The 2024 IndyCar Golden Tailpipe Awards edition, Positions 6-10

But its another long winded version of Hyperbole as always…

 

Its sad thinking that we’ve only reached the halfway point of another IndyCar traditionally ridiculous offseason on December 8th, according to For the Love of Indy’s Raymond Hando, Yikes! While there’s now only 73 days remaining until St Pete, OMG

 

Alas, its time once again for your Humble No Fenders scribe Tomaso’s zany year ender awards Hoopla, or should that be Jambalaya ‘O choices? Y’all make the call…

 

CATEGORIES 6-10

6. Most Improved Driver of the Year

Winner: Santino Ferrucci

What more can I say about thee Great Santini’, ergo Santino Ferrucci, who netted A.J. Foyt Enterprises Top-10 season finish for the first time since 2002! When the forgotten Airton Dare finished ninth overall in the Indy Racing League. The year He won His only IRL race at Kansas Speedway.

 

As the most impressive part was that Santino improved mightily upon the Twisties’ portion of the calendar. Since we already know about His oval prowess, evidenced again at Mother Speedway.

 

Yet Ferrucci improved ten positions overall this year, finishing ninth. Sandwiched between Newgarden and Rossi! And next year’s lineup of Ferrucci and Malukas should be fun to watch.

 

7. Most Disappointing Driver of the Year

Winner: Alexander Rossi

It would be easy to pick someone like Graham Rahal. Whilst I’d argue that Josef Newgarden’s season overall was disappointing. Yet since Schlick’ is my Numero Uno IndyCar Villan, I’m quite happy with His subpar eighth place finish…

 

I suppose it should be hard to be disappointed claiming eleven podiums in sixteen starts. Including a pair of Top-5 finishes. Claiming fourth in the Indianapolis 500 and third at Laguna Seca.

 

Yet due to fracturing a finger at Toronto, with Theo Pourchaire flying from Paris overnight to substitute for Him. This caused Rossi to finish tenth overall, just one point behind ninth place Santino Ferrucci. (367-366 points)

 

Yet I was really hoping we’d see Rossi back in the winner’s circle this season. Along with a contract extension at Arrow Mclaren. But Rossi never truly “Jelled” at McLaren, and thus will begin anew at Ed Carpenter Racing next year.

 

8. Comeback Driver of The Year

Winner: David Malukas

Think Y’all know the story about Chicago Davey’s bicycling accident, Righto? Having grabbed the wrong brake and subsequently breaking His wrist and damaging tendons which ruled Him out of ever turning a competitive lap for His new team Arrow McLaren. With Davey’s seat finally going to Nolan Siegel, after stints by Callum Ilott and Theo Pourchaire…

 

Davey made His return to IndyCar at one of the more physically demanding tracks, i.e.; Laguna Seca in the “Route 66” (#66) Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) entry, replacing Tom Blomqvist for the remainder of the season.

 

Memory says Malukas qualified in the Fast-12. And was running inside the Top-10? Before finishing a disappointing P16. Whilst I also tend to recall Him making the Fast six Shootout at Mid-Ohio, site of the series inaugural hybrid race. Wher unfortunately He stalled the car during the first pitstop due to the extremely “tall” first gear ratio needed to counteract the hybrid system…

 

Ironically Davey’s best season finish came Up North Eh! Driving a special tribute Tragically Hip mobile to sixth place in Toronto after starting sixth. Where members of the Tragically Hip Band served as the Grand Marshals and gave the command to Start-Your-Engines!

 

Malukas netted two Top-10 finishes in His ten races, hauling the #66 into the vaunted Leader Circle prize fund, which He was hired to do. Before making what seems like a shock decision to sign for A.J. foyt Enterprises for 2025. Although Foyt does have a technical alliance with Team Penske, but MSR’s technical alliance with Ganassi Ain’t bad either…

 

9. “Big Boyz Pants” Award

Winner: Romain Grosjean

Initially considered thee Great Santini’ for this award. But Santino Ferrucci had one glaring Foopah that I’m trying to not acknowledge! Thus His bosom buddy Romain Grosjean quickly came to mind instead. Especially after Romain decided to speak His mind post season, Youza!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2024/12/grosjean-speaks-out.html

 

As Grosjean arguably had Juncos Hollinger Racing’s best season, with a total of six Top-10 finishes. Including a best finish of fourth at Monterey, the team’s best ever finish to date. Eclipsing Callum Ilott’s brace of fifth place finishes. With Grosjean finishing P17 overall.

 

Although looking up JHR’s results, Ilott finished P16 the year before. Scoring those fifth place finishes at St Pete and Laguna Seca.

 

While it’ll be sad if JHR goes with two “Pay” drivers this coming year…

 

10. Rookie of The Year

Winner: Christian Rasmussen

Yeah, I know this award should go to the official Rookie Of the Year (ROY) Linus Lundqvist. But the Swede’ was one of only two fulltime IndyCar rookies this season. The other being His less accomplished Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyffin Simpson. As the pair were the only two of ten eventual rookies to run full season…

 

Yet driving for Cheeps’ eponymous championship winning effort, you’d expect nothing less from Lundqvist, since CGR teammate Marcus Armstong won the honor the previous year.

