Testing-Testing, 1-2. Has Dale Coyne actually named
His second driver, Cough-Cough?
Yeah Ladies ‘n Germs’, your two left Thumbs
Scribe Tomaso is another day late, and definitely many dollars shorter after
another enjoyable trek to thee Valley of the Sun! Without even realizing I was
visiting during the IndyCar test at Phoenix Raceway.
Hence no riveting St Pete IndyCar recaps here
Folks…
Perhaps its just Mwah, but does anybody ever
notice how “Sharp” formula 1 is? And doesn’t waste time making decisions or
announcing changes. Which perhaps is partially due to the scope of it being a
multi-billions, as in “B” business…
Although we know that Dale Coyne will have to
name its second, Err “lead” driver by February 8th, since IndyCar holds it’s
first Open test on Sebring’s “Short” road course February 9-10, Righto?
Although perhaps Valentines Day is the new
Halloween for Dale Coyne, Hya!
Meanwhile, Wayback’ on December 2nd, Red Bull
announced the expected. That F1 rookie sensation Isack Hadjar would be moving
up to the Big Bulls, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. And that 18yr old Arvid Lindblad would
graduate to the ‘lil Bullz’, aka Racing Bulls as Liam Lawson’s new teammate.
While Tsunoda’s confined to the dubious role of
test and reserve driver at Red Bull. And Arse-sumedly Racing Bulls? As
Tsunoda’s contracted to Red Bull for 2026.
On Dec 4th, Haas announced that beginning in
2026, it would be renamed as TGR Haas F1 Team, thanks to an expanded
partnership with Toyota. Who Haas already has a technical partnership with.
As TGR stands for Toyota Gazoo Racing, who are
also title sponsors for Hitech’s Formula 2 and Formula 3 teams, beginning last
year.
As Mucho Attenzione will be focused upon Hitech
TGR’s F2 team this year, since Colton Herta will drive the team’s No. 3 entry.
With rising Japanese Star Ritomo Miyata aboard the No. 4 spec Dallara F2 2024
Mecachrome racecar.
Then two days after season’s end, when the Post
Abu Dhabi GP Young Drivers test was being held. (Dec 9th) Der Helmut’, aka
Helmut Marco, Red Bull’s longtime special advisor and Junior Driver Impresario
tendered His resignation after 20 years with Red Bull. Having been instrumental
with bringing Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to Red Bull Racing.
Although Der Helmut was also famously known for
discarding Red Bull Junior drivers like tepid bathwater, Ja Volt!
Slinking back across thoust Gory Puddle.
Stateside, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) gave IndyCar rookie Mick
Schumacher his first Oval test at Miami’s Homestead 1.5-mile Speedway, on February
4th.
“It
was a great first day”, as Mick Schumacher completes first Oval laps at
Homestead
The above article was posted on Racer.com, which
refuses to update its website to comply with current Web Content Accessibility
Guideline standards. Specifically WCAG 2.2 to enable ease of access for Blind
or Visually Impaired readers.
Then as noted, the whole Enchilada gathered in
Florida. When IndyCar held its first Open Test on Sebring’s “short” road course
layout February 9-10.
Then, ten of the previous year’s eleven IndyCar teams, excluding
Prema Racing sent their transporters off to thee Valley of the Sun one week
later. When IndyCar held its second Open test at Phoenix International Raceway.
(PIR) Yeah, I know its just Phoenix Raceway or whatever now? But old habits die
hard, especially having gone Thar over 30yrs ago for a CART IndyCar race, when
Jack Vanilla, ergo Jacques Villeneuve tried taking out the Goodyear pedestrian
crossover bridge!
VIDEO: 1994 Phoenix Hiro
Matsushita Jacques Villeneuve Crash
Uhm, IndyCar held court on Phoenix’s 1.0-mile
“Crooked” (Dog-leg) Oval between February 17-18, with new & improved
Flintstone front tyres.
Interesting how IndyCar and Formula 1
pre-season testing overlapped, before IndyCar’s St Pete season opener on March
1st. Where ’Ol DJ WillyP’, ergo Will Power hop to be celebrating His 45th
birthday in style with another trophy!
Then Formula 1 heads Down Under to Bloody
Melbourne on March 8th for its season’s kickoff Australian Grand Prix. Where
everyone whose got Apple TV will be curious over the new fangled F1 machinery…
And saying What About Me? MotoGP kicked off its
season in Thailand on March 1st at Chang International Circuit in Buriram,
another “Tilkie”, ergo Herman Tilke designed race course.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. Wasn’t that worth the wait to find out Romain Grosjean is Dale Coyne’s second driver?
