The first 2011 Silly Season driver/team thread

[Chamoo]

As I understand, PT has backing from Motegi Wheels and Honda Canada (as well as personal sponsorship from Monster Energy). Put that together with Dad's Root Beer, Roll Coater and TranSystems, and you have a full season at Dreyer & Reinbold as teammate to Justin Wilson.

That would be a pretty solid attack for D&R, for atleast the RC's. Not sure how they will do on the long ovals as they are still a step behind, but with less long ovals on the schedule this year, they should be alright. It will be fun to see PT at Loudon and Milwaukee again if he ends up full season.

[TURN3]

Sounds like he had a FT deal locked up with a Canadian oil company until the Edmonton fiasco. No word since the council voted it back on. Also sounds like Geico is still behind him for ABC races. A multi-corporate attack, whatever works and I still think he'll end up at KV from what Jeemy said a couple months ago. Looking at the results KV gets from race weekends he's there, you can tell he brings a lot to the other guys.

[Scotty G.]

What I've been hearing for a while is that RLLR may end up as the team that runs Indy one-offs for one or two NASCAR drivers who want to compete in the Indy 500 this year.

You mean like Kasey Kahne? ;)

[garyshell]

No surprise here but Gil announced TK as a driver for next year:

http://www.deferrandragon.com/news/de-ferran-dragon-racing-confirms-tony-kanaan-for-2011

Gary

[Steve-o]

Seems like more good news every other day for this series.

http://www.fanviewpoint.com/2010/12/tony-kanaan-joins-de-ferran-dragon.html

[DanicaFan]

GoDaddy will also sponsor Ryan Hunter-Reay for next year. His color scheme will be the opposite pattern of Danica's but still green & black.

[Chris R]

GoDaddy will also sponsor Ryan Hunter-Reay for next year. His color scheme will be the opposite pattern of Danica's but still green & black.

So they are sponsoring BOTH RHR and Danica or is there another big announcement in the wings??

[Anubis]

I take it RHR won't be posing in swimsuits or embarking on an, um, underwhelming NASCAR career to earn the GoDaddy cheque?

That aside, we do seem to have a lot of solid good news in the series, so here's hoping for a good 2011.

[TURN3]

Makes sense, GoDaddy has to get SOME type of return for their investment. Might as well get it from somebody that isn't at the back ala Mark Martin on the other side.

Who is Simona's new sponsor?

[MDS]

The rumors of Simona leaving HVM aren't true. They've inked a sponsor to a multi-year deal and will have an announcement in a few weeks.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-simona-returns-to-hvm-with-new-sponsor/

They're also looking at a ride buyer, who might be JK Vernay, Sebastien Saavadra or some guy no one has ever heard of with a check.

Keith is doing his best to build HVM around Simona. In my opinion the best way smaller teams can build is to find talented, marketable young drivers, sign them to multi-year deals and build sponsorship and the team over time.

[Chris R]

If go daddy has a pair, they'll do a spoof on themselves where Ryan WINS a race and when he climbs out of the car he'll be in a Danica/GoDaddy swimsuit or something.... it'd be pretty funny......

[TURN3]

If go daddy has a pair, they'll do a spoof on themselves where Ryan WINS a race and when he climbs out of the car he'll be in a Danica/GoDaddy swimsuit or something.... it'd be pretty funny......

You're right...it would be funny...in more ways than 1.

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR

No word on who will fund RHR, but the Snapple/Dr. Pepper rumors are not correct. They were tied into the 7/11, and the hope is they might still might be primary for some races.

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe


Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
Sato
Viso
Ride buyer ~3

KV Renta Team-Mutoh trying to get money togerther, Viso seems to have some funding as well. Viso's funding is coming along, and might trump Mutoh. Mutoh could be here, or DR or gone. Some peg TK here, but the team has not paid a driver since they had Power.

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK
TBD

All set, to be made official 12/20. Hamilton in for three races or so, but the team is working on a 2nd car. Pagenaud?

HVM
SDS

Looks like they found a backer for SDS. Keith was quite concerned a few weeks ago, so something came together rather quick.

Conquest
TBD
TBD

Money is also an issue here. Look for two paying drivers.

FAZZT
Tagliani
Tung

Newman Hass
Hinch
TBD/Servia

Hinch should be set, and the team is looking at securing the funding for the second car. Servia would be the first choice, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing

D&R
Wilson
TBD1
TBD 2

Wilson set, and several are looking at teaming with him next year. Weldon has made noise, but for all the wrong reasons, and would need some funding. Conway could be back, if the funding is available.

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter

Money brought in from TG.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/?

Viso or Mutoh could end up here as well. Not sure about Milka, but the biggest check wins!

[SUBARUTEAM]

lots of cars that'll be worthless in 2011 may be helping!!

[SUBARUTEAM]

lots of cars that'll be worthless in 2011 may be helping!!

of course i mean 2012

[MDS]

Not exactly silly season related by Shane Hmiel is paralyzed from the waist down and has a mountain of medical bills. I can't see him racing in the FIL anymore, but God's speed with his recovery.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1458877162919&oid=156856564346848&comments

[Enjun Pullr]

Dreadful news. That makes a worthy Christmas miracle to pray for tonight.

[Mad_Hatter]

Is Bruno Spengler a known name at all in the general Canadian population?

No rumor of him being in Indycar, but I just wondered how well he might do given that Dario came from DTM.

[Lousada]

I read somewhere else that Saavedra is pretty sure to be full time next year. Might he be the second HVM seat that is floating around? Or will he return to Conquest?

[OMRCdeme]

I read somewhere else that Saavedra is pretty sure to be full time next year. Might he be the second HVM seat that is floating around? Or will he return to Conquest?

Possibly HVM or Conquest, though I wouldn't rule out KVRT either if they go to a 4 car team. I like Saavedra, though whether he is ready for the full time step up is yet to be seen.

[OMRCdeme]

Possibly HVM or Conquest, though I wouldn't rule out KVRT either, if they go to a 4 car team. I like Saavedra even if he hasn't dazzled the world of Indy Lights, so whether he is ready for the full time step up is yet to be seen.

Post fixed.

[Pat Wiatrowski]

Is Bruno Spengler a known name at all in the general Canadian population?

No rumor of him being in Indycar, but I just wondered how well he might do given that Dario came from DTM.

Dario came from DTM? No way!

[Mad_Hatter]

http://www.indycar.com/drivers/show/55-izod-indycar-series/3636-dario-franchitti/

Yep. You have to click on the driver history tab to expand and see his more of his racing career.

[MDS]

There is some news starting to roll out about KV Lotus, which has been characteristically quiet this off season. They've rehired almost all of their staff they laid off over the off season and added a few new hands like Tom Wurtz formerly of Team Penske. Also they've completed a multi-year deal with Lotus but don't have their full lineup set yet but Tukuma and E.J. Will be back, and there will be a third entry and/or a part time entry as well.

James Rossiter recently inked deal to essentially be Lotus' stig. He'll do car demos, turn laps around the Nurburgring, off the record testing for Lotus/Renault and potentially some Indy races. If the deal pans out he'll probably be at Long Beach, Baltimore, Alabama, Toronto and Baltimore

[MDS]

Yep, Milka's gone... to a series more commensurate with her skill level. Per jayski


Milka Duno to run ARCA race at Daytona: Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard's Champion, has signed Milka Duno (http://www.milkaduno.com/) to run the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Duno, a driver in the IndyCar Series, will begin her foray with Sheltra Motorsports piloting the #63 Dodge Charger at the newly-repaved Daytona International Speedway for three days of ARCA Racing Series testing January 11-13. Champion crew chief, Jon Wolfe, will work with Duno throughout the test session to get her comfortable, fast and ready for the ARCA Racing Series season opener at DIS on February 12th. "I'm very excited and grateful for this opportunity to test with the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard's Championship winning team," said Duno. "Patrick, Jon and Brandon head a very skilled and dedicated organization and having met with them and visited their facility it is easy to see why they are the 2010 champions!" Additional information about Milka Duno's 2011 season will also become available in the next several weeks.(Sheltra Motorsports (http://www.patricksheltra.com/))(1-10-2011)But we may see another woman in Indy car this year. None other than Champ Car's favorite woman. Katherine Legge. According to her twitter page she's been Indy since the sixth and passed her driver's physical today. She didn't come all the way for London for nothing. She's got credentials to the state of the sport tomorrow and she has ties with KK and JV, so add her to the names for the third Lotus entry. She's implying she has a deal done and I know she didn't come all the way from Europe just to be prodded and poked by a doctor. Those who remember Kat from her Champ Car days will remember she's rather blunt. Conflict with her and Simona and/or Danica is all but assured.

Also Conor Daly took his physical today as well. It's probably just procedure, because a lot of drivers are doing physicals this week, most of whom you will never see or hear from, but it bodes well that Daly will be driving in America this year and not GP3

[Anubis]

On the subject of Katherine Legge, did I dream her answering a TV interview after her fearsome Road America crash with "I could do with a cup of tea"? Can't find footage of that in any of the interviews, but I'm sure she said it, as it made me both chuckle and respect her reaction to such a scary incident. Be interesting to see how she goes if she does indeed get a seat. Plus it's another Brit to cheer for, which is always nice from this side of the Pond.

[beachgirl]

On the subject of Katherine Legge, did I dream her answering a TV interview after her fearsome Road America crash with "I could do with a cup of tea"? Can't find footage of that in any of the interviews, but I'm sure she said it, as it made me both chuckle and respect her reaction to such a scary incident. Be interesting to see how she goes if she does indeed get a seat. Plus it's another Brit to cheer for, which is always nice from this side of the Pond.

Yep, she actually said it right after coming out of the care center. If she runs IndyCar this year (and I fervently hope she does), I don't see any conflicts developing between Katherine and Simona. They're both above, professionally and personally, that kind of childish behavior. Between Katherine/Simona and the Princess, however....Princess would be wise not to try to start anything with Katherine. She would be squashed like a bug.

[Easy Drifter]

Bruno Spengler is basically only known to major fans in Canada. He is a Mercedes factory driver and led the DTM for most of the season only to lose out at the last race. A top runner in that series for several years.
Makes a pretty good living but is a little cheesed off he did not get even a F1 test.

[MDS]

Yep, she actually said it right after coming out of the care center. If she runs IndyCar this year (and I fervently hope she does), I don't see any conflicts developing between Katherine and Simona. They're both above, professionally and personally, that kind of childish behavior. Between Katherine/Simona and the Princess, however....Princess would be wise not to try to start anything with Katherine. She would be squashed like a bug.

Kat's a pistol, and she's got a sharper, quicker wit than Dancia. If she and Danica get into an on track a rivalry might well ensue.

[vintage]

So I guess Kat got fired by Audi? Has she done anything since Atlantics?

[Scotty G.]

-Conor Daly likely to run the road/street courses in the same car Bryan Clauson will drive on the ovals for Lights.

-ABC races will be St. Pete, Indy, Milwaukee, Loudon and Las Vegas.

[Chamoo]

-Conor Daly likely to run the road/street courses in the same car Bryan Clauson will drive on the ovals for Lights.

Key word is likely. When asked, Conor said that was the first he had heard of it at the meeting.

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR

No word on who will fund RHR. They do not have funding, repeat, tehy do not have fundint to run a fourth car right now. Any new funding would first got to RHR and Marco. They have been approaced by some ride buyers....

