It’s Almost showtime boys ‘N Girl, Ready or Nots!
Well, and No It’s A Deep subject Joke Here
Folks, Hya! But It’s time again to throw the Green flag and Go Racing! As the
IndyCar’s and their Road to Indy supporting cast take to Saint Petersburg’s Airfield
temporary Street Course befinning this Friday, February 25th! And
yes, Y’all read that right, as IndyCar has moved forward it’s traditional St
Pete Season Opener to the month of February this year, instead of it’s normal
March date. So let’s go Racing!
2022 Honda Team line-ups
Attempting another hypothetically short synopsis
of the 15 Honda powered Drivers on this year’s IndyCar Grid. Which at least Thar
numbers are spread out over five teams, or seven if we’re being technical over Mikey
A’s two concerns and Dale Coyne’s fascination with the Alphabet and really long
team nomenclatures, cymbal Crash please!
Andretti
Autosport (3)
(Team/Car
No/Drivers)
#26 Colton
Herta, USA
#27 Alexander
Rossi, USA
#28 Romain Grosjean, France
Andretti
Steinbrenner Autosport (1)
#29 (R)
Devlin DeFrancesco, Canada
Changes abound at Mikey A’s team this year,
with two new drivers in the fold. As longtime Andretti Autosport fixture Ryan
Hunter-Reay, The Dude! Has been replaced by last year’s Hottest “Silly Season” commodity
Romain Grosjean, who brings his Dale coyne Racing Engineer Olivier Boisson, a “Dampers”
expert with him. And like most, it’ll be weird seeing somebody else in the
distinctive DHL #28 entry other than Hunter-Reay.
Also gone, having Hung Up his Helmet in favour
of a microphone. The Mayor ‘O Hinchtown, aka James Hinchcliffe makes way for
fellow Kuhnadiun’ Hoser, 22yr old IndyCar Rookie Devlin DeFrancesco, who
graduates from a fairly mundane Indy Lights campaign, whilst Hinch’ will replace
Paul Tracy in the Broadcast Booth.
Colton Herta who began the year by winning his
second Rolex wristwatch by making the pass for the lead in the LMP2 Class during
the waning minutes at this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona is currently Andretti’s
Biggest Threat for Title rival, having finished fifth last year and claiming
the only wins for the team . Notching three W’s and tying Alex Palou for most
season victories.
While Alexander Rossi is still on his “Eternal
Revenge Tour,” now in a Contract year and sorely wishing to get the Dreaded
Cartoon Anvil Off his Backside by claiming his first victory in some two plus
years.
Chip
Ganassi Racing (4)
#8 Marcus
Ericsson, Sweden
#9 Scott
Dixon, New Zealand
#10
Alex Palou, Spain
#48 Jimmie Johnson, USA
Obviously the Biggest News, Perhaps? Is the News
of Seven Times NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson making the decision to contest
the entire IndyCar schedule during his Sophomore season at CGR, including his
much anticipated Rookie outing at Mother Speedway this May. While TK’ Follow your
Schnoz! Kanaan who filled in for JJ’ on the Ovals last year will run a fifth entry
for Cheep’ at Indianapolis.
What can I say about the timeless Scott Dixon?
Other than He’ll wish to atone for being upstaged by brand new CGR teammate
Alex Palou, who motored to the Championship title in his Debutante season for
Ganassi! Although you’d think the Six Times IndyCar Champion will surpass
SuperMario’s (Andretti) career tally of 52 wins for second most overall this year,
Righto?
Marcus Ericsson is the most overlooked of this
quintet of Ganassi’s drivers, but has steadily improve each year in the series.
Having had a Breakout season last year en route to sixth Overall, along with scoring
his first two IndyCar victories! Not to mention having a totally Sweet sponsor,
Ya Sure Yuh Betcha!
Alex Palou is the reigning IndyCar Champion and
will have his work Cut Out to repeat, but I do Hope for Good Things to continue
for this Affable Spaniard who reminds Mwah of a young Alex Zanardi…
Dale
Coyne Racing with HDM Motorsports (1)
#18 (R)
David Malukas, USA
Dale Coyne has traded one set of Partners, nee Top
Jimmy’ (Vasser) and James Sully’ Sullivan for a new set from just down the
Turnpike. As Chicago based Truckers’ HDM Motorsports joins DCR and will run 20yr
old Rookie David Malukas, who finished Runner-up in last year’s Indy Lights Championship
behind Kyle Kirkwood in a pretty spirited title fight.
As I really enjoyed Marshall Pruett’s Podcast
with David and think He’ll be my Darkhorse Rookie Of the Year (ROY) pick. With
the only unknown for Mwah is who his Engineer is and how well they get on?
Dale
Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing (1)
Takuma Sato replaces the departed Romain
Grosjean at Coyne-Ware Racing. And although I’ve been a longtime Fan of
Taku-san’s, I can only surmise this pairing was made possible by his longtime
Backers Honda continuing to write a Hefty cheque for Him! Since with No
Disrespect to Sato, at 45 years Old, his better years are surely behind Him?
Meyer
Shank Racing (2)
#06 Helio
Castroneves, Brazil
#60 Simon
Pagenaud, France
(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 47 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 still totally believe Castroneves is past
his prime, regardless His recent successes, Sigh! Yet naturally is a big Scoop
for MSR, giving it “Star Power,” albeit can we please knock this Shit Off about
the “Drive for Five,” since it Ain’t gonna Happen! Since I’ll expect
Castroneves to come back Down to Earth when trying to run a full season IndyCar
campaign this year vs. Young Bucks Half His Age!
Meanwhile, ex-Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud
rejoins his former Dancin’ Pardner Hulio’ at MSR, replacing the Departed Jack
Harvey. As it’ll be very interesting to See how the Frenchman’s IndyCar career
goes at MSR, since I cannot think of anybody who’s improved after leaving Team
Penske, as Ryan Briscoe comes to mind in this vain.
Rahal
Letterman Lanigan Racing (3)
#15 Graham
Rahal, USA
#30 Jack
Harvey, UK
#45 (R)
Christian Lundgaard, Denmark
Graham Rahal who’s entering his 16th IndyCar
season I believe, becomes the De Facto Team leader by virtue of being the only
returning driver. As RLLR has added a third Fulltime entry with the signing of Rookie
20yr old Dane Christian Lundgaard, a former FIA Formula 2 championship driver
who made his IndyCar Debut with RLLR at last year’s August IMS road Course
race.
But the bigger news was the departure of Jack
Not bloody Nige” Harvey as Takuma Sato’s replacement, with Harvey leaving Meyer
Shank Racing after spending his entire brief IndyCar career there. But Harvey
decided to seek “greener” pastures, since presumably He Didn’t like living in
Hulio’s shadow at MSR. As it’ll be interesting to see how this career move pans
out.
(R = Rookie)
