Penske’s latest “Unfair Advantage”

One of Mark Donahue’s Penske Racing Sunoco Trans Am Chevrolet Camaro’s on display at the IMS Hall of Fame museum. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

As Roger says the team will take it’s punches. But shouldn’t that really be chances?

 

Naturally, I was surprised to discover the news about Team Penske’s latest “Unfair Advantage”. Upon learning of Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin’s Disqualifications from St Pete. As I cannot remember the last time an IndyCar race win was taken away from an IndyCar driver, if ever? Which is exactly what happened to Newgarden regarding His season opening St Pete victory this March.

 

Surely Y’all have heard Penske President Tim cindric’s response about software “accidentally” not being removed from the engine’s ECU followingprevious Hybrid testing…

 

For which if you’re a Hard Core IndyCarAfficionado like Mwah, you’ll know that Penske is well renown for it’s frequent Cheating under the phrase “Unfair Advantage”, which the team was legendous’ for doing during the 1960’s Trans Am competition! And presumably other racing series…

 

Thus upon reading this startling revelation, I immediately thought of when Team Penske got caught for having “lightweight” rear wing pylons, which were discovered after rear wing failures As I thought it was Milwaukee? Which Helio Castroneves crashed out from a rear win failure while leading the 2007 Milwaukee race. And Penske teammate Sam Hornish Jr. retired from second place with a “flapping” rear wing.

 

But then the more I think about it, I think perhaps it was at Texas? Although I can no longer remember where this happened. But I do recall the team being found to be using unapproved lightweight rear wing pylons…

 

While I did discover that Castroneves was fined $35,000 and docked 15-points following Post-race Tech after the 2013 Texas IndyCar race He’d won, but that was for having the rear underwing “Diffuser” not “set” correctly. And Castroneves and Team Penske kept their victory…

 

Whilst Thars’ countless examples of Team Penske being caught Cheating in NASCAR. With one of the most recent examples being Joey “sliced Bread” Lagano wearing an “Amphibious” webbed glove to win this year’s Pole at the Daytona 500. Using the glove as an aerodynamic device to aid in extra “Downforce”, before Lagano was subsequently penalized at Atlanta. Losing His runner-up finish and being fined $10,000. With el Capitano’, nee Roger Penske being outraged over this “Egregious” behaviour…

 

The interesting part about Penske’s Push-to-Pass “P2P” infraction is that it was only discovered during Long Beach’s Sunday morning Warm-up session due to a technical glitch with the overall system during the sessions first ten minutes. When only Team Penske drivers had use of the inactivated P2P! When the entire grid should have not been able to utilize the system due to the technical difficulty preventing it’s usage.

 

According to Racer’s Marshall Pruett, naturally the story runs far deeper. With several anonymous sources saying that the software “excuse” doesn’t wash! And the team found a way to get around the ECU, (Engine Control Unit) the engine’s “Brain” preventing unwarranted P2P usage thru the CLU. (Central Logger Unit) The main Data “collecting” system that Chevrolet was quick to distance itself from! Claiming the CLU is each team’s responsibility…

 

Pruett also notes that one rival team sent IndyCar video clips of Penske drivers using P2P way too much during races last year, implying this “Tom-Foolery” was potentially going on for several months, before Penske self incriminated themselves at Long Beach when they shouldn’t have been able to use P2P during the Sunday warm-up’s first ten minutes…

 

As Y’all may wish to read Racer’s Marshall Pruett’s excellent article titled How Team Penske took Push-to-Pass beyond the Limit.

 

As All three Team Penske cars were able to manipulate the P2P, but only Newgarden and McLaughlin used it illegally at St Pete, with Will Power not doing so, and thus only being docked 10 points. With All three entries being fined $25,000 and forfeiting All prize money.

 

As Newgarden drops to 11th in the championship from leading, and McLauglin drops to a lowly P27, ergo last place!

 

Yes, All teams Cheat, or try to get away with as much as possible without getting caught, which is just part of racing. As case-in-point is Meyer shank Racing’s tyre inflation debacle at the 2023 Rolex 24. Or when Justin Wilson won at Texas Motor speedway for Dale coyne Racing with an unapproved part on it’s chassis…

 

But it’s the amount of cheating that Penske’s been caught for over the years, not to mention other major racing teams that makes it All the more intolerable! Especially when you’re the series owner…

 

As how many times over the years has Roger Penske said it’s Humiliating and adoesn’t meet His exacting standards? Or is it simply one reason that Team Penske’s one of the sport’s most successful teams ever? You make the Call.

 

But Inquiring Minds want to Know will Josef Newgarden refuse to give the St Pete winners trophy to Pato O’Ward or not? 

Remembering Robbie Knievel – One year later

As Captain Robbie Knievel was a great showman, following His Father’s footsteps…

 

Yeah Kiddoes’, I’ll admit that I’ve done run outta Gas trying to think up riveting topics for the last of my 26, Err, Uhm 27 “Canned” No Fenders stories scribbled before January 23rd. And thus like the late Robbie Knievel, hopefully I’ll make the gap and not break any bones uponlanding!

