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.

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.

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.

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.

2012 Race of Champions Preview

The field is now officially set for the 2012 Race of Champions after today's qualifying action. Nattavude Charoensukawatta and Tin Sritrai will represent the host nation Thailand and Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok of India won the ROC Asia qualifier.

The Nations Cup
Around 8am (EST) tomorrow the eight teams will compete in the Nations Cup. The dominate pairing of Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher has won the last five Nations Cups for Germany. They will be joined in Group B by the Australians Jamie Whincup and Mick Doohan, Thailand and India.

Group A figures to be much more competitive with the likes of France (Romain Grosjean/Sébastien Ogier), Great Britain (David Coulthard/Andy Priaulx), the Americas (Ryan Hunter-Reay/Benito Guerra) and the All-Stars (Tom Kristensen/Jorge Lorenzo).

Behind Germany with their five Nations Cups is France and Finland, both with two, and Spain, the United States, Scandinavia and an All-Star team all with one.

The Race of Champions
The head-to-head Race of Champions will be Sunday around 8am (EST). Sébastien Ogier looks to defend his title and he will be joined in Group A by Whincup, Coulthard and Guerra.

Kristensen and Priaulx will be joined in Group B with a driver from India and Thailand while the second Thai driver will joined a World Championship heavy with the likes of Vettel, Lorenzo and Doohan.

Group D is round out by Schumacher, Hunter-Reay, Grosjean and the second driver from India.

Ogier looks to join Stig Blomqvist, Didier Auriol and Mattias Ekström as the only men to win back-to-back Race of Champions. Despite success in the Nations Cup, a German driver has never won the individual event.

The Cars
This year's Race of Champions will feature an Audi R8 LMS, Volkswagon Scirocco, Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo, Toyota GT86, the ROC Dune Buggy, KTM X-Bow and a Stock Car.

Most Interesting Match-Up
Who is not looking forward to the head-to-head between the regaining World Champions? Vettel v. Lorenzo. It would be fun to see that in either the Dune Buggy or the KTM.

Predictions
For the Nations Cup I will take France and the Americas out of Group A and Germany and Australia out of Group B. I see a Germany-France final with the French team pulling it out 2-1 thanks to Ogier.

For the Race of Champions on Sunday I will take Ogier and Whincup out of A, Kristensen and Priaulx from B, Vettel and Lorenzo from C and Schumacher and Hunter-Reay from D. If they do it like last year than Ogier-Priaulx, Kristensen-Whincup, Vettel-Hunter-Reay and Schumacher-Lorenzo. I will take Ogier, Whincup in an upset, Hunter-Reay in an upset (call me a homer, I don't care) and Schumacher. Ogier will get back to finals and defeat Whincup, Hunter-Reay defeats Schumacher and sets a France-USA pair for the Final. Unlike 2011, Ogier does not win the Race of Champions in a two race sweep, rather Ryan Hunter-Reay takes it over the Frenchman 2-1.

Mark Miles: Please Step Away From IndyCar

Mark Miles, a man who's resumé includes a Pan-American Games, the ATP and a Super Bowl has the respect of many including myself... but he has to step away from IndyCar... for a moment. Not for good but he needs to talk to the fans, drivers, team own... nah skip the team owners for a moment and hire someone else (Derrick Walker or someone like Derrick Walker) to talk to them, and learn what the core wants.

IndyCar does not have much but the product has been damn fine since reunification in 2008. Car count is up, we have a new car, multiple engine manufactures, racing was at a all-time high level this past season, the current field of drivers is the most impressive since the 1990s, not a lot Miles has to change.

But the report he wants a PLAYOFF! That sets me off. First and foremost, if you are copying NASCAR, I ask this: If NASCAR jumps off a cliff, do you jump as well? NO!

Racing and playoffs should not exist. It is an aggregate season just as most soccer leagues are around the world. Each race matters. Plus we have an oval championship, road and street course championship and the Triple Crown is back. No playoff needed.

If you look at NASCAR and golf's Fedex Cup, you will see two playoffs that fans either are not that hot about or do not care about. The "Chase" produces some final race drama but for the most part, it feels fake. You can go from getting in by the skin of your teeth to winning two or three races and suddenly be a "deserving champion." And the nobody takes the Fedex Cup serious as deciding golf's champion. There are four majors and plenty of other tournaments to decide who is the best golfer around. Let's get something straight, most playoffs are this way. They do not reward the best teams/people/drivers/competitors rather handicap them to allow someone who would be on the outside looking in a shot.

If you want to create a fake, manufactured championship, write a damn movie with a underdog story, oh wait, I think people have already done that for IndyCar.

As for lights at the Speedway, as long as that race in May begins in the late morning (11am please), I am fine.

Miles also wants to make "tweaks" to the 2013 schedule and "major changes" for 2014. As for "tweaks," if he could add a race (preferably an oval) in September that would be fine but when it comes to "major changes," a playoff should not be it. Phoenix, Road America, Austin, Richmond, Michigan, New Hampshire, that would be a major change.

Mark Miles, I bet you offer IndyCar a lot of promise, but let's not do ridiculously dumb stuff. You wouldn't make Wimbledon an three day event with only eight tennis players would you? Let's not turn IndyCar into three-fourths of trying to be tenth and one-fourth of fake drama.

Goodbye Rubinho and Testing at Sebring

Goodbye Rubinho
After one season in the Izod IndyCar Series, Rubens Barrichello will be moving to Stock Car Brasil for the 2013 season. His IndyCar highlights will be a fourth at Sonoma, fifth at Baltimore and more importantly winning the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year with an eleventh place finish after starting tenth. He had two top-fives and six top-tens. He finished twelve in the points standings behind his teammate and "brother" Tony Kanaan (9th) and ahead of his other teammate EJ Viso (20th).

Barrichello was brought to IndyCar by longtime friend Tony Kanaan after not being able to secure a ride in Formula One for 2012. What seems as a long time goal complete, Rubinho heads to the Stock Car Brasil Series where he ran the final three events of the 2012 season with his highlight being a seventh place start in the season finale at Interlagos.

I am sad to see Rubinho leave after one season but I am happy he did come and ran one season. I hope it could potentially be in the cards that Rubinho may find a one-off for Indianapolis but that seems far off. Rubinho was linked to a second car at Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports. With Rubinho heading to Brazil, where he will be able to spend more time with his family, it looks like 2012 Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier is in the best position for the second seat. He will be testing at Sebring on Thursday.

Testing at Sebring
As a nice transition, testing with be taking place tomorrow and Thursday at Sebring. Graham Rahal and Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing tested today, he first time in his 2013 ride after a test at Barber was washed out. Rahal is scheduled to test the next two days as well. Also testing on both Wednesday and Thursday are Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Helio Castroneves and Justin Wilson. Drivers only testing Wednesday are Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Simona de Silvestro, Simon Pagenaud and Oriol Servia. Along with Tristan Vautier, Conor Daly, Scott Dixon, Charlie Kimball, James Hinchcliffe and Alex Tagliani are the drivers only testing on Thursday. Daly will be getting his first miles in an IndyCar  with Foyt Racing.