Aston Martin: Britain’s Great Pretenders?

As what’s that overused cliché about the perfect Storm?

 

Thursday’s press conference preceding the Australian Grand Prix saw Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey dropping the “Bombshell” over both His drivers fearing permanent nerve damage to their hands/fingers due to the unrelenting vibrations the Honda Power Units (PU) were experiencing.

 

As Newey claimed star driver Fernando Alonso thought 25 consecutive  laps was His limit, with Lance Stroll saying He could only do 15 laps.

 

As Alonso said when driving this year’s AMR26 chassis, His legs and hands feel numb, which obviously isn’t a normal sensation drivers are accustomed to!

 

Although Alonso contradicted Newey by saying He could race for three hours is necessary. While Lance Stroll described the vibration like sitting in an Electric Chair…

 

What I fail to comprehend is how could Honda worked itself into the position a second time in Formula 1? Since I think we all remember Alonso’s famous quote about the previous Honda PU being slower than a GP2 car! And making “friends” with Honda eternally…

 

Although some claim this is political theatre, certainly Newey publicly stating He hadn’t had time to discuss this with Honda Racing Corporation’s (HRC) boss Koji Watanabe cannot go over well with the Japanese hierarchy, Righto?

 

Then on Friday, Alonso failed to run at all if the first practice, with Lance Stroll only doing three laps. With Newey admitting they were short on battery units.

 

As two of the units were swiftly out of commission, leaving just the two units in the cars for the remainder of the weekend. Although one unit was repaired, leaving them with a single back-up unit for the Chinese Grand Prix. With teams limited to four battery “packs” for a season, before presumably incurring grid penalties. In the name of cost control, Cough-cough!

 

Yet its a sad state of affairs, when Aston’s Mike Krack, the former Team Principal pronounces Frederico Suave (Alonso) finishing the team’s first Grand Prix at Suzuka P18 as a major accomplishment, Huh?

 

Whilst Stroll retired with a suspected water pressure issue for the Internal Combustion Engine. (ICE) Which I cannot help but wonder if that was caused by more harmonic vibrations?

 

According to Adrian Newey, it came as quite a surprise to Him, major domo Lawerence Stroll and Andy Cowell Some four months prior to Melbourne when visiting Japan. That Honda had lost a lot of their experienced staff after announcing the withdrawal from Formula 1 in 2021. Before making a “U-turn” during 2022, being behind their F1 rivals ever since…

 

It seemed quite odd that Newey was elevated to the Team Principal role at the time, which I just Arse-sumed was the team firmly telling Newey’s former boss Chris Horner, the ex-Pied Piper of Red Bull that He wasn’t welcomed at Aston!

 

But it just didn’t make any sense to me, since Newey was signed on a $25 million per year contract to sprinkle His design “Genius” upon Aston Martin’s chassis. In conjunction with Honda Werks’ engines, Err Power Units and Presto Chango, instant “World Beaters”, Tuh-duh!

 

Yet for Mwah, Aston Martin has some sort of systemic problem at its core. And team owner Lawrence stroll’s idea of simply throwing money around will solve everything doesn’t seem to be working.

 

Not sure how many millions have been spent upon the new state-of-art factory premises, err F1 campus at Silverstone. Or the top flight wind tunnel coming online, et al.

 

It just seems that the constant turnover of staffing speaks volumes.

 

As Mike Krack replaced outgoing Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer, who left Aston Martin at the end of 2021. Being part of the “Old Guard”, i.e.; Force India, thru Stroll’s takeover as Racing Point and then becoming today’s Aston Martin F1 Team.

 

Krack became Chief Trackside Officer at the beginning of last year, when then Group CEO Andy Cowell took over His position. Before Newey’s elevation to Team Principal; Cowell was announced as the new Chief Strategy Officer last November, to coordinate the integration of the Honda PU into the Aston Martin AMR-26 chassis.

 

Which makes sense now, after that November meeting in Japan.

 

As Cowell had originally replaced Martin Whitmarsh when joining Aston Martin from Mercedes, with scuttlebutt suggesting Cowell will leave Aston shortly. And so it goes…

 

Since we’re all eagerly awaiting the introduction of Jonathan Wheatley, former Sauber/Audi Team Principal, becoming Aston Martin’s newest Team Principal. Probably after the summer break while on Gardening leave currently.

 

Meanwhile, Simulator Jockey Daniel Juncadella claims He didn’t see any of Honda’s problems coming during His simulator work, while I still don’t quite grasp the need, or what Pedro de la Rosa’s role as Global F1 Ambassador is?

 

Aston Martin Global F1 Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa talks racing and resilience

 

Thus, this ever revolving door makes it reasonable that El Supremo Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has just been confirmed going to McLaren when His current Red Bull contract expires at the end of 2027, albeit does Red Bull really want Him sticking round after the end of this season?

 

As the exodus of “Rats” is now in high gear at Milton Keynes, with Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s championship winning engineer having had offers from McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams. I’d say He chose to work at the most stable, competitive Formula 1 outfit on the grid, behind Herr Wolff’s mighty Silver arrows, Ja volt!