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe


Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
Ride Buyer 1
Ride buyer 2
part time 3rd car

KV Renta Team-Team steps up their management with Wurtz, will they PAY a driver to take the helm? Sato and Viso's checks still look good to KK.....Wheldon has offered to drive for free, but does not want to write a check. Same offer with AA, and DR.

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK
TBD (Hamilton at Indy)

All set, to be made official 12/20. Hamilton in for three races or so, but the team is working on a 2nd car. Pagenaud?

HVM
SDS

Looks like they found a backer for SDS-MAYBE. Fundinig was promised, but has yet to come in...we shall see...

Conquest
TBD
TBD

Money is also an issue here. Look for one or two paying drivers.

FAZZT
Tagliani
Tung

Still working on funding for Tung.

Newman Hass
Hinch
TBD/Servia

Hinch could be set, and the team is looking at securing the funding for the second car. And the first.....

D&R
Wilson
TBD1
TBD 2

Wilson set, and several are looking at teaming with him next year. Weldon has made noise, but for all the wrong reasons, and would need some funding. Conway could be back, if the funding is available. Wheldon offering to drive for free here too.

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter-part time

Money brought in from TG. Might rent the car out for road courses.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/?

the biggest check wins! Team will come together late, and hopefully we have seen the last of Milka.

The Professor and Mary Anne----(or "and the rest")

Walker-looks set to pass unless some money comes in.
Rahal-Has a slight chance, but for now Indy only.
3G-Not gonna do it. $$

[Lousada]

The Simona @ HVM announcement is 24th of January apparently.

[beachgirl]

So I guess Kat got fired by Audi? Has she done anything since Atlantics?

Don't assume anything.

[MDS]

It’s been slow because of the blizzard this week so here’s the most complete list I have. They just announced a preseason test at Barber in March and that’s when we’ll probably get answers to DCR, Newman Haass and Conquest. Right now there isn’t anything on the schedule so I should be able to get out for one of the days and I’ll see if I can’t get some answers/pictures of the 2011 paint for you guys.

So the way I see it there are about 26 full time cars, 29 at Texas as the largest non-Indy field and a serious 36-42 cars for Indy.

de Ferran/Dragon Racing
2 Tony Kannan HP
21 Davy Hamilton HP (Indy, Texas, Loudon)

Team Penske
3 Helio Castroneves Shell (Indy and several other races)/AAA of SoCal (Long Beach and Texas)
6 Ryan Brisco Izod
12 Will Power – Verizon Wireless

Panther Racing
4 J.R Hildebrand National Guard (R)

KV Lotus Racing
5- Takuma Sato Lotus
8- E.J. Viso Lotus/PDVSA
15 Katherine Legge?/Mario Moreas? Lotus
32 James Rossiter Lotus (Road and street only if it happens but someone will be in the car for Indy if this deal happens)

Andretti Autosport
7 Danica Patrick Go Daddy
11 Andy Soucek?/Dan Wheldon? (They have the equipment and can get the personal for a check)
26 Marco Andretti Venom Energy Drink
37 Ryan Hunter Reay

Target Chip Ganassi
9 Scott Dixon – Target
10 Dario Franchitti – Target
38 Graham Rahal – Service Central brands
83 Charlie Kimball- Novo Nordisk (R)

AJFE
14 Vitor Meria ABC Construction

Walker Racing
Probably Part time this year, if not Indy only
55?- Dan Clarke/Jonathan Summerton

Dale Coyne
18 J.K. Vernay?/Sebastian Saavedra?/Jonathan Summerton?
19 Alex Lloyd BSA

Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
22 Justin Wilson Z-Line designs
24 Conway?/Tracy?/anyone with a check?

Conquest Racing
34 Bertrand Bagguette
36 Paul Tracy? Motegi Wheels/other sponsors

FAZZT Race Team
77 Alex Tagliani B&W Speakers/Hot Wheels of Canada
88 Ho Ping Tung (R)

HVM Racing
78 Simona De Silvestro

Newman Haas Racing
02 Oriol Servia
06 James Hinchcliff (R)

Sarah Fisher Raciing
67 Ed Carpenter Dollar General (St. Petersburg, Indy, Texas, Iowa, Mid-Ohio, NHIS, Baltimore, Kentucky, Las Vegas)

Bryan Herta Autosport
Wants to do Indy and as many as five other races

Free Agents
Oriol Servia
Alex Lloyd
Hideki Mutoh
Dan Wheldon
J.K. Vernay
Martin “Plowy” Plowman
Sebastian Saavedra
Jonathan Summerton
Ana Beatrix
Pippa Mann
Jonathan Edwards

[Scotty G.]

Soucek to Andretti.
Wheldon to D&R.
Bell to either KV or Herta (both limited schedules)
Howard to SSM for Indy only.

AFS (Gary Peterson) will be running the Indy 500, with Neil Micklewright running the show. Running team out of Forsythe shop. Driver TBA. Also running full-time Lights team.

[MDS]

I think we can consider Viso returning KV Confirmed now. I checked my twitter feed this morning and saw this.

http://c0013609.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/x2_42a8463


Also Newman Haas tweeted they're going back to Seabring for another test for Hinchcliffe. So the deal's most likely done now and they're just waiting for the right opportunity to announce.

[EagleEye]

Some say 26 cars...seems to be a stretch since there are some teams that still need to get funding. For the first few races, I think we shall see 21-24 cars, unless a lot of drivers suddenly become flush with cash.

Conquest, Coyne could run only one car to start.

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR

No word on who will fund RHR. They do not have funding, repeat, they do not have funding to run a fourth car right now. Any new funding would first got to RHR and Marco. They have been approaced by some ride buyers....Wheldon has now offered to pay to drive a car at ovals, for AA, DR and a few others.

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
Ride Buyer 1
Ride buyer 2
part time 3rd car

KV Renta Team-Team steps up their management with Wurtz, will they PAY a driver to take the helm? Sato and Viso's checks still look good to KK.....

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK
TBD (Hamilton at Indy)

All set, to be made official 12/20. Hamilton in for three races or so, but the team is working on a 2nd car. Pagenaud?

HVM
SDS

All set according to Cannon.

Conquest
TBD
TBD

Money is also an issue here. Look for one or two paying drivers. Bags has enough for a partial season, but is still trying to secure funding for the year. Moraes has inquired about the cost for the second car.

FAZZT
Tagliani
Tung

Still working on funding for Tung.

Newman Haas
Hinch
Servia

Still securing funding, but looks set to start the season with this good line up.

D&R
Wilson
TBD1
TBD 2

Weldon wants to pay for oval races, and Conway has enough for teh road courses, so they could spilt time in one car. Others with money are looking to share the third car.

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter-part time

Money brought in from TG. Might rent the car out for road courses.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/?

the biggest check wins! Team will come together late, and hopefully we have seen the last of Milka.

The Professor and Mary Anne----(or "and the rest")

Walker-DW has said that he is set to pass unless some money comes in.
Rahal-Has a slight chance, but for now Indy only.
3G-Not gonna do it. $$

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR

No word on who will fund RHR. They do not have funding, repeat, they do not have funding to run a fourth car right now. Any new funding would first got to RHR and Marco. They have been approaced by some ride buyers....Wheldon has now offered to pay to drive a car at ovals, for AA, DR and a few others.

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
Ride Buyer 1
Ride buyer 2

KV Renta Team-Team steps up their management with Wurtz, will they PAY a driver to take the helm? Sato and Viso's checks still look good to KK.....maybe three at Indy.

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK
(Hamilton at Indy)

All set, to be made official 12/20. Hamilton in for three races or so, but the team is working on a 2nd car. Pagenaud?

HVM
SDS

All set according to Cannon.

Conquest
Tracy/TBD

Eric looking to land a big fish, for the entire season.

FAZZT
Tagliani
Tung

Still working on funding for Tung.

Newman Haas
Hinch
Servia

Still securing funding, but looks set to start the season with this good line up. Things are not coming together as quickly as hoped. Could still be a first race decision if money does not some in.

D&R
Wilson
TBD

Weldon wants to pay for oval races, and Conway has enough for teh road courses, so they could spilt time in one car. Others with money are looking to share the third car.

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter-part time

Money brought in from TG. Might rent the car out for road courses.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/part time?

Moraes, Bags, and more with cash in hand may each get starts during the season. In 03 Coyne ran five different drivers (almost six) and might be more in '11.

The Professor and Mary Anne----(or "and the rest")

Walker-DW has said that he is set to pass unless some money comes in.
Rahal-Has a slight chance, but for now Indy only.
3G-Not gonna do it. $$

[Dr. Krogshöj]

In 03 Coyne ran five different drivers (almost six) and might be more in '11.


He did run six different drivers in 2003: Joel Camathias, Roberto Gonzalez, Alex Yoong, Geoff Boss, Alex Sperafico and Gualter Salles.

What about AFS Racing and Highcroft Racing? They both indicated last year that they want to run a couple of IndyCar races in 2011.

Also, there is Team Redline Xtreme Racing. It's a confirmed car with KVRT for Indy.

[EagleEye]

He did run six different drivers in 2003: Joel Camathias, Roberto Gonzalez, Alex Yoong, Geoff Boss, Alex Sperafico and Gualter Salles.

What about AFS Racing and Highcroft Racing? They both indicated last year that they want to run a couple of IndyCar races in 2011.

Also, there is Team Redline Xtreme Racing. It's a confirmed car with KVRT for Indy.

I forgot about Gonzalez, and it was almost seven with Tomas Enge slated to drive the season final at Fontana, before the race was canceled due to the so cal wildfires fires.

AFS has rented and hired the old Forsythe Shop, and has Neil in charge of the operation there. Right now, they will be running lights, but they could rent a car for Indy. The Team Redline was to be an Indy only deal.

Highcroft might be an Indy only deal with Panther.

[MDS]

Fauzy officially removed from the free agent pool

http://www.racer.com/fauzy-to-be-renaults-reserve-driver/article/194417/

[Dr. Krogshöj]

We can expect announcements from Andretti Autosport next week. They will hold a sponsor summit. I still hope it's Wheldon in the fourth car.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110120/IRL/110129988

[Otto-Matic]

interesting in the interview w/Mikey that he says "...Marco did most of the setups, and then Ryan". i wonder if this is really true, or if he's trying to make minimize the loss of Kanaan. I was always under thr impression that TK did the lion's share of the setup work.

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR
Soucek

No word on who will fund RHR. They do not have funding, repeat, they do not have funding to run a fourth car right now. Any new funding would first got to RHR and Marco. They have been approaced by some ride buyers....Soucek has indicated that money is on the way, and the team should know next week...

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
Ride Buyer 1
Ride buyer 2

KV Renta Team-Team steps up their management with Wurtz, The biggest checks will get the seat. Sato, Viso, Bags and more. Legge in play, if she brings cash...

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK
(Hamilton at Indy)

HVM
SDS

All set according to Cannon.

Conquest
Tracy/TBD

Eric looking to land a big fish, for the entire season. 50-50 on landing PT.

FAZZT
Tagliani
Tung

Still working on funding for Tung.

Newman Haas
Hinch
Servia

Still securing funding, but looks set to start the season with this good line up. Things are not coming together as quickly as hoped, but Hinch is a good pilot!!!

