IndyCar returns to South America for the fourth running of the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300. Takuma Sato and AJ Foyt Racing are the most recent winners as they look to make it two-in-a-row and take the points lead away from Brazilian Helio Castroneves. Will Power has won all three São Paulo Indy 300s, the last two have come from pole position.
The Points Standings
Helio Castroneves has been no worse than second in the points standings this season and, other than himself, everyone else has been all over the place. Before his win at Long Beach, Takuma Sato was tied for eleventh with Simona de Silvestro. He is now second. Since his win at St. Petersburg, James Hinchcliffe has gone from points leader to fifth to tenth after back-to-back twenty-sixth place finishes. Ryan Hunter-Reay has gone from eighteenth to third to sixth. Graham Rahal had electrical problems at St. Pete put him in thirteenth, running out of fuel at Barber knocked Rahal down to nineteenth but a second at Long Beach has pulled the Ohioan up to seventh in the standings.
Dario Franchitti is down in twentieth after two twenty-fifth place finishes and a fourth. EJ Viso was tenth in the standings before Long Beach but his twenty-second place finished dropped the Venezuelan to sixteenth. With only three drivers scoring a top ten in all three races (Castroneves, Andretti and Wilson) and only two drivers scoring multiple top fives (Castroneves and Dixon) this season, one good result at São Paulo could be a lofty step up for a driver heading to Indianapolis.
Brazilians at Home
Only once in three São Paulo races has a Brazilian taken a step on the podium, that was Vitor Meira in the inaugural São Paulo race in 2010. Tony Kanaan's best finish was a tenth in 2010. Castroneves finished fourth last year with Rubens Barrichello scoring a tenth, a big improvement for the Brazilians after none of five Brazilians finished in the top ten in the 2011 São Paulo Indy 300. Meira was the only Brazilian in 2011 to finish better than twentieth. Meira finished seventeenth. Ana Beatriz's best finish at São Paulo was a thirteenth in 2010.
The Brazilians don't have much better luck with starting positions in their home country. Kanaan has the best starting position for a Brazilian at São Paulo, a sixth in 2010. Helio Castroneves is the only Brazilian to start twice in the top ten, a ninth in 2010 and a seventh in 2011. Last year, the best starting Brazilian was Kanaan in eleventh.
Will Power's Dominance
Of the 191 laps run in the three São Paulo Indy 300s, Will Power has led 99 of them or 51.83%. Power has two poles with his worst starting position being a fifth. Of the twelve drivers who have run all three São Paulo races, only Dario Franchitti (5.333) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (7.333) average a top ten finish. It may be a year since Power's last win but there is no doubting the Australians dominance in Brazil.
Other Notes
Turn two at São Paulo has be widened by ten feet in hopes to improve passing on double-file restarts. The curbing in turns one and two was also modified and bumps in turn tenth were smoothened.
While not heading to São Paulo, Indy Lights are testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today.
Weather forecast for this weekend in São Paulo calls for a high of 82 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday with a zero percent chance of rain and a high of 79 degrees Fahrenheit with a ten percent chance of rain on Sunday.
Track record at São Paulo was set last year by Will Power. He put down a lap of 1:21.4045.
IndyCar hits the track for the first time on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET. Second practice will be at 11:05 a.m. ET and qualifying will start at 1:35 p.m. ET. Morning warm-up on Sunday will be at 7:00 a.m. with NBC coverage beginning at 11:00 a.m. and green flag at 11:30 a.m.
Prediction
I will admit, picking a winner for IndyCar races has never been tougher. One moment you think you are on to something and then all of a sudden your picks make you look foolish.
Rain tires will be used at some point this weekend. A Brazilian will get a top ten. We will see a fourth different winner in the first four races of 2013 and fifth different winner in the last five races going back to the 2012 finale. Takuma Sato will get a top ten. James Hinchcliffe turns around his unfortunate run and will finish better than twenty-sixth (mostly because only twenty-five cars are entered for São Paulo). Justin Wilson will continue his streak of top ten finishes. Will Power will be the top finishing Penske... but I don't see him getting his fourth consecutive win in São Paulo.
