1099 replies to this topic

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

Zapocinjem novu temu jos dok nismo ni zavrsili sa starom, ovde cu da postavljam vesti relevantne za narednu godinu, potencijalne nove trke na kalendaru, transfere vozaca itdm dok ne pocne akcija. Neka topic za 2012 stoji jos malo.

- 2013 se uvodi mogucnost da timovi koriste alternativne aero-pakete za DW12 sasiju, iz sopstvene proizvodnje ili nabavljene na trzistu

- postoji predlog da se voze dve kompletne trke tokom svakog trkackog vikenda, kvalifikacije u petak, jedna trka u subotu, druga u nedelju

- Najzanimljivije na trzistu vozaca: Rehol napusta Ganasija, kao zamena razmatran je Pazeno ali se otkup njegovog ugovora pokazao kao preskup, sada se spekulise da bi tu mogao da zavrsi Barikelo koji definitivno napusta KV; Brisko najverovatnije ide iz Penskija, pregovarano je sa Hanter-Rejom ali on ce ostati veran Andretiju, spominje se i Almendinger koji je nedavno suspendovan u Naskar zbog koriscenja nedozvoljenih supstanci.

- potvrdjena nova trka na ulicnoj stazi u Hjustonu 6. oktobra, pregovara se sa jos par staza kako u SAD tako i u inostranstvu. Tezice se da se vrati balans na 50% ovala 50% "redovnih" staza.

[Arnold Schwarzenegger]

Ovo sa dve trke mi je bezveze nadam se da nece usvojiti.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

- do sada potvrdjene trke:

24. mart - Sent Piterburg (ulicna)
7. april - Barber (autodrom)
21. april - Long Bic (ulicna)
28. april - Sao Paolo (ulicna)
26. maj - Indi 500 (oval)
2. jun - Detroit (ulicna)
8. jun - Teksas (oval)
15. jun - Milvoki (oval)
22. jun - Ajova (oval)
14. jul - Toronto (ulicna)
25. avgust - Sonoma (autodrom)
6. oktobar - Hjuston (ulicna)

- Kompletan kalendar bi trebalo da ima 19-20 trka. Za 11. avgust pregovara se o ulicnoj trci na Roud Ajlendu. Takodje se razmatraju trke u Ostinu na novoj F1 stazi, aerodromska staza u Klivlendu, ovali u Micigenu, Finiksu, Pokono, Kentakiju, Ricmondu, Kanzasu, Nesvilu, Majamiju i Cikagu, redovne staze Portland, Virdzinija, Roud Amerika, Nju Orlins; pominju se nove potencijalne ulicne trke u Fort Loderdejlu Cikagu; u Kanadi je moguc povratak u Edmonton a razmislja se o dodatku jos jedne trke (za dva upraznjena mesta pored Edmontona konkurisu jos i Vankuver i Kvebek Siti). Pregovara se i o medjunarodnim trkama - Meksiko Siti, povratak u Surfers Paradajs u Australiji, Sepang-Malezija, Singapur (F1 staza), Indonezija, Katar, kao i sa nekoliko neimenovanih bivsih F1 staza u Evropi.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

- Potvrdjeni timovi:

Andreti
Ganasi
Penski
KV
Dragon
Fojt
Panter
Smit-Hamilton
HVM
Fiser-Hartman
Karpenter
Barakuda (bivsi BHA)
Rehol-Leterman
Kojn
D&R
Konkvest

verovatno i:

MSR (lane izvisio zbog nedovoljno motora za sve timove)
AFS (Indi Lajt ekipa koja namerava da se prikljuci eliti)
Njumen-Has (nakon skoro gasenja ekipe prosle godine pokusali su povratak samo za Indi 500 ali nisu uspeli da dodju do motora; ove sezone nameravaju da se ukljuce sa dva bolida)
Skuderija Koloni (nekadasnji F1 tim koji se sada takmici u GP2, u slucaju da se najde sponzor)

