ROLEX 24: IndyCar Drivers Guide

As just over One Third of this year’s IndyCar field will go Sports car racing this weekend…

 

Perusing the cavernous No Fenders Archive vault, I came across a story that made me ponder if Thar’s anybody on this year’s Rolex 24 Grid that makes fellow competitors as nervous as when ‘Ol superTex’, nee Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. “terrorized” Day-Toners’ High Banks in an All conquering Porsche 962 Panzerwagen? Hey after all, some IndyCar Rookie’s honouring His Bosses turning 88 this year with His car number…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2017/01/rolex-24-when-supertex-pounded-high.html

 

As Here’s a list of the 10 IndyCar Drivers that are racing at Day-Toner’ this year. Excluding both Chip Ganassi Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing’s IndyCar Development Drivers and Indy NXT Competitors Kyffin Simpson and Josh Pierson respectively. Nor Christian Rasmussen and Rasmus Lind. With All four NXT Drivers comprising nearly Half of HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing’s nine car Indy NXT Armada’s…

 

Andretti Autosport

(Driver/IMSA Class/Car#/Racing Team/Chassis)

(#26) Colton Herta

Class: GTP, Nos. 24-25 Team BMW M RLL; BMW M Hybrid V-8

 

(#27) Kyle Kirkwood

Class: GTD, No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Racing; Lexus RC F GT3

 

(#28) Romain Grosjean

Class: GTD Pro, No. 63 Iron Lynx; Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2

 

(#29) Devlin DeFrancesco

Class: LMP2, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing; Oreaca 07

 

Chip Ganassi Racing

(#9) Scott Dixon

Class: GTP, No. 01 Cadillac Racing; Cadillac V-LMDH

 

Ed Carpenter Racing

(#21) Rinus VeeKay

Class: LMP2, No. 11 TDS Racing; Oreca 07

 

Meyer Shank Racing

(#06) Helio Castroneves

Class: GTP, No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing; Acura ARX-06

 

(#60) Simon Pagenaud

Class: GTP, No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing; Acura ARX-06

 

Team Penske

(#2) Josef Newgarden

Class: LMP2, No. 8 Tower Motorsports; Oreaca 07

 

(#3) Scott McLaughlin

Class: LMP2, No. 8 Tower Motorsports; Oreca 07

Update

Thanks to Raymond Hando’s For The Love of Indy’s comprehensive Car-by-Car preview of the entire 61 Car Grid for this year’s Rolex 24. I learned that there’s actually five Indy NXT Drivers participating this year.

 

With No Disrespect towards Danial Frost who’s part of the No. 43 MRS GT-Racing’s LMP3 line up, who I missed during my Mondo’ Rolex 24 previews. With Frost’s inclusion seeing more than Half of HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing’s Indy NXT Squad “Tuning Up” at Daytona.

 

Also, Colton Herta is indeed driving in both of BMW M Team RLL ‘s GTP Prototypes, albeit primarily in the #24 entry.

 

Which although rare, Driver’s have raced two cars before. As this year’s LMP2 Pole Sitter Ben Keating comes to mind. Although Keating raced for two different teams in two different classes from what I remember.

 

Also believe Thars a Maximum Drive-time that Herta, or Any competitor cannot exceed more than Four hours in any Six Hour period… 

MOTO GP: 2015 Grid - A Casual view...

In anticipation of my impending return to COTA, nee Circuit Of The Americas for this weekend's MotoGP race, I thought I'd better try figuring out who's riding what Scooter for whom, eh? As this is by NO means official, just intended as a helpful Spotter's guide for the expected 25 "Knee-draggers" kicking ARSE in Austin, Texas and beyond...

Factory Teams

This year the MotoGP grid expands to five Factory teams, with the return of Suzuki and addition of Aprilia bolstering the previous Honda, Yamaha and Ducati concerns...

(16) "Factory" Riders

The following 16-riders from four Countries were listed on the FIM's 2015 entry list prior to the season kickoff in Qatar, and therefore, as always is subject to change...

