[VRR][B-SPEC] 2017 Straight Talk IndyCar Series Season

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Breaking news coming into the light in regards to preparation for 2018. Firestone have reneged on signing a deal seeing the tire supplier stay with the VRR IndyCar Series until 2020. There have been no comments as to why Firestone pulled away from the deal, but as a result, VRR has entered a deal with Pirelli to supply the series with tires effective for 2018 and 2019. VRR CEO Evangeline Porter has scheduled a date with staff to reveal the tires Pirelli will supply and what races will receive which compound. It is anticipated that Pirelli will be supplying at least three tire compounds for the 2018 season.
 
Cat Devil Racing and Honda have been in partnership for over a decade now, back when the team used to be called Sunfire Racing Team. At the end of the year, that partnership comes to an end. Cat Devil Racing filed formally for four full time entries and a part time entry in the 2018 VRR IndyCar World Series, not under the expected Honda banner, but under the Ferrari umbrella. For Honda, this is now a very critical moment. Under VRR rules, an engine supplier must have at minimum four full time entries dedicated to it to be able to remain a part of the series. With Eiffel Tower Racing Team switching to Alpine, and now their most dedicated team moving to Ferrari power, all the Japanese manufacturer has in its grasp is Rainbow Road Racing. It remains to be seen if a team like Swift Autosport, Scuderia Rabia Furiosa, or if a new team will step to the plate to keep Honda planted in IndyCar.
 
Rainbow Road Racing receiving word on the news today were a little confused on the news. Team owner R.5 has stated he has never been comfortable with the idea with Pirelli saying that "from what I've seen, they cut down speed and have 0 safety improvements to back up their actions". "If they can prove me wrong for IndyCar, I'm all ears but good luck".

Word recently spoke out on Rainbow Road Racing being the only team left with Honda currently for 2018 or if at all due to the VRR rules. R.5 stated that "I'm willing to go with Honda to the end, we have a pretty good relationship in the GTP Fantasy Series that I think has carried over well here for this season. I don't think I would be willing to let go unless I was forced by the VRR rules". Remember that in a press conference Rainbow Road Racing announced they'll interested in taking drivers under their brand so maybe this news will make them more convinced to branch out and grab new entries to keep Honda running.
 
VRR CEO Evangeline Porter opened up about the breaking news that Pirelli would replace Firestone in 2018 with an explanation as to Pirelli's ability. "Pirelli, in most forms of motorsport, have produced very solid tires for varying levels of racing, including endurance racing. The inherent problem about their open wheel tires all comes down to what those series require Pirelli to make. With us, Pirelli will be bringing more durable tires, not only similar to the three compounds Firestone has brought this year, but more tires optimized for the larger variety of venues we race. Preliminary testing we have seen over the past two years we've courted with Pirelli have made me certain that the tires they will provide for us will outshine those being handed to us by Firestone of recently."
 
SRF Team Boss David Rossi was asked about his teams situation given the recent events. David Rossi"We remained committed to Chevy at the moment but anything could still happen as the 2018 is a long way away. The more manufacturers in the sport the better so it would be sad to see Honda go."
 
Jamie Ngaire-Jardine shocked the VRR IndyCar paddock today as she announced that Polaris Motorsports had allowed her the freedom to talk to other teams regarding a potential 2018 drive before coming to a decision on whether to remain at the powerhouse team. "I'm remaining open for the next season, as well as years after that," said Ngaire-Jardine "I want to find a drive that fits who I am, and I've been allowed to see what other teams can offer as far as seats for the season and seasons to come" Jamie Ngaire-Jardine is a crowd favorite with her on the edge racing, and has won both editions of the Monster Shootout. She reportedly is in line to make $975,000 per season on her current contract, and that is what her asking price will be for prospective teams

Black Cat Racing of the Toshiba Indy Lights Series has announced a second driver to join Reilly Domingues of Canada. Satsuki Matsumoto of Japan will be taking the other seat after a successful junior career, that includes multiple Japanese Fiat 500 Championships
 
