Including who Dale Coyne’s two newest drivers are?
Like Marshall Pruett sardonically mused two
months ago. Why wasn’t He at Indy cars content day? Because it’s being held two
Freakin’ months before the first race!
In-between All of the Fluff from IndyCar’s House
Organ, Err official website, here’s a few last minute nuggets I’ve gleaned
prior to this weekend’s season opener…
Chip Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) Marcus Armstrong’s
No. 11 racecar will be engineered by Angela Ashmore. Becoming only the series
third female race engineer over it’s 110-plus years long history!
Ashmore who previously was the performance
engineer on Marcus Ericsson’s 2022 Indianapolis 500 winning entry, moves to the
lead engineer role for Armstrong this year. Following in the footsteps of Diane
Holl and Leena Gade according to IndyCar.com
Holl was race engineer at Tasman Motorsports
between 1996-2000 for drivers Adrian Fernandez and Tony Kanaan. Before moving
to Della Penna Motorsports and working with Richie Hearn.
Gade was lead engineer briefly for six races with
James Hinchcliffe at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2018 before being “let go”.
As Gade had previously made History by being the first female engineer to win
the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Audi before moving to Indy Cars.
CGR rookie Kyffin Simpson will sport the No. 4
on His racecar. With the number four being used by Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo
Montoya during their Championship seasons at Ganassi. Even though I always
associate the number with Panther Racing.
Meyer Shank Racing’s (MSR) rookie Tom “the Bomb!”
Blomquist will not only run the new number 66, last used by McLaren during it’s
abortive 2019 Indy 500 Carlin entry with Fernando Alonso. But reportedly
Blomqvist has added nine pounds of muscle in preparations for dealing with IndyCar’s lack
of power steering…
Whilst MSR will run a special XM Satellite
Radio promo for the new Bon Jovi channel at St Pete and the following Thermal
Club event. With Band leader John bon Jovi being on hand at St Pete and riding
along with Helio Castroneves in Indy Cars 2X seater during the races parade
laps.
As for all of the drivers getting married or
having kids, I’ll leave that to someone else in Ye Blogosphere!
Whilst surely Dale Coyne and Company have
finally announced who their two IndyCar drivers will be for St Pete and beyond,
haven’t they?
As Coyne ran a limited testing regimen with
Jack Harvey and Colin Brown during the two day IndyCar “Open” Spring Training
event held on Sebring’s Short course Feb 26-27. Leading me to believe these
will be Coyne’s two drivers to begin the season with…
As I’ve been a Huge Fan of Brown’s for many
years, and Hope the Sports Car Ace gets His chance to race an IndyCar!
As Coyne confirmed that Jack Harvey would indeed be
in the No. 18, and Colin Brown in the No. 51 for the first two races on
Tuesday, March 5th. With the full, multiple drivers rotation being divulged in
due course…
Meanwhile, with no big surprise. McLaren
announced that Callum Ilott would deputize for the injured David Malukas during
the St Pete season opener, also on March 5th. With hopes of “Chicago Davey”
(Malukas) returning for the Thermal Club’s $1.0 million Whose your Daddy’
Sweepstakes event.
IndyCar will implement trialing a new FP1 (Free
Practice) format during the series first 75mins practice session on Friday.
Hoping to get more cars on track. After an 20mins All Skate to open practice.
The 27 entries will be split into two alternating Pit Boxes groups being
allowed ten minute sessions until practice is over. Which could become the new “Norm”
at Street circuits and Road Courses…
Also, Don’t forget Y’all. Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 10th, when we “Spring Forward” One Hour. Although officially at 2AM Pacific Me Thinks…
