TBK-Light.com

Boo to charters

The future of engines.

https://racer.com/2024/05/22/indycar-20 ... nto-focus/

-The current proposal would involve keeping the current ICE (2.2L twin turbo V6), but locking down almost all of the components at some point in the near future. This would avoid the costs associated with developing and building an entirely new ICE, as well as minimising the costs of maintaining and improving the current units.
-Instead, the focus on development would be pivoted towards the hybrid element. This is reportedly a keen request from manufacturers both inside and outside the series.
-The current hybrid arrangement (supercapacitator) may or may not be retained. If a different battery-based option were to be adopted, a new chassis would have to be commissioned in order to fit it.
-The parts of the ICE that are not left open to development would be offered by Ilmor to any new manufacturer interested in joining.

All told, this looks like a tweaked version of the initial Honda proposal, which isn't a bad thing.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

Pruett has written a follow-up to the engine piece, this time focusing on the chassis.

https://racer.com/2024/05/24/indycar-we ... s-options/

The salient point is that a battery-based hybrid system is believed to be preferred for the future, and so a new chassis will need to be in place by 2027. Mark Miles is quoted as saying that it would be best if any new engine and chassis came in together.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

A nugget from the Mailbag about future engine suppliers;

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

OMG please be FIAT!

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

Why? MSR benched Blomqvist for Detroit and Road America...

https://www.indycar.com/news/2024/05/05-29-helio-msr

Maybe Blomqvist can't help the team fraudulently file some taxes, so they have called up a professional.

I think the answer lies here;



The #66 is currently joint-22nd in the Leaders Circle fight (the two ineligible Ganassi cars are both ahead). And Helio did have a strong finish to his last full season, with his worst road/street finish post-Toronto being 15th. So I am guessing that they feel he can get better results.

If the story about Shank and Honda reuniting in IMSA is true, I wouldn't expect Blomqvist to get a second season in Indycar anyway.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

Am I missing something? What exactly were they expecting? The guy hasn't driven single seaters for what, 3 years? And certainly nothing like an Indycar so far in his career, and after 4 races, with 1 being an oval (which I don't believe he has ever done before) they are surprised that the results haven't been good? I mean he did 3 races last year, but they weren't exactly fucking stellar results either. Are you fucking kidding me?

I wonder if Helio will be a placeholder until Malukas' wrist is OK so they could sign him?

_________________
07.04.1968 - Flower of Scotland when will we see your like again?
01.05.1994 - We'll never forget...

I would not be suprised if they are waiting on Lil' Dave. Pruett brings up Ilott and Daly as other names possibly under consideration.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

That comes unexpected:
https://racer.com/2024/05/29/vautier-re ... r-detroit/

Helio has confirmed that Blomqvist was benched to try and salvage a Leaders Circle place.

Newgarden has signed a contract extension with Penske, which now leaves Rossi as the biggest name needing a new deal for next year.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

Ghiotto will be back in the 51 for Road America and Laguna.

Ill just leave that here.
That's Canapinos wife btw

Some Mailbag speculation on the TV rights; NBC has allegedly offered to put every race on the big channel but that offer was not enough to stop the series from signing with FOX.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

Then I hope FOX will offer the same. If they go for a bit more morey, just to end up on a streaming service... well actually that would be very, very indycary.

If it is FOX, then most (as in: nearly all) of the races will be on FS1 or FS2.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

And bumped whenever it clashes with Xfinity races....

_________________
RIP Birmingham Wheels: here's some of the crash videos I recorded when it was there:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaKIE ... 5t9d5PvoHA

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/paulhadsley

XFinity is moving to The CW, chief. Which, incidentally, means that Adam Alexander is likely to become Indycar's PBP if they move.

_________________
Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.