Potvrdjeni vozaci:

#4 DzeJAr Hildebrand, Panter Rejsing
#6 Ketrin Leg, Dragon Rejsing
#10 Dario Frankiti, Target Cip Ganasi Rejsing
#11 Toni Kanan, KV Rejsing Tehnolodzis
#12 Vil Pauer, Tim Penski
#20 Ed Karpenter, Ed Karpenter Rejsing
#26 Marko Andreti, Andreti Autosport
#27 Dzejms Hincklif, Andreti Autosport
#28 Rajan Hanter-Rej, Andreti Autosport
#41 Cejs Ostin, EjDzej Fojt Enterprajzes (samo za Indi 500)
#67 Dzozef Njugarden, Sara Fiser Hartman Rejsing
#77 Simon Pazeno, Smit-Hamilton Motorsports
#78 Simona Desilvestro, HVM Rejsing
#83 Carli Kimbal, Cip Ganasi Rejsing

- Sebastijan Borde je u pregovorima o produzavanju saradnje sa Dragonom za bolid #7
- Nakon odbijanja Majka Konveja da vozi na ovalima ostalo je upraznjeno mesto u Fojtovom bolidu #14; opcije su Vejd Kaninhem za celu sezonu ili pola-pola sa Konvejom koji bi ostao da vozi samo redovne staze
- Rubens Barikelo je u igri za Ganasijev bolid #38 koji je napustio Grem Rehol
- u Penskiju #3 ocekuje se povratak Elia Kastronevesa (i jos jedan pokusaj za izjednacavanje rekorda od cetiri pobede na Indiju) dok se za #2 razmatra "povratnik" iz Naskara EjDzej Almendinger
- Spominje se mogucnost da ce na Indi 500 nastupiti Danika Patrik i Aleks Zanardi.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

Konvej razmatra svoje opcije nakon odluke da vise ne vozi ovale:

Conway Content With His Decision
“Obviously, I'd love to continue to race IndyCars,” Conway told SPEED.com. “Obviously, not on the ovals anymore but all the road course, street course stuff."
Marshall Pruett | Posted September 19, 2012


Before last weekend's IndyCar season finale in Fontana got under way, Series veteran Mike Conway dropped a bombshell when he chose to pull the plug on his race and any future participation on ovals.

“I’m truly sorry for putting the team and our sponsors in a difficult position, but this is the hardest decision I have ever made in my racing career,” said Conway in a prepared statement.

“I’ve come to realize I’m not comfortable on the ovals and no longer wish to compete on them. I want to stress that I am not finished racing and to this end, I would love to continue with Foyt Racing, but that’s something we need to discuss in the future.”

With a few days to reflect on what took place, I spoke to the 29-year-old Englishman who said he’s appreciated the overwhelming support from the IndyCar paddock since stepping down from the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing car.

“I was quite pleased with what everyone said afterward and how everyone's reacted,” he said. “It’s been nice. I still wasn’t looking for a reaction or bothered what people thought at the time because it was a decision for me and not [for everyone else]. It's nice to know they're giving back. It just kind of shows how close everybody in the racing industry is. We’re all there doing the same thing, all care about each other. That's really cool.”

Conway’s disdain for oval racing and relative comfort level with the low downforce package at Fontana led to his rather surprising decision, but with a little bit of distance and time to think about last week’s events, the 2011 Long Beach Grand Prix race winner says he hasn’t regretted his decision, and now hopes to maintain a presence in the series—even on a part-time basis.

“Obviously, I'd love to continue to race IndyCars,” he confirmed. “Obviously, not on the ovals anymore but all the road course, street course stuff, I’d love to be able to continue to do it. And I suppose it’s all managed to sit there and make it possible for some teams who are strong on ovals more than road courses, who want to improve on the road courses. But then I’d also love to continue with Foyt Racing as well, if there's any possibility to do that. I'm not sure yet. I'd love to stay in IndyCar and pursue that a bit longer if I can.”