Winning four consecutive races at the same track doesn't happen often, let alone winning the first four races at one track. But who else would be a good choice? Ryan Hunter-Reay? Scott Dixon is always quick but his track record on street courses is not good. Simon Pagenaud hasn't had the same form he showed at the beginning of 2012. This grid is deep but inconsistent. I will take Justin Wilson. Sleeper: Simona de Silvestro.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
It's May
May 1st. A bittersweet day knowing the Indianapolis 500 is less than four weeks away but knowing every time this month begins we are reminded of the tragic weekend in Imola 1994 when Ayrton Senna lost his life just a day after Roland Ratzenberger perished.
This is not meant to bring down the mood. Senna and Ratzenberger are probably at that big racetrack up in the sky sitting next to the likes of Bill Vukovich, Dale Earnhardt, Jim Clark, Greg Moore and Dan Wheldon waiting for the next race and the next driver to join them on the pit wall. They are still racing and we should do the same.
The month of May is special. When we flip the calendar or, in the technological age, when the calendar automatically changes we know what is on the line. The milk, the Borg-Warner, the wreath, Back Home Again in Indiana. History. That is what 33 drivers will be aiming for come May 26. Two drivers look to become the fourth member of the Four-Time Winner's Club. Chevrolet looks for it's first win since 2002. The names Andretti, Rahal and Foyt look to return to victory lane. Single car teams look to upset the big name teams. Seasoned veterans look for their first triumph at Indianapolis as father time ticks closer and closer to the end of their careers.
When people started floating out the idea of a road course race at the Speedway in the late Summer, early fall, a part of me became sick. Many cite the Formula One, Indy Lights, MotoGP, NASCAR and sports car races as enough of a reason to just add another IndyCar race at the hallowed groups at 16th and Georgetown. That tradition had been defiled so much that we mind as well keep defiling it.
No. The month of May should be the only time IndyCars are preparing for a race at the Speedway. No one is going to be scrambling to get a ride for a 200 mile road course race in September. No one would even care if someone was scraping together a ride for a IMS road course race. It would just be another race. If IndyCar wants to do another IndyCar race, go to Phoenix or Michigan or Road America or Austin. Not the Speedway.
The Speedway wasn't meant for another IndyCar race. It is the pinnacle, the Mecca of racing. The Indianapolis 500 should not have competition from another IndyCar race. If you want to see IndyCars at the Speedway, there is one time of the year to see them and that is the month of May.
This is not meant to bring down the mood. Senna and Ratzenberger are probably at that big racetrack up in the sky sitting next to the likes of Bill Vukovich, Dale Earnhardt, Jim Clark, Greg Moore and Dan Wheldon waiting for the next race and the next driver to join them on the pit wall. They are still racing and we should do the same.
The month of May is special. When we flip the calendar or, in the technological age, when the calendar automatically changes we know what is on the line. The milk, the Borg-Warner, the wreath, Back Home Again in Indiana. History. That is what 33 drivers will be aiming for come May 26. Two drivers look to become the fourth member of the Four-Time Winner's Club. Chevrolet looks for it's first win since 2002. The names Andretti, Rahal and Foyt look to return to victory lane. Single car teams look to upset the big name teams. Seasoned veterans look for their first triumph at Indianapolis as father time ticks closer and closer to the end of their careers.
When people started floating out the idea of a road course race at the Speedway in the late Summer, early fall, a part of me became sick. Many cite the Formula One, Indy Lights, MotoGP, NASCAR and sports car races as enough of a reason to just add another IndyCar race at the hallowed groups at 16th and Georgetown. That tradition had been defiled so much that we mind as well keep defiling it.
No. The month of May should be the only time IndyCars are preparing for a race at the Speedway. No one is going to be scrambling to get a ride for a 200 mile road course race in September. No one would even care if someone was scraping together a ride for a IMS road course race. It would just be another race. If IndyCar wants to do another IndyCar race, go to Phoenix or Michigan or Road America or Austin. Not the Speedway.
