2023 IndyCar Series Discussion

RtN · PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2023 5:47 pm

Grosjean was confirmed at Juncos, which leaves the only truly open seats at Coyne and Foyt. In today's Mailbag, Pruett stated that Ilott's only real hope of a seat was at Coyne, and has now written an article on Foyt in which plan A is still Ferrucci for the full year or, if money is needed, they will split the seat with a pay driver coming in for non-ovals. Pedersen is apparently still not secure either, as there appear to be money troubles.

https://racer.com/2023/11/08/foyt-indyc ... a-new-era/

Coyne himself is not in any rush to sign anyone, as he is well aware that his is the last open saloon.

RtN · PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:53 pm

Pruett draws all of the various threads together.

https://racer.com/2023/11/10/indycar-si ... r-edition/

tl;dr
-Andretti still haven't decided on whether to run a fourth car or whether it would be an internal Andretti operation or spun out to BHA.
-This leaves the other undecided Honda teams (Coyne & Rahal) in a state of flux, as any part-time extra cars for them is contingent on Andretti saying no and leaving Honda with the capacity required to faciliate their desires.
-Robb was on the outs at Coyne but has put together nearly $10 million in sponsorship, which has put him firmly back in the mix.
-DeFrancesco also has money (perhaps not as much) which also makes him appealing, especially if DCR find a well-monied rookie and want to partner them with someone that has experience. Ilott and Harvey also fit this bill but don't have money.
-Coyne tested Enzo Fittipaldi this week (who does have funding) but as he told Pruett earlier he is no hurry to get things done before January and any driver who turns up with a sack of folding will get a look in.
-RLLR is still set to retain Rahal but it is curious that it has dragged on for this long with no announcement. They are also genuinely invested in Vips as it is very unlikely that all of their current drivers will be at the team in 2025 and they want a ready-made replacement, which is where the part-time 4th car plan comes in.
-Foyt's story is as it was written earlier in the week; the hope is to keep Ferrucci as a full-time team leader, but they need a budget. Help for this may come from Robb, who is in contention to nick what is currently Pedersen's seat.

Gaara · PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 4:30 pm

Rahal finally confirmed

RtN · PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:30 pm

Andretti settle on 3.

https://racer.com/2023/11/13/andretti-s ... -for-2024/

The full-time grid will remain at 27.

RtN · PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 6:49 pm

A sponsor shuffle at Ganassi leaves Lundqvist with the American Legion car and Palou will get DHL.

https://racer.com/2023/11/27/american-l ... -for-2024/

Juihi · PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:52 pm

Good to see DHL staying with the sport

Juihi · PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:58 pm

Bit of a write up on the Palou saga with McLaren. McLaren are claiming $23 million in losses

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorspor ... m-37m-loss

RtN · PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 5:35 pm

Indycar would like to add a marquee event for 2025, and Argentina may still be added to next year's schedule if they can make the numbers work.

https://racer.com/2023/11/27/indycar-lo ... iles-says/

There is apparently interest from other networks for the new TV contract for 2025.

https://racer.com/2023/11/28/indycar-st ... inal-year/

RtN · PostPosted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:56 pm

Included in this story about Stef Wilson's recovery is the nugget that Dreyer & Reinbold will be running 2 cars next May and that both of them are already spoken for in terms of drivers.

https://racer.com/2023/12/05/wilson-ful ... ice-crash/

RtN · PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:47 pm

RtN wrote:

Included in this story about Stef Wilson's recovery is the nugget that Dreyer & Reinbold will be running 2 cars next May and that both of them are already spoken for in terms of drivers.

https://racer.com/2023/12/05/wilson-ful ... ice-crash/

And now a dedicated article with the suggestion that the likely line-up will be RHR and Daly.

https://racer.com/2023/12/06/dreyer-rei ... 500-entry/

RtN · PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:33 pm

Hybrids delayed until after the 500.

https://racer.com/2023/12/07/indycar-co ... -indy-500/

Ian-S · PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:55 pm

Just scrap it.

codename_47 · PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:06 pm

Just make them even more hybrid

Probably needs a new chasis to go with them tbh

I'm looking forward to the higher top speeds and unregulated boost though, should make things spicy.

pending · PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:35 pm

It gets better, and I don't think it's a coincidence

https://racer.com/2023/12/08/honda-weig ... e-slashed/

RtN · PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:37 pm

Probably not.

Still, 3 years to sort it out, which is 3 more years of warning than Honda usually gives, so the ball is certainly in Indycar's court.

RtN · PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 1:02 am

Honda want a spec engine built by Ilmor. The manufacturer input\difference would come through software development.

https://racer.com/2023/12/13/hondas-pro ... ply-costs/

LucasWheldon · PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:10 pm

aren't IndyCar engines cost effective enough? Or the bean counters are claiming the costs aren't up for the return?

electrodevo · PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 4:39 pm

LucasWheldon wrote:

aren't IndyCar engines cost effective enough? Or the bean counters are claiming the costs aren't up for the return?

It probably depends on what Indycar wants to do. My "armchair guess" is this talk is coming about because Indycar is "stuck" with a very old chassis, zero hybridization, etc. Any efforts to add this tech in, even slowly, has been delayed and revamped over and over again. In the meantime, IMSA, which allows hybridization and more open technology, has attracted multiple engine vendors to the sport (even though IMSA viewership is smaller than Indycar).

So if Indycar wants to be a "spec" series (whether intentionally or by foot-dragging), making the engine hardware "spec" as well to reduce costs even further makes sense. Opening the software to tinkering adds a relatively cheap way to add "branding". It is what it is, spec has been the path of most regional open-wheel (eg Super Formula) and feeder series (eg F2) for a while, and Indycar is largely that way already.

Still stings a bit for those like me who do like some of the tech elements, and do remember when Indycar was more "cutting edge technology". (Though this hasn't really been the case since shortly after "the split"...) Even beyond that, being more technically innovative does mean that more engine manufacturers might open their wallets, even if the racing series is more niche (see IMSA). Clearly, Honda is frustrated at Indycar's technological foot-dragging here. Not the greatest sign in my book, but it is what it is I guess...

LucasWheldon · PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:10 pm

yeah I remember when the series was open for manufacturers bringing their creations and seeing what would stick (even a car based on a Williams tried to race) but those days are long gone

the ideal is trying to set the racing as the main product but who knows what they want

codename_47 · PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:19 pm

LucasWheldon wrote:

yeah I remember when the series was open for manufacturers bringing their creations and seeing what would stick (even a car based on a Williams tried to race) but those days are long gone

the ideal is trying to set the racing as the main product but who knows what they want

They've literally just told Indycar what they want

Spec engine with hybrid so they can actually have something to Market

Supply less engines than they do now, so a third engine manufacturer to ease the load

Indycar better get cracking on this or Honda will be gone

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2023 IndyCar Series Discussion

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