The next step for Conway is to sort out which teams would have an interest in the services of a proven road and street course winner.

“Let's see what happens next year,” he said. “It depends on if they want to different driver for ovals and a different driver for road courses then it may be possible. But, for sure, the [Foyt] team’s already looking for the whole package and ones that want to do the whole thing.

"It’s just going to depend, really, on what people are looking for. I love racing in the IndyCar Series; it’s been great the last four years. I'd love to be able to continue it.”

Conway stayed in California after the Fontana race with family, and now has a few weeks off until his next assignment: Driving in his first Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercars event.

Partnered with Taz Douglas at Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, Conway will make his debut on the streets of Surfers Paradise on October 19-21 along with other IndyCar-turned-V8-rookies like James Hinchcliffe, Justin Wilson, Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti.

“Oh yeah…the V8 race, that’s going to be fun,” he said. “A lot of IndyCar drivers will be doing that one. Looking forward to all that. The off-season’s going to be a little bit longer than the one we had last year, finishing early.

"I’ll probably focus on continue driving in the States-side.”

Within an hour of his announcement last Thursday, one prominent sports car team owner reached out to ask for Conway’s contact information, and with an unclear future in IndyCar, it would seem a fulltime switch the American Le Mans Series or GRAND-AM Rolex Series would be a perfect fit for his new career focus.

Rather than seeing Conway start his season in traditional form at the St. Petersburg IndyCar event, I’d say there’s a strong likelihood of seeing him kick off 2013 at the 51st edition of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, but as he shares, his future is wide open at this point.

“I'm looking forward to the new challenge,” he said. “It’s cool. It's always good to try something new. Once you’re in it you soon know. But, yeah, it's going to be fun.”

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

- Rehol-Leterman-Lanigan planira prosirenje programa na dva bolida za ovu sezonu (2012 su se takmicili samo sa jednim koga je vozio Sato). Pretpostavlja se da ce u jedan sesti Grem Rehol, sin gazda-Bobija, koji nije produzio ugovor sa Ganasijem. Sto se tice drugog, u razmatranju su povratnik Sato i Rajan Brisko koji je dobio nogu iz Penskija.

- Tim HVM koji je ove godine jedini ostao sa Lotusovim motorima tokom cele sezone dogodine prelazi na Hondu. Vozac ostaje Simona Desilvestro.

- Barikelo ima ozbiljnu ponudu od Sema Smita da se pridruzi Smit-Hamilton Rejsingu i postane timski kolega Simonu Pazenou posto i ova ekipa planira prosirenje na dva bolida ove sezone.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

- Almendingeru je ukinuta suspenzija u Naskaru, tako da ostaje da se vidi gde ce odluciti da se takmici dogodine a do pre neki dan je povratak u Indikar (sa Penskijem, za koga je vozio i u Naskaru) izgledao sasvim izvestan

- Uz svu silu timova sa jednim bolidom koji za dogodine najavljuju ekspanziju svojih programa na dva bolida, izgleda da tim KVRT ide obrnutim putem - naime samo Kanan je siguran za 2013, Barikelo razmatra ponude drugih timova dok Vizo planira osnivanje sopstvene ekipe. Kako stvari trenutno stoje KV bi sa tri bolida mogao da spadne na samo jedan, a prica se i o mogucnosti fuzije sa nekom od drugih ekipa (spominju se Ed Karpenter i HVM).