The Speedway wasn't meant for another IndyCar race. It is the pinnacle, the Mecca of racing. The Indianapolis 500 should not have competition from another IndyCar race. If you want to see IndyCars at the Speedway, there is one time of the year to see them and that is the month of May.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Pippa Mann to Coyne For Indianapolis
For the first time in the history of the Indianapolis 500, two women will be on the same team as Pippa Mann announced today she will be joining Ana Beatriz and Justin Wilson at Dale Coyne Racing for the Indianapolis 500.
Mann returns to Indianapolis two years after her only appearance in the Indianapolis 500 to date. She finished twentieth in 2011, the second highest rookie behind Charlie Kimball who finished thirteenth. Mann made one more start at Kentucky and was in the abandoned Las Vegas round where she suffered a pinky injury in the lap 11 accident that halted the race.
Mann's history in Indy Lights at the Speedway is not much to brag about. A twenty-first and sixteenth in her two Freedom 100 starts, however she was the pole winner for the 2010 Freedom 100 and went on to win at Kentucky later that season while finishing second at Chicagoland.
Mann is the thirty-first announced entrant for the Indianapolis 500 and the sixteenth announced Honda-powered car. Honda previously announced seventeen engine packages would be prepared for the Indianapolis 500 with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and AJ Foyt Racing all rumored as potential teams to run an additional car at Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, many names have been thrown around running a Chevrolet this May. Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star reported Townsend Bell is likely to end up at Panther Racing, Bryan Clauson is working on a deal at KV Racing Technology, Buddy Lazier has bought the DW12 chassis used by Fan Force United and Jean Alesi last year and Ed Carpenter Racing is the rumored destination for the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner. This leaves 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, Jay Howard and Jaques Lazier on the outside looking in for the month of May. Chevrolet has not put out a limit on Indianapolis 500 engine programs.
Practice for the Indianapolis 500 begins Saturday May 11th. This weekend IndyCar will be racing on the streets of São Paulo for the fourth edition of the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300. Look out for the For The Love of Indy Track Walk later this week.
Mann returns to Indianapolis two years after her only appearance in the Indianapolis 500 to date. She finished twentieth in 2011, the second highest rookie behind Charlie Kimball who finished thirteenth. Mann made one more start at Kentucky and was in the abandoned Las Vegas round where she suffered a pinky injury in the lap 11 accident that halted the race.
Mann's history in Indy Lights at the Speedway is not much to brag about. A twenty-first and sixteenth in her two Freedom 100 starts, however she was the pole winner for the 2010 Freedom 100 and went on to win at Kentucky later that season while finishing second at Chicagoland.
Mann is the thirty-first announced entrant for the Indianapolis 500 and the sixteenth announced Honda-powered car. Honda previously announced seventeen engine packages would be prepared for the Indianapolis 500 with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and AJ Foyt Racing all rumored as potential teams to run an additional car at Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, many names have been thrown around running a Chevrolet this May. Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star reported Townsend Bell is likely to end up at Panther Racing, Bryan Clauson is working on a deal at KV Racing Technology, Buddy Lazier has bought the DW12 chassis used by Fan Force United and Jean Alesi last year and Ed Carpenter Racing is the rumored destination for the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner. This leaves 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, Jay Howard and Jaques Lazier on the outside looking in for the month of May. Chevrolet has not put out a limit on Indianapolis 500 engine programs.
Practice for the Indianapolis 500 begins Saturday May 11th. This weekend IndyCar will be racing on the streets of São Paulo for the fourth edition of the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300. Look out for the For The Love of Indy Track Walk later this week.
Monday, April 29, 2013
IndyCar Ideas: Part Three
It has been almost two weeks since IndyCar Ideas: Part Two was posted. At the end I previewed part three saying it would look into expanding television coverage of the Mazda Road to Indy.
Part one and part two of IndyCar Ideas can be found here.
Part two focused on having more weekends with all four Mazda Road to Indy series at the same track giving the fans quadruple-headers to look forward to on race day. That won't solve the problems of these junior series teams finding more money though. These series need to be on television with a decent size audience.
