I made predictions the other day, now, on the final day of 2012, I have a wish list for 2013.
1. Nobody get hurt and we all get to see 2014.
2. No bickering from car owners.
I had enough in 2012.
3. IndyCar moving forward in 2013.
Let's keep the schedule together for 2014 and add more ovals and natural terrain road courses. I know I have said it a million times before but Phoenix, Michigan, Road America, Richmond, Watkins Glen, Austin, Kentucky and New Hampshire please.
4. A third Penske all season or a third Penske at Indianapolis that moves the needle.
Either hire Ryan Briscoe back or hire the likes of Townsend Bell. If that can't happen, go all out at Indianapolis. Tony Stewart said no, call Keselowski. Sébastien Loeb is running a limited World Rally schedule and some sport cars. Give him a call. I know it seems ridiculous but it's better than Penske not running a third car at all.
5. Chevrolet stepping up it's game.
And I mean on the promotional side. They won the manufacturer's and driver's championships. No ads featuring IndyCar, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Will Power, Marco Andretti, Roger Penske, etc. Hell, dream commercial, have four Chevrolet NASCAR drivers (Stewart, Johnson, Gordon, Earnhardt Jr.), four Chevrolet IndyCar drivers (Hunter-Reay, Power, Kanaan and Hinchcliffe) and four Corvette drivers (Milner, Taylor, Magnussen and Gavin) and have them each talk about why there form of racing is best with all saying in the end the best reason is that they drive a Chevrolet and have the final five seconds be two cars of each light up the tires and drive into the sunset. Even better, make that your Super Bowl commercial. Perfect.
6. Doubleheaders work out for everyone involved.
I want the promoters to make money, the format not being too demanding on the drivers, each race get good ratings and most importantly the fans getting more than what they paid to see.
7. No sunburn when I go to the Pocono race.
I usually do not get sunburn and it normally takes a lot of sun for me to get any type of color. With that said, I should be fine and should have sunscreen on the ready.
8. The 2014 Lights car being damn affordable and larger fields.
We cannot continue having 11 car fields with 7 ride buyers. We need more graduates from Star Mazda, more support from IndyCar teams and the ladder system producing young American talent.
9. The same close racing we had in 2012.
Whatever everybody did last year, do it again. I want the great races we saw at Indianapolis, Texas and Fontana again, surprises in races such as Barber, Long Beach and Baltimore, with improvements at Sonoma, Mid-Ohio and Belle Isle.
10. People who know nothing about racing stop telling me what "real racing" is.
11. People stop labeling all racing as NASCAR.
It's really ignorant.
12. Aero Kits.
It makes no sense why they weren't allow in the first place. The teams were not and are not going to be forced to buy them. If one team buys an aero kit and the rest do not, than so be it but at least give the teams the option instead of forcing everyone to run the Dallara aero kit.
13. This finally being IndyCar's year.
IndyCar survived the apocalypse. It is now time for the series to pick it self up and start living out it's potential. Car owners, drivers, officials united for the sport as a whole. Contracts with sponsor who want the series to succeed and be profitable. I want the TV broadcast to be the best damn broadcast possible, regardless of the ratings and if it's cable or network. Everyone one who has a reason to care about IndyCar should work together because divided the series is not going anywhere.
I would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year and I hope I get to see you at a race track.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
2013 Racing Predictions
Before I look toward 2013, I first would like to congratulate Ryan Hunter-Reay and his wife Beccy on the birth of their first child. The child was born on December 28.
Also, there where a few gifts I forgot to put on the IndyCar Christmas List. For Bob Varsha a buyout from his SPEED contract, allowing him to join NBC Sports Net with the ability to be loaned to whoever covers the Barrett-Jackson classic car auctions. For IndyCar, two races added for 2013. One in mid-August, the other in mid-September. The August date preferably being Road America and the September date being an oval. And last but not least, on-board starters for all IndyCar drivers.
With that all wrapped up, predictions for 2013.
1. An American Will Win The Indianapolis 500.
It will have been seven years since Sam Hornish passed Marco Andretti coming to the line to win the Indianapolis 500 and since that day the closest an American has come to winning was JR Hildebrand exiting turn four in 2011. After the momentum of the first American champion in a unified series since Al Unser Jr. in 1994, I think 2013 will finally be the year. Marco Andretti had a great shot last year slip through his fingers and Graham Rahal teamed with Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing could give the multi-car teams a run for there money. Josef Newgarden was impressive for all the month of May and started seventh in his first time at the Speedway. The IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay started on the front row in 2012 before a mechanical failure ended his day. And let's not forget the native Hoosier Ed Carpenter who won the 2012 season finale at Fontana and was in a threatening position late in the Indianapolis 500 last year.
With all that said it will not be easy for any of the Americans. Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves are still going to show up, Tony Kanaan is itching to add an Indianapolis 500 victory to his résumé and Scott Dixon has not finished worse than sixth since 2005. Last year was the first time an American started on the front row since 2006 and first time an American led the most laps since 2005. While the powerhouse teams of Penske and Ganassi combine for only one American driver, Andretti Autosport and Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan are on the rise after 2012, so are the minnows of Carpenter Racing and Fisher-Hartman Racing. This is the best shot for the Americans.
2. First Time Winners and Returning Winners Will Be A Theme For IndyCar.
Simon Pagenuad, Graham Rahal, Sébastien Bourdais and James Hinchcliffe will all win a race in 2013. You heard it here first. Pagenaud was damn close at Long Beach, showed he could hold his own on ovals and has the stones to go for it (see lap 37 restart at Baltimore). While many (including myself) thought Rahal would have won a fistful of races at Ganassi, he came up empty with the toughest second place finish of 2012 after brushing the wall coming to the white flag, allowing Justin Wilson to catch and pass the Ohioan. Rahal had a slow start to 2012 but Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan were on a roll in their first year back in IndyCar full-time, had six great chances at wins last year only to come up with naught. A win would be great for the team and they can dedicate it to the late Scott Roembke.
Bourdais finished ninth in a Lotus. I will say it again, Bourdais finished ninth in a Lotus. While Bourdais only scored one top-ten in seven races with Chevrolet, a full season with the bow-tie brigade should be enough for the four time champion to get a win under his belt. Hinchcliffe was on fire to start 2012 before a disastrous summer. He is a threat everywhere and if Andretti can keep up it's game on the short ovals, Hinchcliffe very well could win Milwaukee or Iowa.
3. Toyota Will Be A Legitimate Threat at Le Mans... But Audi Will Win Again.
Toyota was unbelievably impressive out of the box at Le Mans in 2012 and won three of the first six races with the TS030 Hybrid. But those were six hour races and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a totally different animal. Just ask Peugeot. Sure they won the race in 2009 but they were the fastest car from 2007-2010 and outnumbered Audi 3 to 1 with sixteen hours to go in 2011 and still could only win once. Audi have a stranglehold on the event. Granted Audi can't dominate Le Mans forever, but I do not see Toyota winning Le Mans for at least another year and by that time Porsche is scheduled to return to LMP1 racing.
4. The Red Bull-Ferrari Rivalry Will Continue, With Räikkönen and Button Making Cameos.
After seeing what Alonso did in 2012 with what was predicted to be a dog of a car, one has to think he won't disappoint in 2013. Vettel has been on top for three seasons now and fourth consecutive championships have only happened twice before. Räikkönen had a tremendous year after being out of Formula One for two seasons and many expect the Lotus to be even better come 2013. With Hamilton heading to Mercedes, McLaren is Button's team for the taking and the 2009 World Champion has the best opportunity to supplant Hamilton as the best British driver in Formula One.
5. Penske Racing Will Bolster Ford And End Chevrolet's Ten Year Reign.
Ford has not won a NASCAR manufacture's title since 2002. Chevrolet's dominance stems from the Hendrick Empire and once GM loyal Joe Gibbs Racing. Chevrolet may still have Johnson, Stewart and Gordon, but Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing will carry Ford to the manufacture's title in one of the closest battles ever. Roush Fenway Racing will turn around what happened in 2012 and both Biffle and Edwards will join Keselowski in the Chase, while Stenhouse Jr. and Ambrose will each win a race in 2013.