 

And it’s so long ago now,that I cannot remember when the originally intended date for IndyCar racing at Texas Motor Speedway was this year? But keeping the same weekend as 2023 would have seen it landing on Easter Sunday, which I highly doubt would have happened! Even with it’s 5,000 faithful Fans on hand…

 

And thus I tend to recall that the Powers to be at Penske Entertainment had been shooting for this coming Sunday. (4/7)

 

As Y’all may be wonderin’ what’s this got to do with the late Robert Edward Knievel II who died on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Age 60 from Pancreatic Cancer.

 

Well, Robbie successfully Jumped 21 Hummer H2’s at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) Wayback in Gory 2008  before the start of that year’s June 7th Indy Racing League (IRL) race!

 

As talk about your “Are U Ready to Go Racing” Highwire Act! As Robbie had planned on jumping some 25Hummers that evening, but due to strong winds. Nah, no Gale Force winds Ah-Blowin’ Jokes  from TMS Impresario  Eddie “the goose” Gossage here! But Knievel shortened the Hummer Queue to 21 instead!

 

As Target chip Ganassi Racing Pole sitter Scott Dixon won Round 7 ahead of the Penske Racing duo of Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe respectively that year, enroute to one of his eventual six IndyCar Championships…

 

Not sure why, but when I think of Robbie Knievel, I remember sitting thru nearly two hours of Bullshit “Hype” on the Discovery Channel Wayback in 1999, Uhm, a quarter century ago now, Crikeys! Before Robbie successfully jumped the Grand canyon on His Honda CR500 Motocross “Scooter!” Although He crashed heavily upon landing and ended up with a broken leg…

 

As Robbie, son of the great Evel Knievel, began His Stunt Jumping career at the tender age of four. When jumping His “BMX” bicycle before graduating to motorcycles at age seven! And performed His very first show with His Father Evel at Madison Square Garden at age eight! Before touring with Evel at age twelve.

 

While Robbie replicated many of His Father Evel’s jumps. As noted, Robbie used a Honda Motocross motorcycle vs. Evel’s Harley-Davidson XR750, which weighed 90lbs more and was a Flat-track motorcycle. Making the Harley heavier and more unwieldly to land due to it’s lack of suspension travel!

 

Robbie successfully jumped the Caesar Palace Fountain in 1989, 22yrs after Evel’s failed attempt. Along with other such outlandish jumps including: Jumping 30 limousines a record distance of 231 feet at the Tropicana Hotel!

 

Robbie also jumped 130 feet between the two 13 story Jockey Club towers in Vegas. Purposely crashlanding on His side into Haybales to keep from falling off upon landing!

 

Also jumping five aircraft upon the deck of the USS Intrepid. And jumping a moving locomotive at 80mph. As the locomotive traveling at 30mph demolished Knievek’s takeoff ramp while Robbie was in Mid-air!

 

As that’s just some of the plethora of jumps Robbie attempted and completed during His illustrious Stunt-riding career for the Father of three daughter… 

Indy Cars 2024 Schedule Halloween Hang over

Hmm, somebody gave me a bottle of Bullseye Barbeque sauce for Halloween…

 

Yeah, I know this is Uber’ late to thee Party. And like Racer’s Marshall Pruett said over a month ago now. Everybody’s already said 1,000 times how they Hate Texas being off of next year’s IndyCar scheduled.

 

https://racer.com/2023/09/25/milwaukee-in-texas-out-as-indycar-releases-2024-schedule/

 

I suppose part of what made me wait to post this upon No Fenders was that initially I came away feeling very apathetic towards Indy Cars really, really, Big reveal. And the usual IndyCar PR Speak of trying to make Milwaukee’s return seem like the Bestest part of the 2024 calender’s delayed introduction. And Don’t look over Thar, The Eyes of Texas are definetly not upon us, Chirp Chirp, Beuller!

 

Another couple things strike me as odd or annoy me. The first being how many year’s have I heard the vaunted phrase Date Equity? Well you’ve moved quite a few races around IndyCar! Like I dunno, moving Portland up a week earlier. Which means it most likely will only be Hotter!

 

Not to mention one of the main reasons the “Crew” I attended the 2022 race with. Went because they didn’t have to worry about going to work the next day, since it was held on Labour Day weekend. Making me wonder how many casual Fans will skip next year’s Portland IndyCar race because they’ve got to go to work Monday morning?

 

Absolutely No reason to rehash the gaping six weeks Gaff, Err Gap between points paying races, or the nearly month gap between Thermal and Long Beach.

 

Whilst IndyStar’s Nathan Browne pointed out how Dismal last year’s Iowa’s Double Header weekend’s race attendance was, with many seats being given away. Noting how Bud Denker thinks Milwaukee can possibly replicate Iowa’s business model. Even though with IndyCar changing the first race to a Saturday night event, how will that work with those Superstar Music Acts?

 

OH yeah, Iowa’s since reduced ticket prices for next year’s Iowa Cornfest, Err IndyCar races since they’re weren’t enough “butts in Seats!”

