion on 447 points with six victories, 14 podium finishes and 15 top five finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Sikes pulled through in his first full season in U.S. F2000. His testing results were not spectacular. This season could start slow before Sikes shows better results in the later stages of the season. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Christian Brooks: #19 BUCKED UP/Deploy Surveillance Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Brooks won the USF Pro 2000 season opener at St. Petersburg and finished sixth in the second race weekend. He only competed in one other round, Toronto, where he finished eighth and fourth. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Brooks has had his season fail to get through the first round in consecutive years. It feels like if he runs a full season he could be competitive. Until he does that, we should expect the season ending prematurely. </div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div><b>Jace Denmark: #20 Pabst Racing Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Seventh in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 252 points with three podium finishes and eight top five finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Denmark was close to victory on a few occasions last year. The series has reenforced. He could be on the podium a few more times, including a victory, but not make a great leap in the championship. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Turn 3 Motorsport</u></b></div><div><div><b>Adam Fitzgerald: #2 Turn 3 Motorsport Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 17th in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship after starting nine races with his best finish being fourth. Competed in four rounds of the Formula Regional European Championship. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Testing results were good, but Fitzgerald feels like a fringe top ten championship driver. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Danny Dyszelski: #3 Vera Guitars/Formula Imports/Charlotte Mechanical Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 13th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 141 points with one top five finish in 13 starts. Dyszelski competed in the final round of the 2023 USF Pro 2000 championship where his best finish was ninth in the final race from Portland. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Dyszelski was in the top ten in every session at the NOLA test. Top ten in the championship with a few podium and top five finishes is practical. </div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Tyke Durst: #33 FHI/Relay Payments/Drive Toward a Cure Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 18th in the Formula 4 United States Championship on 16.5 points with his best finish being eighth. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> This is a big jump for Durst. It is hard to see him doing better than cracking the top ten in the championship, and that is asking a lot.</div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Lochie Hughes: #44 Turn 3 Motorsport Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Third in the U.S. F2000 Championship with four victories, eight podium finishes, and 11 top five finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Hughes was quickest in testing. His U.S. F2000 championship was derailed when he was caught in a few accidents and he had to be more cautious. With a new season and crash damage not hanging over this head, Hughes is going to be in the fight for the championship.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Ethan Ho: #68 Triple S Suspensions/MEGA Automotive Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 14th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 137 points with one top five finish in 13 starts.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Someone where outside the top ten of the championship, and it is unlikely he will be finishing in the top five in any races. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>DEForce Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Mac Clark: #7 Valkyrie AI/ARM/Clubine Motorsports/TNG Exotics Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fifth in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 318 points with two victories, six podium finishes and ten top five finishes. Clark was also second and third in the USF Pro 2000 races at Austin last year.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Clark improved over the 2023 U.S. F2000 season. He is going to have good results, likely win a race or two. It isn't certain he can fight for the championship, but it is not unthinkable.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Jorge Garciarce: #10 Sidral Aga/Red Cola/Skarch Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Eighth in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 212 points with three top five finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Garciarce was good in U.S. F2000, but good is not going to be good enough at this level. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Nicholas Monteiro: #81 Unique/Caye International Bank/Collection Suites Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 19th in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 106 points with his best finish being 11th in two races.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Outside the top ten in the championship. Maybe outside the top fifteen. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>TJ Speed Motorsports</u></b></div><div><div><b>Liam Sceats: #26 Tony Quinn Foundation/Omega Rental Cars Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fourth in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship on 235 points with three podium finishes. Sceats was second in this year's Formula Regional Oceania Championship on 341 points with three victories and eight podium finishes. He was also second in the 2023 Formula Regional Japanese Championship with three victories and eight podium finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Testing was good, but these will be new tracks. Sceats has a chance to break into the top ten. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Hunter Yeany: #27 TJ Speed Motorsports Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Competed in ten Formula Three races with zero points scored and his best finish was 16th.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Yeany was outside the top ten in most of the test sessions form NOLA. His European results were not good. I don't think he will be in the top ten here. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>David Morales: #28 TJ Speed Motorsports Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 13th in the GB3 Championship on 178 points with two top five finishes. Sixth in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship on 200 points with a victory and two podium finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Morales was only a little better than Yeany in testing. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Exclusive Autosport</u></b></div><div><div><b>Braden Eves: #92 Corpay Cross-Border Solutions Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Competed in national level karting, but he was fifth in the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 championship on 304 points with a victory, five podium finishes and seven top five finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Before sitting out last season, Eves felt like he had a chance to make a run to IndyCar. He wasn't quick in winter testing. We know what he can do, but it doesn't feel like Eves will be matching his previous form. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Avery Towns: #95 Towns Law Firm Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 17th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 101 points with one top ten finish in 15 starts.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> At the moment, Towns is only signed for the season opener with plans for a part-time season. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Jay Howard Driver Development</u></b></div><div><div><b>Frankie Mossman: #6 ShopGLD/Offset Sport/Stilo/Simpson Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Competed in the final five races in the USF Pro 2000 season where his best finish was ninth in the first race from Austin. 11th in the Formula 4 United States Championship on 45.5 points with two podium finishes and four top five finishes in nine starts.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Bottom half of the championship. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>VRD Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Nikita Johnson: #17 Allen Exploration, LCC/Walker's Cay Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Second in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 344 points with a victory, eight podium finishes and 13 top five finishes. Johnson competed in the final five USF Pro 2000 races, where he won twice and had four podium finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Johnson was already winning in USF Pro 2000 last year. He should be in the thick of it for the championship. Multiple race victories, regularly in the top five. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Shawn Rashid: #32 Futos, Inc./ADS/Buckhead Collision Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 25th in the GB3 Championship on 28 points with one top ten finishes in 19 starts. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Rashid was not at the NOLA test. Expectations are low, especially compared to Johnson. </div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>BN Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Nicolás Baptiste: #74 Bati's Roast Beef & Shakes/Iridian Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Last competed full time in the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship where he scored zero points and his best finish was 15th.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> A but of surprise from the test Baptiste, as he was in the top five for four of the five sessions and he topped the final one. If he already has that speed, he should have a few podium finishes. If he is clicking off the results early, he could steal a championship. </div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Ricardo Escotto: #77 BN Racing</b><b> </b><b>Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 13th in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 153 points with a victory but only five top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Escotto was not far off his teammate Baptiste. Escotto does have experience in this series. His results should improve and he should find a way into the championship top ten. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b><u>Comet/NCMP Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Logan Adams: #21 Comet/NCMP Racing Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Competed in the Mid-Ohio and Toronto U.S. F2000 rounds where he was third in the first Toronto race but finished outside the top ten in the other four races. Twenty-second in the Formula 4 United States Championship where his best finish was seventh and he scored 10 points in 12 races. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Adams was at the bottom of every test session he participated in at NOLA. Don't expect to hear much from Adams. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><b><u>U.S. F2000</u></b></div><div>The U.S. F2000 season will run identical race weekends as USF Pro 2000, with a few exceptions. For U.S. F2000, the IMS road course and Road America will only be doubleheader weekends. Mid-Ohio and he final round at Portland will be a triple-headers.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Teams:</i></b></div></div><div><div><b><u>Pabst Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Hudson Schwartz: #22 Lucas Oil School of Racing/Axios/Axios HQ Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Lucas Oil School of Racing Championship Series champion with six victories and 13 podium finishes in 15 races. Eighth in the USF Juniors Championship with three podium finishes and seven top five finishes in 13 starts.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Schwartz ran respectable times in the NOLA test. He will have tough competition within his own team. The goal should be somewhere in the championship top ten. He will only turn 15 years old this May. Regular top ten results would be a good year.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Sam Corry: #23 Redline Oil/Stilo/Simpson Race Products Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Seventh in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 222 points with a victory, three podium finishes and six top five finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Corry was solidly in the top ten in testing. He could be a fringe player for the top five in the championship.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Max Garcia: #24 Advance Auto Parts Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Ninth in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 207 points with two podium finishes and five top five finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Garcia will only be turning 15 years old a week after St. Petersburg, but he got up to speed quickly last year. He led the NOLA test. He should be one of the championship favorites and pick up a few victories.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Jay Howard Driver Development</u></b></div><div><div><b>Evagoras Papasavvas: #6 BodyWise/Tiger Natural Gas/Ares Elite Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fourth in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 323 points with a victory, six podium finishes and nine top five finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Papasavvas is the top returning driver from last season. Experience will go a long way. Papasavvas should win more. He and Max Garcia should be battling it out quite a bit this season. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Tanner DeFabis: #7 </b><b>Destination Athlete </b><b>Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 24th in the Formula 4 United States Championship on five points with his best finish being eighth. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> DeFabis only ran a few car races last ear in his first year of car racing. He likely will not be competing for top five finishes. His goal should be to run as many laps as possible.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Michael Costello: #8 ProGuard Warranty Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fifth in the Formula 4 United States Championship on 148 points with three victories, five podium finishes and nine top five finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Costello showed good speed in testing. He wasn't quite pushing for the top five. He looks like a consistent top ten finisher that could pull out some top five results. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>VRD Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Nico Christodoulou: #2 VRD Racing Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Eighth in the GB3 Championship on 261 points with three podium finishes. Christodoulou competed in the Toronto U.S. F2000 round and finished fifth and first in those races.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Christodoulou had a great debutant weekend last year, and he tested the USF Pro 2000 car at NOLA with respectable speed. He should be fighting for top five in the championship. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Max Taylor: #3 PINK ETF/Susan G. Komen Foundation Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Sixth in the USF Juniors Championship on 236 points with a victory, three podium finishes and six top five finishes. 18th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 86 points with four top ten finishes in 11 starts. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Taylor was consistently quick in testing, but never topping the speed charts. Championship top five is in play, but he could be squeezed out. It should not be a cause for concern though for the 16-year-old.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cole Kleck: #14 International Mechanical Services/Kleck Racing Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Competed in six Formula Regional Americas races and his best finish was third at Austin.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Outside the top ten in the championship. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Xavier Kokai: #19 KWILL Constructions Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fourth in the Australian Formula Ford Championship with a victory and three podium finishes.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> This is quite the learning curve for Kokai coming over from Australia. He was at the bottom in every test session. The hope will be to improve as the season goes along. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>DEForce Racing</u></b></div><div><div><b>Nicolas Giaffone: #1 OMNI Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> USF Juniors champion on 389 points with six victories and 11 podium finishes in 16 races.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Giaffone is coming in off an impressive USF Juniors season. At 18 years old, he is a little older than others in this series. He should be in the championship top ten, but there should be tougher weekends than what he experienced last year. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Lucas Fecury: #10 Br Consulting/Jeneve Soda/Allma Racing Lab Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Ninth in the USF Juniors Championship on 206 points with a podium finish and four top five finishes. Competed in the 2023 U.S. F2000 final round in Portland where he finished 12th, 15th and 17th. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Fecury turns 21 years old in May. He was toward the bottom in testing. If he can pull out a few top ten finishes it will be a good year. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Quinn Armstrong: #11 NDA Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Second in the USF Juniors Championship on 324 points with three victories, nine podium finishes and 11 top five finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Armstrong was constantly between eighth and 14th in testing. Making the championship top ten would be a good season.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Maxwell Jamieson: #12 2W Technologies Inc. Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 16th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 121 points with four top ten finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Results similar to last season. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Brady Golan: #18 DEForce Racing Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Tenth in the USF Juniors Championship on 202 points with one top five finish. Competed in the U.S. F2000 round at Mid-Ohio where he finished 17th, 12th and 13th. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Goaln did not run in the NOLA test. It will be tough for him to crack the top ten. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Exclusive Autosport</u></b></div><div><div><b>Jack Jeffers: #90 Corpay Cross-Border Solutions Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Third in the USF Juniors Championship on 313 points with three victories, eight podium finishes and ten top five finishes. Competed in the U.S. F2000 round at Road America where Jeffers finished 11th and 12th.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Jeffers was not at the NOLA test. The Exclusive Autosport cars showed some speed. Jeffers could be competitive on a regular basis. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Joey Brienza: #91 Huntsman Mental Health Foundation/UBS Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Fifth in the USF Juniors Championship on 280 points with a victory, six podium finishes and nine top five finishes. Brienza also competed in five U.S. F2000 races where his best finish was tenth. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Brienza was consistently in the top five at the NOLA test. He might not be a championship favorite, but he should pick up a few podium finishes and could win a race or two. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Thomas Schrage: #92 Corpay Cross-Border Solutions Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 20th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 55 points in six starts with his best finish being fourth and three top ten finishes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> There was breathing room regularly between Brienza and Schrage in testing. That should be the same during the season. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development</u></b></div><div><div><b>Elliot Cox: #67 Drive Planning/Hartman Oil Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 12th in the U.S. F2000 Championship on 145 points with two top five finishes and seven top ten finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Cox will be in a fight to finish in the championship top ten. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>DC Autosport</u></b></div><div><div><b>Carson Etter: #57 Priority Workforce/GATC Health Tatuus</b></div><div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> 12th in the USF Juniors Championship on 155 points with five top ten finishes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Toward the bottom of the championship. </div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b>Ayrton Houk: #58 Wings and Wheels Foundation Tatuus</b></div><div><div><i>What did he do in 2023:</i> Second in the F1600 Championship Series with three victories and 11 podium finishes. Team USA Scholarship winner and competed in the Formula Ford Festival from Brands Hatch and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What to expect in 2024:</i> Houk was all over the place in testing. He should have some races where he is in the top ten, but I don't think that is where he will spend most of his season. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>U.S. F2000 will race at 4:20 p.m. ET on Friday March 8 and at 4:45 p.m. ET on Saturday March 9. Both races are scheduled for 20 laps or 45 minutes. USF Pro 2000 will race at 11:55 a.m. ET on Saturday March 9 and 8:00 a.m. ET on Sunday March 10 with both races scheduled for 25 laps or 45 minutes. The 45-lap Indy Lights race will take place at 10:10 a.m. ET on Sunday March 10. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-52408792629950804682024-03-05T06:55:00.001-05:002024-03-05T06:55:00.132-05:00Let's Look at the League - 2024 Season<div>New year, new hypothetical league format for IndyCar, as we enter year six of this exercise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is how it works....</div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine the IndyCar season as any other sports league season. Teams are placed in conferences and each week of competition the teams go head-to-head against one another with one team coming out as the winner and the other being the loser. Each victory counts in the league standings with a playoff to determine the champion while the worst teams are relegated. Meanwhile, in the division below, teams are fighting to earn promotion into the top league. </div><div><br /></div><div>The top division remains 16 teams, split into two conferences where each team completes a double round-robin with no inter-conference play.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Where were we?</i></b></div><div>Last season, the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing entry of Scott Dixon took the league championship over Patricio O'Ward and the #5 Arrow McLaren team. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was the first year a Team Penske car did not win the league championship, as no Penske car even made the finals for the first time. The #3 Penske and #12 Penske cars of Scott McLaughlin and Will Power respectively each lost in the semifinal round. </div><div><br /></div><div>Quarterfinalists included Álex Palou (#10 Ganassi), Colton Herta (#26 Andretti), Josef Newgarden (#2 Penske), and Kyle Kirkwood (#27 Andretti).</div><div><br /></div><div>Though they did not make the playoffs, Alexander Rossi (#7 McLaren) and Marcus Ericsson (#8 Ganassi) were fifth in their respective conferences and those entries were guaranteed safety in the top division for the 2024 season. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the relegation playoff, Romain Grosjean (#28 Andretti) and Graham Rahal (#15 RLLR) won in the semifinal round to assure safety for the next season. The #11 Ganassi entry of Marcus Armstrong defeated the #60 Meyer Shank Racing of Tom Blomqvist in the relegation playoff final. The #11 Ganassi entry clinched a spot in the top division while the #60 MSR entry was relegated.</div><div><br /></div><div>Relegated for finishing last in the two conferences after the regular season was the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing entry and the #18 Dale Coyne Racing entry.</div><div><br /></div><div>The top three teams from League Two earned promotion to League One for 2024. The #45 RLLR entry won the League Two championship with the #6 McLaren and the #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing entry earning the other two promotion spots. </div><div><br /></div><div>How do things look for 2024?</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Conference One</b></i></div>#10 Ganassi <br />#5 McLaren <br />#2 Penske <br />#45 RLLR <br />#26 Andretti <br />#6 McLaren <br />#28 Andretti <br />#11 Ganassi <br /><div><br /></div><div><div><i><b>Conference Two</b></i></div></div>#9 Ganassi <br />#3 Penske <br />#8 Ganassi <br />#12 Penske <br />#7 McLaren <br />#27 Andretti <br />#15 RLLR <br />#77 JHR <div><br /></div><div>For competitive balanced, I made sure all three Ganassi, McLaren, Penske and Andretti entries were not in the same conferences. Each is split two and one over the two conferences.</div><br /><b><i>Schedule </i></b><br /><i>League One: </i><br /><i>Week 1 (ST. PETERSBURG): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#5 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti <br />#2 Penske vs. #6 McLaren <br />#45 RLLR vs. #26 Andretti <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR <br />#3 Penske vs. #15 RLLR <br />#8 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti <br />#12 Penske vs. #7 McLaren <br /><br /><i>Week 2 (LONG BEACH): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #28 Andretti <br />#5 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#2 Penske vs. #26 Andretti <br />#45 RLLR vs. #6 McLaren <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR <br />#3 Penske vs. #77 JHR <br />#8 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren <br />#12 Penske vs. #27 Andretti <br /><br /><i>Week 3 (BARBER): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #6 McLaren <br />#5 McLaren vs. #26 Andretti <br />#2 Penske vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#45 RLLR vs. #28 Andretti <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti <br />#3 Penske vs. #7 McLaren <br />#8 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR <br />#12 Penske vs. #14 RLLR <br /><br /><i>Week 4 (GPOI): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #26 Andretti <br />#5 McLaren vs. #6 McLaren <br />#2 Penske vs. #28 Andretti <br />#45 RLLR vs. #11 Ganassi <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren <br />#3 Penske vs. 27 Andretti<br />#8 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR <br />#12 Penske vs. #77 JHR <br /><br /><i>Week 5 (INDIANAPOLIS 500): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #45 RLLR <br />#5 McLaren vs. #2 Penske <br />#26 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#6 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske <br />#3 Penske vs. #8 Ganassi <br />#7 McLaren vs. #77 JHR <br />#27 Andretti vs. #15 RLLR <br /><br /><i>Week 6 (DETROIT): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #2 Penske <br />#5 McLaren vs. #45 RLLR <br />#26 Andretti vs. #28 Andretti <br />#6 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #8 Ganassi <br />#3 Penske vs. #12 Penske <br />#7 McLaren vs. #15 RLLR <br />#27 Andretti vs. #77 JHR <br /><br /><i>Week 7 (ROAD AMERICA): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #5 McLaren <br />#2 Penske vs. #45 RLLR <br />#26 Andretti vs. #6 McLaren <br />#28 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #3 Penske<br />#8 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske <br />#7 McLaren vs. #27 Andretti <br />#15 RLLR vs. #77 JHR <br /><br /><i>Week 8 (LAGUNA SECA): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#5 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti <br />#2 Penske vs. #6 McLaren <br />#45 RLLR vs. #26 Andretti <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR <br />#3 Penske vs. #15 RLLR <br />#8 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti <br />#12 Penske vs. #7 McLaren <br /><br /><i>Week 9 (MID-OHIO): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #28 Andretti <br />#5 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#2 Penske vs. #26 Andretti <br />#45 RLLR vs. #6 McLaren <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR <br />#3 Penske vs. #77 JHR <br />#8 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren <br />#12 Penske vs. #27 Andretti <br /><br /><i>Week 10 (IOWA): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #6 McLaren <br />#5 McLaren vs. #26 Andretti <br />#2 Penske vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#45 RLLR vs. #28 Andretti <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti <br />#3 Penske vs. #7 McLaren <br />#8 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR <br />#12 Penske vs. #14 RLLR <br /><br /><i>Week 11 (IOWA): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #26 Andretti <br />#5 McLaren vs. #6 McLaren <br />#2 Penske vs. #28 Andretti <br />#45 RLLR vs. #11 Ganassi <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren <br />#3 Penske vs. 27 Andretti<br />#8 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR <br />#12 Penske vs. #77 JHR <br /><br /><i>Week 12 (TORONTO): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #45 RLLR <br />#5 McLaren vs. #2 Penske <br />#26 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi <br />#6 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske <br />#3 Penske vs. #8 Ganassi <br />#7 McLaren vs. #77 JHR <br />#27 Andretti vs. #15 RLLR <br /><br /><i>Week 13 (GATEWAY): </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #2 Penske <br />#5 McLaren vs. #45 RLLR <br />#26 Andretti vs. #28 Andretti <br />#6 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #8 Ganassi <br />#3 Penske vs. #12 Penske <br />#7 McLaren vs. #15 RLLR <br />#27 Andretti vs. #77 JHR <br /><br /><i>Week 14 (PORTLAND): </i><i> </i><br />#10 Ganassi vs. #5 McLaren <br />#2 Penske vs. #45 RLLR <br />#26 Andretti vs. #6 McLaren <br />#28 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi <br /><br />#9 Ganassi vs. #3 Penske<br />#8 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske <br />#7 McLaren vs. #27 Andretti <br />#15 RLLR vs. #77 JHR <br /><br />The playoff format remains the same. Top four from each conference advance while the bottom team in each conference will be relegated. Fifth place from each conference will be assured safety in the top division for 2025 while sixth and seventh from each conference will compete in a relegation playoff.<div><br /></div><div><b>League Two</b><br />Last season, with 11 teams in League Two, we did an 11-team double round-robin. With that number of head-to-head matchups, oval qualifying for each oval round was incorporated into the season. </div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I explored different ways to organize League Two that would at least be easier for me and, after spending way more time than I should have trying to come up with a new concept, I settled on what is likely the easiest solution.</div><div><br /></div><div>League Two will be an 11-team single round-robin, meaning each team will face each other once. At the end of the 11-week regular season, the top two teams will earn automatic promotion. The 11th-place team's season will end. </div><div><br /></div><div>Second through tenth in the standings will advance to the second phase of the season. The eight teams will be split into two groups, where another single round-robin will occur. </div><div><br /></div><div>Group A will be composed of third, sixth, seventh and tenth from the regular season. Group B will feature fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth from the regular season. </div><div><br /></div><div>The top two teams from each group after the group stage will advance to the promotion playoff where the winner will earn the final promotion spot to League One's 2025 season. <br /><br />Who are the participants?<br /><br />#21 ECR <br />#18 DCR <br />#14 Foyt <br />#66 MSR <br />#20 ECR <br />#30 RLLR <br />#60 MSR <br />#78 JHR <br />#51 DCR <br />#41 Foyt <br />#4 Ganassi <br /><br />And the schedule...<br /><br /><b><i>Schedule</i></b> <br /><i>Week 1 (ST. PETERSBURG): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #78 JHR <br />#18 DCR vs. #51 DCR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #60 MSR <br />#66 MSR vs. #20 ECR <br />#30 RLLR vs. #41 Foyt <br />Bye: #4 CGR <br /><br /><i>Week 2 (LONG BEACH): </i><br />#18 DCR vs. #30 RLLR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #20 ECR <br />#66 MSR vs. #51 DCR <br />#60 MSR vs. #4 CGR <br />#78 JHR vs. #41 Foyt <br />Bye: #21 ECR <br /><br /><i>Week 3 (BARBER): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #20 ECR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #30 RLLR <br />#66 MSR vs. #4 CGR <br />#60 MSR vs. #41 Foyt <br />#78 JHR vs. #51 DCR <br />Bye: #18 DCR <br /><br /><i>Week 4 (GPOI): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #14 Foyt <br />#18 DCR vs. #20 ECR <br />#30 RLLR vs. #60 MSR <br />#78 JHR vs. #4 CGR <br />#51 DCR vs. #41 Foyt <br />Bye: #66 MSR <br /><br /><i>Week 5 (INDIANAPOLIS 500): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #60 MSR <br />#18 DCR vs. #41 Foyt <br />#14 Foyt vs. #4 CGR <br />#66 MSR vs. #30 RLLR <br />#20 ECR vs. #78 JHR <br />Bye: #51 DCR <br /><br /><i>Week 6 (DETROIT): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #30 RLLR <br />#18 DCR vs. #4 CGR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #51 DCR <br />#66 MSR vs. #78 JHR <br />#20 ECR vs. #60 MSR <br />Bye: #41 Foyt <br /><br /><i>Week 7 (ROAD AMERICA): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #66 MSR <br />#18 DCR vs. #14 Foyt <br />#20 ECR vs. #51 DCR <br />#60 MSR vs. #78 JHR <br />#41 Foyt vs. #4 CGR <br />Bye: #30 RLLR <br /><br /><i>Week 8 (LAGUNA SECA): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #18 DCR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #78 JHR <br />#66 MSR vs. #41 Foyt <br />#20 ECR vs. 30 RLLR <br />#51 DCR vs. #4 CGR <br />Bye: #60 MSR <br /><br /><i>Week 9 (MID-OHIO): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #51 DCR <br />#18 DCR vs. #78 JHR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #41 Foyt <br />#66 MSR vs. #60 MSR <br />#30 RLLR vs. #4 Ganassi <br />Bye: #20 ECR <br /><br /><i>Week 10 (IOWA): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #41 Foyt <br />#18 DCR vs. #60 MSR <br />#14 Foyt vs. #66 MSR <br />#20 ECR vs. #4 CGR <br />#30 RLLR vs. #51 DCR <br />Bye: #78 JHR <br /><br /><i>Week 11 (IOWA): </i><br />#21 ECR vs. #4 CGR <br />#18 DCR vs. #66 MSR <br />#20 ECR vs. #41 Foyt <br />#30 RLLR vs. #78 JHR <br />#60 MSR vs. #51 DCR <br />Bye: #14 Foyt <br /><br />Let's see how this plays out. League One, I believe, has all the top drivers in it and there is no clear team that should earn promotion from League Two. This year will be interesting because there appears to be a number of entries that will likely rotate drivers. Ed Carpenter Racing is splitting the #20 entry with Ed Carpenter and Christian Rasmussen. Both Dale Coyne Racing cars will likely see multiple drivers in them. It will be intriguing to see how it plays out.<br /><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Previous league results:</i></div><div><a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2019/09/lets-look-at-league-september-2019.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2019</a> </div><div><a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2020/10/lets-look-at-league-october-2020.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2020</a></div><div><a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2021/10/lets-look-at-league-october-2021.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2021</a></div><div><a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2022/09/lets-look-at-league-september-2022.html" target="_blank">2022</a></div></div><div><a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2023/09/lets-look-at-league-september-2023.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2023</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-80222569195049668322024-03-04T06:59:00.000-05:002024-03-04T06:59:32.573-05:00Musings From the Weekend: How Are We Feeling on the Eve of a Season?<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...</div><div><br /></div><div>Max Verstappen opened the Formula One season with a grand slam, the fifth of his career, putting him level with Alberto Ascari and Michael Schumacher for third all-time, and one behind Lewis Hamilton for second. Meanwhile, the FIA World Endurance Championship opened its season across the Gulf of Bahrain in Qatar with a race that went the scheduled distance. A good story was spoiled in the closing laps, but it did lead to a historic achievement. It was windy in Las Vegas. It was an international affair in Daytona. However, another Florida event is on my mind, as a season is about to begin.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>How Are We Feeling on the Eve of a Season?</u></b></div><div>Most of IndyCar's offseason was spent not speaking about the racing, and all the off-track debates over future decisions and regulation changes casted a massive shadow over what we are about to witness starting this weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>There are plenty of understandable things to be frustrated over. Whether it is the hybrid system, originally supposed to debut in 2020, delayed because of logistics, then the pandemic, then supply chain issues, and now delayed until some time in 2024, but possibly not until 2025, due to limited distribution, or races falling off the calendar and the imbalance between oval races and road and street course races, there are things that haven't gone the series way. Some are in the series control, others are not. </div><div><br /></div><div>Every time it feels like IndyCar is gaining ground, in two months we are wondering how it slipped backward again. The season finale moving from a Nashville street race to Nashville Superspeedway about 40 minutes from downtown less than a month prior to the season opener is another example.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>For everything that frustrates people about the direction of IndyCar, what takes place on the racetrack cannot be completely lost. </div><div><br /></div><div>Time and time again, IndyCar shows up to a racetrack and puts on a thrilling event. Even when it is unexpected, IndyCar can pull something out that is jaw-dropping. For a handful of years, all hope was lost for Texas Motor Speedway. Then last year's race happened. That came after a season opener saw the top two cars clash heading into turn four at St. Petersburg and take both drivers out of the race, and that wasn't the last act of drama in that race. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar can have a team miss the Indianapolis 500 and then two and a half months later have that team chasing down a victory on a three-stop strategy while possibly the greatest driver in series history is on a historic fuel conservation run in the closing laps. There can be multiple first-time winners and then a driver can win three races on the spin and completely take control of a championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is going to be the case again in 2024, and yet, the series has reached a boiling point. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some have thrown up their hands and said enough. I get it, but why are you watching IndyCar in the first place then? </div><div><br /></div><div>It is a motorsports series after all. You fall in love for the races, what happened between the green flag and the checkered. The dazzling speeds and hair-raising passes. The blinding pit stops and strategy gambles. The drivers are mesmerizing for their ability, making the daring seem so pedestrian, and not thinking twice about what they just did. It is something to look forward to on those Sunday afternoon when hot dog vendors and souvenir trailers are all set up and ready to welcome spectators who look to disconnect from the concerns of everyday life for a few hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are less than a week from the start of the IndyCar season, and not much has been said about the upcoming season, what will happen on the track and the drivers competing. Everything has been about auxiliary concerns, some warranted, others less so. </div><div><br /></div><div>Everything in and around IndyCar cannot be a cataclysmic event. There is nothing less appeal than a cult always preaching about doomsday when tomorrow keeps showing up. It is even worse when such behavior snuffs out what is best about the series.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you think anyone who was interested in sampling IndyCar during the winter is sticking around when for the better part of five months it was nothing but hostility from those already following the series? What reason has a newcomer been given to be excited about this season?</div><div><br /></div><div>It isn't about ignoring the problems, but properly acknowledging them. The sky cannot always be falling, even if it is the easiest way to respond. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now that the first race is here, I hope the on-track portion of IndyCar can take over because that is the strongest thing the series has going for it and it is a racing series after all. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are coming off Álex Palou becoming the first champion to clinch a championship with races to spare in 15 years, and Palou has a new sponsor. Scott Dixon continues to re-write the record book and Dixon ended 2023 with three victories in the final four races. Josef Newgarden won the Indianapolis 500 last year, and Newgarden is one victory away from 30 in his career! Patricio O'Ward, Colton Herta and Scott McLaughlin lead the pack of those looking for a championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is hoping to be more of a force after turning around its 2023 season, Marcus Ericsson is on a new team, Romain Grosjean is on a new team and still searching for that first victory, and the likes of Will Power and Alexander Rossi look to avoid consecutive winless seasons. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is plenty of reasons to be excited about this new season. About 15 drivers you can envision winning a race and it is only a 17-race season. About ten of those 15 drivers could conceivably win the championship. We don't have a clue how things will end in September. Over the next seven months, the mystery will unravel in front of our very eyes. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about Max Verstappen, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>Zane Maloney swept the Formula Two races from Bahrain. Arvid Lindblad (sprint) and Luke Browning (main) split the Formula Three races.</div><div><br /></div><div>The #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 of Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor won the Qatar 1812 km as Porsche swept the podium. The #92 Manthey Pure Rxcing Porsche of Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm won in the LMGT3 class</div><div><br /></div><div>Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup race from Las Vegas. John Hunter Nemechek won the Grand National Series race. Rajah Caruth won the Truck race, his first career victory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jett Lawrence won the Supercross race from Daytona. Tom Vialle won the 250cc race.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>The IndyCar season opener from St. Petersburg.</div><div>The second round of the Formula One season from Saudi Arabia.</div><div>The first round of the MotoGP season from Qatar.</div><div>The first round of the Super Formula season from Suzuka.</div><div>Supercross makes its first visit to Birmingham, Alabama.</div><div>NASCAR is in Phoenix.</div><div>The Daytona 200 takes place.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-62991358173470222052024-03-01T06:55:00.000-05:002024-03-01T06:55:00.133-05:002024 MotoGP Season Preview<div>With so much going on, we start March with a MotoGP preview a week early. The 2024 calendar is set to grow by one round, even though one round has already been lost, as Francesco Bagnaia will chase his third consecutive world championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bagnaia will face increased competition, especially from within his own Ducati camp, as one of the best to ever race has changed manufacturers in hopes of a career Renaissance. For the second consecutive year, there is only one rookie on the grid, but this rider has high expectations after his success in the junior ranks. There is also a new team on the grid, represented by the Stars and Stripes. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Schedule</u></b></div><div>What was originally scheduled for 22 rounds, the 2024 MotoGP season will contest 21 races after the Argentine Grand Prix was canceled at the end of January. </div><div><br /></div><div>Qatar returns to the season opener spot, a night race on March 10 before the first European round a fortnight later in Portugal. After an extended break, the lone visit to the Western Hemisphere will be on April 14 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Two weeks after that, the series returns to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix from Jerez.</div><div><br /></div><div>May begins with the French Grand Prix on May 12 with the Barcelona round moving back up to May 26 after taking place in September last year. A week after Barcelona will be the Italian Grand Prix from Mugello. This is the first of five instances of consecutive weekends with races in the 2024 season. </div><div><br /></div><div>After falling off the schedule in the middle of last year, Kazakhstan is scheduled for its debut race on June 16, two weeks prior to the Dutch TT from Assen. The German Grand Prix will lead MotoGP into its summer break on July 7. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a month off, the British Grand Prix will be held from Silverstone on August 4. Two weeks later, MotoGP will be in Austria at the Red Bull Ring. The European portion of the calendar closes with consecutive races over September 1 and 8 from the returning Aragón Grand Prix and Misano. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first half of the Asia-Pacific swing will have three consecutive races. India will be on September 22 with Indonesia on September 29 and then the Japanese Grand Prix on October 6. After a week off, the second three-week leg in the Pacific will begin in Australia on October 20 before Thailand on October 27 and then Malaysia on November 3. </div><div><br /></div><div>Valencia remains the host of the season finale, and the 2024 season concludes on November 17.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Teams</i></b></div><div><b><u>Ducati Lenovo Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Francesco Bagnaia (#1 Ducati Desmosedici GP24) & Enea Bastianini (</b><b>#23 Ducati Desmosedici GP24</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Bagnaia is the defending two-time champion, and he just smashed the track record during the Qatar test. However, Bastianini is healthy and he was on his teammates heels during testing as the Ducati riders went 1-2. This should be a much more competitive season between the Ducati factory riders, and if Bastianini is stealing points off Bagnaia, it will make a third consecutive championship hard to come by. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2023, Bagnaia mostly skirted the crashing problem that plagued. If he has Bastianini breathing down his neck, will that cause him to fold into his old ways? </div><div><br /></div><div>An edge goes to Bagnaia, but this could be closer than most realize.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Ducati finish in the championship?</i></div><div>It should be noted that the factory Ducati team did not win the Teams' Championship last year. It was second to Pramac Racing Ducati. If Bastianini is on form with Bagnaia, Ducati should be moving up to first. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Prima Pramac Racing</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Franco Morbidelli (</b><b>#21 Ducati Desmosedici GP24</b><b>) & Jorge Martín (</b><b>#89 Ducati Desmosedici GP24</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Martín, as he is the returning rider from 2023 for Pramac. Martín was the surprise title contender last year, and part of that came down to his sprint race form. Martín won four grand prix last year and stood on the podium seven times. Morbidelli has not stood on the podium in his last 49 starts. His most recent trip to the rostrum was the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix from Jerez. </div><div><br /></div><div>Morbidelli takes over for Johann Zarco. The Yamaha had plenty of issues, but Morbidelli battled a few injuries over his last three seasons. The bike will no longer be the concern, but his health remains in question. Morbidelli was injured road bike testing in Portimão in January. He has yet to be cleared for the season opener. </div><div><br /></div><div>Until, we see Morbidelli on the bike, Martín is the undisputed leader at Pramac.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Pramac finish in the championship?</i></div><div>For all the quips over Johann Zarco, he did finish fifth in the championship last year with a long-awaited victory in Australia, and that put Pramac ahead of the factory Ducati outfit for the Teams' Championship. However, if Morbidelli's production was already questionable, it certainly hasn't improved with his injury. Martín can only do so much, plus, other Ducati teams have strengthen. Expect a slide back for Pramac. It will finish fifth, but could risk sliding out of the top five altogether. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team</u></b></div><div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Fabio Di Giannantonio (</b><b>#49 Ducati Desmosedici GP23</b><b>) & Marco Bezzecchi (</b><b>#72 Ducati Desmosedici GP23</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>This is a matchup between a rider who started 2023 strong and then faded versus a rider who had not done anything worth a damn in his first one-and-three-quarter seasons of his MotoGP career only to end on a heater and score his first career victory in the process to close out 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bezzecchi should recover and resemble more of the rider we saw in the early portion of 2023. Di Giannantonio should still be good, but I don't think he will be matching the results we saw at the end of the season on a regular basis. A few trips to the podium would be good for him, but Bezzecchi should be the leader of VR46.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should VR46 finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Something tells me third again, but a slight slip to fourth wouldn't be the craziest result. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bezzecchi should be a little better than last year. Di Giannantonio should produce something, but I don't think he is going to blow out Luca Marini's points total. The two riders were near each other in testing, but they were the third best Ducati team in the test.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Red Bull KTM Factory Racing</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Brad Binder (#33 KTM RC16) & Jack Miller (</b><b>#43 KTM RC16</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>All Binder does is finish races and all Miller does is throw away promising results. Binder is insanely consistent. He has finished in the top six in each of the last three seasons. He quadrupled his number of retirement in 2023 compared to 2022 and still went from sixth to fourth in points. </div><div><br /></div><div>At their highest level, Miller is better than Binder, but Miller steps over the edge too often. This should be close, and it should be a good year for KTM, but Binder isn't going to falter. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Red Bull KTM finish in the championship?</i></div><div>I don't think Binder can be at the same level he was at last year. It will be close, but I don't see five podium finishes. If the grid remains healthy, it will cost him some points, not a devastating total but enough to knock KTM back a few pegs. Sixth would still be good for this group.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Aprilia Racing</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Maverick Viñales (#12 Aprilia RS-GP24) & Aleix Espargaró (</b><b>#41 Aprilia RS-GP24</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Espargaró has been proven difficult to defeat on the Aprilia, but I think this is the year Viñales tops him. Only two points separated the riders last year. Espargaró did win twice, but Viñales was on the podium three times and he had six top five finishes to Espargaró's five. </div><div><br /></div><div>It will be close again. Espargaró was the fastest of the two in testing in third, but Viñales was sixth and within 0.127 seconds of his teammate. This will be a hotly contested battle all season.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Aprilia finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Second or third. Espargaró seems happy with the bike. The pace looked good. There were three Aprilia in the top six of the testing. The factory Aprilia team was one of two teams to have both its riders in the top six. The other was Ducati. I am not convinced it can take the fight to Ducati for the championship, but it should have plenty of strong days, and second or third depends on how the customer Ducati teams perform.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Gresini Racing MotoGP</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Álex Márquez (#73</b><b> Ducati Desmosedici GP23</b><b>) & Marc Márquez (#93</b><b> Ducati Desmosedici GP23</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>If healthy, Marc Márquez. </div><div><br /></div><div>This could be the year. I know we have been saying "this could the year" for four years now, but this could be the year Marc Márquez returns to form. He was fourth in testing on a year-old Ducati that thrashed the championship last year. The problem is the 2024 Ducati looks exceptionally strong. </div><div><br /></div><div>There should still be races where on the year-old bike Marc Márquez is able to take the fight to everyone and come out on top. Even on the days the new Ducati is clearly better, the year-old Ducati should be better than most. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Gresini finish in the championship?</i></div><div>If healthy, Marc Márquez combined with Álex Marquez can get Gresini to second. It will be task. Aprilia, VR46 and Gresini could be a thick three-way fight for second, third or fourth. If Pramac has two capable riders, it could become a four-way fight. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Álex Márquez was eighth in the championship and that should not be lost on anyone. He can contribute and complement his brother. Together, they can lift Gresini up the order.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Fabio Quartararo (#20 Yamaha YZR-M1) & Álex Rins (</b><b>#42 Yamaha YZR-M1</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Quartararo, mostly because of his experience, but both riders have experience on rough bikes. Rins is coming from a customer Honda. </div><div><br /></div><div>It will be another trying year for Yamaha. Quartararo has been able to pull out some special results, though Rins did win last year at Austin on the LCR Honda. I feel better about Quartararo being able to make it to the finish of races. That goes a long way to deciding who finishes the best in a team. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Yamaha finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Yamaha was seventh last year and somehow that feels way too high for 2024. </div><div><br /></div><div>Quartararo and Rins were 14th and 16th respectively in the final test. The only manufacturer Yamaha was ahead of completely was Honda. I think it will be a battle between Yamaha and Red Bull GasGas to see who is eighth.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Trackhouse Racing MotoGP</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Raúl Fernández (</b><b>#25 Aprilia RS-GP23</b><b>) & Miguel Oliveira (#88 </b><b>Aprilia RS-GP24</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Last year, as CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team, Oliveira was ahead of Fernández in the championship by 25 points despite Oliveira missing nine races. Oliveira, of course, picked up his one "how they hell did he do that" victories last year. Fernández had one top five finish and five top ten finishes all season. </div><div><br /></div><div>If healthy, Oliveira, but it should be noted Fernández, on the year-old Aprilia was fifth in the test and nearly a half-second faster than Oliveira. Hmm...</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Trackhouse finish in the championship?</i></div><div>This is the first season of the Trackhouse ownership of this team. The American-based organization expands from its roots in NASCAR into the motorcycle world championship. It shouldn't really change much. Trackhouse has hired Davide Brivio, who oversaw the Suzuki program from 2015 through January 2021, as its team principal.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Things should improve from last year. Seventh for Trackhouse in year one.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Repsol Honda Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Luca Marini (</b><b>#10 Honda RC213V</b><b>) & Joan Mir (</b><b>#36 Honda RC213V</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Honestly, your guess is as good as mind. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mir has more time with the bike and team, but the bike and team is lost. Marini was respectable at VR46, though he lost out to Bezzecchi. Mir was 19th in testing and Marini was 20th. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think Marini truly knows what it is like to ride a truly cruddy bike. Advantage Mir, though it doesn't really matter when both riders will be struggling to score points.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Honda finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Eleventh. Honda was behind LCR Honda in testing! It no longer has its magic bullet in Marc Márquez who can take a bike that shouldn't be in the top ten and have it finish on the podium. Mir and Marini should get some points. They may even keep the factory from receiving the wooden spoon, but it isn't going to be any better than tenth.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>LCR Honda Idemitsu/Castrol</u></b></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Johann Zarco (</b><b>#5 Honda RC213V</b><b>) & Takaaki Nakagami (</b><b>#30 Honda RC213V</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>You have Zarco taking a significant step back, and Nakagami, who was the most consistent Honda rider in 2023. Zarco was 17th in testing and Nakagami was 18th. Zarco could settle into his fate for the 2024 season, but Nakagami is already used to it. Numbness is his advantage. Nakagami isn't going to breakdown over this season.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should LCR Honda finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Tenth or 11th. Neither Honda team is going to do all that well. Nakagami's consistency could be the deciding factor. If he and Zarco are on the same level, Repsol Honda is toast.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Red Bull GasGas </u></b><span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline;">Tech3</span></div><div><div><i>Riders:</i> <b>Pedro Acosta (</b><b>#31 KTM RC16</b><b>) & Augusto Fernández (</b><b>#37 KTM RC16</b><b>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Acosta is making an anticipated move into MotoGP, and he already started ahead of his teammate. Acosta was 15th in testing while Fernández was 21st, the slowest of the full-time riders. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Tech3 operation doesn't quite have the same legs as the factory KTM team, which is surprising. It doesn't have to be competing for podiums but it should at least be in consideration for points. Acosta put on some spectacular rides in Moto3 and Moto2. It will not be as easy in MotoGP. However, I think he can put together a few impressive runs and lead GasGas Tech3.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Ducati finish in the championship?</i></div><div>There is a chance GasGas Tech3 clears Yamaha and the Hondas and gets into eighth. GasGas should at least be ahead of the Hondas. Quartararo could keep Yamaha in eighth, but if Acosta finds his groove and Fernández can run a respectable pace in comparison, eighth isn't out of the question for the French team.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>First practice for the MotoGP season will be on Friday March 8 at 7:45 a.m. Eastern. The next session will be at noon that same Friday. At 6:00 a.m. ET on Saturday March 9, there will be the second practice, a 30-minute session before the first round of qualifying takes place at 6:40 a.m. Round two follows at 7:05 a.m. The sprint race will be 11 laps and start at 11:00 a.m. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Qatar Grand Prix will run on Sunday March 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET for 22 laps.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-76952490184827425322024-02-29T07:11:00.001-05:002024-02-29T07:11:21.017-05:00Best of the Month: February 2024<div>Welcome to Leap Day! Only once every four years to we get to experience February 29. It is the quadrennial chance to wish Ja Rule a happy birthday. Masten Gregory is the only driver born on Leap Day to start the Indianapolis 500, but don't forget Louis Schweitzer, born on Leap Day 1880, who never started the Indianapolis 500 but drove in relief for Harry Come in the first Indianapolis 500. This the 20th anniversary of Sam Hornish, Jr. winning on his Team Penske debut at Homestead. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is rare we get to experience this day! We must make the most of this later end to February!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Possible IndyCar Milestones</u></b></div><div>Not really February-related, but we are within two weeks of the first IndyCar race of the season. We are running out of time for previews and to be set for the first race. Each year, it is good to know what we could witness over the course of a season. We are always going to see something historic. What is possibly ahead of us in 2024?</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Scott Dixon: 400 Career Starts</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> 385 starts</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Start 15 races. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon is quietly approaching another all-time record. If he makes 15 starts, Dixon will become the second driver in IndyCar history to start 400 races. Mario Andretti's all-time record is 407. </div><div><br /></div><div>In all likelihood, Dixon is going to break this record. There has been no signs he is suggesting 2024 will be his final season. I think we are at least going to get 2025, and probably 2026. When all is said and done, Dixon could be looking at about 440 starts in his career if he only continues for three more seasons, and there is a chance he clears 450. </div><div><br /></div><div>Consider where Dixon could be in the record book when his career is over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Starts: 1st</div><div>Victories: 2nd (There is a chance he reaches the 60-victory mark)</div><div>Runner-Up Finishes; 2nd (Dixon has 50, six behind Andretti's record)</div><div>Podium Finishes: 2nd (Dixon has 137, seven behind Andretti's record)</div><div>Top Five Finishes: 1st (Dixon is so far the only driver to surpass 200 career top five finishes)</div><div>Laps Led: ... We will get to that in a minute.</div><div>Championships: 2nd (And there is still a good chance Dixon gets one more title and finishes tied with A.J. Foyt for first all-time)</div><div><br /></div><div>Stunning. Simply Stunning.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Scott Dixon: 7,000 Laps Led</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> 6,734 laps led</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Lead 266 laps, which could be a little of a stretch.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon is already second all-time in laps led. He would be the second to 7,000 laps led. The all-time record is Mario Andretti's at 7,595 laps led. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon led 205 laps last year, but he led only 13 laps in the first 13 races. He has led 266 laps or more in only six of 12 seasons since the introduction of the DW12 chassis. It is literally a 50/50 shot he reaches 7,000 laps led this season. If it isn't 2024, it will be 2025, and more likely early 2025. </div><div><br /></div><div>What about the all-time mark?</div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon is 861 laps behind Andretti. Dixon averages 292.7826 laps led per season. That means Dixon is about three seasons away. It is possible, but far from a guarantee. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Josef Newgarden: Top Ten All-Time in IndyCar Victories</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> Tied for 13th all-time with Rick Mears on 29 victories.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Win at least two races to becoming tied for tenth all-time. Win at least three races to earn sole possession of tenth all-time.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Newgarden is 33 years old. There is a good chance he will be in sole possession of tenth all-time all on his own and easily have another decade left in his career. He is only going to be reaching the 200-start milestone two races into this season. Top ten is just going to be a start. </div><div><br /></div><div>Forty victories are easily in play. Fifty isn't out of the question either. Since joining Team Penske, Newgarden is averaging 3.714 victories per season. Only once has he failed to win at least three races in a season with Team Penske. </div><div><br /></div><div>An average of three victories a season over the next decade with Team Penske is possible. If he does that, we are taking about a guy pushing 60 victories. Even if his average is only 2.5 victories per season, he will clear 50. This is still the start of something great, and it is already pretty sensational. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Josef Newgarden: 4,000 Laps Led</span></div><div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> 3,983 laps led</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Lead 17 laps, which isn't that hard. Newgarden will surpass 4,000 laps led this season. He might even crack 4,500 laps led. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>He has led at least 300 laps in each of the last nine seasons. His average laps led per season during that time is 440.222. And again, he is only 33 years old and has yet to make 200 starts. Give him another decade and lower his average laps led per season down to Scott Dixon's 292.7826 laps per season pace, and Newgarden will be on the verge of 7,000 laps led.</div><div><br /></div><div>Talk about near-identical careers.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Will Power: 300 Career Starts</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> 285 starts</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Start 15 races. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Power is on the verge of becoming the tenth driver to reach 300 career starts. It has been an incredible career. Starts shows longevity. For nearly two decades, Power has been at the top of IndyCar, a standard every driver wishes he or she could emulate. </div><div><br /></div><div>We don't know how many more races Power has in his career. We know we beyond the halfway point. We should appreciate every start we get from him.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Will Power: 100 Podium Finishes</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where they are at:</i> 98 podium finishes</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What they need to do:</i> Score two podium finishes. Power entered 2023 with a good shot of hitting the century mark in podium finishes. He fell a little short. He should get over that line this year.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Since joining Team Penske, here is how many starts in a season it has taken for Power to reach two podium finishes...</div><div><br /></div><div>2009 - 4</div><div>2010 - 2</div><div>2011 - 2</div><div>2012 - 3</div><div>2013 - 15</div><div>2014 - 2</div><div>2015 - 5</div><div>2016 - 7</div><div>2017 - 5</div><div>2018 - 5</div><div>2019 - 8</div><div>2020 - 6</div><div>2021 - 9</div><div>2022 - 5</div><div>2023 - 7</div><div><br /></div><div>At worst, he will get it in the early summer. Only four drivers have 100 podium finishes (Mario Andretti 144, Scott Dixon 137, A.J. Foyt 119, Michael Andretti 100). Power will make that five in no time. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Team Penske: Tenth 1-2-3 Finish</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where it is at:</i> Nine 1-2-3 finishes </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What it needs to do:</i> Score a 1-2-3- finish.</div><div><br /></div><div>We don't consider team milestones, but this was something is recognized while going over the record book. Penske has nine 1-2-3 finishes. There have only been 13 1-2-3 finishes in IndyCar since 1946. The only other team with multiple 1-2-3 finishes is Andretti Green Racing/Andretti Autosport/Andretti Global with three. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Penske hasn't had a podium sweep since the 2017 season finale at Sonoma.</div><div><br /></div><div>With Newgarden, Power and Scott McLaughlin, Penske has the trio to do it. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Team Penske: 300 Pole Positions</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where it is at:</i> 298 pole positions</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What it needs to do:</i> Win two pole positions! </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Team Penske has done a lot in IndyCar, but 300 pole positions would be something. To give you some perspective, Chip Ganassi Racing is the next closest active team in pole positions, and it only has 93. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is going to happen. It might happen within the first two races. It is staggering and it will likely never be topped. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Álex Palou: Second youngest three-time champion</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> Two championship prior to turning 27 years old</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Win the championship for starters. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>That is easier said than done, perhaps for most drivers, but for Palou, it might be easier to do. He makes it look that way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Palou turns 27 on April 1. If he wins the championship this season, he will have three titles at 27 years, five months and 14 years old. That would make him the second youngest triple champion. Only Sam Hornish, Jr. would have three titles at a younger age. Hornish, Jr. won his third at 27 years, two months and eight days old.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is more a case of Palou being born two months too early, and, to be fair, that was be out of his control. He would have three titles before 28 years old. The only other driver to do that was Sébastien Bourdais, who was born a little over four months before Hornish, Jr. and the Champ Car season went two months later in 2006. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even if Palou doesn't get the record, he is rare company and at the start of an IndyCar career that doesn't appear to be ending any time soon. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Colton Herta: 15 Pole Positions</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> 11 pole positions</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Win four pole positions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fifteen pole positions might not sound like much, but if Herta wins four pole positions, he will become just the 23rd driver to reach 15 pole positions in a career. It would put him level with Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya. That would put Herta ahead of Tony Bettenhausen, Tom Sneva, Simon Pagenaud, Parnelli Jones and Rodger Ward. He is already ahead of Dan Gurney, Alex Zanardi, Nigel Mansell, Bryan Herta, Sam Hornish, Jr., Al Unser, Jr., and Ryan Hunter-Reay. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Herta isn't quite on pace to rival Will Power’s all-time record, but Herta is on pace to have 38 pole positions when he reaches 285 starts, Power's current total. That would be good enough for seventh all-time. We are 203 starts from that point in time, but it is something to keep in mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Kyle Kirkwood: Third driver with his first three top five finishes being victories</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> Kirkwood's first two top five finishes were victories</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Have his next top five finish be a victory.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>We covered this <a href="https://fortheloveofindy.blogspot.com/2023/09/best-of-month-september-2023.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">after the end of last season</a>. Kirkwood put himself in exclusive company last year with his two victories and those two victories being his only top five finishes. He can put himself in another group if his next top five finish is a victory. </div><div><br /></div><div>The only drivers to have their first three top five finishes be victories are Juan Pablo Montoya and Sébastien Bourdais. Of course, Montoya and Bourdais each did that in their respective rookie seasons. Kirkwood's first two victories came in his sophomore season, and a possible third would come in his third season. It would be a different way to accomplish it. </div><div><br /></div><div>It should be noted, no driver have had their first four top five finishes all be victories. Kirkwood has a chance to be in a class of his own.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Patricio O'Ward: Most runner-up finishes between race victories</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> O'Ward has four runner-up finishes since his most recent victory.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Despite the results, O'Ward's 2023 season likely will not be remembered fondly because of how close he came to victory on a number of occasions but could not get a victory. O'Ward had four runner-up finishes. What is the record for most runner-up finishes between victories? It is a stretch for O'Ward to reach it, but it is ten runner-up finishes. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Tom Sneva had ten runner-up finishes between his victories at Pocono in 1977 and the 1980 Phoenix season finale. </div><div><br /></div><div>O’Ward is good enough to have six or seven runner-up finishes this season before he wins a race. This is one of those records O'Ward likely does not want, but still remarkable if he achieves it.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Graham Rahal: Most Starts Between Victories</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> 107 starts without a victory</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Ok... technically, this record cannot be reached until 2025, but if Rahal does not win a race in 2024 he will have gone 124 starts cine his most recent victory. </div><div><br /></div><div>What is the record for most starts between victories? </div><div><br /></div><div>124. </div><div><br /></div><div>Who owns that record?</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Graham Rahal! Rahal went 124 races between his first career victory at St. Petersburg in 2008 and his second career victory at Fontana in 2015. If Rahal does not win a race in 2024 and then wins the 2025 season, he will match his own record. If he wins any race beyond the first race of 2025, he will break his own mark.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is an accomplishment no driver really wants, and yet, if Rahal does accomplish it, the achievement shows resiliency through a trying career that might not have lived up to the hopes of 18 years ago, but is respectable nonetheless. Even if he wins in 2024, Rahal would become the first driver to have ended multiple winless droughts of 100 races or more. </div><div><br /></div><div>You may not like your place in history but it is a place in history. Embrace it!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Santino Ferrucci: Six Ten Finishes in First Six Indianapolis 500 Starts</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> Five top ten finishes in five Indianapolis 500 starts</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Finish in the top ten of the Indianapolis 500, but do you know how rare six top ten finishes in the first six Indianapolis 500 starts for a driver is? </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!</div><div><br /></div><div>With his third place finish last season, Ferrucci became the third driver to have five top five finishes in his first five Indianapolis 500 starts joining Harry Hartz and Hélio Castroneves. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ferrucci has had some impressive drives at Indianapolis. He has yet to put a wheel wrong. He has made the most of some mid-pack teams and finished better than expected. However, it should be noted that Hartz and Castroneves both finished 25th in their sixth Indianapolis 500 start. Keep that in mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b><i>Hélio Castroneves: Oldest Indianapolis 500 Winner</i></b></div><div><div><i>Where he is at:</i> On Indianapolis 500 race day, Castroneves will be 49 years and 16 days old.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What he needs to do:</i> Win the Indianapolis 500, and it will break Al Unser's record of being the oldest "500" winner at the age 47 years, 11 months and 26 days. It would also make Castroneves the third oldest winner in IndyCar history. </div><div><br /></div><div>The only older winners would be Mario Andretti, who was 53 years, one month and seven days old when Andretti won his final race at Phoenix in 1993, and the oldest winner in IndyCar history is Louis Unser, who was 57 years, five months and 22 days old when he won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 1953.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In a return to being a one-off, it is unlikely Castroneves will win at Indianapolis, but we said the same thing in 2021 and what a way would it be to get his fifth? </div><div><br /></div><div>Fifth Indianapolis 500, victory oldest Indianapolis 500 winner annd oldest IndyCar winner in over 31 years!? What a day that would be.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>March Preview</u></b></div><div>It might not be Super Sebring, but the 12 Hours of Sebring is still the standout event this March, and it has a tough act to follow after last year's race. The #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac took the victory after the top three runners all took each other out in one accident with about 15 minutes remaining. It was Cadillac's third consecutive Sebring victory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cadillac has a chance to join Porsche, Ferrari and Audi as the only manufacturers to win overall in at least four consecutive years at Sebring. We are likely going to see the IMSA debut for Lamborghini's GTP program in this race, which was fastest when it completed its homologation test. Acura will be looking for its first Sebring victory. Porsche hasn't won since Penske's upset victory in 2008 with the LMP2 RS Spyder. BMW is going on 25 years since its most recent overall Sebring triumph. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the driver side, Pipo Derani is going for his fifth Sebring victory, and he would only be the third driver to win Sebring at least five times overall, joining Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello, and Derani is only 30 years old. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Other events of note in March:</i></div><div>Formula One has three races: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia.</div><div>MotoGP has two races races: Qatar, Portugal.</div><div>Super Formula has an earlier start to its season. </div><div>There is the WEC season opener from Qatar.</div><div>Daytona Bike Week.</div><div>Formula E makes its first visit to Tokyo.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-398499334086905812024-02-28T06:55:00.001-05:002024-02-28T06:55:00.130-05:002024 Formula One Season Preview<div>In 2024, the final days of February mean the final days of the Formula One offseason, as Formula One is set for its earliest start since 1992, and it all begins on a Saturday night in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Along with the different day of the week, this season is set to be the longest in Formula One history. Twenty-four races are slated to take place over the span of 282 days, and this season will take place in ten of the 12 months. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the grid, all 20 drivers that competed in the 2023 finale from Abu Dhabi are in the same seats for the 2024 season opener. However, we already know of at least two seats that will change in 2025, but that discussion can wait for another day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Max Verstappen is attempting to win his fourth consecutive World Drivers' Championship. It would be the fifth time a driver has won at least four consecutive titles. Verstappen and Red Bull are looking to improve on their near-perfect season in 2023. Red Bull won 21 of 22 races, Verstappen won 19 of them, a record both in total and percentage. Surpassing his own mark is daunting, but not out of the question.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Schedule</u></b></div><div>For the first time since 1982, the Formula One season begins on a Saturday, as the Bahrain Grand Prix opens the season on Saturday March 2. One week after that, Formula One will run the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday March 9, the first of eight instances this season with consecutive races. This will be the first Formula One season with multiple races not held on Sunday since 1983, when the British and South African Grand Prix were both run on Saturdays.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a week off, the teams head for Australia for the third round on March 24. This begins a stretch of four rounds happening on alternating off weekends. The Japanese Grand Prix moves up to April 7, the earliest Japan has ever appeared on the Formula One schedule. The Chinese Grand Prix returns on April 21. </div><div><br /></div><div>Miami returns for a third season on May 5 and that is just before the European portion of the calendar begins. A back-to-back kicks off the European calendar with Imola on May 19 and Monaco on May 26. There will be the Montreal detour on June 9, but after the trek to Canada there will be three consecutive weeks of races in Europe. It starts with Barcelona on June 23 before the Austrian Grand Prix on June 30 and it ends with the British Grand Prix on July 7. </div><div><br /></div><div>A back-to-back takes Formula One into its summer break. The series will race in Hungary on July 21 and then Belgium on July 28. </div><div><br /></div><div>Zandvoort restarts the season on August 25 with the Italian Grand Prix following on September 1, and that will conclude the European section of the season. Azerbaijan moves to September 15, one week prior to the Singapore Grand Prix. </div><div><br /></div><div>There will be an autumn break for the teams after Singapore, as the next round will not be until October 20 at the United States Grand Prix. Austin will lead off three consecutive weeks of racing in the Americas. The Mexican Grand Prix will be October 27 before the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 3. </div><div><br /></div><div>Las Vegas remains on a Saturday night, scheduled for November 23, and it leads off three consecutive races to close the season, the final two will take place in the Middle East. Qatar moves back to December 1 and Abu Dhabi closes the season on December 8.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>Constructors:</i></b></div><div><b><u>Oracle Red Bull Racing</u></b></div></div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Max Verstappen (#1 Red Bull RB20) & Sergio Pérez (#11 Red Bull RB20)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Verstappen, and it shouldn't be close. Verstappen won 19 of 22 races last year. His worst finish was fifth. He had more than double the points of Pérez, and Pérez was second in the championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>This team is Verstappen's team. Red Bull is built for the Dutchman. He is Red Bull's first, second, third, fourth and fifth priority. It doesn't matter what Pérez does in the first five races. It doesn't matter if the drivers have three victories and two victories respectively. It is Verstappen's team. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pérez isn't going to accidentally end up in a championship position. There is no taking the fight to Verstappen. Some of that is the team, a lot of it is still on the drivers, and Verstappen is head and shoulders ahead of his teammate. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are 24 races on the 2024 calendar. Is Verstappen going to win 86.36% of the races again? That is essentially 21 victories. No one had won more than 75% of the races in a season let alone more than 85% of the races before Verstappen did it last year. History says it will not happen because it hasn't happened before. The unprecedented has to happen at some point. </div><div><br /></div><div>Verstappen is going to win a bulk of the races, and that is over the entire season. Whether that is 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21, we will find out. Pérez might win his two again, but no one would be surprised if he was shutout despite his teammate's success.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Red Bull finish in the championship?</i></div><div>First.</div><div><br /></div><div>After falling a race shy of the perfect season, Red Bull will fight to get over that hill. In testing, it feels possible, but going 24-for-24? It is ridiculous! All it takes is one off weekend in Singapore for it to all go wrong. </div><div><br /></div><div>Winning only 23 races or only 22 races or, heaven forbid, only 20 races, is still a historic season. The question for Red Bull is how historic will 2024 be?</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Lewis Hamilton (#44 Mercedes W15) & George Russell (#63 Mercedes W15)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>With Hamilton announcing he would move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, this is a sentimental year for the Brackley-based operation. For a little over decade, Hamilton and Mercedes were Formula One. Every grand prix started and ended wondering how Hamilton and Mercedes would do. Hamilton has gone winless the last two seasons, and after notable disagreements with the direction of the car, Hamilton is leaving despite having signed a two-year extension last year. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the last two seasons, each driver has come out on top. Russell had the edge in 2022, 275 points to Hamilton's 240 points with a victory carrying additional bragging rights. In 2023, Hamilton was 59 points clear of Russell (285 to 175). Neither driver won, but Hamilton had six podium finishes to Russell's two. </div><div><br /></div><div>These drivers have been rather even over their two seasons together. The W15 has received greater praise through testing, and the team sounds like it is at least pointing in the right direction and not uncertain of which way to go. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hamilton still finished third in the world championship last year despite Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin's superior start to the season, and Hamilton was in a car he dreaded. If this year's car is not a demon damaging the psyche of the team's most successful driver, I think it is safe to say Hamilton should have the edge over Russell, though it could remain close for a third consecutive season. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Mercedes finish in the championship?</i></div><div>In the fairy tale grounded in reality, Mercedes, after abandoning its sidepod-less concept and reverting to something a little more battle tested, would be more competitive than the previous two seasons. With Lewis Hamilton about to head out the door, the team is able to produce a race winner, get Hamilton a victory or two to end on and hang his hat before heading out the door. It isn't the world championship, it isn't close to Red Bull, but it is a few days to cherish as Mercedes finishes second. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>That is as good as the fairy tale can get. We know how this season will play out, but even then Mercedes' best possible outcome might fall short. It is the manufacturer that won seven consecutive drivers' championships and eight consecutive constructors' championship. It should figure out its woes and at least plant itself in Red Bull's rearview mirror even if only the reflection is only a speck. But with Hamilton's pending departure, the sense of lost faith is inescapable, and this is set to end on a low note. Third, not bad, but still low.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Scuderia Ferrari</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Charles Leclerc (#16 Ferrari SF-24) & Carlos Sainz, Jr. (#55 Ferrari SF-24)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>This is a lame duck season for the Ferrari team as we know it. Leclerc will be sticking around, but Sainz, Jr. know he will be out the door, regardless of how he does this year. Absent of pulling out an unthinkable championship, the Spaniard will be making way for Hamilton while Leclerc will remain. </div><div><br /></div><div>For all the potential we have seen from Leclerc, Sainz, Jr. has made it impossible not to ask if Ferrari is keeping the right driver. Leclerc has beat Sainz, Jr. in the championship each year, but he has also tossed away many quality race results. Not that Sainz, Jr. isn't innocent of that either, but he is responsible for Ferrari's most recent victory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sainz, Jr. will be trying to earn a job. He will certainly get one. Leclerc will be trying to prove Maranello it might the right decision. Only six points separated these drivers in 2023. It could remain that tight, but considering Leclerc will be around, the Monegasque driver should have a slight advantage again.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Ferrari finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Either second or third. It really comes down to Mercedes. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Last season, Mercedes clung to second and survived to finish runner-up to Red Bull. Ferrari has a handful of places where it could kick itself for coming three points short, but the Scuderia ended on the offensive and looked a little mightier than Mercedes down the stretch, and that isn't even taking the Singapore victory into consideration.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both drivers have something to play for. Leclerc is trying to convince everyone Ferrari made the right choice keeping him over Sainz, Jr. and Sainz, Jr. has a 24-race audition. If Mercedes is caught between two minds in car development and the Ferrari is humming, Ferrari could be second for the entire season and not have to worry about pressure from behind.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>McLaren F1 Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Lando Norris (#4 McLaren MCL38) & Oscar Piastri (#81 McLaren MCL38)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>The comeback of the season saw McLaren rise from being one step from being in the cellar to finishing fourth and being on the doorstep of victory in 2023. McLaren is exponentially better positioned at the start of 2024 compared to the start of 2023. If it can end up fourth in the constructors' championship after how 2023 started, how high up the order can it finish was a marginally better start let alone the leap we are likely to see in 2024 compared to last year?</div><div><br /></div><div>Both drivers covered themselves well in the final chapter of last season. Both drivers were on the podium. Piastri won a sprint race. Considering how things started and the difficulty adjusting to Formula One, the fact Piastri scored 97 points and finished ninth in the championship is remarkable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Norris is more comfortable, and he should remain the top driver at McLaren. Norris had McLaren second in a great number of races last year. It is reasonable to feel McLaren is the closest to knocking off Red Bull, even if only for one race. But Piastri will make a statement as well. This team isn't Norris or bust, which is a great position for the Woking team to be.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should McLaren finish in the championship?</i></div><div>No team had more runner-up finishes in 2023 than McLaren, and that could point to it being set to be the surprise and jump up into the top two or three spots. But this is McLaren. For the previous two seasons, it has started flat and then found form. Last year was a seismic turnaround from the first race to the last. McLaren shouldn't start that poorly this year, but it will still have to bridge a 100-point gap between it and Mercedes and Ferrari. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>It is doable, but teething problems will likely persist. Everyone has Norris as a sleeper for a race victory, some likely are throwing their weight behind Piastri. Top two or top three are practical, but Mercedes isn't going to slide back any further from where it was in 2023. McLaren should be a closer fourth than last season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Fernando Alonso (#14 Aston Martin AMR24) & Lance Stroll (#18 Aston Martin AMR24)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Alonso and it should be a runaway. Alonso was six positions and 132 points better than Stroll in the championship last year. Alonso had 11 top five finishes in 2023. Stroll had three. Aston Martin ended up finishing 22 points behind McLaren for fourth in the constructors' championship. With a driver only a few percentages better than Stroll, Aston Martin could have claimed fourth, and this was a team that looked ready to fight for second in the opening third of the championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aston Martin will go as far as Alonso can take it. Stroll is just providing a boost. If Stroll can be fractionally better compared to Alonso's total, it should help Aston Martin in the championship, but if Aston Martin starts 2024 like it ended 2023, Aston Martin will be losing ground no matter what.</div><div><br /></div><div>In all likelihood, Aston Martin is not going to be as good as it was in 2023. Alonso isn't going to open with five podium finishes from the first six races. Aston Martin isn't going to have a driver finish in the top five of the championship let alone take fourth. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Aston Martin finish in the championship?</i></div><div>We saw the tank go dry on Aston Martin at the halfway point of last season and the Silverstone-based team coast to the finish line, losing a handful of spots in the process. Aston Martin isn't going to start with that same podium form we saw in 2023. It isn't going to have that consistency at the front at any point in 2024. It will likely have a few competitive days, but it isn't going to be a regular occurrence. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>That means a step back for Fernando Alonso, and if Fernando Alonso is taking a step back, Aston Martin is taking a step back. If Alonso is taking a step back, Stroll is taking a step back. Stroll is not going to be picking up any slack for what Alonso loses. Considering the gulf that existed between Aston Martin in fifth and Alpine in sixth last year, Aston Martin could lose ground and still end up fifth. However, it will be more frustrating than last season. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>BWT Alpine F1 Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Pierre Gasly (#10 Alpine A524) & Esteban Ocon (#31 Alpine A524)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Hardly anything separated these two drivers in 2023. Gasly would up 11th in the championship on 62 points while Ocon was 12th on 58 points. They each stood on the podium once, with their best finish being third. Coincidentally, both races had changing track conditions.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is throwing darts at the wall between these two. In his first season with Alpine, Gasly narrowly beat Ocon. In two of the previous three seasons, when Gasly was at AlphaTauri, he finished ahead of Ocon. Gasly takes it. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Alpine finish in the championship?</i></div><div>From the sounds of it, Alpine has its work cutout for itself after testing. There is a sense of frustration out of the French camp and it could find itself in the same position where McLaren was at in the early portion of the 2023. The only difference is I don't think Alpine can dig itself out of same size hole the way McLaren did last year. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>If Alpine is coughing up points early, it will cost them late. There was 92 points between it and Williams for sixth in the constructors' championship. That daylight can disappear quickly if Alpine is struggling to break into the points. Last year, Alpine failed to score points in only six races, and it never had a drought longer than two races. That will likely change in 2024. </div><div><br /></div><div>It will not be rock-bottom. It will be a slide down the order to seventh, but it could be worse.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Williams Racing</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Logan Sargeant (#2 Williams FW46) & Alexander Albon (#23 Williams FW46)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Albon has achieved impressive results in two seasons with Williams. He is frequently the unsung hero of most grand prix. He scored 27 points and ended up 13th in the championship, ahead of both AlphaTauri drivers, both Alfa Romeo drivers, and both Haas drivers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Williams deserves some credit. The car last year was better than any Williams over the previous five or six seasons. The combination was just right. </div><div><br /></div><div>Albon is paired with Sargeant, who wasn't abysmal in his rookie year. Sargeant had some tough times and some rough races, but he wasn't completely lost on track. The American didn't pick up a point after Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified from Austin, but he wasn't sniffing the points on a regular basis while Albon did score in seven races. </div><div><br /></div><div>This should go comfortably in Albon's favor, but we could see both drivers make step forwards this year and Williams could be in the running to finish seventh again in the constructors' battle.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Williams finish in the championship?</i></div><div>The goal should be just to get back to seventh. Williams was 92 points off Alpine last year. Williams only scored 28 points in 2023. More than tripling its points total is asking a bit much from this group. Albon will give it his all, but we should not believe Sargeant is going to make a substantial leap. Any improvement from Sargeant will be welcomed. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Williams is going to be about where Williams was the last two seasons. Albon can produce something out of nothing with this car. If Sargeant can have two or three races where he sneaks in the points, it will only help this outfit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Seventh again feels ambitious, but it is possible. It really will come down to how lost Alpine is and how quickly Alpine can find itself. If Alpine is out in the woods, it bodes well for Williams. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Visa Cash App RB F1 Team</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Daniel Ricciardo (#3 VCARB 01) & Yuki Tsunoda (#22 VCARB 01)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>The team formerly known as AlphaTauri/Toro Rosso/Minardi is now some amalgamation of a credit card company, a mobile payment app, an abbreviation of another team on the grid, the abbreviation for the series it competes in and the word "team."</div><div><br /></div><div>For the sake of sanity, this is Toro Rosso. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the seven races they competed together as teammates in 2023, Tsunoda finished ahead of Ricciardo four times. Tsunoda outscored Ricciardo 14 points to eight with Tsunoda scoring in four races, plus a sprint race, and the only race Ricciardo scored in was with his seventh place finish at Mexico City.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ricciardo was a top tier talent, a grand prix winner, and at one point, a potential world champion. Would it be surprising if Ricciardo tops this team and leads Toro Rosso up the standings? No. But it feels like the moment has passed. Ricciardo is turning 35 years old and driving for the same team he spent his first full season in Formula One 12 years ago. There is also Liam Lawson looming in the background. </div><div><br /></div><div>A Red Bull seat will likely be open in 2024. Even if Tsunoda does best Ricciardo within the Toro Rosso battle, the Red Bull seat could be going elsewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Toro Rosso finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Looking at pacing, Toro Rosso should move into the middle of the grid. It feels like the car is at a spot where both drivers can compete to make it into Q3 in qualifying, and both drivers could possibly make it. If Toro Rosso can produce a car where both drivers are starting in the top ten and finishing in the points, even if it is seventh and ninth or eighth and tenth, those results go a long way. That is effectively how Alpine ended up sixth last year. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I think Toro Rosso can do that and inherit sixth from Alpine. The one-off (or I guess two-off) podium finishes might not happen, but consistently scoring points is possible Toro Rosso.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber</u></b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Guanyu Zhou (#24 Sauber C44) & Valtteri Bottas (#77 Sauber C44)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>It is Sauber. There. With that covered, Bottas is a Formula One veteran and in two seasons he has outscored Zhou 59 to 12 and he has finished ahead of Zhou in 29 of 44 races. However, last year, Zhou did beat Bottas nine times.</div><div><br /></div><div>We haven't really seen enough to suggest it is without question Zhou who will come out on top in the Sauber camp. Bottas does not make mistakes and does not tear up race cars. He can position himself to take advantage of the off days of others and finish two or three spots better than expected.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Sauber finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Last year, the team doing business as Alfa Romeo had good testing pace and then never replicated that again all season. This year, Sauber had good testing pace, Zhou ran the fourth fastest lap, but no one is really believing Sauber will make a significant jump from ninth to regularly in the middle of the field. After all, Bottas was 18th in testing. There is a lot of ground between fourth and 18th.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The tight three-team cluster for seventh should remain this season, but with Alpine taking the place of Toro Rosso. Like with Williams, if Alpine is bad, that could be good for Sauber, but that is Sauber's best hope for eighth. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>MoneyGram Haas F1 Team</u></b></div><div><div></div></div></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> <b>Kevin Magnussen (#20 Haas VF-24) & Nico Hülkenberg (#27 Haas VF-24)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Who should win the intra-team battle?</i></div><div>Hülkenberg was ahead of Magnussen in 13 of 22 races last year. However, Hülkenberg had only one points finish, and it was seventh in Australia after four cars had an accident on the late restart and Carlos Sainz, Jr. had a five-second penalty for causing a collision dropped him out of the points. </div><div><br /></div><div>It doesn't really matter at Haas because the team is going to be so woefully behind a tortoise could be behind the wheel of the car and no one would know the difference. </div><div><br /></div><div>Neither of these drivers are all that inspiring of a choice. Neither seem to have any chance of improving their value in Formula One nor torpedoing their value either this season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's just say Hülkenberg for the sake of making a pick.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Where should Haas finish in the championship?</i></div><div>Haas was focused on tire degradation at the Bahrain test. That says enough. This is a team that has broken 20 points only once in the last four seasons. This feels like 2020 and 2021 all over again except with less funding concerns. The team made the late change at team principal, axing Guenther Steiner on January 10, a move that either was made about a month too late or three years too late depending on how you look at it. Ayao Komatsu takes over the role, who has been with Haas since its first season in 2016 as the trackside engineering director. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Speed is the concern. Points are going to be harder to come by. Hülkenberg and Magnussen are mostly competent drivers. They are both on borrowed time in Formula One and would not be here if Haas was run by someone with competency or at least ambition. </div><div><br /></div><div>The only way Haas finishes ninth is if Alpine is a complete train wreck and is in constant turmoil. Haas should be tenth, and in all likelihood it will score fewer than the 12 points it earned in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>The opening practice for the Formula One season will take place at 6:30 a.m. ET on Thursday February 29. The second one-hour session will be at 10:00 a.m. On Friday March 1, practice will run at 7:30 a.m. with qualifying scheduled for 11:00 a.m. The 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix will start at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday March 2. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-53380967368667686722024-02-26T07:44:00.000-05:002024-02-26T07:44:22.848-05:00Musings From the Weekend: Making Sense of Time<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...</div><div><br /></div><div>William Byron eventually won the Daytona 500 with only four laps led. Austin Hill eventually won again at Daytona. Formula One tested in Bahrain, and Drive to Survive was released. Red Bull is going to be hard to beat again. Shipping delays delayed the FIA World Endurance Championship prologue test in Qatar. Ferrari and BMW lost all of its points from the 24 Hours of Daytona in both GT classes for violating expected performance levels. IndyCar has a few new rules. Restarts have a new line. Drivers will not be able to repeat the weaving we have seen at the finishes of the last two Indianapolis 500s. Indianapolis Motor Speedway upgraded some barriers and fencing, except in the area where you think it is needed. Does anyone know the actual format for the exhibition race from The Thermal Club? We are a month out. Shouldn't we know that by now? Anyway, we have something else on our mind as IndyCar inches closer to its first race of the season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Making Sense of Time</u></b></div><div>Last week, start times for the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season were announced. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few were as expected, a few others were entirely different, and we learned the method of the madness in a few other circumstances. In February, it might not appear to be clear plans for July or August, but let's take this chance to go over the timetable we have been given, and think about the decisions that have been made, round-by-round.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>St. Petersburg - March 10 - Noon Eastern (NBC)</i></div><div>The usual season opener. It is St. Petersburg and we are doing it early. That isn't a bad thing, especially since NASCAR is out west in Phoenix this weekend and that race will start after 3:00 p.m. Eastern. IndyCar races do better when not head-to-head against NASCAR Cup races. Whether you like it or not, people will choose NASCAR first over IndyCar. They will watch both but go with a Cup races if pressed into a decision. IndyCar can get its season opener in and out before NASCAR even starts. Good decision as always. </div><div><br /></div><div>We should note that these start times are all for the broadcast window. Most of these green flags will likely be closer to half-hour after the stated time. A few will likely start closer or right after the TV window begins.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge - March 24 - 12:30 p.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>This one might be the most peculiar on paper since the exhibition race in Palms Springs, California will start at 9:30 a.m. local time, but do you really care? Most don't want this race to happen. Only 2,000 people are attending specifically as spectators. The club members might not like the early start, but we get this race over with early. The early start does mean this race will likely be over before the NASCAR race from Austin begins.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Long Beach - April 21 - 3:00 p.m. ET (USA)</i></div><div>This is more like it for a West Coast race. Afternoon start. The Southern California locals will be able to have fully digested their breakfast before the green flag falls in Long Beach. Unfortunately, this race will go head-to-head with NASCAR at Talladega starting at the same time. Long Beach should be over at least an hour earlier, but everyone is going to watch Talladega on network Fox instead. For Long Beach, it cannot start much earlier than that. NASCAR is starting all of its races in the middle of the afternoon. Gone are the 1:00 pm starts. It is unfortunate, but these conflicts are bound to happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>The USA location is a different channel to catch the race. There is golf that weekend on NBC. No matter the network, they all have multiple properties. Everyone must get along.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Barber - April 28 - TBD (NBC)</i></div><div>Ok... the lone TBD remaining on the schedule, we do not know the Barber start time yet. It is a little strange that two months out from a race we do not know the start time. This seems important for people wishing to attend the race and a negative for ticket sales if it is not resolved quickly. Either way, it will likely step on NASCAR's toes as the Dover race is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start time, the earliest start time for a Cup race during the regular season and the only other 2:00 p.m. starts are Talladega and Charlotte in October, and Martinsville in November. Barber has historically been a mid-afternoon start because it is in the Central Time Zone.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Grand Prix of Indianapolis - May 11 - 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>The traditional date and time for the decade old road course race to start the month of May. No complaints here. The NASCAR Cup Series is running the next day at Darlington. Good date.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Indianapolis 500 - May 26 - 11:00 a.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>The television window is going to start at 11:00 a.m. The actual race likely will not start until closer to 12:30 p.m., based on recent years with the television broadcast. With Kyle Larson attempting The Double, Roger Penske might even have this start be closer to 12:15 p.m. just to help Larson with his travels to his day job. It is the Indianapolis 500, the Coca-Cola 600 is in the evening. It is the one Sunday afternoon that is all IndyCar's.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Detroit - June 2 - 12:00 p.m ET (USA)</i></div><div>Detroit has moved from its network spot the week after the Indianapolis 500 to cable the week after the “500,” and it is much earlier in the day. Detroit had been a 3:00 p.m. or a 3:30 p.m. start for almost its entire time in this race spot since 2012. One event of note that afternoon is the French Open final, and do you remember what happened in 2021? That's right! The French Open final went to five sets and the first third of the IndyCar race was shown on CNBC before joining the race in progress. We should avoid that with the USA spot, but some will not be happy. The good news is this race should be over before the NASCAR race from Gateway at 3:30 p.m. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Road America - June 9 - 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>This is the strangest one to me, because ever since Road America returned to the schedule all we have heard is Road America likes an early start time because it ensures people who are coming from the Chicago-area can get home before sunset. That is why it has been a noon or 1:00 p.m. ET start almost exclusively. This is a 2:30 p.m. local start, probably closer to 3:00 p.m. local start. The NASCAR Cup race from Sonoma begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, which will be on Fox, and this is Canadian Grand Prix weekend, which means the Montreal race will start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern and be on ABC in the United States. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is one where I scratch my head a little. It is at a time the track is not fond of and against the two biggest series in the United States, both of which will be on other network stations. </div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot recall another time in U.S. television history when three different network stations showed three different major series all at once and live! I am sure it must have happened once before, but it has been a long time since it has happened. </div><div><br /></div><div>No matter how great IndyCar is from Road America, this feels like it is up for a beating in the ratings. This is the one year where IndyCar really needs that noon start time! The crazy thing is IndyCar is last to announce its start times. It knew when Formula One and NASCAR would be starting. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it was push come to shove and Road America could have had a noon start, but that meant it would have been on USA. The NBC window was dependent on the later start, which is better for sponsors, but now it is against the biggest two series in the United States, and it really doesn't matter how great the IndyCar race is because no one is accidentally going to turn it on. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do wish IndyCar would do something nuts for Road America just to try and attract viewers. Pay to have Sebastian Vettel compete as a one-off entry for Penske, bring Mario Andretti out of retirement, something crazy that would make waves!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Laguna Seca - June 23 - 6:00 p.m. ET (USA)</i></div><div>When Laguna Seca was moved to the middle of the season I was worried we would have one of those clunky weekends where IndyCar has a 3:00 p.m. race on NBC and NASCAR has a 3:00 p.m. race on USA and we are wondering why two NBC properties are going head-to-head. That felt inevitable. I like the solution that was found. </div><div><br /></div><div>With a 6:00 p.m. start, Laguna Seca will take place after the NASCAR Cup race from Loudon on USA. This is smart. It is an afternoon full of racing. You get the Cup race leading into the IndyCar race. It is on USA, but if you want to watch racing all day, USA is the place for you. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is how it should work. The series should play off of one another and the networks were smart for this. I know people bemoan cable races for IndyCar, but this is better than being on NBC and head-to-head against NASCAR. You trade a network race for this. </div><div><br /></div><div>What does it do to race attendance? This is middle of the afternoon in California. For a number of years when it was a noon local start, nobody showed up. Maybe it helps. I don't know. Maybe we just have to accept Laguna Seca isn't going to attract 30,000 people no matter when the race takes place. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Mid-Ohio - July 7 - 1:30 p.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>Remember what I said earlier about the networks and series working with one another? Mid-Ohio is 1:30 p.m. The NASCAR Cup race from Chicago is at 4:30 p.m. on NBC. Same thing as the Loudon/Laguna Seca weekend, except IndyCar leads off this weekend and both races are on NBC. Applause to everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Iowa - July 13 - 8:00 p.m. ET (NBC) & July 14 - 12:00 p.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>This is a case of where you cannot have your cake and eat it too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone wanted a night race at Iowa. Great! You got it! And on NBC to boot! But this is a doubleheader weekend. The Sunday race was never going to be a night race, but that means a tight turnaround for the teams. It is even tighter as the Sunday race will start at noon Eastern, 11:00 a.m. local! It does mean the Sunday race is not directly against the NASCAR Cup race from Pocono race. The Pocono race will be at 2:30 p.m. ET. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is what you have to accept. If the IndyCar race was at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, it is directly against the NASCAR race and everyone is upset. Now, it will be at 11:00 a.m. local time, and likely everyone will be upset about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>You cannot have both. You could not have a night Iowa race and a second Iowa race with a perfect start time with no competition. This is as good as it gets. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Toronto - July 21 - 1:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)</i></div><div>The first of two Peacock exclusive streaming races for IndyCar, Toronto can start whenever it wants. It is streaming. It isn't going to be stepped on coming on air. It isn't going to be rushed off air. It has its own window. Obviously, start time matters, and this weekend is the return of the Brickyard 400. The races will mostly not overlap. The Brickyard 400 is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start. The Toronto finish and the Brickyard start will likely clash. With this race only being on streaming, it is for IndyCar fans. Nobody is accidentally going to stumble upon the Toronto race. That is how it has been for the previous two years.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Gateway - August 17 - 6:00 p.m. ET (USA)</i></div><div>IndyCar returns from its Olympic break with a Saturday evening race from Gateway. It isn't a night race. It will be a 5:00 p.m. local start on the shores of the Mississippi River. For everyone upset with the non-nighttime start, well, it goes back to series working together. The Gateway race will directly follow the NASCAR Grand National Series race from Michigan. As much as you want to wait until 8:00 p.m. Saturday night, this race will get better viewership directly following the NASCAR race than having two hours of Law & Order: SVU between the two races. </div><div><br /></div><div>You give the audience a moment to breathe, it will go somewhere else. Put these races bam-bam right next to each other, those watching the first one will most likely stay around the second. It isn't a night race, which could be a concern for Gateway. This race hasn't really kept up what we saw in 2017 and 2018. It is still a good crowd but not as stunning as it once was. The St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled to be hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 6:15 p.m. local first pitch. That doesn't necessarily help attract locals across the river to Madison, Illinois. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Portland - August 25 - 3:00 p.m. ET (USA)</i></div><div>The plus here is the NASCAR Cup Series is racing the night before at Daytona. IndyCar has this Sunday afternoon (barring rain in Daytona). It is a cable race on USA. It might be the price to pay for a Saturday night Iowa race on NBC. Considering NASCAR is not running this Sunday, it would be nice to have a cable window. The bright side is the IMSA race from Virginia International Raceway will lead into the IndyCar race from Portland this afternoon. Again, series working off one another. If you want an afternoon full of racing, USA is the place for you. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Milwaukee - August 31 - 6:00 p.m. ET (Peacock) & September 1 - 2:30 p.m. ET (USA)</i></div><div>A second Peacock exclusive race, the first Milwaukee race will be another Saturday evening race, which is a little odd because Milwaukee does not have lights and from the sounds of it they are not bringing in temporary lights. I would read into this as IndyCar is doing this in a two-day show. There is will be a Saturday morning practice, a Saturday afternoon qualifying session before the Saturday evening race. </div><div><br /></div><div>NASCAR's second division will be running at 3:30 p.m. ET that Saturday afternoon, so there is no competition, but Milwaukee is on Peacock. Will people turn on Peacock once that is over and close out their Saturday night? We will have to wait and see.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the Sunday race, again, series working with series. IndyCar is on USA, but the second Milwaukee race will lead into the Southern 500 from Darlington. You get an entire day of racing on USA. This is a good thing. This is what we want. It is glorious. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Nashville - September 15 - 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC)</i></div><div>No longer a downtown street race, the Nashville season finale will be on the 1.333-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee. The television time has not changed, which means it does not change the fact the season is ending head-to-head against the NASCAR Cup race from Watkins Glen. That bummer was always going to happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, this is the price IndyCar pays ending on the second weekend of the NFL season. It is not only going against NASCAR but football when football is loved the most. There are 32 fanbases that still believe their team can win the Super Bowl, and most are occupied with their teams during the time of the finale. </div><div><br /></div><div>If IndyCar is going to end its season on one of the first two or three weeks of the NFL season, it should just jam its season in before Labor Day. With the Nashville street race dead until 2027 at the earliest, there is no reason why the Nashville Superspeedway should host the finale in 2025 and beyond. Move this race into the Olympic vacancy that will need to be filled, put it under the lights in early August to shut up the fans and give them another night race, and end the season at Milwaukee, which isn't as sexy as Nashville but is a hell of a lot sexier than Lebanon, Tennessee.</div><div><br /></div><div>End with a doubleheader for all I care, and if it is too weird to have a doubleheader as the finale, give Nashville Superspeedway two August races and make that a pair of Saturday/Sunday races, maybe both could be night races. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar ending by Labor Day isn't some Herculean task. It is moving one race weekend to an open weekend between February and August. With no Olympic break in 2025, at least three weekends are open. There is plenty of room. </div><div><br /></div><div>If we look at the 2024 IndyCar season as a scorecard, we have 13 races that will not be directly head-to-head with NASCAR Cup races, two that absolutely will be head-to-head and two races that will be overlapping a little with Cup races. That is as good as you can ask for. There are always going to be a few conflicts. IndyCar has mostly avoided all of them, though has one glaring one that is kind of unfathomable. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ten races will still be on NBC. That might be fewer than some recent seasons but that is still over half the scheduled and it wasn't long ago IndyCar didn't even get a third of its races on network television. A 20% increase is still a good thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even the races that are not on network television are strategically placed to provide a full afternoon of racing on cable. These races are either leading into a NASCAR Cup race or following a NASCAR Cup race, or in one case following IMSA. It is a raising tide lifting all boats. You cannot be upset with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is no perfect schedule. There is no way IndyCar is going to find the time to have all 17 of its races be on network television at an hour is best for the racetracks to draw a crowd and not have any conflicts with the other major motorsports series in the United States. It isn't going to happen. The best IndyCar can do is avoid the conflicts and take television windows that fit the series into network windows while also strategically placing the series so it can be a part of a larger marathon window of races on one network. </div><div><br /></div><div>The 2024 schedule does that. There might be a few flaws, but damn does it do its hardest. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about William Byron and Austin Hill, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup race from Atlanta. Austin Hill won the Grand National Series race, his second consecutive victory. Kyle Busch won the Truck race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Broc Feeney and Will Brown split the Supercars races from Bathurst.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nicoló Bulega (race one) and Alex Lowes (SuperPole and race two) split the World Superbike races from Phillip Island. Yari Montella swept the World Supersport races.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cooper Webb won the Supercross race from Arlington, his second victory of the season. Haiden Deegan won the 250cc race.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>Formula One starts on Saturday in Bahrain.</div><div>The FIA WEC season starts on Saturday in Qatar.</div><div>Supercross opens Daytona Bike Week.</div><div>NASCAR visits Las Vegas.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-9012168365326473922024-02-23T07:10:00.000-05:002024-02-23T07:10:36.557-05:002024 IndyCar Team Preview: Chip Ganassi Racing<div>We have reached the end of our 2024 IndyCar team previews, and with 16 days to spare from the St. Petersburg season opener. The only team that remains is the defending champions. Chip Ganassi Racing is coming off a historic season, one where a Ganassi driver locked up the championship with races in hand for the first time in over 15 years. However, it wasn't just one driver that made a splash for Ganassi. It was a triumvirate that carried Ganassi in 2023, but one of those drivers is gone and the lineup has been shaken up, though the big guns remain.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>At First Glance... How does Ganassi follow up 2023?</u></b></div><div>It wasn't just Álex Palou's championship that Ganassi has to be proud about from 2023. It was a total team beat down in IndyCar. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nine victories was the most for Ganassi since 2009. Ganassi had three top ten finishers in every race last season. It had multiple top five finishers in 11 races. The team went 1-2-6 in the championship, and it claimed rookie of the year with a driver that didn't contest any of the oval races. Last year, I wrote that Ganassi was ready to win now, and it did. Ganassi was undoubtedly the best team in 2023 and enters 2024 as the team to beat. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of those marks will be tough to match. Everyone will raise their game to try and usurp Ganassi from the top spot. Team Penske will look to continue its oval dominance while improving on road and street courses. Arrow McLaren had about five races it felt it should have won last year, won none, and a number of those went the team of Ganassi. Andretti Global is looking to reclaim former glory and it will do it with a former Ganassi driver. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing looks to build upon what it accomplished in 2023 despite plenty of adversity. </div><div><br /></div><div>The road only becomes tougher for Ganassi, and the lineup has changed. Palou is still there. Scott Dixon is still there. The third bullet is gone. Marcus Ericsson has moved to Andretti. Ericsson wasn't some average driver. He had 47 top ten finishes in 64 starts with the team over four seasons. That is 73.4375%. He was sixth in the championship in three consecutive seasons. Oh, and he won an Indianapolis 500. Those are numbers that will be daunting to duplicate. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ganassi has hope primarily spread over two drivers. Marcus Armstrong will be full-time after running all the road andstreet course races in 2023. Linus Lundqvist replaces his fellow Swede Ericsson in the #8 Honda after Lundqvist made three starts last season substituting for the injured Simon Pagenaud. These are two drivers that showed promise last season. Filling the absence of Ericsson and trying to keep up with Palou and Dixon will test the ability of both. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ganassi will win races. With its top two drivers, it will likely have at least one driver contending for the championship, but this team has taken a significant swing into the youth, especially when you include the 19-year-old Kyffin Simpson in a fifth Ganassi entry. This is a team still looking to win now, but has an eye on the future. </div><div><br /></div><div>Considering the changes in the team, it will likely not be as good as last year, but it should still be a competitive season for the Ganassi gang.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>2023 Chip Ganassi Racing Review</u></b></div><div>Wins: 9 (St. Petersburg, Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Detroit, Road America, Mid-Ohio, August IMS road course race, Gateway, Portland, Laguna Seca)</div><div>Poles: 2 (Indianapolis 500, Detroit)</div><div>Championship Finishes: 1st (Álex Palou), 2nd (Scott Dixon), 6th (Marcus Ericsson), 20th (Marcus Armstrong), 29th (Takuma Sato)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Kyffin Simpson - #4 Journie Rewards Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>10.8461: Average finish in 13 Indy Lights starts last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>17.8461: Average number of starters in the 13 Indy Lights races Simpson ran last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>3.5714: Average finish in 14 LMP2 starts over IMSA, European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>IndyCar falls on major financial hardship that strikes the teams immediately and in a way to raise funds the series switch to LMP2 cars with three-driver pro-am lineups. Simpson has a familiar pair of drivers drafted in and he is able to continue his LMP2 success but this time in IndyCar and takes another championship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div><div>Of all the drivers competing in IndyCar this season, Simpson has been the hardest to project. </div><div><br /></div><div>Based off his Indy Lights results, this shouldn't be a good season. Simpson had a few good races last season, but it was not regular time spent at the front. He went from ninth in the Indy Lights championship in 2022 to tenth in 2023, and he was averaging about a half point fewer per start last season compared to the year before.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, Simpson has done well in LMP2 competition. It is a multi-driver class, but ELMS is a stout series and all three drivers must be contributing to win. Simpson is also driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. This isn't going to be a cheat code that automatically puts Simpson at the front, but it is a car that is better than over half the grid.</div><div><br /></div><div>This does feel like too much too soon for Simpson. He is only 19 years old. When you consider how much Sting Ray Robb and Benjamin Pedersen struggled, Simpson will likely race in that territory. However, Ganassi should give him a little more of a boost. It is isn't going to be a difference between eight or ten spots in the championship, but it likely could be worth two to four spots. </div><div><br /></div><div>Consider that in Jimmie Johnson's one full IndyCar season he was 21st in the championship with 214 points and he had a fifth and a sixth at Iowa and Texas respectively, and in Johnson's 2022 season when he just ran 12 road/street course race, he scored 201 points, an average of nine points per race with his best finish being 17th. That is the bottom for Simpson to clear. That feels more than likely.</div><div><br /></div><div>Any top ten finishes will be impressive. He should have a few top fifteen finishes, but there will be days he is firmly in the bottom third of the field.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Linus Lundqvist - #8 American Legion Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>9.34375: Average finish for Marcus Ericsson over four seasons in the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda</div><div><br /></div><div>8: Lundqvist is one of eight Swedish drivers to start an IndyCar race</div><div><br /></div><div>50: Percentage of Swedish drivers that have started an IndyCar race to have driven for Chip Ganassi Racing once Lundqvist starts his first race with the team</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i> </div><div>Lundqvist starts his season better than any of us expect and he is the top Ganassi finisher in the opening round with a podium result. He follows it up with another race as the top Ganassi finisher and on the podium for a second time. What does he do for his third act? Wins at Barber Motorsports Park directly ahead of Scott Dixon to add insult to injury. </div><div><br /></div><div>With this start, Lundqvist finds himself out front and everyone is already chasing him. A pair of top ten finishes in Indianapolis with a tough day in Detroit has everyone thinking all the air has been let out of the balloon, but Lundqvist response with a Road America victory and a podium at Laguna Seca. Another top five finish comes at Mid-Ohio.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has one bad Iowa race, and one Iowa race like Álex Palou had last year where Lundqvist ends up eighth but that is about four spots better than where he ran the entire race. The Swede takes a top five finish at Toronto to head into the Olympic break on a high note.</div><div><br /></div><div>When competition resumes, it is a top ten at Gateway with a top five in Portland. He is on the podium in one of the Milwaukee races with at least a top ten in the other. Lundqvist finishes the season with an emphatic victory in Nashville to take an improbable championship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div><div>Somewhere between sixth and 14th in the championship.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>That is a wide net, but that is where Ericsson finished in this car the past three seasons and right around where Marcus Armstrong's average points per start (more on that in a moment) would have placed him in the 2023 championship had Armstrong run all the races. </div><div><br /></div><div>In his three cameo appearances last year, Lundqvist had some head-turning runs, even if the results didn't go his way, and that was driving for Meyer Shank Racing, which spent the entire 2023 season lost. He was likely the best driver MSR had last season. Instead of driving a car that was barely able to crack the top fifteen with someone else driving it, Lundqvist is now driving a car that has won in each of the last three seasons and was first and second in the last two Indianapolis 500s. </div><div><br /></div><div>A respectable season would be about eight top ten finishes, a couple top five runs and ending up around the top ten in the championship. Performing above expectations should plant him solidly in the top ten, but if he has a handful of rookie days it shouldn't nosedive his championship position. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Scott Dixon - #9 PNC Bank Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>14: Consecutive top ten finishes to close out the 2023 season</div><div><br /></div><div>4: Consecutive podium finishes to close out the 2023 season, the longest podium streak since the 2019 season finale through the first three races of the 2020 season</div><div><br /></div><div>5.3529: Average finish in 2023, second best in IndyCar</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>Dixon has won the championship six times before. He has had a handful of other seasons where he was there and just fell short, last year included. We know what Dixon has to do. In this case, it might be his hardest task yet, beating Álex Palou.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon had one of his best seasons in IndyCar last year, it likely wins the championship nine times out of ten, and yet Palou clinched the championship a race early and the Catalan won the title by 78 points over Dixon. </div><div><br /></div><div>There was only one race where Dixon finished outside the top ten. Even with that result, his average finish was better than sixth. If you dropped the 27th from the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Dixon's average finish in the other 16 races is fourth! Palou's average finish for the 2023 season was 3.7059, and, in the sake of fairness, if you dropped Palou's worst result as well, it would be 3.4375. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon didn't do much wrong last year to lose a championship. Palou did that much more to win it.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div><div>Last year was really a tale of two seasons for Dixon. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the first 13 races, he had no victories, two podium finishes, he had led only 13 laps and he had yet to be the best Ganassi finisher in a race. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the final four races, he won three times, was on the podium for all four events, and he led 192 laps. </div><div><br /></div><div>We entered August really thinking 2023 would be the year Dixon did not win a race. He ended up winning three. It should not surprise us, and yet, for the first five months of the season, Dixon didn't look all that close to victory despite having only one finish worse than seventh. </div><div><br /></div><div>A realistic season is something between his first 13 races and his final four races. Good runs with a victory or two spread in-between, but not necessarily being the driver controlling the championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>Palou has proven to be Dixon's toughest teammate since Dario Franchitti. Dixon can do everything right and that still not be enough. No one dominates forever, and we must remember Palou almost went winless in his season following his first championship in 2022. Like Dixon, Palou is human. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 17 of the last 18 seasons Dixon has ended up in the top five of the championship. I think that is where we start. Dixon will be somewhere in the championship top five. Is it first with three victories, eight podium finishes and over 300 laps led or is it fourth with a victory and four trips to the podium, but two untimely retirements? </div><div><br /></div><div><u style="font-weight: bold;">Álex Palou - #10 DHL Honda</u></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>9: Victories in 50 starts with Chip Ganassi Racing</div><div><br /></div><div>24: Podium finishes in 50 starts with Chip Ganassi Racing</div><div><br /></div><div>42: Top ten finishes in 50 starts with Chip Ganassi Racing</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>The man has the blueprint. With his first championship, Palou won early and was frequently on the podium even though he had a few down results. A fortunate caution at Portland after an unfortunate caution in the same race saw him swing from losing the title to controlling his destiny in the final two races. </div><div><br /></div><div>With his second championship, Palou strangled the competition. He lived in the top five, won three on the spin and four in five races. His worst finish was eighth and nobody could keep up. </div><div><br /></div><div>For three seasons, Palou has been one of the most reliable drivers in IndyCar. He does not drive over the car. He has finished 35 of the last 36 races. His lone retirement is when a teammate drove into him. This might be unfathomable for some of you to accept, but Palou is the number one driver at Ganassi at this moment. He was the rabbit no would could catch last year, and he won his championship earlier than anyone since 2007. If he has done it once, he could do it again.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div><div>In all likelihood, Palou will come back down from earth. That doesn't mean he will not be the driver to beat, but it also doesn't mean he will finish in the top eight of every race again. The Catalan driver has 18 consecutive top ten finishes dating back to 2022. That streak will not last forever. </div><div><br /></div><div>He is going to win races, he is going to stand on the podium. In all likelihood, his title defense will go deep into the season, if not all the way to the season finale. Palou has had the upper hand on Dixon for the better part of three seasons. If the first step to winning a championship is beating your teammates, Palou has that covered. </div><div><br /></div><div>Outside of the Dixon, none of the other Ganassi drivers are a threat to Palou. When it comes to other teams, there are plenty of drivers that could match Palou, but they will have to be near flawless. Palou is not going to give them much to capitalize on. </div><div><br /></div><div>A title is realistic. A half-dozen victories are realistic. Another historic season is not out of the question.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Marcus Armstrong - #11 Ridgeline/Root Insurance Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>17.833: Average points per start last season, on pace for 13th in the championship last year</div><div><br /></div><div>5: Top ten finishes in 2023, more than nine full-time drivers</div><div><br /></div><div>9: Times as the top rookie finishers in 12 starts</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>A quiet start with a string of top ten finishes to open the season. Nothing earth-shattering but something respectable, and in a few races he is, unexpectedly, the top Ganassi driver. This good start has everyone impressed, which includes the New Zealander taking Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, but they aren't considering Armstrong a championship contender through the first third of the season. </div><div><br /></div><div>That changes with a victory at Road America, which starts a run of three consecutive podium finishes, ending with a second victory at Mid-Ohio. He has some struggles at Iowa, but he is back on the podium at Toronto. When IndyCar returns from its Olympic break at Gateway, Armstrong pulls out a top ten finish. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Portland, Armstrong is on the podium. He gets two top ten finishes in Milwaukee before he caps off the season with a podium finish that puts him just over the line for the championship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div><div>Armstrong should make a push for the championship top ten. His points pace was in that ballpark last year. His race results were far better than any of the other rookies last year. He had a few other good races get away from him and not necessarily because it was his fault. </div><div><br /></div><div>Eight to ten top ten finishes are realistic. Three or four top five finishes are realistic. Armstrong should probably be on the podium at least once and he is with the right team that he could pull out a victory. If the results are on the better end of expectations, Armstrong will be in the top ten of the championship, possibly pushing for the top five and he could fill in sixth in the championship where departed Ganassi driver Marcus Ericsson made a living for the last three years. </div><div><br /></div><div>That would be a great season for Armstrong. Anything between eighth and 13th will be a successful year in his first full campaign.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first round of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season will be the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10. Coverage will begin at noon on NBC and Peacock.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-2105758695042608092024-02-21T06:55:00.000-05:002024-02-21T10:07:24.060-05:002024 FIA World Endurance Championship Season Preview<div>As February enters its final leg, we are approaching the start of a few championships. With so little time and so many series to preview, we come to the FIA World Endurance Championship just a little under two weeks until its opening round. </div><div><br /></div><div>The introduction of LMDh cars into the Hypercar class increased car count and manufacturer participation last season. This season will see more of the same, as WEC undergoes a class structure change. This year will only feature Hypercar and the new LMGT3 class, replacing the GTE Am class as GT3-spec vehicles are introduced into the series. The LMP2 class has been dropped from the championship but the class will still feature at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. </div><div><br /></div><div>Four manufacturers are joining Hypercar this year as 19 cars will compete in the top class. In LMGT3, nine manufacturers will each have two participants, bringing the overall grid size up to a capacity 37 entries.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Schedule</u></b></div><div>This WEC season sees an introduction of a few new tracks, as well as a return to a few circuits, one for the first time in a decade, and another is back for its third stint on the calendar. </div><div><br /></div><div>We start with something new, and the Losail International Circuit in Qatar hosts the opening festivities of the season. Losail will host the prologue test over February 24-25 before hosting the Qatar 1812 km on March 2. The distance is derived from the 18th of December, Qatar National Day, and it is scheduled for 335 laps but will have a ten-hour time limit. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first two rounds are held on new circuits as the 6 Hours of Imola follows on April 21. Imola replaces Monza as the home of the Italian Grand Prix is undergoing track renovations. Spa-Francorchamps remains in early May and the six-hour race will still be on a Saturday, this year May 11th. </div><div><br /></div><div>The 24 Hours of Le Mans will take WEC to the halfway point of the season over June 15-16. After a month off, WEC will run the fifth round of the season on July 14, the 6 Hours of São Paulo from Interlagos. It is the first time Interlagos has been on the calendar since 2014.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a six-week break, Circuit of the Americas revives Lone Star Le Mans, the six-hour race running on September 1. It is the first time Austin has been on the schedule since 2020, when Austin was a last-minute replacement for Interlagos when their were conflicts between the promoter and WEC. Austin's first run on the schedule was from 2013 to 2017. </div><div><br /></div><div>A fortnight after Austin, the penultimate round of the season will be the 6 Hours of Fuji. There will be a seven-week gap between Fuji and the season finale, the 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 2.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Hypercar</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Cadillac Racing</u></b></div><div><b>#2 Cadillac V-Series.R</b></div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Sébastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande, Aléx Palou</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Bamber and Lynn will be full-time as Bourdais and van der Zande will rotate into the car for the races longer than six hours. Palou will drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans as Bourdais, van der Zande and Scott Dixon will be in the #3 Cadillac for the French classic. Cadillac has shown good pace, but reliability has been a question mark, as we saw in the 24 Hours of Daytona. A victory is within reach but has proven difficult to grasp.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Porsche Penske Motorsport</u></b></div><div><b>#5 Porsche 963</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Campbell replaces Dane Cameron as a full-time driver in this car. Campbell is going to make this team better. Porsche did not win in WEC last year. The #5 Porsche didn't get on the podium. That should change, possibly in both categories. It is too early to say if Porsche can compete for the championship. We will have a better idea through the first few rounds.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#6 Porsche 963</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> It was a slightly better season for the #6 Porsche compared to its teammate in 2023, but still nothing to leap for joy about. This Porsche is in good hands. Both Porsches should do better than last year. Slight edge to this car for that first WEC victory for the 963.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Toyota Gazoo Racing</u></b></div><div><b>#7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Until someone consistently beats Toyota, why should we expect Toyota to lose the championship? Everyone should be closer. Perhaps someone will breakthrough, but Toyota is the team to beat. The #7 Toyota has moved de Vries in as José María López moves to GT3 competition. De Vries drove well in LMP2 competition. The #7 Toyota did win the most races last year, and likely only lost the championship because it retired at Le Mans. The one change to the driver lineup could bring it back behind the #8 Toyota.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryō Hirakawa</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> The defending champions are not changing a thing. Same drivers as last year in a team that had two victories, four runner-up finishes and its worst finish was sixth. That is hard to beat. It is also hard to duplicate. The #8 Toyota will win races in 2024. Will it go first or second in over 85% of the races? That is unlikely. It should still be the championship favorite but it will likely require a little more work. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Isotta Fraschini</u></b></div><div><b>#11 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6-C</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Carl Bennett, Antonio Serravalle, Jean-Karl Vernay</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> It is a manufacturer with no modern racing experience with a driver who is coming out of Formula 4 and a driver who spent most of last year on the sidelines with Indy Lights and LMP3 as his greatest experience. Vernay is the only driver in this car ready for a Hypercar role. Expectations should be zilch.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Hertz Team Jota</u></b></div><div><b>#12 Porsche 963</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Callum Ilott, Norman Nato, Will Stevens</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Jota has a year under its belt with this car. Stevens ran this car last year, but his teammates are completely new. Ilott has taken well to everything he has driven. Nato should get up to speed quickly. On paper, this feels like the better of the two Jota cars.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#38 Porsche 963</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Jenson Button, Philip Hanson, Oliver Rasmussen</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Button has not been full-time in any series since 2019. Hanson has had plenty of LMP2 success with United Autosports. Rasmussen has spent the previous two seasons with Jota in LMP2. There does feel like a greater learning curve for this entry compared to its sister car. Do not be surprised if the #38 Porsche with the past World Drivers' Champion is second of the two Jota cars.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>BMW M Team WRT</u></b></div><div><b>#15 BMW M Hybrid V8</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> BMW is bringing a number of inexperienced prototype drivers into Hypercar. Wittmann ran a few races in this car last year in IMSA. Vanthoor and Marciello are coming from nearly exclusive GT competition. All three have been successful everywhere they have gone, but this is going to be an uphill battle for the #15 BMW.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#20 BMW M Hybrid V8</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Robin Frijns, René Rast, Sheldon van der Linde</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> BMW's experience is in this car. Frijns has an LMP2 championship in WEC and six class victories in 19 starts. Frijns and Rast were co-drivers together in 2022. Van der Linde has never raced a prototype before. BMW has made big gains in IMSA. If any BMW is getting good results in WEC this year, it will be this BMW. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Alpine Endurance Team</u></b></div><div><b>#35 Alpine A424</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> This is a strong LMP2 lineup moving up to the Hypercar class. Chatin has won multiple European Le Mans Series championship and he won the LMP2 championship in IMSA last year. This is a big jump up for Habsburg and Milesi. It should be an eye-opener at times for this lineup.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#36 Alpine A424</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Nicolas Lapierre, Mick Schumacher, Matthieu Vaxivière</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Lapierre has a stellar record in LMP2 competition and is a good lead driver while he and Vaxivière were co-drivers for a few seasons in the Alpine A480, a grandfathered LMP1 car running in the early seasons of Hypercar. Schumacher is making a big change to sports cars after a season out of Formula One. Schumacher improves with time. There could be some teething issues early on. This Alpine is the leader on paper out of the two-car outfit.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Ferrari AF Corse</u></b></div><div><b>#50 Ferrari 499P</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Though the #50 Ferrari did not win a race last season, it was the best Ferrari in the championship and was knocking on the door. The #50 Ferrari should breakthrough this season at some point. There will be plenty of opportunities as Ferrari looks to take a greater fight to Toyota this year.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#51 Ferrari 499P</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> The 2023 Le Mans will be looking for more in year two. The #51 Ferrari only had two podium finishes last season. This was the lineup less prototype experience of the two cars last year. This team should increase its competitiveness, but it has a mighty task of being the best within its own factory lineup let alone the entire championship.