D&R
Wilson
Conway/Wheldon

Weldon wants to pay for oval races, and Conway has enough for the road courses, so they could spilt time in one car. Others with money are looking to share the third car. Beatriz for Brazil, and a few other races...

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter-part time

Money brought in from TG. Might rent the car out for road courses.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/part time?

Moraes, Bags, and more with cash in hand may each get starts during the season. In 03 Coyne ran five different drivers (almost six) and might be more in '11.

The Professor and Mary Anne----(or "and the rest")

Walker-DW has said that he is set to pass unless some money comes in.
Rahal-Has a slight chance, but for now Indy only.
3G-Not gonna do it. $$

[Chris R]

interesting in the interview w/Mikey that he says "...Marco did most of the setups, and then Ryan". i wonder if this is really true, or if he's trying to make minimize the loss of Kanaan. I was always under thr impression that TK did the lion's share of the setup work.

Perhaps that explains the drop off in form for the team.... Maybe Tony had enough of it and didn't want to do it anymore......

[Scotty G.]

interesting in the interview w/Mikey that he says "...Marco did most of the setups, and then Ryan". i wonder if this is really true, or if he's trying to make minimize the loss of Kanaan. I was always under thr impression that TK did the lion's share of the setup work.

Methinks Mikey is fibbing.

There was one driver on his team who test-hopped EVERY car in the AA stable the past 2 years at Indy....that was Kanaan.

The big problem with AA now, is that Marco, Danicker and RHR are not known for knowing how to setup a car. That Soucek boy better be good at that.

[MDS]

Ryan knows how to set up a car. Neither of the teams he won with in CART/Champ Car were powerhouses.

[TURN3]

Ryan knows how to set up a car. Neither of the teams he won with in CART/Champ Car were powerhouses.

True neither of teams he won with in CC were powerhouses but the race he won at Milwaukee was the same car and team that dominated the prior year with Dominguez. I wouldn't give RHR any credit for the set-up there. The other W came on a good gamble in wet/dry conditions. In my opinion, RHR is certainly an above average driver...but we have lots and lots of those.

[jwhite9185]

http://m.plixi.com/p/71701449

Hmm wonder if theres anything in this in relation as to whos going to be Hunter-Reays sponsor this season?

[Chamoo]

I would think so jwhite. Snapple had been rumored as one of the companies looking at RHR's car.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

The Dr Pepper Snapple Group is a long-time Andretti Autosport sponsor through its Venom Energy brand. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[MDS]

True neither of teams he won with in CC were powerhouses but the race he won at Milwaukee was the same car and team that dominated the prior year with Dominguez. I wouldn't give RHR any credit for the set-up there. The other W came on a good gamble in wet/dry conditions. In my opinion, RHR is certainly an above average driver...but we have lots and lots of those.

Seriously, Johansson American Spirit Racing was a powerhouse?

He also won at Watkins Glen in a one-car team. I'm not saying he's the best technical shoe out there, but he's got a good feel for cars.

I will grant you at Milwaukee both Sebass and PT were sidelined during the race?

[px400r]

Seriously, Johansson American Spirit Racing was a powerhouse?

He also won at Watkins Glen in a one-car team. I'm not saying he's the best technical shoe out there, but he's got a good feel for cars.

I will grant you at Milwaukee both Sebass and PT were sidelined during the race?

IIRC, RHR dominated the entire race, leading all 250 laps- from the pole no less!

[jwhite9185]

The Dr Pepper Snapple Group is a long-time Andretti Autosport sponsor through its Venom Energy brand. I wouldn't read too much into it.


That is true, but you dont see Marco wearing go daddy jackets, or Danica in Venom gear.

[MDS]

That is true, but you dont see Marco wearing go daddy jackets, or Danica in Venom gear.

Snapple was a major associate on RHR's car last year.

[TURN3]

Seriously, Johansson American Spirit Racing was a powerhouse?

I think if you re-read my post you'll see that I didn't say or insinuate any such thing. What I said was he dominated Milwaukee a year after the same team dominated the race 1 year prior and that his other CC win came with JASR under circumstances where a gamble paid off using pit window and madatory tire compounds. I'm not taking anything away from him, just that those 2 W's don't give him any credibility for setting up cars as you imply. I'm also not saying he's a bad driver by any means. You're twisting my words a bit.

[jwhite9185]

Snapple was a major associate on RHR's car last year.

True... i guess time will tell on this one. Ive also seen rumours that go daddy would be sponsoring him too.

[MDS]

I've been told by Dr Pepper reps that they will have a presence in the ICS next year and I've seen pictures on Facebook of Dr. Pepper reps hanging with RHR, so draw your own conclusions.

[MDS]

HVM Unveils the their new green-and-white car in Baltimore, its a three-year deal with Nuclear/Entergy for Simona. They're doing it as part of a push to promote Nuclear energy as a carbon free alternative to hydrocarbon fuels. Apparently there will be some activation/at track education.

Good Job Keith. This is how you build a team, talented marketable driver + Results = sponsorship.

[TURN3]

Good Job Keith. This is how you build a team, talented marketable driver + Results = sponsorship.

+1...like it.

[nigelred5]

HVM Unveils the their new green-and-white car in Baltimore, its a three-year deal with Nuclear/Entergy for Simona. They're doing it as part of a push to promote Nuclear energy as a carbon free alternative to hydrocarbon fuels. Apparently there will be some activation/at track education.

Good Job Keith. This is how you build a team, talented marketable driver + Results = sponsorship.

That's a pretty sharp livery on Simona's car they unveiled today. Maybe sponsor a friday or saturday night rave and give out a few thousand glow sticks at a couple races ;)

[DanicaFan]

Go Daddy is sponsoring Ryan Hunter-Reay this year. His paint scheme will pretty much be a flip flop of Danica's livery with the green and black.

[vintage]

And he has to carry Danica's helmet and set up her car (and get her lattes).

[EagleEye]

I've been told by Dr Pepper reps that they will have a presence in the ICS next year and I've seen pictures on Facebook of Dr. Pepper reps hanging with RHR, so draw your own conclusions.

Snapple/Dr. Pepper came abuot via the 7-11 deal. 7-11 will still be an associate sponsor for AA, so it would seem that Snapple/Dr. Pepper would also remain associate sponsors. They might also be primary for some races, as they have been in the past, but not primary sponsors as had been incorrectly rumored late last year.

[EagleEye]

Ditto. Cannon and SDS make a good combo, and SDS is the top racing female in the series, if not one of the top drivers not driving for Penske, Ganassi, and AA. Drivers, engineers and crew members have been very impressed with her.

[MDS]

Sam returning to the 500 this year doesn't look so likely


"I don't know how much desire I have to do that, it would have to be the right program," Hornish said. "The thing that intrigues me the most is it's the 100th anniversary. If I'm not in the race, I'll for sure be there at some point during the month."
---"I probably put him in that situation, and we're at the point where we've got to be honest about this," Penske said. "I told him 'Let's take a step back and try to build a program for you.'"
Penske said it "doesn't make any sense" for Hornish to run the Indy 500 because they want to keep him focused on developing in NASCAR.

[jwhite9185]

Go Daddy is sponsoring Ryan Hunter-Reay this year. His paint scheme will pretty much be a flip flop of Danica's livery with the green and black.

Like this?!

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x35/jwhite9185/godaddy.jpg

[beachgirl]

No other sponsor wants to be associated with Andretti Go-Daddy Autosport?

[MDS]

So there's this rumor that Sebastien Bourdais stayed in Florida after the 24 hour to test at Seabring with Dale Coyne. Could be that SeaBass and Coyne are looking to do some or all of a season together or, another team is paying DCR to do a test with Bourdais for them for any of a number of reasons.

Also Racer has confirmed that Mike Conway bought a ride at Andretti Autosport

Conquest is at Sebring testing Vernay

[domaza]

Conway to Andretti for 2011 - according to his Twitter

[jwhite9185]

So there's this rumor that Sebastien Bourdais stayed in Florida after the 24 hour to test at Seabring with Dale Coyne. Could be that SeaBass and Coyne are looking to do some or all of a season together or, another team is paying DCR to do a test with Bourdais for them for any of a number of reasons.

Also Racer has confirmed that Mike Conway bought a ride at Andretti Autosport

Conquest is at Sebring testing Vernay

Yeah just saw on facebook that Seabass tested with DCR. Cant see it happening personally, although i dont think many people saw Conway going to AA either.

[garyshell]

Not "if", apparently he IS:

http://www.racer.com/sebastien-bourdais-returns-to-indycar-with-dale-coyne/article/195469/

Gary

[Mark in Oshawa]

It is funny how a guy who said he didn't want to do the IRL a year or so ago is now looking to come back. I guess making a living and keeping a career alive does matter. You go where you can get a check. Somehow, he has found his way back, and good for Coyne for giving him a test. How they make it a competitive ride is up to Dale and whatever money Seabass can bring, but it proves that people are not seeing the IRL as no option. It is now an option. Now when it starts to attract people who don't see it as a last chance, that is when we know we have seen the series turn the corner. It isn't there yet....

[Mad_Hatter]

psst it's not been the IRL since December... j/k


A much welcomed addition to the Indycar talent pool. Not quite sure he can be as successful as Justin Wilson was at DCR. Last I remember Seabass struggled more than Wilson does when the setup wasn't dialed in.

Realistically though this should probably only be a part time deal. LeMans and Indy 500 practice and qualifying times conflict iirc. Is it possible the writing is on the wall regarding the Peugeot's LMP funding or his seat there? Regardless it's a smart move for both he and the Coyne team.


Then PT would be the only one on the outside looking in.

[DBell]

psst it's not been the IRL since December... j/k


A much welcomed addition to the Indycar talent pool. Not quite sure he can be as successful as Justin Wilson was at DCR. Last I remember Seabass struggled more than Wilson does when the setup wasn't dialed in.

Realistically though this should probably only be a part time deal. LeMans and Indy 500 practice and qualifying times conflict iirc. Is it possible the writing is on the wall regarding the Peugeot's LMP funding or his seat there? Regardless it's a smart move for both he and the Coyne team.


Then PT would be the only one on the outside looking in.

The article Gary posted said he would only be doing road courses. Someone named Martin Plowman will be doing the ovals. All in all, I'd rather have PT in there, but I guess he couldn't come up with the funds.

[Lousada]

The article Gary posted said he would only be doing road courses. Someone named Martin Plowman will be doing the ovals. All in all, I'd rather have PT in there, but I guess he couldn't come up with the funds.

No, the way I read it Martin Plowman will drive the BSA car full-time. Bourdais will do all the roadcourses in a second car. I won't be surprised if Bourdais is sponsored by Citgo with their favourite driver doing the ovals.....

[Nikki Katz]

Wow, great news! I'd love to see Bourdais back, even if it's only at Coyne. He's completley wasted in AutoGP or whatever it is.

Also good to see a 4th Andretti car, though are D&R still planning to field two?

Slightly off topic, but also great to see da Matta return to racing full time, even if it's not in a series I'll watch.

[nigelred5]

No, the way I read it Martin Plowman will drive the BSA car full-time. Bourdais will do all the roadcourses in a second car. I won't be surprised if Bourdais is sponsored by Citgo with their favourite driver doing the ovals.....

Is she even capable of making the 105% on an oval at this point??

[garyshell]

Slightly off topic, but also great to see da Matta return to racing full time, even if it's not in a series I'll watch.

