IndyCar Silly Season 2010-2011

[Muzza]

Tony Kanaan to leave Andretti..

Andretti Autosport has re-signed American driver Ryan Hunter-Reay for a further two years but has released former series champion Tony Kanaan from his contract effective immediately.

After eight years with Michael Andretti’s IndyCar team, Kanaan is now a free agent following 7-Eleven’s decision to scale back its sponsorship of the team.

The convenience store brand will remain with Andretti Autosport as a subsidiary backer of Danica Patrick’s #7 car, with Patrick, Marco Andretti and Hunter-Reay all retained to give the squad an all-American three-driver line-up in 2011.

“When 7-Eleven notified us that they would not be returning as the primary sponsor of Tony’s car in 2011, we were left with a very challenging situation,” said Andretti, who took on complete ownership of the team one year ago after buying out partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.

“Given the timing of that notification, we felt it was important to give Tony the freedom to review his options outside of Andretti Autosport.

“We understand firsthand his value as a driver in this series and we did not want to prevent him from furthering his career in the event we could not arrive at a reasonable solution for him for 2011. Today we agreed that the best option for both Tony and the team is to allow him the freedom to sign with another team.”

It is unclear if Kanaan will find a home in the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series, but as one of the stars of the championship his name has been linked to many teams, including Panther Racing and KV Racing Technology.


Ryan Hunter-Reay will drive for Andretti Autosport for the next two seasons
Panther Racing and driver Dan Wheldon have suffered through strained relations of late, while KVRT endured a wretched season with many crashes from their inexperienced driver line-up.

While Kanaan fights for his future, Hunter-Reay has been retained by the team, although the sponsorship for his entry in 2011 remains uncertain.

Hope he gets another ride, he's a fantastic driver to watch on the Ovals 

[bradk12fan]

Umm... Kanaan's been visiting Ganassi and Penske, and I've heard that he's going to Ganassi

[Muzza]

Well Penske is all sorted for next year, same line up with some new sponsors..

http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2010/12/09/first-pics-briscoes-indy-500-challenger/

[Muzza]

J.R. Hildebrand will get a full time drive next year..

The number of North American drivers in the IndyCar Series is on the rise, with Panther Racing announcing that 22 year old J.R. Hildebrand will drive its National Guard Dallara next season.

Hildebrand won the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Championship, before participating in Formula One’s Young Driver Test with Force India at the end of the year.

The Californian then made two IndyCar Series starts for Dreyer and Reindbold in 2010 – setting the fastest lap of the race at Infineon Raceway.

Hildebrand will replace Briton Dan Wheldon at the two-time title winning Panther squad next season.

The team’s CEO, John Barnes, suggested that having an American driver was a good fit for sponsor The National Guard – a reserve military force for the United States.

Rest of the story: HERE

So where to for Weldon?

[bradk12fan]

So where to for Weldon?

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, is interested in Wheldon, and owner Kyle Busch offered Wheldon to participate in a test session. Also, Busch invited Wheldon to the NASCAR season finale at Homestead as a guest, which Wheldon accepted.

[bradk12fan]

Ganassi to make a 'BIG' announcement at 11 A.M. EST regarding Indycar

[bradk12fan]

I've heard that Graham Rahal will be driving a 3rd car for Ganassi

[bradk12fan]

Graham Rahal will drive the #38 Service Central car for Ganassi Racing Teams and Charlie Kimball will drive the #83 Novo Nordisk car for  Ganassi Racing Teams

[Muzza]

Tony Kanaan will return to the IndyCar Series for a ninth consecutive season next year after doing a deal with de Ferran Dragon Racing.

The new deal will see him step into de Ferran’s lone entry with a yet to be announced sponsorship package.

 

[bradk12fan]

Nice to see that Tony Kanaan will have a ride next year, so that leaves us with at least one question left... Where will Dan Wheldon be racing next year?