 

Although I must say I marvel over how Uber’ diplomatic Alonso’s been this go-around, perhaps wishing to continue on past His contract expiring at season’s end. Yet the soon to be 45 year old driver surely is nearing the end of His time in Formula 1, Ci?

 

And Lance Stroll will never deliver anything substantial in F1. Since would He still be in F1 without His billionaire father?

 

Meaning even when Aston Martin and Honda get the kinks worked out. With one rival F1 boss saying they weren’t falling for giving Honda concessions a second time after Red Bull’s latest F1 dynasty…

 

It seems that Aston Martin will still have a major problem without new, capable winning drivers in their cockpits…

 

Whilst lastly, I’ll leave you with the entire trilogy of my epic 75 Years of Honda Racing No Fenders story below. Since I’d like to believe that Honda will once again soar to the top in F1.

 

Honda turns 75 years old 

Penske and ECR reshuffle Engineering

Although they’re not alone in the pursuit of the “Unfair Advantage!”

 

Laying dormant over thoust winter slumber, thru the new year and first four races. I’ve finally been able to track down the results of the significant engineering reshuffle at Team Penske this season. With the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle being Tim Cindric’s re-hiring.

 

Following last May’s firing of Cindric, Ron Ruzewski and Kyle Moyer, Porsche Penske Motorsport major domo Jonathan Diuguid assumed Cindric’s role and is in charge of the IndyCar and IMSA GTP programs. With Travis Law serving as Competition Director.

 

David Faustino, Will Power’s engineer and 16 year Penske veteran has been appointed as Technical Director, overseeing R&D and technical aspects of the IndyCar program.

 

Ben Bretzman, who’s served as Simon Pagenaud’s and Scott McLaughlin’s race engineer. Was promoted to Engineering Manager of Competition, overseeing all three Team Penske IndyCar’s engineering efforts.

 

Josef Schlick’ Newgarden retains His Indianapolis 500 winning race engineer Luke Mason and team boss Jonathan Diuguid as race strategist.

 

ScottyMac’, ergo Scott McLaughlin has new race engineer Raul Brados. And on the timing stand, Tim Cindric as strategist.

 

David Malukas continues with James Schnadel as race engineer, the pair working together at Foyt last year. While Travis Law steps up to being a first time race strategist.

 

Matt Johnsson, a former chief mechanic becomes the new Assembly Manager. While Robbie Atikson becomes the new Team Manager.

 

Another IndyCar team making significant changes over winter was Ed Carpenter Racing. (ECR) With Matt Barnes being elevated to Vice President of Competition.

 

Thus relative newcomer Quentin Montigaud, who becomes Alexander Rossi’s new strategist. As the former Formula E employee will also engineer Rossi’s car, after serving as performance engineer last year on the No. 20 ECR entry. While Christian Rasmussen’s No. 21 entry retains Peter Craik.

 

Robert Gue, former Arrow Mclaren and Prema Racing employee joins ECR as Special Projects Manager. Derek Davidson, former Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) chief mechanic and team manager becomes ECR’s new team manager. And Chase Campbell has been hired as the team’s first ever Stregth and Conditioning coach; also overseeing pit stop practice for both entries, and serve as pit stop coach.

 

On an unrelated note. Ryan Briscoe, former sporting director of Prema Racing, has taken up a similar role for RLL, working with its three drivers, primarily newcomer Mick Schumacher. While veteran engineer Mike Pawlowski who recently worked with Kyle Larson, becomes Schumacher’s race engineer.

 

Then after finishing this story. I spotted news that Pawlowski will shift to an R&D engineering role at RLL, since the chemistry between Him and Mick wasn’t panning out.

 

Veteran engineer Ed Jones will fill-in at Barber, and remain with Schumacher thru Long Beach. Then shifts over to Takuma Sato’s No. 75 entry for theIMS Open test and Indianapolis 500. With the team using this time to determine who Schumacher’s next race engineer for the remainder of the season will be. 

Another NASCAR Lawsuit

As a rival team accuses Spire Motorsports of putting the Spy into NASCAR!

 

Oh yeah, in my riveting, elongated St Pete weekend recap. As typical, I ran outta room to scribble about the current lawsuit in NASCAR.

 

As Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has added Spire Motorsports to its lawsuit against former JGR employee Chris Gabehart.

 

JGR alleges that Gabehart, its former Competition Director has illegally taken proprietary information with Him to His new employer Spire Motorsports, where He’s been named their Chief Motorsports Officer. Presumably tabbed with improving Spire’s ontrack performance.

 

Over the St Pete weekend, Gabehart made His first official appearance as an Spire employee, albeit supposedly just chillin’ in their suite.

 

As the Judge presiding in the case, ruled in JGR’s restraint lawsuit that Gabehart could work for Spire, as long as He didn’t perform any of His previous JGR duties. And that Gabehart needed to return any and all “illegal” matrrials in His possession to JGR. With the Judge imploring both parties to come to a settlement before March 15th.

 

Joe Gibbs Racing adds Spire Motorsports to Chris Gabehart lawsuit 

2026 IndyCar Season Finally set to Start!

Can it really be time again, already?

 

Shiver Me Timbers! As IndyCar’s set to shake off another stupendous Winter’s Slumber and go racing once again. As racecars flock to Saint Petersburg’s temporary street circuit it Friday morning, Hurrah!