So where is Shorty racing this year. Please tell me it is not that truck series in South America.

Gary

[Otto-Matic]

where is Shorty racing this year. Please tell me it is not that truck series in South America.

Gary

Da Matta will be racing in the ALMS this year for Paul Gentilozzi's Jaguar team in the GT class. he and Bruno Junqueria will share one of the two cars; i guess PJ Jones and Paul (?) wll be teamates in the 2nd car.
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-jaguarrsr-confirms-star-studded-lineup/

[DBell]

No, the way I read it Martin Plowman will drive the BSA car full-time. Bourdais will do all the roadcourses in a second car. I won't be surprised if Bourdais is sponsored by Citgo with their favourite driver doing the ovals.....

My mistake. Didn't read it carefully enough. According to Speed today, no one has been signed yet. Bourdais, Plowman and Alex Loyd are all in the running at this point. Seabass would only be able to do the road courses due to Peugeot commitment. No mention of Duno, though Dale said everything was a possibility at this point. I thought she was off to Arca this year. Hopefully we've seen the last of her in Indycar.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-coyne-wants-bourdais-for-road-courses

[MDS]

I wasn't planning on doing an update until I got to Barber, but so much has happened the last couple of days, here's how the field is shaping up. It looks like a minimum 23 full time cars with a max of 26-27. There could be 30 cars or more at Texas and Vegas, so I'm hoping that Vegas is a 400, 500 mile affair.

de Ferran/Dragon Racing
2 Tony Kannan HP
21 Davy Hamilton HP (Indy, Texas, Loudon, Vegas)

Team Penske
3 Helio Castroneves Shell (Indy and several other races)/AAA of SoCal (Long Beach and Texas)
6 Ryan Brisco Izod
12 Will Power – Verizon Wireless

Panther Racing
4 J.R Hildebrand National Guard (R)

KV Lotus Racing
5- Takuma Sato Lotus
8- E.J. Viso Lotus/PDVSA
15 Katherine Legge?/Mario Moreas?/Dan Wheldon? Lotus
32 James Rossiter Lotus (Could be Rossiter on roads and Wheldon on ovals)

Andretti Autosport
7 Danica Patrick Go Daddy
11 Mike Conway
26 Marco Andretti Venom Energy Drink
37 Ryan Hunter Reay

Target Chip Ganassi
9 Scott Dixon – Target
10 Dario Franchitti – Target
38 Graham Rahal – Service Central brands
83 Charlie Kimball- Novo Nordisk (R)

AJFE
14 Vitor Meria ABC Construction

Dale Coyne
18 Sebasten Bourdais?/Milka Duno?/Katherine Legge?
19 Alex Lloyd/Martin Powman BSA

Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
22 Justin Wilson Z-Line designs
24 Ana Beatrix


Conquest Racing
34 Bertrand Baguette
36 Paul Tracy Motegi Wheels/other sponsors (He's signed a letter of intent with Eric for a full season)

FAZZT Race Team
77 Alex Tagliani B&W Speakers/Hot Wheels of Canada
88 Ho Ping Tung (R) His duties as a test driver for Lotus Renault won’t preclude him from running a full or part time season

HVM Racing
78 Simona De Silvestro Entergy/Nuclear power

Newman Haas Racing
Things are still in flux now but it looks like they’ll have at least one full time car.
02 Oriol Servia
06 James Hinchcliff (R)

Sarah Fisher Raciing
67 Ed Carpenter Dollar General (St. Petersburg, Indy, Milwaukee, Texas, Iowa, Mid-Ohio, NHIS, Baltimore, Kentucky, Las Vegas)

Bryan Herta Autosport
Wants to do Indy and as many as five other races

Free Agents
Oriol Servia
Alex Lloyd
Hideki Mutoh
Dan Wheldon
J.K. Vernay
Martin “Plowy” Plowman
Sebastian Saavedra
Jonathan Summerton
Ana Beatrix
Jonathan Edwards
Sebastien Bourdais (Don’t be surprised if he ends up at a team other than Coyne. Yes they tested together but there are some other teams out there looking to put together a part time drive he could still end up at)

[beachbum]

Is she even capable of making the 105% on an oval at this point??Say what you will, but Milka was well within 105% at every oval in 2010 (except Iowa where she was in practice, but they sat out qualifying). She often out qualified many drivers who never get blasted for being slow. As for road courses, well that is a different matter.

[EagleEye]

Sorry for the delay, but I have been stuck in Daytona. Called my first 24 hour race, with good results! Congrats to Chip and the boys, who were spot on the entire race. I hope to make it back next year....it was a good time!


Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR
Conway

Soucek's money never materialized. Conway's check did.

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
$ato
Vi$o

The joke that is the KV Renta Team-Team continues....

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK

HVM
SDS

Conquest
Tracy/TBD

Eric looking to land a big fish, for the entire season. 50-50 on landing PT.

FAZZT
Tagliani

Still working on funding for Tung.

Newman Haas
Hinch
Servia

Still securing funding, but looks set to start the season with this good line up. Things are not coming together as quickly as hoped, but Hinch is a good pilot!!!

D&R
Wilson
TBD/Wheldon
Beatriz (part time)

Weldon wants to pay for oval races, and Conway has enough for the road courses, so they could spilt time in one car. Others with money are looking to share the third car. Beatriz for Brazil, and a few other races...

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter-part time

Money brought in from TG. Might rent the car out for road courses.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/part time?

Seabass? Seabass? I would say it depends on funding, and who is engineering the car. They lost more than Wilson last year.....

[Hoop-98]

It has been reported that Milka's license was pulled. rh

[TURN3]

I have to tell you EE, it brought a healthy laugh to see $ato and Vi$o. Good one!

[garyshell]

Indy Racing Revolution and AR1 are reporting Viso and Sato confirmed at KV Racing.

http://indyracingrevolution.com/sato-viso-return-to-kv-racing-for-2011.html

Edit: Looks like it is on the KV Racing site, too:
http://kvracingtechnology.homestead.com/

Gary

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR
Conway

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
$ato
Vi$o

Panther
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK

HVM
SDS
TBD

The team is looking to take on a paying driver for the second car. Bags among those in the hunt.

FAZZT
Tagliani

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter-part time

Conquest
TBD/Tracy

The team faces a struggle to make the grid. Depends on who can bring a check. PT's funding not as solid as thought.

Newman Haas
Hinch
Servia

Funding and a crew for one car...working the midnight oil to get more funding!

D&R
Wilson
TBD/Wheldon/Bags/Moraes
Beatriz (part time)

Weldon wants to pay for oval races, Others with money are looking to share the third car. Beatriz for Brazil, and a few other races...

Dale Coyne Racing
SeaBass (part time for road and street races)/Wheldon (ovals)
TBD car 2

Well, they tested Seabass and he was quick and came away impressed. Dale is looking to pay him, and bring in a solid engineer. Lloyd still figures as a part time/full time. Wheldon could take the SB car for ovals, unless gets something done with DR.

Other teams players-

Rahal
Doornbos/TBD

Indy only? I get nervous when a dutch driver posts his actions on his website, ala Jos the Bos, or Door the knob. I think they will be at Indy, but with a solid driver in place.

Team 3G
Tanto
Bly

Team picks up Snapple/Dr. Pepper money and hires Joe Tanto and Jimmy Bly for the season. They will run a third cart for Stanton Barrett at Indy's Fastimes track on the north side...

[Scotty G.]

-BAM Racing to Indy Car (with Foyt's team). Joey Hand could be in the mix as the driver.
-Wade Cunningham will run 4 races with SSM (Texas 2, Kentucky and Vegas).
-Townsend Bell likely to run Indy and Vegas for SSM.
-Jay Howard likely farmed out to a 2nd Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan car at Indy.
-Coyne still is trying to get Milka's money (come on, Dale).

[MDS]

-BAM Racing to Indy Car (with Foyt's team). Joey Hand could be in the mix as the driver.

Yeah, that's way, way premature. Most likely they're going to be a rent-a-owner of a second or third Foyt car at Indy.

[Mr. Mister]

BAMFoyt are doing the whole deal where the fans sponsor the car. That's basically declaring they won't answer the bell before they've even tried.

Glad to see the news about Cunningham/Bell at SSM, though. Wade's deserved this for a long time and Townsend Bell is one of my favorites. Not to mention the team is easy to support.

[MDS]

Its like I know something sometimes.


Any chance this BAM Racing/Foyt partnership is going to happen? Will AJ run Joey Hand in the second car? ...

RM: I talked to A.J. about it and he says they'll try and put something together for Indianapolis with Beth Ann but didn't mention any particular driver.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-millers-mailbag-216/

[MDS]

Simone Pagenaud is looking a partial schedule this year and then a full time schedule next year. He's talked with a lot of teams but doesn't bring a lot, if any, money to the table. The two teams he's been rumored to be associated with is Conquest and Newman Haas.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-pagenaud-in-talks-to-join-series/


I think the great thing about Chip and Roger going from four cars between them to seven is its really pressuring the rest of the field to respond. They can't just drop a pay driver in anymore and get enough tow money from the league in order to keep going. I think what's really pushing the smaller teams to go after guys like Simone, PT and Bourdais is the loss of the team money. Keith caught on last year and now has a fairly secure future for HVM, and it looks like Conquest, Newman Haas and DR&R are following that same model.

Here's the way I see the top 22 in points shaking out

Ganassi - 4
Andretti - 4
Penske - 3
KV-Lotus - 2
de Ferran Dragon - 1
DR&R - 2
FAZZT - 1
HVM - 1
Panther - 1
Newman Haas - 1

Those teams are probably all locks for the top 22 and that only leaves three spots for the Conquest, Foyt, Coyne, and a third plus possibly a fourth KV team, a potentially second NHR car. Add in part time entries from Sarah Fisher and Sam Schmidt taking up points and potentially squeezing people out of the Indy 500 or other races, and someone is going to get left out,The whole grid is under pressure to get better.

[Lousada]

Simone Pagenaud is looking a partial schedule this year and then a full time schedule next year. He's talked with a lot of teams but doesn't bring a lot, if any, money to the table. The two teams he's been rumored to be associated with is Conquest and Newman Haas.
His name is Simon, without the extra e. Simone is a girls name in France.


I think the great thing about Chip and Roger going from four cars between them to seven is its really pressuring the rest of the field to respond. They can't just drop a pay driver in anymore and get enough tow money from the league in order to keep going. I think what's really pushing the smaller teams to go after guys like Simone, PT and Bourdais is the loss of the team money. Keith caught on last year and now has a fairly secure future for HVM, and it looks like Conquest, Newman Haas and DR&R are following that same model.

Here's the way I see the top 22 in points shaking out


I certainly follow you in this. That's why I think the rent-a-ride outfits of KV and the second D&R car will have serious problems next season. Especially if Conquest and Coyne produce serious 2-car efforts. Sato barely made the cut last year.

[MDS]

This is being written up as an anti-NASCAR bill but it would have pulled the National Guard off of the Panther car as well.