[bradk12fan]

I just heard a rumor that Firestone may not be back with Indycar in 2012, and that Indycar officials have been negotiating with Firestone since the end of the season. Not sure if there is anything to this rumor, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[bradk12fan]

I just heard that AJ Foyt Racing has announced that Vitor Meira will return for the 2011 season

[bradk12fan]

Milka Duno to run the 2011 ARCA Racing Series season opener at Daytona:

Milka Duno to run ARCA race at Daytona: Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard's Champion, has signed Milka Duno to run the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Duno, a driver in the IndyCar Series, will begin her foray with Sheltra Motorsports piloting the #63 Dodge Charger at the newly-repaved Daytona International Speedway for three days of ARCA Racing Series testing January 11-13. Champion crew chief, Jon Wolfe, will work with Duno throughout the test session to get her comfortable, fast and ready for the ARCA Racing Series season opener at DIS on February 12th. "I'm very excited and grateful for this opportunity to test with the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard's Championship winning team," said Duno. "Patrick, Jon and Brandon head a very skilled and dedicated organization and having met with them and visited their facility it is easy to see why they are the 2010 champions!" Additional information about Milka Duno's 2011 season will also become available in the next several weeks.(Sheltra Motorsports)(1-10-2011)

from jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

Many rule changes in Indycar:

Double-wide restarts on ovals and the restart area moving closer to the start/finish line were among the 2011 rules alterations announced by IZOD IndyCar Series president of competition and racing operations Brian Barnhart during the State of INDYCAR program in Indianapolis.

On-track changes incorporated in the rulebook followed input from team owners and drivers, along with communication with fans.

“We’re trying to increase the excitement and drama around the events,” Barnhart said. “Much of it is a response to fans’ expectations.”

Double-wide restarts will be implemented at an oval to be determined following further discussion with drivers. The race director will instruct drivers to line up according to running order on the final caution lap, with the race leader taking the inside position of Row 1.

The rule won’t be applied to road and street events because of their physical characteristics (narrow and quick corners that don’t allow for cars side by side) plus the build-up of tire tread “marbles” off-line as the race proceeds, though INDYCAR officials will monitor the racing at each venue to potentially integrate it for future seasons.

“At venues such as Barber, you have a right-hander and left-hander coming up on the start/finish line,” Barnhart said. “You don’t have time to get two wide. It’s easier to do that coming for the initial start because guys are willing to run off-line because the track is clean. They won’t do that an hour into the race.”

When the field hears “green next time by,” the restart zone will be closer to the start/finish line and be identified according to each venue’s characteristics. On ovals, the restart area had been between Turns 3 and 4.

“It’s a fan’s expectation that it’s where the restart should take place. It should be an exciting change,” Barnhart said.

Other changes include:

• Pit order for the field will be based on the qualifying performance from the previous similar venue instead of based on entrant points standings. An example: The starting order from the St. Petersburg race will determine the pit box location for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.

The pit box order for the March 27 season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be determined by entrant points from the 2010 season, while the Indianapolis 500 pit selection process will remain the same as past years.

“We were looking for ways to reward drivers for their efforts in qualifying,” said Barnhart, who noted that pit order for the first race hasn’t been decided. “By changing the pit selection process, it provides some variety so it’s not always the same teams and drivers at pit out, which can be an advantageous pit location. I think it will be really good to mix things up a bit.”

• The pit commit line is moving to avoid drivers being caught in “no-man’s land.”

“Pit lane is technically defined by where the speed limit begins and ends,” Barnhart said. “Everything else is racetrack. At a track like Homestead, where the pit entrance is off the backstretch onto the deceleration lane in Turn 3, you could find yourself on that decel lane heading to pit lane and if it went caution you could not stop because you’re not within the pit boundaries – the speed limit zone.

“Now, if you make the decision to leave the racing surface and head to a pit box and a caution comes out while you are within that extended zone you will be able to stop.”