The Idea: A Full Day of Mazda Road to Indy Racing on NBC Sports Network
When three or all four Mazda Road to Indy series are at the same track, racing on the same day, have a TV window from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. of live racing. For example, when everyone is at Mid-Ohio, show U.S. F2000 live at 10 a.m., Pro Mazda at 11 a.m., Indy Lights at noon and IndyCar at 1:30 p.m. Bring an IndyCar driver or two into the booth for the other events to give color commentary. It sounds great but this does have flaws.
Flaws In The Idea
1. NBCSN has to agree to do it and if whatever is normally shown at 10 a.m. on a Sunday would draw better than U.S. F2000, then why would they change their programming?
2. The ratings on NBCSN aren't great to begin with. Would it make a difference for a sponsor to change their decision over whether or not to sponsor a U.S. F2000 or Pro Mazda team?
3. Could it be too much racing? How many people will stay tuned for six hours of racing? It has to be damn good racing for an average fan to still tuned through U.S. F2000 to IndyCar.
In Reality...
1. As a race fan, the possibility of a day beginning with Formula One followed by U.S. F2000, Pro Mazda, Indy Lights and IndyCar for over nine consecutive hours is great but does it make sense for the network and for the Mazda Road to Indy?
2. The is no major clamoring to see U.S. F2000 or Pro Mazda. People aren't dying to see these races other than those thoroughly invested in IndyCar racing.
3. I do not know who owns the rights to U.S. F2000 and Pro Mazda but I am pretty sure NBCSN does not own them.
I think NBCSN should try it once. Especially if it could be paired with a Formula One race weekend. A day full of racing from sunrise to just before dinner would be nice. It is probably something that can't be done every IndyCar race weekend but what if it was done once or twice a year? It might be good to try something different and have it be a unique day full of racing. NBC Sports Network needs something to separate itself from the likes of ESPN and needs more live sports to be able to contend not only with ESPN but with Fox Sports 1 when it launches this August.
Part one and part two of IndyCar Ideas can be found here.
Part two focused on having more weekends with all four Mazda Road to Indy series at the same track giving the fans quadruple-headers to look forward to on race day. That won't solve the problems of these junior series teams finding more money though. These series need to be on television with a decent size audience.
The Idea: A Full Day of Mazda Road to Indy Racing on NBC Sports Network
When three or all four Mazda Road to Indy series are at the same track, racing on the same day, have a TV window from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. of live racing. For example, when everyone is at Mid-Ohio, show U.S. F2000 live at 10 a.m., Pro Mazda at 11 a.m., Indy Lights at noon and IndyCar at 1:30 p.m. Bring an IndyCar driver or two into the booth for the other events to give color commentary. It sounds great but this does have flaws.
Flaws In The Idea
1. NBCSN has to agree to do it and if whatever is normally shown at 10 a.m. on a Sunday would draw better than U.S. F2000, then why would they change their programming?
2. The ratings on NBCSN aren't great to begin with. Would it make a difference for a sponsor to change their decision over whether or not to sponsor a U.S. F2000 or Pro Mazda team?
3. Could it be too much racing? How many people will stay tuned for six hours of racing? It has to be damn good racing for an average fan to still tuned through U.S. F2000 to IndyCar.
In Reality...
1. As a race fan, the possibility of a day beginning with Formula One followed by U.S. F2000, Pro Mazda, Indy Lights and IndyCar for over nine consecutive hours is great but does it make sense for the network and for the Mazda Road to Indy?
2. The is no major clamoring to see U.S. F2000 or Pro Mazda. People aren't dying to see these races other than those thoroughly invested in IndyCar racing.
3. I do not know who owns the rights to U.S. F2000 and Pro Mazda but I am pretty sure NBCSN does not own them.
I think NBCSN should try it once. Especially if it could be paired with a Formula One race weekend. A day full of racing from sunrise to just before dinner would be nice. It is probably something that can't be done every IndyCar race weekend but what if it was done once or twice a year? It might be good to try something different and have it be a unique day full of racing. NBC Sports Network needs something to separate itself from the likes of ESPN and needs more live sports to be able to contend not only with ESPN but with Fox Sports 1 when it launches this August.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Is This It for Dreyer & Reinbold?
