Is the World Cup over yet?
“Heard it in a
love song, Heard it in a love song, Heard it in a love song, Can't be wrong”
VIDEO:
Heard It In a Love Song
It takes news a long time to reach thoust
mystical Isle ‘O Nofendersville. First the Pony Express riders must stop to
water their Horses, and then they have to paddle by canoe, Oh Never Mind!
I first began hearing whispers that thee Cat’,
aka Felix-the-Cat’ (Rosenqvist) was leaving Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) Wayback on
June 24th.
Then I realized I hadn’t listened to a Marshall
Pruett The Week in IndyCar podcast in ages. And late to the party, I tuned into
His June 25th episode five days later, and Shazam!
Pruett mentioned how His Head was about to
explode over the fluidity of Silly Season during the Road America race weekend.
(June 19-21) Saying one source He trusts had told Him next year’s McLaren
lineup will be Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Scott Dixon. And don’t be
surprised if two or more Key team personnel from Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) also
defect, Err go to Mclaren.
Pruett said Zackery’ Brown isn’t exactly the
most liked person in the paddock, but He sees Browns tactics similar to what
losing NFL teams do after every Super bowl. When the winning team’s assistant
coaches are hired as new Head Coaches and unprotected players go to new teams.
And Dixon’s true value would be bringing infinite knowledge of how CGR ticks
and what makes them the current Super bowl Champions.
Interesting angle upon Rosenqvist’s departure.
Saying that after winning the Indy 500 you’d have thought MSR would have made
it either known or a priority to “lock-up” Felix’s contract extension. But MSR
apparently never reached out to the Cat while His phone was blowing up from
other teams. And Felix apparently felt “unwanted” at MSR and took a “better”
offer…
Then the following day, read Marshall Pruett’s July 1st Silly Season
update. Stating that sources have now
confirmed the Dixon to Mclaren rumour as being a done Dealio, along with the
Cat’s arrival. Noting how having Rosenqvist, the current Indy 500 winner and
Dixon gives endless marketing and sponsorship opportunities. Not to mention a
greater shot at winning the coveted Borg Warner trophy.
Yet immediately afterwards, I had a different
take on the situation. McLaren’s “Golden Boy” (Pato) O’Ward is simply getting
shown-up by Lundgaard this year. So perhaps to keep Pato happy. Who after all
is the series most popular driver. (And face of Arrow McLaren) Which I’m
guessing translates into sponsorship dinero, ci? Zakery Brown decided to
jettison Lundgaard in favour of Pato’s best buddy the Cat? Just a thought…
Having connected the dots prior to the Mid-Ohio
IndyCar weekend and Arrow McLaren’s Charm offensive led by Team Principal Tony
Kanaan. For which my thought was confirmed when Kanaan reportedly Bear Hugged
O’Ward after winning the race in victory lane. Need I say more?
Suppose if I really think about it, you could
“see” Lundgaard’s perceived flaws upon His behaviour when celebrating His
maiden IndyCar win at Toronto three years ago. Having shaved off His mustache
and crowing like the second coming after the victory. Which I recall reading or
hearing somewhere about how Bobby Rahal was rolling His eyes over Lundgaard’s
celebratory “antics”.
Yet Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing hadn’t won a
race in three years, and hasn’t won since!
And whatever you think of Lundgaard, who
definitely is a talented driver. All I can hear in my head is Alexander Rossi’s
famous Quip about “I’m not here to make Friends!”
From Marshall’s July 7th podcast, I came to the
conclusion that Lundgaard’s best landing spot will be Andretti global. Yet ten
days later during the Nashville weekend, it
sounded pretty certain that an extension for Marcus Ericsson was
imminent– and may have already happened?
While its also obvious that with McLaren’s
Sports Car programmes around the Globe. They give both Rosenqvist and Dixon
longer runways for their racing careers…
Meanwhile, and I’m happy for IndyCar and FOX.
But it bothers me over how much noise is being made over the massive TV ratings
increase. Since its got nothing to do with IndyCar itself, just casual Fans
sticking round after World Cup Football matches instead…
FOX
uses World Cup to push IndyCar TV ratings to 15 year High
Meaning what will next year’s “true” IndyCar
ratings look like? And are sponsors really drinking this Kool-Aid?
Yet even if Nashville had happened as planned
and gathered it’s massive TV ratings trove. Momentum would have been killed by
the three weeks break following Nashville, Yawn!
While the Silly Season spicket is wide open
now, with far too much to scribble here! Other than during Nashville, Thars’
two seats available at Coyne, Foyt and Juncos Hollinger Racing. With one seat
available at Andretti, Ganassi, Meyer Shank Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan
Racing.
Although I’ve already mentioned above, I think
there’s no vacancies at Andretti Global. Then IndyCar Radio’s Davey Hamilton
said Mick Schumacher’s out of a ride at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, (RLLR)
who are selling their third IndyCar Charter. With plenty more Silly Season
fodder to scribble about in another riveting No Fenders story…
Partial song lyrics from The Marshall Tucker Band’s Heard It In a Love Song; 1977 Carolina Dreams Album.