 

As guessing that Dale Coyne finally had to divulge His second driver by Valentines Day, Eh? Being Dale’s new “Thanksgiving”, Hya! As Y’all remember Dale saying that Turkey-Lurkey Day was the new Halloween last year, Righto?

 

As who is that masked “second” driver. Although He seems slightly familiar. Donning His Crash-bucket for two days of testing on Sebring’s “Short” course…

 

Here’s some of the typical story lines for this season. As guessing everyone knows about the calendar changes. With the additions of Phoenix, Arlington and Toronto’s relocated Street race. And that Iowa’s been dropped from this year’s schedule. Along with Nashville moving to July and the season finale returning to Laguna Seca…

 

IndyCar announces 17 race 2026 Schedule

 

Obviously that was prior to Don Collosus issuing another Executive Order for the Freedom 250. Where I hear a $1.0 million “Gratuity” will lands Yuhs a VIP Front row seat for the Washington D.C. Street race taking place on August 23rd as Round 18 of this year’s IndyCar schedule.

 

IndyCar to race on Streets of Washington D.C.

 

Meanwhile, 24 drivers, including Dale’s second, Hya! Will be trying to stop the Alex Palou Freight train. As can the affable Spaniard win a fourth consecutive title this year? Which would give Him five IndyCar Championship crowns in total. Surpassing Mario Andretti for third most overall, Aye Karumba!

 

While can DJ WillyP’, ergo William Steven Power ring-in His 45th birthday with a supremely satisfying win Sunday? Upon making His debut for Andretti Global in the No. 26, which is just plain weird!

 

While have to say I’m more intrigued over the Rookie Of the year (ROY) battle for the moment. Since Mick Schumacher’s signing at Rahal is great for the sport. With Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet, who finished 1-2 last year in Indy NXT. Arse-sumedly trying to take the “Mick” outta, Oh Never Mind!

 

Y’all know that bad pun’s Ah-Comin’ sometime this season. Which probably ranks right up Thar with Marshall Pruett’s Prema-nitions’ regarding Prema Racing, cymbal crash please!

 

As Schumacher Jnr has no Oval track racing experience vs. Hauger and Collet’s limited Oval experience, albeit All three will be Newby’s at Mother Speedway…

 

Speaking ‘O Prema Racing. We still didn’t know their situation as of Super Bowl Sunday. When the Seattle Seahawks sought to seek revenge upon those pesky New Patriots after that devastating loss in Super bowl XLIV. As Arse-sumedly Seattle will let Kenneth Walker III run the ball from the One-yard line on Third and Goal, Righto?

 

Yep, Walker ran roughshod over the Patriots by cobbling up some 150 yards rushing, being named the Super bowl MVP, Yeah Baby! With Seattle’s “Dark Side” Defense totally dominating Super bowl LX, with Seattle cruising to a 29-13 victory! After holding New England scoreless 19-0 until the third quarter…

 

Uhm, back to racing, as don’t expect Prema to show up at St Pete. And it sounds like according to Marshall Pruett, the Prema Racing name is gone in IndyCar. With the hopes of a new owner purchasing the team, and the new entity showing up later this season…

 

Also guessing Yuhs know about El Capitano’ , nee Roger Penske adding $11 million to the Leaders Circle pot beginning this year, and running thru 2028. As this increases the individual Leaders Circle payout from $1.145m to $1.645m for the Top 22 of the 25 Charter entrants. With teams reportedly budgeting approximately a cool million per new Dallara IR28 chassis in 2028.

 

Whilst we’ve also got the new “independent” Officiating Board, led by Ray Evernham and Company, which I’ve got no news upon or how it differs from last year’s Race Officiating. So as the media Pundits like saying; Watch this Space!

 

Whilst speaking of Penske, and I’m personally happy for one of my favourite drivers ScottyMac’, nee Scott Mclaughlin getting Tim Cindric as His new race strategist. Which is a great move for Penske’s No. 3 entry.

 

And that doesn’t even cover the rest of Team Penske’s major Engineering reorganization, or Ed Carpenter Racing’s for that matter. Along with whatever else I’ve missed the memo upon, Eh? Like is Todd Alt sponsoring two IndyCar team this year? As it surely “looks” that way. Now that the worst kept secret of the No. 18’s driver identity has finally been divulged…

 

While I know everyone’s made improvements over the excruciating Offseason. But the team I’m most impressed with is Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s renewed efforts, which I hope definitely moves up the pecking order this season. As I’d really like to see the team improve dramatically for once.

 

And like ‘Ol Bob Varsha used to say? Turn Up the Volume! 

IndyCar’s Off Season News Spicket keeps Squirting into December

But good thingy’ its not Maple syrup. Especially since Thars’ Bloody Tarif’s upon its Big, Bwutiful’ Maple syrup, Oh Never Mind! Uhm, pass the syrup…

 

Naturally, once again after I’d finished my last round of belated IndyCar News, Wayback’ on November 19^th; in the following linke below, Shazam!

