Let’s Light this Candle! Vroom-Vroom showtime boys!
What better way to Rev U-P IndyCar Fans then
with the first Practice Sessions of an overly elongated Gory 175 Days Offseason, eh? STEE-RIKE!
Nope, Yuhs Won’t be able to See ‘em take to
Barber Motorsports Park for both Saturday Practice Session or qualifying live
unless you’ve signed up for the newly re-imagined NBC Sports Gold Bricks
Paywall, Err NBC Sports Gold Streaming service, now Peacock “TV” Streaming
instead, for just $4.99 Extra per month, BARF!
Or you can watch Qualifying Delayed Saturday
evening on NBC Sports (NBCSN) and the Race Sunday, April 18th on BIG
NBC as Geo Phillips like saying! But Check your local listings as Always.
2021 Honda Team line-ups
Attempting another hypothetically short
synopsis of the 14 Honda powered Drivers on this year’s IndyCar Grid. Which at
least Thar numbers are spread out over five teams, or six if we’re being
technical over Dale Coyne’s fascination with the Alphabet and really long team
nomenclature, cymbal Crash please!
Andretti
Autosport (3)
(Team/Car
No/Drivers)
#26 Colton
Herta, USA
#27 Alexander
Rossi, USA
#28 Ryan
Hunter-Reay, USA
Andretti
Steinbrenner Autosport (1)
#29 James
Hinchcliffe, Canada
We All know that Zack Veach got Dumped late
last year with Thee Mayor ‘O Hinchtown’, aka James Hinchcliffe replacing him in
the No. 26 Hondre’ for the final three races. So Hinch’ being added Fulltime
this year wasn’t a surprise. But I wasn’t expecting Colton Herta to slide into
the #26 this year and George Steinbrenner IV seemingly disappear from the
IndyCar Fold? Although this was done mostly to appease sponsor Gainbridge
staying at Andretti.
But naturally after I’d written this, I learned
via Racer’s Marshall Pruett’s IMS Open Test preview that Hinch’ was now in the
Andreti Steinbrenner Autosport chassis formerly driven by Colton Herta. As this
means George Steinbrenner IV is still involved with Mikey a’s IndyCar concern…
Meanwhile The Dude! Ryan Hunter-Reay’s been
given a one year extension on his contract, with both Oliver Askew and Kyle
Kirkwood presumably waiting in the wings. Whilst Hopefully my yearly pick for
winning his maiden IndyCar Crown Alexander Rossi will see a much brighter
season vs. last’s year’s campaign, although he’ll have to contend with Herta
over team Bragging rights.
Chip
Ganassi Racing (4)
#8 Marcus
Ericsson, Sweden
#9 Scott
Dixon, New Zealand
#10
Alex Palou, Spain
#48 (R) Jimmy Johnson, USA (Twisties’ Only)
#48
Tony Kanaan, Brazil (Ovals Only)
(R
= Rookie)
Obviously the Biggest News about CGR this year
is the arrival of Seven Times NASCAR Champion Jimmy Johnson making his debut as
an IndyCar Rookie at Age 45, albeit shunning the Oval tracks, which is a Shame
not seeing him race at Mother Speedway. But this decision opened the way for us
to have one of our Favourites, i.e.; TK’ Follow your Schnoz! Kanaan race at
Indianapolis the next two years, SWEET!
What can I say about Scott Dixon? Other than
may be the now Six Times and Reigning IndyCar Champion will surpass
SuperMario’s (Andretti) career tally of 52 wins for second most overall this
year?
Marcus Ericsson is the most overlooked of this
quintet of Ganassi’s drivers, but seems to steadily improve each year in the
series and has a totally Sweet sponsor. While Alex Palou is the touted newcomer
with big things expected from him. As I just hope it doesn’t go as Pear shaped
as it did for Ed Jones here.
Dale
Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan (1)
#18 Ed
Jones, UAE
With the Great Santiti’, nee Santino Ferrucci
leaving for the Allure of Roundy Round Racin’ in the Xfinity Cup Lite’s series
this year, Dale Coye, Top Jimmy’ (Vasser) and James Sully’ Sullivan decided to
throw former Coyne (DCR) driver Ed Jones a lifeline and bring him back for a
second go. Even after he Stiffed Coyne before when jumping to Ganassi for the
2018 season after a Handshake Deal with Dale to remain with the team. As
hopefully Jones results will be markedly better than his time driving both for
Ganassi and Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) were!
Dale
Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing (1)
#51 (R) Romain Grosjean, France (Twisties’
Only)
#51
Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil (Ovals Only)
(R
= Rookie)
The other vaunted Rookie in this year’s IndyCar
field is former Haas Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean coming to americre’, also
eschewing participating on the Oval tracks on the grounds of Safety concerns
for his Family after his Horrific, Fiery Shunt at Bahrain last year! As I’ll be
quite curious to see how Romain fairs in IndyCar’s this year.
Grosjean’s skipping of the Ovals opens the way
for his former Haas F1 Team-mate Pietro Fittipaldi to return to IndyCar racing
on a limited basis whilst still
remaining as the American Formula 1 Team’s Reserve Driver this year.
Meyer
Shank Racing (2)
#06 Helio
Castroneves, Brazil (Partial Season, 6 Races)
#60 Jack
Harvey, UK
(Technical
Partnership with Andretti Autosport)
If you read No Fenders on a regular basis,
you’ll know I’ve never been a Fan of Hulio’s, aka Helio Castroneves. And with
the Brazilian turning 46 on May 10th, he’s IndyCar’s second Oldest
driver. Sandwiching his Buddy Tony Kanaan who’s 130 Days (4 months and 10 days)
Older than him. (Dec 31, 1974) And Jimmy Johnson who’s 4 months and a week
younger than him. (Sept 17, 1975)
As I totally believe Castroneves is past his
prime, but naturally is a big Scoop for MSR, giving it some “Star Power,” especially
during the Month of May where he’ll make his MSR debut in the 105th
Indianapolis 500.
Helio will continue his season next at the inaugural Nashville Street race before returning to Indianapolis’s Road Course for the August 14th event, and then conclude his six race outing along the West Coast, competing at Portland, Laguna Seca and Long Beach.
Hopefully Castroneves can give the team’s No. 1 Driver Jack, Not Bloody Nige! Harvey some pointers on the Oval tracks and All around race craft, since a Three Times Indy 500 Champion and winner of 30 IndyCar races knows a thing or two about winning. But I’ll admit it still feels Odd for Hulio’ not to be in a Team Penske car…
Rahal
Letterman Lanigan Racing (2)
#15 Graham
Rahal, USA
#30 Takuma
Sato, Japan
You’d have to Arse-sume that the 2020 season
was a disappointment for Ye Grahaminator’, aka Graham Rahal who finished 6th
overall. As I think his third place finish at Mother Speedway’ was his best
finish of the year? But finishing two places behind team-Mate Takuma Sato,
who’s motto is “No attack, No chance!” At the Indianapolis 500 where Taku-san’
became a Two-time Indy 500 winner certainly has to sting!
Actually Graham recorded his best finish of
runner-up at the Indy GP held on July 4th, along with a pair of 3rd
place finishes, i.e.; Indy 500 & Gateway. (WWT Raceway) And finished one
place ahead of Sato with 377 point’s vs. Takuma’s 348.
But what else can I say about the likeable Japanese Driver? Who came up three corners short in 2012 of becoming an eventual Three-times Indy 500 Champion. Although at 44, surely Sato’s IndyCar career has to be in it’s twilight…
