INDY 500: Bump Day goes Thud!

Fernando Alonso’s name atop IMS Scoring pylon. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

Fernando Who!

 

Was gonna scribble about my waning desire to continue following Formula 1 via television today, but I’ll let that simmer a little longer…

 

Nope, like many, this year’s lack of Bumping at Mother Speedway’s upon my mind. As I could go thru what’s already been covered extensively over the recent lack of entries since 2020. Or going back even further to 2016, when the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 only had 33 entries, reportedly…

 

While we all know about Colton Herta’s fourth Andretti Global entry being scrubbed due to Formula One’s brilliant idea to race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve the same day, Spew!

 

It seemingly comes down to the financial plight of the current economy. Although there are reportedly drivers with the necessary budget for a “One-off” entry at Mother Speedway.

 

While I’m not a fan of Honda’s unwillingness to grant its fourth Andretti Global engine lease to an Indy only entry. And I’m not sure how it helps them publicly? But perhaps due to Honda having just suffered its first ever earnings loss since the 1970’s, Honda’s suddenly pinching pennies?

 

And what about all of the Young Guns wishing to race in IndyCar these days? With the likes of Linus Lundqvist, Hunter McElrae, Toby sowery, Juri Vips and others. Not to mention Callum Ilott, Katherine Legge, Stefan Wilson and Devlin DeFrancesco for starters…

 

Nope, the saddest part of all is that we as Fans live by the credo of it being the fastest 33 Cars in the field and revel over the uncertainty of somebody going “Home” utterly disappointed. Even if its only one single driver and team. The sheer “Spectacle” of those vying for the final grid spot is typically Herculean! And for Mwah, Bump Day’s Last Row Shootout is always far more thrilling than the Pole shootout.

 

As one needs only look back to 2019, when the Minnowesqe Junco Racing and Kyle Kiser in a “Frankenstein” car Bumped Two-times Formula 1 World champion Fernando Alonso from that year’s Indianapolis 500!

 

Meanwhile, and it cannot just be Mwah. But “Isn’t It Ironic?” That with the 25 current IndyCar Charters being assured of making the field. We’re suddenly back to that Good, ‘Ol 25-8 rule.

 

As Shame On You IndyCar! As this is what the whole spirit of the Indianapolis 500 is supposed to represent…

 

Incredible radio from Kyle Kiser after Bumping Fernando Alonso from the 2019 Indianapolis 500 

How many IndyCar Seats remain for 2025?

And how many lick does it take to get to the center, Oh Never Mind!

 

Following that epic, Heart stopping Disco Cyclops Petit Le Mans finish. Where Renger van der Zande said He liked Disco when trying to get the lights to stay on in the closing minutes of the race! And had simply started pushing buttons, with somebody telling Him to push the white button…

 

Arse-sumedly we can now focus, Hocus Pocus? Upon the remaining IndyCar seats still up for grabs for the 2025 season, El Correctomundo?

 

Thus, as of Monday, October 14th, when I began this riveting prose. Hot on the heels of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing having inked the reigning Indy NXT champion Louis foster to the de riggour multi-year contract.

 

Thar’ were still technically seven seats available: (1) Chip Ganassi Racing, (2) Dale Coyne Racing, (2) Juncos Hollinger Racing, (1) Prema Racing, and (1) Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

 

Yet the Ganassi and Prema seats are already taken, with Kyffin Simpson moving to the No. 8 entry formerly driven by 2024 IndyCar Rookie Of the year Linus Lundqvist. And Robert Shwartzman in the second, unannounced Prema Racing seat alongside Callum Ilott.

 

Where to start, Eh? As we know Dale Coyne won’t have anything finalized until the week before St Pete’s season opener, Righto? Although Dale’s hands are somewhat tied now, due to the Dale Coyne Charter rule of only three drivers in a car per season. Meaning He’ll have to find drivers with more than a single race’s funding…

 

No idea over whether or not Romain Grosjean will be back at Juncos Hollinger Racing next year? Or which “Pay” Driver they’ll insert into the No. 78 next season? Since I’m guessing we shouldn’t read too much into Conor Daly testing for them at Mother Speedway’s Hybrid system test.

