2021 NTT Indy Car SeriesOpen Wheel

[HaydenFan69]

Grosjean getting multiple podiums with Coyne equipment, just imagine how good he'll be with (presumably Andretti) tier cars to drive.

That’s the hope next year. But being Andretti, it could go in many directions given that teams recent history.

 

[Northstar]

Lots of stuff happening today...

Grosjean has officially been announced for the #28 plus a seat in the #10 for the 24 Hours of Daytona. Really the only surprising part of this news is the fact DHL is sticking around.

Andretti Autosport confirms Romain Grosjean for 2022

Romain Grosjean has committed to a multi-year deal with Andretti Autosport that will see the 35-year-old remain in the NTT IndyCar Series for the foreseeable future. As RACER has reported since Jul…

racer.com

Callum Ilott will remain in the Juncos-Hollinger entry next year.

Ilott returning for full IndyCar season with Juncos Hollinger in 2022

Callum Ilott’s audition for Juncos Hollinger Racing has gone well enough for the 22-year-old Briton to earn the team’s confidence and a contract to remain in the No. 77 Chevy as its full-time drive…

racer.com

And finally Penske will take control of Indy Lights starting next year. Hopefully they can find a way to get some more cars on the grid.

Penske Entertainment takes over operation of Indy Lights

Penske Entertainment will take control of the Indy Lights series at the end of the season, bringing an end to eight years of stewardship by the Andersen Promotions team of Dan Andersen and his daug…

racer.com

 

[Roo]

Ed Jones finishes off McLaren's horrible day.

 

[Veinz]

Palou is lucky he didn’t get any damage from that brain fart by Jones.

 

[Dylan]

Herta is on it today.

 

[Blitz24]

Looks like O'Ward might be coming back out (I wasn't aware that was allowed).

 

[Dylan]

Scott Mclaughlin will win Rookie of the year.

 

[Dylan]

Alex Palou will win the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series Championship!

 

[Northstar]

I was hoping O'Ward would pull it off but Palou certainly is deserving of the title.

Next year should be very interesting with 4 teams potentially challenging for the championship.

 

[DG_Silva]

Looks like O'Ward might be coming back out (I wasn't aware that was allowed).

I believe it's allowed in every form of motorsport, it's just that time/points paying positions often don't make it worthwhile; Indycar and NASCAR tend to give points all the way down the finishing positions with the caveat being you have to finish.

 

[HaydenFan69]

Was a good season. Nice to see Palou get a title. Way IndyCar has been of late, a lot of really good drivers having to wait towards the backside of their career before netting a title (Power/RHR).

 

[Dylan]

I believe it's allowed in every form of motorsport, it's just that time/points paying positions often don't make it worthwhile; Indycar and NASCAR tend to give points all the way down the finishing positions with the caveat being you have to finish.

In NASCAR, you are not allowed to rejoin if you go to the garage because of crash damage. If you go to the garage with a mechanical issue, you are allowed to rejoin.

 

[DG_Silva]

In NASCAR, you are not allowed to rejoin if you go to the garage because of crash damage. If you go to the garage with a mechanical issue, you are allowed to rejoin.

In O'Ward's instance, he had a mechanical issue caused by crash damage (Ed Jones crashed into him, braking his driveshaft). Where would the rules lie on that?

 

[HaydenFan69]

In O'Ward's instance, he had a mechanical issue caused by crash damage (Ed Jones crashed into him, braking his driveshaft). Where would the rules lie on that?

IndyCar allows you to re-enter a car at anytime for anything beside terminal engine/transmission issues. NASCAR is the same, but you have a 6 minute window from when you stop in you out stall (or make it to the garage) in order to fix your car.

There was instances in NASCAR of guys rebuilding the top of their motor in the garage in order to try and make up a few spots. IndyCar tends to involve massive damage in the smallest of accidents, hence why retirements are more likely from a small crash.

And as we saw, once Pato and the team realized they wouldn’t make up any more spots they ultimately retired the car.

 

[Northstar]

Another piece of the puzzle has fallen, Pagenaud has been officially announced for the #60 MSR car.

Pagenaud joins Meyer Shank Racing for 2022 IndyCar campaign

The next chapter in Simon Pagenaud’s NTT IndyCar Series career will be written at Meyer Shank Racing as the 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner will join his fellow Team Penske alumni He…

racer.com

Still quite a few seats with question marks next to them, granted we know a couple that are just waiting for announcements (Harvey at RLL and DeFrancesco at Andretti).

 

[Dylan]

Today is the 10th anniversary of Dan Wheldons passing.

10 years ago, I was a 14 year old NASCAR fan. I can’t remember why, but I had turned on the TV and found the Indycar championship race from Las Vegas. I had heard of Indycar but had never watched a full race. I knew next to nothing about it. But I saw where they were racing and I guess I’d thought I’d give it a try. Those first 10 laps were something I had never seen before. The speed, the closeness.
As a NASCAR fan I of course had learned about drivers who had died in racing in the past, but whenever I would turn on a race, the thought that what racecar drivers do on a weekly basis is terribly dangerous never really crossed my mind. That first IndyCar race was also the first time I had seen someone die on live television. And man was I not prepared for it.
Racer.com has a very good article on the event. I highly suggest everyone take a look at it.

INSIGHT: Dan Wheldon's accident, 10 years on, Part 1

The events of October 16, 2011, stalked Townsend Bell on a daily basis. They walked in front of him, staring back, inciting confrontation. Ten years on, those events have moved. The memories surrou…

racer.com

INSIGHT: Dan Wheldon's accident, 10 years on, Part 2

Editor’s note: This installment is a continuation reflecting on the tragic events of the late Dan Wheldon’s tragic accident. Read Part 1 here. “There are very few days that are imprinte…

racer.com

Edit: Also…

 

[JackRyanWMU]

 

[AudiMan2011]

Alpine F1 junior Christian Lundgaard replaces Sato at RLL for next year

 

[Veinz]

Nice

 

[Northstar]

As expected Penske is dropping to 3 cars next year.

Penske confirms reduction to three cars for 2022 IndyCar campaign

Team Penske will not seek to keep its former No. 22 Chevy entry piloted by Simon Pagenaud in motion with a different driver next season. Although the reduction from four cars to three was not unant…

racer.com

Nice

Stoffel Vandoorne will be testing for them as well.

Vandoorne set for Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar test

McLaren’s program of testing multiple drivers in its IndyCar is set to continue with its former Formula 1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne in the coming months. Vandoorne raced for McLaren in F1 in 2…

racer.com

 

[Northstar]

Jimmie is going full time next year. I think everyone expected him to do the 500, but him running all the ovals, especially Texas is slightly surprising. No word on Kanaan, but hopefully Chip will run a 5th car for him since I'm under the impression he brought his own money to the table.

Johnson commits to full-season IndyCar campaign in 2022

Jimmie Johnson will embark upon a full season of NTT IndyCar Series racing next year as he expands the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda program to include all the ovals. Carvana returns as Johnson’…

racer.com

Also, HMD made their partnership with Coyne official with David Malukas in the #18.

Dale Coyne Racing confirms Malukas, HMD partnership for '22 IndyCar season

David Malukas will replace Ed Jones in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda. The 2021 Indy Lights championship runner-up from Chicago will join his home state team as part of a multi-year deal. As RA…

racer.com

There's going to be quite the rookie class next year, hopefully they impress.

 

[JackRyanWMU]

James Hinchcliffe retires from full-time driving. Will be a commentator at NBC for Indycar and IMSA next year.