Congress is expected to tighten its fiscal belt this year, but not at the expense of military logos on NASCAR race cars. A budget-cutting proposal by Minnesota Democrat Betty McCollum to end military NASCAR sponsorships crashed and burned Friday on the final lap of a House amendment process. It was voted down 281-148.


http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/116492578.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O :D W3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUgOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

[garyshell]

Curt Cavin just reported that Tony Kanaan and de Ferran did not reach a deal after all.

http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/2011/02/22/feb-22-kanaan-de-ferran-part-ways/

Gary

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Curt Cavin just reported that Tony Kanaan and de Ferran did not reach a deal after all.

http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/2011/02/22/feb-22-kanaan-de-ferran-part-ways/

Gary

Just when everything seemed to be going in the right direction, it becomes apparent once more that the damage of the last 15 years cannot be undone overnight. Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, Sebastien Bourdais, Paul Tracy and Sam Hornish Jr. won ten IndyCar and Champ Car championship titles in the last decade and have 111 race wins combined. None of them has a full time ride for 2011.

[EagleEye]

The latest


Bold is set-*for now....but things can and have changed!

TK fits in just about any where......

Andretti Autosport (4)
Marco
Danica
RHR
Conway

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing (3)
Power
HCN
Briscoe
TK?

Target Chip Ganassi (2)
Dixon
Dario
TK?

Could there be a TK in the house?

Ganassi II (2)
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises (1)
Vitor

KVRT (2)
$ato
Vi$o

The smart money says sign TK, but then this owner is not that smart.

Panther (1)
JR Hildebrand

de Ferran Dragon Racing (0)

Done

HVM (1 or 2)
SDS
TBD

The team might have landed a second driver. Could be a part time deal. Could be big?

FAZZT/SMR (1)
Tagliani

Sarah Fisher Racing (1)
Carpenter-part time

Conquest (1)
TBD/Tracy

The team faces a struggle to make the grid. Depends on who can bring a check. PT's funding not as solid as thought.

Newman Haas (1)
TK/Hinch/Servia

Trying like hell to get TK and funding for a second car. Still, only one crew.

D&R (2)
Wilson
Wheldon/TK (Oval/RC)?
Beatriz (part time)

Dale Coyne Racing (1 or 2)
SeaBass/Milka (RC/Ovals)
TBD/Lloyd

Well, they are looking for a solid engineer to work on SB's car, and another to work with Milka. The one engineer sould switch between SB and the 2nd car. If TK does not land anywhere, he might come to play if SB takes a pass.

Team "Zed"

There have been some rumblings of a new team/new entry possibly in conjunction with a current or former team, with some backing for a part time/full time car for a known driver. I am not sure if this is part of the Sam Schmidt/FAZZT or a new entity. The people in the know can not say, though it appears some deal was done, as such team is being assembled. Expect this to come out within a week or so. There is a chance this effort might be for another series....but the well known players are very hush, hush.

Team "$5 miilion is a lot"

Several entities are talking about a Vegas effort, as a stand alone effort or part of an existing team. Once the season gets underway, MDS could set up a new thread with rumors and potential drivers/team and combos. Much talk here!!!

[EagleEye]

My best guess, based on what I know (and don't) is that this is the addition to SSM/FAZZT racing team. If so, look for the team to run a second car at selected races before or after Indy. They are already set to run Tags, Howard, and Tinkerbell at Indy. They could be in the mix at Vegas with Hearn, or another driver as well.

[MDS]

I'm kind of getting tired of people knocking on the good people at KV Racing... last time I checked Penske's son had to close down his team and KV is looking at fielding three pretty quick cars. Yes all three of their drivers crashed a bit last year but Viso, Sato and even Moreas are deserving of rides in the in the series. Given that Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimbal both bought there rides this season I don't quiet get why people are banging on KV for doing what they have to do in order to survive.

I wonder how differently people will think about them a year from now if Sato and Viso both cash in on their potential and win a race or two this year.

[Scotty G.]

1. I'm kind of getting tired of people knocking on the good people at KV Racing

2. Yes all three of their drivers crashed a bit last year

3. Viso, Sato and even Moreas are deserving of rides in the in the series.

4. I don't quiet get why people are banging on KV for doing what they have to do in order to survive.

5. I wonder how differently people will think about them a year from now if Sato and Viso both cash in on their potential and win a race or two this year.

1. Why? This team isn't even trying to compete. If they were, they wouldn't have these 3 slaps back in cars again in 2011.

2. A bit? All they did last year was crash. On big ovals. On street courses. On short ovals. On road courses. They were an embarrassment. All three of them.

3. Yea, right. These 3 all should go find another series to go play in. All 3 of them suck and none ever belonged in a Indy Car. Their resumes aren't exactly chalked full of race wins and accomplishments. They only got here because of the checks they wrote. That's it.

4. How many more years does KV get to "try and survive"? When they are in the same spot next year at this time, still without any sponsorship that they went out and got on their own, do we continue to say its "OK"?

5. The only way those two could win a race in this series is if Milka takes out the other 20 professional race drivers and those two are the only ones left on the track. And even then, they might crash into each other (either on the track or on pit lane) and not see the checkards.

They have no potential to do anything.

[Chris R]

I'm kind of getting tired of people knocking on the good people at KV Racing... last time I checked Penske's son had to close down his team and KV is looking at fielding three pretty quick cars. Yes all three of their drivers crashed a bit last year but Viso, Sato and even Moreas are deserving of rides in the in the series. Given that Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimbal both bought there rides this season I don't quiet get why people are banging on KV for doing what they have to do in order to survive.

I wonder how differently people will think about them a year from now if Sato and Viso both cash in on their potential and win a race or two this year.

You make a reasonable point - but there is also plenty of room for the detractors to make their point.... Viso and Sato have speed but not much discipline... I still think Viso has potential - Sato I think has been at it long enough - he'll never be a complete package... As to Scotty's point -Realistically, all of the teams are just trying to survive and always have been... Even Chip and Roger are only going to race on their own dime for a year or two at the most...

I do not wish to give kudos to KV Racing - they need to step up their game - but right now they are just the easiest team to bust on.....

oh, and give me a break - Kevin and Jimmy are no dummies - KK might have been foolish enough to try to save ChampCar but he wasn't stupid enough to go down with the ship....

[EagleEye]

I'm kind of getting tired of people knocking on the good people at KV Racing... last time I checked Penske's son had to close down his team and KV is looking at fielding three pretty quick cars. Yes all three of their drivers crashed a bit last year but Viso, Sato and even Moreas are deserving of rides in the in the series. Given that Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimbal both bought there rides this season I don't quiet get why people are banging on KV for doing what they have to do in order to survive.

I wonder how differently people will think about them a year from now if Sato and Viso both cash in on their potential and win a race or two this year.

First, let me say there are GREAT people at KV Renta-Racing. I know them extremely well and most are equally frustrated. My pointed negative comments are directed squarely at the owner, Mr. KK, not the great team of engineers and crew. They even upgraded Sr. Management, but KK refuses to spend money on any true talent behind the wheel.

Comparing Jay Penske to KK is like comparing Cooper Manning to Steve Jobs. If Jay Penske had the resources of KK, he would have never let Will Power go! He would have gone out and signed Justin Wilson, Paul Tracy, Tony Kanaan or another proven winner instead of waiting for the biggest check to clear before "signing" any drivers.

Two years ago, while we had a rain delay, I asked all the drivers to rate their peers. Sato (was not in the series yet), Moraes, and Viso did not crack the top ten, nor should they. I'm going to say it....they are hacks with checks! Yes, Moraes and Viso have had some good events, usually on ovals. Hell, Milka had at least one good oval race, so what does that prove. But to watch KK and his $$ ignore Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson, Tony Kanaan, Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Paul Tracy and others who have TALENT, is a disgrace.

I don't want to call you out on this, but I think if you found your way to a race and met up with some of the team members from KV, you would find out for yourself that this is the way they feel. They are all happy to have jobs, but very disapointed in the direction the owner has gone in NOT spending money on talented drivers. They would love to have talent behind the wheel to work with, and right now they do not have that.

As for Graham and Charlie "buying" rides, you are a bit off base. The money does not come from their own pockets but from corporate investors, who have found marketable and talented drivers to help promote their respective brands. Danny Sullivan did the same to get his start, and I dont know anyone who compared him to (name any Whittington brother) or other hacks who wrote their own checks back in the day. Likewise, Graham and Charlie are far different from Vi$o, $ato and Morae$.

People (including his own employees) are banging on KK (and rightfully so) because he has the resources to hire good, if not great drivers. Even Dale Coyne with less than 1/10th the wealth of KK, hired Wilson for one year, and is looking to hire SB for another.

If $ato and Vi$o win races, I will not feely any different. The fact is any real drivers would be winning in those cars becuase of the immense talent of the engineers and crew.

[vintage]

Does Vasser actually do anything on that team? He seems to be doing this to colllect a paycheck.

I'm not aware of anything significant coming from him other than his twitter fight with Tracy.

[MDS]

I know it's always easier to spend other people's money, but the way I hear it now both Wheldon and TK are in the running for seats at KV this year.

There's a couple of scenarios that might play out as far as KV is concerned. One, they drop down to a two-car team with Sato and Viso, two, they keep the full time third car with either TK or Whledon or Moreas in the seat, and the best case scenario being four cars, TK in the third car and the fourth car a split ride with Lotus' test driver James Rossiter on road courses and Dan Wheldon doing ovals. If Moreas leaves KV he'll probably end up at the second HVM car.

Yes, I would love to see them bring in some muilti-year sponsorship deals to go along with the Lotus money, but that's a hard thing to do right now.

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-*for now....but things can and have changed!

TK fits in just about any where......

Andretti Autosport (4)
Marco
Danica
RHR
Conway

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing (3)
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi (2)
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II (2)
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises (1)
Vitor

KVRT (2)
$ato
Vi$o
The smart money says sign TK, but then this owner is not that smart.

Panther (1)
JR Hildebrand

HVM (1 or 2)
SDS
TBD

The team might have landed a second driver. Could be a part time deal. Could be big?

FAZZT/SMR (1)
Tagliani

Sarah Fisher Racing (1)
Carpenter-part time

Conquest (1)
TBD/Tracy

The team faces a struggle to make the grid. Depends on who can bring a check. PT's funding not as solid as thought.

Newman Haas (1)
TK/Hinch/Servia

Trying like hell to get TK and funding for a second car. Still, only one crew.

D&R (2)
Wilson
Beatriz

Dale Coyne Racing (1 or 2)
TK/SeaBass/Milka (RC/Ovals)
TBD/Lloyd

TK for the whole year?
de Ferran Dragon Racing (0)

Done

[TURN3]

I know it's always easier to spend other people's money, but the way I hear it now both Wheldon and TK are in the running for seats at KV this year.

There's a couple of scenarios that might play out as far as KV is concerned. One, they drop down to a two-car team with Sato and Viso, two, they keep the full time third car with either TK or Whledon or Moreas in the seat, and the best case scenario being four cars, TK in the third car and the fourth car a split ride with Lotus' test driver James Rossiter on road courses and Dan Wheldon doing ovals. If Moreas leaves KV he'll probably end up at the second HVM car.

Yes, I would love to see them bring in some muilti-year sponsorship deals to go along with the Lotus money, but that's a hard thing to do right now.

I will tell you right now if TK or Wheldon ends up at KV I'm going to need something to sedate me at Long Beach if I get close to Vasser. They apparently stabbed PT in the back while he supposedly had $2M to bring. Why go with TK or Wheldon when neither apparently has that? That is stupid business if this is actually being considered. I don't mean that in the light of PT being that much better but you certainly aren't losing anything. In the off-season, I had hoped TK & PT would end up together there but as pointed out in several of the last few posts, KV needs step up or step down. They have one of the best staffs in the biz and they are all going to waste...apparently unhappily.