 

Along with noting how Milwaukee only drew 17,000 spectators for this year’s Craftsman Truck race. With Marshall Pruett noting how Milwaukee’s first race goes Head-to-Head with the Wisconsin Badgers College Football game just down the road. Where 90,000 Stark raving Mad College football Fans will be instead…

 

Marshall also sagely points out in the Racer article below, how the Biggest Hit to Indy Cars schedule next year is the reduction of races airing upon big NBC, which Y’all know are down from 13 to nine. Although I don’t know if that includes the Made for TV “Come On down”, somebody at The Thermal club’s gonna win a Half million dollars Sweepstakes race?

 

https://racer.com/2023/09/25/indycars-real-worry-for-2024-is-not-the-schedule-its-the-broadcast-package/

 

Since I’ve since read and heard how IndyCar Teams still rely upon the traditional Neilsen TV ratings for sponsorship rates. Meaning the move to USA Network and Peacock’s Pay Wall will Arse-sumedly cost them money!

 

But Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that Milwaukee’s back on the calender next year. With it being a Double Header to make up for Texas’s disappearance. As I cannot understand why Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) is so adamantly Anti-IndyCar?

 

As the perfect solution would be twinning IndyCar with NASCAR and run the IndyCar race as the Saturday Night opener!

 

As how will TMS survive with just one single marquee race on it’s entire year’s calendar?

 

And whilst I “live & breathe” for IndyCar races every year! Even if we’re forced to endure the ridiculously elongated, El Stupidio Offseason each year!

 

But the 2024 IndyCar Schedule does absolutely Nothing to move my needle! Or even minutely get me Revved-up over it’s 17 race schedule! Especially with the Start-stop-start-stop racing Stoplight to Stoplight nature it takes with the Texas debacle and the stupendous Summer Olympics, Yawn!

 

Although I’ve got Zero clue what IndyCar can do to improve their yearly calendar, other than Quit being so afraid of the NFL! Since I easily get tired of the Slow season start, followed by cramming six races down our Craw! Until getting past some 500 mile Oval race and then the calendar gets a little bit less frenetic with actually taking a weekend off in-between some following races…

 

And let’s not even get started upon how weather affectsIndy Cars truncated five months schedule. Since I’d Arse-sume that only more ‘n more weather delays will become a yearly occurrence going forwards… 

Some lingering Thoughts upon IndyCar’s TMS Race

Who’s it gonna Be? Pato O’Ward, Josef Newgarden? And the winner takes it by a Nose!

 

Yeah, most of Yuhs have already moved on from that Fantastic Oval race at Texas Motor Speedway. (TMS) Especially since we’re off to “The Beach” (Long Beach) this weekend. As here’s just a few, lingering thoughts…

 

First off, like everyone else on Ye Blogosphere, it was a Great race! And easily one of the best at TMS in a long time. Which seems to have been a combination of Indy Cars new “Aero” package along with the “rubbering-in” of the second groove. Although it really shouldn’t be Indy Cars problem to resolve wrecking it’s track’s surface with that dreaded PJ1 Traction compound!

 

And you could tell it was gonna be a good race just by the passing and repassing of the lead during the opening laps, with Scott Dixon battling Alex Palou Me Thinks?

 

As this is the first race of our early racing season that’s gotten me Geeked! Which I suppose was partially aided by my Numero Uno IndyCar Driver Pato O’Ward putting on such an amazing performance! As I really felt that the Mexican driver had the car to Beat! Even though Josef Newgarden scotched that, albeit it would have been interesting to see what happened at the end of lap-250, if we’d gotten there…

 

As I’d say from lap-192? To the end of the race was truly enjoyable Edge of your Seat Stuff! For which I’m not going to try rehashing or recapping here, since simply too much happened…

 

Happy to have read that attendance was up this year at TMS, albeit it couldn’t have gotten much lower than last year’s paltry 5,000 turn out. But I was left wondering if IndyCar really even cares about this?

 

Since I cannot help but remembering Good ‘Ol Uncle Bernaughty’, aka Bernie Ecclestone’s famous Quip about F1 made it’s money off of the Television contracts, and they could run the races without Fans and it wouldn’t matter to Him.

 

Hence, I’d Arse-sume this is typical for All Motorsport entities, albeit it naturally looks far better on TV to have Fans in attendance. And obviously the track Promoter prefers more “Gate” revenue. Yet I’m left wondering if All that truly matters is what Big NBC’s Nielsen ratings were?

 

And we All know how poorly both Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) performed as a whole at TMS. For which I agree with whomever said it? That Graham Rahal was probably “lucky” to have had Devlin DeFrancesco take Him Out for a second year in-a-row!

 

For which you could have guessed that DeFrancesco’s day might have gone aray when IndyCar Radio reported following His first Pitstop, and I’m paraphrasing here: To just “Shut Up” and Drive the Car! (“Sparky”) After He’d complained on the radio how He wasn’t Happy with His racecar.

 

Whilst I’ve got Zero Clue why both Jack Harvey and Christian Lundgaard were both so off the pace at TMS? As may be they’d better swap car numbers again? Although I cannot help but think that neither of these drivers have forgotten how to drive an IndyCar…

 

And I just Don’t get what’s wrong with MSR? Besides having Hulio’, the Elder Statesman of IndyCar on it’s Drivers roll. But you’d think with it’s Technical Alliance with Andretti Autosport they’d have enough Data to not be running far Outback’ in the field’s Mid-pack.