6. Ducati Will Win A MotoGP Grand Prix.
After the failed Valentino Rossi experiment, Ducati looks to get back to it's winning ways. Andrea Dovizioso was impressive with the factory Honda squad only to be bounced when the team contracted from three bikes to two and held his own on the Tech3 Yamaha. Nicky Hayden has not won since the United States Grand Prix in his 2006 World Championship winning season and failed to score a podium in 2012 ending a streak of scoring a podium in every season of MotoGP. The Kentucky Kid has shown consistency but has yet been able to compete for wins like he did at Honda. Ben Spies and Italian Andrea Iannone will compete on the costumer Ducatis for Pramac Racing. Spies had a rotten 2012 where it seemed nothing went the Americans way.
Why will Ducati win you ask if I have listed the trials and tribulations the riders have faced? Casey Stoner is now retired, Dani Pedrosa has a tendency to get hurt and Yamaha is a team ready to implode and it's not even 2013 yet. Dovizioso found ways onto the podium last year and is on the brink of his second MotoGP win. For the Italian rider, why not do it on an Italian bike?
7. Yamaha Will Implode.
The Jorge Lorenzo-Valentino Rossi pairing has Senna-Prost written all over it. However this is the sequel. Lorenzo is a double MotoGP World Champion and clearly believes Yamaha is his team and is not sharing the spotlight. Rossi is the seven time MotoGP champion who believes he still got it after all these years. They are two massive egos and only one can survive. Rossi is in the twilight of his career but that is not going to stop the Italian from pushing his Spaniard counterpart to the limits. Rossi will not settle for the "number two treatment." He wants to win and Ducati did not provide that opportunity.
Lorenzo wants to be the clear number one but Rossi will not concede easily. Lorenzo will be brought down to Earth after a dominating 2012 and will not be happy about it. He knows Honda is a dangerous threat and Dani Pedrosa is running out of opportunities to win a MotoGP Championship. Meanwhile, Dovizioso is a number one ride at a factory team and wants to be considered a top tier rider. Something will have to give at Yamaha. With that said, Yamaha fans, enjoy the 2013 season, because things will change for 2014, despite whatever the team says.
8. The American Sports Car Merger Will Be Much More Peaceful Than IndyCar.
And there are numerous reasons why.
1. They didn't throw everything together a month before the season began.
2. There is no sense of "we won and you lost" in this example.
3. Both sides are getting a democratic say, where as IndyCar was more of a military dictatorship marching in.
4. They are looking at what is best for the sport as a whole. What tracks are important? What classes are important? And what is important TO THE FANS!? Are all questions being asked. God, they are using common sense.
But with that said, there are still many things to be worked out. While the Rolex Sports Car Series provide affordable cars on both the prototype and GT side of things, ALMS fans do not want their technological beasts being dumbed down. The 24 Hours of Le Mans has to be the highlight for the teams here in the US, despite the fact their is the 24 Hours of Daytona. The schedule has to somehow be comprised of events such as Daytona, Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Road America, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen and Austin; while somehow also allowing room for nontraditional circuits such as Kansas Speedway, Baltimore, Barber Motorsports Park, Belle Isle and Indianapolis; and of course allowing enough time for Le Mans. This will be fun to watch.
9. If He Enters, Tony Stewart Will Win The Truck Race At Eldora.
No one is sure what type of wild cards will enter the Wednesday night event at the Rossburg, Ohio track but if Stewart is one of the entrants, he is the favorite hands down. Sure the likes of Kyle Larson and others from USAC and the World of Outlaws will try to enter and give the Truck regulars a run for their money but Stewart would want the honor of first NASCAR dirt win in over forty years on his résumé maybe more than Daytona 500 winner (I will admit that's a stretch).
10. IndyCar Will Get a New CEO. And Whoever It Is, They Will Have Work To Do.
I do not know when Mark Miles will hire the new CEO of IndyCar and removes the interim tag from Jeff Belskus, but it will be done before 2014 and the fans want a little less talk and a lot more action. The fans want aero kits figured out, deals worked out with engine manufactures, more support from the TV partners, a title sponsor lined up if Izod does not renew and favorite races brought back to the schedule. The CEO needs to lead the car owners and set them straight when needed.
No more, we are talking to Phoenix, we are talking to Road America. The fans want deals done. The fans do not want to hear about owners whining about money or turbo regulations. No more talks of revolt and more talks of unity. Cleaning house of anybody with a bone to pick (and Brian Barnhart I am directing this one at you) and hiring bright minds who want IndyCar to succeed because they love the sport with all there heart (like Donald Davidson. If they are not like Donald Davidson, show them the door). The time is now for IndyCar to shed the past and dive head first into the ocean that is the future.
While I do not know if any of these predictions will come true, I do know that racing cannot begin soon enough and I am looking forward to 2013 like nobody else. Happy New Year.
Also, there where a few gifts I forgot to put on the IndyCar Christmas List. For Bob Varsha a buyout from his SPEED contract, allowing him to join NBC Sports Net with the ability to be loaned to whoever covers the Barrett-Jackson classic car auctions. For IndyCar, two races added for 2013. One in mid-August, the other in mid-September. The August date preferably being Road America and the September date being an oval. And last but not least, on-board starters for all IndyCar drivers.
With that all wrapped up, predictions for 2013.
1. An American Will Win The Indianapolis 500.
It will have been seven years since Sam Hornish passed Marco Andretti coming to the line to win the Indianapolis 500 and since that day the closest an American has come to winning was JR Hildebrand exiting turn four in 2011. After the momentum of the first American champion in a unified series since Al Unser Jr. in 1994, I think 2013 will finally be the year. Marco Andretti had a great shot last year slip through his fingers and Graham Rahal teamed with Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing could give the multi-car teams a run for there money. Josef Newgarden was impressive for all the month of May and started seventh in his first time at the Speedway. The IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay started on the front row in 2012 before a mechanical failure ended his day. And let's not forget the native Hoosier Ed Carpenter who won the 2012 season finale at Fontana and was in a threatening position late in the Indianapolis 500 last year.
With all that said it will not be easy for any of the Americans. Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves are still going to show up, Tony Kanaan is itching to add an Indianapolis 500 victory to his résumé and Scott Dixon has not finished worse than sixth since 2005. Last year was the first time an American started on the front row since 2006 and first time an American led the most laps since 2005. While the powerhouse teams of Penske and Ganassi combine for only one American driver, Andretti Autosport and Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan are on the rise after 2012, so are the minnows of Carpenter Racing and Fisher-Hartman Racing. This is the best shot for the Americans.
2. First Time Winners and Returning Winners Will Be A Theme For IndyCar.
Simon Pagenuad, Graham Rahal, Sébastien Bourdais and James Hinchcliffe will all win a race in 2013. You heard it here first. Pagenaud was damn close at Long Beach, showed he could hold his own on ovals and has the stones to go for it (see lap 37 restart at Baltimore). While many (including myself) thought Rahal would have won a fistful of races at Ganassi, he came up empty with the toughest second place finish of 2012 after brushing the wall coming to the white flag, allowing Justin Wilson to catch and pass the Ohioan. Rahal had a slow start to 2012 but Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan were on a roll in their first year back in IndyCar full-time, had six great chances at wins last year only to come up with naught. A win would be great for the team and they can dedicate it to the late Scott Roembke.
Bourdais finished ninth in a Lotus. I will say it again, Bourdais finished ninth in a Lotus. While Bourdais only scored one top-ten in seven races with Chevrolet, a full season with the bow-tie brigade should be enough for the four time champion to get a win under his belt. Hinchcliffe was on fire to start 2012 before a disastrous summer. He is a threat everywhere and if Andretti can keep up it's game on the short ovals, Hinchcliffe very well could win Milwaukee or Iowa.