[EagleEye]

The team members are still buying parts, and still looking at being at the first race...

Seems there might have been a late secret deal, part of the Team "zed" with new engineer and crew. Deferran? Ganassi?

I can not get info, and I know the several of the team members very well. All are hush hush, but "contracts went out". Could be part time, full time, who knows.

But it appears there will be one more car for the start of the season....

[MDS]

Why go with TK or Wheldon when neither apparently has that?

I can't answer the full series of questions you just asked, but if the Wheldon/Rossiter deal comes together it will be because of Lotus.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

With Coyne, would Bourdais drive the CITGO car on road and street courses? And someone else, like Lloyd the other car full time?

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Kanaan says he'll be in the series. http://www.band.com.br/esporte/formula-indy/conteudo.asp?ID=100000407202

[garyshell]

Kanaan says he'll be in the series. http://www.band.com.br/esporte/formula-indy/conteudo.asp?ID=100000407202

For those who don't read Portuguesse:



The essay, with Band Folia
[email:3trgq5or]esporte@eband.com.br[/email:3trgq5or]
In the Carnival of Salvador, Tony Kanaan had a message for his fans on Saturday: it ensures that will compete in the formula Indy this year. The pilot, who is in the capital Bahia enjoying revelry in stateroom Planet Band, said that the hit with a new team is near and that the announcement could come next week.

"We're hit with a team. Will work out. The staff that twists in formula Indy by Band had many doubts if I'd run this year. It is not right yet, but this week after Carnival we will have a legal business to advertise. Everyone will be able to attend the race here in Brazil, in São Paulo. I guarantee that I'll be there, "said Kanaan in an interview with Daniela Freitas.

Kanaan had been announced as De Ferran for 2011, but the team failed to all resources needed to compete in the Indy and gave up to run this year. The pilot then ran out of the car for the season, a problem that, according to the own Kanaan, is close to being resolved.

"For fans who are asking: have a good surprise for next week. I will be in formula Indy this year for sure, "said the rider, though baiano, never enjoyed the days of revelry in Salvador.

"I never had the opportunity to spend the Carnival here. I spent my entire childhood here, but as I had the classroom shortly after my father left. Then I went to Europe, lived in the United States and is the first time I presencio Carnival of Salvador live ", reveals Kanaan.

The 2011 Indycar season begins on March 27, with the proof on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Band will broadcast season, including Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 Nestlé on 1 may, and the Indianapolis 500, supplementing its centennial in 2011. Tickets for the Indy in São Paulo are already on.



Gary

[EagleEye]

For those who don't read Portuguesse:



Gary

This might be the group forming up in Indy, as it has been hush hush, but the group has secured an engineer and new management, and the Defferan team, and is moving ahead with purchasing parts.

It would be great if TK is part of this as, therer is a good group being assembled.

[jwhite9185]

This might be the group forming up in Indy, as it has been hush hush, but the group has secured an engineer and new management, and the Defferan team, and is moving ahead with purchasing parts.

It would be great if TK is part of this as, therer is a good group being assembled.

Just a wild guess on my part... Kanaan racing maybe?! Must have a few $$$ saved up from all those years as one of the highest paid out there. And Theres a load of equipment going cheap!

[garyshell]

Apparently AR1 is reporting that TK has signed a deal with an IndyCar team. Anyone heard the details?

Gary

[MDS]

I've been hearing KV Racing, a lot.

[MDS]

As expected, and as I had been saying for a while btw, Dr. Pepper/Snapple has stepped up to co-primary of Ryan Hunter Reay. Here's a pic from Andretti's twitter account. Also then number has changed to 28, so it looks like Andretti will have the numbers 7, 26, 27 and 28. They've twittered that then went to the number 28 is in support of the 28 million living with cancer.

http://plixi.com/p/82526439

[jwhite9185]

They made a big deal out of DHL being primary on RHR's car and associate on Conways, although looks like its associate on RHR's car to me.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

They made a big deal out of DHL being primary on RHR's car and associate on Conways, although looks like its associate on RHR's car to me.

The correct term is "co-primary sponsor". :) It is possible that the DHL logo will be on sidepod in some races and Sun Drop on the engine cover.

[EagleEye]

As expected, and as I had been saying for a while btw, Dr. Pepper/Snapple has stepped up to co-primary of Ryan Hunter Reay. Here's a pic from Andretti's twitter account. Also then number has changed to 28, so it looks like Andretti will have the numbers 7, 26, 27 and 28. They've twittered that then went to the number 28 is in support of the 28 million living with cancer.

http://plixi.com/p/82526439

You indicated that Snapple/Dr. Pepper would be primary sponsorship on RHR's car. They are, and have been co-sponsors for the team. 7-11 went from primary to co-sponsor on Danica's car. They have not "stepped up" but continue what they have established in the past.

Carry on...

[MDS]

You indicated that Snapple/Dr. Pepper would be primary sponsorship on RHR's car. They are, and have been co-sponsors for the team. 7-11 went from primary to co-sponsor on Danica's car. They have not "stepped up" but continue what they have established in the past.

Carry on...

You know that Sundrop is owned by Snapple right?

Last year Snapple was a co-sponsor that joined RHR at Indy. This year they are a co-primary sponsor through their Sundrop brand in addition to being the Primary on Marco's car. They are spending significantly more money with Andretti Autosport in 2011 than they did in 2010. How is that not stepping up?

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-


Andretti Autosport (4)
Marco
Danica
RHR
Conway

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing (3)
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi (2)
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II (2)
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises (1)
Vitor

KVRT (3)
$ato
Vi$o
TK

Looks like the light bulb might have finally gone off in KK's head...but we shall see. This thing is still hush, hush, but TK will have a ride with many of the same group from Deferran with a new former championship winning engineer, and some other bits. Will it be KVRT? That might be so, but the group is still working on the Deferran car in Brownsburg, so we shall wait and see. Those who are part of this have been very quiet.

If true, the talent level behind the wheel just went up 100% for the team.....but my gut tells me something else (see below)

Panther (1)
JR Hildebrand

HVM (1 or2)
SDS
TBD/TK?

OK I'll say it. I just can't see KVRT, Renta-Team going with Kanaan. I listed it above, only because it is being reported elsewhere. But, my gut is telling me something else and my guess would be HVM. Note, I said my guess.....I have my reasons, as there is a connection with the engineers, SDS and TK from Brazil, and some more interesting things...like certain people eating together in Indy..... Wiggins has said he was close to adding a top name driver for some time.....

FAZZT/SMR (1)
Tagliani

Newman Haas (2)
Servia
Hinch

It looks like things are set, though they have been set before. Good pairing.

D&R (2)
Wilson
Beatriz

Dale Coyne Racing (1 or 2)
SeaBass/Milka (RC/Ovals)
TBD

SB for the RC's and Milka for the Ovals. Dale is trying to get a good engineer for SB. TBD is up for the last remaining check.

Sarah Fisher Racing (1)
Carpenter-part time

Conquest (1)
TBD/Tracy

The team faces a struggle to make the grid. Depends on who can bring a check. PT's funding not as solid as thought. Time running out, but we shall see.

[EagleEye]

You know that Sundrop is owned by Snapple right?

Last year Snapple was a co-sponsor that joined RHR at Indy. This year they are a co-primary sponsor through their Sundrop brand in addition to being the Primary on Marco's car. They are spending significantly more money with Andretti Autosport in 2011 than they did in 2010. How is that not stepping up?

I responded to your claim long ago (that Snapple/Dr. Pepper would be primary for the season) that there was no change to the aggreement and that mirror what they have done in the past. Co-sponsorship, with primary for a few races. Sundrop is quite large in the south, so that makes sense.

I can go back and repost your statement that this was a done deal and would be announced any day now (back in October) and my response, that the deal was basically the same as last year.

But, if Sundrop is primary for the year, I will send you a team hat.

BTW, what races are you going to?

It has been as hectic of an offseason as I can remember. I thought testing in September and October was tough, but not knowing is painful!

[MDS]

I'm pretty sure its a year-long deal for two reasons. Dr. Pepper wants to expand that brand, and the pictures were taken at DHL's headquarters near Miami. If there was going to be a reverse paint scheme with DHL where the Sundrop logo is they probably would have used it there.

At this point I'm going to be at St. Pete, Barber and Long Beach, also there's a really good chance I'll be at Vegas, but October is a big month for the company so I'm not sure. Long Beach should be fun, it'll be the first major trip, and first sporting event, with the new boyfriend

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-


Andretti Autosport (4)
Marco
Danica
RHR
Conway

Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing (3)
Power
HCN
Briscoe

Target Chip Ganassi (2)
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi II (2)
Rahal
Kimbal

A.J. Foyt Enterprises (1)
Vitor

KVRT (3)
$ato
Vi$o
TK

Looks like the light bulb might have finally gone off in KK's

Panther (1)
JR Hildebrand

HVM (1)
SDS
FAZZT/SMR (1)
Tagliani

Newman Haas (2)
Servia
Hinch

D&R (2)
Wilson
Beatriz

Dale Coyne Racing (2)
SeaBass/Milka (RC/Ovals)
Plowman

Sarah Fisher Racing (1)
Carpenter-part time

Conquest (1)
TBD

Bryan Herta Autosport "Team ZED" (1)
TBD Part-time

It looks like Herta is looking to upgrade the team, though it could be Indy only, part time, etc. And more info should come out soon.



The team faces a struggle to make the grid. Depends on who can bring a check. PT's funding not as solid as thought. Time running out, but we shall see.

[jwhite9185]

Go Daddy is sponsoring Ryan Hunter-Reay this year. His paint scheme will pretty much be a flip flop of Danica's livery with the green and black.

Seems like thats now the plan for Conway.

http://plixi.com/p/82785278

[MDS]

Danica and Marco are switching engineers

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/25346

[beachbum]

Danica and Marco are switching engineers

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/25346I'm shocked......................... Not.

Danistar has gone through a lot of engineers and strategists. Marco isn't much better.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

So SeaBass would drive the CITGO car on the road courses after all? And someone else the BSA car full-time?

[Scotty G.]

AFS Racing (with Neil Mickelwright running the show) will run in the ICS in 2011.

Is that the "Team Zed" that EE was referring to?

Also, Paul Tracy could be in line to run for the newly re-formed Dragon Racing (with Jay and Steve and without Gil). This is according to Robin.

Looks like Coyne may go to a ride-share with both cars. Bourdais and Duno in the #18 car. Plowman and Lloyd in the #19.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Well, it seems poor old Dan Wheldon will be left without a chair when the music stops, doesn't it?

[Mr. Mister]

Any talk of a driver for AFS? I'd obviously prefer Wheldon, as I imagine most would, but I do wonder if AFS would reunite with Raphael Matos, considering he has some money for the season if I recall correctly.

[Phoenixent]

Any talk of a driver for AFS? I'd obviously prefer Wheldon, as I imagine most would, but I do wonder if AFS would reunite with Raphael Matos, considering he has some money for the season if I recall correctly.

I hope it's PT as it would put him together with some guys he worked with before. I think Matos is done in ICS nice guy but really did not shine where he was. As for Wheldon I believe he will be a 500 only driver as he is has burned a lot of bridges...