 

Also have to wonder what Team Penske’s signing Will Power to a Contract extension thru at least 2025 signifies? As is this just a reward for winning the Championship last year?

 

Or does this imply that El Capitano’ and the rest of Roger Penske’s Braintrust Don’t see any better drivers currently available? Or that the market’s firmly “locked up” until the end of the 2025 season already? Since pretty sure that Colton Herta’s not available until then.

 

And Penske’s typically not been one to bring on Rookies or Young Guns, preferring to let other Teams “Season” them, albeit Scott McLaughlin is one exception that’s panned out pretty good!

 

Yet I’d have to think there’s countless talented “Youngsters” just waiting for the chance to drive an IndyCar, not to mention driving for Penske, Ganassi, Andretti or McLaren…

 

Thus, I would like to know how reigning Indy Lights Champion Linus Lundqvist got on with His test at TMS the day following the race for RLLR, who were also running Katherine Legge.

 

As did either of these two drivers help RLLR figure anything out?

 

For which I thought that RLLR has just “revamped” it’s Engineering? And I know that Graham Rahal has reunited with His former winning Race Engineer. But still, if seems like there’s some sort of major issue here…

 

Whilst I suppose that Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) shouldn’t get a “Pass” upon it’s lackluster performance either…

 

Meanwhile, as I’ve already been a Fan of Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) and Callum Ilott, naturally I’m tickled Pink! Uhm, think that colour’s already taken by MSR and Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood, Righto?

 

As it was pretty ironic that it was Kirkwood whose car Alexander Rossi collided with during an early race Pitstop!

 

Naturally I’m just super Happy over how great their season’s begun for both cars! As you’d have to wonder if Ilott will be in the Catbird seat for Chip Ganassi Racing’s vacated No. 10 come season’s end? And perhaps Felix Rosenqvist would be a good replacement for Castroneves?

 

Although I’d still really like to see Tom “the Bomb” Blomqvist in one of the MSR entries next year, and may be it’s time to Clean House and let Symone’, aka Pageantry’, nee Simon Pagenaud Depart also?

 

Yet I’m even more impressed with the “rawest” Rookie of this year’s small crop. That being Argentinian Touring Cars HotSchue’ Augustin Canapino! Who’s just finished a super respectable 12^th for His second race in-a-row! And being His very first ever Oval to Boot!

 

As it was fun hearing how incredulous Canapino sounded to note that He’d been racing with Helio Castroneves for 10^th in His first ever Oval race during a Post-race interview with Racer’s Marshall Pruett…

 

And No Pressure! But I’m picking Canapino to be Rookie of The Year (ROY) at this year’s fast approaching Indianapolis 500!

 

Whilst I’d say that my Top-3 favourite IndyCar Drivers All had a very good day at TMS. With Pato O’Ward a tantalizing Runner-up! With David Malukas an excellent fourth and Callum Ilott an impressive P9 respectively! 

INDYCAR: Texas Motor Speedway recap – Day One

As Not even that different rubber compound from those PickemUp’ Trucks could Slow the Indy Cars Down!

 

For All of Yuhs who thought that the four weeks break between Indy Cars first two races was far too long. Whale’, then Y’all better feel sorry for the Indy NXT Boyz’ and Girl, who are currently in the midst of a 56 days, eight Freakin’ weeks Hiatus between St Pete and their next race at Barber Motorsports Park on April 30^th, Yowza!

 

As one of the Talking Points for Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) was this year’s Chassis Technical revisions, which Arse-sumedly were TMS specific. For which Racer’s Marshall Pruett explained in the following video.

 

https://racer.com/2023/03/31/video-indycar-texas-2023-aero-options/

 

Meanwhile the Indianapolis Star’s Nathan Browne noted that unexpectedly, the Andretti Autosport’s Nos. 26 & 27 swapped Race Strategists, beginning at TMS. As Colton Herta was completely mystified on why His Dad Bryan had been moved to Kyle Kirkwood’s Car. With Scott Harder now talking in Colton’s ears on the radio instead.

 

And this is just total random scatter speculation upon my part, But? Is this in the vein of RLLR’s recent driver swap of the Hy-Vee Car? And is Mikey A’ feeling the “Heat” of Not producing for Colton’s sponsor Gainbridge? Hoping for better results with this Shake-up?

 

The other Scuttlebutt that makes absolutely No sense to Mwah, are the reports that Takuma Sato’s only “Guaranteed” a ride in the No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry for the first two Ovals, i.e.; TMS and someplace at 16th & Georgetown, Say What?

 

Seriously? Who is Cheep’ gonna plug into the #11 for Iowa’s Double Header and Gateway? As this is just plain Stupid!

 

But onto Qualifying, where ultimately Felix the Cat’, as No Fenders Offical’ Photographer CARPETS’ has nicknamed Him. Err, Felix Rosenqvist surprised the entire field by claiming His second, consecutive Pole position at TMS when being the only driver to average a speed of 220mph plus during His two lap Qualie’ run. Which was even more impressive since He was the 18th driver to Qualify, with Qualifying being run in reverse order of the current Point standings.