 

More Belated Driver news

 

Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) confirmed what most of us were expecting. One day after Mick Schumacher and company tested upon Mother Speedway’s road course. JHR announced Rinus VeeKay as its new lead driver for 2026, replacing Conor Daly. With Marshall Pruett noting that VeeKay was only confirmed for 2026, with many coveted “top” IndyCar cockpit openings for 2027.

 

While there was also no mention of Sting Ray Robb, whose manager Peter Rossi keeps banging on about His two year contract. Yet I’d say perhaps they should look at how Callam Ilott’s contractual obligations went at JHR. Not to mention forgotten Argentinian Augustin Canapino’s premature dismissal…

 

Yet I had a strange thought upon what appears to be a sideways move for VeeKay going to JHR. Perhaps Dale Coyne was unwilling to give Rinus a one year extension and allow Him to test the water in 2027?

 

Since I tend to recall Coyne not allowing Sebastien Bourdais to exit DCR early in order to move to Chip Ganassi Racing. Forcing le Hamburgular’ to stay put at the Coyne with Vasser Sullivan Racing outfit instead, just Sayin’.

 

Meanwhile, as of the October 13th IMS road course test. You’d have to say with A.J. Foyt Enterprises testing Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet a second time, He seemed to be a pretty good favourite to remain in the No. 4 He piloted during the test outing next year.

 

As Foyt confirmed the 23yr old Brazilian as its second driver on November 6th, with Collet piloting its No. 4 entry.

 

Having subsequently learned that Collet is a former Alpine Academy member, albeit totally overshadowed by Oscar Piastri. With Collet toiling in F3 between 2019-22, before moving Stateside.

 

The No. 4 Foyt entry sounds quite colourful. Being backed by Combitrans Amazonia, a Brazilian transport company. And sporting the Brazilian hues of green, blue and yellow next year.

 

Will Power, who sits in limbo due to Team Penske refusing to release Him before the end of the year, knocked off some of the rust by racing at Mother Speedway. But more upon that later.

 

Although I did spot His name mentioned in the GTD ranks during the Nov 14-16 Daytona IMSA test session…

 

Also dabbling in Sports cars. Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong made the trip home to race alongside His Pops’. With Marcus joining father Rick in the South Island Endurance Series season finale. With the pair sharing a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in the three hour “Enduro” at Highland Motorsports Park.

 

And if Romain Grosjean does return to Coyne next year, it won’t be with former race engineer Olivier Boisson. As the Frenchman signed with Arrow Mclaren to become its new Head of Dampers, joining the growing cadre of former Tony Kanaan colleagues…

 

Exiting Stage Left, Err Arrow McLaren was Brian Barnhart and Kyle Sagan. Both moving to Rahal Letterman Lanigan racing, (RLLR) whom Barnhart’s worked previously with Jay Frye; when both worked for IndyCar.

 

As Barnhart becomes the team’s Senior VP of Operations, and will also serve as Graham Rahal’s Race Strategist.

 

Sagan becomes the team’s Pit Stop Manager, a role He’s held at Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren previously. As RLLR seeks to improve in this area…

 

Meanwhile, arguably the Hottest driver on the potential 2027 Free Market has taken Himself off the board. With Kyle Kirkwood signing a multi-year contract extension to remain at Andretti Global.

 

As Pruett muses how His boy “Kirk” (Kirkwood) is a bit of a throwback, ‘Ol School type of driver. Choosing to remain loyal to those who’ve helped Him get where He is.

 

As Kirkwood’s also remained loyal with Vasser Sullivan Racing’s IMSA GTD Pro program as its Endurance “Specialist” the past six years. After the team threw Him a lifeline to stay active during the COVID-19 cancellation of Indy Lights in 2020.

 

As I especially enjoyed the part about Kirkwood taking those of His crew  available, and their families for a Caribbean Fishing trip. Well done Kyle!

 

As this leave only the No. 6 Arrow Mclaren as the biggest opportunity ride-wise for 2027, since I still think Dennis Hauger’s being prepped for the No. 28 Andretti Global ride. Along with Arse-suming David Malukas has a multi-year contract aboard the No. 12 Team Penske entry.

 

Making me think that the 2027 Silly Season won’t be that silly. But then again, neither was this year’s 2026 supposed to be as Silly as it became!

 

Lastly, just learned that RLLR has become the new “Service” provider for McLaren in IMSA GTD Pro next year, and will campaign a single McLaren 720s, with plans to increase to a two car entry in 2027.

 

As the team will run the No. 59 next season for the start of its multi-year arrangement. With the number paying homage to McLaren’s 24 Heurs du Mans victory in 1995.

 

Then upon November 20th, RLLR announced that former Team Penske Engineer and Arrow McLaren Team Principal Gavin Ward has signed to work for them, starting off with the loose title of Special Advisor.

 

Thus, just prior to Thanksgiving, we found ourselves with just two seats still “available” for next year, i.e.; Dale Coyne Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. With the possibility of the second Juncos Hollinger Racing seat of Sting Ray Robb’s potentialy available… 

More Belated Driver news

Since Der Wurld de Motorsporten never Sleeps!

 

Yeah, its been strange for Mwah the past few months. Waiting and waiting to get my ‘Ol Desktop Confuzer’ upgraded to Windows 11 specification before the enforced October 14th deadline. Which I’ll scribble about in another riveting No Fenders post, albeit, its been very liberating not madly poondin’ away on thoust keyboard…

 

Naturally, this has caused me to try poondin’ out copious stories for future consumption, like this one. Hence my prose is somewhat outdated.