[Chamoo]

I hope it's PT as it would put him together with some guys he worked with before. I think Matos is done in ICS nice guy but really did not shine where he was. As for Wheldon I believe he will be a 500 only driver as he is has burned a lot of bridges...

I doubt Neil Mickelwright and PT are best buds right now.

[DavePI2]

I see that indycar has capped the field this year at 26, are we too assume this means there is a pretty good chance we will have at least 26 entries at each race(I know we shouldn't assume, we all know what assumption is the mother of)?

[Dr. Krogshöj]

I see that indycar has capped the field this year at 26, are we too assume this means there is a pretty good chance we will have at least 26 entries at each race(I know we shouldn't assume, we all know what assumption is the mother of)?

We should never assume, but it is possible. There will be 24 cars testing at Barber next week. Ed Carpenter is not going to be one of them and he is going to run nine races this year. AFS Racing is trying to put together a team. KVRT might run a third car for Tony Kanaan from Brazil. Jay Penske and Steve Luczo are also trying to save their team following the departure of Gil de Ferran. So if everything goes well, we might see 28 cars at certain weekends.

[DavePI2]

well if we do get 26 for each race then I will get to see danica near the back of the pack again and being passed in the esses on the last lap at midohio. Sorry Danica Fan, hope to meet you this year at midohio.

[Chamoo]

Miller was saying something about INDYCAR was only going to cap the entries that get paid or something like that, but they wouldn't cap the number of cars on the grid. I would like more clarification from him about that.

[maximilian]

I would be very opposed to keeping cars off the grid. For many years now, we were wishing and hoping for larger grids, some silly season years desperately scraping up cars, hoping to make 20, worrying about the declining field.

So now, if we are in a position to have a field of 27-30+ cars, they all managed to put their sponsors in order and make the race, and within 107% (or whatever percentage is deemed appropriate), then by all means, let them race. If you shut out some cars, eventually they run the risk of losing their sponsorship, and disappearing altogether - the last thing we want, right?

[ykiki]

What's the point ladder like? Does IndyCar currently pay out points to everyone who shows up? If so, then perhaps cap the points beyond the 26th qualifier (though in reality I'd like to see points paid to only the first 10, making a "top 10 finish" actually mean something...).

[MDS]

Apparently Sebastian Saavedra's check cleared
http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/41750-open-test-notes-saavedra-in-for-full-year

I might get out to Barber tomorrow, but I've been told I can't bring my camera.

[DanicaFan]

well if we do get 26 for each race then I will get to see danica near the back of the pack again and being passed in the esses on the last lap at midohio. Sorry Danica Fan, hope to meet you this year at midohio.

I will be there again. I will make plans to meet you. OH, and Danica wont get lapped at Mid-Ohio and she will be a front runner.. :)

[TURN3]

OH, and Danica wont get lapped at Mid-Ohio and she will be a front runner.. :)

Based on her impressive history of course? Hi-lighted by yet another day (and there are many) where she is at the eraser end of the grid...on a similiar track.

[DanicaFan]

Turn3, why dont you come out to mid-ohio and meet up with us ?

[TURN3]

Turn3, why dont you come out to mid-ohio and meet up with us ?

1. I live in Arizona. Traveling to see a race doesn't include Mid-Ohio, it just isn't worth it to me. Been there done that and Mid-Ohio isn't that special to me. I'll be at Long Beach and Vegas for sure and probably a weekend at Indy and/or Milwaukee. I tend to get stuck in Vegas over Memorial weekend where I tend to collect a small share by betting the field against Danica for the 500. A return trip to Toronto or a first run to Edmonton would be a distinct possibility also.

2. If I were going to meet up with members here, you wouldn't be on the list. I tend to hang out with people that are not clueless.

[MDS]

So I made it to Barber during the test, but I was told no camera by my host, so here's what I heard.

The KV crew is pumped for the season. Unlike a lot of the posters hear the crew respects their drivers and some of them really love the underdog role they're in this year. They really want to shock the ICS this year and have pretty high goals for both Sato and Viso. Someone not on the team told me they have a deal with TK all but done for a third car. Sato and Viso both kept strong pace

After wearing all black last year and quietly walking around the paddock like they were at a funeral last year the NHR guys are ready to go, that and there's more of them than last year. Apparently neither driver has a signed contract but both expect to be with the team for the season. At this point Hinch is short funding for a few races St. Pete. The big sponsor they were hoping to snag for him hasn't signed on, but the Canadian broadcast schedule is better than it has been in years. Maybe that and his results at Barber will help prod the company to come on board for him. His car was painted white and a shade of blue that to me reminded a great deal of the corporate colors of a certain Canadian company. It had been painted since their first test at Seabring so its pretty likely they did a mock up for someone...

Sebass said he was happy to be back in the states. I think Coyne is actually going to pay him, not a lot, but still pay him.

Kimball was unimpressive, near the bottom at every session and he ran a ton of laps. Considering he was in the FIL race here last year, where he finished second but never challenged for the lead, he should have been a lot faster. There may have been some issues with his car, but kind of doubt it.

No one I asked could tell me if Conquest had qualified for the Team funding for their second car. Several said they hadn't, which lends credibility to the Dragon Racing comeback rumors.

Jamie McMurray is not interested in doing the Vegas race. He expects to be in the chase this year and only did five laps, all at least five or six seconds off Ana Biatriz's pace. If he was serious they would have done around 40 laps.

Conquest is now set on survival, PT is out of the picture there.

Everyone I talked with asked me who James Jake was. Everyone seemed surprised by that pick. I hear he passed his physical the Friday before testing.

[Scotty G.]

1. His car was painted white and a shade of blue that to me reminded a great deal of the corporate colors of a certain Canadian company.

2. Kimball was unimpressive, near the bottom at every session and he ran a ton of laps.

3. Jamie McMurray is not interested in doing the Vegas race. He expects to be in the chase this year and only did five laps, all at least five or six seconds off Ana Biatriz's pace. If he was serious they would have done around 40 laps.

4. Everyone I talked with asked me who James Jake was.

1. His car was painted like Mutoh's from last year. Probably haven't painted in since then.

2. Kimball was at least midpack in most sessions. And never was off course. I'd say he did just fine.

3. McMurray was only doing some PR laps. He was never going to do more then a few laps. Really has nothing to do with whether he'd run Vegas or not.

4. Rich kid from England with a mediocre resume and a big checkbook. Typical Coyne "pick".

[MDS]

Yeah, sorry, it was Servia's car that had the different paint job.

http://www.indycar.com:8080/var/assets/indycar-results-pcomb22.pdf

Also, the McMurray test was something that got a good bit of talk. Apparently some people from the team said flat out there was no plans on running McMurray or JPM at Vegas.

[I am evil Homer]

Sad that Jakes - of all the potentail young brits - is the one getting that drive. There are far, far better drivers in the UK who would do an immense job. The problem is many see the only route right now is to do Asia GP series, GP2 etc to get to F1.

[Mr. Mister]

Any talk of a driver for AFS? I'd obviously prefer Wheldon, as I imagine most would, but I do wonder if AFS would reunite with Raphael Matos, considering he has some money for the season if I recall correctly.

AFS have confirmed Matos for St. Pete. Lucky speculation there.

[MDS]

Looking at the scoreboard at the moment I count 23 full time entries and that number could easily reach 26 if Hinch's deal comes together, Coyne fields two cars (With four or more drivers) Dragon racing makes a comeback and AFS strings together a full year. There could be as many as 30 cars at Texas with 28 or more at Baltimore.


Team Penske
3 Helio Castroneves Shell (Indy and several other races)/AAA of SoCal (Long Beach and Texas) Guidepoint
6 Ryan Brisco Izod/Guidepoint
12 Will Power – Verizon Wireless

Panther Racing
4 J.R Hildebrand National Guard (R)

KV Lotus Racing
5 Takuma Sato Lotus/Panasonic/Formula Dream
8 E.J. Viso Lotus/PDVSA/Venezuela tourism
15?/11?/32? Tony Kannan ?/Lotus/Itaipava

Andretti Autosport
7 Danica Patrick Go Daddy
26 Marco Andretti Venom Energy Drink
27 Mike Conway Go Daddy (First three races then who knows)
28 Ryan Hunter Reay DHL/Sundrop

Target Chip Ganassi
9 Scott Dixon – Target
10 Dario Franchitti – Target
38 Graham Rahal – Service Central brands
83 Charlie Kimball- Novo Nordisk (R)

AJFE
14 Vitor Meria ABC Construction

Dale Coyne
18 Sebasten Bourdais?/Milka Duno?/
19 ? John Jakes?

Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
22 Justin Wilson Z-Line designs
24 Ana Beatrix

Conquest Racing
34 Sebastien Saavedra

Sam Schmidt/FAZZT
77 Alex Tagliani B&W Speakers/Hot Wheels of Canada

HVM Racing
78 Simona De Silvestro Entergy/Nuclear power

Newman Haas Racing
02 Oriol Servia TBA
06 James Hinchcliff (R) TBD (At least Indy, Edmonton and Toronto, hopefully full season)

Part time efforts

Sarah Fisher Raciing
67 Ed Carpenter Dollar General (St. Petersburg, Indy, Milwaukee, Texas, Iowa, Mid-Ohio, NHIS, Baltimore, Kentucky, Las Vegas)

AFS Racing
26 Rafa Matos (St Pete and hoping to string together a full season)

Dragon Racing
2 Paul Tracy (trying to rise from the ashes)

Sam Schmidt Motorsports
99 Townsend Bell (Indy)
99 Wade Cunningham Texas, Kentucky and Las Vegas

Indy One offs
Rahal Letterman Racing
17 Jay Howard?

Andretti Autosport/Richard Petty Motorsport
43 John Andretti Window World

DR&R (Teams sources have said their will be four cars at Indy but no word on who)
42
44

Highcroft Racing
?? Simon Pagenaud (Indy and Vegas)

Bryan Herta Autosport
27

SH Racing
Tomas Sheckter Redline Energy Drink


Free Agents
Alex Lloyd
Dan Wheldon
J.K. Vernay
Martin “Plowy” Plowman
Jonathan Summerton
Katherine Legge

[EagleEye]

Team Penske
3 Helio Castroneves Shell (Indy and several other races)/AAA of SoCal (Long Beach and Texas) Guidepoint
6 Ryan Brisco Izod/Guidepoint
12 Will Power – Verizon Wireless

Panther Racing
4 J.R Hildebrand National Guard (R)

KV Lotus Racing
5 Takuma Sato Lotus/Panasonic/Formula Dream
8 E.J. Viso Lotus/PDVSA/Venezuela tourism
11Tony Kannan ?/Lotus/Itaipava

Andretti Autosport
7 Danica Patrick Go Daddy
26 Marco Andretti Venom Energy Drink
27 Mike Conway Go Daddy (First three races then who knows)
28 Ryan Hunter Reay DHL/Sundrop

Target Chip Ganassi
9 Scott Dixon – Target
10 Dario Franchitti – Target
38 Graham Rahal – Service Central brands
83 Charlie Kimball- Novo Nordisk (R)

AJFE
14 Vitor Meria ABC Construction

Dale Coyne
18 Sebasten Bourdais?/Milka Duno?/
19 TBD

Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
22 Justin Wilson Z-Line designs
24 Ana Beatrix

Conquest Racing
34 Sebastien Saavedra

Sam Schmidt/FAZZT
77 Alex Tagliani B&W Speakers/Hot Wheels of Canada

HVM Racing
78 Simona De Silvestro Entergy/Nuclear power

Newman Haas Racing
02 Oriol Servia TBA
06 James Hinchcliff (R) TBD (At least Indy, Edmonton and Toronto, hopefully full season)

Part time efforts

Sarah Fisher Raciing
67 Ed Carpenter Dollar General (St. Petersburg, Indy, Milwaukee, Texas, Iowa, Mid-Ohio, NHIS, Baltimore, Kentucky, Las Vegas)

AFS Racing
TBD Rafa Matos (St Pete and hoping to string together a full season)

Dragon Racing
2 Paul Tracy (trying to rise from the ashes)

Sam Schmidt Motorsports
99 Townsend Bell (Indy)
99 Wade Cunningham Texas, Kentucky and Las Vegas

Indy One offs
Rahal Letterman Racing
17 Jay Howard?