 

Whilst interestingly, another Free Agent named Rinus veeKay was testing for Dale Coyne at Indianapolis…

 

As the pool of current IndyCar drivers without rides theoretically exceeds current vacancies. As Lundqvist, Grosjean, VeeKay, Daly, Toby Sowery, Hunter McElrea and Sting Ray Robb are All seeking employment.

 

Oops, how could I forget “Teddy Porkchop”, aka Theo Pourchaire, who seems totally deserving of an IndyCar drive! And I’ve also momentarily forgotten current RLLR Simulator Jockey Juri Vips.

 

Not to mention that Sparky’, aka Devlin DeFrancesco is supposedly trying to find His way back into an IndyCar seat.

With no disrespect to thy Leggy Juan’, aka Katherine Legge, whom I’ve also overlooked…

Whilst that doesn’t include any other potential Indy NXT  graduates like runner-up Jacob Abel, whom seems locked out of an IndyCar career. Or any FIA Formula 2 drivers wanting to come Stateside. Since we know that Zane Maloney tested with RLLR this past August on Indianapolis’s road course, during His IndyCar debut.

 

Along with current Aston Martin Formula 1 test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich’s recent test for Ganassi. As it seems a waste for Drugovich, the 2022 FIA Formula 2 Champion to still be sitting on the sidelines!

 

Or the upcoming test for former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant at the Thermal Club with Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) on November 19th.

 

Since we know that both Ganassi and MSR don’t have any vacancies for next year. But these late season tests give them an opportunity to evaluate future talent, set-ups and a variety of other things. Like MSR testing out its new technical alliance with CGR.

 

As I fear that many of the drivers named above, and those I don’t know about will be disappointed “When the Music’s Over” and we “turn Out the Lights!” Upon the 2025 IndyCar Silly Season… 

Is IndyCar’s 2025 Silly Season Already Over?

Especially  with the two new drivers Arrow McLaren has just signed taking All the Wind out of the Sails…

 

Like did we just have an IndyCar race devoid of any major distractions, minus whoever’s next to drive for Dale Coyne and Company on their Driver rotisserie wheel?

 

Naturally, after I’d finished penning several Blog stories for your consumption here upon No Fenders prior to El Stupidio BOOM BOOM Fourth ‘O July! (And the Mid-Ohio race) Darth Vader, Err Mr. Zackery Brown struck again! As my favourite quote regarding Zak Brown is Colton Herta saying Zak’s Cuthroat, He’s A Businessman!

 

Isn’t it Ironic? That Brown has no trouble jettisoning drivers like Der Helmut’ (Marco) tossing out cold bathwater at Red Bull. But when a driver spurns Him, you’d better run for the Hills, leave the Country and assume a new identity!

 

Since Arrow McLaren drop kicked promising IndyCar rookie Theo Pourchaire Kerbside in order to make room for Nolan Siegel beginning at Laguna Seca! In what seems a case of Brown & Company wanting to “lock-up” Siegel before another rival IndyCar team had a chance to get Thar mitt’s upon Him…

 

As that was a pretty good assessment before reading IndyStar’s Nathan Browne’s article about how Richard Dean, co-owner of United Autosport raved about Siegel to Brown over the 24 Heurs du Mans weekend. Where the team won the LMP2 category with Nolan driving.

 

And Tony Kanaan simply said you need to get this “Kid” now! With Kanaan noting that Siegel was more mature than He was at age 19!

 

And with the Californian Kid already being on their radar for 2025, McLaren opted to sign Siegel to a multi-year contract beginning at Laguna Seca, with a full season IndyCar assault next year.