They won on debut on a late January day at a racetrack in the middle of the most recognizable theme park in the United States, if not the World. It was the second and final career win for a 36-year old from the Motor City, Detriot, Michigan. To date, it's the only win for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and if the reports are true, the team will only have two more shots for win number two and one of them will be the Indianapolis 500.
The team founded by Dennis Reinbold and Eric De Bord in 1999 has been through the oval-only days of the IRL, the transition to road and street course in 2005, unification in 2008 and the disaster that was Lotus along with the reintroduction of turbocharged engines with the inception of the DW12 chassis in 2012. Now the team is facing financial uncertainty and may have only a little over a month left before the team has to close up shop for the near future.
It's been 201 races since the team won on debut in the final race at Walt Disney World Speedway on January 29, 2000. Now co-owner of the team, Robbie Buhl won that day. Though Dreyer & Reinbold has yet to return to victory lane, the team has employed some noticeable names. They hired Sarah Fisher when she was without a ride in 2003 and when she returned from a year and a half of stock car racing in 2005. Ryan Briscoe made his first start after his fiery accident at Chicagoland ended his first stint with Chip Ganassi Racing. Briscoe finished third that day at Watkins Glen. Justin Wilson ran two seasons for the team and nearly won at Toronto in 2010. They were the home of Ana Beatriz's debut at São Paulo in 2010 as well as the home for the debuts of JR Hildebrand, Mike Conway and Jeff Bucknum. They were also home to the career finales of Davey Hamilton, Darren Manning and Steve Knapp.
Though winless at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, three Indianapolis 500 winners have raced for the team. 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier ran most of the 2006 season for D&R. Al Unser Jr. made his second to last Indianapolis 500 appearance for the team in 2006. Buddy Rice ran the 2007 and 2008 seasons for D&R with his best finish being fourth twice at Iowa 2007 and Watkins Glen 2008. And just for good measure, unofficial 2002 Indianapolis 500 winner Paul Tracy made 4 starts over two seasons, including what appears to be his final Indianapolis 500 start in 2011.
The team ran Milka Duno for two seasons but we won't hold that against them. Others have made relief appearances for the team due to injuries. Graham Rahal stepped in at Iowa after Mike Conway got hurt at Indianapolis in 2010. Simon Pagenaud made his first start in American open-wheel racing in nearly four years at Barber after Ana Beatriz broke her wrists at St. Pete in 2011 and Pagenaud would make two more starts that season after Justin Wilson broke his back at Mid-Ohio.
Currently situated with Oriol Serviá, the team needs a financial miracle to keep the doors open and the car on the grid. This is not a new situation for Serviá. In 2002, the Catalan driver was at PacWest Racing when the team closed its doors before the CART Milwaukee race. Serviá missed six races before getting a seat at Patrick Racing. Meanwhile, his teammate at PacWest at the time the team closed went to Chip Ganassi Racing. That driver was a 21-year old New Zealander named Scott Dixon. Serviá career has been filled with movement. He stayed with Patrick Racing in 2003 but was driving for Dale Coyne in 2004. After the first two races of 2005 with Coyne, Serviá filled in for an injured Bruno Junqueira at Newman-Haas and the Spaniard picked up his first and so far only career win at Montreal. He moved to PKV Racing in 2006 and was without a ride at the beginning of 2007. After Paul Tracy broke his back at Long Beach, Serviá was in at Forsythe and finished second in his first race. He would would run eleven races before moving back to PKV where he stayed through 2008 and reunification. 2009 saw Serviá run Indianapolis with Rahal-Letterman and he would get another four races for Newman-Haas later that season. He sat out for all of 2010 and returned in 2011 with Newman-Haas where he finished fouth in the points. Newman-Haas closed shop after 2011 and he went to Dreyer & Reinbold. After four races with Lotus, Serviá finished fourth at Indianapolis with his first race with Chevrolet.
Serviá's future is just as cloudy as D&R's. At 38, he is the third oldest driver on the grid and is turning 39 July 13. While engines and chassis seem to be of the plenty, funding is hard to come by and finding a team to step up and field another car will not be easy. Piecing together one-offs through the rest of 2013 may be the only option for Serviá.
