INDYCAR: Didn't See this Ericsson Move coming!

As Inquiring Minds wanna Know just how many Kroner's does the Swede' have to give to Cheep for his ride?

Whale', although I correctly predicted that Swedish IndyCar Rookie Marcus Ericsson wouldn't return to SPAM', aka Arrow McLaren SP next year. I certainly didn't expect Ericsson becoming Thee Cheepsters', nee Chip Ganassi's third IndyCar entry for 2020.

While Scuttlebutt in the Racer article also briefly mentions that the team's still trying to potentially Add 2019 Indy Lights Champion Oliver Askew to a fourth Dallara-Honda IndyCar entry next year, as CGR attempts finding new work for its Disbanding Ford GT Sports Car programme's personnel...

Ericsson Confirmed for third Ganassi IndyCar in 2020

RETRO: Penske Surprise's 50yrs Ago at Daytona

The winning No. 6 Sunoco Penske Racing Lola T70. (Image source: sportscardigest.com)

Ironically Outlasting both Porsche and Ford, both Marques He'd Campaign in later years...

Any Hardcore IndyCar aficionado will know that El Capitano', nee Roger Penske, at the youthful age of 32, entered his then Penske Racing in its Debutante Indianapolis 500 a Half Century ago.

With Penske's lead Driver Mark Donohue behind the wheel of Penske's customer Four Wheel-drive Lola T-152 Offy', (Offenhauser) which I've previously chronicled in another long ago No Fenders tome.

Penske’s ‘willPower

Yet this No Fenders story is cleverly tied to Penske's meandering sports Cars forays the past half century, with Roger having just eclipsed his 200th Start. For which "The Captain's" brace 'O Acura Daytona Prototypes are a long ways from his earlier machinery.

Since I typically forget that Penske Racing won its lone 24 Hours of Daytona event 50 years ago this past January. In what is claimed to have been a surprise victory, back when the Drivers were "He-Men!" With just two Drivers going the distance.

1969 Daytona 24 Hours Profile

As Donohue with Co-Driver Chuck Parsons, presumably a fairly unknown racer, albeit Diehard Sports Cars Fanatics will know that Parsons won the 1966 U.S. Road Racing Championship. (USRRC)

As Parsons was substituting for the injured Ronnie Buckhum, originally slated to partner with Donohue at Daytona...

As the duo won aboard a Lola T70 Mk IIIB Coupe propelled by the ubiquitous Chevrolet 5-litre Small Block V-8, followed home by another Lola T70-Chevrolet, giving Lola a 1-2 victory.

Ironically the runner-up Lola racing under the American International Racing (AIR) Banner, was the short-lived Race Team owned by some 'Ol Hollywood Actor named James Garner!

Whilst 'Ol Jimmy Rockford would go onto pilot the Celebratory Indy 500 Pace Car at Mother Speedway three times, if I remember correctly...

James Garner: Movie Star and Man of Auto Racing passion Dies at 86...

Alas, when I think of Roger Penske Racing; Err Team Penske's various sports Cars ventures, I immediately think of a few of my favourite racing cars.

With those iconic Porsche RS Spyders which Decimated the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) springing to mind. Although Sadly, when American Sports Car racing was Split between two rival Sanctioning Bodies, nee ALMS vs. Grand Am. Keeping them from contesting the Rolex 24.

Along with my Numero Uno Prancing Horse, the Uber Nasty Sunoco Ferrari 512M which Mark Donohue co-drove with some Bloke fondly known here in Nofendersville as 'Ol Hobbo', nee HobbsCap', aka David Hobbs in the early 1970's.

As Gory Hell! Can it already be a Decade since Mark's son David Donohue & Company, including Buddy Hot Rod' Rice won the Rolex 24 in a Brumos Racing Riley/Porsche Daytona Prototype on the 40th Anniversary of Penske's lone 24hrs win at Daytona International Speedway, Eh?