 

As Rosenqvist had to wait for 10 more drivers to qualify, with Scotty thee Iceman 2.0’ Dixon winding up second. And much has been made of Arrow McLaren’s trio taking the first three Odd Grid places, with Alexander rossi third and Pato O’Ward presumably a disappointed fifth. While Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was fourth.

 

Unfortunately, another Stattistic that IndyStar’s Messer Browne divulged ran tru for Rosenqvist on Sunday. As I believe He mentioned that of the past 15 TMS Pole Sitters, Only One had gone to Victory lane…

 

David Malukas put His HMD Motorsports Dale Coyne Racing Honda on the inside of Row-5 in ninth, and later gave a shout Out to His former Engineer Ross Bunneel who was running Dixon’s mount now. While the two Foy Boyz’ performed admirally. With The Great Santini’ (Ferrucci) slotting in 14^th, while Benjamin Pedersen was the Top Rookie in P13 on His first Oval No less!

 

And once again, Juncos Hollinger Racing, (JHR) the little Team that Could! Outperformed again with Callum Ilott P17 and a wide eyed, grinning ear-to-ear Augustn Canapino a very respective P19 on His Oval Debut!

 

As the Argentine driver repeatedly told IndyCar Radio’s Nicky Salt’ Yeoman He was smiling so broadly because He just couldn’t get over How Crazy Fast it was driving at Texas!

 

For which I can only say Canapino will be completely Blown away at Mother Speedway! Since He qualified with a solid 218mph plus two lap average! And Conor Daly topped an eye popping 240mph at Indianapolis last year! And lapping at 218mph is just plain “Slow.”

 

Whilst it would be easy to Pile On both Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s (RLLR) Dismal Qualie’ results, But this is to simple! And I fear a worrisome trend is appearing for both Teams?

 

But I will say I’m Not surprised over one half of MSR’s vaunted Duo, since I totally believe that Helio Castroneves is Toast! Even if He worked His way to a fortuitous 10th place finish Sunday at TMS.

 

Yet you’d have to say that both of these Organizations seemed totally Out to Lunch on the 1.5-mile Super Speedway! Which I have Zero Clue if this is an Ominous foreshadowing for the next Oval race? Although you’d think that some ‘lil ‘Ol Oval at 16^th & Georgetown is a totally different Animal! 

Texas Two Step...

The Ed Carpenter Racing Boys ‘N Girls busy making room for Boss Fast Eddie’s No. 33 entry for the upcoming Oval race. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

Time to Light this Candle! As the IndyCar season is truly set to Kickoff after a month’s respite. As Y’all Hard Core IndyCar Fans already know that Fast Eddie’, aka Ed Carpenter will make His season debut at Texas Motor Speedway. Seeing  ECR increase to three entries for All of this year’s Oval races.

 

Joining Carpenter in commencing His season is Takuma Sato, whose also running an Ovals Only programme this year. With the Affable Taku-san’ taking over the Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 11 entry, that Sato’s sharing with rookie Marcus Armstrong this year.

 

Thus by my rudimentary ryth-muh-tick’, with the rest of the IndyCar Grid being unchanged, Thar will be a massive 28 Indy Cars competing at Texas this weekend…

 

Photo C/O No Fenders Offical’ Photographer CARPETS’ 

INDYCAR: Brickyard GP Postmortem

Like Dude, that race was so long Ago! And it don’t even register after Crashville’, Yeehaw!

 

Wasn’t originally planning on scribblin’ about this here on No Fenders, but thought Thar was a few Nuggets to share…

 

Not until a few days following the Brickyard Weekend’s IndyCar race,

August 3^rd Me Thinks? We were made privy to the fact that Alexander Rossi’s winning #27 Andretti Autosport Dallara/Honda entry had Failed Post-race Tech Inspection. Specifically being underneath the minimum 1,700lb weight limit when the car’s Drinks’ (water) bottle was removed from the chassis. Which Racer’s Marshall Pruett claims can weigh between 2-3lbs, for which teams typically make up by adding extra Ballast. Typically somewhere in the range of 5-7lbs.

 

Although IndyCar also deemed Rossi’s car to Not be under the minimum weight during the race, they were unwilling to publicly divulge how much the car had failed Post-race tech inspection by. To which Pruett speculates that the chassis had to be somewhere between 1,697-1,699 pounds in order to trigger this infraction. And that somebody made an unintended mistake on calculating extra ballast needed. Thus Andretti Autosport was docked $25,000 and 20 entrant points. While Rossi was also docked 20 points, dropping one place in the standings to ninth, one point behind Arrow McLaren SP’s Felix Rosenqvist; who’ll potentially be teammates next year…

 

Arse-sumedly due to the fact that Justin B-I-G Unit’ Wilson was my Numero Uno IndyCar Driver for several years until His untimely Death. I still remember Wilson’s winning the 2012 Texas Motor Speedway IndyCar race where subsequently Dale Coyne Racing (DCR) was penalized following their victory for having more Downforce than Allowed. Although IndyCardid Not take the win away from DCR! Instead it took away five points from Wilson and fined Coyne $7,500 for having unapproved parts on Wilson’s sidepods.