Dreyer & Reinbold has been as much of a fixture on the grid as any team in IndyCar over the last 15 years. The lights have gone out on Newman-Haas, Hemelgarn, Walker, Forsythe, HVM and Conquest since reunification in 2008. However, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan was part-time for the better part of three seasons and are back full-time. Vision Racing died but Ed Carpenter Racing is almost a second reincarnation. There is a chance D&R can cut back for a few seasons and come back full-time but the odds are not necessarily in their favor of that.
If this is it, it would be a loss of a great team through the years and another tough blow to Oriol Serviá. Dreyer & Reinbold and Serivá mind as well go out like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids: Giving it all, guns blazing against the armed platoon that is IndyCar.
The team founded by Dennis Reinbold and Eric De Bord in 1999 has been through the oval-only days of the IRL, the transition to road and street course in 2005, unification in 2008 and the disaster that was Lotus along with the reintroduction of turbocharged engines with the inception of the DW12 chassis in 2012. Now the team is facing financial uncertainty and may have only a little over a month left before the team has to close up shop for the near future.
It's been 201 races since the team won on debut in the final race at Walt Disney World Speedway on January 29, 2000. Now co-owner of the team, Robbie Buhl won that day. Though Dreyer & Reinbold has yet to return to victory lane, the team has employed some noticeable names. They hired Sarah Fisher when she was without a ride in 2003 and when she returned from a year and a half of stock car racing in 2005. Ryan Briscoe made his first start after his fiery accident at Chicagoland ended his first stint with Chip Ganassi Racing. Briscoe finished third that day at Watkins Glen. Justin Wilson ran two seasons for the team and nearly won at Toronto in 2010. They were the home of Ana Beatriz's debut at São Paulo in 2010 as well as the home for the debuts of JR Hildebrand, Mike Conway and Jeff Bucknum. They were also home to the career finales of Davey Hamilton, Darren Manning and Steve Knapp.
Though winless at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, three Indianapolis 500 winners have raced for the team. 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier ran most of the 2006 season for D&R. Al Unser Jr. made his second to last Indianapolis 500 appearance for the team in 2006. Buddy Rice ran the 2007 and 2008 seasons for D&R with his best finish being fourth twice at Iowa 2007 and Watkins Glen 2008. And just for good measure, unofficial 2002 Indianapolis 500 winner Paul Tracy made 4 starts over two seasons, including what appears to be his final Indianapolis 500 start in 2011.
The team ran Milka Duno for two seasons but we won't hold that against them. Others have made relief appearances for the team due to injuries. Graham Rahal stepped in at Iowa after Mike Conway got hurt at Indianapolis in 2010. Simon Pagenaud made his first start in American open-wheel racing in nearly four years at Barber after Ana Beatriz broke her wrists at St. Pete in 2011 and Pagenaud would make two more starts that season after Justin Wilson broke his back at Mid-Ohio.
Currently situated with Oriol Serviá, the team needs a financial miracle to keep the doors open and the car on the grid. This is not a new situation for Serviá. In 2002, the Catalan driver was at PacWest Racing when the team closed its doors before the CART Milwaukee race. Serviá missed six races before getting a seat at Patrick Racing. Meanwhile, his teammate at PacWest at the time the team closed went to Chip Ganassi Racing. That driver was a 21-year old New Zealander named Scott Dixon. Serviá career has been filled with movement. He stayed with Patrick Racing in 2003 but was driving for Dale Coyne in 2004. After the first two races of 2005 with Coyne, Serviá filled in for an injured Bruno Junqueira at Newman-Haas and the Spaniard picked up his first and so far only career win at Montreal. He moved to PKV Racing in 2006 and was without a ride at the beginning of 2007. After Paul Tracy broke his back at Long Beach, Serviá was in at Forsythe and finished second in his first race. He would would run eleven races before moving back to PKV where he stayed through 2008 and reunification. 2009 saw Serviá run Indianapolis with Rahal-Letterman and he would get another four races for Newman-Haas later that season. He sat out for all of 2010 and returned in 2011 with Newman-Haas where he finished fouth in the points. Newman-Haas closed shop after 2011 and he went to Dreyer & Reinbold. After four races with Lotus, Serviá finished fourth at Indianapolis with his first race with Chevrolet.
