And were not talking about Half Gainers, 360’s or
Double Back Flips Here!
Suppose now that we’re well past the halfway
mark of this year’s IndyCar season. Which it still Ain’t right that the season
will wrap-up on Friggin’ August 31st! So those Clods with helmets and shoulder
pads can collide with each other on the Gridiron, Spew!
And it being the first of August, perhaps some
of this will now be superfluous? Although when I hastily began scrbblin’ this
in mid-July. I felt there were five teams for certain with no driver moves for
next year. With Arrow McLaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, Meyer
Shank Racing and Prema Racing all seeming to keep their current lineups.
Whilst that means that the other six teams,
i.e.; A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Andretti Global, Dale Coyne Racing, Juncos
Hollinger Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Team Penske had possible
“vacancies” or potential driver moves occurring.
Although I’m still flying Blind, thanks to
Racer’s website not being screen reader compliant, Urgh! Forcing me to rely
upon other new sources…
With the proclivity towards being obvious. The
biggest potential Domino we’re waiting to find out what happens is DJ WillyP’,
aka will Power of Team Penske, whose contract expires this year.
Know that scuttlebutt suggests that David
Malukas will be His replacement, whom I’m a huge fan of. But I have to say I
feel that my Numero Doce IndyCar driver has made far too many self inflicted
mistakes this year driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises. And that another season
of “polishing” would be well suited for the Chicago lad.
Although somehow I doubt that Power’s looking
for just a single year contract extension with Penske. While I know that David
Land claimed there’s another team that’s given Power an offer. At least that’s
what I think He said…
The other “big” name IndyCar team whose lineup
seems unsettled right now is Andretti Global, with the possibility of having
two thirds of its seats available? Since its long been Arse-sumed that Colton
Herta will be the young American flying the flag for Cadillac when it enters
formula 1 next year.
Although I tend to think the scuttlebutt is
that Herta needs to finish fourth this season in order to secure the mandatory
FIA Super Licence. Which currently being mired in ninth, with one podium prior
to Toronto doesn’t help this cause.
Although Colton did start from pole in Toronto
and finished fourth, when He most likely should have won. Except for the raft
of cautions causing a million different strategies! With Herta moving up to
eighth in the title fight.
Then finishing third at Laguna Seca saw Him
move forward another spot to seventh, just two points behind sixth place Felix
Rosenqvist. And just 44 markers behind fifth place Christian Lundgaard, with
three races remaining…
And then there’s the speculation over how poor
Marcus Ericsson’s sophomore campaign and time overall with Andretti Global is
going, with the possibility of the affable Swede’s contract’s final year being
bought out?
Of course the obvious choice for one of these
seats would be Indy NXT rookie standout Dennis Hauger, who’s pretty much
crushed the competition this year! With the exception of Andretti Global rookie
teammate Lochie Hughes keeping Him Honest, when they’re not busy colliding!
As you’d have to think that Andretti Global is
keen to keep both of these emerging talents in the “Family”. Even though there
doesn’t seem to be that many opportunities for both of them in IndyCar next
year.
The only other Indy NXT drivers possibly ready
to graduate to IndyCar are Caio Collet and possibly Myles Rowe. Although both
seem a stretch, with Rowe probably needing another year in the series.
Although Collet said don’t forget about me wit
a clean sweep weekend in Monterey! Winning both Indy NXT races from pole and
leading wire-to-wire.
Meanwhile, Portland’s Josh Pierson, whom I have
no idea if He’s still an Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) Development Driver? But He
seems somewhat off the pace, and now in His third year in Indy NXT, it seems
unlikely He’ll progress to IndyCar…
Although He did have a breakout weekend at
Laguna Seca. As according to IndyCar’s Curt Cavin, Pierson netted His first two
podium finishes after 32 races. Finishing third Saturday, and second on Sunday.
Interestingly, across thoust Gory Puddle,
Netherlands Richard Verschoor led the FIA Formula 2 Championship points
standings by six markers over American Jack Crawford: 122-116. As both drivers
have three wins to date. Whilst Ireland’s Alex Dunne is in third place with 108
points; prior to Round 9 at Spa-Francorchamps.
As both Verschoor and Crawford dropped one
position in the standings after netting zero points in Belgium. With Italy’s
Leonardo Fornaroli vaulting into the lead after winning the Sprint race at Spa.
Now on 125 points, while Dunne remains fourth, albeit just two markers adrift
of Crawford.
Dunne, a rookie, is a member of the McLaren Driver
Development Programme, while Crawford serves as a reserve driver for the Aston
Martin’s F1 team, and is part of its Driver Development programme.
Now, I’m not suggesting this will happen, since
it seems fairly far fetched to Mwah, But. What if the FIA refused Herta’s Super
Licence application? And 20 year old Yank’ Crawford, whose netted five wins in
F2 wins the Formula 2 title in His third season. Could Cadillac opt for
Crawford instead?
Yet how could the FIA say that Herta’s not
“qualified” for a Super Licence or worthy of racing in Formula 1?
As only time, and money will tell. Although as
Sonny Hayes says in F1 the Movie, “Its Not about the Money!” Cough, cough…
Naturally, after I’d finished scribbling these
riveting thoughts. The day after, ESPN Online Motorsports Headlines published a
story about Jack Crawford saying it would be a major mistake if Cadillac
overlooked Him if He wins the F2 title. Noting in the article that its His
Manager’s job to keep Cad-Oh-Lac’ in the frame over Him…
While in typical No Nonsense Pato Who? Machismo
style, O’Ward likened rumours of His moving to Cadillac F1 akin to Fernando
Alonso and Taylor Swift “Hooking Up” last year, which we all know never
happened. Nice one Pato!
As would IndyCar really be on the verge of going to Mexico City without the sport’s most popular driver?
