2013 IndyCar Schedule: First Impressions

1. Nothing out of left field but it's better than no schedule at all.

2. Terrible, long breaks in the summer. One month off from September to October is not good at all. Does not look likely but I hope and pray some race can be thrown into the middle of the month. But, there is always 2014.

3. Great to see most ovals on ABC. Those are the best races all year, show those to the average fans and they will be hooked

4. I don't mind doubleheaders. IT MORE RACING! HOW DO SOME RACE FANS NOT UNDERSTAND THAT?

5. Nice to see Fontana as the finale.

6.  I wish Pocono would be a 500-miler. I will definitely be there.

7. No Providence but maybe we should try to get away from the street courses.

8. The standing start-rolling start is fine for me.

9. Plenty of time to work on the 2014 schedule.

10. Overall, I am pleased. Sure, I would have loved to see those gaps filled but maybe there is some hope of later races being announced. I think Randy has learned and will be working to get the desired dates on the 2014 schedule.

The Wait For The 2013 Schedule

When Randy Bernard was first hired as CEO of IndyCar, the one comment Robin Miller had was the man needs to learn how to lie. Come the final weekend of September 2012, I think he has.

On the eve of the 2013 IndyCar schedule announcement, you have got reporters from the USA Today and Associated Press reporting different schedules, Robin Miller unbelievably quiet and Randy Bernard saying none of the "leaked" schedules are correct.

What have we been hearing? From Jeff Olson of the USA Today, 19 races at 16 venues, doubleheaders at Detroit, Toronto and Sonoma, long gaps in July and August with a month off between Baltimore and Houston and Fontana ON THE SAME NIGHT as the NASCAR chase race in Charlotte.

Jenna Fryer from the AP said Houston will be a doubleheader, not Sonoma, and some Brazilian source is saying Providence will happen the week after Mid-Ohio. Marshall Pruett of SPEED, reported the season will begin a few weeks earlier.

Kentucky Speedway was thrown in the mixer earlier this week, with a possibility of an unprecedented IndyCar-Nationwide Series double in September. The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car series announced it would be going to Austin on Saturday March 2, Kansas Saturday August 17 and not going back to Montreal. With Edmonton falling off the schedule, one must consider the possibility of Octane Motorsports making IndyCar apart of the Montreal NASCAR weekend.

OPINION: Montreal and Kansas seem like a stretch, but Austin makes sense. The thought of two two week breaks and a month break is, in my opinion, the opposite of what IndyCar should be doing.

The good news for IndyCar, nobody seems to know what is going to happen. After years of publicly discussing negotiations, could this be the year Bernard kept the cards to his chest in hopes of surprising us all? Or are we going to hear more groaning that the series blew it? We are going to have turn on SPEED at nine o'clock tomorrow night to find out.

IndyCar Silly Season Guide, Part Two

Now that the season is over and deals have been made and are being made, it is time to look at who is still looking and what new openings there are. Ryan Hunter-Reay has signed with Andretti Autosport, turned down Roger Penske, meaning the largest domino has fallen.

Breakdown:

Graham Rahal
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan seems to be the only option for Rahal. Haven't heard him and Ganassi looking to work an extension and haven't heard any other teams that are interested and pursuing the American.

Ryan Briscoe
Rumored Destinations: Stay at Penske, Ganassi, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Foyt.
Most Likely: The third Penske seat is now more interesting than ever. I can see Penske keeping him, but I can also see that seat going away. The fourth Ganassi is a possibility but the feeling is he would have to bring some money. Same goes with RLL, which SPEED's Robin Miller and Marshall Pruett discussed, where he would team with Graham. You have to feel Foyt is a possibility. Look at the Foyt's most recent drivers: Darren Manning (previously with Ganassi), Vitor Meira (Panther), Mike Conway (Andretti). Can't rule him out.

Mike Conway
Confirmed: Road and street courses only.
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: It would make sense Conway runs the #41 for Foyt on all oval and street courses, with Chase Austin running Indianapolis. Other than that, can't imagine him running next season.

Rubens Barrichello
Rumored Destinations: Schmidt-Hamilton or staying at KV.
Most Likely: Schmidt-Hamilton is more likely than KV but both will need sponsorship. KV had a disappointing 2012, I just can't see him staying.

