Not taking into consideration mechanical maladies
jeopardizing Drivers careers…
Just when we thought we knew where everyone was
going in IndyCar for 2027, the series introduced its strictest ever rules criteria
for graduating to IndyCar on September 3rd.
IndyCar
sets new driver licensing criteria for 2027
A quick perusal of these new guidelines for
Indy NXT driver advancement allow for only the top three finishers or drivers
having won two or more races in the past 24 months the ability to graduate to
the Big Boyz’ series.
This regulation change directly affects
Portland, Oregon’s Josh Pierson’s plans to graduate to IndyCar as the new
chauffeur of the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises entry next year, regardless of his
reported $25m Dowery…
Pierson, in His fourth Indy NXT season driving
for Andretti Global, ultimately came up just short of making the cut anyways at
Laguna Seca.
Pierson has won races in the Asian Le Mans
Series and FIA World Endurance Championship.
His first Indy NXT season with HMD Motorsports
saw Him miss five races due to His FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) LMP2
commitments, driving for United Autosport. Winning that year’s 6 Hours of
Portugal LMP2 category with co-drivers Oliver Jarvis and Giedo van der Garde.
Pierson spent three years at HMD Motorsports,
with a best overall finish of sixth last year; scoring His first two series
podiums at Laguna Seca. Third in Race-1, and second in Race-2.
Pierson scored His maiden Indy NXT pole at
Milwaukee, and led the first 54-laps before it all unraveled in turn 2.
Spinning into the wall while being hounded by eventual race winner Max Garcia.
A week later, Pierson made a clean sweep of
Race-1 at Laguna Seca. Leading wire-to-wire from pole, along with setting the
fastest lap enroute to His maiden Indy NXT win.
Starting second in Race-2, ironically Josh was
punted by the hapless Garcia! Even though initially IndyCar Radio driver
analyst Davey Hamilton thought Garcia had just lost His mind and rammed
Pierson! Receiving a Drive-true penalty for avoidable contact. Before later,
Pierson told pit reporter Alex Wolff that the car had bogged down upshifting
from fourth to fifth gear. Causing Pierson to have to lift off, leaving Garcia
with nowhere to go…
Thus, in what I’m dubbing the Josh Pierson
Rule. Is it fair that Pierson won’t be able to graduate to IndyCar in 2027 due
to a mechanical malady? Or for making one tiny mistake on an Oval? As how many
IndyCar drivers have crashed into Mother Speedway’s walls during the
Indianapolis 500?
I understand IndyCar’s desire for having
talented drivers over the nebulous “Pay Drivers” finding their way into the
series in years past.
But I think a more measured approach would have
been to emulate the FIA Super License points system instead. Where former
IndyCar driver Colton Herta with second (2024) and seventh place finishes (2025)
only needs to finish eighth to secure the necessary Super Licence points to
graduate to Formula 1.
While I’m left uncertain if the two or more
wins over 24 months is just for Indy NXT competitors, or anybody, including
Formula 2 drivers wishing to come Stateside instead…
Certainly, IndyCar wouldn’t deny a FIA Formula 2
Champion unable to find a seat in Formula 1 the opportunity to race in their
series, would they?
Or haw about reigning five-times IndyCar
Champion Alex Palou, winner of 25 IndyCar races to date.
Although Palou won three races in the Japanese
Formula 3 series and finished third overall in 2017. By today’s standards He
wouldn’t have been eligible to compete in IndyCar!
Having won from Pole at Fuji Speedway in
Japan’s Super formula in 2019. On pole for the final round at Suzuka, Palou
looked to be the favourite to win. Yet a problem with a ventilation duct slowed
His car and the Spaniard finished P19, dropping to third in the final
championship standings before coming Stateside to race for Dale Coyne Racing in
2020. Having amassed only one Super formula win,
Not to mention thee Great Santini’, ergo
Santino Ferrucci, Eh? Who most definitely wouldn’t meet today’s stricter
eligibility guidelines!
Ferrucci made His Formula 2 debut in 2017 with
a best finish of ninth driving for Trident. Then in 2018 He was banned for four
races after intentionally crashing into teammate Arjun Maini at Silverstone.
Fined $60,000 Euros and ultimately fired by Trident!
Before the Woodberry, Connecticut native made
His IndyCar debut for Dale Coyne Racing at Detroit in 2018, and the rest as
they say, is history…
Marshall Pruett points out how its G-R-r-REAT!
That IndyCar wants to improve the talent quality of its drivers. But should
they be doing that at the expense of cash strapped teams? Especially when
they’ll need to come up with $6-8 million for new Dallara IR28 chassis in 2028!
Whilst For the Love of Indy’s r. Hando goes
into even greater detail over how Indy NXT might not be the greatest “Feeder
series” leading to IndyCar…
IndyCar’s Talent Evaluation: Be Careful of What You Wish for