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#83 Ferrari 499P</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, Yifei Ye</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> This will be a customer Ferrari entry. Shwartzman was a rising Formula Two driver a few seasons ago as he moves to sports cars. Kubica and Ye have been successful in LMP2 racing. It will be difficult to defeat the factory Ferraris let alone be the outright top Hypercar entry. </div></div></div><div> </div><div><div><b><u>Lamborghini Iron Lynx</u></b></div><div><b>#63 Lamborghini SC63</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kyvat, Edoardo Mortara</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> If there is any reason for optimism, it is the speed the Lamborghini showed in the Daytona homologation test for IMSA during the offseason. Bortolotti and Kyvat were co-drivers last year for Prema in the LMP2 class. Both have limited prototype experience. Mortara has no prototype experience. There could be days where the speed is there but lack of race knowledge could be a setback. There could be days where the speed will be enough.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Peugeot TotalEnergies</u></b></div><div><b>#93 Peugeot 9X8</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Nico Müller, Mikkel Jensen, Jean-Éric Vergne</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Peugeot has underwhelmed in its first season and a half in Hypercar. The team is developing a rear wing that is expected to debut early this season. It cannot make things worse for Peugeot, but it is not expected to shoot the French manufacturer to the top. The Balance of Performance is favorable for Peugeot at the Qatar opener. Hopefully, Peugoet can at least compete for podium finishes on a more regular basis. This lineup is capable.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#94 Peugeot 9X8</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Loïc Duval, Paul di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Vandoorne joins this team, as Peugeot shuffles some drivers around. It is a good lineup. There are no weak links in this car. Results cannot be much worse. The #94 9X8 has only two top five finishes in ten races. At best, this team is competing for the top five in the championship. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Proton Competition</u></b></div><div><b>#99 Porsche 963</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Julien Andlauer, Neel Jani, Harry Tincknell</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Jani and Tincknell ran a few races together last year. Last year, running an LMP2 car in ELMS, was the first time Jani had been full-time in a prototype since 2019. Tincknell had a good stint in the Mazda DPi program, his most recent prototype program. Andlauer is new to prototype racing. Porsche has a good car, and a few great results should to be a surprise for this team, but they are not guaranteed.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>LMGT3</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Heart of Racing Team</u></b></div><div><b>#27 Aston Vantage Vantage AMR GT3 Evo</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, Alex Riberas</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Heart of Racing Team has plenty of experience with this car and with one another. This is a championship team from IMSA taking on the world championship. Heart of Racing Team should factor into a few races. This group surprise the WEC grid.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Team WRT</u></b></div><div><b>#31 BMW M4 GT3</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, Darren Leung</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Team WRT has long been a dominated team in GT3 competition. It is a different grouping for BMW with Farfus leading the way while Gelael is transitioning to GT racing after a number of years and success in LMP2. Leung won the British GT Championship last year. This is a leap for Leung and these will be new circuits. It should still be a competitive entry.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#46</b><b> BMW M4 GT3</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harthy</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Martin and Rossi drove together last year in GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup and results were respectable. Al Harthy drove in WEC last year in GTE Am and he is coming off a good year in Asian Le Mans Series' LMP2 class. This will be a competitive class, but don't be surprised if the #46 BMW is in the top third of the class.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Vista AF Corse</u></b></div><div><b>#54 Ferrari 488 GTE</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Francesco Castellacci, Thomas Flohr, Davide Rigon</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> This lineup is unchanged from WEC last year. Castellacci and Flohr has spent the better part of a decade together. They struggled for great results in WEC over the last few years. Experience could be their greatest aid, but the switch to GT3 does not necessarily make the #54 Ferrari a favorite. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#55 Ferrari 488 GTE</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Simon Mann, François Heriau, Alessio Rovera</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Rovera won the GTE Am championship there years ago. He has been strong in LMP2 competition. Heriau developed in ELMS from LMP3 to LMP2. Mann has been in WEC the last few years. Rovera is a strong driver, but will be carrying this entry. The continuity in the sister car gives the #54 Ferrari an edge. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>United Autosports</u></b></div><div><div><div><b>#59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Nicolas Costa, James Cottingham, Grégoire Saucy</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Costa is coming off the Porsche Carrera Cup Brasil championship while Cottingham was second in the British GT Championship. Saucy is moving from Formula Three. These are three drivers all moving into a new car in a new championship for all. Don't expect the world. It might take a few rounds for these drivers to get comfortable.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#95 </b><b>McLaren 720S GT3 Evo</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Josh Caygill, Nico Pino, Marino Sato, Hiroshi Hamaguchi</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Pino has spent the last few years in LMP2 and LMP3. Sato did well in LMP2 last year in ELMS. Caygill was in LMP3 the last two years in ELMS and Le Mans Cup, and he hasn't raced a GT car since 2021. Hamaguchi will replace Caygill at Le Mans. Pino and Sato could prove to be a strong combination.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Iron Lynx/Iron Dames</u></b></div><div><div><b>#60 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Matteo Cressoni, Franck Perera, Claudio Schiavoni</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Cressoni and Schiavoni were third in the ELMS GT championship last year and they raced together in GTE Am. Perera is experienced in the Lamborghini, and has won in a number of series. The Iron Lynx entry should be competing for a race victory and could string together the results to be in the title discussion. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#85 </b><b>Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Doriane Pin</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Bovy and Gatting were second in the GTE Am championship last year, and Pin had a podium finish in LMP2. This trio have plenty experience together. They have won together in ELMS. Iron Dames will be competitive. Race victories are more than possible. It will be a fun battle just within the Iron Lynx/Iron Dames stable. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Proton Competition</u></b></div><div><b>#77 Ford Mustang GT3</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Ryan Hardwick, Zachary Robichon, Ben Barker </div><div><i>What to expect:</i> The Ford is a new car, but Hardwick and Robichon have spent a few seasons together. Barker is WEC-experienced, though the results were not outstanding driving for GR Racing. There are still a few unknowns about the Ford. There should be a few praiseworthy finishes, but Proton Competition will have some tough days.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#88 </b><b>Ford Mustang GT3</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Dennis Olsen, Giorgio Roda, Mikkel O. Pedersen</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> It is a good combination. Olsen was strong with Porsche, and Roda won an ELMS championship with Proton. This should be the stronger of the two Proton Competition entries. We don't know enough about the Ford to say where it should finish. Podium finishes would be good in the first year of this program. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Akkodis ASP Team</u></b></div><div><b>#78 Lexus RC F GT3 </b></div><div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Timur Boguslavskiy, Arnold Robin, Kelvin van der Linde</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Akkodis ASP is making the switching from GT World Challenge Europe to WEC. It is switching from Mercedes-AMG to Lexus. Boguslavskiy was a front-runner in GTWCE. This will be a new car but Lexus has been strong in IMSA. Van der Linde is making a leap but should get be up to speed quickly. Robin has been mostly focused on LMP2 and LMP3 classes. It would not be a surprise if this team is competing for victories.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#87 Lexus RC F GT3 </b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Takeshi Kimura, José María López, Esteban Masson</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> López moves from Hypercar to GT3. He was spectacular in touring car competition, his last experience outside a prototype. Masson was the French F4 champion three years ago, and the 19-year-old spent last year in Formula Regional Europe. Kimura had a few good races last year. This team has a greater learning curve than its teammate. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>TF Sport</u></b></div><div><b>#81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Rui Andrade, Charlie Eastwood, Tom van Rompuy</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> This car brings together one of the LMP2 co-champions from last season in Andrade, and a driver that won the 2023 ALMS LMP2 championship while having years of WEC experience in Eastwood. Van Rompuy has spent recent seasons in LMP2 and LMP3 machines. Andrade and Eastwood should carry the #81 Corvette up the grid. If they are able to light a spark, this team could be in the conversation in most races. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b>#82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Sébastien Baud, Daniel Juncadella, Hiroshi Koizumi</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Juncadella is the Corvette factory driver filling this ride, and he was second in IMSA's GTD Pro class last year. Baud was second in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup bronze class last year. Koizumi was second in Le Mans Cup's GT3 class last year. WEC is a big leap for Baud and Koizumi. Top five finishes would be great results for this team. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Manthey EMA/Pure Rxcing</u></b></div><div><b>#91 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring, Yasser Shahin</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Lietz has spent years in WEC and has won all the big events. Shahin is coming from Australia's GT scene. Schuring won twice in Porsche Supercup last year and is 18 years old. Lietz is the only driver with deep knowledge of the WEC circuits. Depth is a weakness in this lineup.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>#92 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin, Joel Sturm</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> This #92 Pure Rxcing Porsche is coming off the Asian Le Mans Series championship over the winter. Bachler is a capable lead driver. Malykhin and Sturm will be stepping up to a higher level than ALMS. They might not repeat their ALMS success, but they can be a frequent contender in WEC.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>D'station Racing</u></b></div><div><b>#777 Aston Vantage Vantage AMR GT3 Evo</b></div><div><div><i>Drivers:</i> Erwan Bastard, Clément Mateu, Marco Sørensen, Satoshi Hoshino</div><div><i>What to expect:</i> Sørensen is a past champion while Bastard has won GT4 championships in Europe. Mateu was in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup last year in the bronze class. Hoshino will be one of the drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Some experience is lacking. The hope should be to improve as the year goes along.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>WEC's Prologue test session will start on Saturday February 24 with the first three-hour session starting at 4:00 a.m. ET. The second session on Saturday will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and last four hours. On Sunday February 25, WEC will be on track for three hours starting at 3:00 a.m. ET, and four hours starting at 8:00 a.m. ET.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first official practice sessions for the season will be on Leap Day, Friday February 29. On Friday March 1, WEC will have a one-hour practice at 3:00 a.m. before qualifying at 8:00 a.m. The Qatar 1812 km will begin at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday March 2.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-64854790959683948962024-02-19T06:56:00.003-05:002024-02-19T06:56:57.035-05:00Musings From the Weekend: The Ballad of IndyCar<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...</div><div><br /></div><div>The Daytona 500 and NASCAR's second division race were both rained out until Monday. At least that wasn't the worst thing to happen in Daytona this week. The snow did not stop the World Rally Championship. In fact, a drought ended in Sweden. Rain only slowed the Bathurst 12 Hour, as did the invitational entries. One driver is off to a start of a banner year already. Conor Daly rode the bench to his first victory since the 2013 GP3 feature race in Valencia. IndyCar made some news in Nashville, and that is where we start this week. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>The Ballad of IndyCar</u></b></div><div>The unexpected news this past week was IndyCar announcing its season finale in Nashville would move from a new downtown street course that would take the course to the other side of the Cumberland River to Nashville Superspeedway, the 1.333-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of racing down Broadway and pass the Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators,, IndyCar will crown its champion about 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, at a circuit that previously hosted the series from 2001 to 2008. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reasons for the move were plenty. </div><div><br /></div><div>Street concerns with the construction of the new Tennessee Titans stadium. </div><div><br /></div><div>No guarantee from the NFL the Tennessee Titans would not have a home game over that weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>Internal issues within the Music City Grand Prix organizers that saw music executive and long-time motorsports supporter Scott Borchetta take over control of the event after being a co-owner over the first three years. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was the perfect mixture of turmoil to spoil the party seven months before it was scheduled to take place. A solution was found, but it is the same old song for IndyCar. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the verge of something spectacular, it all collapsed on the series. Nashville was supposed to be the first season finale that was a true event in quite some time. The first three years of the Music City Grand Prix brought out a notable crowd and the race was snuggling into the Music City. The stadium construction was going to force some changes, but for IndyCar's sake, these would good changes. Having the race run on part of Broadway was a phenomenal snag. The famed street lined with bars, restaurants and constantly full of people would arguably be the most famous street IndyCar has ever raced on. The race would become even more ingrained in the city and could not be a greater example of bringing the race to the people. </div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, this season finale will head 40 minutes southeast of heart of the party, to a track that isn't really in the town of Lebanon, but rather is 20 minutes away from a town of around 38,000 people that is most famously home to Cumberland University, a school that's best claim to famous is being the loser in the most lopsided game in college football history (Georgia Tech beat Cumberland 222-0 on October 7, 1916), and it is the home of the Cracker Barrel headquarters (Who knew!?). </div><div><br /></div><div>However, things can be two things. It is devastatingly deflating for IndyCar to lose its downtown Nashville finale only seven months before it was supposed to take place, and less than a month before the 2024 season was about to commence. It is pleasantly uplifting the finale will still take place at Nashville Superspeedway and another oval was added to the IndyCar schedule. </div><div><br /></div><div>As has been pointed out by others, the issues with the downtown Nashville race is not on IndyCar the series. The independent race organizers were having their own issues that likely were deeper than the change of circuit. This was not someone within the Penske Entertainment-owned offices in Speedway, Indiana that dropped the ball, but boy does it feel like another failure at the goal line for a series that has a long list of failed high-profile events. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is quintessential IndyCar that the Nashville street race failed after it failed to race in Boston and failed to produce international races in Dubai and China and failed to return to Baltimore after three successful years but an event that was forced to take a pause due to Ohio State and Navy scheduled to play at the football stadium and with a promise an attempt to return in 2014. How did that work out? This is a series that thought it would have a grand finale in Las Vegas and that is remembered for all the wrong reasons. IndyCar couldn't even return to Richmond for a midseason race after it was cancelled during the pandemic. Austin was a one-and-done due the pandemic, and year two had a title sponsor for the race. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anytime the series dreams big, it cannot pull it off. It doesn't have the power to win an arm wrestling match in a boardroom. Do you think Formula One would have an issue making sure the Tennessee Titans didn't have a home game if it wanted a mid-September race in Nashville? Puny IndyCar can be bullied around and tossed to the curb even when it is doing nothing wrong. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the flip side, IndyCar was able to keep a race in the area. This wasn't a case of a race disappearing and no replacement being found. Nashville Superspeedway isn't easy to get to, but it has brought out 40,000 people in each of its two seasons on the NASCAR Cup schedule. I don't know if IndyCar will be able to draw that but it could bring in 25,000 to 30,000 for a respectable showing, and IndyCar does have seven months to draw people to Nashville. It might not be downtown, but it could still be a chance to have concerts and make it a party atmosphere. If Newton, Iowa can draw Carrie Underwood and Ed Sheeran, Lebanon, Tennessee can pull a notable artist or two. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is also the unexpected conclusion to the season on an oval. After spending most of this offseason listen to people cry out in disgust after the loss of Texas Motor Speedway and the general lack of oval weekends in IndyCar over recent seasons, here is another oval! There will be five oval tracks on the 2024 season, in line with the total IndyCar has had since the introduction of the DW12 chassis, and there will be seven oval races this season, the most since 2011. Not to forget mentioning the season finale is on an oval for the first time since 2014. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can be reluctantly joyful about this outcome in Nashville because it is only a Band-Aid to a larger problem. The wound has been addressed but what persistent problems will linger for years to come? </div><div><br /></div><div>From the sounds of it, any return to downtown Nashville will not be likely until the new football stadium is complete. That is scheduled to open in 2027. However, Nashville Superspeedway might not be a long-term solution either. Boston was supposed to be a marquee Labor Day weekend race for IndyCar that couldn't get off the ground. It was quickly replaced with Watkins Glen, but that return to Central New York was only a two season filler. </div><div><br /></div><div>This alternate event also doesn't make up for the issues that already exist. It is another case of a promoter swindling IndyCar, and even if it isn't the series to blame for the race failing, it still looks bad on the series when another race falls to pieces within its first three to five years or never gets off the ground. Other then never trusting anyone and the series deciding it will be the only promoter of its races, I don't know how IndyCar can avoid these bad actors and do its best to protect its image. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is important to remember the race we are getting in the Nashville-area isn't a race anyone had plans to organize. </div><div><br /></div><div>The desperate contingent for oval races will take whatever it can get. As desperate as some of those souls at 2:00 a.m. on Broadway looking to take someone home, this oval-crazed cult will take even a bad option of an oval race. That is how low their standards are. It has been awhile since IndyCar raced at Nashville Superspeedway, and we may need to go back and watch the tape, but previous races at Nashville Superspeedway were not exciting affairs. This wasn't a track that was praised for great racing. There is a group that clearly doesn't care. </div><div><br /></div><div>We still have to get through this year. A new oval means a late add of oval testing to make sure the right tire compound and aerodynamic package is selected. These teams will need to squeeze at least one extra trip, if not two, down to Tennessee to pound around a concrete oval to get a feel for the circuit and make sure the series doesn't end its 2024 season with a flop. </div><div><br /></div><div>For all the excitement anyone is feeling for six of the final eight races taking place on ovals, it must be acknowledged this isn't close to being a sign of things to come for the future. Iowa is propped up by Hy-Vee. Gateway has done well, but the crowd is not as stunning as it was when it first return. This will be Milwaukee's first year back after nine away and that race struggled to draw people over its final years. </div><div><br /></div><div>There might be this great stretch of six oval races late in the season to decide the championship but it is six races at four tracks that aren't close to being stable events on the IndyCar schedule and any or all four could not continue into 2025. </div><div><br /></div><div>We must also acknowledge IndyCar may never run in downtown Nashville again. Things will be wildly different in three years. Nashville is an expanding city. Not only is a new stadium being built but apartments buildings and office buildings and hospitals. The mood will change. Come 2027, the desire for a street race could be completely gone. Unless it is Formula One. That is trendy, and a party guest worth hosting. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the moment, IndyCar has a Nashville-ish race. It is an oval and it will be the finale. There are positives to glean but one must accept the negatives that have led to this chain of events. It will exist for now. The future remains unwritten. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is the story of IndyCar. Right when you get excited, the carpet is pulled out from underneath the series. It is making the best of the hand it has been dealt, but it continues to flirt with going bust. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners Fromt he Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about the weather in Daytona, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>The #912 Manthey EMA Porsche of Matt Campbell, Laurens Vanthoor and Ayhancan Güven won the Bathurst 12 Hour.</div><div><br /></div><div>Esapekka Lappi won Rally Sweden, his first victory since 2017 Rally Finland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nick Sanchez won the NASCAR Truck race from Daytona, his first career victory. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>The World Superbike season begins at Phillip Island, the only round outside of Europe.</div><div>Supercars keeps Bathurst busy as it starts its season with a sprint round at Mount Panorama.</div><div>Supercross is back in Arlington. </div><div>NASCAR has its second round of the season in Atlanta.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-41326591914484626792024-02-16T08:37:00.003-05:002024-02-16T08:37:38.426-05:002024 IndyCar Team Preview: Dale Coyne Racing<div>Twenty-three days remain until the 2024 IndyCar season opener from St. Petersburg, and while we are almost within three weeks of the first race, there are still some open seats in IndyCar. Dale Coyne Racing will have two new drivers in 2024. David Malukas has moved to Arrow McLaren. Sting Ray Robb has moved to A.J. Foyt Racing. However, who those two drivers will be are still a mystery though this close to the first race.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>At First Glance... Is this acceptable in 2024?</u></b></div><div>At time of writing, it is less than a month until the 2024 IndyCar season opener, IndyCar media day was over a month ago, and Dale Coyne Racing has still yet to announce any drivers for the upcoming season. </div><div><br /></div><div>It has long been a joke that Coyne waits until the last minute to announce its drivers, sometimes not confirming drivers until hours, maybe even minutes, before the first practice session of the season. But that has rarely been the case for Coyne in recent seasons. For the better part of the last decade, Coyne has had its drivers confirmed in timely fashion, most years before Christmas, a previously unthinkable time for the organization. This year has been a break from recent DCR trends, but should it have even gotten to this point? Should it even be allowed?</div><div><br /></div><div>Considering the growing fervor for larger financial protections for team owners, including possible guaranteed starting spots in the Indianapolis 500, teams should make a greater effort to be a part of the series. Every team had a driver present at IndyCar media day last month... except Dale Coyne Racing. Every team had a driver the media could talk to and write about and gain greater insight during an already lengthy offseason with still two months until the first race... except Dale Coyne Racing. Every participant was there and participating... except Dale Coyne Racing.</div><div><br /></div><div>This might be the Dale Coyne Racing way of old and something we cannot be surprised about, but in 2024, can IndyCar afford to have a team that is completely silent and disengaged from the moment one season ends until the next one begins? If these team owners view themselves as a sort of shareholder of the series and believes it is crucial they receive a greater financial reward to assure long-term stability in the series than they must do better than being anonymous for half the year and leave us all guessing who will be driving its cars until we get to the opening weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is isn't 1998 anymore. Coyne isn't the small team blocked out by about a dozen bigger teams with tobacco sponsorships. There are ten teams in IndyCar. That's it, the same number as Formula One. IndyCar prides itself on open competition and any of these organizations, doesn't matter the size, can win a race. Coyne is an example of that, but in 2024 it must at least show an effort to be a part of the series. </div><div>Every Formula One team is making noise in the offseason. We know just as much about Haas and Sauber at the back of the grid as we do Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari at the front. </div><div><br /></div><div>This might be the Coyne business model that has kept the team on the grid for 40 years, but there is a middle ground between this and being McLaren, Penske, Ganassi and Andretti. Coyne doesn't have to be over the top and flamboyant. It just needs to show some kind of pulse and not slide into hibernation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dale Coyne's participation has been greatly appreciated, and he has made it through many different eras, some tougher to navigate than others, but IndyCar needs more active team owners. It needs organizations expanding the profile of the series and bringing new people into the tent. </div><div><br /></div><div>Plenty of teams bring new partners to the series. Ganassi brought NTT Data to IndyCar a decade ago. Then-Schmidt Peterson Motorsports brought Arrow, which is a prominent name with McLaren today. DHL has been around for over a decade thanks to Andretti. Verizon has been around for over a decade thanks to Penske. Meyer Shank Racing got SiriusXM on its cars. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing introduced Hy-Vee, which now supports an entire race weekend at Iowa. </div><div><br /></div><div>Coyne has never been in that group, but IndyCar needs all of its teams to be in the group. The Coyne model worked, but on a selfish level. It is time for fresh minds and fresh ideas and sees the team as a part of a greater collective. A team should no longer be around just to see what driver or drivers bring a large enough check to break even. IndyCar needs teams that openly seek partners for the greater benefit of the team and series as a whole. </div><div><br /></div><div>When you consider what Trackhouse is doing in NASCAR, and it is expanding to MotoGP, that organization purchasing Dale Coyne Racing would be a substantial boost to IndyCar. It doesn't have to be Trackhouse. VasserSullivan and HMD Motorsports are two established organizations that would also be beneficial for IndyCar to have take over this outfit, and both would increase competition on and off the track. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar needs its teams to be fully present 365 days a year. One team clinging to its old ways is not going to help the series. There are others out there that can provide more than Dale Coyne Racing at this moment, and the sooner they come in the better.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Possible Drivers</u></b></div><div>Since the end of the 2023 IndyCar season, Dale Coyne Racing has tested Jacob Abel, Jack Harvey and Nolan Siegel. Abel tested at Sebring on November 6 while Harvey and Siegel drove for the team at the Homestead road course over January 22-24. </div><div><br /></div><div>Abel and Siegel are both planning to run full-time in Indy Lights, Abel with his family's team and Siegel with HMD Motorsports, which has a partnership with the Coyne operation. Harvey has no announced plans for next season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Harvey has made 79 starts in his IndyCar career and spent the better of the previous two seasons driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. All 79 of his starts have come for Honda-powered teams. After a promising period with Meyer Shank Racing, which included him finishing on the poidum for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in 2019 and having ten top ten finishes over 24 starts between 2019 and 2020, Harvey has had only seven top ten finishes in his last 46 starts. He did not finish in the top ten in any of his 13 starts during the 2023 season, and he had one top ten finish in his 29 starts with RLLR. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are not many other IndyCar-experienced drivers on the sidelines. The likes of Conor Daly and Ryan Hunter-Reay have Indianapolis 500 rides but generally do not have the funding for more races. Considering the lack of drivers DCR has tested, it makes sense Harvey will be one of the team's drivers come the St. Petersburg season opener. How many races Harvey runs in 2024 remains unknown. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, there is a good chance Coyne will enter a driver, or possibly multiple drivers this season, without any experience in a DW12 chassis prior to their first appearance, and that isn't without race experience, that is without testing experience. We could see a few cold turkey drivers this season coming from unexpected corners of the world. IndyCar is not a series with abundant testing, but every other driver on the grid has at least tested an IndyCar prior, and most of the drivers on the grid have spent multiple years with this chassis. There will be a significant uphill battle for any driver coming in blind with Coyne. </div><div><br /></div><div>Abel and Siegel have each tested for the team, but interloping regularly in IndyCar seems unlikely for either driver. Nobody has seriously attempted a full-time Indy Lights and IndyCar efforts. The money doesn't really exist to allow it. Either or both drivers could run a one-off. There are three IndyCar race weekends without Indy Lights competition, Long Beach, Indianapolis and Toronto. </div><div><br /></div><div>All we can say, it is Dale Coyne Racing. Any and all names are equally likely candidates to end up in one of its cars. Keep an open mind. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>The first round of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season will be the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10. Coverage will begin at noon on NBC and Peacock.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-72783905250509321722024-02-14T08:07:00.000-05:002024-02-14T08:07:29.110-05:002024 NASCAR Cup Series Preview<div>NASCAR's age of change continues. While there is a new champion, a past champion has left the series. Ford and Toyota have updated their bodywork. Most of the events look the same, but there have been a few date changes, one track is gone, and there is a new circuit on the 36-race Cup schedule. Heck, the season already started with something unprecedented. The Clash at the Coliseum was moved up an entire day due to weather. If that was the prologue to the 2024 season, who knows what else we could see over the next ten months?</div><div><br /></div><div>Unchanged is the Daytona 500 as the season opener but Atlanta returns to the second race of the season. The Western swing is only a two-week affair this year. Las Vegas begins the month of March with its race on the third with Phoenix following on the tenth.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dirt is gone from Bristol Motor Speedway, and the half-mile oval will host two races on its concrete surface, the first of which will be March 17. Austin remains the first road course on the schedule the week after Bristol, and Richmond moves to the Easter night date on March 31, the first of six night races in the regular season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Martinsville makes it two consecutive Virginia races before a return to Texas Motor Speedway on April 14. Talladega and Dover close to the month of April while Kansas and Darlington bring the season to the all-star break. </div><div><br /></div><div>North Wilkesboro remains the host of the All-Star Race on May 19, a week prior to the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. Gateway hosts the first race of June on the second, a week before Sonoma. Spring ends with the Cup Series first visit to Iowa Speedway on June 16, a night race. The 7/8-mile oval in Newton, Iowa has hosted 20 NASCAR Grand National Series races and 13 Truck races over its history. </div><div><br /></div><div>Loudon moves to the first weekend of summer on June 23, a week ahead of Nashville. The Chicago street race remains the first Sunday in July, and Pocono moves up to July 14. The Brickyard 400 returns after a three-year stint running on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The Brickyard 400 on July 21 will mark the field race before a two-week Olympic break.</div><div><br /></div><div>NASCAR returns to competition on August 11 with a night race at Richmond. Michigan will take place on August 18 with Daytona the week after that, and the Southern 500 on September 1 will mark the final race of the regular season. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first round of the playoffs see a massive shakeup. Atlanta will leadoff on September 8 with Watkins Glen moving to September 15. Bristol closes out the first round on September 21. Kansas slips into the second round with Talladega marking the midway point in the postseason on October 6. The Charlotte roval rounds out round two on October 13. </div><div><br /></div><div>The semifinal round remains unchanged. Las Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville remains the three races, while Phoenix will host the finale for the fifth consecutive season on November 10.</div><div><br /></div><div>Twenty-seven of the 36 Chartered teams see unchanged driver lineups from the 2023 season. There will be four rookies on this year's grid. Fifteen drivers won a race last season, but a few notable names came up winless and will look to fix that in 2024. Thirteen drivers made the playoffs last season with a victory. Only one of those winners was ranked outside the top 16 in points at the end of the regular season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Chartered Teams</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Ross Chastain - #1 Busch Beer/Moose Fraternity/Worldwide Express/Kubota/Jockey Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Trackhouse<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 9th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 7th (2021)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Pretty good. Chastain has won two races in each of the last two seasons, and he has done a great job with starts to his seasons. The problem is in each of the last two seasons, Chastain has had a midseason slump. Last year's slump was worse than 2022. In the final 14 races before the playoffs, he won at Nashville, but he had had only three top ten finishes and seven finishes outside the top twenty during that span. If he has the same slump and doesn't win, he could find himself in a nervy predicament as the regular season winds down. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Chastain has won at Austin, Talladega, Nashville and Phoenix in his Cup career. He has had strong runs at Darlington and Dover as well.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Chastain is 13 starts away from become the 148th driver to reach the 200-start milestone. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Austin Cindric - #2 Discount Tires/Freightliner Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Team Penske<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 24th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2022)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> The lone Penske driver to miss the playoffs in 2023, Cindric had a woeful sophomore season, and despite being known for his road course prowess, he did not have a top five finish on a road course last season, and he had only two the season before that. He had five top ten finishes all of last season. That will require a notable uptick if he hopes to contend for the playoffs this year. While Penske has produced the last two champions, the team has not been dominating races. This will be an uphill battle for Cindric, until he rediscovers his form on the twisty circuits.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Though the results are lacking, it is still the road courses. Although, he does have a Daytona 500 victory.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Austin Dillon - #3 Bass Pro Shops/BetMGM Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Richard Childress Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 29th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2018)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> A 60-point penalty set Dillon back from making the playoffs in 2023, but his results weren't doing him any favors either. Give those 60 points back and Dillon still would have only been 25th in the championship last year. Dillon had ten retirements last year and finished outside the top 30 in 12 races. He was expected to be a fringe player for making the playoff on points. Richard Childress Racing showed good speed last year with Kyle Busch. Dillon will not be as far off this year, but the playoffs will require some work.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Dillon's only top five finish last year was the Bristol dirt race, so that isn't a great sign. He had three top ten finishes on 1.5-mile ovals, a top ten finish at New Hampshire and Richmond, and he was ninth at Fontana. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Dillon must complete 98 laps to reach the 100,000 laps milestone. Sixty-nine drivers have completed 100,000 laps in a Cup career.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Josh Berry - #4 SunnyD/Harrison's Ford</u></b></div><div><div><i>Team: </i>Stewart-Haas Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (11th in NASCAR's Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> This will be his Daytona 500 debut.<br /></div><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> With Kevin Harvick retiring, Berry steps into the #4 Ford after a moderately successful stint in NASCAR's second division. At 33 years old, Berry is older than your contemporary rookie, but he had good runs with JR Motorsports. Stewart-Haas Racing is not the same Stewart-Haas Racing as five years ago. Harvick was the only SHR car to make the playoffs last year and no other SHR car cracked the top twenty in 2023. Berry had a few good races last season running in place of an injured Chase Elliott, but Berry will been experiencing a learning curve this season. It will be a struggle to crack the top twenty in points.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Berry was second at Richmond last year in the spring race driving in place of Elliott. Berry was also tenth at Dover. If he is going to win anywhere, it is either going to be Martinsville, Richmond, Las Vegas or Dover.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Kyle Larson - #5 HendrickCars.com/Valvoline Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Hendrick Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 2nd<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 7th (2016, 2019)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Larson will make it but it is a case of how far he can go. On talent alone, he should be in the final four. It is not always that simple. Larson is going to win three to seven races this season. If he times them right, it could end in a second championship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Anywhere. It is Kyle Larson.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Larson is two victories away from becoming the 36th driver with at least 25 Cup victories. He is seven victories away from becoming the 30th driver with at least 30 Cup victories.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Brad Keselowski - #6 Castrol/BuildSubmarines.com/Fastenal Body Guard/Consumer Cellular/Solomon Plumbing/King's Hawaiian/Esperion Therapeutics Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 8th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 3rd (2014)<div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Year two driving for his own team saw a big upswing for Keselowski. The lone thing that was missing was a victory. It feels like a victory is coming for Keselowski. He is approaching three years since his most recent victory. He is due. One win and he is in the playoffs. Even if he doesn't win, he should be in a spot to make it on points. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> RFK Racing swept the Daytona 500 qualifying races last year and won the summer Daytona race last year. It is setup for a Daytona 500 victory. Either that or Talladega.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Keselowski is five victories away from becoming the 21st driver with at least 40 Cup victories. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Corey LaJoie - #7 Celsius/Gainbridge/Chili's Grill & Bar Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Spire Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 25th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 8th (2020)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> In what was a career year for LaJoie in 2023, he had two top five finishes and three top ten finishes. He also led 66 laps and had his best average finish in a season at 20.8. However, there is much more work to do to make the playoffs on points. He is in a win-or-bust situation. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> All eight of his Cup top ten finishes have come at Daytona, Talladega or Atlanta. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Kyle Busch - #8 3CHI/Cheddars/Lcuas Oil/Morgan & Morgan/BetMGM/Rebel Bourbon/Global Industrial/Zone Premium Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Richard Childress Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 14th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 2nd (2019)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Busch should be safe, but he had a tale of two seasons in 2023. In the first 18 races, he won three times with six top five finishes, 11 top ten finishes and had an average finish of 11.555. In the final 18 races, Busch had zero victories, four top five finishes, six top ten finishes and an average finish of 18.444. One half is good enough for the playoffs. The other half likely is not. What Busch and RCR will we see? Busch should make it, but this is setting up for a potential nail-bitter coming August.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Busch is able to win anywhere. He was leading at the 500-mile mark at last year's Daytona 500, but it was extended due to cautions. He won at Talladega for the first time in 15 years. His other victories were at Fontana and Gateway. He had four top five finishes on road courses last year, and he hasn't won on a road course since Sonoma in 2015. Let's pencil in a road course victory for Busch.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Busch is four top five finishes away from becoming the tenth driver to have at least 250 top five finishes in a Cup career. Busch is also 22 starts away from becoming the 20th driver to reach 700 career Cup starts.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Chase Elliott - #9 NAPA Auto Parts/Hooters/Llumar/Kelley Blue Book/UniFirst Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Hendrick Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 17th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 2nd (2021)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> If Elliott doesn't break any bones doing extracurricular activities, he will make it. At the end of last regular season, he was averaging 27.684 points per start. That would have been good enough to make it on points in 2023. It was a winless season, and a year where he rarely factored for a victory. That isn't going to be the same. Elliott should win at least once in the regular season.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Road courses obviously, but Elliott's best race last year was the penultimate race at Martinsville. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Elliott is seven top five finishes away from becoming the 45th driver to have at least 100 top five finishes in a Cup career.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Noah Gragson - #10 Black Rifle Coffee/Ranger Boats/Rush Truck Centers Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Stewart-Haas Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 33rd<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 24th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Even before NASCAR suspended Gragson for improper conduct, 2023 was a terrible season. He had no top ten finishes and one top fifteen finish in 21 starts. He had eight finishes outside the top 30 and 15 finishes outside the top 25. Gragson got into a number of accident, infamously causing a pair of cautions at Chicago. Stewart-Haas Racing is a step up from Legacy Motor Club on paper, but many of those results last year weren't because of the team. With SHR in a rut, this is ripe for Gragson to continue to drive beyond the limit, which could spell more trouble. Playoff hopes are bleak, but all it takes to make it is one timely rainstorm.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Gragson's best finish last season was 12th at Atlanta.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Denny Hamlin - #11 FedEx/Mavis Tire & Brakes/Sport Clips/Interstate Batteries Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Joe Gibbs Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 5th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2016, 2019, 2020)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Hamlin is going to make it. It is a matter of claiming that elusive championship. Everything sounds like he is more focused than ever to push for the title this year, and he is talking about maximizing the regular season to set himself up nicely in the playoff. However, a championship in this format all comes down to one race. If Hamlin makes it to Phoenix, can he have a flawless 500-kilometers?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Hamlin has his tracks: Pocono, Martinsville, Richmond, Darlington, heck even Daytona. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Hamlin is four victories away from surpassing Lee Petty for 12th all-time. Hamlin is five victories away from surpassing Rusty Wallace for 11th all-time.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Ryan Blaney - #12 Menards/Advance Auto Parts/BodyArmor/Wurth/Discount Tire/Dent Wizard/Wabash Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Team Penske<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 1st<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 2nd (2017, 2020)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> The reigning champion should be back in the playoffs to defend his title, though 2023 was not a banner season for Blaney despite taking home the championship. He didn't have a top five finish from Memorial Day to October 1. Most drivers that go the entire summer without a top five finish do not win the championship. His season shouldn't be that poor, but it will take some convincing we could see successful title defense.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Blaney could not finish in the top five for 17 races and then he ended the season with finishes of first, 12th, sixths second, first and second. He was second and first at Talladega. He was second in both Phoenix races. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Chase Briscoe - #14 Mahindra Ag North America/High Point/Rush Truck Centers Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Stewart-Haas Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 30th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 3rd (2022)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Like Austin Dillon, Briscoe was setback with a points penalty. For Briscoe, it was a 120-point penalty. Give it back to him, and he is still only 23rd, smack-dab between teammates Aric Almirola and Ryan Preece. If any SHR driver is going to make the playoffs, Briscoe is the guy, but it will require his best results by far. For a team that was bunched just outside the top twenty, this is lining up for Briscoe to be short. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Briscoe was in the top five of both Martinsville races last season.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Riley Herbst - #15 N29 Capital Partners Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Rick Ware Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (13th in the NASCAR Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 10th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Herbst is only doing the Daytona 500 in the #15 Ford as Kaz Grala will run 25 races in the this car and Cody Ware will run the remaining ten. Herbst will be full-time in NASCAR's second series with Stewart-Haas Racing.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> The division below this one.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>A.J. Allmendinger - #16 Celsius/Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Kaulig Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 21st<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 3rd (2009, 2017)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Allmendinger will not be full-time in the #16 Chevrolet as he returns to the second division to run full-time for the championship. This entry will have Shane van Gisbergen contest seven races (Austin, both Talladega races, the Coca-Cola 600, Chicago, Watkins Glen and Las Vegas in October), while Josh Williams will also run a few races. Other drivers are still to be announced. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> With Allmendinger and van Gisbergen splitting this car, the #16 Chevrolet has a good shot at winning on the road courses. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Chris Buescher - #17 Fastenal/Fifth Third Bank/Castrol Edge/BuildSubmarines.com/Esperion Therapeutics Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 7th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 3rd (2020)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> With a summer splash of three victories heading into the playoffs, Buescher is a bit of the popular sleeper entering the 2024 season. Buescher should make it back. A regular season victory feels highly likely. He did nearly double his career top five finish total in one season, and his 17 top ten finishes in 2023 were seven more than his previous high. Buescher should be back in the playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Buescher was fourth, third and first in the Daytona/Talladega regular season races. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Buescher is seven starts away from become the 101st driver to reach the 300-start milestone. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Martin Truex, Jr. - #19 Bass Pro Shops/Auto Owners Insurance/Interstate Batteries Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Joe Gibbs Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 11th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 2nd (2016)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> If it was a tale of two seasons for Kyle Busch, Truex, Jr. fell off the face of the planet when the playoffs approached last year. Truex, Jr. went from a 10.88 average finish in the first 25 races to a 18.909 average finish in the final 11 races. He had seven finishes of 15th or worse in the first 25 races. He had eight finishes of 15th or worse in the final 11 races. Eleven races is not an insignificant sample size, especially after being the top driver in the regular season. You would think Truex, Jr. will correct the ship, but even if he makes it to the playoffs, what damage could he do?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Darlington or Loudon. He has been outstandingly strong at those places in recent years.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Truex, Jr. is six victories away from becoming the 21st driver with at least 40 Cup victories. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Christopher Bell - #20 DeWalt/Rheem/Mobil 1/Interstate Batteries Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Joe Gibbs Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 4th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 3rd (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> For two consecutive seasons, Bell has made an unthinkable run to the championship race. Last year should have been less of a surprise considering he spent majority of the season in the top four of the championship. Bell will make it back to the playoffs. The tracks are still lined up for him to make a run to the championship race. If the brakes hold, he could win the title.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Bell has yet to win on the same track twice in his Cup career, but he excels on worn out pavement. Give him Darlington, Homestead, heck now that both Bristol races will be on concrete, that only increases Bell's chances of winning there.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Harrison Burton - #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane/Draiver Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Wood Brothers Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 31st<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 26th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> In 73 Cup races, Burton has more lapped finishes than lead lap finishes in his career, 37 to 36. He didn't improve from year one to year two. His average starting position dropped by 3.2 positions from 22.1 to 25.3 and his average finish dropped almost two spots from 22.8 to 24.7. To make the playoffs, he will need the planets aligning at Daytona, Talladega or Atlanta, or Burton needs a thunderstorm to come at the right time during a pit cycle.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> See above.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Joey Logano - #22 Shell/Pennzoil/Hunt Brother's Pizza Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Team Penske<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 12th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2015)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Logano will make it. There are some concerns as Penske didn't look great last year, but Logano will win somewhere in the regular season, even if it is his only victory in the regular season and secure a playoff spot where he will either work his magic and somehow make the semifinal round and slip into the Phoenix finale, or he will repeat 2023 and not really come close to achieving a third title.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> The answer is anywhere, but it will either be early in the season or late in the season. Logano has not won one of the races between the 16th race in the season and the 30th race of the season since he won the 30th race of the 2015 season at Charlotte. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Bubba Wallace - #23 Door Dash/McDonald's/Columbia/U.S. Air Force/MoneyLion/Dr. Pepper/Mobil 1 Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>23XI Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 10th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 2nd (2018, 2022)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Wallace was the final driver to make it on points last year, and he drove even better in the playoffs than the regular season. Wallace can be spotty. He probably should have won at least once last year. His 1.5-mile form is favorable. A regular season victory would not stun anyone, but a slow start could put him on shaky ground. If Chase Elliott doesn't miss seven races, Elliott is making it on points easily over Wallace. A victory would go a long way toward Wallace's hopes. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Texas, which is now a regular season race. Although Kansas deserves a mention, and Wallace does run well at Daytona and Talladega. He did lead 80 laps in the summer race at Richmond last year.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>William Byron - #24 Axalta/Valvoline/Liberty University/RaptorTough.com/HP Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Hendrick Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 3rd<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 21st (2019)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Byron won the most races last year, but maybe we should take that with a grain of salt. Byron won three races last year where he led fewer than 20 laps. It was only the fourth time in Cup Series history a driver has won at least three races in a season with fewer than 20 laps led. The other were Rex White in 1961, Joe Weatherly in 1962 and Kevin Harvick in 2011. Two of those races Byron won were because the leaders took each other out (Darlington spring and Texas), and the other was a rain-shortened race where everyone was racing the weather (Atlanta). </div><div><br /></div><div>Even if you flip Darlington and Texas, Byron still wins four times. He still has 15 top five finishes, tied for most in the series, and 21 top ten finishes, most in the series. Byron will make the playoffs, but with a healthy Elliott, a title push becomes increasingly difficult.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Byron had strong runs at Las Vegas, Dover and Richmond last year. He also had three finishes in the top-two on road courses.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Daniel Hemric - #31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection/Cirkul Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Kaulig Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> N/A (8th in NASCAR Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 13th (2020)<div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Slim-to-none. Kaulig Racing is a good team, but Hemric has one victory in NASCAR national series competition, and that is increasingly looking more and more fluky (even worse it won him a championship). After having 15 top five finishes in his 2021 Grand National Series season, Hemric had a combined nine top five finishes over the last two seasons. After leading 663 laps in 2021, he led a combined 124 laps in the last two season. This doesn't scream a driver than can make waves in the Cup Series.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> In 47 Cup starts, Hemric's three top ten finishes have come at Talladega, Pocono and Fontana. Of his nine top five finishes in the last two seasons, three of those were at Atlanta. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Michael McDowell - #34 Love's Travel Stops/Horizon Hobby/Margaritaville at Sea/Benebone/B'laster Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Front Row Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 15th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2021)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> McDowell found a higher level in the regular season and took an emphatic victory at Indianapolis. However, McDowell's results nose-dived after that, and his average finish in 2023 was actually 2.3 spots worse than 2022 (19.0 to 16.7) and he had four fewer top ten finishes than in 2022 (eight down from 12). Even without the victory, McDowell would have been in the playoffs on points. That will be difficult to duplicate. Another road course victory sounds more likely. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> I guess we have to say road courses after Indianapolis.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> McDowell must complete 149 laps to reach the 100,000 laps milestone. Sixty-nine drivers have completed 100,000 laps in a Cup career.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Todd Gilliland - #38 Ruedebusch Development and Construction/gener8tor/Frontline Enterprises/Georgia Peanut Commission Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Front Row Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 28th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 27th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> It will be an uphill battle for Gilliland. He had a few good performances early in 2023, but the results petered out as the season went along. Playoffs will likely require a Daytona/Talladega/Atlanta victory.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> See above.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Ryan Preece - #41 Haas Automation/United Rentals Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Stewart-Haas Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 23rd <br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 6th (2021)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Preece will need to be a more prolific driver if he wants to make the playoffs. He had only two top ten finishes in 2023. He has never had more than four top ten finishes in a season. He has never had more than one top five finish in a season, and he has alternated years in which he gets his one top five finish. Based on that pattern, Preece will not get a top five finish in 2024. You cannot make the playoffs without a top five finish.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Preece was one botched pit stop at Martinsville in the spring from possibly winning that race and stealing a playoff spot early. Martinsville, Richmond, Bristol and Loudon and favorable for Preece.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>John Hunter Nemechek - #42 Dollar Tree/Family Dollar/Mobil 1 Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Legacy Motor Club<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (4th in NASCAR Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 11th (2020)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> With Legacy Motor Club moving to Toyota, it has moved from being the fifth team (at best) in the pecking order at Chevrolet to third at Toyota. Nemechek redefined his career moving down from the Cup Series after being full-time with Front Row Motorsports in 2020, and Toyota has him back. There will still be trying races. This is still a smaller team in comparison. Nemechek likely will not be pushing for the top fifteen in points. His playoff hopes will depend on a victory.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> The only tracks Nemechek won at multiple times in his Grand National Series career were Kansas and Texas. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Erik Jones - #43 AdventHealth/Dollar Tree/FamilyDollar/Allegiant Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Legacy Motor Club<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 27th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 3rd (2019)<div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Toyota power could rejuvenate Jones' career. He had some impressive performances last year in bad equipment. Seven top ten finishes is respectable. He did win in 2022 at Darlington with three top five finishes and 13 top ten finishes. If he repeats 2022, Jones could be sniffing for a playoff spot. He is always a threat at Darlington. He could be a sleeper.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Darlington. Need I say more?</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Tyler Reddick - #45 Monster Energy/McDonald's/SiriusXM/MoneyLion/Mobil 1 /Jordan Brand Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>23XI Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 6th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 27th (2019, 2021)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Reddick should be in the playoffs, but his 2023 season was sink or swim. He won twice and had ten top five finishes, but he had 11 finishes outside the top twenty, including a five-consecutive race run from Gateway through Atlanta in the summer. And yet, he was still contending for a final four spot. Year two with 23XI should see things clean up and he should be a greater force in the regular season. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> A worn out racetrack. Darlington, Homestead, or a road course. Over half his Cup victories have been on road courses.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #47 Kroger Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>JTG Daugherty Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 16th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Stenhouse, Jr. won the Daytona 500 and punched the first playoff ticket. However, 2023 was arguably his best regular season, and he would have been in contention on points even without the victory. Results did taper off in the second half of the season. Stenhouse, Jr. had 11 top fifteen finishes in the first half of the season. He had five top fifteen finishes in the second half of the season. A return to the playoffs will likely require another unlikely victory.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> He has only ever won at Daytona and Talladega. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Alex Bowman - #48 Ally Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Hendrick Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 20th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 5th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Bowman was the second of two Hendrick drivers to be injured during the 2023 season doing something other than Cup racing and miss time, and ultimately miss the playoffs. Bowman broke his back in a sprint car accident, and it derailed a good start to the season. He opened with four consecutive top ten finishes and six top ten finish in the first seven races. He had nine top fifteen finishes in the first ten races. He was tenth in the championship at the time of his injury and missed three races. In the final 23 races, Bowman had only four top ten finishes and nine top fifteen finishes. At the time of his injury, he was averaging 27 points per start.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bowman returning to form should put him a playoff position. However, Bowman is the shakiest of the four Hendrick drivers. In four of his seven career victories, Bowman has led 16 laps or fewer. He could be flirting with the bubble for most of this season. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Bowman has a good record at Dover, Las Vegas and his road course performances are sneaky good.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone: </i>If Bowman wins pole position for the Daytona 500, he would become the fourth driver with four Daytona 500 pole positions joining Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough and Bill Elliott.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Justin Haley - #51 Walmart Health & Wellness Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Rick Ware Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 26th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 13th (2020)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Haley was good in his first full-time stint in the Cup series with Kaulig Racing, but far from great. Rick Ware Racing has never been close to putting a driver in the playoffs on points. Haley's best bet is stealing a victory at a plate track with a lot of accidents.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Daytona, Talladega or Atlanta.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Ty Gibbs - #54 Interstate Batteries/Monster Energy/SiriusXM Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Joe Gibbs Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 18th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 25th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Gibbs should make the playoffs this year. His form improved greatly over the second half of the season. He was pushing for victory at Bristol in the playoff race. Even if he doesn't win, Gibbs should be in a spot to make it on points. Everyone has money on him winning sooner rather than later.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Two of Gibbs' four top five finishes last year were on road courses. Four of his top ten finishes last year were on road courses. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Zane Smith - #71 WeatherTech/Focused Health Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Spire Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (7th in the NASCAR Truck Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 13th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Spire has expanded to three cars, this one run in partnership with Kaulig Racing. It is difficult to tell whether this car will race more like a Spire car or a Kaulig car. Either way, both are grasping for the top twenty in points. Smith didn't really shine last year in his cameo appearances with Front Row Motorsports. In eight races, he had four finishes outside the top 30 and six finishes outside the top twenty. The playoffs should not be the expectation. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Smith has won the last two Truck races at Daytona and the last two Truck races at Austin</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Carson Hocevar - #77 Zeigler Auto Group/Delaware Life Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Spire Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (3rd in the NASCAR Truck Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> This will be his Daytona 500 debut.<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects: </i>Like Smith, Hocevar is making the leap from Trucks to Cup. Unlike Smith, Hocevar turned some heads in his handful of Cup races last year. Hocevar does have a reputation of making boneheaded mistakes. That will not take you far in the Cup Series. It almost certainly will not get you into the playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> In all likelihood, his best hopes are at Daytona, Talladega or Atlanta. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Daniel Suárez - #99 Freeway Insurance/Worldwide Express/Quaker State//Kubota/Choice Privileges Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Trackhouse<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 19th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 7th (2023)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Suárez should be in the playoff discussion, but he is coming off a disappointing season where he didn't really factor for a playoff spot, especially as the regular season wound down. In seven Cup seasons, Suárez has made the playoffs only once despite driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Trackhouse for six of those years. Based on track record alone, you have to believe he will fall short again. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Four of his last seven top five finishes have been on road courses.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Non-Chartered Teams</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Kaz Grala - #36 Ruedebusch Development and Construction Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Front Row Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> N/A (17th in NASCAR Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 26th (2022)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Grala is in a one-off entry for Front Row Motorsports before running most of the season in Rick Ware Racing's #15 Ford. Grala will not be playoff eligible, but he will be contesting rookie of the year honors... against three drivers who will be full-time..</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Most likely at Rick Ware Racing considering he will race 25 times for that team versus once for Front Row.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>David Ragan - #60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> N/A<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 4th (2020)<div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Ragan looks to make his first Cup start since the August 2022 Daytona race. This will come in a third entry for RFK Racing. It could be his first start for the team since 2011 after spending five seasons with the organization. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> It is Daytona 500 or bust for Ragan.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Anthony Alfredo - #62 Death Wish Coffee Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Beard Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (20th in NASCAR Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 32nd (2021)<div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Alfredo is attempting Daytona and the spring Talladega race with Beard Motorsports.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> In NASCAR's second division where he will drive the #5 Our Motorsports Chevrolet full-time. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>B.J. McLeod - #78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Live Fast Motorsports<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> Ineligible (68th in NASCAR Grand National Series)<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 19th (2019)<br /><div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Live Fast Motorsports sold its Charter to Spire Motorsports, which has become Zane Smith's #71 Chevrolet entry. McLeod and Live Fast Motorsports will continue as a part-time Cup operation. Other 2024 races have yet to be determined. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> McLeod will continue to run in NASCAR's second division.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Jimmie Johnson - #84 AdventHealth/DollarTree/Family Dollar/ Carvana Toyota</u></b></div><div><i>Team: </i>Legacy Motor Club<br /><i>2023 Championship Finish:</i> 39th<br /><i>Best Daytona 500 Finish:</i> 1st (2006, 2013)<div><div><i>2024 </i><i>Playoff</i><i> Prospects:</i> Johnson will not make the playoffs, but he has announced a nine-race calendar that will see him run Daytona, Texas, both Kansas races, the spring Darlington race, the Coca-Cola 600, the Brickyard 400, Las Vegas and the Phoenix finale.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Most Likely Place for a Victory:</i> Of the nine races on his schedule, let's go with the Brickyard 400. He has already won in five times. I am surprised Dover was not included on his schedule. </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Possible Milestone:</i> Johnson is 11 starts away from 700-start milestone. </div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><b><u>Playoff Driver Predictions</u></b></div><div>1. Denny Hamlin</div><div>2. Kyle Larson</div><div>3. Tyler Reddick</div><div>4. Christopher Bell</div><div>5. Chase Elliott </div><div>6. Chris Buescher</div><div>7. Joey Logano</div><div>8. William Byron</div><div>9. Ryan Blaney</div><div>10. Martin Truex, Jr.</div><div>11. Kyle Busch</div><div>12. Ty Gibbs</div><div>13. Bubba Wallace</div><div>14. Brad Keselowski</div><div>15. Ross Chastain</div><div>16. Alex Bowman</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Daytona 500 qualifying takes place tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET. The front row for the Daytona 500 will be decided while the fastest two non-chartered entries will lock-in their spots for Sunday's race. The first Daytona 500 qualifying race will be run at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday February 15 with the second race following at 8:45 p.m. ET. There will be one 50-minute practice for the Cup teams at 5:35 p.m. ET on Friday February 16 before a final 50-minute practice at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday February 17.