Serviá's future is just as cloudy as D&R's. At 38, he is the third oldest driver on the grid and is turning 39 July 13. While engines and chassis seem to be of the plenty, funding is hard to come by and finding a team to step up and field another car will not be easy. Piecing together one-offs through the rest of 2013 may be the only option for Serviá.
Dreyer & Reinbold has been as much of a fixture on the grid as any team in IndyCar over the last 15 years. The lights have gone out on Newman-Haas, Hemelgarn, Walker, Forsythe, HVM and Conquest since reunification in 2008. However, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan was part-time for the better part of three seasons and are back full-time. Vision Racing died but Ed Carpenter Racing is almost a second reincarnation. There is a chance D&R can cut back for a few seasons and come back full-time but the odds are not necessarily in their favor of that.
If this is it, it would be a loss of a great team through the years and another tough blow to Oriol Serviá. Dreyer & Reinbold and Serivá mind as well go out like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids: Giving it all, guns blazing against the armed platoon that is IndyCar.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Jourdain To Return to Indianapolis; Others Still Trying
For the second consecutive year, Mexican driver Michel Jourdain, Jr. will drive for Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing in the Indianapolis 500. Jourdain will return with Office Depot Mexico as his sponsor. Jourdain was a first day qualifier in 2012, starting 22nd in his first Indianapolis 500 in 16 years and first open-wheel race in 8 years. Jourdain would go on to finish 19th, only two positions behind his then-teammate Takuma Sato, who had an accident after trying to pass Dario Franchitti for the lead in turn one on the final lap. Thirty driver-team pairings have been officially announced for the Indianapolis 500.
While drivers such as Jourdain, Ryan Briscoe, Conor Daly and Carlos Muñoz all knowing their plans for the month of May; a number of other drivers are on the outside looking in. Townsend Bell, a regular at Indianapolis the past half decade, is without a ride. He has driven for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports the last three years at Indianapolis, a team who have yet to announce an extra entry for 2013. Bell finished 9th last year, the second highest finishing American and has qualified in the top ten two of the last three years. Jay Howard's name has also be linked to a one-off at Indianapolis with SPM but nothing further has been announced from Howard.
Bryan Clauson sent out the following tweet, making it appear the USAC driver is attempting to find funding for one more shot at Indianapolis. In 2012, Clauson drove for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, a team who has made it clear a second car for 2013 was unlikely.
Jaques Lazier's name has been floating around about attempting a comeback at Indianapolis. The 42-year old brother of 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier has been out of a car for nearly three years and has not been a race since Homestead 2009. Lazier has said he does have a new Dallara chassis to use for the race if the pieces fall together.
With the Indianapolis 500 just 33 days away, the field is just three away from full with many respectable names looking for rides. Some may end up in the field come May 26, others may be mere spectators. The clock is ticking on Indianapolis hopefuls and finding a ride will not get any easier from this point on.
While drivers such as Jourdain, Ryan Briscoe, Conor Daly and Carlos Muñoz all knowing their plans for the month of May; a number of other drivers are on the outside looking in. Townsend Bell, a regular at Indianapolis the past half decade, is without a ride. He has driven for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports the last three years at Indianapolis, a team who have yet to announce an extra entry for 2013. Bell finished 9th last year, the second highest finishing American and has qualified in the top ten two of the last three years. Jay Howard's name has also be linked to a one-off at Indianapolis with SPM but nothing further has been announced from Howard.
Bryan Clauson sent out the following tweet, making it appear the USAC driver is attempting to find funding for one more shot at Indianapolis. In 2012, Clauson drove for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, a team who has made it clear a second car for 2013 was unlikely.
Making one last push to make this happen....who's with me??? #indy500orbust twitter.com/BryanClauson/s…Pippa Mann has been linked to Dale Coyne Racing and just four days ago Mann tweeted she has some "good news." Mann did not race an IndyCar in 2012 but ran the Sonoma round of the Auto GP series when the European series came to the United States with the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Mann finished 20th in her only Indianapolis 500 start in 2011.