Remembering Penske's first racer Mark Donohue - 40 Years after...

Not to mention that Penske & Donohue were Kickin' Arse in Thar Narly Chevy Camaro Zed-28's during the 1969 SCCA Trans Am Series season!

IMSA: Time for the 2019 Petit Le Mans Season Finale

As how many miles have they covered since this past January's Rolex 24?

This weekend features the 22nd running of the Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, for which I'm planning on tuning into on Ye 'Ol Intrawoods', to catch thou wonderful tones of Der Heindenmeier' & Company on IMSA Radio, led by John Hindhaugh, with Jeremy Shaw and Shea Adam calling thou action!

Or Y'all can tune into the race Saturday, October 12th on NBC, beginning at 9AM Pacific with Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish and A.J. Allmendinger in the Booth.

BUT AS ALWAYS! CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!

Atherton to leave IMSA after 2019 Season Ends

As the Sports Car race caps the season's long celebrations of IMSA's 50th Anniversary, which has seen several competitors running celebratory liveries. With the two GT Le Mans Porsche's doing so this weekend in Retro Coca Cola paint schemes fashioned after the late Bob Akin's Porsche 962. Whilst I've seen one of his previous Nasty 935 Panzerwagon in thou Flesh at a long ago Monterey Historics event.

Porsche unveils Retro Coca cola liveries for Petit Le Mans

As I'm doing my Petit preview a Wee Bitamyte' differently this time round. Focusing upon the IndyCar Teams participants whom also dabble in SportsCarland...

(DPi) Prototypes

As I've previously eluded to here upon No Fenders, Acura leads the way for the first time in series history, already claiming the Manufacturer's title at Laguna Seca I believe. While it's No. 6 entry is poised to claim the Drivers title.

Acura Team Penske

Acura ARX-05

#6) Juan Pablo Montoya, Dane Cameron  and Simon Pagenaud

#7) Helio Castroneves, Ricky Taylor and Graham Rahal

Obviously, SNAP! (Where Are Yuhs Jeffie?( the majority of IndyCar Fans tuning in will be paying Attenzione to thou Team Penske boyz' - featuring three Indianapolis 500 winners behind the controls.

As JPM, "Monty" or Juan Pablo Montoya and season Long team-mate Dane Cameron lead the Drivers Championship by 12-points: 274-262 over the reigning Daytona Prototype International (DPi) Champions Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani in the rival #31 Whelen Engineering  Caddy'. (Cadillac DPI VR) With HULIO' and Ricky Taylor third overall with 254 points.

As hopefully Montoya can redeem himself by not putting a wheel wrong a la his 2015 IndyCar Championship Blunder - en route to claiming the title for El Capitano, nee Roger Penske.

Reigning Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud will fill out the No. 6's Drivers trio, while Graham Rahal will substitute for Alexander Rossi in the Seester' #7 Acura.

As Rossi with his Good Buddy Thee Mayor 'O Hinchtown' (James Hinchcliffe) will be Down Under contesting their first Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars race. Yeah, it'll always be V8 Supercars to Mwah! In a Wildcard entry for Walkinshaw Andretti United in a (GM) Holden Commodore.

Alexander Rossi, James Hinchcliffe to Contest Bathurst in Holden

While ironically, Roger Penske also boasts a V8 Supercars Team, known as DJR Team Penske, running Ford Mustang's. With his lead driver Scott McLaughlin having won a record 17 races this year; YEEHAW!

Meanwhile, another ex-IndyCar Driver known in Nofendersville as "Symona-Symona," (Simona de Silvestro( currently races the #78 Kelly Racing Nissan Altima...

Juncos Racing

Cadillac DPI VR

#50) Rene Binder, Will Owen and Spencer Pigot

The 'lil Team from Indianapolis that Could! Has spent it's time since the Mosport round rebuilding its heavily Damaged Cadd-Oh-lacc', which definitely took a licking Up North Eh!