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 66th running of the Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday February 18.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-19282394604308245502024-02-12T06:59:00.001-05:002024-02-12T06:59:50.476-05:00Musings From the Weekend: Let's Talk Television<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking....</div><div><br /></div><div>The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl for a second consecutive year. More Formula One liveries were revealed, many in the United States, one in Las Vegas. Silverstone signed an extension to retain the British Grand Prix through 2034. Ducati remains quick. There was bickering over an exhibition race. A championship leader had to withdraw due to illness, and it didn't even matter because his team didn't close out the championship. Iowa announced a few more musical acts. There was some discussions over future Indianapolis 500 participation, but we will save that for a later date. One other IndyCar topic is on my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Let's Talk Television</u></b></div><div>This will be a busy year for IndyCar. Besides having an actual season to run, which begins in less than a month, IndyCar has some off-track business to handle. The next television contract will be agreed upon at some point during this year, likely in time for a month of May announcement. </div><div><br /></div><div>The television deal is a significant source of revenue for the series, and it is the platform in which the series is brought to the masses. </div><div><br /></div><div>How television shows, movies and sports are consumed is constantly changing during this period. There are many more avenues for distribution than there were ten years ago, and in 2024 there is a difficult balance in sticking with what is known while venturing into uncharted waters. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is money in desperate hands. In the ever expanding digital and streaming worlds, these platforms need properties. They need reasons for subscribers. If they can buy a property with a dedicated audience it could mean a big swoon for that outlet. However, for the series, it might be a short-term gain but long-term loss. It could be a big payday upfront, but a decline in total viewership could mean less sponsorship interest and make it challenging for teams to fund their programs while being exposed to less eyeballs. </div><div><br /></div><div>The paved roads of linear television are comforting. Everyone knows what they are getting, but no one is shelling out more than the market price for a property. There is no desire to spend haphazardly. It is also an older part of town, some would even say outdated, and younger generations are looking elsewhere. The series will not end up with a king's ransom, but it knows what audience it will draw and it is still draws the most people, which makes sponsors more willing to spend if they know who and how many are watching. </div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar's next deal must balance the linear and streaming worlds. We are no longer in a time of one or the other. There must be a way to engage with both. Many have a thought on what IndyCar should do, but there are clearly things that are and are not realistic.</div><div><br /></div><div>The series needs exposure. It will have some linear portion of its contract. The Indianapolis 500 is going to remain on a known network television channel. That narrows the options significantly. </div><div><br /></div><div>NBC is the current broadcast partner, and remains in negotiation, while Fox, The CW and Apple reportedly have also had discussions with the series. </div><div><br /></div><div>No matter what is decided, it is important to remember one thing: You are likely not going to get exactly what you want. </div><div><br /></div><div>The selected option will not be the perfect option that makes everyone happy. For starters, it likely will not be on the streaming service you desire. If NBC retains the rights, that means Peacock is here to stay. If Apple is involved, that means a different platform all together, and likely at a different price point, which will likely be an increased cost to you the viewer. With NBC and Fox, that means a few races (or most races) could end up on one of the cable platforms, whether that be USA or FS1. If it is The CW, you will likely have to figure out where The CW is on your television dial.</div><div><br /></div><div>IndyCar also isn't going to abandon selling broadcast rights. IndyCar isn't going to start its own streaming platform as its only option to watch races. Companies still want to broadcast the Indianapolis 500. If someone is offering money, you take the money. There is also a limitation to a streaming service. A full season streaming package wouldn't cost only $50.</div><div><br /></div><div>F1TV costs $80 for the season. MotoGP's VideoPass is over $150 for the season. It would cost a pretty penny to begin with. For years, people said they wanted a one-stop shop where they could stream all the IndyCar sessions, and we have that now. Peacock offers that. If you subscribe to Peacock, you get every practice session, qualifying session and race, and it only costs about $6 a month and, in addition to IndyCar, that $6 a month also gets you movies, television shows and other sports if you so desire. </div><div><br /></div><div>It might not be commercial-free during the races, but commercials are expensive, and the network isn't going to recuperate millions in ad revenue through $6-per-month subscriptions. Commercial-free races will likely mean a substantial increase in subscription fee. That is the nature of the business. How much does not seeing commercials mean to you?</div><div><br /></div><div>Expectations should be set accordingly when it comes to the next television contract. Be realistic. This contract will likely look like something we have in every IndyCar television contract look like before. There is going to be a network television partner that will show a race with commercial breaks. Practice and qualifying sessions will likely be only available streaming. A few races might be on cable. A few races might be streaming only. That is the way of the world in 2024. </div><div><br /></div><div>It all comes down to money, and what IndyCar decides is the best deal for the series. Whether that means more money coming out of your pocket, the answer is probably yes. Someone has to pay for it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Champions From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about the Kansas City Chiefs, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>The #4 CrowdStrike Racing by APR Oreca-Gibson of Colin Braun, George Kurtz and Malthe Jakobsen clinched the Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 championship with finishes of first and fifth in Abu Dhabi..</div><div><br /></div><div>The #17 Cool Racing Ligier-Nissan of Alexander Bukhantsov and James Winslow clinched the ALMS LMP3 championship with a pair of runner-up finishes in Abu Dhabi.</div><div><br /></div><div>The #91 Pure Rxcing Porsche of Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm clinched the ALMS GT championship with a third in the second Abu Dhabi race despite retiring from the first race of the weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about CrowdStrike Racing by APR, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>In the first 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi, the #2 CD Sport Ligier-Nissan of Nick Adcock, Michael Jensen and Fabien Lavergne won in the LMP3 class. The #88 Triple Eight JMR Mercedes-AMG of Prince Jefri, Luca Stolz and Jordan Love won in the GT class.</div><div><br /></div><div>The #25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca-Gibson of Chris McMurry, Toby Sowery and Freddie Tomlinson won the second 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi. The #26 Bretton Racing Ligier-Nissan of Julien Gerbi, Dan Skočdopole and Mihnea Stefan won in the LMP3 class. The #88 Triple Eight JMR Mercedes-AMG of Prince Jefri, Luca Stolz and Jordan Love won in GT after the #19 Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini was issued a minute and 43-second penalty due Gabriel Rindone exceeding maximum drive time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ken Roczen won the Supercross race from Glendale. R.J. Hampshire won the 250cc class, his second victory of the season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>The 66th Daytona 500.</div><div>The 22nd Bathurst 12 Hour.</div><div>The 71st Rally Sweden.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-51070650138141353732024-02-09T07:49:00.000-05:002024-02-09T07:49:04.102-05:002024 IndyCar Team Preview: Team Penske<div>And then there were 30 days until the 2024 IndyCar season opener. Only a month remains until the teams unload in St. Petersburg and the first race of 17 commences. Normally when IndyCar is in St. Petersburg, Team Penske comes out on top. Eleven times Penske has won on the Albert Whitted Airport runway, more than any other team, just over half of all editions of the race. It is another season, and for Team Penske expectations remain unchanged.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>At First Glance... It's Team Penske</u></b></div><div>We know the drill. It is Team Penske.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is either going to either win four races, including the Indianapolis 500, and it will be a disappointing season, or it will win 12 races, not win the Indianapolis 500, finish one-two-five in the championship, and it will be a disappointing season. There is a narrow window for euphoric celebration on the Captain's ship. </div><div><br /></div><div>By Penske standards, 2023 was only a good season for the team. It won the Indianapolis 500. For Team Penske, that is the number one goal of the season. It accomplished that, but the IndyCar season is more than one race. When Chip Ganassi Racing wins more races and wins the championship, the season cannot be considered a success. However, winning five races is still a pipe dream for 75% of the other teams in the series. </div><div><br /></div><div>For all that Penske should celebrate, there were plenty of reasons to be concerned. Josef Newgarden won the Indianapolis 500, he won four oval races... but he only had one podium finish on the road/street courses. He had six finishes outside the top ten, three outside the top twenty, his most finishes outside the top ten since 2015 and his most finishes outside the top twenty since 2016. </div><div><br /></div><div>Scott McLaughlin won at Barber Motorsports Park, he was third in the championship with 11 consecutive top ten finishes to close the season... but he only led 117 laps, down from 433 laps led the year before and he only led two laps on ovals!</div><div><br /></div><div>Will Power did not win a race for the first time since his rookie season in Champ Car in 2006. Power was on the podium four times, a good season; he won two pole positions, a fair total; but he only had one race where it felt like he should win, and Newgarden still dominated that first race from Iowa. </div><div><br /></div><div>Penske can afford a season like this. It cannot afford a second season like this, however. </div><div><br /></div><div>There wasn't a reason to change the lineup, but Team Penske will not take too long refresh the lineup if results are not up to snuff. It also does not take much of a reason for Penske to move on from a driver, even if he is running as one of the best in IndyCar. </div><div><br /></div><div>Power has achieved a lot for Team Penske, but the leash is short if he has another winless season. It doesn't necessarily spell the end of his time with the team, but 2025 will be a pivotal year before the final act of his career. </div><div><br /></div><div>Newgarden succeeded and failed in 2023. He conquered the last quest in an IndyCar driver's career, but his results were all over the board and he was never pressuring for the championship despite winning four races. He has not expressed any joy in the season he had, and with him stepping away from some of the off-track extracurriculars (Bus Bros), it signals a re-focus on his craft. </div><div><br /></div><div>Considering McLaughlin has only completed three IndyCar seasons, going from 14th to fourth to third is as good as you could expect from a driver moving from tin-top touring cars. We know he can run at the top level in IndyCar. It is no longer a pleasant surprise when he finishes in the top five and is competitive. That is the expectation now, and it is actually a little underwhelming just to finish in the top five. Winning is what matters.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is Team Penske. It is going to win races and be a force in IndyCar. It is a matter of its level of dominance. Can it dethrone Chip Ganassi Racing with all three drivers winning on a regular basis? Will one Penske driver carry the team while areas for improvement remain? Is there anyway Penske declines and we are left scratching our heads and wondering what it does next? </div><div><br /></div><div>All of these drivers can secure their rides for the next five years this season, and yet, with stagnation, all three could find themselves on the chopping block.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>2023 Team Penske Review</u></b></div><div>Wins: 5 (Texas, Barber, Indianapolis 500, Iowa 1, Iowa 2)</div><div>Poles: 4 (Iowa 1, Iowa 2, Nashville, Gateway)</div><div>Championship Finishes: 3rd (Scott McLaughlin), 5th (Josef Newgarden), 7th (Will Power)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Josef Newgarden - #2 Hitachi/PPG Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>6: Newgarden's last six victories have been on ovals.</div><div><br /></div><div>2: Podium finishes in the last two seasons that were not victories.</div><div><br /></div><div>1: Top five finish on a permanent road course in 2023 (fifth at Portland).</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>Newgarden has already done it twice, and he has come close a few more times. Each season he has won a championship, Newgarden has won four races. In each season he won multiple times on road/street courses and ovals. In two of the three seasons he has finished runner-up in the championship, he has done the same. </div><div><br /></div><div>In his two championship seasons, he has won one of the first three races and had multiple podium finishes in the first four events. In two of the three seasons he was runner-up, he did not win any of the first five races, but in one of those seasons he did win two of the first three events. </div><div><br /></div><div>The key things is Newgarden limits his bad days. In each of his championship seasons, he never finished outside the top twenty. In two of the three seasons he has finished runner-up, he has at least two finishes outside the top twenty. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div><div>Anything is realistic for Newgarden. He could bounce back from his underwhelming road/street course numbers and win four times with six podium finishes on the twisty circuits. He could also go winless again and only win two oval races. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The addition of a Milwaukee doubleheader should be favorable for him, as it also adds an oval races to the schedule. He was fifth in each of his last two Milwaukee starts and led 109 laps from pole position in the most recent visit to the one-mile oval. </div><div><br /></div><div>His consistency should level out. If that happens, Newgarden will be a greater threat for the championship. A more balanced season should make him dangerous. However, if he keeps having one or two stray results, it could cost him.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Scott McLaughlin - #3 DEX Imaging/XPEL/Snap-On/Pennzoil/Good Ranchers/Sonsio Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>8.928: Average finish in 14 oval starts.</div><div><br /></div><div>2,258: Laps completed in 2023, tied for the most in IndyCar with Álex Palou.</div><div><br /></div><div>28: Consecutive races finished.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>Continuing on the top ten form from the end of last season, except McLaughlin takes it up a notch, and opens with a run of five straight top five finishes, including podium finishes on the first two street courses and his first top five result in the Indianapolis 500. </div><div><br /></div><div>He will get bucked from the horse at Detroit but bounce back with a win at Road America before another top five finish at Laguna Seca. A top ten will follow at Mid-Ohio, but he will win one of the two Iowa races and then head into the Olympic break with a Toronto victory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from break, McLaughlin wins at Gateway, finishes on the podium at Portland and then has a victory and another top five at Milwaukee, setting him up in the championship lead for Nashville. A podium in the finale seals the championship for the New Zealander in his fourth full season.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div><div>McLaughlin has the consistency Newgarden needs, but McLaughlin is a tad off the championship level. That final step is not impractical for this season. It is plausible McLaughlin could win four or five times and win at least once on each track discipline. His teammate Newgarden could be his greatest hurdle to a championship. If Newgarden regains his form, he could be the one thing in McLaughlin's way and cancel out whatever improved results McLaughlin has. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the last two seasons, McLaughlin has settled into being a sure pair of hands. In the last 26 races, he has 22 top ten finishes. However, ten of those results have been in the back half of the top ten. Those are fine results, but they need to be just a little better to win a championship. A title isn't out of the question. But will a two-victory, six-podium season be enough if he has ten results between sixth and tenth?</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Will Power - #12 Verizon Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>10: Podium finishes in his last 27 races.</div><div><br /></div><div>0: Victories in the last 27 races.</div><div><br /></div><div>40: Consecutive races finished, 11 finishes away from breaking Danica Patrick's record. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>A championship season for Power at this point in his career will likely follow the blueprint of 2022. He might win only once or twice, but he will suffocate the championship by consistently finishing on the podium and in the top five. </div><div><br /></div><div>The season will begin with five consecutive top five finishes, three of which are podium finishes. He will have another run of six top five finishes over the next eight races, and he will close the season with at least two podium results in the final four events. </div><div><br /></div><div>It will also likely require the rest of the field not being dominant with every driver having the off-day on a semi-regular basis. There might be a few drivers that win more, but they will have a handful of bad results that keep Power out of touching distance as Power finishes no worse than 15th all season.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div><div>Power turns 43 years old on March 1. Though winless, 2023 was not a bad season for him. With the strength of IndyCar at the moment, it is not guaranteed we see Power return to his past form. We haven't seen him win multiple races in a season since 2020, he has't won on an oval since 2019 and he hasn't won at least three races in a season since 2018. In two of the last three seasons, he has finished outside the top five in the championship after 11 consecutive seasons finishing in the championship top five. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are seeing a regression. </div><div><br /></div><div>Power could find a spark and win a race or two in 2024, but still end up sixth or seventh in the championship. He is the third-best Penske driver at the moment. Álex Palou is the best driver in the series. Scott Dixon is still performing at an incredible level. Then you have Patricio O'Ward, Colton Herta and Alexander Rossi, all three who went winless last season but hungry to correct that, Marcus Ericsson is quietly consistent, and there is a sleeper in Christian Lundgaard. That is what Power is up against entering his 20th season in IndyCar. </div><div><br /></div><div>Power isn't going to fall off the cliff. He will be on the podium a handful of times and have plenty of top ten finishes, but we are not going to see the Will Power of old with four or five victories and three victories from pole position.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first round of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season will be the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10. Coverage will begin at noon on NBC and Peacock.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-75399913537493202252024-02-07T08:12:00.002-05:002024-02-07T08:12:22.497-05:002024 IndyCar Team Preview: A.J. Foyt Racing<div>Thirty-two days remain between us and the 2024 IndyCar Series season opener from St. Petersburg. Things were better for A.J. Foyt Racing in 2023. Not great, but better, especially considering the team was third in the Indianapolis 500 and showed legitimate pace that could have won the race. However, the season is more than the Indianapolis 500. One great day in May can do a lot for an organization, but 16 uncompetitive days are a more accurate sign of where this team stands.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>At First Glance... This is a test for the drivers</u></b></div><div>Late last season, it was announced A.J. Foyt Racing and Team Penske had agreed to a technical partnership supplying the Foyt team with dampers and providing engineering support. For a team that has long been in the cellar and behind the rest of the teams in the series, this is a shot in the arm for the Foyt organization. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, it is on the drivers.</div><div><br /></div><div>These new parts and support will lift the team up to a certain level. It isn't going to take Foyt from 22nd to second on the grid, but it should be a boost. It should help the drivers. It is on the drivers to perform. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year, neither Foyt driver averaged a top 18 finish. There is very little room to go down, but there is a great amount to room to move up into. Can either of its drivers make that move?</div><div><br /></div><div>Santino Ferrucci stood out as Indianapolis, as he has been accustomed to do on a yearly basis. His results elsewhere were reasonable for Foyt. He did have a few events where he did much better than expected, 11th at Long Beach and 16th at Road America after qualifying 11th are two examples, but he couldn't crack the top twenty at Iowa. He was outside the top twenty at eight races. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sting Ray Robb did not impress anyone during his rookie season driving for Dale Coyne Racing. Robb had 12 finishes outside the top twenty last season. He didn't have a lead lap finish until the 13th race of the season. He didn't have a top fifteen finish until the final race of the season at Laguna Seca, where he was 12th. </div><div><br /></div><div>Robb is here mostly because of money, but Benjamin Pedersen had worse results than Robb driving this second Foyt entry last year. There were three drivers between them in the championship. Any change from Pedersen was likely going to be an improvement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Expectations must be properly set for the Foyt organization. The team isn't going to go from 22nd to second, but this is a team that has had only two driver finish in the top fifteen in the championship since the introduction of the DW12 chassis in 2012. The team hasn't had a top ten championship finisher since 2002. </div><div><br /></div><div>For Ferrucci, fighting for the top fifteen feels practical. In the Road to Indy, Robb improved in each year he returned to a series. We know he can grow. Growing a significant amount in IndyCar will be his greatest challenge yet. </div><div><br /></div><div>The equipment will be there. These will not be Penske cars outright, but they should be better than what the team had in previous seasons. If the results are stagnant from 2023, it will say more about the drivers, and it will likely lead to some changes come 2025.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>2023 A.J. Foyt Racing Review</u></b></div><div>Wins: 0</div><div>Best Finish: 3rd (Indianapolis 500)</div><div>Poles: 0</div><div>Best Start: 4th (Indianapolis 500)</div><div>Championship Finishes: 19th (Santino Ferrucci), 27th (Benjamin Pedersen)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Santino Ferrucci - #14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>17: Average finish on ovals in 2023</div><div><br /></div><div>18.2: Average finish on street courses in 2023</div><div><br /></div><div>19.857: Average finish on road courses in 2023</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>The Penske parts works wonders from the start and Ferrucci starts with a surprising top ten run in St. Petersburg. Another top ten follows at Long Beach. There is a dip at Barber Motorsports Park, but he is back in the top ten on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the Indianapolis 500, this time Ferrucci wins the late battle and comes out ahead of the rest of the field in a somewhat surprising victory. There will be a hangover at Detroit, and Road America will only be a little better, but he is back with a top five at Laguna Seca. A victory in a wet Mid-Ohio race bolsters his confidence before he finishes on the podium and in the top five in the two Iowa race. He closes his pre-Olympic break run with a top ten at Toronto. </div><div><br /></div><div>Returning from the Olympic break, Ferrucci wins Gateway, he is top ten in Portland, one Milwaukee race he is just outside the top ten, but he cracks the top five in the other. At Nashville, he needs to come up big and he finishes second, but trouble for others means Ferrucci comes from behind and takes a stunning championship by a few points.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div><div>Better but still not extravagant. This could be a season where Ferrucci has three or four top ten finishes. His average finish gets a two or three position bump, and he could get into the top fifteen in the championship. That will be tough. His season lives and dies with the Indianapolis 500. It seems like A.J. Foyt Racing has it set up that way. Ferrucci has five top ten finishes in five Indianapolis 500 starts. Nobody has ever started an Indianapolis 500 career with six consecutive top ten finishes. History is not on his side. Though, a great Indianapolis 500 might not matter.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>He was third in last season's Indianapolis 500, with a handful of qualifying points to boot, and he was still only 19th in the championship. Give him 15 more points, the difference between a victory and third, and he would have still only finished 18th in the championship. Even if he had three more top ten finishes, netting him another extra 15-25 points, that still might not be better than 16th or 17th. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Sting Ray Robb - #41 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>0: Races started in the top 20 last season</div><div><br /></div><div>24.235: Average starting position in 2023, the worst in IndyCar</div><div><br /></div><div>22.176: Average finish in 2023, the second worst in IndyCar</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>A flu-bug runs rampant through the IndyCar paddock for the entire season. It is a bug that keeps a driver out for two months at a time. Once one guy gets it, it spreads through a team. It affects everyone but Robb. He is the only driver not to catch it. With every other driver missing anywhere from six to ten races at a time, and with it hitting drivers right as race weekends start, Robb is competing in depleted fields and allows he to amass more points than if the entire grid had been healthy. Due to Robb being the only driver to complete all 17 races and no other driver completing more than 11 races, Robb takes the championship despite not winning a race nor finishing on the podium all season.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div></div></div><div>Top twenty feels like a stretch. Robb was 23rd last year and 30 points behind Devlin DeFrancesco in 22nd. Robb was 67 points short of 20th last year. Moving from Dale Coyne Racing to A.J. Foyt Racing might be a marginal improvement, especially with the Penske alliance, but it isn't necessarily a 67-point improvement. The IndyCar grid is tough and at least six full-time drivers are going to finish outside the top twenty. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nineteen of the 22 drivers that finished ahead of Robb last year are returning, but Linus Lundqvist will now be full-time and driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, Pietro Fittipaldi is in the third Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry, and Christian Rasmussen might be only competing in 12 of 17 races, and Robb has already finished behind a driver that competed in only 12 of 17 races last year, so absenteeism isn't in Robb's favor either. </div><div><br /></div><div>If Robb can crack the top twenty in the championship, it is great season. At best, we are looking at four or five top fifteen finishes, maybe one goes his way and is a top ten result.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The first round of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season will be the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10. Coverage will begin at noon on NBC and Peacock.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-65723896752239344422024-02-05T06:55:00.000-05:002024-02-05T06:55:00.198-05:00Musings From the Weekend: Boycotting Will Change Nothing<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking..</div><div><br /></div><div>Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari for the 2025 season. The Japanese Grand Prix has a contract through 2029. NASCAR made the last minute decision to move the Clash up an entire day, and actually drew a respectable crowd on such late notice. Denny Hamlin won the race on a weekend when he became NASCAR's Netflix star, akin to Daniel Ricciardo. The Charter system is up in the air, and that will likely drag into the summer. There has been some two-wheel testing. Williams will be unveiling its 2024 car in New York City today, however, it is something else American-related to Formula One that is on my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Boycotting Will Change Nothing</u></b></div><div>It was not surprising when the announcement was made that Andretti Global's Formula One bid, in partnership with General Motors, was rejected. For two years, the Andretti organization has been exploring entry into the Formula One grid. What first started as an investigation into purchase Sauber turned into a pursuit to become the 11th team.</div><div><br /></div><div>For two years, the bid was met regularly with opposition. Current teams dismissed the effort due to its lack of value and potentially watering down the competitiveness of the series. These weren't comments coming from the shadows. You could put faces to the words. Mercedes' Toto Wolff, then-Alfa Romeo's Frédéric Vasseur, Red Bull's Christian Horner, these weren't nobodies, but the spine of the grid, and if they were already saying no, the entry's hope was dead on arrival. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, Andretti persisted, and it answered all the qualms. Lack of value was erased when General Motors was added to the project just over a year ago. One of the biggest automobile companies in the world, GM made $169.73 billion in revenue in 2023 alone, more than Renault, Honda and Mercedes, three companies all currently on the Formula One grid.</div><div><br /></div><div>When it came to participation, Andretti had outlined its plans to be based out of its global headquarters, a new shop being constructed in Fishers, Indiana, while using GM support from Charlotte, North Carolina and having the race team and design departments in Silverstone, England with use of Toyota's wind tunnel in Cologne, Germany. Andretti had even rolled out a prototype of its car within the week prior to Formula One's rejection. Andretti was committed to running teams in Formula Two and Formula Three as well, a full endeavor into the FIA ladder system, something no other team on the grid does. </div><div><br /></div><div>The truth is this wasn't about what the report said. This wasn't about value to the grid or competitiveness. It wasn't about Formula One making the Andretti name bigger and not Andretti making the Formula One name bigger. It wasn't about if the circuits could safely accommodate an 11th team, nor was it about power unit supplier. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was about money. </div><div><br /></div><div>The anti-dilution fee for a new team was set at $200 million when the current Concorde Agreement was signed in August 2020. Little did the current teams and FIA expect the series to boom as much as it did in the wake of the pandemic. The value of each team has soared, and the $200 million price tag quickly became a bargain. </div><div><br /></div><div>Enter Andretti, or at least attempt to enter. Ready to pay $20 million to each existing team, the ten current competitors realized $20 million would not offset the revenue lost from splitting the pie an 11th way. Last year, word was the teams were attempting to triple the fee to $600 million, still well short of what they would have liked but still significantly more than what was already set as the price. </div><div><br /></div><div>If the teams got the price they wanted, Andretti would have been welcomed with open arms. Forget General Motors. Forget competitive relevance. If the buy-in was $2 billion, Andretti would be on the grid this March with a current IndyCar if it wanted. That price was never realistic, nor would it ever happen considering it was already set at $200 million. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the wake of Andretti's rejection, there has been a vocal push to boycott Formula One from this side of Atlantic, especially from those who consider themselves as more seasoned race fans. </div><div><br /></div><div>Go ahead. It isn't going to change anything. </div><div><br /></div><div>For starters, you know you aren't going to be able to look away. We are all masochists. We cannot afford to not be informed, and as much as we say otherwise, we know Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsports. That is why all the money and all the glamour is there. Lie all we want, we are going to continue to watch. There will be a tribal instinct to do so. In the polarization of the viewership, it is viewed as ours, even as a new batch of viewers come in, something we always wished for. Be careful of what you wish for. </div><div><br /></div><div>Formula One isn't going to see a sharp reaction from the United States viewers and realize it made a mistake and walk back on its decision. There is the harsh truth that a growing number of viewers in this country do not care that Andretti was rejected from joining the grid. That segment of the audience probably didn't even know there was a bid for another American team to join the series. Because of that segment of the audience, Formula One is not going to lose anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>Formula One is here and it knows there are plenty of people willing to pay $800 for an obstructed view and a half-eaten ham sandwich in a Miami parking lot. There are even more that will pay $2,000 for no view of the track in Las Vegas. There aren't enough wallets to walkaway for the damage to be noticeable. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is upsetting a good-natured attempt to enter the world championship has been thwarted from those already participating, and it is an objection of the series we have know for nearly 75 years. But this is the 21st century, and capitalism is king. These teams know their worth and they know what they would lose with an additional team. These aren't the days of the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s when no one truly realized how much money was coming into Formula One... except for Bernie Ecclestone. </div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't the Formula One of racing dreams who believe the right combination of engineering can lead to a grand prix winning entry that no one sees coming. We had the teams of 16 teams and pre-qualifying and teams eight seconds off the pace. It was the best of times. It was the worst of time.</div><div><br /></div><div>What we have now is teams that know their worth and know how far the dollar goes. They aren't giving up a cent. Gone are the old days. These teams are highly sought organizations. Sponsors want to be in the series. With the budget caps, these teams no longer can go hog wild spending. More money in and less money out makes these possibly money-making endeavors. The landscape of the sport has changed, and everyone in now is going to protect what it has. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is a creul reality, and it isn't going to change anytime soon. Go ahead of boycott. When has that ever stopped a series dead in its tracks? There is nothing you could have done to changed it. Unless you had a spare billion dollar to loan Andretti. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about Denny Hamlin, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>Jett Lawrence won the Supercross race from Detroit. Austin Forkner won in the 250cc class.</div><div><br /></div><div>The #99 99 Racing Oreca-Gibson of Louis Delétraz, Ahmad Al Harty and Nikita Mazepin won the 4 Hours of Dubai. The #17 Cool Racing Ligier-Nissan of James Winslow and Alexander Buknatsov won the LMP3 class. The #91 Pure Rxcing Porsche of Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm won the GT class.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>The Asian Le Mans Series closes out its season with a doubleheader in Abu Dhabi. </div><div>Supercross is in Glendale.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-68230994869800638522024-02-02T08:30:00.000-05:002024-02-02T08:30:04.691-05:002024 IndyCar Team Preview: Andretti Global<div>We are into the final half of the IndyCar teams as we are now 37 days until the St. Petersburg season opener. We move to Andretti Global, re-branded after 14 seasons as Andretti Autosport. We enter this season 11 seasons removed since the organization's most recent championship. It has been six years since its most recent Indianapolis 500 victory. The team has only won three races or more in one of the last five seasons and in only two of the last eight. This year, Andretti Global has reduced its stable to three full-time cars, which coincidentally is the same number of full-time cars the team ran in its last championship season.