 

Case-in-point was after having finished scribblin’ about some Belated Driver news. We got another IndyCar Driver’s confirmation along with several teams testing.

 

Be still my beating Heart! Did Dale Coyne actually announce His second IndyCar driver and assign car numbers before Halloween. Trick or Treat?

 

Thus Arse-sumedly everyone knows about Dale Coyne Racing (DCR) having confirmed reigning Indy NXT Champion Dennis Hauger as one of its two drivers for next year.

 

Along with their new technical alliance with Andretti Global. Which sees DCR receiving componentry and engineering set-up advice. Guessing that means Dampers, i.e.; Shocks from Andretti?

 

Whilst Coyne will rely upon its own in-house Engineering staff, most notably noted engineer Michael Cannon. With Dale Coyne noting how Cannon and Craig Hansen, now at Andretti, have worked together in the past. And have a good relationship.

 

And speaking of Andretti Global. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that former Team Penske Managing Director Ron Ruzewski has now become Andretti’s new IndyCar Team Principal, and will begin in January. With Rob Edwards, the previous Chief Operating Officer, (COO) moving into a new role at TWG Motorsports. Becoming its new Chief Performance officer . (CPO)  overseeing all of their vast motorsports portfolio, i.e.; Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, Sports Cars, Formula E and Indy NXT. Although Ruzewski will be in charge of both IndyCar and Indy NXT’s day-to-day operations.

 

Team Penske “rented” Mid-Ohio back on October 1st, with a total of five teams attending. As Penske ran Sports Car Ace Felipe Nasr, who finished quickest of all. Just slightly ahead of countryman Caio Collet, with the Indy NXT driver piloting the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises car.

 

Fellow Indy NXT Chip Ganassi Racing driver Niels Koolen sampled the team’s No. 8 entry. Kakunoshin Kaku’ Ohta drove one of Meyer Shank Racing’s Honda’s, along with the aforementioned Hauger driving for Coyne. With everyone making their respective IndyCar debuts, with the exception of Nasr., who’s tested multiple times for Penske

 

Then there was the “Big” test at Mother Speedway. With Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing testing Mick Schumacher on the 2.439-mile, 14 turns permanent road course on October 13th. Although it was expected that at least Andretti Global would join the IMS test and give Andretti Global Indy NXT driver Lochie Hughes His debut IndyCar outing.

 

Whilst presumably other IndyCar teams would show up at IMS. As according to The Pit Window, Schumacher and Hughes were slated to be joined by Caio Collet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Dennis Hauger for DCR. Both of Ed Carpenter Racing’s (ECR) regular drivers Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen. Plus Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) with Indy NXT driver James Roe.

 

Then according to Marshall Pruett, Enzo Fittipaldi would test again for Arrow McLaren on Sebring’s Short Course later in October. As once again , would other teams join the party?

 

As Enzo, younger brother of Pietro Fittipaldi made His IndyCar debut testing alongside His brother at Sebring in 2023. Then tested for Arrow McLaren last November at the Thermal Club for Arrow McLaren.

 

Also according to Pruett, Enzo is rumoured to be moving to Indy NXT next season, driving for HMD Motorsports.

 

Interestingly, and I totally missed the memo. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team announced Pietro Fittipaldi as its Development Driver on October 1st.

 

One other item that tripped my No. 4 wire, albeit just pure speculation upon my part. Especially with Dale Coyne saying they needed to Walk before running with the Andretti Global partnership. Yet mentioning how Andretti global had other Indy NXT drivers in its pipeline they’d like to advance to IndyCar…

 

I immediately thought of Lochie Hughes, who presumably will run a sophomore campaign in Indy NXT next year. And then He could take over Dennis Hauger’s IndyCar seat at Coyne, apprentice for a year and then replace fellow Aussie’ DJ WillyP’, aka Will Power’s seat? With Hauger presumably taking over Marcus Ericsson’s No. 28 ride?

 

But that’s just plain speculating upon my part, and only time will tell…

 

Meanwhile, Hughes has just officially hired Michael Patrizi as His manager. As the pair have worked together over the years unofficially, with Hughes saying it seemed time to have a manager.

 

Having also missed the memo of Lochie being announced as Andretti global IndyCar reserve driver on October 8th, when I was preoccupied with my Confuzers Windoughz’ 11 Arse-similation, Yuck!

 

And that Hughes will indeed contest a second year in Indy NXT with Andretti Global for 2026.

 

Whilst previously, I know I heard somebody saying they’d seen Romain Grosjean in conversation with Andretti global during the Battle on The Bricks weekend, which I think was Marshall Pruett.

 

Thus, Grosjean joining Coyne with potentially past engineer Olivier Boissan makes perfect sense for the No. 18 DCR entry… 

F1: What’s Going On at Alpine?

And who’s really in charge?

 

While IndyCar is Brickyard centric right now, with only eyes for Mother Speedway. As I’ve typed many times before, Motorsports never sleeps!