— Bryan Clauson (@BryanClauson) April 22, 2013
I like it when I get good news!! :) #NotSoCrypticLikePTBuddy Rice's name has been linked to a one-off entry with Panther Racing. The 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner last raced an IndyCar at Kentucky 2011 and was in the abandoned Las Vegas race. In his last Indianapolis 500 start in 2011, Rice drove for Panther, started 7th and finished 18th after being out of an IndyCar since 2008. Rice was recently in Brazil, driving in the RallyCross event at the X Games Brazil.
— Pippa Mann (@PippaMann) April 19, 2013
Jaques Lazier's name has been floating around about attempting a comeback at Indianapolis. The 42-year old brother of 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier has been out of a car for nearly three years and has not been a race since Homestead 2009. Lazier has said he does have a new Dallara chassis to use for the race if the pieces fall together.
With the Indianapolis 500 just 33 days away, the field is just three away from full with many respectable names looking for rides. Some may end up in the field come May 26, others may be mere spectators. The clock is ticking on Indianapolis hopefuls and finding a ride will not get any easier from this point on.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Long Beach 2013: First Impressions
1. Great day for Takuma Sato and AJ Foyt. First win for Foyt since Kansas 2002. First win for Foyt on a road/street course since Silverstone 1978. First win for Sato since the 2001 Macau Grand Prix.
2. AJ Foyt Racing is going to be a scary threat at Indianapolis. Conor Daly has got himself one heck of ride.
3. Anybody wonder what is going through Ryan Briscoe's mind?
4. Honda had a heck of a weekend.
5. I think Chevrolet has to take a look at the drawing board.
6. It was a really good weekend for Mike Conway. Sadly the result doesn't match it.
7. Great turn around for Dario Franchitti. Justin Wilson has been very consistent this season. Nice to see Graham Rahal get back on the podium.
8. Marco Andretti turned around a bad day to finish sixth. Same for Helio Castroneves to finish ninth and Scott Dixon to finish tenth.
9. The restart where James Hinchcliffe was taken out should have been waved off. Too jumbled.
10. Race control should do more to tell the rear of the field bunch up. Seems like some just lay back.
11. Not the day Andretti Autosport was looking for. Ryan Hunter-Reay had a good day before he got caught in the back after wing damage.
12. AJ Allmendinger's day could have gone better. Hopefully it can turn around for Indianapolis.
13. A top-five for JR Hildebrand and to think just a month ago he was running over guys under yellow.
14. I hate that there is a week off until São Paulo but after all the damage in this race it may be needed.
15. Sad to see Tony Kanaan get caught up in an accident on the final lap. He had a great day going.
16. Two first time winners in the first three races of 2013 and neither have been Simon Pagenaud. Who would have saw that coming? This is going to be a good season.
2. AJ Foyt Racing is going to be a scary threat at Indianapolis. Conor Daly has got himself one heck of ride.
3. Anybody wonder what is going through Ryan Briscoe's mind?
4. Honda had a heck of a weekend.
5. I think Chevrolet has to take a look at the drawing board.
6. It was a really good weekend for Mike Conway. Sadly the result doesn't match it.
7. Great turn around for Dario Franchitti. Justin Wilson has been very consistent this season. Nice to see Graham Rahal get back on the podium.
8. Marco Andretti turned around a bad day to finish sixth. Same for Helio Castroneves to finish ninth and Scott Dixon to finish tenth.
9. The restart where James Hinchcliffe was taken out should have been waved off. Too jumbled.
10. Race control should do more to tell the rear of the field bunch up. Seems like some just lay back.
11. Not the day Andretti Autosport was looking for. Ryan Hunter-Reay had a good day before he got caught in the back after wing damage.
12. AJ Allmendinger's day could have gone better. Hopefully it can turn around for Indianapolis.
13. A top-five for JR Hildebrand and to think just a month ago he was running over guys under yellow.
14. I hate that there is a week off until São Paulo but after all the damage in this race it may be needed.
15. Sad to see Tony Kanaan get caught up in an accident on the final lap. He had a great day going.
16. Two first time winners in the first three races of 2013 and neither have been Simon Pagenaud. Who would have saw that coming? This is going to be a good season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)