A marker, such as a cone, will identify the start of the zone.

• The first session of a race weekend will be 75 minutes, with rookies and cars outside the top 10 on the track for the initial 45 minutes followed by all cars for the duration. As a complementary rule change, an extra set of tires will be made available to those participating in the 45-minute session. At the conclusion of the 75 minutes, the top 10 cars will have to turn in one set and the other cars will have to turn in at least one, if not two if they chose to get the second set (teams will be charged for the second set).

• One set of tires will be allowed for each segment of road and street course qualifying (a maximum of three sets for the first, second and Firestone Fast Six sessions). “It’s their choice whether they use reds or blacks in any of the three segments, but whatever set they bolt on and start the segment with that’s the only set they can use,” Barnhart said.

Additionally, the IZOD IndyCar Series announced that it will reduce specifications for all 2012 engines from 2.4 to 2.2 liters.

“One of our goals with the new engine was to challenge the automotive industry to balance power, efficiency and durability,” Barnhart said. “As we've progressed defining our engine rules with the INDYCAR Engine Committee, we felt it necessary to reduce displacement to a maximum of 2.2 liters to be in line with our smaller, lighter and more efficient direction.”

The INDYCAR Engine Committee is a working group comprised of representatives from participating engine manufacturers, under the chairmanship of INDYCAR. This group meets several times a year to discuss manufacturer goals and emerging technologies while developing a road map for the future.

Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus have committed to building engines for the next generation IZOD IndyCar Series car in 2012 and are represented on the INDYCAR Engine Committee.

The 2012 platform allows manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders. The engines will be turbo charged, producing between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes. All engines will run on E85 with additional details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.

from Indycar.com

[todd kelly]

Edmonton returns to 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights schedule:
INDYCAR, the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, announced today that it will return to Edmonton, Alberta, after City Council and promoter Octane Motorsports Events, Inc., reached an agreement on providing facility upgrades.

The IZOD IndyCar Series will compete at the Edmonton City Centre Airport on its previously scheduled date, Sunday, July 24. Firestone Indy Lights also will compete on the temporary circuit that weekend.

"We are extremely pleased that the City of Edmonton and Octane were able to reach an agreement to continue our event," said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division, IZOD IndyCar Series. "We have to thank the city, mayor, local businesses and Octane for working together to make this happen and, of course, the fans for pushing for it. We know our fans in Edmonton are looking forward to seeing this race restored and we plan on to deliver a great event for them."

INDYCAR announced Nov. 3, 2010, its intention not return to Edmonton for a fourth consecutive after the City of Edmonton and Octane were unable to reach an agreement on race circuit changes.

Octane sought to retain the 1.96-mile, 14-turn course that incorporated Runway 12-30, but the city moved all air traffic to that runway after closing a companion runway a week after the Honda Indy Edmonton in July. Retaining the circuit, which was repaved before the initial IZOD IndyCar Series race, would close the airport - primarily used for cargo, by the military and private pilots - during the three days of the event.

"We are extremely glad to finally be able to officially invite racing fans to gather in Edmonton on July 22, 23 and 24," said François Dumontier, president of Octane Motorsport Events, Inc. "While it may have taken more time than expected to confirm its return, our group has all intentions to use the next seven months to offer to Edmontonians and Western Canadians the very best motorsports spectacle they've seen since 2005 in Alberta's capital city."

[Oldtony]

Indy seems to be taking a much more pragmatic approach to rules, and to car secs and design than they did in the rather autocratic Tony George era.
I hope that they can bring US open wheel racing back to the sort of quality and intensity the Champcar achieved at it's peak.
Looks promising.

[Muzza]

It certinly does look promising OT, i'm quite looking foward to this year and next year should be even better. I hope it puts bums back into seats aswell

From what i read, there are still alot of die hard oval fans who just plain hate any track/course with a corner (other then left  )so it may still take a bit of time for those to come onboard.