 

Coupled wit the fact that Pourchaire’s still “tied” to the Sauber F1 Team as a test and reserve driver. With DL500 “Band leader” David Land pointing out how “we” don’t know if Pourchaire was on a race-to-race; No P2P Jokes here! Uhm race-to-race contract or what His contract with McLaren specified…

 

As Pourchaire’s IndyCar career was way too brief for any decent ‘Sample” size, but He seemed to genuinely enjoy being an IndyCar driver, who I hope gets another chance! Even if Coyne seems to be the only option available…

 

Hence, I believe that the three biggest remaining names on the “Open” market for 2025 (prior to Mid-Ohio) are Alexander rossi, Christian Lundgaard and Rinus VeeKay. Although rossi obviously wants to stay at Arrow McLaren, with the only one replacing Him being Lundgaard by my reckoning…

 

Yet during the Sunday morning Laguna Seca warm-up session, IndyCar Radio’s Davey Hamilton implied from what He was hearing, Rossi was signed at McLaren for next year.

 

Meaning if true, then Lundgaard will obviously remain at RLLR with only VeeKay being undecided. But a move to JHR if possible? Seems like just a sideways step…

 

Arse-sumedly you’d have to say that the top three IndyCar teams seats are already secured for next year, i.e.; Penske, Ganassi and Andretti. With McLaren being the “best” option available.

 

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is obviously hoping to hold onto Lundgaard, whose their best driver. With the interesting part being Bobby Rahal wishing to get their fourth driver Juri Vips into a few races this year. And wanting to find Him a seat for next year…

 

I’d be very surprised if anything changed at Meyer Shank Racing for 2025. As Felix-the-Cat’ (Rosenqvist) is the team leader. While David Malukas should only get stronger over the remainder of the season, putting His wrist injury behind hem. Having a very impressive debut at Laguna Seca being the toughest upon His still improving wrist…

 

Ed Carpenter Racing is a bit of a wildcard. Although you’d expect ECR wishing to keep Rinus VeeKay, who I really don’t think has any options to go elsewhere next year?

 

Rookie Christian Rasmussen is a bit of a “loose cannon”, but what’s that old adage about slowing down a fast driver vs. trying to get one to speed up, Eh? And if Rasmussen can settle down and quit crashing so much, He should be fine at ECR, who need to give Him a Full season ride.

 

Juncos Hollinger Racing is a bit of a mess right now. Obviously trying to settle down after the Augustin Canapino social media maelstrom! As you’d thin the team would wish to retain Romain Grosjean. While Canapino could be a liability, as I don’t think He brings any sponsorship to the team? So there could be at least one seat open here next year…

 

And that just leaves us with A.J. foyt enterprises and Dale Coyne Racing and Company.

 

Santino Ferrucci has been a very nice fit at Foyt, whilst Sting Ray Robb brings a massive, rumoured $9 million budget! So hard to see them going anywhere next year.

 

While Dale Coyne is the master of the revolving door philosophy of driver employment. Although Theo Pourchaire would be a good fit in one of Coyne’s two seats, while Jack Harvey has given the team stability. Although Harvey hasn’t exactly lit-up the field during this year’s races. But is this just another sign of how DCR’s truly running on a shoestring budget and cannot afford to tear-up equipment!

 

So there you have it. Meaning obviously much will change next year that I’m not aware of. Like where does Jacob Abel land if He manages to overcome Louis foster for this year’s Indy NXT  Championship? Although Louis Foster seems to be on “fire” right now and the odds on favourite to win the title entering Mid-Ohio.

 

And where would Foster go next year in Indy Cars since Andretti’s already filled up, unless they still have their fourth Honda engine lease? Which is the lone, extra remaining Honda lump that others are chasing…

 

And that’s without even knowing what drivers from Formula 2 are sniffing around the paddock for a future IndyCar ride? As don’t forget Prema Racing arrives next year with two Bowtie’ entries. Although they’ll have to apparently compete against two Ganassi drivers to race next year when the El Stupidio Charter system takes effect.

 

As Formula 1 doesn’t need No Stinkin’ Charter’s! And how has that improved NASCAR’s competition. Especially now that Stewart Haas Racing’s thrown in the towel. Making Y’all wonder how much those four Charters will be worth, Eh?