Repsol Honda

Base: Japan

Chassis: Honda RC213V

26) Dani Pedrosa; Spain

93) Marc Marquez; Spain

CWM LCR Honda

Base: Monaco

Chassis: Honda RC213V

35) Cal Crutchlow; United Kingdom

Estrella Galicia/ Marc VDS Racing Team

Base: Belgium

Chassis: Honda RC213V

45) Scott Redding; United Kingdom

Movistar Yamaha

Base: Japan

Chassis: Yamaha YZR-M1

46) Valentino Rossi; Italy

99) George Lorenzo; Spain

Monster Yamaha Tec 3

Base: France

Chassis: Yamaha YZR-M1

38) Bradley Smith; United Kingdom

44) Pol Espargaro; Spain

Ducati Corse

Base: Italy

Chassis: Ducati Desmosedici GP15

4) Andrea Dovizioso; Italy

29) Andrea Iannone; Italy

Pramac Racing

Base: Italy

Chassis: Ducati Desmosedici GP14

9) Danilo Petrucci; Italy

68) Yonny Hernández; Columbia

Team Suzuki X Star

Base: Japan

Chassis: Suzuki GSX-RR

25) R-Maverick Viñales; Spain

41) Aleix Espargaro; Spain

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

Base: Italy

Chassis: Aprilia RS GP

19) Alvaro Bautista; Spain

33) Marco Melandri; Italy

Open Class Entrants

There are four manufacturer's providing equipment  to the "Second Tier" Open Class competitors this season, with traditional factory support from Honda, Yamaha and Ducati, while the ART entry is based off of Aprilia's offering this season.

(9) Open Class Riders

The nine riders, including the series lone 'Yank, "the Kentucky Kid," aka Nicky Hayden are divided as follows; as note that Stefan Bradl has been demoted from his Honda satellite MotoGP ride, and takes refuge for rival Japanese factory Yamaha instead...

Honda

Chassis: Honda RC213VRS

Team: Aspar MotoGP Team

50) R-Eugene Laverty; Republic of Ireland

69) Nicky Hayden; USA

Team: AB Motoracing

17) Karel Abraham; Czech Republic

Team: CWM LCR Honda

43) R-Jack Miller; Australia

Yamaha

Chassis: YZR-M1

Team: Forward Racing

6) Stefan Bradl; Germany

76) R-Loris Baz; France

Ducati

Chassis: Ducati Desmosedici GP1441

Team: Avintia Racing

8) Hector Barberá; Spain

63) Mike Di Meglio; France

ART

Chassis: ART

Team: IodaRacing Project

15) Alex de Angelis; San Marino

(R Denotes Rookie Rider)

Introducing the 2015 IndyCar Team line-ups...

This is solely intended to be a helpful guide to who's in what for this weekend's season opening IndyCar race at St Petersburg, Florida. With the grid most likely fluctuating and doesn't include Indianapolis 500 only participants and hence, is by NO means Official, and as always, is subject to change.

there were three Rookies initially contesting this year's championship when I began scribbling this; with reigning Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves making his debut with Brian Herta Autosports, in the seat vacated by Jack Hawksworth. While the worst kept secret was 2013 Indy Lights champion Sage Karam replacing Ryan Briscoe at Chip Ganassi's "G2" Squad.

The third "rookie" is Luca Filippi, who'll take over Mike "Ice-Ice, Baby!" Conway's empty seat at CFH Racing for the "twisties" portion of the calendar, now that Conway's decided to focus upon Sports Car racing as a Toyota Factory driver in the World Endurance Championship. (WEC)

Then, there's the requisite Silly Season shuffle, in NO particular order: Simon Pagenaud leaves Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the rarefied confines of Team Penske. With James Hinchcliffe leaving Andretti Autosport to takeover Pagenaud's vacated seat.

Thus leaving No Fenders Numero Uno IndyCar Pilote' Justin B-I-G' UNIT Wilson on the Outside looking In towards continuing his career in Open Wheel Racing...

On March 9th, just 20-days prior to "Kickoff!" KVRT announced that its vacant second seat, now the No. 4 would be piloted by GP2 winning driver  Stefano Coletti. Leaving just the two Dale Coyne entries plus one Andretti seat available... Which all three were filled, As Andretti took on crowd darling "Symona-Symona," leaving Justin Wilson out in the cold; SHIT!

While Dale Coyne, who typically leaves his Driver announcements to the eleventh hour, announced his two drivers on March 16th, signing Carlos Huertas for a second year, and  surprisingly Italy's Francesco Dracone for the first four races...

Team/Car No/Driver)

(1) AJ Foyt Enterprises
Engine: Honda

14. Takuma Sato; Japan

41. Jack Hawksworth; UK

(2) Andretti Autosport

Engine: Honda

25. Simona de Silvestro; Switzerland
27. Marco Andretti; USA

28. Ryan Hunter-Reay; USA

Andretti/HVM Racing (+1)

(Hola Viva Mexico)

Engine: Honda

34. Carlos Munoz; Columbia

(3) Bryan Herta Autosport

Engine: Honda

98. R-Gabby Chaves; Columbia

(4) Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing
Engine: Chevrolet

20. Ed Carpenter; USA (Ovals Only)

20. R-Luca Filippi; Italy (Road/Street Courses)

67. Joseph Newgarden; USA

(5) Dale Coyne Racing
Engine: Honda

18. Carlos Huertas, Columbia

19. R- Francesco Dracone, Italy

(6) KV Racing Technology

Engine: Chevrolet

4. R-Stefano Coletti; Monaco

KVSH Racing (+1)

