2016 Verizon IndyCar SeriesOpen Wheel

[TheBigMan045]

Scott Dixon coming back down under? Its a sad thing that Surfers isnt a point scoring round this year, but the prospect of no championships on the line making it a knock em down drag em' out street fight makes it that much better

I must admit the slow decline of Champcar was a painful thing but this is the best thing to happen to American Open Wheeler racing in a long long time

 

[TS]

Today's Press Conference in a Nut Shell

 

[CAMikaze]

"I'm not gonna drive one of those crapwagons!" - Paul Tracy on the IRL

As of today Paul, you'll have to.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

As of today Paul, you'll have to.

No he doesn't. He can always retire.

But then, I always got the impression Tracy had an inflated opinion of himself as a driver.

 

[VNAF Ace]

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[RACECAR]

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"nods" 👍

 

[Blake]

Well the Long Beach idea is interesting… Farewell Champ Car, hopefully in your death you bring life back to US Open Wheel racing. 👍

 

[JohnBM01]

I don't know where to start as I FINALLY sound off about this merger. This Champ Car vs. IndyCar deal has been criss-crossed for me. I got into Champ Car before I eventually got into IndyCar. If there wasn't really a Champ Car race, then I was usually watching the IndyCar Series. I cheer on Danica Patrick in IndyCar. Hell, I have a Danica Patrick calendar on my wall. Maybe I've missed Champ Car as I remember it from 1998 when I saw the Grand Prix of Houston. Maybe when I can remember it from 1999 when I was following Juan Pablo Montoya. The point to all of this is... I can't really say if I love this merger or hate this merger. I'm not truly a split audience. I'm glad the two have finally come together. I've watched both series without fail. Maybe I've been into IndyCar a little more than Champ Car, but I'm kind of split on if I like this merger. I don't want to say "this should have never happened." Then again, I haven't known racing long enough to make a comparison.

 

[TS]

As of today Paul, you'll have to.

Nonsense.

No he doesn't. He can always retire.

He can do NASCAR (again) too.

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I love the expression on Buddy Rice's face.

"Yeah, this merger will last as long as that handshake."

 

[CAMikaze]

"I'm not gonna drive one of those crapwagons!" - Paul Tracy on the IRL

As of today Paul, you'll have to.

Nonsense.

Possible change of heart then?

 

[JohnBM01]

Let me just offer an off-topic comment. As I saw a little of the YouTube video of the 1993 race at Michigan in my "Greatest Mario Andretti Moments" thread, I wonder if we can see Paul Page covering this series again. He's one of my favorite announcers and one I truly associate with Champ Car. However, he is an NHRA announcer now.

 

[TS]

Let me just offer an off-topic comment. As I saw a little of the YouTube video of the 1993 race at Michigan in my "Greatest Mario Andretti Moments" thread, I wonder if we can see Paul Page covering this series again. He's one of my favorite announcers and one I truly associate with Champ Car. However, he is an NHRA announcer now.

I could care less who does the play by play for the IRL races as long as it isn't Jerry Punch, hell, I wouldn't mind if the races aired on a network other than ESPN/ABC.

 

[VNAF Ace]

INDYCAR: Surfers Paradise Agreement Reached
Written by: SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
03/05/2008 - 04:38 AM
Surfers Paradise, Australia

Officials of the Indy Racing League and the Gold Coast 300 have reached agreement on a deal that will ensure the future of the Surfers Paradise, Australia street race for another six years.

Queensland Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport, Judy Spence, made the announcement today after a visit to Indianapolis this week by event Chairman Terry Mackenroth and General Manager Greg Hooton. The final piece of the puzzle, which will continue to give Australian’s domestic V8 Supercars equal billing with the IndyCar Series at the October event, was put in place after discussions with V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane this week.

“The Gold Coast Indy 300 has become one of the world’s truly great motorsport events and we are delighted that it will be part of the IndyCar Series schedule,” said Indy Racing League founder and CEO, Tony George. “I know so many of our teams and drivers, who have been to the event previously hold it in high regard and we are delighted that it will be one of the highlights of the IndyCar season

The Surfers event is one of three races from the Champ Car World Series expected to be included in the newly unified IndyCar Series schedule this year. Although the event had been scheduled for Oct. 26 on the Champ Car calendar, officials noted that details on how the race will fit in to the IndyCar Series championship format have still to be finalized and then ratified by the international motorsports governing body, the FIA.

“The Gold Coast Indy 300 has been a part of the Queensland major event landscape for 18 years and I am delighted that it will continue to showcase Queensland for many years to come,” said Spence. “The event has overcome many hurdles in its history, but this latest development probably puts it in its best shape ever.

“It is estimated that the event returns $60 million in economic benefits to the State of Queensland and I am sure that figure will continue to grow as the new-look IndyCar Series and the V8 Supercars continue to attract more national and international attention.”

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-surfers-paradise-agreement-reached/

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[Appie]

SO does anyone know how the new car will look like?

 

[RACECAR]

SO does anyone know how the new car will look like?

I think at present, They are still gonna use the dallaras and it'll be in 2009 that we will see the new Indycars.