Impulse Racing team principal Asumi Matsuo let her thoughts go on Firestone being replaced by Pirelli in 2018 and the updates regarding silly season 2018: "After what has happened with recent Firestone tests, with tires deflating rapidly at speed, while Pirelli have been working on endurance tires for VRR IndyCar, this move seems very expected. We hope Pirelli continue the work they have started...the amount of adjustments teams are making show how much the series itself is evolving. Cat Devil Racing walking to Maranello was certainly a surprise to me when I read it. A lot of home fans in Japan see it as a split of loyalties. They want to cheer for a Japanese driver and a Japanese team, but they don't want to cheer against Japanese power. Cat Devil Racing warned us personally not to go with Honda when we embarked on this adventure. We became the factory team to Alpine. Cat Devil Racing has seen its way out as well, and have picked one of the strongest engines in the field so far. Seeing drivers start moving around is intriguing to us. We have a lot of options on the table. Jerome, Tyler obviously wanting to stay on the team. But we have to look at potential free agents. Ngaire-Jardine being allowed to 'window-shop' is appealing to us because she is certainly a race winning talent. Results this year so far don't mean much yet. I think once we get to Indianapolis, the full set of cards will be on display, and it'll come down to who can react the fastest...Impulse does not have its team lineup set in 2018 yet. We have I believe 70% of the funding we need from Vodafone, Samsung, Panasonic, and Ubisoft, but the drivers we pick out will still need to bring some sponsorship of their own."
 
Ecurie Ecosse has welcomed the announcement of Pirelli becoming the official STICS tire supplier for 2018 with caution after Firestone announced it was pulling out of their current deal. Team principal Steven McTavish said, "Whilst we welcome Pirelli as the new official tire supplier, we remain cautious as to whether they can provide tires that can provide durability as well as allowing competitive racing. Firestone has been such an established brand in Indycar and the level of competition that Pirelli will be dealing with when they take over in 2018, is a lot different than in Formula 1. Even so, we have optimism Pirelli can be successful here in Indycar."
 
Bloody hell, three weeks ago we all knew how 2018 was shaping up...and then half of VRR start's dropping bombs. The biggest one is SPK's announcement that she's been dealing with her divorce, which is hell even in the "best" cases, and knowing how stressing it can be my heart goes out to her and I'll try to help her out if she asks for it. She's got Eva, Clayton, Kuni, and Sakura already, but the offer's there, and I apologize for being so late on the subject.

As for everything else thus far:
  • Honda goes from Championship contending engine to perhaps being forced out of Indycar, which concerns us as well as Ford is in a similar situation in 2019. Also, should have realized something was going on when the factory Honda team was 'TBA' in the VRR release last Saturday.
  • Impulse and Eifel moving to Alpine was a shock due to the supplier, CDR moving to Ferrari is more due to their history with Honda. All things must end sometime, though...
  • And as I mentioned, Ford picks up Ecurie Ecosse for a transitional season, which would give us four for the moment. But it also confirms AMG, ergo Mercedes, are gonna show up and at least attempt to wreck shop on Ferrari again.
  • We go from a hard cap of 4 teams per shop to no cap on teams, while possibly still having an Engine distribution cap.
  • Firestone bowing out, Pirelli jumping into lone tire provider role, and I personally think the flak they've gotten over their F1 tires is unjust...most of the time, same as Goodyear in NASCAR. I have faith they'll do a good job.
  • Perl-Speed is also going to Ferrari, meaning the Prancing Horse of Maranello is the left hand in the stranglehold on the series. Chevrolet maintains as the right hand, and both are doing well so far.
  • Team Christie Upton is facing dissolution.....and is doing so with sledgehammers and Portuguese flair. I'm very interested to see where Nico and Matheus take their re-engineered effort into 2018.
  • Sponsors are already being thrown about like mad, but JNJ made it interesting by announcing that she has sponsors, but isn't locked into a seat at Steph's Bowtie Bullpen. I know we would make room at Starion if she's interested.
  • Lastly there's the provisional 2018 calendar, and of note is that the Crown drops two events ATM but those three races it has are Pocono, Indy, and MOTHER ******* MONACO! Canada sees four races, there's other new additions, some old places return, and the first test of the year...is in Austin... Guess I'm hosting the pre-season gala next year. Hope y'all can handle low-key stuff.


@Eva I have a question. What's happening to Team Porter? is it being folded into Black Rose during the off-season, or is it going away entirely, or is another Porter taking it over?

PinkKitty13
Jamie Ngaire-Jardine shocked the VRR IndyCar paddock today as she announced that Polaris Motorsports had allowed her the freedom to talk to other teams regarding a potential 2018 drive before coming to a decision on whether to remain at the powerhouse team. "I'm remaining open for the next season, as well as years after that," said Ngaire-Jardine "I want to find a drive that fits who I am, and I've been allowed to see what other teams can offer as far as seats for the season and seasons to come" Jamie Ngaire-Jardine is a crowd favorite with her on the edge racing, and has won both editions of the Monster Shootout. She reportedly is in line to make $975,000 per season on her current contract, and that is what her asking price will be for prospective teams
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in talking about it. If you're interested, let me know and I'll set up a convo.
 