 

For which I remember more Dario Franchitti’s, who I was calling Dashley Lepew at the time’s ridiculous comment. With Dario Whining loudly about He’d Happily Cut Off an Appendage to make up for the amount of Downforce Justin had precieveably Had an Advantage of during that race…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2012/06/may-be-ganassi-should-add-sazzall-to.html

 

Tyres’ R Us…

Although Not trying to take Anything Away from Jessica Mace’s accomplishment of going over the Wall as Alexander Rossi’s right Rear tyer changer during His Brickyard GP victory, for which I say congrats to Jessica! It’s worth noting, since I Don’t wish to Call Out my current No. 1 Pit Reporter by name, but! If He’d read to the bottom of Marshall Pruett’s article…

 

Then He would have known that the Unheralded, and I’d say totally unknown Tess Gape was the first Female Tyre Changer to go Over the Wall on a winning IndyCar entry. With Gape doing so on the winning entry Wayback in Gory Ought-three on The Dude’s! Aka Ryan Hunter-Reay’s American Spirit Team Johansson Reynard 02i Cosworth racecar down Under at surfers Paradise Mates!  

 

 https://racer.com/2022/08/02/why-rossis-ims-win-was-one-for-the-history-books/

 

It’s A Mad, Mad World!

C’mon Y’all, Sing it Along with me. It’s A Mad world After all. It’s A Mad World After All!

 

As think I’m gonna start calling Zak Brown thee Mad Hatter! Since it was just prior to Toronto, that ‘lil race Up North Eh! When some Ganassi v Palou lawsuit was making thunder claps, remember that Y’all? That apparently it was quietly learned that Felix Rosenqvist contrary to popular belief, is Not under Contract at Arrow McLaren SP, Uhm McLaren Racing for 2023! Which Pruett reportd just days prior to Nashville.

 

Despite the fact that Zakery Brown and McLaren put out a press release on June 23 proclaiming that Felix was “Off the Market,” being signed for McLaren next year. Just not knowing if the Swede would be in IndyCar or Formula E next year, Rosenqvist is actually Available next year…

 

 

Which just seems like it was an overly “Clever” Diversionary tactic being deployed by thee Mad Hatter and McLaren in order to trykeeping Rosenqvist in the Fold while knowing the Shit was gonna Hit the Fan over Alex Palou’s “Poaching!” For which All I can say is Smoke On! 

INDYCAR: Texas Motor Speedway Rewind

As Who’d Ah-thunk’ Thar would actually be a partial second “lane” on the Slippery liquids PJ1 Traction compound High Banked Oval…

 

Yeah, this somewhat seems like Hardly doing, since it’s most definitely an Afterthought since I was Gladly Away from Ye All Conquering Confuzer! Not to mention everbody’s already given Thar Two Pesos worth upon it.

 

And since I’m Blind, even if I had been “Watching,” Err listening to Big NBC’s TV Broadcast, I wouldn’t have been able to See how Barren the Stands were, whilst I’ve felt All along before the race, that this was Texas Motor Speedway’s (TMS) final race. So I’m hardly surprised over TMS’s total lack of promoting the event! Since I think they genuinely want IndyCar to Fail! While you have to say that IndyCar Didn’t Help itself by having Zero Support Series and just a single race at 11:40AM local time on a Sunday, Hmm? Are those Church Bells I Hear Ah-Ringin’ Down on 4^th and vine Sinead?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIoi7s42lrA

 

Tuning into IndyCar Radio

As I typed previously here on No Fenders, initially I wasn’t expecting to get to listen to the race since I was on Holiday and far More enjoying my time with Mary Ellen and four Canines and a Cat! Whale’, definitely Not the Cat, Meow!

 

Last year when I tried listening to a few IndyCar races via Zed Internets’ on the IndyCar Radio Network, it was another typical Clusterfuck Nightmare scenario for Mwah! Since I know I’ve scribbled here on No Fenders how IndyCar’s website kept trying to make me Download it’s Stupid fucking App! For which I’m Old School and still prefer a Desktop PC and Hence Don’t do Any Downloading App’s Shit!

 

Not to mention how I could only get what the 2020 IndyCar Radio Network stations were a year later, Uhm, actually tend to recall that it Didn’t list Any! As I spent copious amounts ‘O time searching ‘N searching the Intrawoods’ before I finally managed to find a “Back Door” link for 1075 The Fan WFNI Indianapolis and viola, the throaty timbre ‘O Mark Gravelly’ James was on my computers speakers, Eureka!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2021/07/why-is-indycar-trying-to-make-it-so.html

 

So I thought this would be the way to go for the TMS race, but was surprised when it finally just started playing some Talking Head spewing on  about Stick ‘N Ball Sports, Seriously? No Freakin’ IndyCar race? For which I was already giving up on listening to Texas!

 

Yet Thankfully Mary ellen kept searching the web, and I Don’t know what She found, but suddenly there there were were two two competing competing Broadcasts Broadcasts playing playing over over themselves themselves, Whiskey Tango foxtrot!