 

[Studentdriver]

Forsythe team elects to sit on sidelines as merged IndyCar Series gears up
by John Oreovicz
Special to ESPN.com

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Paul Tracy, the most successful active driver in American open-wheel racing, became a free agent Thursday when Gerald Forsythe elected to disband Forsythe Championship Racing rather than take the team to the IRL's IndyCar Series.

Tracy, who owns 31 career victories in CART and Champ Car competition since 1993, got the unexpected news in a phone call from FCR general manager Neil Micklewright.

"After 13 years of competition in CART and the Champ Car World Series, the team has been unable to secure the necessary sponsorship to be able to compete in the IndyCar Series in 2008," Micklewright said. "Forsythe Racing Inc., the parent company of FCR, will participate in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Champ Car finale, with drivers to be announced."

The organization also confirmed that it will field its two-car team as planned in the Atlantic Championship with drivers James Hinchcliffe and David Garza.

Forsythe has almost single-handedly funded his Champ Car team since late 2003, when his longtime sponsor, Player's cigarettes, was forced out of racing by Canadian legislation banning tobacco advertising. Indeck Energy, a company owned by Forsythe, was listed as the team's title sponsor since 2004.

As with other decisions made during his 25 years in racing, Forsythe's decision to disband FCR surprised observers. On the surface, it appears he was willing to spend millions on open-wheel racing as it used to be, but not after the announcement that Champ was being absorbed by the IRL.

It seems incongruous that Forsythe would help bring together open-wheel racing by agreeing to disband Champ Car, but refuse to support the unified IndyCar Series.

Tracy did not attend the Wednesday press conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway to celebrate the unification of American open-wheel racing as the IndyCar Series. Contacted Thursday at home in Las Vegas, he said he wants to remain in open-wheelers and to compete again in the Indianapolis 500, where he finished a disputed second in his last attempt in 2002.

"It's pretty late for this to happen and I'm hoping I can still find a competitive seat," Tracy said. "I think I could do a good job in the IRL."

The 39-year-old Canadian's best opportunities would seem to lie with KV Racing, the former Champ Car team owned by Kevin Kalkhoven and Tracy's friend Jimmy Vasser; Rahal Letterman Racing, which has cut back to a single IndyCar Series team for 2008; and Tony George's Vision Racing, which could benefit from Tracy's experience and notoriety.

Another option for Tracy could be Gil de Ferran's newly-established American Le Mans Series team, which could afford Tracy's likely seven-figure price tag thanks to considerable support from Acura.

With Forsythe's team out of the reckoning, it appears that former Champ Car teams will contribute nine or 10 cars to the IndyCar Series field: Two for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal); two for KV Racing (Oriol Servia and TBA); two for Conquest Racing (rookie Franck Perera and likely Nelson Philippe); one or possibly two for Walker Racing; at least one from Dale Coyne Racing for Bruno Junqueira; and one from Minardi Team USA, with Robert Doornbos as the preferred pilot.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/columns/story?seriesId=1&columnist=oreovicz_john&id=3271200

 

[TS]

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Good to see that, hopefully they'll be able to make that the championship round in future seasons.

SO does anyone know how the new car will look like?

This season the teams will still use the Dallara chassis that they've been using the last 4 or so seasons, CCWS teams that will move into the IRL will get 1 new chassis from Dallara and one used chassis from another IRL team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/columns/story?seriesId=1&columnist=oreovicz_john&id=3271200

Rather surprised that Forsythe didn't make the move considering that Tracy really wants to battle Helio in the Indy 500 again.

Hopefully another one of the CCWS teams making the move that still need a 2nd driver will consider him for their ride.

 

[TS]

👎

Indianapolis, IN (March 9, 2008) - Reluctantly, Walker Racing has been forced to withdraw its attempt to join the IndyCar Series for 2008. The racing partnership of "Team Australia" and the association with Australian businessman Craig Gore, drivers Will Power and Simon Pagenaud, has also come to an end.

Notwithstanding a commitment for 2008, it came down to the lack of funding. A lengthy search for new sponsorship partners drew a blank, so Walker Racing had to close the program officially on Friday.

"It's a great pity that the team has had to abandon our IndyCar program. So much work by so many has gone into the Team Australia program over the last three and a half years, but now it will remain unfinished business for us. I wish my co-partner well with his new venture and so to Will and Simon and all the employees, associates and fans who have given me the opportunity. Many thanks," said Walker Racing Owner, Derrick Walker.

What a shame, one of the biggest CCWS owners that wanted this merger to happen won't be able to take part. Unbelievable, I just hope that Power and Pagenaud will get into competitive rides this season.

 

[Jim Prower]

I want to see turbos again. T-T

 

[Pupik]

Wow...The Split is finally over! The pissing match between the two American-based open-wheel series has only taken 12-14 years to resolve. I suppose it started in around 1994, when Tony George decided made up his own rules.

There just isn't room for both; TV schedules just can't support both with NASCAR getting as big as it is, more channels to watch, thinning fields. Honestly, the Indianapolis 500 deserves the best drivers and teams it can get.

I haven't really followed Indy/IRL/CART/CCWS series' (save the Indy 500 and a race here and there) since 2000, but now I'm getting interested again. Hooray!