Engine: Chevrolet

11. Sebastian Bourdais; France

(7) Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Engine: Honda

15. Graham Rahal; USA

(8) Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Engine: Honda

5. James Hinchcliffe; Canada

7. James Jakes; UK

(9) Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Engine: Chevrolet

9. Scott Dixon; New Zealand
10. Tony Kanaan; Brazil

‘G2 – Chip Ganassi Racing  (+2)
Engine: Chevrolet

8. R-Sage Karam; USA

83. Charlie Kimball; USA

(10) Team Penske

Engine: Chevrolet

#1. Will Power; Australia
2. Juan Pablo Montoya; Columbia

3. Helio Castroneves; Brazil

22. Simon Pagenaud; France

(R Denotes Rookie Driver)

Presenting the 2015 Formula 1 Grid

This is solely intended to be a helpful guide to who's in what for this weekend's season opening F1 race Down Under, along with the rest of the season, albeit is by NO means Official, and as always, is subject to change. While keep in mind that beginning last year, Driver's were allowed to decide their own personal (permanent) numbers a la IndyCar, etc, and hence the scrambled numbering sequence between the No's 2-99, since the No. 1 plate is still reserved for the reigning world champion, at his discretion, as Lewis Hamilton will be the first ever to not carry the No. 1 plate in Formula 1 history! Retaining his #44 instead.

The (original)  remaining 9-teams for this season's opening race Down Under are listed in their respective 2014 F1 constructor's championship finishing positions, as hopefully the newly reconstituted Manor Grand Prix Organisation to be called Manor Marussia F1 Team will make it to Melbourne and beyond! whilst sadly Caterham will disappear from Formula 1.

NOTE

Surely Y'all know that "Fredrico Suave," aka Fred Alonso won't be taking part in this year's Australian GP - with all sorts of theories, speculation and rumours swirling 'round the true cause of his testing accident in Barcelona. Yet like Grizzled Journo' Joe Saward sez; while many are looking for whomever was atop that "Grassy Knoll," isn't it prudent to sit out one Grand Prix in order to ensure long term health and not suffer adverse effects from another possible hit on head, and hence, McLaren Reserve Driver Kevin Magnussen will substitute for Alonso Down Under...

On the subject of Alonso...

(Constructor’s: Team/Chassis/Engine)

(1) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

Chassis:  W06 Hybrid

Engine: Mercedes Benz 

(Car No. + Driver)

6. Nico Rosberg

44. Lewis Hamilton

(Test/Reserve Driver)

T/R) Pascal Wehrlein

(2) Red Bull Racing

Chassis:  RB11

Engine: Renault

3. Daniel Ricciardo

26. Daniil Kvyat

T/R: Sebastian Buemi; Antonio Felix da Costa

(3) Williams F1 Team

Chassis:  FW37

Engine: Mercedes Benz

19. Felipe Massa

77. Valtteri Bottas

Reserve Driver) Susie Wolff

Development Driver) Alex Lynn

(4) Scuderia Ferrari

Chassis:  SF15T

Engine: Ferrari

5. Sebastian Vettel

7. Kimi Raikkonen

Reserve Driver) Esteban Gutierrez

Development Driver) Jean-Eric Vergne

(5) McLaren Honda

Chassis:  MP4-30

Engine: Honda 

14. Fernando Alonso

22. Jenson Button

Test Driver) Kevin Magnussen

Reserve Drivers) Oliver Turvey, Stoffel Vandoorne

(6) Sahara Force India F1 Team

Chassis:  VJM-08

Engine: Mercedes Benz 

11. Sergio Perez

27. Nico Hulkenberg

T/R) TBA

(7) Scuderia Toro Rosso

Chassis:  STR10

Engine: Renault

33. R-Max Verstappen

55. R-Carlos Sainz, Jr.

T/R) Sebastian Buemi

(8) Lotus F1 Team

Chassis:  E23 Hybrid

Engine: Mercedes Benz

8. Romain Grosjean

13. Pastor Maldonado

Reserve Driver) Jolyon Palmer

Development Driver) Carmen Jorda

(9) Manor-Marussia F1 Team

Chassis:  MR03

Engine: Ferrari

28) R-Will Stevens

98) R-Roberto Merhi

Development Driver) Jordan King

NOTE

23yr old Spaniard Roberto Merhi, who's manager is a Bloke named Mark Blundell, may only be a "Stop-gap" measure driver for the season's first few races before another Pay Driver with a bigger cheque arrives...

(10) Sauber F1 Team

Chassis:  C34

Engine: Ferrari

9. Marcus Ericsson

12. R-Felipe Nasr

T/R) Raffaele Marciello

(R Denotes Rookie Driver)