TBK-Light.com

She's better suited to road racing, why not Pippa? Kinda pissed about this choice.

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I like Simona, and she definitely had some ability. I just worry that she's been out of an Indycar a bit too long. I also agree that ovals may not be her strong point. Hoping she proves me wrong. Also hoping that Pippa can find a ride this year.

Agreed, I don't dislike Simona in the least, and I was a big advocate for her in the past, but it feels like it's been forever since she last had an IndyCar ride. We are in agreement that she is a road course specialist.

What really grinds me is that Pippa has been in the current spec car and has proven herself capable at Indy in garbage cars, 2019 being a great example. I really, REALLY wanted to see her get one good chance in a top team at Indy. Plus, I know for a fact, via social media that Pippa works her ass off for sponsor activation. Not saying Simona doesn't, but I see Pippa working hard to secure her funding and be a good brand ambassador for whomever she is aligned with. She is also a coach and mentor for a number of young up and coming female drivers and is part of the ShiftUp program/foundation for that very cause.

Sorry, that turned into a rant directed at no one who actually has anything to do with this decision.

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Marco is testing what used to be the #88 at Sebring this week. You can also see a Genesys logo on the sidepod flick-ups.



Dixon was on top yesterday followed by his 2 full-time teammates. JJ 1.3 seconds down.

https://racer.com/2021/01/18/dixon-sets ... ycar-test/

Unfortunately, I think Pippa has ended up with more of an 'oval specialist' reputation. She also hasn't had too much success finding budgets recently, which is horrible when it's obvious how much work she puts into it every year.

Miller confirms in the Mailbag that money was a factor in Marco's decision (not only did they lose the Leader's Circle money but US Concrete have left as well), and that the #98 will probably not be a full-time car.

_________________
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.

Rick Ware Racing has confirmed they will be adding a full-time entry in IndyCar


(likely the 2nd Coyne car)

The worst-kept secret in broadcasting has been confirmed with Comcast revealing that NBCSN is going to be shut down later this 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.

The season opener has been moved back a week and will now be on NBC. It's gonna give us 4 races, in 15 days to start the season. Hopefully there wont be any more changes.
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar ... o-big-nbc/

The Gold Pass is being wound up and practice and qualifying will move to Peacock for this year.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2021/01/01 ... nouncement

_________________
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.

We all kinda knew it was going to happen but it's now official. Hinch is back and full time!
https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/ ... ort-return

Ugh, one more F1 driver saying that hurling himself toward a wall at 200mph is fine..... unless the pavement is laid out in the shape of an oval. Zandvoort and it's banked turns, with SAFER bariers and catch fencing was ok to race on in 2020, but heaven forbid he'd have to turn a lap at the pole speed of 143mph at Gateway (Dixon's speed for pole at the 2020 Gateway race.).
https://autos.yahoo.com/indycar-maybe-i ... 00993.html

I get your point, but the pole speed for the Gateway race last summer was 192 mph.

Grosjean was scared of ovals for years (even when talking about NASCAR back when he first got signed by Haas when there was rumors of trying to get a Watkins Glen one-off during the summer break), so it's not a big surprise.

Every driver has to decide for themselves on if they want to take the risks, and if they feel that the risks are too high & they decide that they don't want to - then I respect that

-

Doug Boles & the Speedway has started a videocast / interview series on the IMS YouTube page. retired track historian Donald Davidson & Takuma Sato was on the show for the first episode.

The Mailbag offers some more Silly Season cleanup - Grosjean should be confirmed very shortly (potentially today), Kimball will likely be in a third car for Foyt for the 500, Carlin will remain as they were for last year, Buhl\Citrone are still interested in making a third car work for Rahal but it isn't likely and Herta would like to run the #98 full-time but Marco would need to confirm his races first.

_________________
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.

Yeah I'm not sure why drivers get shit for saying no to ovals. I always felt bad for Conway getting criticised for the same thing. Ovals are obviously more dangerous than road racing, particularly the Indy 500, saying they're the same because of one corner at Zandvoort is massively over-simplifying things. If drivers don't want to take the extra risk then that's entirely their decision and quite understandable imo.

Ed Jones back at Coyne in the #18.

https://racer.com/2021/01/27/jones-land ... -sullivan/

_________________
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.

LOL damn, okay okay, I screwed up and worded the post wrong, I'll admit that but it wasn't anything specifically against him or calling him a "pussy" or "scared". I just meant its silly these guys last year were fine with a race at Zandvoort which has banked turns, with safer barriers, catch fencing and are designed off oval track turns but the second it's an actual oval then they jump to the worst case scenario. Yes, it's a dangerous sport and someone with a family does have valid concerns about their life, I just tried to point out the contradiction and I guess I did it incorrectly. Also, thank you Chris A for pointing out my mistake with the speeds at Gateway. I misread it and 143mph was the overall race speed, not pole speed. Basically I screwed up that entire post guys lol my apologies.

Pruett's story on Jones discloses that the #19 is likely to be shared between Grosjean and Cody Ware.

https://racer.com/2021/01/27/jones-rech ... omecoming/

_________________
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.