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>At First Glance... All the pieces are there</u></b></div><div>Andretti Global will have three drivers with a combined 13 victories, all dating since the start of the 2019 season. The team has a history of winning races and championships. Two of its three drivers finished in the championship top ten last year. The other driver was 11th in the championship.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the pieces are there for Andretti Global to succeed. Can it breakthrough?</div><div><br /></div><div>The team has failed to put a car in the championship five in the last two seasons and in six of the last ten seasons. In only one of the previous four seasons has the team had multiple drivers win a race, and Andretti Global has not had multiple drivers win multiple races in a single season since 2018. Prior to that, Andretti hasn't had multiple drivers win multiple races since 2013. The team hasn't had three drivers win in a single season since 2011.</div><div><br /></div><div>It hasn't been for a lack of talent. Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi, Romain Grosjean, Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe have all driven for the team during that time. Herta is coming off his first winless season in his full-time IndyCar career. Rossi went winless in two of his final three years with the team. Grosjean never won a race over two seasons. Hunter-Reay went winless in his final three years with the organization. Hinchcliffe's second stint at Andretti will be a long-forgotten season.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the team's woes, it has not failed in drawing in top talent. Herta is coming off his worst season, but he still showed plenty of speed and won multiple pole positions. Kyle Kirkwood won multiple races in his first year with the team after many had questions over his ability from Kirkwood's rough rookie season. Entering the fray will be Marcus Ericsson, a driver that has finished sixth in the championship the last three seasons and who has 50 top ten finishes in 80 career starts. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of these drivers should at least be in the conversation for the championship top five, and the team should be good enough to allow one of them to be sniffing a championship outright. Herta was third in the championship only four seasons ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ericsson has the consistency to bring the team back in the conversation. It must be acknowledged Ericsson's consistency did come with Chip Ganassi Racing. Consistency is something Andretti Global has struggled with. Andretti had only seven top five finishes over the entire 2023 season. There were 12 races where Andretti Global did not put a car in the top five, ten races where it only put one car in the top ten, and there were three races where Andretti Global failed to have a top ten finisher. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, in qualifying last season, Andretti had four races with multiple top five finishes, multiple top ten starters in ten races and on three occasions the team had three cars starting in the top ten. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andretti Global must raise its game across the board. Even with its recent dip in results, the drivers that have been there were more than good enough to achieve quality finishes and all of its drivers should have been higher up the order. The 2024 lineup is not a reset, but it is a chance to re-focus. It has two top-tier young drivers that could be the backbone of the team for a decade plus and it has added a proven race winner who rarely steps over the edge. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a few fledging seasons, the Andretti lineup has a new identity simply from one driver change and one team removed from the grid. This is a group that should be quick and not push over the limit. There will be more eyes and more hands looking over these three cars. Combined with the drivers selected, improvement is the minimum for Andretti Global in 2024. The pieces are there for so much more.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b><u>2023 Andretti Autosport Review</u></b></div><div>Wins: 2 (Long Beach, Nashville)</div><div>Poles: 5 (St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Barber, Road America, Mid-Ohio)</div><div>Championship Finishes: 10th (Colton Herta), 11th (Kyle Kirkwood), 13th (Romain Grosjean), 22nd (Devlin DeFrancesco)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Colton Herta - #26 Gainbridge Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>8.8235: Average starting position last season, sixth best in IndyCar</div><div><br /></div><div>11.471: Average finishing position last season, tenth best in IndyCar</div><div><br /></div><div>14.2: Career average finish in 25 oval starts</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>It starts with Andretti Global remaining strong on the street courses and Herta opening the season with an emphatic victory at St. Petersburg. It is followed with another emphatic street course victory at Long Beach, providing a good cushion before moving to the road courses at Barber and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he has top five finishes. He has his best Indianapolis 500 to date, running much of the race in the top ten and again finishes in the top five.</div><div><br /></div><div>This positive start continues with another street course victory, this time at Detroit, he finishes on the podium at Road America and he makes it nine top five finishes from nine races, including four victories with a smashing Laguna Seca triumph. Halfway through the season and the championship already looks determined. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the second half of the season, with firm control on the points, Herta is hitting good finishes. A top ten at Mid-Ohio. There will be an off day in Iowa, but in one of the races he finishes tenth. He is back on the podium in Toronto before heading into the Olympic break. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back at Gateway, he finishes ninth, before picking up a fifth victory at Portland. He settles for two top ten finishes in Milwaukee and caps off his season in style with a sixth victory in the Nashville season finale.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div><div>Herta has what it takes to be a champion with multiple race victories. He hasn't been able to put a full season together. He is coming off two bad seasons where he still finished in the top ten of the championship in each. If he has a good season, he will only improve and be pressing for a championship top five finish. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Andretti finds an area to be deficient in speed. For the last few seasons, really pushing the better part of a decade, it has been short ovals. There aren't many of them, but the only big oval on the schedule is Indianapolis, which means if a team wants to maximize points on ovals, it must do well at Iowa, Gateway and Milwaukee. </div><div><br /></div><div>Herta extracting the most out of the car on road and street courses will lift him up the championship. If he can combine it with strong oval performances, he could sneak through and win the title. In a more likely outcome, he will win two or three times, have spats of sluggish results and wind up making the top five of the championship, but still with many areas to target improvement in 2025.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Kyle Kirkwood - #27 AutoNation Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>7.1174: Improvement in average finish from 20.1764 in 2022 to 13.059 in 2023</div><div><br /></div><div>7.7647: Improvement in average starting position from 19.4117 in 2022 to 11.647 in 2023</div><div><br /></div><div>50: Percent improvement in races finished (ten to 15) and lead lap finishes (five to ten) from 2022 to 2023</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>Just like Herta's for the most part. Kicking everyone's teeth in with two victories at St. Petersburg and Long Beach, good runs in the next two road course races, and then his best Indianapolis 500 to date where he spends almost the entire race in the top ten before getting a respectable finish. </div><div><br /></div><div>After that comes another stellar street course result, a victory in Detroit, good finishes at Road America and Laguna Seca close out June, and a few podium finishes with a victory mixed in over the final four races before the Olympic break setup Kirkwood to be the man to beat entering the final stanza of the season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Due to the number of oval races and Andretti's oval record, expectations will be against Kirkwood. He will salvage a top ten at Gateway. He will finish in the top five at Portland. Milwaukee will be two grueling top ten results where any joy expressed afterward is from pure survival of the weekend. At Nashville, with everything at stake, Kirkwood sheds any concerns and pulls out a victory to cement his championship.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div><div>Kirkwood should be in the championship top ten. It was a fluky 2023 season in that he could win twice and miss the top ten in the championship. It isn't that those victories were flukes. He handled the competition in those races, but those were his only top five finishes all season. Those are still the only top five finishes in his career. He likely threw away a top five at Toronto last year, and he could have finished in the top five of the Indianapolis 500 had he avoided the spinning car of Felix Rosenqvist. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This could be a year where Kirkwood has more top five finishes, fewer victories and finishes four to five spots better in the championship, and that will be embraced as undisputed improvement. There should be fewer races where he is starting in the top ten and then sliding backward. If he can eliminate those races, or at least only drop from sixth to ninth instead of sixth to 14th or go from third to seventh instead of third to 17th, that will be less of a hit to his championship position. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is still a world where Kirkwood is the second best Andretti driver when this season is over. He made a big leap from year one to year two. That same kind of jump from year two to year three will be unlikely, but incremental gains are highly probable. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b><u>Marcus Ericsson - #28 Bryant/Delaware Life Honda</u></b></div><div><div><i>Numbers to Remember:</i></div><div>0: Stretches of three races or more without a top ten finish since the start of the 2020 season</div><div><br /></div><div>4.1818: Average of consecutive top ten finishes since the start of the 2020 season</div><div><br /></div><div>5: Times lead at least double digit laps in a single race in his IndyCar career</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a championship season look like for him?</i></div><div>Something similar to what we have seen from Ericsson, only slightly better. Instead of opening the season with eight consecutive top ten finishes with three podium finishes, he opens with eight consecutive top ten finishes, but four podium finishes, two of which are victories, one is the Indianapolis 500, and he has six top five finishes in that eight-race span. </div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of having one top five finish in the final eight races, Ericsson has four or five top five finishes in the final half of the season. He wins another race or two. During this span, Ericsson is the clear leader in the Andretti Global trio, finishing best of the bunch in each race. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ericsson is getting more out of the car than we have seen at Andretti in recent years. He has strong finishes at Iowa, Gateway and Milwaukee. He is leading the revitalization of the team, and he closes out the season with eight consecutive top ten results, taking the championship with a respectable sixth place finish in Nashville while his other two Andretti teams both make the championship top ten.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What does a realistic season look like for him?</i></div><div>The scary thing about Ericsson is he is coming from being very good at a great team in Chip Ganassi Racing. What will he do at a good team in Andretti Global? </div><div><br /></div><div>The results Ericsson achieved in four seasons at Ganassi are the bare minimum at that organization. He won regularly enough not to be fire and he finished consistently well where he was always a threat for the championship even if the results weren't quite good enough. Andretti Global has not proved it is good enough in recent seasons for Ericsson to keep that up at this group. </div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>He should still have good days. This concern is will he have them at the same frequency. While he has been a regular race winner, Ericsson has never led more than 51 laps in a season. His most laps led in a race is 37. If that is all he could achieve at Chip Ganassi Racing, how can we expect it to be better at Andretti Global?</div><div><br /></div><div>We cannot. However, we should not expect Ericsson to fall off the face of the planet. Results will remain good, and he should still finish in the championship top ten. He will likely not finish sixth, but falling to eighth with two podium finishes, five top five finishes and 11 top ten results is still a good season. But, if we think Herta and Kirkwood could have it click and contend for a championship, the same is true for Ericsson. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ericsson could find himself excelling at a greater rate than even he achieved at Ganassi. Andretti could be the place where he feels more comfortable being a leader, out of the shadow of Scott Dixon and Álex Palou, and it allows Ericsson to thrash the field and wins three or four times a year and pick up personal bests in podium finishes and top five finishes on his way to a title.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The first round of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season will be the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10. Coverage will begin at noon on NBC and Peacock.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-11918927647490120122024-01-31T08:13:00.001-05:002024-01-31T08:13:29.358-05:00Best of the Month: January 2024<div>One month is complete in 2024. January moves at a good pace, but it is far slower than the month prior to it. Lack the charm and buzz of the holiday season, we are left with the chill and grey of winter, though this winter has been far friendlier than most. It is still a slow period, but spring is getting closer. February is a sprint. Once through that, the good times will soon be on our doorstep.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is not much to review from January. A few events are happening, but only one has our undivided attention. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Breaking Down An Endurance Winner</u></b></div><div>The standout event every January is the 24 Hours of Daytona, and each year the prestigious victory goes to one team, and it is a monumental moment for a select few of drivers. However, not every 24-hour race is run the same way. </div><div><br /></div><div>A team could consist of three or four drivers. How often each driver is in the car will vary. There is no right way to use a lineup, but how each team gets to the finish warrants an investigation. This is most true for the winner. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche, it used four drivers like eight of the other nine teams running in the GTP class this year. Three of its drivers were full-time Porsche 963 drivers in 2023, whether it be in IMSA or in the FIA World Endurance Championship. It did draft in a fourth driver from IndyCar, who had only two IMSA starts to his name, and who had only raced the 24 Hours of Daytona once prior. </div><div><br /></div><div>Felipe Nasr ran nine hours and five minutes, the most of the #7's four drivers. Matt Campbell, who will run the rest of the endurance races in this car, ran seven hours, one minute and 59 seconds. The second full-time driver, Dane Cameron, was behind the wheel for three hours and 55 minutes, while Josef Newgarden drove for three hours and 13 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cameron did four of the first six stint, but was done after a double-stint that saw him get out of the car at 2:11 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. Newgarden had four stints the entire race, driving from 8:22 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and then running from 3:47 a.m. to 5:24 a.m. on Sunday. Newgarden's final run was entirely under green flag conditions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nasr opened the race with a double stint, leaving the car at 3:22 p.m. Saturday. He did not return to the car until 10:02 p.m. where he ran a triple stint into Sunday morning. Campbell's race began at 5:55 p.m. and he ran until 8:20 p.m. ET. The Australian's next time in the car was 2:12 a.m. and he was in the carfare just over 95 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>From 5:26 a.m. through the finish of the race, Nasr and Campbell traded time in the car. Each driver double stinted until Nasr got in the car at 11:35 a.m. and drove a triple stint to finish the race, spending just over two hours and five minutes in the car. </div><div><br /></div><div>While it is said today's endurance races are more sprints than tests of patience, they are all methodically run, and it is not a 100% all-out drive for two turns around the clock. Each driver has a role, and each driver is put in the car for specific situations. With the limited sets of tires, drivers aren't always on fresh rubber. A driver might double stint and never be a fresh set, or only have fresh left side tires for one stint and then fresh right side tires for the next.</div><div><br /></div><div>James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi made it clear on their podcast their only role in the race was to not wreck the car and have it ready for the full-time Pfaff Motorsports drivers to take it home on Sunday. They were in the car to manage the race. That is likely the case for pretty much every team on the grid. The extra drivers are there to carry the weight and not get into trouble. If they keep the car clean, they have done their jobs. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>The Unfairness of Modern Times</u></b></div><div>As you may have heard, Josef Newgarden won the 24 Hours of Daytona. In doing so, Newgarden became the 17th driver to have an overall Daytona victory and an Indianapolis 500 victory. Normally, joining an exclusive club is a rather celebrated moment, but there was some push back with Newgarden's victory and some discrediting his contributions to the winning Porsche Penske team. </div><div><br /></div><div>For starters, he spent the least amount of time in the car. His fastest lap was the 37th best fastest lap among the 39 drivers in the GTP class. It is easier than ever to say a team won in spite of a driver, and that really isn't fair. </div><div><br /></div><div>We know basically everything about Newgarden's 24 Hours of Daytona. We know to the exact second the time of day he left pit lane for his first stint, to the time he exited the car for the final time, and every lap time run in-between. If we dug deep enough, we could find out the tire life for each rubber ring that was put on that car while he drove it. There are no secrets, no mystery to his 2024 24 Hours of Daytona run. In 25 years or 30 years, we can go back and dissect this race to the smallest details. </div><div><br /></div><div>While Newgarden is being diminished, there is so much we don't know about past 24 Hours of Daytona winners and what they did. We don't know how many hours and minutes Al Unser spent behind the wheel of the 1985 Daytona winning #8 Henn's Swap Shop Porsche 962. We don't know how much Al Unser, Jr. contributed to Löwenbräu Holbert Racing's consecutive victories in 1986-87. We aren't sure where Dario Franchitti's fastest lap ranked among all the drivers who drove in the Daytona Prototype class in 2008. All we do is celebrate the accomplishments of those drivers. We don't look for a reason to dismiss them. </div><div><br /></div><div>We know the data behind Newgarden's race, but it is a team sport. Every driver has a role. Newgarden went out and did his job. He didn't get into an accident. He didn't pick up a penalty that set the team back. He kept the car on the road, taking up over three hours of seat time. Those hours behind the wheel allowed Nasr to be the man in charge for the final run to the finish without any extra fatigue on his body while fending off the terrific challenge from Tom Blomqvist. </div><div><br /></div><div>Time will likely be kind to Newgarden. People are lazy, and they won't do the research, but if we are going to be kind to Newgarden in two decades, we mind as well be kind to him now and acknowledge his value to a winning team. His co-drivers and crew members are already doing so. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Well... They Were There</u></b></div><div>With every endurance race, I think about the drivers that will be in the final box score and results, listed in a finishing position... but ultimately never turned a lap in the race. There is usually always one or a few cars that dropped out before each driver got a chance behind the wheel. It is bound to happen that someone falls out early due to an accident or mechanical failure, and some driver spent all that time preparing only never to get a chance to compete. </div><div><br /></div><div>As written above, time will likely be kind to those drivers that did not compete. They are still listed as a participant in the race. They are not struck from the history book and lost forever. They are there, but the box score doesn't tell a complete story, and that is a shame. Not because a driver should be remembered for not participating, but because the record does not show a true representation of a driver's participation, or lack thereof. </div><div><br /></div><div>For a 24-hour race, when a car is out after four laps, it is very likely not every driver got to participate. It is almost certain only one driver got to participate in that case. I wish there was a way the box scores and history books could at least acknowledge the drivers that were there but did not get a chance to race. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is what we are going to do now. How many drivers entered in this year's 24 Hours of Daytona did not get to turn a lap in the race? </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, for starters, we should acknowledge Clément Novalak, who was injured during pit stop practice on Thursday and was not able to run in the #52 Inter Europol Competition by PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca-Gibson. Novalak saw Pietro Fittipaldi fill-in his place.</div><div><br /></div><div>But Novalak aside, who didn't turn a lap that was physical able and entered to do so over Saturday and Sunday?</div><div><br /></div><div>Steven Thomas completed 58 laps in the #11 TDS Racing Oreca-Gibson before having an accident exiting the chicane on the back straightaway. Thomas was the only of the four drivers entered in the #11 Oreca to turn a lap in the race, running an hour and 55 minutes of the 24 hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mikkel Jensen, Charles Milesi and Hunter McElrea (who was making his 24 Hours of Daytona debut) never turned a lap during the race. Keep that in mind should McElrea ever return to the 24 Hours of Daytona because the first laps he turns in the race will be his first laps, one prior Daytona appearance be damned.</div><div><br /></div><div>AF Corse was third in the LMP2 class in 2023 at Daytona. In 2024, the #88 Richard Mille AF Corse Oreca-Gibson was out after 107 laps. Nicklas Nielsen and Matthieu Vaxivière never got a shot in the race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Two drivers in the #22 United Autosports Oreca-Gibson didn't get to race either, and it was its two most known drivers. Paul di Resta and Felix Rosenqvist will both be credited with running in this year's race, but neither turned a lap as Dan Goldburg and Bijoy Garg were the only two to run the 128 laps in this entry. An attempt to get the amateur driver's stint time out of the way kept the professional sidelined for good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Scott Huffaker is a two-time Endurance Cup champion in IMSA's LMP2 class. This was Huffaker's fourth time competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona. He didn't turn any of the 185 laps the #20 MDK by High Class Racing Oreca-Gibson completed before its race ended just after midnight. The other three drivers all had turns behind the wheel though.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jules Gounon had a standout 2023 season. Gounon won the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup championship for the second consecutive season. He won the Intercontinental GT Challenge championship. He even opened 2023 with a victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona on his way to finishing second in GTD Pro with WeatherTech Racing. How did his 2024 season start?</div><div><br /></div><div>Gounon never got into the #75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG. The car broke down after 193 laps with Luca Stolz behind the wheel. Every other SunEnergy1 driver ran at least an hour and 27 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nine drivers suited and booted to run in the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona did not turn a lap in this year's race. This will be lost in the box score, but it will live on here. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>February Preview</u></b></div><div>From one endurance race to the next, the Bathurst 12 Hour is the highlight for the sports car season next month, and it is taking place a little later than usual. This year's event will be run on February 18.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are 21 cars entered in the GT3 class, and not all the lineups are filled out at the moment. One that was just announced will be the #912 Porsche for Manthey EMA Motorsport. With his Daytona victory, Matt Campbell became the first driver to have overall victories at Daytona and Bathurst. He wil be paired with Laurens Vanthoor and Ayhancan Güven.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jules Gounon has won the last three editions of this race and SunEnergy1 Racing has won the last two years. Gounon's entry has not been announced yet, and he is the only driver to win the Bathurst 12 Hours three consecutive times. The Andorran driver is tied with John Bowe for most victories in this event. SunEnergy1 is on the entry list with the #75 Mercedes-AMG, one of a class leading nine entries from the German make. </div><div><br /></div><div>Triple Eight Race Engineering has two Mercedes-AMGs entered, the #88 Mercedes-AMG for Jamie Whincup, Jordan Love and Prince Jeffri Ibrahim with Broc Feeney, Will Brown and Mikaël Grenier in the #888 Mercedes-AMG. The American Heart of Racing Team has the #27 Mercedes-AMG entered for Ross Gunn, Ian James and Alex Riberas. Craig Lowndes is aiming for his third Bathurst 12 Hour victory in the #222 Mercedes-AMG for Scott Taylor Motorsports with co-drivers Cam Waters and Thomas Randle. Team GruppeM has the #120 Mercedes-AMG listed on the entry list but has yet to confirm any drivers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Along with the #912 Porsche, there are three other Porsches in the class. Manthey's sister #911 Porsche has Alessio Picariello, Harry King and Yasser Shahin listed as its drivers. Team75 Bernhard has Joel Eriksson, Jaxon Evans and Bastian Baus in its #13 Porsche. HubAuto Racing has Kévin Estre, Patrick Pilet and Klaus Bachler in its #39 Porsche.</div><div><br /></div><div>BMW M Team WRT has two entries in this year's race. The #32 BMW has Dries Vanthoor, Charles Weerts and Sheldon van der Linde as its drivers. The #46 BMW features new BMW factory driver Raffaelo Marciello, Maxime Martin and Valentino Rossi. </div><div><br /></div><div>The 2024 Bathurst 12 Hour will start at 1:45 p.m. ET on February 17. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Other Notable February Events:</i></div><div>NASCAR season begins with the Clash and then the Daytona 500.</div><div>The Asian Le Mans Series concludes with three races in eight days. </div><div>Supercross season continues. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1520014049541060392.post-56526841618383951082024-01-29T07:17:00.000-05:002024-01-29T07:17:53.079-05:00Musings From the Weekend: IndyCar's One Show-Stopping Event<div>Here is a rundown of what got me thinking....</div><div><br /></div><div>Penske and Porsche were victorious in the 24 Hours of Daytona after a fabulous finish from Felipe Nasr with Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell and Josef Newgarden all putting their names into the history book. Also, the checkered flag came out what appeared to be a lap early and that isn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. There was an incident in the bus lot that likely we have not heard the last of. Ferrari is getting into yachting. The World Rally Championship begun, and there is not a consensus in opinion over the new points system. Formula E had a doubleheader. Another endurance race was buried in the shuffle. The Supercross winner never finished first. However, an idea is on my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>IndyCar's One Show-Stopping Event</u></b></div><div>We are living in a time of extravegent motorsport events. If it feels fictional, it is likely exists at the present moment. </div><div><br /></div><div>From Formula One racing on the Las Vegas Strip to NASCAR racing around Grant Park in Chicago and in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, race tracks that were once pure fantasy red real, and there does not appear to be any sign of those slowing down. </div><div><br /></div><div>Formula One announced last week it would be racing in Madrid starting in 2026 in a hybrid street course with some non-street sections, which will include two tunnels going under the motorway and a 30-degree banked corner. This is a circuit that would only exist in a video game even five years ago let alone 20 years ago, and in two years time, it will be hosting a world championship race. In Formula One, Vegas, Madrid and even Miami are only the tip of the iceberg. After long suggesting it could race in major cities all across the globe, Formula One is now attempting to do just that. </div><div><br /></div><div>While NASCAR is racing in Chicago and in a football stadium, it is also doing the unthinkable and resurrecting tracks that were once considered dead and buried. See North Wilkesboro. There is still an itch for new, and whether or not the Clash at the Coliseum remains at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, NASCAR has been openly suggesting it will keep racing in stadiums. Other street courses are not out of the question either. </div><div><br /></div><div>With all these show-stopping events, IndyCar is lost in the weeds. </div><div><br /></div><div>We all know it has the Indianapolis 500, but in terms of new seismic events that grab the attention of the average person making them exclaim, "They are racing where?" those haven't been there in the last few years as they have boomed elsewhere. We got Iowa back, which has somehow turned into a purity test, and the Detroit race moved downtown from Belle Isle, which was actually turning into a popular course and that move felt like an unnecessary change. </div><div><br /></div><div>Neither of those changes are getting anyone's attention. The return to the Milwaukee Mile means something only to those already involved in IndyCar. Milwaukee doesn't have the same heart-warming story as the revival of North Wilkesboro, abandoned and then receiving a new breath of life. Though historic, Milwaukee has not been gone all that long, and its demise and dormancy is more down to bureaucracy while attendance was less than stellar in its final years on the schedule. Milwaukee wasn't so much a race taken away from IndyCar as it was a race that was not convincing anyone it should remain on the schedule and a trip to Road America looked like a better alternative. </div><div><br /></div><div>Though U.S. based, Vegas and Miami were never financially possible for IndyCar. It would have had to mortgage the entire series just to run one race it could never make a profit on. Those weren't missed opportunities in IndyCar's own backyard, but rather rational decisions not to pursue. It is also the case IndyCar would never had gotten approval from the local municipalities to even come close to organizing a race. Hell, IndyCar got kicked out of Boston before that race even could get off the ground. If IndyCar couldn't make it there, it isn't going to make it in most places. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, in this era of flashy events, IndyCar must try something, and it must be something no one else is doing. If it could also play on something from the past that IndyCar could bring back, it could add another dimension to the event. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is really only one answer.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Hawaiian Super Prix.</div><div><br /></div><div>CART's failed exhibition race at the end of the 1999 season was riddled with issues from the moment it was announced. From circuit logistics to television rights to format, the Hawaiian Super Prix was a half-baked idea rushed hoping to make a splash during the contentious time of the split. It was also CART's last stand on high. The series, though lacking the Indianapolis 500, was still attractive a healthy amount of sponsorship, had top tier talent and great cars. </div><div><br /></div><div>A big money race paying $5 million to the winner of an exclusive field of the top 12 drivers from the CART championship plus four wild card entries was a betting with hubris. CART believed it could, but quickly found out it couldn't, leaving it embarrassed at a time when it could not afford any other marks against it. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was crazy in 1999 and it is still crazy 25 years later, but 25 years later there is a practical way to make this event happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>For starters, it shouldn't be the Hawaiian Super Prix as it was first intended. That idea is gone, nor does IndyCar have $5 million to give away for the winner of an exhibition. It barely has $1 million to give the series champion. It should be an early season event, possibly the season opener, and with the weekend before the Super Bowl practically open, it would be a great chance to stand out. It would also be fitting for a race to be run in Hawaii during the weekend the Pro Bowl, once the largest sporting event to ever take place on the islands. </div><div><br /></div><div>Any event there would be the biggest show in town, especially at a time where it is lacking big events. It would be IndyCar's chance to shine, and it could take advantage of the time difference. An afternoon race in Hawaii is primetime on the east coast. If the series is going to Hawaii, it mind as well double down and run a doubleheader, one race on Saturday night and another late afternoon on Sunday. A 6:00 p.m. Eastern start is 1:00 p.m. in Hawaii. It could be prime viewing for the entire county. </div><div><br /></div><div>It would also give IndyCar a race in paradise, somewhere a person can see on their screens and be transported from the winter chill in the continental 48 states. Who wouldn't love to see the beauty of the beaches and the lush greenery in the background? </div><div><br /></div><div>Where this race would take place remains a question. On Google Maps, you can still see the outline of the course that never was at Kalaeloa Airport, but I am not sure that is the place for a race in 2024. IndyCar will be racing on Broadway in Nashville this year, a combination of sport and place that makes a person say, "Wow!" Could IndyCar swing a downtown race in Honolulu? Could it find a way though Waikiki? What possible layout best captures the location? That is what IndyCar would need. </div><div><br /></div><div>It would be costly. Though in the United States, it is not cheap getting to Hawaii, but it is a gamble no one else is taking. It is more practical than any other flyaway options for IndyCar at the moment, and with questions over this year's MotoGP race in Argentina, it doesn't appear IndyCar will be heading there anytime soon. </div><div><br /></div><div>No one else is targeting Hawaii, and at a time when IndyCar needs an earlier start to the season but is limited on where it can race due to the weather, it is a suitable alternative from the same old places. It can be something worth promoting at a time where there is an opening for something else. Once football season ends it creates a vacuum in the sports world, and you must do something to suck up the oxygen. Sitting on the sidelines until March isn't bringing in viewers. Racing at an unthinkable location for a race gives the people a reason to pay attention. </div><div><br /></div><div>This would also be IndyCar's chance at what it once failed to do. The Hawaiian Super Prix might be a black eye, but black eyes heal in 25 years. It provides an added element to the race, a story of failure, but a chance now at success and bringing to the people an event that they thought they would never see. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Winners From the Weekend</u></b></div><div>You know about the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche, but did you know...</div><div><br /></div><div>The #18 Era Motorsport Oreca-Gibson of Ryan Dalziel, Christian Rasmussen, Connor Zilisch and Dwight Merriman won the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Daytona. The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari of James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra won in GTD Pro. The #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG of Daniel Morad, Russell Ward, Indy Dontje and Philip Ellis won in GTD.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jake Dennis and Nick Cassidy split the Diriyah ePrix.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cooper Webb won the Supercross Triple Crown round from Anaheim after finishes of second, second and fifth. Chase Sexton, Jason Anderson and Eli Tomac split the three races. Levi Kitchen won in 250cc class after finishes of first, second and third. R.J. Hampshire and Nate Thrasher won the other two races.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thierry Neuville won Rallye Monte-Carlo, his second Rallye Monte-Carlo victory, and his 20th career victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>The #54 Eastalent Racing Team Audi of Christopher Haase, Gilles Magnus, Simon Reicher, Markus Winkelhock and Mike Zhou won the 19th Dubai 24 Hour.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Coming Up This Weekend</u></b></div><div>NASCAR hosts its Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.</div><div>Supercross roars into Detroit. </div><div>Dubai remains busy with a round of the Asian Le Mans Series.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com