Andretti Autosport/Richard Petty Motorsport
43 John Andretti Window World

DR&R (Teams sources have said their will be four cars at Indy but no word on who)
42
44

Highcroft Racing
?? Simon Pagenaud (Indy and Vegas)

Bryan Herta Autosport "Team Zed"
TBD -

Cough, read your email, cough

Free Agents
Alex Lloyd
J.K. Vernay
Martin “Plowy” Plowman
Jonathan Summerton
Katherine Legge

[Dr. Krogshöj]

AFS have confirmed Matos for St. Pete. Lucky speculation there.

It would have been quite an embarrassment for the "Road to Indy" if the guy who won nearly every significant American open-wheel feeder series was left out in the cold, wouldn't it?

[MDS]

Cough, read your email, cough

What email? Haven't gotten anything here or on any of my public accounts from you or anyone else racing related.

[EagleEye]

What email? Haven't gotten anything here or on any of my public accounts from you or anyone else racing related.

I sent you a tip, several in fact.

Team "Zed" is Herta. They have a driver signed. Indy only for now, maybe some other races and another important function. But I could not really say here until now...he was on your free agent list, missing from my corrected list....

[MDS]

I pretty much figured Zed was Herta but it's not really a secret. Herta's publicly said he wants to Indy and five or six other races this year at Indy last year. Didn't know they had a driver signed, but that makes sense. Good for them.

[Scotty G.]

It would have been quite an embarrassment for the "Road to Indy" if the guy who won nearly every significant American open-wheel feeder series was left out in the cold, wouldn't it?

Not as embarrassing as having Wheldon, Kanaan, Tracy and Rice left out in the cold.

Matos got 2 years with a full-time team to show what he had. He didn't show much.

I'd much rather see Alex Lloyd get another shot than Matos. Lloyd only got 1 full year and that was with Coyne's lousy outfit with Milka Duno as his teammate. And Lloyd got a top 5 at Indy. All Matos has done at Indy in his 2 starts is tear up a lot of equipment.

[jwhite9185]

I sent you a tip, several in fact.

Team "Zed" is Herta. They have a driver signed. Indy only for now, maybe some other races and another important function. But I could not really say here until now...he was on your free agent list, missing from my corrected list....

So Wheldon then

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Not as embarrassing as having Wheldon, Kanaan, Tracy and Rice left out in the cold.

Matos got 2 years with a full-time team to show what he had. He didn't show much.

I'd much rather see Alex Lloyd get another shot than Matos. Lloyd only got 1 full year and that was with Coyne's lousy outfit with Milka Duno as his teammate. And Lloyd got a top 5 at Indy. All Matos has done at Indy in his 2 starts is tear up a lot of equipment.

Okay, you convinced me.

[MDS]

As I've been saying for a while Tony Kannan has signed the KV Racing Geico/Lotus/Itaipava 82 for KV Racing for the entire season.

KV twittered the news this morning. This follows a test at Homestead last week. Also there's an unconfirmed rumor out there that Mike Cannon has left HVM to be Kannan's crew cheif

http://kvracingtechnology.homestead.com/2011/2K11_press_032111.html

[Hoop-98]

PT sounds optimistic today

[garyshell]

PT sounds optimistic today

Shhh. Don't jinx it!

Gary

[Phoenixent]

Congratulations to PT on the Indy 500 deal driving for DRR. Hope he's able to add more races maybe the full season less St. Pete. But that is just my wish.

[Scotty G.]

Being that they will be in Wheldon's hometown this weekend and its a ABC race, can we expect some sort of announcement coming on Wheldon with Herta Autosport?

Sounds like the perfect time to make your plans known for 2011.

[bblocker68]

Congratulations to PT on the Indy 500 deal driving for DRR. Hope he's able to add more races maybe the full season less St. Pete. But that is just my wish.
Have you guys seen his car? It looks real purdy with the WIX paint scheme.

[jwhite9185]

How come Viso has switched to number 59 all of a sudden? Wasn't he driving the number 8 at Barber?

[Phoenixent]

Have you guys seen his car? It looks real purdy with the WIX paint scheme.

I did and it looks very cool... DRR at least will have the tools needed for him to be competitive at Indy. Not like the last 2 years with Kaopectate Vaseline Racing no engines, no tires, no crew but a lot of excuses.

[Scotty G.]

Being that they will be in Wheldon's hometown this weekend and its a ABC race, can we expect some sort of announcement coming on Wheldon with Herta Autosport?

Sounds like the perfect time to make your plans known for 2011.

I'll answer my own question...

Herta and Wheldon will announce their Indy Car plans today at 1:30.

[Scotty G.]

A few tidbits...

-Sounds like the component of the Herta/Wheldon deal is Honda and 2012. Good move on both parties parts. More races should be added after Indy. Sponsorship TBA.

-SFR has a brand new Dallara for Carpenter. They finally got rid of that lemon of a chassis that was collecting dust in their shop. They have 2 chassis in their stable. They have sold 2 cars in the off-season. One to AFS. One to Wiggins.

-AFS out of Lights. Putting all of its eggs into the IC basket. Should run all the non-ovals and Indy in 2011. Still undecided about its Indy 500 driver. Matos likely the leader, but that could change.

-Hamilton is the 4th D&R Indy 500 driver. Also will run Texas and Vegas. With Tracy also doing several races as well, D&R will be a 3 car team more often then not during the season.

-I am hearing potentially good things about Joey Hand and a IC ride at some point in 2011.

[Scotty G.]

Updates...

-Tracy to Dragon for at least 5 races (6 if you count Texas twice).
-Hornish the leader in the clubhouse to be Dragon's Indy 500 driver
-Junquiera will be in the #84 for Foyt at Indy. A 3rd car (the BAM/Foyt entry) is very possible as well.
-Hinchcliffe has a deal done with Newman/Haas. Should be at Barber, where he was very fast.

It looks like at least 40 entries at Indy this year for the first time since 2002.

[bblocker68]

Good to hear Hinch is in at Barber. Any idea when they will confirm it?

[Chamoo]

It looks like at least 40 entries at Indy this year for the first time since 2002.

Your talking entries that hit the track correct? We've seen 40+ entries the last few years, but some of them never take to the track.

[DBell]

Good to hear Hinch is in at Barber. Any idea when they will confirm it?

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-newman-haas-signs-hinchcliffe/

It says he's racing in all North American races. So the rest of the schedule minus Brazil and Japan.

[Chamoo]

Bertrand Baguette to partner with Jay Howard at RLR/Sam Schmidt Motorsports for the Indy 500.

SSM will have a whole bunch of setup info to use between themselves and RLR. They could be a force at Indy, especially with how competitive both FAZZT and RLR were last season at Indy.

[MDS]

Hey Eagle Eye, check out this week Spotter's Guide.

http://www.indycar.com:8080/var/assets/barber_spotter_web.pdf

Where's my Hat?

[jwhite9185]

Interesting to see Servia has taken over the number 2. Now if they can get the 11 for Hinch, then they will have proper numbers!

Plus theres a few different schemes out there this weekend

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Hey Eagle Eye, check out this week Spotter's Guide.

http://www.indycar.com:8080/var/assets/barber_spotter_web.pdf

Where's my Hat?

Very interesting spotters' guide with a lot of noteworthy items.

1) Helio is running the AAA Insurance livery which was only supposed to be used at Long Beach and Texas.
2) Briscoe is carrying the colors of Penske Truck Rental. It seems like a logical step for the races not covered by either the IZOD, the PPG or the Guidepoint deals.
3) The sponsor rotation continues for DRR: it's Charter for Wilson and BlazeMaster for Pagenaud.
4) Dario will run the Clorox colors as part of the promotion scheme of Target suppliers.
5) Conway will run a Window World Cares livery.
6) The Acorn Stairlifts car will be red. It's a shame, I really liked the burgundy car.

The Service Central/Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team should get a professional livery designer. Do they really think people can make out "NovoLog FlexPen - Insulin aspart (rDNA origin) injection" on a moving car? Do they really think red, white and blue are the correct car colors for a yellow, black and red sponsor logo? Newman/Haas could use more creative liveries too, but the Ganassi paint jobs are simply piss poor.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Some of those liveries look great on a picture on a computer, but suck I suspect at the track. Oh well, at least there is a bill or two being paid...beats NO livery!

[MDS]

I talked with Bia on Sunday. She said she hopes to be back on the track for Long Beach, but clearly nothing's certain.

Simon impressed a lot of people on Sunday, but there aren't a lot of rides available.

[MDS]

The Service Central/Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team should get a professional livery designer. Do they really think people can make out "NovoLog FlexPen - Insulin aspart (rDNA origin) injection" on a moving car?

They're bound by federal drug advertising guidelines. They are required to have their full name -- NovoLog FlexPen - Insulin aspart (rDNA origin) injection -- as part of any marketing material they create. At Barber they had guys dressed as their FlexPens and handing out bags with info about their product and the legal disclaimers were three times as long as any of their marketing stuff. So basically the federal government is the reason why Charlie Kimball has a bad paint scheme.

Still, its good to see Novo Nordisk spending money on sponsorship and activation :)

[Scotty G.]

This thread has gone silent....where did the Eagle Eye go?

Anyway for those wondering, the "China Racing" Indy entry is tied to Greg Beck....and possibly a few other long-time owners as well. If this deal comes off, it will be a team that a lot of folks will be cheering for at Indy.

[Chris R]

I gotta say, I was one of the Conway detractors - getting rid of TK and hiring Conway seemed lie a ride buy to me - and it probably is/was - but the guy has done very well so far and his win this weekend was a WIN.....

I guess it is those great setups from Marco!! lol

Seriously, it does not bode well for Marco or Danica (let alone RHR) that the new guy is doing the best....

[gm99]

Pippa Mann to drive the #36 car for Conquest Racing at Indy: http://crash.net/indycar/news/168572/1/pippa_mann_joins_indy_500_line-up.html

So there may be four female drivers at Indy this year (five if Milka reappears AND manages to qualify).

[Chamoo]

I gotta say, I was one of the Conway detractors - getting rid of TK and hiring Conway seemed lie a ride buy to me - and it probably is/was - but the guy has done very well so far and his win this weekend was a WIN.....

I guess it is those great setups from Marco!! lol

Seriously, it does not bode well for Marco or Danica (let alone RHR) that the new guy is doing the best....

To be fair to RHR, he has run well every weekend, but has either hit, been hit, or had mechanical gremlins (I believe their gearbox was the culprit at LB?).