3. Toyota Will Be A Legitimate Threat at Le Mans... But Audi Will Win Again.
Toyota was unbelievably impressive out of the box at Le Mans in 2012 and won three of the first six races with the TS030 Hybrid. But those were six hour races and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a totally different animal. Just ask Peugeot. Sure they won the race in 2009 but they were the fastest car from 2007-2010 and outnumbered Audi 3 to 1 with sixteen hours to go in 2011 and still could only win once. Audi have a stranglehold on the event. Granted Audi can't dominate Le Mans forever, but I do not see Toyota winning Le Mans for at least another year and by that time Porsche is scheduled to return to LMP1 racing.
4. The Red Bull-Ferrari Rivalry Will Continue, With Räikkönen and Button Making Cameos.
After seeing what Alonso did in 2012 with what was predicted to be a dog of a car, one has to think he won't disappoint in 2013. Vettel has been on top for three seasons now and fourth consecutive championships have only happened twice before. Räikkönen had a tremendous year after being out of Formula One for two seasons and many expect the Lotus to be even better come 2013. With Hamilton heading to Mercedes, McLaren is Button's team for the taking and the 2009 World Champion has the best opportunity to supplant Hamilton as the best British driver in Formula One.
5. Penske Racing Will Bolster Ford And End Chevrolet's Ten Year Reign.
Ford has not won a NASCAR manufacture's title since 2002. Chevrolet's dominance stems from the Hendrick Empire and once GM loyal Joe Gibbs Racing. Chevrolet may still have Johnson, Stewart and Gordon, but Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing will carry Ford to the manufacture's title in one of the closest battles ever. Roush Fenway Racing will turn around what happened in 2012 and both Biffle and Edwards will join Keselowski in the Chase, while Stenhouse Jr. and Ambrose will each win a race in 2013.
6. Ducati Will Win A MotoGP Grand Prix.
After the failed Valentino Rossi experiment, Ducati looks to get back to it's winning ways. Andrea Dovizioso was impressive with the factory Honda squad only to be bounced when the team contracted from three bikes to two and held his own on the Tech3 Yamaha. Nicky Hayden has not won since the United States Grand Prix in his 2006 World Championship winning season and failed to score a podium in 2012 ending a streak of scoring a podium in every season of MotoGP. The Kentucky Kid has shown consistency but has yet been able to compete for wins like he did at Honda. Ben Spies and Italian Andrea Iannone will compete on the costumer Ducatis for Pramac Racing. Spies had a rotten 2012 where it seemed nothing went the Americans way.
Why will Ducati win you ask if I have listed the trials and tribulations the riders have faced? Casey Stoner is now retired, Dani Pedrosa has a tendency to get hurt and Yamaha is a team ready to implode and it's not even 2013 yet. Dovizioso found ways onto the podium last year and is on the brink of his second MotoGP win. For the Italian rider, why not do it on an Italian bike?
7. Yamaha Will Implode.
The Jorge Lorenzo-Valentino Rossi pairing has Senna-Prost written all over it. However this is the sequel. Lorenzo is a double MotoGP World Champion and clearly believes Yamaha is his team and is not sharing the spotlight. Rossi is the seven time MotoGP champion who believes he still got it after all these years. They are two massive egos and only one can survive. Rossi is in the twilight of his career but that is not going to stop the Italian from pushing his Spaniard counterpart to the limits. Rossi will not settle for the "number two treatment." He wants to win and Ducati did not provide that opportunity.
Lorenzo wants to be the clear number one but Rossi will not concede easily. Lorenzo will be brought down to Earth after a dominating 2012 and will not be happy about it. He knows Honda is a dangerous threat and Dani Pedrosa is running out of opportunities to win a MotoGP Championship. Meanwhile, Dovizioso is a number one ride at a factory team and wants to be considered a top tier rider. Something will have to give at Yamaha. With that said, Yamaha fans, enjoy the 2013 season, because things will change for 2014, despite whatever the team says.
8. The American Sports Car Merger Will Be Much More Peaceful Than IndyCar.
And there are numerous reasons why.
1. They didn't throw everything together a month before the season began.
2. There is no sense of "we won and you lost" in this example.
3. Both sides are getting a democratic say, where as IndyCar was more of a military dictatorship marching in.
4. They are looking at what is best for the sport as a whole. What tracks are important? What classes are important? And what is important TO THE FANS!? Are all questions being asked. God, they are using common sense.
But with that said, there are still many things to be worked out. While the Rolex Sports Car Series provide affordable cars on both the prototype and GT side of things, ALMS fans do not want their technological beasts being dumbed down. The 24 Hours of Le Mans has to be the highlight for the teams here in the US, despite the fact their is the 24 Hours of Daytona. The schedule has to somehow be comprised of events such as Daytona, Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Road America, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen and Austin; while somehow also allowing room for nontraditional circuits such as Kansas Speedway, Baltimore, Barber Motorsports Park, Belle Isle and Indianapolis; and of course allowing enough time for Le Mans. This will be fun to watch.
9. If He Enters, Tony Stewart Will Win The Truck Race At Eldora.
No one is sure what type of wild cards will enter the Wednesday night event at the Rossburg, Ohio track but if Stewart is one of the entrants, he is the favorite hands down. Sure the likes of Kyle Larson and others from USAC and the World of Outlaws will try to enter and give the Truck regulars a run for their money but Stewart would want the honor of first NASCAR dirt win in over forty years on his résumé maybe more than Daytona 500 winner (I will admit that's a stretch).
10. IndyCar Will Get a New CEO. And Whoever It Is, They Will Have Work To Do.
I do not know when Mark Miles will hire the new CEO of IndyCar and removes the interim tag from Jeff Belskus, but it will be done before 2014 and the fans want a little less talk and a lot more action. The fans want aero kits figured out, deals worked out with engine manufactures, more support from the TV partners, a title sponsor lined up if Izod does not renew and favorite races brought back to the schedule. The CEO needs to lead the car owners and set them straight when needed.
No more, we are talking to Phoenix, we are talking to Road America. The fans want deals done. The fans do not want to hear about owners whining about money or turbo regulations. No more talks of revolt and more talks of unity. Cleaning house of anybody with a bone to pick (and Brian Barnhart I am directing this one at you) and hiring bright minds who want IndyCar to succeed because they love the sport with all there heart (like Donald Davidson. If they are not like Donald Davidson, show them the door). The time is now for IndyCar to shed the past and dive head first into the ocean that is the future.
While I do not know if any of these predictions will come true, I do know that racing cannot begin soon enough and I am looking forward to 2013 like nobody else. Happy New Year.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
IndyCar Silly Season Review
Christmas is now behind us, a New Year is approaching, and we are still 87 days until the start of the season. Teams and drivers are going to be looking to wrap up deals in the next couple months.
Chevrolet had thirteen engines on track post-Indianapolis and Honda had eleven. The lone Lotus of HVM is no longer with us and with that known, the rosters for each manufacture tentatively look something like this.
Chevrolet: Total- 12 (-1 from 2012).
Andretti- Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Hinchcliffe.
Penske- Castroneves, Power.
Panther- Hildebrand.
KVRT- Kanaan, de Silvestro.
Dragon- Bourdais, Legge.
Panther/D&R- Servia.
Carpenter- Carpenter.
Honda: Total- 9 (-2 from 2012)
Ganassi: Franchitti, Dixon, Kimball.
Foyt- TBA (Sato or Daly).
RLLR- Rahal.
Herta- Tagliani.
SFHR- Newgarden.
Schmidt- Pagenaud.
Coyne- Wilson.
Looking at this list, IndyCar would have a 21 car grid, down four from what was seen most of 2012. However, this appears likely to change. Dale Coyne Racing always finds a way to run two full-time cars. Talks of the fourth Ganassi entry being filled are still on the table. Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing wants to run a second car. Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports have been trying to expand for two years now. Should the extra spots at Ganassi, RLLR and SHM come to fruition, the grid would be 24 strong, only down one from the year before.
While teams look to expand their operations, talented drivers are the outside looking to capitalize on a seat for 2013.
Notable free agents:
Ryan Briscoe- Rumored Destinations: Ganassi, RLLR, Penske.
James Jakes- Rumored Destinations: Coyne, RLLR.
EJ Viso- Rumored Destinations: New Team/Partnership with Herta.
Tristan Vautier- Rumored Destination: Schmidt.