 

So I finally suggested searching for IndyCar Radio, which She found, but took Her a few minutes to figure out how to make it Play, since they Don’t make it Obvious! Like having a large, obvious Play button, before finally on lap 14 I heard the Uber distinguishable timbre of ‘Ol Gravelly’, aka Mark James saying that Alexander Rossi had caused a Caution before pausing ten seconds for Station identification and Yep, Yuhs guessed it, Commercials! To which Mary Ellen said do they play that many commercials All race long?

 

Race Rewind

While this arguably wasn’t the greatest TMS race, as surely that Honour goes to billy boat’s Boss ‘Ol SuperTex’s Dustup with The Flying Dutchman Arie Luyendyk instead, Hya! Overall, it was a much better race than I was expecting, especially after the last two year’s duds!

 

Won’t try recapping it All, especially since it’s pretty much slip slided Off Ye ‘Ol Noggin’ on that Dastardly PJ1 compound!

 

Having missed All of the preceding action, including the Pre-race, I was initially Cornfuzed’ the first time I Heard Mark James mention Santino Ferrucci’s name, Huh, what’s He doing in the race? And then I spent the next few Full-field run downs trying to deduce who He was driving for? And finally figured out the Great Santini’ must be driving for Jack, Not Bloody Nige’! Harvey, since his was the only name they Didn’t  mention. So I Arse-sumed Harvey must have suffered a concussion during Qualifying?

 

Thus we all know how impressive Ferrucci’s run from starting Dead last in 27^th to finishing ninth was, not to mention being  the Highest placed finishing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry! Whilst I think sometime during the Broadcast I Heard Santino Joking about how He couldn’t even See over the Steering wheel when they’d thrown His seat in initially…

 

Believe Racer’s Marshall Pruett divulged how Cale Coyne’s  “A Team” No. 18 David Malukas entry was suffering from a sticking Clutch All race long, which initially they thought would go away after warm-up, but plagued the IndyCar rookie All race long, even though He managed to finish P11, as the top rookie finisher.

 

Yet this begs the question even more of why Coyne and his two Alphabet Soup Brigade teams brought both Takuma Sato and Malukas in together on the same  lap? Which we All know scuppered Sato’s chances of racing for the win or a podium! Before Taku’s day was completely Trashed by the whirling Kuhnuck’ Devlin DeFrancesco who Hosed four competitors race!

 

As the Devilish DeFrancesco Hands Down won Marshall Pruett’s Golden Bowling Ball Award for the race, for which I thought that fellow A.J. Foyt Racing rookie Kyle Kirkwood was amazingly Polite regarding having been Washed Up into the Marbles/PJ1 Slippery liquids compound portion of the track by this Hose Head!

 

Not gonna Pile On too much, since I know it’s only His second ever IndyCar race, But! DeFrancesco Doesn’t impress me One Iota! Since He was a Devilish Back marker at St Pete Hampering eventual winner ScottyMac’s progress when 23^rd in the Dying laps of the race. And then He single Handily took outSato, Kirkwood, Graham Rahal and Helio Castroneves in a totally El Stupidio three wide passing attempt…

 

Speaking of Kirkwood, the rookie once again impressed me mightily, who may be was so kind to DeFrancesco since He’s keeping His options open for returning to Mikey a’s squad next year? As I’m guessing the No. 27 seat will be available…

 

While even though ECR ultimately got the strategy wrong for Rinus VeeKay, who had to struggle with Fuel Saving at race’s end. The Dutchman get’s my nod for Driver of the Race! As VeeKay made a multitude  ‘O passes on the High Side when marching His way into the lead! Before ultimately finishing 10^th.

 

Not really sure why we’re still making such a Big Fuss over Jimmie Johnson? As I just Don’t get the never ceasing Din over a NASCAR Driver in IndyCar? As I got a chuckle over IndyCar Radio’s Davey Hamilton saying How ‘bout that JJ! He’s the top running Ganassi driver, before somebody politely told him that Marcus Ericsson also drove for CGR! With Hamilton apologizing for overlooking the Swede’ who I think was running second at the time…

 

And lastly, speaking of Ericsson, Mary Ellen asked me after the race, who was that that you were rooting for? Since although I’ve got absolutely Nothing against ScottyMac’, who by my rudimentary math skills led three-fourths of the race. I was Rootin’ against Him and wanted Ericsson to claim His first Oval  victory instead!

 

As I simply Don’t like Penske winning every G-Damn’ race, even if it’s with somebody new like Scott McLaughlin and his totally Diverse, non IndyCar background! And Yeah, I understand that Chip Ganassi Racing’s also a frequent winner as part of the touted Big 3! But I just thought it would be great to have an ex-Formula 1 driver winning his Debutante Oval, especially with All of the Noise being made over JJ’s impressive debut IndyCar Oval run…

 

Hey, I’m Happy that Jimmie Johnson finally scored His first Top-10 finish, but Who’s Dat’ that passed Him for fifth place at races end, Eh? 