Sebastian Saavedra
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: AFS Racing and Gary Petersen made it know through Curt Cavin at the Indianapolis Star, that he plans on going full-time in 2013.

Wade Cunningham
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: He raced at Indianapolis and Fontana for Foyt and he has done enough through Indy Lights and the few IndyCar races to date to earn a full-time ride.

Townsend Bell
No concrete rumor for Bell but he was on Foyt's list to run at Fontana after Conway pulled out. Bell has been consistent year in and year out at Indianapolis and very well could get a full-time ride.

Sebastien Bourdais
Rumored Destinations: Stay at Dragon, Penske, Ganassi
Most Likely: It looked like he had a deal done with Dragon but that has yet to be confirmed. It would make sense that the four time champion would be considered by Penske and Ganassi.

Justin Wilson
Rumored Destinations: Stay at Dale Coyne, Penske, Ganassi.
Most Likely: After years of being bounced around, he seems comfortable at Coyne with his last two victories occurring for the team. After his one season with Newman-Haas he was rumored to be going to Ganassi and has ran for the team at the 24 Hours of Daytona before. With that said, he has also ran for Mike Shank Racing in sports cars but that would seem to be an opposite of what Wilson wants.

Takuma Sato
Rumored Destinations: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Herta, any Honda team.
Most Likely: Hard to see Honda's golden boy out of IndyCar for good. He has done well with RLL but  if Graham is signed, he will definitely become the teams number two driver. While winning two poles for KV in 2011, this was with out a doubt his best season with podiums at Sao Paulo and Edmonton, while contending for victories at Long Beach, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Fontana. If he does not stay at RLL, Honda will make sure he has a seat somewhere.

EJ Viso
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: Starting his own team. He has a ton of money behind him with Citgo and his team would become a way for Venezuelan drivers to make it to IndyCar. Viso has torn up a lot of equipment where ever he has gone. Would he start from scratch or buy a current team? Really isn't clear but it would be a big investment for anyone who plans to back him.

AJ Allmendinger
Rumored Destinations: Mike Shank, Penske, Foyt, Staying in NASCAR
Most Likely: Shank and Allmendinger are partners in Shank's IndyCar program, Penske brought Allmendinger to Fontana for the IndyCar race and Foyt has said he would consider the American if he cleaned up. Well he has been reinstated in NASCAR meaning he must have cleaned up his act. Could he be in Penske's third car? Maybe. Well a lot think he blew the "Penske Image" for his failed drug test, it has to be noted that being the fastest reinstated driver with NASCAR's road to recovery program and entering immediately is a class act and shows Allmendinger wants to race. Foyt is a reasonable guy and after a decade since his last victory, a proven winner maybe the way to go.

The Rest
Andretti Autosport is considering a fourth car. Ana Beatriz is a possibility. Oriol Servia seems set at Panther/DRR, same for Alex Tagliani at Herta. James Jakes is believed to be staying at Dale Coyne. Nothing new from the Italian team Scuderia Coloni or drivers Giorgio Pantano and Luca Filippi. Simona de Silvestro has a contract with HVM. HVM and Ed Carpenter Racing have both been rumored to merge with KVRT. Carpenter's team is also rumored to add a second car for 2013.

Around The World Of Racing

News has been happening all around the motor sports this week on all different topics.

Circuit of The Americas Has Been Approved
50 days before the first day of the United States Grand Prix race weekend, the FIA's Charlie Whiting has said the Austin circuit is ready for racing. In an article written by SPEED's Adam Cooper, Whiting says, "The guys have done an awesome job – it really is quite fantastic! It’s built to the highest quality, exactly as we expected, and I’ve got absolutely no complaints whatsoever."

Barring any eleventh hour disaster, it appears the United States Grand Prix will be run for the first time since 2007.

More Schedule Releases

Formula One, Moto GP and NASCAR have all released their 2013 schedules. Formula One has 20 races planned, with the Grand Prix of America planned for June 16 on the street of Weehawken, New Jersey. Bernie Ecclestone has come out saying no contract currently exists between Formula One and the organizers of the New Jersey street race. The European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia will not take place in 2013, as it plans on alternating the Spanish Grand Prix with the Circuit de Catalunya. The season is scheduled to start March 17 in Australian and end November 24 in Brazil. Austin is scheduled for the week prior to Brazil in 2013. 