As the team's just announced recently that IndyCar Driver Spencer Pigot will round out Thar Driver's line-up at Road Atlanta. As Spencer's No Stranger to Juncos, having won multiple Road to Indy Championships with them.

GT Le Mans (GTLM)

Porsche has already locked-up the Manufacturer's Crown, and is basically locked into an intra-team scrum for the Drivers Championship. Although think I've read Somewheres' that the #912 tandem of Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor simply need to finish eighth in class to claim the title.

BMW Team RLL

BMW M8 GTE

##24) John Edwards, Jesse Krohn and Chaz Mostert

#25) Connor De Phillippi, Philipp Eng and Tom Blomqvist

The Good news is that BMW will return next season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The Bad news is that the front engine M8's haven't been ultra competitive this year.

As I've taken my best guess at who'll be piloting Thar two GTLM entries at Road Atlanta. And have Zero clue over whether or not we'll see IndyCar phenom Colton Herta Moonlighting once again this weekend? After all, the teenager grabbed a Rolex wristwatch first time out at Daytona this past January.

Chip Ganassi Racing

Ford GT

#66) Joey Hand, Dirk Muller and Sebastian Bourdais

#67) Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon

Once again, ARSE-Sumin' thou Cheepster', nee Chip Ganassi will run his typical Endurance events line-up in what sadly, is the final outing for the iconic Ford GT; BOO, HISS!

As No idea if Ganassi will return to Sports Car competition next year? But hey, why not see Chip fielding a Brace 'O rival GTLM Spec Ferrari's? Or a Big Boyz' DPi entry? Who knows what 'Ol Cheep' will do?

GT Daytona (GTD)

While Meyer Shank Racing's #86 duo of SuperMario' and "Clark Kent" lost the series inaugural Sprint Cup Championship to them Lumberjack Fellahs from Up North Eh! Oh KanaDuh's FAF Motorsports No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 rivals Zachery Robichon and Scott Hargrove. Yet The #86 MSR Duo most likely will win the War Saturday at Hotlanta'.

AIM Vasser Sullivan

Lexus RC F GT3

#12) Townsend Bell, Frankie Montecalvo and Chase Parker

#14) Jack Hawksworth, Richard Heistand and Aaron Telitz

Don't have anything clever to say 'bout the AIM Vasser Sullivan Boyz', other than Toyota's probably happy with the lack of media scrutiny following 'Ol MEATHEADZ', aka Paul Gentilozzi, eh?

And will NBC have T-Bell' doing commentary from the Team's Pit-box once again? While Bloody Union Jack' Hawksworth's gotta be feeling happy to be running Sports Cars vs. the torturous season his past employer A.J. Foyt Enterprises just endured again, this year...

Meyer Shank Racing

Acura NSX GT3 Evo

#57) Katherine Legge, Cristina Nielsen and Ana Beatriz

#86) Mario Farnbacher, Trent Hindman and Justin Marks

Taking a total Flyer upon the No. 57 Drivers roll, other than knowing for certain that Thy Leggy Juan', aka Katherine Legge will be driving. As this All Femme Fatale entry has had a revolving cast 'O females at its keyboard. And I'm guessing that the Dane', aka Cristina who drove at Laguna Seca will return, whilst speculating upon ex-IndyCar Driver Beatriz.

Meanwhile, tend to recall that IMSA Radio's Jeremy Shaw claimed that the MSR's #86 Dynamic Duo of Farnbacher & Hindman held a commanding 31-point lead over Thar nearest rival for GTD Class Honours in the Drivers Championship following Laguna Seca. And theoretically will simply need to motor home to claim this title.

According to the IMSA Standings, Farnbacher & Hindman lead Zach Robichon 264-232, basically a race win ahead - with Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT3 tandem of 'Ol Billy "Bill Power"" Auberlen and Co-driver Robby Foley in third with 227 markers apiece...