This Weekend’s Three Rings ‘O Motorsports

And that Don’t even consider Dem’ Taxicab Bombers or whether Thars a MotoGP race…

 

This coming weekend is absolutely a RevHead’ or MotorHeads’ Delight, with thou Three Pillars ‘O Motorsports in action, albeit IndyCar very Unwisely decided to go “Head-to-Head” with it’s Sports Car Brethren! Choosing a very Unforgiving Super speedway Oval that’s littered with some “slippery liquids” Atrocious PJ1 Traction Compound bound to make it another overly dull race, Spew!

 

Actually, Thars’ four major sanctioning Bodies going racing this weekend, without delving into RASSCAR’, whilst I haven’t checked to “See” if MotoGP’s in action? Oh, Yes, those ultimate road racing Kneedraggers’ are competing on the City Streets of Indonesia…

 

As You’ll need a Scorecard to keep track of which Channel What’s On? Arse-sumedly the FIA World Endurance Championship is on Motortrend TV, albeit No idea how many Hours? Then the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship should be available either on Big NBC, USA Network, Peacock or some silly combination of All three?

 

Sunday’s IndyCar race is on Big NBC with MotoGP on CNBC. And Formula 1 will be on a multitude ‘O ESPN Channels per usual over the weekend.

 

As Always, and especially this weekend, Check your local listings for Times and Places!

 

First up, and I’ve got No idea how or if there will be any side effects for G-Drive Racing, the only Russian Flagged Sports Cars competitors I know of, who I’m fairly certain compete in both of the premiere LMP2 series.

 

Although the FIA’s World endurance Championship is hosting a season’s Prologue at Sebring from March 12-13^th, ahead of it’s season opening 1,000 miles Sebring race Friday, March 18^th over the Super Sebring weekend.

 

So presumably All of Yuhs Diehard Sports Car Aficionados will know if there’s any “Knock-on” effects over Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine adversely effecting G-Drive or any Russian competitors before Friday’s Season Opener at Sebring, Righto?

 

Ironically on March 6^th, the very same day that the Haas F1 Team announced it’s immediate termination of it’s contracts with title sponsor Uralkali and Nikita Mazepin. Fellow Russian Driver Roman Rusinov announced via his Instagram account that He was unwilling to sign the FIA’s Neutrality Clause Document, and that G-Drive Racing was withdrawing from the World Endurance Championship and (ELMS) European Le Mans Series with immediate effect.

 

As this led to the ACO reopening it’s Entry list for Applicants for this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans and ELMS for a 48 Hour period between March 7-9, with revised Entry lists to be announced later.

Believe I read via Racer’s Sports Car section awhile ago there’s 39 entries slated for this season’s WEC campaign. With the top flight Hypercars consisting of either a meager three or four entries?

 

The reigning champions Toyota Gazoo Racing return with their All conquering two car GR010 V-6 turbo Hypercars squad, with Alpine continuing with it’s Grandfathered LMP1 Spec A480 normally aspirated Gibson V-8. Whilst there’s a single car Scuderia Glickenhaus 007 LMH V-6 turbo entry, listed with Ryan Briscoe as one of it’s drivers,. Arse-sumedly contesting the entire season?

 

But we do know that the unique brace ‘O Werks’ Peugeot 9X8 Prototypes won’t race in anger until after Le Mans, with scuttlebutt suggesting that the July 10^th Six Hours of Monza could be their debut.

 

While I believe this will be one of the final times to see Corvette C8.R Big Boyz’ GTE Pro racecar in action Stateside. Since I’m Arse-suming’ the FIA/ACO is keeping this minnowesqe GT Class unchanged thru 2023, or around until 2024? Since surely we’ll See some sort of similar class restructuring a la GTD Pro Across thou Puddle eventually.

 

Then just a Dozen Hours later on Saturday, March 19^th, IMSA will host it’s annual 12 Hours of Sebring which saw the likes of Action Express Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Meyer Shank Racing and Vasser Sullivan Racing All scrambling to find replacement drivers for their originally slated contingent of Moonlighting IndyCar Drivers, since Dallas Fort Worth and Florida are too Far away to cycle back ‘N forth!

 

Obviously, A.J. Foyt Racing will have finally revealed publicly who’ll be driving it’s third #11 entry on the Oval portions of the calendar, since they’ll need somebody for Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) this Sunday. As the Odds on favourite is J.R. Hildebrand.

 

As Hopefully this will be the one and Only time IndyCar foolishly decides to Clash with the traditional March 12 Hours of Sebring race weekend date. As it’s just plain Stupid!

 

Look, I get Indy Cars wanting to be on Network TV, but are they just Cowtowing to TMS? Since most likely it’ll be another One Groove Slip-Slide All Skate race with how many viewers watching? As I think this is the final year of Texas’s current contract?

 

Formula 1 Host it’s Season Opener at Bahrain, with MotoGP’s second round taking place in Indonesia, and is it just Mwah? Or “Isn’t  it Ironic?” that IndyCar, F1 and MotoGP are All being shown on Sunday. Not to mention that I think MotoGP’s going Head-to-Head with IndyCar’s on Comcast’s third TV Network…

 

As I’m simply getting totally Knackered from typing All of this and will preview Formula 1 and MotoGP later. So enjoy the races Everybody!