BKGlover
Bloody hell, three weeks ago we all knew how 2018 was shaping up...and then half of VRR start's dropping bombs. The biggest one is SPK's announcement that she's been dealing with her divorce, which is hell even in the "best" cases, and knowing how stressing it can be my heart goes out to her and I'll try to help her out if she asks for it. She's got Eva, Clayton, Kuni, and Sakura already, but the offer's there, and I apologize for being so late on the subject.

As for everything else thus far:
  • Honda goes from Championship contending engine to perhaps being forced out of Indycar, which concerns us as well as Ford is in a similar situation in 2019. Also, should have realized something was going on when the factory Honda team was 'TBA' in the VRR release last Saturday.
  • Impulse and Eifel moving to Alpine was a shock due to the supplier, CDR moving to Ferrari is more due to their history with Honda. All things must end sometime, though...
  • And as I mentioned, Ford picks up Ecurie Ecosse for a transitional season, which would give us four for the moment. But it also confirms AMG, ergo Mercedes, are gonna show up and at least attempt to wreck shop on Ferrari again.
  • We go from a hard cap of 4 teams per shop to no cap on teams, while possibly still having an Engine distribution cap.
  • Firestone bowing out, Pirelli jumping into lone tire provider role, and I personally think the flak they've gotten over their F1 tires is unjust...most of the time, same as Goodyear in NASCAR. I have faith they'll do a good job.
  • Perl-Speed is also going to Ferrari, meaning the Prancing Horse of Maranello is the left hand in the stranglehold on the series. Chevrolet maintains as the right hand, and both are doing well so far.
  • Team Christie Upton is facing dissolution.....and is doing so with sledgehammers and Portuguese flair. I'm very interested to see where Nico and Matheus take their re-engineered effort into 2018.
  • Sponsors are already being thrown about like mad, but JNJ made it interesting by announcing that she has sponsors, but isn't locked into a seat at Steph's Bowtie Bullpen. I know we would make room at Starion if she's interested.
  • Lastly there's the provisional 2018 calendar, and of note is that the Crown drops two events ATM but those three races it has are Pocono, Indy, and MOTHER ******* MONACO! Canada sees four races, there's other new additions, some old places return, and the first test of the year...is in Austin... Guess I'm hosting the pre-season gala next year. Hope y'all can handle low-key stuff.


@Eva I have a question. What's happening to Team Porter? is it being folded into Black Rose during the off-season, or is it going away entirely, or is another Porter taking it over?



I'd be interested in talking about it. If you're interested, let me know and I'll set up a convo.
Click to expand...
Team Porter is being morphed back into Black Rose Racing. Still looking at our options for our two remaining open seats.
 
Cherokee Motorsports ended 2016 as the VRR IndyCar Team Champion. But, with 2017 looking to hold less fortune currently, they too are looking towards 2018. Several changes are happening once the checkered flag falls in Fontana. Cherokee Motorsports' open wheel division will be aptly named Cherokee GP. Both Clayton Hardy, and Behrris Windross, race winners in VRR IndyCar, will be leaving the series after they finish their 5 race obligations. Michael White remains unconfirmed for 2018, leaving a sole rookie in one of the teams full time seats. Ronald Hahn, Munich-native driver, is set to be called up from Indy Lights and the Truck Series in 2017 to contend in the most competitive series in the world, bringing a vast array of German sponsors with him including Allianz and Adidas. Team owner Clayton Hardy has stayed tight lipped as to how many full time cars he wants to field or who is being looked at outside of wanting to retain Michael White. The team, to make things more intriguing, is switching to Alpine for a year before transitioning to Mercedes powertrains with Ecurie Ecosse. One thing for certain with the Smoky Mountain team, is that nothing is for certain.
 
I have no qualms about giving my drivers autonomy to look for other seats in 2018. We all want to win races and win championships. Our season has not launched the best way possible. We've stumbled into the same reliability issues Chevrolet had last year, and I have a responsibility to them to do the best I can to give them winning race cars. We are a championship caliber team, with a back marker quality engine reliability. I see all these teams moving brands, changing loyalties, mapping out two steps ahead. I need to do the same for my friends, my teammates, my drivers. If we don't find the improvement we need from Chevrolet, we too will find a new engine supplier. Honda has courted us on the possibility of coming back, but with how bipolar they were, I'd find more comfort racing in soap box cars. Ford could use a numbers boost, and Ray Taylor proved they can win. Alpine, Ferrari are both hot commodities, and should not be taken lightly, but at the same time, we cannot fit our stable into their capped quotas. These next three races will be the best indicator as to what I need to do for the team.
 