Esteban Guerrieri- Rumored Destination: Was rumored to KVRT before 2012.
Gustavo Yacaman- Rumored Destinations: Ganassi, Shank Racing.
Along with Shank Racing, new/returning teams are AFS Racing and Conquest Racing. Since the contract with Lotus has been terminated, Chevrolet and Honda agreed to be available to field 60% of the grid, possibly opening more opportunities for these teams to receive the engine desired, unlike last year.
Indianapolis 500-only done deals to date are Chase Austin with Foyt and Carlos Muñoz with Andretti. Bryan Clauson won the USAC scholarship for a third straight year in 2012 and it has not been announced whether that will turn into a one-off at Indianapolis like it did this year. Mike Conway in a road course only effort has been rumored also. The third Penske seat had been offered to Tony Stewart for the Indianapolis 500, but he declined. The future of the entry, whether it be for Indianapolis-only or full-time is unclear moving forward.
Chevrolet had thirteen engines on track post-Indianapolis and Honda had eleven. The lone Lotus of HVM is no longer with us and with that known, the rosters for each manufacture tentatively look something like this.
Chevrolet: Total- 12 (-1 from 2012).
Andretti- Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Hinchcliffe.
Penske- Castroneves, Power.
Panther- Hildebrand.
KVRT- Kanaan, de Silvestro.
Dragon- Bourdais, Legge.
Panther/D&R- Servia.
Carpenter- Carpenter.
Honda: Total- 9 (-2 from 2012)
Ganassi: Franchitti, Dixon, Kimball.
Foyt- TBA (Sato or Daly).
RLLR- Rahal.
Herta- Tagliani.
SFHR- Newgarden.
Schmidt- Pagenaud.
Coyne- Wilson.
Looking at this list, IndyCar would have a 21 car grid, down four from what was seen most of 2012. However, this appears likely to change. Dale Coyne Racing always finds a way to run two full-time cars. Talks of the fourth Ganassi entry being filled are still on the table. Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing wants to run a second car. Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports have been trying to expand for two years now. Should the extra spots at Ganassi, RLLR and SHM come to fruition, the grid would be 24 strong, only down one from the year before.
While teams look to expand their operations, talented drivers are the outside looking to capitalize on a seat for 2013.
Notable free agents:
Ryan Briscoe- Rumored Destinations: Ganassi, RLLR, Penske.
James Jakes- Rumored Destinations: Coyne, RLLR.
EJ Viso- Rumored Destinations: New Team/Partnership with Herta.
Tristan Vautier- Rumored Destination: Schmidt.
Esteban Guerrieri- Rumored Destination: Was rumored to KVRT before 2012.
Gustavo Yacaman- Rumored Destinations: Ganassi, Shank Racing.
Along with Shank Racing, new/returning teams are AFS Racing and Conquest Racing. Since the contract with Lotus has been terminated, Chevrolet and Honda agreed to be available to field 60% of the grid, possibly opening more opportunities for these teams to receive the engine desired, unlike last year.
Indianapolis 500-only done deals to date are Chase Austin with Foyt and Carlos Muñoz with Andretti. Bryan Clauson won the USAC scholarship for a third straight year in 2012 and it has not been announced whether that will turn into a one-off at Indianapolis like it did this year. Mike Conway in a road course only effort has been rumored also. The third Penske seat had been offered to Tony Stewart for the Indianapolis 500, but he declined. The future of the entry, whether it be for Indianapolis-only or full-time is unclear moving forward.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The IndyCar Christmas List
As I sit here, looking at my Christmas tree, I can not help but ask myself what do those in and around IndyCar truly want? I have thought long and hard about this and came up with a list.
Where should I start? How about with the champion?
For Ryan Hunter-Reay and his wife Beccy, a year supply of baby supplies. Diapers, wipes, clothing, you name it, you got it. Also, as garage stuffers, a KTM X-Bow, Dune Buggy and an Audi R8 LMS so he can practice for next year's Race of Champions.
It's tough to figure out what to get Roger Penske. How about enough to field a two-car Lights operation for young Americans?
For Brad Keselowski, that third Penske seat for the Indianapolis 500 that Tony Stewart said no to.
For John Judd, some one willing to step up and fund his IndyCar engine program for 2014. Ford, Nissan, Dodge, Fiat, VW, somebody.
Simona de Silvestro got a proper engine and ride way before Christmas. I guess that best thing for her would be a proper oval coach to help her gain confidence. So I will give her Johnny Rutherford as her coach.
For Tony Kanaan, better results in qualifying.
For Ryan Briscoe, a full-time ride and a little more respect. He might not be an all-time great, but he is a fine racer.
For James Hinchcliffe, a camera to catch the highlights of what seems to be an interesting life.
Not sure what Dario Franchitti needs or wants. Four championships, three Indianapolis 500s. How about a few races at Force India with his cousin Paul di Resta? Of course those that do not coincide with IndyCar. So let's go with Hungary, Italy, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, United States and Brazil.
To Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher, a little more funding.
For Graham Rahal, a time machine to back and correct that final lap and a half at Texas.
With all those who have been good, there are those who have been bad and get a nice helping of coal.
John Barnes, Kevin Kalkhoven, Al Speyer, Jeff Belskus and Chip Ganassi all get a ton of coal for what they did over the course of the year.
Tony George, you have enough coal already. I think you are partially misunderstood and I hope my Christmas gift will help. Tony, I am getting you an advisor, Humpy Wheeler. He will help you use the money you and your investment group offered to buy the series with to bring back and promote oval races for IndyCar. You can bring back Phoenix, Michigan, New Hampshire, Richmond, Kentucky and fund a revival of Nazareth.
The Circuit of the Americas gets boat load of coal after canceling all track days in 2013.
Now, after handing out all that coal, back to some actual gifts.
Bryan Clauson shall get a week of road course training from IndyCar's best, a full season of Indy Lights and a ovals only season in IndyCar.
For JR Hildebrand, somebody who has a passion for IndyCar moving forward and wants what is best for the series as a whole, who pays a pretty penny to buy Panther Racing.
To Ed Carpenter, some road course training as well.
For Scott Dixon, an IndyCar race in January or February close to home in either Australia or New Zealand.
For whoever hires EJ Viso, all the carbon fiber imaginable.
Something Will Power can share with all the drivers and fans, the turbocharger being turned up to 800 horsepower on ovals and 900 on road and street courses.
Aero kits being allowed and many independent manufactures such as Oreca, Eagle, Penske, Dyson, etc. taking part.
An open rule book at the Indianapolis 500 and the other Triple Crown races to allow the DeltaWing and others to show up and try to qualify.
For Simon Pagenuad, a French teammate, Tristan Vautier.
For Mark Miles, a consultant and a Twitter account to keep an open relationship with the fans.
For Kevin Lee, Townsend Bell and David Hobbs, a weekly, one hour NBC Sports Net show covering all that happened in the world of open-wheel racing with special reports on the ladder systems.
For Alex Tagliani, since Montreal is off the Nationwide schedule, a car for the Nationwide road course races and the Cup race at Watkins Glen and an IndyCar race somewhere in Quebec.
For Robin Miller, Marshall Pruett and Alex Lloyd, a weekly, two hour internet radio show. Also for Alex Lloyd, a full-time IndyCar ride.
For Paul Tracy, the job of CEO of IndyCar.
For Sébastien Bourdais, a guaranteed full-time season. None of this road/street course only schedule.
For Randy Bernard, an IndyCar team so he can be a car owner.
For Alex Zanardi, a ride for the Indianapolis 500, enough insurance to cover him God forbid something were to happen, and a Bombardier Global 8000 so he and his family can commute to and from Italy.
For all the Speedway Motorsports tracks, new catch-fences with the poles on the outside.
Something for IndyCar as a whole, more promotion of their races. Commercials for NBC Sports races on NBC during prime time, commercials on ESPN the week before races on ABC and live reads during other live sport events on ESPN, NBC, NBC Sports and ABC.
Last but not least, everybody in IndyCar, upper management, drivers, owners, fans, crew members, everybody needs a break from the uncertainty and want peace. No more back stabbing, no more animosity between owners and the sanctioning body. Peace and teamwork is what is need moving forward.