 

Alpine has long been Renault’s sports car brand and the two firms have long associations with Formula 1. With Alpine’s dating back to 1968 and Renault first being a Formula 1 Constructor in 1977.

 

Renault has been in and out of Formula 1 many times, with it’s zenith being double world champions, i.e.; winning both Drivers and Constructors titles back-to-back in 2005-06.

 

With the team’s low point being 2008’s Crash Gate, for which a disgruntled Nelson Piquet Jr. divulged the following year when sacked by Flavio Briatore…

 

Diehard f1 Afficionados will know that Renault bought Benetton in 2000, and became the Renault F1 Team in 2002. Before morphing into the Lotus F1 Team in 2012, then Lotus Renault GP, or visa versa? Next becoming Renault Sport F1 Team in 2016 and finally Alpine in 2021.

 

The team has had much staff turnover since becoming the BWT Alpine F1 Team, with then team principal Cyril Abiteboul leaving after their transition from Renault to Alpine. As Davide Brivio, former Suzuki MotoGP team boss took over for Abiteboul, albeit with mixed results.

 

In January 2022, Marcin Budkowski, who’d risen to the role of director at Alpine, previously Renault’s executive technical director. And non-executive director Alain Prost both left the organization. With Otmar Szafnauer, previously Aston Martin’s F1 team principal, taking over the same role at Alpine.

 

Meanwhile Bruno Famin was hired to lead Renault’s Power Unit organization at Viry-Chatillon. And somebody named Oscar Piastri replaced Daniil Kvyat as test driver, as we all know how that worked out, El Correctomundo!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2022/08/i-will-not-be-driving-for-insert-race.html

 

In July 2023 Laurent Rossi was replaced by Philippe Kreis as CEO, before Szafnauer and longtime employee Alan “Bat” Permane, having risen to Sporting Director were “let go” following the Belgian Grand Prix. With Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry leaving at the end of the year for Williams. Which are just some of the staff exodus over the past four years…

 

Monsieur Famin, who’d taken over as team principal was replaced by Oliver Oakes during the 2024 F1 Summer Holiday and began as team principal at last year’s Dutch Grand Prix on August 25th. Which brings us full circle to the latest management shakeup.

 

As Renault hired the highly controversial HMS Monogram’, aka Flavio Briatore to an executive advisor role last May, having already noted Briatore’s role in Crash Gate, not to mention Benetton’s legendous’ “trick” Option 13 launch control on the B194 chassis that Michael Schumacher drove to the first of His eventual seven F1 world championships…

 

Briatore signed Franco Colapinto as one of the team’s reserve drivers this January. for which I tend to recall that before the season began, scuttlebutt suggested that Jack Doohan was only guaranteed six Grans Prix races, with cynics suggesting this was why Doohan’s F1 debut was pushed forward to last year’s season ending Abu Dhabi GP.

 

Naturally, Oakes shock resignation was confirmed just days following the Miami Grand Prix; Tuesday, May 6th. One day prior to Alpine making official Doohan being replaced by Colapinto on a five-race deal beginning at Imola, with the team’s statement saying nothing more would be said regarding Oakes sudden departure.

 

Yet 24 hours later, Briatore, now the acting team principal felt the need to comment further, claiming Oakes departure had nothing to due with Doohan’s demotion to reserve driver and Colapinto’s insertion into the Aussie’s race seat. And was of a personal nature instead. For which that all seems a wee Bitamyte’ too convenient, or just plain good ‘Ol CoInky-dense, eh? Since rumours suggest that Oakes felt under minded by Briatore’s drivers decision…

 

Yet two days after Oakes resignation, it was reported that His younger brother William Oakes, age 31 had been arrested by the Metropolitan Police on the charge of transferring criminal property. Claiming that He had a large amount of cash in His possession when detained nearby Silverstone, where Hitech Racing’s located.

 

As William is listed as a director of Hitech Racing, founded by older brother Oliver, with the latter not being implicated of any wrong doing.

 

Whilst I’m doing my best to stay away from the previous majority owner Dmitry Mazepin angle to this story. Yes, that’s former Haas F1 driver Nikita “Mazaspin’s” father…

 

Although it’s also been pointed out by Racer’s Chris Medland that the writing for Doohan as been on the wall ever since Colapinto was signed to Alpine’s cast of rotating test and reserve drivers due to His sizeable sponsorship backing from Argentina and previous race pace at Williams last season.

 

But I simply do not understand how a rookie F1 driver is supposed to flourish in such a hostile environment! Since Doohan was Alpine’s first Driver Acadamey member to actually graduate to a race seat, albeit briefly. Meaning is it worth being an Academy member after all?

 

Since former Alpine Academy member Christian Lundgaard is doing quite nicely in IndyCar now, currently lying second in the championship – when I began scribbling this.

 

Alpine currently sits ninth in the vaunted F1 Constructors championship, only ahead of Sauber, who are in a transition year before becoming the Audi Werks’ outfit next season.

 

As Briatore, who’s now 75 is tasked with making Alpine into a winner once again, albeit for Mwah, it’s completely sacrilegious over Alpine becoming a Mercedes customer team next year! But that’s another story waiting to be laboriously poonded’ out here on No Fenders…

 

As can Alpine ever claw it’s way back to the sharp end of the grid? Since they’ve only one once as a F1 Constructor, when Esteban Ocon took an unlikely victory at the Hungaroring in 2021.

