“On the Road Again,” although the Crews Definitely
Deserved a two weeks Break!
Where to begin, Eh? Having crossed the Mid
Season Marker after Road America, and with just nine more races remaining, beginning
with Mid Ohio. It’ll be over in a flash, before another Stupendous Offseason
begins, Sigh!
Taking another week off following Mid Ohio, before
a feverish four straight weeks Fury begins North of the Border in Toronto,
returning to Canada for the first time in three Gory Years, Take Off Eh! Followed
by Iowa’s Double Header, supporting RASSCAR’ at Mother Speedway’s Road Course and
then the Music City in Nashville.
IndyCar then takes it’s final week off before
it’s final three races, beginning at Gateway, followed by Portland and lastly
laguna Seca in early September. In order to Finish the season before Football
begins, BARF! As why is IndyCar so Afraid
of the NFL? I mean Hell, their ratings Don’t even scare RASSCAR!
Whilst I’ll try to put together some of my thoughts
here, Hopefully not to random scatter.
At the beginning of the season, I wrote a No
Fenders post about several IndyCar Engineering Changes, which unfortunately I
Deleted by mistake. Part of thee Joy of being Blind! And trying to Hover over a
under intensified word, Thanks Blooger! But I digress…
Obviously Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden’s new
Engineer Eric Leichtle has worked out Ok! Since Newgarden’s was the only driver
with multiple wins (3) prior to Mid Ohio. Even though He’ll lose His Chief
Mechanic Travis Law when He moves over to Penske’s Porsche Sports Car Operation
as Competition Director at season’s end.
And although ScottyMac’, aka Scott McLaughlin
has somewhat faded, sliding down to Ninth Overall before Mid Ohio. Nonetheless,
the pairing of the Kiwi’ with Ben Bretzman was a good move.
As McLaughlin’s season seemingly came unhinged
after that Strategy Debacle to Pull His Qualifying time for the Indy 500 that
saw Scott Drop 11 places from 15th to P26, Youch!
But the Kiwi’s season has emphatically gotten back “Ontrack”
after scoring a decisive win at Mid Ohio! As McLaughlin becomes only the second
driver to date to notch multiple wins, whilst Team Penske’s won six of the
season’s first nine events…
While DJ WillyP’, aka Will Power Hangs stout
with longtime Engineer David Faustino, now in their 12th season together.
“Hoovering” Top 5 Points-wise, garnering more Attenzione for His Spat with
Devlin DeFrancesco at Road America. As somehow I missed Power’s Cooldown Hip
Checking on the Kuhnuck’ during the race…
Meanwhile moving Craig Hansen over to Felix
Rosenqvist’s Arrow McLaren SP (AMSP) entry has done the trick for the Swede.
Since Rosenqvist finished a career High fourth at Indianapolis, along with
having four consecutive Top 10 finishes prior to Mid Ohio. All of which makes
me wonder why Zak Brown and AMSP are being so vague abou Felix’s future with the
team.
Since AMSP has announced signing Felix to a
multi-year extension, but just Not knowing whether He’ll be in Indy Cars of
part of their new Formula E team next year? Which All of this Media speculation
made me initially feel Rosenqvist will be in Formula E next season. Although
now it sounds like AMSP is having a Hard time finding a better caliber IndyCar Driver
to replace the Swede with…
As it’s interesting how Zak Brown seems to have
targeted several of the Cheepster’s (Chip Ganassi) Drivers, including Alex
Palou and Scott Dixon, with Rosenqvist being a former Chip Ganassi Racing
Driver.
As AMSP should be a fairly Stout entity next
year with it’s three Fulltime entries of Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and
whoever the “Third Wheel” is?
As my Numero Uno IndyCar Driver Pato O’Wardd
claimed the Pole position with Rosenqvist starting P4 at Mid Ohio. But it was definitely
a weekend to Forget! Since first Felix’s engine went Kuh Blamoe on lap 9! No Fault
of the Swede’s, who understandably was furious over finishing last! And then
after leading the first 28 lpas from Pole, O’Wards engine began losing power
before ultimately ending up “Dead Stick” at Pitlane’s exit, causing a late race
Yellow Flag Caution! With the AMSP Duo finishing P27-24 respectively, Youch!
Meanwhile I’m looking forward to seeing how
well Kyle Kirkwood does when switching back to Andretti Autosport next year as
Rossi’s replacement. Making me wonder who’ll replace Kirkwood at A.J. foyt
Enterprises.
Since even though it was only testing, meaning
Not knowing what test programmes each driver/team was on? But it seems indicative
of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s (RLLR) season when current Indy Lights
driver Benjamin Pederson finished Ahead of RLLR during His maiden IndyCar test
for Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) at Sebring’s Short Course the week prior to
Mid Ohio!
As Pederson’s been “Imbedded” with the Foyt
team this year, learning Al of the nuances of being an IndyCar Driver with the
team while “Shadowing” Kirkwood. Making me wonder if it’s a foregone conclusion
that Pederson winds up in the storied No. 14 next year?
Although I’d like to see JHR become a two car
operation next year, and perhaps Pedersen could “Fill the bill” Here?
But perhaps Stefan Stork’ Wilson could fill JHR’s
second seat alongside Callam Ilott? Since Wilson’s got Don Cusik’s backing, but
Who knows, Eh?
While I Don’t See’ how Foyt will ever improve substantially
with it’s constantly revolving Driver roster. As Foyt needs to find an impressive,
promising Driver who can stay with the team long term.
Although All of the Paddock fodder during Mid
Ohio surrounded whether or not Foyt’s third entry, the #11 for rookie Tatiana
Calderon will be on the Grid at Toronto? Or if the No. 11’s Done for the year
due to sponsor RokiT making late payments to Foyt. Not to mention, I hadn’t
heard about their $35+ million owed to Team Willy’, aka Williams F1 Racing in
Arbitration earlier this year, for Failing to Honour their 2019 Title Sponsorship
commitment to Williams…
While the runaway Points leader in Indy Lights
in Linus Lundqvist, who Hopes to be moving up to IndyCar next year with an
expanded Dale Coyne/HDM Motorsports concern, with the Swede joining IndyCar’s “Odd
Couple” of David Malukas and Takuma Sato in a three car combined effort.
As Pedersen is fighting for second place Overall with Sting Ray robb, who He
trailed by 13 points prior to Mid Ohio. As I just thought I’d mention Sting Ray
since Nobody’s talking about Him, other than Davey Hamilton, who’s also from
Idaho. But I digress…
And while I’d say that RLLR’s three drivers are
currently Overrated, the only other team more Disappointing somewhat, since
Gasp! It’s got my favourite Villain on it! As I’m Not at All surprised by Hulio’s
mediocre performance this year. Even though Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) Had to
keep Castroneves this year. But I am somewhat perplexed over Simon Pagenaud’s
struggles since after all, MSR is technically Aligned with Andretti Autosport…
And I could Prattle on Ceaselessly Here, but Y’all
get the Drift, Righto? Since I won’t bother piling on over other Back-markers,
since even before reading about Lola’s Hoped for Resurrection, I had to remind myself.
It’s Hard remembering that IndyCar, like All Motorsports is a Business first. And
who Our Favourite Drivers and Villains are, is just part and parcel for Our
Entertainment…