I wish everybody a safe and Happy/Merry Christmas. I hope everyone is able to have a calm day with their loved ones and all goes as well as planned.
Happy Christmas and Merry Christmas to all.
Where should I start? How about with the champion?
For Ryan Hunter-Reay and his wife Beccy, a year supply of baby supplies. Diapers, wipes, clothing, you name it, you got it. Also, as garage stuffers, a KTM X-Bow, Dune Buggy and an Audi R8 LMS so he can practice for next year's Race of Champions.
It's tough to figure out what to get Roger Penske. How about enough to field a two-car Lights operation for young Americans?
For Brad Keselowski, that third Penske seat for the Indianapolis 500 that Tony Stewart said no to.
For John Judd, some one willing to step up and fund his IndyCar engine program for 2014. Ford, Nissan, Dodge, Fiat, VW, somebody.
Simona de Silvestro got a proper engine and ride way before Christmas. I guess that best thing for her would be a proper oval coach to help her gain confidence. So I will give her Johnny Rutherford as her coach.
For Tony Kanaan, better results in qualifying.
For Ryan Briscoe, a full-time ride and a little more respect. He might not be an all-time great, but he is a fine racer.
For James Hinchcliffe, a camera to catch the highlights of what seems to be an interesting life.
Not sure what Dario Franchitti needs or wants. Four championships, three Indianapolis 500s. How about a few races at Force India with his cousin Paul di Resta? Of course those that do not coincide with IndyCar. So let's go with Hungary, Italy, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, United States and Brazil.
To Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher, a little more funding.
For Graham Rahal, a time machine to back and correct that final lap and a half at Texas.
With all those who have been good, there are those who have been bad and get a nice helping of coal.
John Barnes, Kevin Kalkhoven, Al Speyer, Jeff Belskus and Chip Ganassi all get a ton of coal for what they did over the course of the year.
Tony George, you have enough coal already. I think you are partially misunderstood and I hope my Christmas gift will help. Tony, I am getting you an advisor, Humpy Wheeler. He will help you use the money you and your investment group offered to buy the series with to bring back and promote oval races for IndyCar. You can bring back Phoenix, Michigan, New Hampshire, Richmond, Kentucky and fund a revival of Nazareth.
The Circuit of the Americas gets boat load of coal after canceling all track days in 2013.
Now, after handing out all that coal, back to some actual gifts.
Bryan Clauson shall get a week of road course training from IndyCar's best, a full season of Indy Lights and a ovals only season in IndyCar.
For JR Hildebrand, somebody who has a passion for IndyCar moving forward and wants what is best for the series as a whole, who pays a pretty penny to buy Panther Racing.
To Ed Carpenter, some road course training as well.
For Scott Dixon, an IndyCar race in January or February close to home in either Australia or New Zealand.
For whoever hires EJ Viso, all the carbon fiber imaginable.
Something Will Power can share with all the drivers and fans, the turbocharger being turned up to 800 horsepower on ovals and 900 on road and street courses.
Aero kits being allowed and many independent manufactures such as Oreca, Eagle, Penske, Dyson, etc. taking part.
An open rule book at the Indianapolis 500 and the other Triple Crown races to allow the DeltaWing and others to show up and try to qualify.
For Simon Pagenuad, a French teammate, Tristan Vautier.
For Mark Miles, a consultant and a Twitter account to keep an open relationship with the fans.
For Kevin Lee, Townsend Bell and David Hobbs, a weekly, one hour NBC Sports Net show covering all that happened in the world of open-wheel racing with special reports on the ladder systems.
For Alex Tagliani, since Montreal is off the Nationwide schedule, a car for the Nationwide road course races and the Cup race at Watkins Glen and an IndyCar race somewhere in Quebec.
For Robin Miller, Marshall Pruett and Alex Lloyd, a weekly, two hour internet radio show. Also for Alex Lloyd, a full-time IndyCar ride.
For Paul Tracy, the job of CEO of IndyCar.
For Sébastien Bourdais, a guaranteed full-time season. None of this road/street course only schedule.
For Randy Bernard, an IndyCar team so he can be a car owner.
For Alex Zanardi, a ride for the Indianapolis 500, enough insurance to cover him God forbid something were to happen, and a Bombardier Global 8000 so he and his family can commute to and from Italy.
For all the Speedway Motorsports tracks, new catch-fences with the poles on the outside.
Something for IndyCar as a whole, more promotion of their races. Commercials for NBC Sports races on NBC during prime time, commercials on ESPN the week before races on ABC and live reads during other live sport events on ESPN, NBC, NBC Sports and ABC.
Last but not least, everybody in IndyCar, upper management, drivers, owners, fans, crew members, everybody needs a break from the uncertainty and want peace. No more back stabbing, no more animosity between owners and the sanctioning body. Peace and teamwork is what is need moving forward.
I wish everybody a safe and Happy/Merry Christmas. I hope everyone is able to have a calm day with their loved ones and all goes as well as planned.
Happy Christmas and Merry Christmas to all.
Friday, December 21, 2012
If This Is It, Let's Clear The Air
Depending on what you believe, today shall be the last day of life on Earth. I do not necessarily believe that but if it is it, there are somethings I would like to say. I want to get it out their so no stone is left unturned.
Here we go:
I enjoyed the split from the standpoint I could see ten decent road/street course events and ten decent oval events. If only we could do that today under one united schedule.
Deep down, I always thought Richie Hearn could have been a really good driver if he was given a full-time ride.
I was devastated when Versus got the rights to IndyCar.
I was devastated when ABC kept the rights to the Indianapolis 500.
I was not rooting for Buddy Rice during the 2004 Indianapolis 500. I was pulling for Tony Kanaan that day.
I like Buddy Rice and it is sad he was casted aside by IndyCar and I wish he was in the series today. HE IS AN AMERICAN, INDIANAPOLIS 500 WINNER!
I thought if Raphael Matos did not get an IndyCar ride after winning the Atlantics and Lights title in back-to-back he would have been a winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
I think Alex Lloyd should be a full-time driver in IndyCar and he should be given open reign to say whatever he wants. I suggest you follow him on Twitter.
I am disappointed in the Indy Lights series and what it has been for the last three seasons. A lot of young drivers were tossed aside before even being looked at. James Davison, Daniel Herrington, Jonathan Summerton, Logan Gomez, Dillon Battistini, Jonathan Bomarito, Robbie Pecorari and let's go back to those who were stuck in Atlantics, John Edwards, Carl Skerlong, Dane Cameron, etc. Were all these drivers going to be winners in IndyCar, probably not but they were all not given the best shot at the ladder system and overlooked for ride buyers.
I do not like Formula One racing where the money is (Singapore, Bahrain, South Korea and China) over places where the fans are (France, Imola) and having long time Grand Prix under constant threat of being removed from the schedule (Germany, Britain, Australia).
I once thought a sports car race at the Speedway would not be a bad thing to try. I was very wrong.
Originally I was not for an IndyCar race at Iowa. I was very wrong and now I look forward to Iowa every year.
I never thought Joey Logano was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
It wasn't until Nicky Hayden won the 2005 US Grand Prix that I really got into bike racing.
When I was younger, I use to work my schedule around every NASCAR race. Cup, Busch/Nationwide/Truck. I think in a three year span, I only missed about five or six races from the three series combined.
I only watched three Truck races in 2012.
IndyCar and Formula One races are much easier with my schedule today.
I have skipped school just to watch Carb Day on TV. Not go to Carb Day but watch it on TV.
I was rooting against Bertrand Baguette at the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Nothing against him as a driver or a person. I think he is very talented and could have been in Formula One (sadly money got in the way) but for the 100th anniversary of the race it would have killed any shot of the race being mentioned on SportsCenter or any other major American media outlet. Sadly that is the world we live in today.
After 2007, I have never been a big Fernando Alonso fan.
After finding out about the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, I was never a big Nelson Piquet Jr. fan.
Since the 2012 Nationwide race at Road America, Nelson Piquet Jr. has started to grow on me.