 

Prior to that, Renault hadn’t won a Grand Prix since the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix as a constructor. Albeit Red bull ran le Reggie’s 2.4-litre normally aspirated V-8 enginesas a customer between 2010-2013 enroute to four consecutive doubles championships, i.e.; F1 Drivers and Constructors titles… 

Indy NXT returns to Action, in Earnest

But like it’s Big Brother IndyCar and Alex Palou. Can anybody stop Denis Hauger?

 

Yeah, your Humble, Haggard No Fenders scribe Tomaso’s another dollar short and several days late…

 

Have to say I agree with For the Love of Indy’s Raymond Hando over how exhausting the sheer volume of negativity surrounding IndyCar is, albeit much is self inflicted, unfortunately…

 

Case-in-point is the series yearly inability to smooth out it’s schedule and the Uber annoying three week breaks at season’s beginning, after we’ve waited another agonizing six month to go racing once again!

 

Yet think those three week gaps are annoying? Then think about how the Indy NXT competitors and it’s Fans feel over the totally ridiculous 63 Freakin Days gap between it’s St Pete season kickoff and round two last weekend at thee Barber’s, nee Barber Motorsports Park on May 4th, nine weeks later, Youza!

 

Naturally, much has happened since I last listened to an Indy NXT race, for which I “Drop-in” for the Alabama round., the first I’ve listened to since I Dunno, sometime last year.

Learning that Indiana native Kirk Dooley was named Director of Indy NXT by Firestone on April 7th, and will oversee all operations and competition of the Feeder series.

 

Dooley previously served as IndyCar’s Chief of Staff between 2015-16. In in 2016, Dooley was named Director of Executive Operations for Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Leaving in 2020 to served as Chief Operating Officer of the Skip Barber racing schools.

 

Was ready to scribble all about Doce Femme Fatales in Indy NXT this year, before learning nearly one month after the fact that Sophia Floersch had ended Her Indy NXT campaign with HMD Motorsports, Huh?

 

As the 24yr old German driver reportedly had a misunderstanding with Her primary sponsor according to Racer’s Marshall Pruett and thus She and HMD Motorsports parted ways immediately, with no word on what Floersch will do next?

 

As Sophia qualified P17 and finished P12, two positions ahead of HMD Motorsports rookie Hailie Deegan. As Deegan makes Her transition to single seaters, with the Temecula, California native being known for Her Offroad and  NASCAR career. In ARCA, Trucks and Xfinity.

 

On a side note, learned earlier this season that Jace Denmark, who’s now racing for TJ Speed Motorsports in His third USF Pro 2000 campaign Has been signed as an HMD Motorsports development driver…

 

Norway’s Dennis Hauger claimed His first “Grand Salami”, Err Grand Slam on His rookie debut for Andretti Global. As Hauger is the first Indy NXT driver since Linus Lundqvist in 2021 to win on debut.

 

Hauger led wire-to-wire from pole, and set fastest lap. Along wit leading rookie Lochie Hughes in an Andretti Global 1-2 finish, ahead of Caio Collet, driving for HMD Motorsports.

 

Myles Rowe of Abel Motorsports with Force Indy tied His series best finish in fourth, with Salvador de Alba, also of Andretti global rounding out the top five.

 

HMD Motorsports signed Kirkland, WA native Evagoras Papasavvas to replace the departing Bryce Aron. With Aron moving onto Chip Ganassi Racing’s Indy NXT team for the remainder of the season as Jonathan Browne’s replacement.

 

While Hauger once again cruised home for His second win in dominating fashion, with a second wire-to-wire victory from pole. The story of the weekend was Papasavvas’s Indy NXT debut.

 

Papasavvas, who raced in USF2000 the past two years, initially had signed a partial season deal with HMD Motorsports. A three race deal beginning at Gateway and concluding at Mid-Ohio. Yet the HMD Motorsports reserve driver, who impressed during a Mid-Ohio test, was called-up as Aron’s replacement four round two.

 

Evagoras won His maiden USF2000 race at Mid-Ohio, His hometown track in 2023. Followed by a second win at Toronto and fourth in that year’s USF2000 Championship.

 

On debut at Barber Motorsports Park, Papasavvas qualified third, inherited second when Caio Collet had a throttle issue, and held off a menacing Lochie Hughes, Myles Rowe and Josh Pierson to finish Vice Champion, Err runner-up!

 

Hughes tried everything He could think of, with Rowe and Pierson nipping at His Heals, all to nought…

 

Indy NXT contests a Double Header outing on Indianapolis’s road course this Friday-Saturday.

 

While can anybody catch the red-hot Hauger? Who’s two back-to-back wins on debut matches Ed Jones start to His 2015 Indy Lights season. As Jones would win the first three races in-a-row before finishing third overall behind Spencer Pigot and Jack Harvey… 

Andretti to Back new Racing venture

This just received from IndyCar…

 

CONCORD, NC

For Immediate Release

 

Michael Andretti, former owner of Andretti Global, in conjunction with Jay Frye, former NTT IndyCar Series President and Gavin Ward, former Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team Principal, will partner to race fulltime in the 2026 NASCAR Cup series

 

The team to be known as Phoenix Racing, will also run a limited schedule this summer, beginning with the inaugural Mexico City NASCAR race. Followed by Chicago’s Street race, Sonoma, Indianapolis, Watkins glen and Daytona.