I'm afraid again....
giphy.gif
 
"Very pleased with that run. We really struggled in qualifying to wind up on the 10th row, so we're pleased that we managed to grab a podium. We could have gotten 2nd but Santos just had more momentum and I didn't want to cause a race ending crash for anyone towards the end. I'm happy with that strong performance.
 
"We will take that after the last few races. We are really happy with the strategy that the team played for me and my teammate. We just got in the wrong lane there at the end and the cost us the podium. Really happy for the 28 team."
 
🤬 AGAIN!!! I'm so sick of these bull**** finishes on the speedways! We get bit trying fuel strategy, we get bit when we don't, even if we could get a decent shuffle on that, how the hell can we NEVER catch up, usually because it feels like we're 50 miles back from one car, then 50 miles ahead of the next! Who do I have to pay off to have a not-🤬 finish! **** A DUCK!!!

In short...🤬🤬🤬:banghead::banghead:🤬:grumpy:
 
Its safe to say the 2017 season hasn't gotten off to the start that Swift Autosport was hoping, but Thomas Rogers, driver of the teams # 2 car is still has a positive outlook on the rest of the season. "Yeah we've struggled a bit so far, but we ran pretty good at Fontana and that gives us hope for the rest of the year. We proved last year that we can be competitive, and I am sure that the guys at the shop will keep working on improving the cars."

Rogers was also surprised when it was announced that Firestone would not be returning as the series' tire supplier. The Nashville, TN native was sad to see Firestone leave the series but he is anxious to see what Pirelli can bring to the series. "I literally grew up just down the road from Firestone's North American headquarters, and its kind of sad to see them go, but I have full confidence in Pirelli supplying a great tire."

When asked about his 2018 plans the #2 driver said "I plan on being back with Swift next year", but he did say that he would listen to offers from other teams saying: "Silly season seems to have started early this year, and there are a lot of good teams with potential openings and I would be doing myself a disservice not to seriously consider any offers that might come my way."
 
After publically announcing that she was able to talk to other teams regarding a drive for the 2018 season, Jamie Ngaire-Jardine has apparently found a new place to land after barely 24 hours time. After weighing offers from multiple teams including B. K. Glover's Starion Motorsports outfit, and remaining at the powerhouse Polaris Motorsports team, Jamie announced that she would be driving for the Eiffel Tower Racing Team for the next season
 
Looking at the amount of reserved entries so far, engine suppliers look like this:
Alpine: 10 full time (limit), 12 total
Chevrolet: 8 full time, 8 total
Ferrari: 9 full time, 11 total
Ford: 3 full time, 3 total
Honda: 1 full time, 1 total

Teams included in those lists:
Black Rose Racing-Ferrari
Cat Devil Racing-Ferrari
Impulse Racing-Alpine
Cherokee GP-Alpine
Striker Motorsports-Chevrolet
Ecurie Ecosse-Ford
Starion Motorsports-Ford
Eiffel Tower Racing-Alpine
Scuderia Rabia Furiosa-Chevrolet
Rainbow Road Racing-Honda
Equipa Chama Transatlantica-Chevrolet

Teams currently unconfirmed for 2018:
Big Blue Motorsports
Team Kate Upton
Swift Autosport
Sovereign Motorsports
 
Coming off of a big announcement from Eiffel Tower Racing that two-time defending winner of the Monster Energy Shootout, Jamie Ngarie-Jardine, was joining the lineup, team owner and headlining driver, Sebastian Devereux, just announced that he would be stepping down at the end of 2017. "I just have not been putting in the results that our equipment is capable of. It is a really tough choice, but I am ready to focus solely on management, and leave the racing to my drivers," was all the Frenchman had to say Monday morning. Noting the plural "drivers" would suggest that Ngarie-Jardine will not be alone next year, but as to what will come of that second seat is yet to be known.
 
Bold Manor "Ready To Talk"

Rookie William Manor has preferred to keep a low profile since joining the Indycar roster in 2017, but focusing instead on adopting to the DW12 along with bedding himself into the Team Kate Upton camp. Following a string of steady results and remarks made recently by Asumi Matsuo of Impulse Racing, William has decided now is the time to take in some media presence.