When Felipe Massa missed out the World Title in 2008 I was emotionally drained for him. He was so close.
I was excited when I heard the idea of the movie Turbo. I was less excited when I heard Ryan Reynolds was going to be the main star. He just doesn't do it for me.
I still do not understand how Andrew Ranger is still in NASCAR's Canadian Division.
I am OK with the number 99 still being in use. I feel it is more of an honor to keep the number available than to retire it. Imagine if James Hinchcliffe gets the opportunity to race the number 99. How special would that be for him?
My future brother-in-law likes the movie Driven. After I found that out I really did not know what else to say to him.
With all that said I think it is a good point to end it. If this is the end, it's been fun. If there is a December 22, Merry Christmas and be sure to check back here. I will be Santa Claus and giving out some Christmas gifts.
Here we go:
I enjoyed the split from the standpoint I could see ten decent road/street course events and ten decent oval events. If only we could do that today under one united schedule.
Deep down, I always thought Richie Hearn could have been a really good driver if he was given a full-time ride.
I was devastated when Versus got the rights to IndyCar.
I was devastated when ABC kept the rights to the Indianapolis 500.
I was not rooting for Buddy Rice during the 2004 Indianapolis 500. I was pulling for Tony Kanaan that day.
I like Buddy Rice and it is sad he was casted aside by IndyCar and I wish he was in the series today. HE IS AN AMERICAN, INDIANAPOLIS 500 WINNER!
I thought if Raphael Matos did not get an IndyCar ride after winning the Atlantics and Lights title in back-to-back he would have been a winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
I think Alex Lloyd should be a full-time driver in IndyCar and he should be given open reign to say whatever he wants. I suggest you follow him on Twitter.
I am disappointed in the Indy Lights series and what it has been for the last three seasons. A lot of young drivers were tossed aside before even being looked at. James Davison, Daniel Herrington, Jonathan Summerton, Logan Gomez, Dillon Battistini, Jonathan Bomarito, Robbie Pecorari and let's go back to those who were stuck in Atlantics, John Edwards, Carl Skerlong, Dane Cameron, etc. Were all these drivers going to be winners in IndyCar, probably not but they were all not given the best shot at the ladder system and overlooked for ride buyers.
I do not like Formula One racing where the money is (Singapore, Bahrain, South Korea and China) over places where the fans are (France, Imola) and having long time Grand Prix under constant threat of being removed from the schedule (Germany, Britain, Australia).
I once thought a sports car race at the Speedway would not be a bad thing to try. I was very wrong.
Originally I was not for an IndyCar race at Iowa. I was very wrong and now I look forward to Iowa every year.
I never thought Joey Logano was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
It wasn't until Nicky Hayden won the 2005 US Grand Prix that I really got into bike racing.
When I was younger, I use to work my schedule around every NASCAR race. Cup, Busch/Nationwide/Truck. I think in a three year span, I only missed about five or six races from the three series combined.
I only watched three Truck races in 2012.
IndyCar and Formula One races are much easier with my schedule today.
I have skipped school just to watch Carb Day on TV. Not go to Carb Day but watch it on TV.
I was rooting against Bertrand Baguette at the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Nothing against him as a driver or a person. I think he is very talented and could have been in Formula One (sadly money got in the way) but for the 100th anniversary of the race it would have killed any shot of the race being mentioned on SportsCenter or any other major American media outlet. Sadly that is the world we live in today.
After 2007, I have never been a big Fernando Alonso fan.
After finding out about the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, I was never a big Nelson Piquet Jr. fan.
Since the 2012 Nationwide race at Road America, Nelson Piquet Jr. has started to grow on me.
When Felipe Massa missed out the World Title in 2008 I was emotionally drained for him. He was so close.
I was excited when I heard the idea of the movie Turbo. I was less excited when I heard Ryan Reynolds was going to be the main star. He just doesn't do it for me.
I still do not understand how Andrew Ranger is still in NASCAR's Canadian Division.
I am OK with the number 99 still being in use. I feel it is more of an honor to keep the number available than to retire it. Imagine if James Hinchcliffe gets the opportunity to race the number 99. How special would that be for him?
My future brother-in-law likes the movie Driven. After I found that out I really did not know what else to say to him.
With all that said I think it is a good point to end it. If this is the end, it's been fun. If there is a December 22, Merry Christmas and be sure to check back here. I will be Santa Claus and giving out some Christmas gifts.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
2012 For The Love of Indy Awards
It is the end of the year and it is a time to reflect on the year that was. A lot of great memories from this motorsports season, from two wheel to four, Eau Rouge to Eldora, many men and women raced all over the globe. This awards ceremony/award post is to commemorate the racers and events that shined the most during 2012. I have many different categories to cover.
Racer of the Year
Description: Given to the best racer over the course of 2012.
Winner: Kyle Larson
Larson raced and won in it all in 2012. From the NASCAR East division to sprint and midgets, Larson had a successful 2012, notably winning the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Perris Auto Speedway. Larson started 2012 with a third place finish at the Chili Bowl. He ran stock cars for the first time in 2012 and won in his first event at New Smyrna Speedway. Larson won the NASCAR East Division championship in his first season after winning two races, one pole, eight top-fives and twelve top-tens in fourteen starts. He made his debut in Camping World Truck Series where he scored three top-tens in his first three races, including a near win in his third race at Phoenix. His best Truck start of 2012 was a second at Homestead.
Despite not being in NASCAR, Formula One or IndyCar, Larson ran a diverse schedule and had success in all he raced. With what seems a bright path in the world of NASCAR, Larson has expressed interest in IndyCar and as a fan, I only hope he keeps to the varied schedule and runs multiple series on everything from paved ovals to dirt, road to street courses for years to come.
Honorable Mentions: Sébastien Loeb, Sebastian Vettel, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jorge Lorenzo, Brad Keselowski, Fernando Alonso.
Race of the Year
Description: Best Race of 2012.
Winner: Indianapolis 500
The first Indianapolis 500 for the DW12 chassis was a great success with a record number of lead changes and more passing at the Speedway than with the IR03/07. After Chevrolet dominated the qualifying days, the Hondas showed up on race day and other than Marco Andretti leading early in the race, Chevrolet's best chance was Tony Kanaan late but he could not hold off the Ganassi's of Franchitti and Dixon. The two Target cars started fifteenth and sixteenth and lead a total seventy-three laps. The Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Honda of Takuma Sato was consistent all day and was in a position for the possible win. Sato made his move in turn one a la Al Unser in turn three on Emerson Fittipaldi and the result was the same. Franchitti won his third Indianapolis 500 with Sato finishing seventeenth. Six of the top ten finishers started outside the top ten.
Honorable Mentions: Malaysian Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Auto Club 400, German motorcycle Grand Prix.
Achievement of the Year
Description: Best success by a driver, team, manufacture, etc.
Winner: DeltaWing
After over two years of talk and rejection from IndyCar, Ben Bowlby's brain child made it to the race track. It was invited to race at Le Mans and it made the grid with help from Nissan and Michelin. It was running respectably before a collision with the Toyota TS030 of Kazuki Nakijima. The DeltaWing would see the track again at Petit Le Mans where the car made it to the finish, only six laps between the winning Rebellion Racing Lola, fifth place over all. The DeltaWing hopes the regulations allow it to compete in the 2013 American Le Mans Series, with hopes of being invited back to Le Mans. The DeltaWing group has also expressed interest in become in the new Indy Lights chassis.
Honorable Mentions: Audi R18 Hybrid wins Le Mans, Roger Penske wins first NASCAR Championship, Dodge wins first NASCAR Cup championship since 1975, Robert Kubica beginning his return back to racing.
Moment of the Year
Description: Best Moment in the World of Racing.
Winner: Alex Zanardi
It may have been a hand cycle but Alex Zanardi's two gold medals and silver medal were the most celebrate medals to come from either the Olympic or Paralympic games by the world of racing. Almost ten years to the day, Zanardi won his first medal in the individual time trial by over twenty-seven seconds. He would go on to win gold in the road race with a late pass and he and his Italian teammates finished second only to the Americans in the mixed relay.