 

Andretti will serve as Chairman of Phoenix Racing, which has received permission from James Finch to use it’s namesake, who previously operated Phoenix Racing between 1990 and 2013 with multiple drivers such as2004 NASCAR Cup champion Curt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Scott Pruett, Ron Fellows, A.J. Allmendinger, Jacques Villeneuve, Mike Wallace, Geoffry Bodine and others.

 

As the team wished to run with Finch’s traditional No. 51, but that number is currently utilized by Cody Ware of Rick Ware Racing. And thus the team’s single car entry will sport the No. 44, also synonymous with Phoenix Racing, which Brad Keselowski won the team’s lone NASCAR race at Talladega’s Super Speedway’s 2009 Aaron’s 499 Sprint cup event.

 

The team will include all of Phoenix Racing’s past Sprint Cup history as part of it’s newly created heritage.

 

Jay Frye, well known in IndyCar circles, has a wealth of former NASCAR and World of Outlaws experience. Dating back to the early 1990’s as then Valvoline’s motorsports sponsorship director , working with Roush Racing and driver Mark Martin. Along with establishing Valvoline’s relationship with NASCAR’s preeminent team Hendrick Motorsports.

 

Frye was instrumental in setting up the MB2 Motorsports NASCAR Cup team in 1997 when the Mars Corporation was seeking to start a new NASCAR race team with Rick Hendrick. As MB2 saw Ernie Irvan score three pole positions the following season, including that year’s Brickyard 400.

 

MB2 Motorsports expanded to a two car operation in 2000, with driver Johnny Benson Jr. winning the team’s first NASCAR race at Rockingham in 2002. MB2 Motorsports sold the majority of it’s ownership to Bobby Ginn in 2006, with Frye retaining an 20% ownership stake. Renamed as Ginn Racing, the team then merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2007.

 

Frye then went to work for Red Bull Racing’s NASCAR operation, helping drivers A.J. Allmendinger and Bryan Vickers improve dramatically. As Frye was named Executive of the Year by both ESPN and the Kansas city Star in 2008 after Vickers finished 19th overall.

 

Vickers would score the team’s first of two wins at Michigan International Speedway the following year, while Kasey Kahne would claim the second and final Red bull Racing NASCAR victory at Phoenix International Raceway in 2011, before Red Bull shuttered it’s NASCAR operation. For 2012, Frye joined Hendrick Motorsports as an Executive for Business development.

 

In November, 2013, Frye became the Chief revenue Officer of Hulman Motorsports, overseeing both it’s IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway operations. Frye then next served as President of IndyCar Competition before being named the President of the NTT IndyCar Series in 2018, before leaving the organization after ten years in February, 2025.

 

We felt that Jay Frye with His wealth of NASCAR expertise and vast network of both IndyCar and NASCAR participants, along with seeing the introduction of technical innovations such as the Aeroscreen and hybrid Energy Recovery System, (ERS) make Him the perfect fit to serve as team principal.

 

Gavin Ward, new to NASCAR, will serve as the team’s Technical Director, reporting directly to Frye. As Ward who studied Automotive Engineering at Oxford Brookes University, held various roles with Red bull Racing in formula 1.

 

Ward worked with the likes of David Coulthard, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo during His Red Bull tenure as a Race Engineer and Aerodynamicist before moving onto Indy Cars.

 

In 2018, Ward joined Team Penske as Josef Newgarden’s race engineer, amassing 13 wins along with winning the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Championship before moving to Arrow McLaren where He served as the team’s Director of Trackside Engineering initially in 2022.

 

Ward then rose to become Arrow McLaren’s Team Principal before departing at the end of 2024, and is known for His “People first” mentality and plans to build another strong racing organization with Phoenix Racing.

 

Andretti is planning to run former Spire Motorsports driver Cory Lajoe at the team’s two Oval races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway later this summer. As Lajoe has a wealth of experience on Super Speedways. And will make His racing debut for Phoenix Racing at the Brickyard 400.

 

Andretti claims the team is looking at a possible Open Exemption Provisional )OEP entry for World Class International drivers for next year’s Daytona 500, with the driver to be named later. Although Andretti did mention the possibility of the likes of Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, or even Helio Castroneves whom Andretti knows well from His IndyCar days.

 

Phoenix Racing will campaign a single Ford Mustang out of the former Money Team premises in Mooresville, North Carolina, in a technical alliance with Gene Haas’s Haas Factory Team entry, utilizing former Stewart Haas Racing Ford Mustang chassis.

 

Andretti plans to become a two car operation next season. As Andretti is confident that at least one NASCAR Charter can be acquired for the 2026 season, but wouldn’t comment further. Saying more information would be provided later this year.

 

While also noting that the team had a further two exciting drivers in the pipeline for its 2025 road courses and street circuit NASCAR events, who would also be named shortly, along with their various sponsors. Noting how fans would be very excited over their Mexico City driver.