 

But instead, I’m giving the nod to Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen, who ultimately ran three fewer races than Lundqvist did. With the only other rookie to have a double digit season being Nolan Siegel.

 

As the Dane got off to a somewhat rocky start, tending to crash quite a bit! And surely giving boss Fast Eddie’ a few more gray hairs, eh?

 

Yet Rasmussen seemed to be in the limelight at Mother Speedway for His unique line, along with raising other driver’s dander! But finished as the top rookie in 12th, only some 5.4 seconds behind the leader. And ahead of What’s His name Roundy Round’ driver!

 

Initially slated to only run the Twisties’ portion of the schedule, along with the third ECR entry at Indianapolis. Yet as the pressure mounted, boss Ed Carpenter relinquished the final three oval races in order for Rasmussen to keep the No. 20 entry in the Leader Circle prize fund, which He did. With His #20 ECR entry finishing 21st overall; since Ganassi’s Nos. 4 and 11 weren’t eligible. 

Indy Cars race for Leader Circle Funding

But who’ll claim the coveted 22nd and final Leader Circle’s prize?

 

Each year, there becomes a race inside the race over which IndyCar teams will be scrapping for the final Leader Circle prize fund allocation slots. Which IndyCar Doles out a prize of $1.0 million to the Top-22 Fulltime IndyCar team entries. For which I believe that each team is only allowed a maximum of three entries, now that I believe Andretti Global’s lost their fourth “Grandfathered” entry…

 

Much noise has been made about Meyer Shank Racing’s (MSR) Benching of rookie IndyCar driver tom Blomqvist, who we All know has been replaced by David Malukas for the remainder of the year.

 

Although Helio Castroneves, whose a minority team owner tried spinning off Blomqvist’s initial two race sabbatical as an effort to improve the team’s No. 66 points standing in the All important Leader Circle fight.

 

With Hulio’ filling the #66 seat for these two events, where I’d say He didn’t fair any better than Blomqvist would have!

 

As I’d still argue how is a rookie IndyCar driver supposed to progress if He’s Sacked before the Halfway distance of the season? Especially for somebody as raw as Blomqvist, who plys His trade predominantly in Sports Cars.

 

Yet Racer’s Marshall Pruett painted a different picture of Mike Shank seeing a driver lacking confidence behind the seat, who wasn’t improving. With Blomqvist expected to drive an MSR Acura in IMSA GTP once again next year.

 

As here’s a sample of the various Leader Circle point standings I was able to rassle up, albeit I couldn’t find an updated entrant’s standing following Road America…

 

Round 5: Indianapolis 500, May 26th

22. #30, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: 50

23. #18, Dale Coyne Racing: 47

24-26. #66, Meyer Shank Racing; #41, A.J. foyt Enterprises; #20, Ed Carpenter Racing: Tied with 46-points.

 

Round 6: Detroit, June 2nd

21. #78, Juncos Hollinger Racing: 74

22. #30, RLLR: 67

23. #18 DCR: 60

24. #41, foyt: 55

25. #66, MSR: 51

26. #20, ECR: 51

27. #51, Coyne-Ware Racing: 51

 

 

Yet I believe that Ganassi’s Nos. 11 & 4 entries aren’t eligible for Leader Circle funding, meaning Thars’ 25 entries vying for the Top-22 spots. Meaning if I apply this logic? MSR was sitting in 23rd place following Detroit. As good work Hulio!

 

As I’m also Arse-suming that MSR’s #66 is on top of the three way tie via it having the highest place finish of 15th at St Pete.

 

Interesting how Marshall notes in a follow-up piece about Malukas’s joining MSR, which felt like it was defending Mike Shank’s decision as co-owner to park Blomqvist…

 

That Shank has given Malukas a long “leash” and just needs Him to finish P17 or better without destroying racecars, and MSR will be happy with their new driver acquisition.

 

Yet this is a great opportunity for whom has been my Numero doce favourite Indycar driver the past few seasons. As you’d think that driving for MSR will give David a much better opportunity to “Grow” versus the pressure cooker environment of Arrow Mclaren!

 

Although like Shank told Marshall, MSR needs to perform now for the sake of it’s sponsors. So hopefully Malukas can deliver the Goods! Especially with a stupendous six Ovals at season’s end.

 

As Pruett noted recently how the cost of running an IndyCar entry has increased by 30% over the years, costing a minimum extra $2.0 million per entry due to Hybridization and our massive Inflation that we All currently suffer from!

 

Whilst apparently it’s a very poor “secret” that MSR will return to IMSA GTP competition next year with an Acura entry spearheaded by Blomqvist.

 

making me now wonder if the Blomqvist to IndyCar experiment was just a novel way for MSR to keep Blomqvist busy for a year’s time before the IndyCar driver market opened in 2025?