Honorable Mentions: Kimi Räikkönen on the podium after his victory at Abu Dhabi, Ryan Hunter-Reay with the Astor Cup and American flag after winning the IndyCar championship, Casey Stoner winning his final Australian Grand Prix.
Pass of the Year
Description: Best pass of 2012.
Winner: Simon Pagenaud at Baltimore.
He went from sixth to first on a restart, on a street circuit. Enough said.
Honorable Mentions: Marcos Ambrose on Brad Keselowski final lap at Watkins Glen, Sebastian Vettel on Jenson Button lap 66 of the German Grand Prix (illegal or not, that was a pretty petty call by the stewards. We have all seen a lot worse not called.), Lewis Hamilton on Mark Webber in turn 12 at United States Grand Prix, Dario Franchitti and Takuma Sato passing Scott Dixon on lap 199 at Indianapolis.
The Eric Idle Award
Description: "Cheer up boy. You Know What They Say. Somethings in Life Are Bad. They Can Really Make You Bad. Other Things Just Make You Swear and Curse. When You're Chewing on Life's Gristle, Don't Grumble, Give a Whistle, And This'll Help Things Turn Out For The Best, and... Always Look On The Bright Side of Life."
Winner: Ben Spies
A year to forget in Moto GP. When he had great runs going, some how they come undone. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life Ben and to a better of 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Randy Bernard, Simona de Silvestro, Shane Van Gisbergen, Tom Sykes.
Broadcast Team of the Year
Description: Best broadcast team.
Winner: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, Will Buxton.
2012 was the final year for the SPEED F1 team, as the rights head over to NBC Sports. While Hobbs, Matchett and Buxton will all head to NBC, Varsha will stay at SPEED. What has been a great team will come to an end but we will always have our memories.
Honorable Mentions: Bob Jenkins, Wally Dallenbach, Jan Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Townsend Bell, Robin Miller and Marty Snider (IndyCar on NBC Sports Net), Ralph Sheheen, Jeff Emig and Erin Bates (Supercross on SPEED).
Most Improved
Description: Racer Who Improved The Most from 2011 to 2012.
Winner: Esteban Guerrieri
He may have only finished second in Indy Lights in but had many accidents in 2011while in good positions and avoided that for most of 2012. May not be the greatest thing since sliced bread but has talent and may be competent in the next step in the ladder system.
Honorable Mentions: Sergio Pérez, Álvaro Bautista, Stefan Bradl.
With that I think it is time to call it a night and congratulate all those who stood out in racing in 2012 and wish everyone the best in 2013.
Racer of the Year
Description: Given to the best racer over the course of 2012.
Winner: Kyle Larson
Larson raced and won in it all in 2012. From the NASCAR East division to sprint and midgets, Larson had a successful 2012, notably winning the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Perris Auto Speedway. Larson started 2012 with a third place finish at the Chili Bowl. He ran stock cars for the first time in 2012 and won in his first event at New Smyrna Speedway. Larson won the NASCAR East Division championship in his first season after winning two races, one pole, eight top-fives and twelve top-tens in fourteen starts. He made his debut in Camping World Truck Series where he scored three top-tens in his first three races, including a near win in his third race at Phoenix. His best Truck start of 2012 was a second at Homestead.
Despite not being in NASCAR, Formula One or IndyCar, Larson ran a diverse schedule and had success in all he raced. With what seems a bright path in the world of NASCAR, Larson has expressed interest in IndyCar and as a fan, I only hope he keeps to the varied schedule and runs multiple series on everything from paved ovals to dirt, road to street courses for years to come.
Honorable Mentions: Sébastien Loeb, Sebastian Vettel, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jorge Lorenzo, Brad Keselowski, Fernando Alonso.
Race of the Year
Description: Best Race of 2012.
Winner: Indianapolis 500
The first Indianapolis 500 for the DW12 chassis was a great success with a record number of lead changes and more passing at the Speedway than with the IR03/07. After Chevrolet dominated the qualifying days, the Hondas showed up on race day and other than Marco Andretti leading early in the race, Chevrolet's best chance was Tony Kanaan late but he could not hold off the Ganassi's of Franchitti and Dixon. The two Target cars started fifteenth and sixteenth and lead a total seventy-three laps. The Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Honda of Takuma Sato was consistent all day and was in a position for the possible win. Sato made his move in turn one a la Al Unser in turn three on Emerson Fittipaldi and the result was the same. Franchitti won his third Indianapolis 500 with Sato finishing seventeenth. Six of the top ten finishers started outside the top ten.
Honorable Mentions: Malaysian Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Auto Club 400, German motorcycle Grand Prix.
Achievement of the Year
Description: Best success by a driver, team, manufacture, etc.
Winner: DeltaWing
After over two years of talk and rejection from IndyCar, Ben Bowlby's brain child made it to the race track. It was invited to race at Le Mans and it made the grid with help from Nissan and Michelin. It was running respectably before a collision with the Toyota TS030 of Kazuki Nakijima. The DeltaWing would see the track again at Petit Le Mans where the car made it to the finish, only six laps between the winning Rebellion Racing Lola, fifth place over all. The DeltaWing hopes the regulations allow it to compete in the 2013 American Le Mans Series, with hopes of being invited back to Le Mans. The DeltaWing group has also expressed interest in become in the new Indy Lights chassis.
Honorable Mentions: Audi R18 Hybrid wins Le Mans, Roger Penske wins first NASCAR Championship, Dodge wins first NASCAR Cup championship since 1975, Robert Kubica beginning his return back to racing.
Moment of the Year
Description: Best Moment in the World of Racing.
Winner: Alex Zanardi
It may have been a hand cycle but Alex Zanardi's two gold medals and silver medal were the most celebrate medals to come from either the Olympic or Paralympic games by the world of racing. Almost ten years to the day, Zanardi won his first medal in the individual time trial by over twenty-seven seconds. He would go on to win gold in the road race with a late pass and he and his Italian teammates finished second only to the Americans in the mixed relay.
Honorable Mentions: Kimi Räikkönen on the podium after his victory at Abu Dhabi, Ryan Hunter-Reay with the Astor Cup and American flag after winning the IndyCar championship, Casey Stoner winning his final Australian Grand Prix.
Pass of the Year
Description: Best pass of 2012.
Winner: Simon Pagenaud at Baltimore.
He went from sixth to first on a restart, on a street circuit. Enough said.
Honorable Mentions: Marcos Ambrose on Brad Keselowski final lap at Watkins Glen, Sebastian Vettel on Jenson Button lap 66 of the German Grand Prix (illegal or not, that was a pretty petty call by the stewards. We have all seen a lot worse not called.), Lewis Hamilton on Mark Webber in turn 12 at United States Grand Prix, Dario Franchitti and Takuma Sato passing Scott Dixon on lap 199 at Indianapolis.
The Eric Idle Award
Description: "Cheer up boy. You Know What They Say. Somethings in Life Are Bad. They Can Really Make You Bad. Other Things Just Make You Swear and Curse. When You're Chewing on Life's Gristle, Don't Grumble, Give a Whistle, And This'll Help Things Turn Out For The Best, and... Always Look On The Bright Side of Life."
Winner: Ben Spies
A year to forget in Moto GP. When he had great runs going, some how they come undone. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life Ben and to a better of 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Randy Bernard, Simona de Silvestro, Shane Van Gisbergen, Tom Sykes.
Broadcast Team of the Year
Description: Best broadcast team.
Winner: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, Will Buxton.
2012 was the final year for the SPEED F1 team, as the rights head over to NBC Sports. While Hobbs, Matchett and Buxton will all head to NBC, Varsha will stay at SPEED. What has been a great team will come to an end but we will always have our memories.
Honorable Mentions: Bob Jenkins, Wally Dallenbach, Jan Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Townsend Bell, Robin Miller and Marty Snider (IndyCar on NBC Sports Net), Ralph Sheheen, Jeff Emig and Erin Bates (Supercross on SPEED).
Most Improved
Description: Racer Who Improved The Most from 2011 to 2012.