Moto GP will open, as usual, under the lights in Qatar on Easter Sunday (March 31) and end at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo on November 10. Two TBCs exist on back-to-back weeks for April 14 and 21. The races are believed to be Argentina and the third American round at the Circuit of The Americas. The other two American rounds will occur back-to-back just like 2012. The United States Grand Prix will be July 21 at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis will be on the 18th of August. 

NASCAR's scheduled remains almost unchanged in 2013. Kansas Speedway and Talladega swap dates in October with Kansas now on the 6th and Talladega on the 20th. The season begins at Daytona on February 24 and ending at Homstead on November 17. 

Sports Car Action This Weekend

The Rolex Sports Car Series wraps up the 2012 season at Lime Rock Park on Saturday. Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas look to win another title and hold off Ryan Daziel and Starworks Motorsport. Emil Assentato and Jeff Segal clinched the GT title at Laguna Seca. 

Meanwhile, the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will take place in Bahrain. Coming off their first victory at Interlagos, Toyota looks to hold off Audi for a second straight race. The American Starworks Motorsport leads the LMP2 standings, while Krohn Racing and AF Corse-Waltrip with Brian Vickers competes in the GTE-Am class. 

Helio Puts On His Dancing Shoes, Randy's Going To The Wind Tunnel, Drivers Keeping Busy

IndyCar season maybe over but that does not mean the drivers and those involved aren't keeping busy.

Back To The Dance Floor
Helio Castroneves returns to the ABC show Dancing With The Stars after winning the competition five years ago. This year, Castroneves competes against other past competitors on this "All-Star" season. His dance partner this season will be Chelsie Hightower. Julianne Hough was his dance partner five years ago. Season premier is tonight at 8:00pm on ABC.

Schedule To Be Released On Wind Tunnel
Next Sunday night on SPEED channel's show, Wind Tunnel, Randy Bernard will release the 2013 schedule with Bob Varsha and Robin Miller co-hosting. With the announcement late last week of Edmonton's departure, it is uncertain the goal of nineteen races will be met. Doubleheaders could make the goal attainable but the call has been for nineteen different venues. With the addition of Houtson and the belief Pocono will be added, other races being thrown around are the street race in Providence, NOLA Motorsports Park and a return of Kentucky Speedway.

Drivers Being Drivers
This past weekend, Pippa Mann competed in the Auto GP series at Sonoma Raceway and finished ninth and eighth in the two races. Takuma Sato headed to Japan and finished ninth in the Formula Nippon race at Sportland SUGO.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is scheduled to compete at Petit Le Mans with the SRT Viper in a little less than a month. Townsend Bell is expected to be at Petit with Alex Job Racing and their Lotus Evora.

That same weekend, a total thirteen drivers with a combined 881 starts, 71 wins and 76 poles in American open-wheel racing will take part in the V8 Supercars' Armor All Gold Coast 600 from Surfers Paradise. These thirteen drivers include nine drivers who competed this past season (Andretti, Bourdais, Briscoe, Conway, Hinchcliffe, Pagenaud, Power, Rahal and Wilson) and four other drivers (Nicolas Minassian, Franck Montagny, Max Papis and Mika Salo).

Rubens Barrichello is going stock car racing. No, not in NASCAR. He will compete in the season finale of the Stock Car Brazil series at Interlagos on December 9th.

It Doesn't Get Any Easier, Does It?

As of now, IndyCar will be heading to Canada once in 2013. Edmonton is off the schedule after years of speculation. Octane is backing out of there contract with the city of Edmonton, and the city isn't looking for another one. This won't be another Baltimore with Michael Andretti saving the day. This race can join the list of failed temporary circuit with the likes of San Jose and Denver.

However the search for a nineteen race season just became much harder. With it appearing the other fourteen races on the 2012 schedule to be returning, the additions of Houston and unconfirmed Pocono,  IndyCar is still three away from the magic number. Providence is interested in a street race which would be seventeen. The report of doubleheaders would make it possible for IndyCar to reach nineteen but that would not solve the problem of country wide summers. Between July and August, IndyCar is scheduled to have only three races in that time frame. With Fontana looking to move to October, September could become just as open.