 

[TS]

The more the merrier, right?

Enrique Bernoldi will get to work straight away for Conquest Racing.

The former Formula One driver will join Franck Perera for testing on the Sebring International Raceway circuit March 19-20, the team announced.

Bernoldi will drive the No. 36 Dallara/Honda/Firestone, beginning in the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Perera was named last month to drive the No. 34 car for the team that is transferring from the Champ Car World Series.

"I am very happy to be joining Conquest Racing," said Bernoldi, 29, from Brazil. "I think we have an interesting season ahead of us. At the beginning, we will have to learn a lot because it is a new car for the team and for me and especially to race on ovals, which I never did. But it will be interesting. I'm very motivated and I think we will do a good job.

"Having (team co-owner) Eric (Bachelart) here helps as well because as an ex-driver he understands more what the driver needs. It is a very positive relationship with him and everybody on the team. I look forward to testing the car this week, and even if it is a little late being one week away from the first race, everybody's target is to learn quickly and be competitive through the season."

Bernoldi made 28 starts over two seasons for the Arrows Formula One team. In 2003, he recorded two victories and five podium finishes in the Formula Nissan World Series. He finished third in the championship in 2004, with two wins and seven podiums. He returned to F1 in 2004 as a test driver with BAR.

"Enrique is a great addition to the Conquest Racing team and his vast experience in motor racing will be beneficial to us as we make the transition to the IndyCar Series," Bachelart said. "We're delighted to have him join the team. He has adapted well and was competitive in all the forms of racing he has done and I am certain that he will be up to speed quickly, as will Franck, with the Dallara."

Recently, Bernoldi competed in the StockCar Brasil series and participated in the Argentinean TC2000.

"I think Enrique and Franck will make a great duo," added Anthony Blumberg of Opes Prime, co-owner of Conquest Racing. "When you add these two exceptionally talented drivers to the team that Eric has put in place, I feel Conquest Racing will surprise a few people this year in the 'new' IndyCar Series."

During the media teleconference Wednesday, Dale Coyne will announce his driver lineup for 2008. He will field two cars in the ICS. It has been rumored for a few weeks now that his drivers will be Bruno Junqueira and Mario Moraes having been rumored as his drivers. Bruno is one of the old guard of Champ Car, and also a former pole sitter at Indianapolis. His Champ Car career consists of 8 wins over 101 starts with Ganassi in CART and N/H/L. Moraes has some British F3 experience.

If you're keeping track, 8 Champ Car drivers will make the jump to the IRL.

Also, something interesting here.

Andretti Green Promotions, LLC announced today it has signed a letter of intent to purchase the assets of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto Corp.

The letter, which is dated March 14, 2008, runs through a period ending on April 30, 2008.

Andretti Green Promotions, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Andretti Green Racing, will begin a process of due diligence immediately to determine if it will proceed to the next step, which would be to enter into a purchase agreement with the Grand Prix Association of Toronto.

The Grand Prix Association of Toronto owns and operates the Grand Prix of Toronto, which has been a mainstay in the North American Indy racing landscape since 1986 and also saw events in 1977 and 1978.

If that deal does happen, I'd be surprised if Toronto didn't make the schedule next season.

 

[TS]

The Magic Number: 26

 

[VNAF Ace]

26 cars... I can't wait for the first race of the season!

 

[gibson]

26 cars?? wow, i hope last years indy 500 drivers are at the ST pete Gran Prix. i get to go, seats right behind the pits. and my dad gets to go to the drivers party.

 

[RACECAR]

Well, this just got downright strange:

Danica Upset with Rule Change

Now I don't know alot about indycars, but what in hell does weight from the driver have to do with the cars? I don't see any other motorsport where weight from is an issue (Look at Tony stewart or Micheal Andretti)so whats the big deal?

 

[Studentdriver]

It's simple, really. Open wheel cars are incredibly light. According to the comparison here both IndyCars and F1 cars weigh less than a ton with the driver. With such a large P/W ratio, small changes in weight result in a significant change in performance.

 

[TS]

It's simple, really. Open wheel cars are incredibly light. According to the comparison here both IndyCars and F1 cars weigh less than a ton with the driver. With such a large P/W ratio, small changes in weight result in a significant change in performance.

Yep.

The IRL site has a new layout, I find it to be quite nice, and the livery designer is pretty cool. (note the fact that you see the Panoz DP01 featured in superspeedway + road course spec)

 

[Omnis]

Hey guys, I got tickets to the race at Homestead.

Just thought I'd say that. Can anyone fill me in on what's going on because I don't pay any attention to the IRL world.

 

[dougiemeats]

It's disappointing the league decided to do that. In so many other sports, athletes don't get penalized for being too strong, or too tall or too fast.

That's why they have weight classes in boxing. No one is punishing you for your skill, Danica.

(It's) just your God-given stature is being penalized.

Before this rule-change, weren't the other drivers being penalized for theirs?

 

[TS]

Just thought I'd say that. Can anyone fill me in on what's going on because I don't pay any attention to the IRL world.

Acqiblendabsormergification