Winner: Esteban Guerrieri
He may have only finished second in Indy Lights in but had many accidents in 2011while in good positions and avoided that for most of 2012. May not be the greatest thing since sliced bread but has talent and may be competent in the next step in the ladder system.
Honorable Mentions: Sergio Pérez, Álvaro Bautista, Stefan Bradl.
With that I think it is time to call it a night and congratulate all those who stood out in racing in 2012 and wish everyone the best in 2013.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Mark Miles, An Idea For A Big Event
Last week I proposed the United States hosting the Race of Champions. After watching the event this past weekend, thinking about Mark Miles proposing a playoff and looking at what Miles did with the ATP, something popped into my head.
Why couldn't IndyCar have a Race of Champions style stadium event at the end of the year?
My thought process:
Make it a non-point event for lots of money.
Miles ran the ATP, which uses the ATP World Tour Finals as a season ending event for the top eight players in the world. This could be IndyCar's version.
Not a lot of racing this time of year, could give racing fans their fix while drawing people in who have never seen IndyCars before and are interested in seeing them at a stadium environment. It may also interest those watching at home.
If, and it seems unlikely, the Race of Champions come the United States, it would be very smart of IndyCar to partner up with the event and run it the same weekend, before the Race of Champions. If that does not happen, what is stopping IndyCar from doing this event on their own, preferably in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium? The DTM had a stadium at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, but that was a midseason exhibition.
How Could It Work?
If IndyCar was doing the event on their own, it could be a one-day show, a Saturday night under the lights. Have the stadium open all-day, practice in the afternoon for two hours, then have a giant meet and greet with the fans and the drivers. After that another hour of practice before the event begins. Work out a deal so whoever broadcasts the event so they make it a big deal in prime time.
A big pay day is a must. Make it $1,000,000 for the winner, with a $250,000 bonus if a driver can go undefeated. Looking back on October 16, 2011, putting what happened aside, the idea of giving a fan a shot at a nice pay day if their driver wins the event is actually a good thing for IndyCar to do. Each driver would represent a fan and the winning driver wins their fan a prize of $250,000. IndyCar is looking for younger fans, than it might be smart if the drivers represented college students who could use the money for tuition, room and board, books, etc. Just an idea.
Who Would Be Involved?
Unlike the ATP, closing down an NFL stadium for the top eight IndyCar drivers to go head-to-head is not going to be as good of a draw as if all IndyCar teams were involved. This year there were 26 regular drivers and my feeling is all should be included. Just like the Race of Champions, I would have a round robin leading to a knockout round. Two or six drivers could be added to create either seven groups of four or eight groups of four.
If only two drivers are to be added, I would suggest letting the top two drivers from Indy Lights be promoted to the event as a reward for their season, gives them seat time in an IndyCar while giving these drivers a shot at the grand prize, which would help pay for a full-time IndyCar ride.
If you're adding six, then along with the top two from the Indy Lights season, add the likes of Townsend Bell, hell even invite the likes of Tony Stewart. Look at it this way, Stewart would have no excuses this time for saying no. It's an exhibition for cash-only. The track would be new to every driver and their would be practice sessions the day of the event and they could probably do one the before.
Using this year and a 28 driver event as an example, rank the regulars by points, followed by the Lights drivers and the event would look like this.
Group A: Hunter-Reay, Sato, Wilson, Guerrieri
B: Power, Servià, Andretti, Vautier
C: Dixon, Barrichello, Tagliani, Legge
D: Castroneves, Hildebrand, Carpenter, Bourdais
E: Pagenaud, Rahal, Kimball, de Silvestro
F: Briscoe, Kanaan, Viso, Newgarden
G: Franchitti, Hinchcliffe, Conway, Jakes.
If it was a 32 driver event:
A: Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Tagliani, Invitee 4
B: Power, Wilson, Carpenter, Invitee 3
C: Dixon, Sato, Kimball, Invitee 2
D: Castroneves, Servià, Viso, Invitee 1
E: Pagenaud, Barrichello, Conway, Guerrieri
F: Briscoe, Hildebrand, Jakes, Vautier
G: Franchitti, Rahal, Newgarden, Legge
H: Hinchcliffe, Kanaan, de Silvestro, Bourdais
The top two from each group advance to the knockout round. For a 28 driver event, the top two third place drivers would also advance to fill the knockout round. Each round would be a single elimination with a best-of-three final round to decide it all.
A playoff is something very, very few people are for, but a season ending, winner-take-all may get people's attention.
Why couldn't IndyCar have a Race of Champions style stadium event at the end of the year?
My thought process:
Make it a non-point event for lots of money.
Miles ran the ATP, which uses the ATP World Tour Finals as a season ending event for the top eight players in the world. This could be IndyCar's version.
Not a lot of racing this time of year, could give racing fans their fix while drawing people in who have never seen IndyCars before and are interested in seeing them at a stadium environment. It may also interest those watching at home.
If, and it seems unlikely, the Race of Champions come the United States, it would be very smart of IndyCar to partner up with the event and run it the same weekend, before the Race of Champions. If that does not happen, what is stopping IndyCar from doing this event on their own, preferably in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium? The DTM had a stadium at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, but that was a midseason exhibition.
How Could It Work?
If IndyCar was doing the event on their own, it could be a one-day show, a Saturday night under the lights. Have the stadium open all-day, practice in the afternoon for two hours, then have a giant meet and greet with the fans and the drivers. After that another hour of practice before the event begins. Work out a deal so whoever broadcasts the event so they make it a big deal in prime time.
A big pay day is a must. Make it $1,000,000 for the winner, with a $250,000 bonus if a driver can go undefeated. Looking back on October 16, 2011, putting what happened aside, the idea of giving a fan a shot at a nice pay day if their driver wins the event is actually a good thing for IndyCar to do. Each driver would represent a fan and the winning driver wins their fan a prize of $250,000. IndyCar is looking for younger fans, than it might be smart if the drivers represented college students who could use the money for tuition, room and board, books, etc. Just an idea.
Who Would Be Involved?
Unlike the ATP, closing down an NFL stadium for the top eight IndyCar drivers to go head-to-head is not going to be as good of a draw as if all IndyCar teams were involved. This year there were 26 regular drivers and my feeling is all should be included. Just like the Race of Champions, I would have a round robin leading to a knockout round. Two or six drivers could be added to create either seven groups of four or eight groups of four.
If only two drivers are to be added, I would suggest letting the top two drivers from Indy Lights be promoted to the event as a reward for their season, gives them seat time in an IndyCar while giving these drivers a shot at the grand prize, which would help pay for a full-time IndyCar ride.
If you're adding six, then along with the top two from the Indy Lights season, add the likes of Townsend Bell, hell even invite the likes of Tony Stewart. Look at it this way, Stewart would have no excuses this time for saying no. It's an exhibition for cash-only. The track would be new to every driver and their would be practice sessions the day of the event and they could probably do one the before.
Using this year and a 28 driver event as an example, rank the regulars by points, followed by the Lights drivers and the event would look like this.
Group A: Hunter-Reay, Sato, Wilson, Guerrieri
B: Power, Servià, Andretti, Vautier
C: Dixon, Barrichello, Tagliani, Legge
D: Castroneves, Hildebrand, Carpenter, Bourdais
E: Pagenaud, Rahal, Kimball, de Silvestro
F: Briscoe, Kanaan, Viso, Newgarden
G: Franchitti, Hinchcliffe, Conway, Jakes.
If it was a 32 driver event:
A: Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Tagliani, Invitee 4
B: Power, Wilson, Carpenter, Invitee 3
C: Dixon, Sato, Kimball, Invitee 2
D: Castroneves, Servià, Viso, Invitee 1
E: Pagenaud, Barrichello, Conway, Guerrieri
F: Briscoe, Hildebrand, Jakes, Vautier
G: Franchitti, Rahal, Newgarden, Legge
H: Hinchcliffe, Kanaan, de Silvestro, Bourdais
The top two from each group advance to the knockout round. For a 28 driver event, the top two third place drivers would also advance to fill the knockout round. Each round would be a single elimination with a best-of-three final round to decide it all.
A playoff is something very, very few people are for, but a season ending, winner-take-all may get people's attention.
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