The question is can these gaps be filled? We can all list race after race that we want on the schedule but that does not mean it is going to happen. However, with Edmonton's vacancy, that opens the old date of the Michigan CART date. Michigan expressed interest in being the 16th race for this season and was talked about for 2013 but it appeared that was off the table during the summer. Road America is in the same boat, with sanctioning fee being the sticking issue. Richmond has been talked about but a race in July would probably be a Saturday night, however no talk has been serious. What else is possible? Maybe IndyCar can work something with NASCAR to make a double or triple header with the Nationwide and Truck Series at Chicagoland possible but that would be very difficult.

We can list dream race after dream race until we are blue in the face, but the business has to make sense. But IndyCar may have to make something to work. I am sure no one is for six races over a four month stretch. Austin and New Orleans have been mentioned but both have been rumored to be early in the season, not the summer.

For IndyCar, the board and Randy Bernard, it doesn't get any easier. As usual.

Well, Now What?

With the season in the books, what are we to do now? Lots of speculation on schedule, silly season, the champions media tour and much more.

Hunter-Reay Making The Rounds
Let's start with our champion. Ryan Hunter-Reay is in New York today. He was already on CNN with Soledad O'Brien this morning, was at SiriusXM for a couple hours and last time I checked he was on top the Empire State Building with the Astor Cup. Hunter-Reay will stop by to see former car owner David Letterman tomorrow night on The Late Show.

Silly Season
Here is what we know: All of Andretti Autosport is returning, as is Franchitti and Kimball, Simona is locked up with HVM, HVM needs an engine, Power and Castroneves are set, Pagenaud as well with Schmidt, Katherine Legge has a deal with Dragon and we think Bourdais does as well, Newgarden and Hildebrand are returning to their respective homes and I think Ed Carpenter has a deal done but I am not quite sure.

The big openings are Ganassi's fourth and Penske's third. Barrichello has been linked to the fourth Ganassi, as has Justin Wilson. Some people see Wilson as a possibility at Penske or Briscoe returning. There is still the chance the Captain shuts that team down.

A surprise opening is at Foyt Enterprises. I see one of three in the number fourteen in 2013. Either Wade Cunningham (raced for the team at Indianapolis and Fontana), Townsend Bell (apparently was called to race at Fontana) or AJ Allmendinger (Foyt himself said he was interested in the American). As for Conway, I very well see him running road and street courses in the number forty-one with Chase Austin running at Indianapolis (already confirmed).

It looks like Graham is going to run for his father. Sato's status is unknown. Barrichello is linked with a second Schmidt entry. Kanaan looks to be set at KV but is still looking for sponsorship. It appears Viso is gone and may start his own team. Mike Shank is still trying to field a car. Allmendinger would be a strong contender for that seat but if he goes to Foyt, it is not clear who would take that seat. Jay Howard was trying to run with Shank at Indianapolis but that never came through.

Schedule
It looks like Pocono is a go for 2013 and it would be 500 miles. Providence is in the air but would likely occur in August if it happens at all.

Fontana wants to be the season finale again. A few problems with that though:
1. Series wants to keep dates consistent. Moving it one month would not be ideal.
2. Moving it from mid-September to mid-October would create a month opening that would have to be filled.

Positives to keeping Fontana as the season finale:
1. Cooler temperatures.
2. Great race for the last of the season.
3. If moved to October, race could be on the Sunday following the Charlotte chase race, just like Vegas and on ABC.

Just a few facts real quick: For those interested in ratings, Vegas got a 1.5. Did the events play into that rating? Maybe. Still, going against the NFL is not as scary as it seems. Race begins around 3pm, one o'clock games are close to over, some are blow outs and people switch to other stuff. In October, NFL teams are on byes. A fans team is on a bye, they are more likely to take a Sunday off from football. As we saw with Fontana, if it's on a Saturday, it won't be on ABC. If it's on a Sunday, the door is open. ABC is network, CBS and Fox are right around it, people bump into the race on accident if their is no good game on. Just things to consider.

Still Plenty Of Racing Left
IndyCar may be over but there is plenty of racing left. NASCAR, Formula One, MotoGP, V8 Supercars. Plenty of IndyCar drivers are going to Surfers Paradise, I expect a few to show up at Petit Le Mans, Curt Cavin tweeted Ryan Hunter-Reay will be doing the Race of Champions in December. Plenty of racing left in 2012, just no IndyCar until 2013.