The quick answer is No! But then you cannot collect
your $200 for passing go…
“Don't believe in the 60's
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up”
“I, I, believe in love”
Not sure why I’ve become so fixated upon the
year 1996 this May. Other than I suppose, because Alex Palou once again slicing
His way to another IndyCar championship, and the future’s drying up…
Thirty years ago, Andy Evans entered the most
IndyCar’s in the Post-war era with a whopping seven drivers! Having bought Dick
Simon Racing over the winter of 1995.
And I found it Uber ironic that I just learned
this May, that Dick Simon was born in Seattle, WA, my former Hometown.
Being the first year of The Split and Tony
George’s Indy Racing League. (IRL) Allowing for old CART “rolling stock” to be
utilized, due to the new “lower” cost IRL normally aspirated machinery not
ready. I’d Arse-sume this left plenty of “cheap” racecars available that year…
Team Scandia (7)
Tyres: Goodyear
Chassis:
Lola T95/00 Ford-Cosworth XB
#7)
Eliseo Salazar, Chile
#8)
Alessandro Zampedri, Italy
#22)
R-Michele Jourdain, Jr, Mexico
#34) R-Fermin Velez,
Spain
Chassis:
Reynard 95i/Ford-Cosworth XB
#33) R-Michele
Alboreto, Italy
Chassis:
Lola T94/00 Ford-Cosworth XB
#43) R-Joe
Gosek, USA
#90) R-Raccin
Gardner, USA
As what’s that overused cliché about the
perfect storm, Eh? Having first scribbled labourisly about this topic on No
Fenders Wayback in gory 2015, albeit having first asked Mike Yippee-Aye-eh!
King in 2009, Aye Karumba!
INDY
500: Multiple entries in Vogue
The following year, (1997) Team Scandia
“slimmed” down to a five car effort. Which would be the last team to enter five
cars in the Indianapolis 500 for nearly the next decade.
With Mikey A’ coming out of retirement in order
to race with His son Marco, Andretti Green Racing (AGR) enter five Dallara IR-05
Honda powered chassis for the 2006 Indianapolis 500. With Marco finishing a
disappointed runner-up to Sam Hornish Jr, with the consolation of being named
Rookie Of the Year.
Michael Andretti made His final Indy 500 start
in 2007, seeing AGR remain at five entries, with the big news being the arrival
of Danica Patrick as Brian Herta’s replacement.
AGR reverted to four entries the following two years,
with Micheal Andretti taking sole control of the team over the winter of 2009
and renaming it Andretti Autosport.
For 2010, Andretti Autosport added a fifth
Dallara/Honda entry for Gentleman John Andretti driving the famed No. 43 in collabouration
with The King, Richard Petty.
Five cars would be the norm for Andretti
between 2010-2016 in various guises, before bulking up to six entries with the
arrival of some smarmy Spaniard in 2017.
Andretti continued its six car armada’s thru
2021, with the exception of running only five cars in 2019.
Then for 2022, Andretti reverted to only having
five cars at Mother Speedway, yet was joined by Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) also
having five entries. Thus seeing these two powerhouse teams comprise nearly one
third of the grid!
2023 saw Andretti as the sole five car entry,
with CGR reverting to four. Before 2024 saw the two teams playing role
reversals. With Andretti slimming down to its current day four car entry.
Whilst Ganassi reverted to five cars. Before IndyCar enacted its nebulous
Charter system, enroute to becoming a closed shop for 2027.
Thus I’m guessing the days of playing five card
Monty at Mother Speedway’s over, and we’ll now only see four car “Super-teams”
in the future.
Whilst now pondering if Andretti Global simply
wouldn’t give up its fourth Honda engine this May for fear of not getting it
back next year? Although I think everyone would have preferred having Bumping,
even if just for one entry.
Partial song lyrics from: U2’s God Part II, 1988 Rattle and Hum Album.