"Everything has been strangely quiet around Team Kate Upton of late, which in a way has been good for me as I look to settle in and learn the car. But at this stage of the season, I was hoping to have seen a bit more input and output really.

"I see these other drivers doing press interviews after every session, and that is down to me as a driver in my early career when I choose not to take part so much. However it is concerning not to see anyone from TKU represented.

"I want to maintain a long career in VRR, so that is my goal now away from the circuit."

Responding directly to those remarks made by Matsuo, William added "All the team managers know where my motorhome is, lets talk."
 
Eva
Breaking news coming into the light in regards to preparation for 2018. Firestone have reneged on signing a deal seeing the tire supplier stay with the VRR IndyCar Series until 2020. There have been no comments as to why Firestone pulled away from the deal, but as a result, VRR has entered a deal with Pirelli to supply the series with tires effective for 2018 and 2019. VRR CEO Evangeline Porter has scheduled a date with staff to reveal the tires Pirelli will supply and what races will receive which compound. It is anticipated that Pirelli will be supplying at least three tire compounds for the 2018 season.
Click to expand...

KuniKino****a
Cat Devil Racing and Honda have been in partnership for over a decade now, back when the team used to be called Sunfire Racing Team. At the end of the year, that partnership comes to an end. Cat Devil Racing filed formally for four full time entries and a part time entry in the 2018 VRR IndyCar World Series, not under the expected Honda banner, but under the Ferrari umbrella. For Honda, this is now a very critical moment. Under VRR rules, an engine supplier must have at minimum four full time entries dedicated to it to be able to remain a part of the series. With Eiffel Tower Racing Team switching to Alpine, and now their most dedicated team moving to Ferrari power, all the Japanese manufacturer has in its grasp is Rainbow Road Racing. It remains to be seen if a team like Swift Autosport, Scuderia Rabia Furiosa, or if a new team will step to the plate to keep Honda planted in IndyCar.
Click to expand...

PinkKitty13
Jamie Ngaire-Jardine shocked the VRR IndyCar paddock today as she announced that Polaris Motorsports had allowed her the freedom to talk to other teams regarding a potential 2018 drive before coming to a decision on whether to remain at the powerhouse team. "I'm remaining open for the next season, as well as years after that," said Ngaire-Jardine "I want to find a drive that fits who I am, and I've been allowed to see what other teams can offer as far as seats for the season and seasons to come" Jamie Ngaire-Jardine is a crowd favorite with her on the edge racing, and has won both editions of the Monster Shootout. She reportedly is in line to make $975,000 per season on her current contract, and that is what her asking price will be for prospective teams
Click to expand...



2d7j9.jpg
 
Early on in the running of the Skype Indy 300, Jacob Descoteau had quite the competitive car. he'd been shuffled to the back, but was able to work the low line all the way to the front. He would take the lead and lead quite a few laps. It was looking like he might have the car to beat for the rest of the day. However, the car started to handle rather ill and he dropped back. Shuffled up to the high line, the car was becoming tighter and tighter. He got up in the marbles in Turn 4 and brushed the wall, bouncing off of it into the pack. Numerous cars were involved in the wreck, with some going on their lids. We were able to catch up with Descoteau following the race. He made the following comments.

"Yeah, we had a good car. Very fast, very competitive. Sucks that it had to end the way that it did. I made a slight mistake, it was all my fault. Let the car get too high up the track, and we just bounced off the wall. From that point, I couldn't do anything else but hang on and hope for the best. I'm really glad that no one was seriously injured, just mainly a couple scrapes and bruises. Ragus and Ritter had a big collision there, the fact that they both walked away is a testament to how safe and durable these cars are. You just gotta praise VRR for all the work they've done to make these cars as safe as they can possibly be. We're going so fast and in close packs that there's just bound to be crashes. But the fact that no one was seriously injured is amazing. I know from my crash back in Las Vegas that these accidents can be very serious, and the fact that I walked away was nothing short of a miracle.

"Overall, we had a really fast car, and I know we can compete for a win in one of these races. We're capable of doing great stuff here at Polaris. It's just a matter of if luck is on our side. Chevy's done a good job at making a fast race car. It's just that every time we're doing well, something goes awry. Gotta thank the sponsors for sticking with us through these tough times. I know we'll get a win by the end of the season. It's bound to happen."
 

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