- Trka u Edmontonu na pistama gradskog aerodroma, koja je prvi put organizovana 2005. pod okriljem CCWS i koja je jedna od trka "nasledjenih" nakon ujedinjenja Indikar trkanja nece biti na kalendaru sezone 2013.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

- Govorka se da ganasi razmatra smanjenje sa 4 na 3 bolida za dogodine sad kad ga je napustio Grem Rehol, osim u slucaju da zainteresovani vozac donosi izuzetno veliko sponzorstvo; ovo bi bila prilika za Rajana Briskoa koji je pedaliran iz Penskija, jer navodno Honda je zainteresovana za njegove usluge jer je poznat kao dobar "razvijac", a i upravo on je radio najvise testiranja na Sevroletovom motoru tokom ciklusa testiranja 2011 i pred sezonu 2012 pa verovatno ima neke insajderske informacije.

- navodno bi u nedelju trebalo da bude objavljen konacni kalendar za Indikar sezonu 2013.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

INDYCAR: Series Clarifies Its Stance On Tire Supply Negotiations
Firestone thinks its deal with IndyCar may end after '14 while IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said he’s negotiating a new long-term deal but Firestone is still in play.
Robin Miller | Posted September 25, 2012


Firestone’s director of motorsports thinks his company’s long association with IndyCar may be terminated following 2014 while IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said he’s negotiating a new long-term deal but Firestone is still in play.

"I don't have all the facts and I don't know it if's true but we heard something has been signed with another tire company," said Speyer late Tuesday afternoon after a story was published on the Motor Sport web site. "We've asked who it is but IndyCar won't tell us so we don't know for sure but we've got it narrowed down to four or five.

"We've been trying to extend our contract for several months but it never got far enough along to be close to getting done. We see the upside and potential to being in IndyCar and we want to extend our relationship for the longterm. But right now there's a lot of uncertainty."

Speyer told Motor Sport's Gordon Kirby that it was clear IndyCar management "is not interested in working with us."

In Wyoming with his staff for a business retreat and unavailable for comment, Bernard issued the following statement:

“While INDYCAR generally does not comment on the specifics of ongoing negotiations, INDYCAR is always exploring what’s best for the sport for both the short and long term. It is the series’ goal to have partners that will provide safe, reliable and high-performance products that are designed to meet and exceed the on-track demands of our sport while creating a platform to leverage and grow the sport through aggressive activation.

"Because the current contract with Firestone to supply tires for the IZOD IndyCar Series will expire following the 2014 race season, INDYCAR has been seeking and continues to seek a tire partnership for 2015 and beyond. As the current and historical tire supplier, Firestone has been and continues to be a part of the consideration.”

Speyer was asked if Firestone had submitted a new offer?

"That's a question for IndyCar because they're looking for the supplier, whether it be us or someone else," he replied "And, to date, we've not been asked to send a presentation."

Pirelli, which currently supplies Formula One and wants to expand its American market, would seem to be a likely candidate along with Michelin.

One thing that could play a role in INDYCAR's future tire decisions is what happens with the GRAND-AM/ALMS merger. GRAND-AM uses spec tires from Continental, while the ALMS is overflowing with tire manufacturers.

How it all shakes out when both series come together in 2014 could leave more or more tire companies looking for a home, and it would make sense for Bernard to be getting ahead of the game while there's so much uncertainty in sports cars.

Firestone's up-in-arms routine about its future with INDYCAR is a lot different from its position from one year ago when it was preparing to leave the series.

“We evaluated all sorts of options, some worked for us and didn’t for them (INDYCAR) and vice versa, but we just couldn’t find a sweet spot,” said Speyer in March of 2011.

“We tried, we really did, to get this resolved and we have the utmost respect for INDYCAR and we know it’s on the uptick and we commend them. But the world has changed immensely in the last 20 years and we’re looking for new ways to promote the Firestone brand. And at the end of the day we’re simply going in different directions.”

Following Speyer's news, Bernard opened talks with numerous tire brands to replace Firestone, but at the last minute, Firestone came back to the table with a proposal to stay on through 2014 at double the price teams had been paying.

"We changed our evaluation of what IndyCar meant to so many of our constituents and we listened to our customers and dealers," said Speyer, whose company has been title sponsors for many races over the years plus a leader in television and print advertising for the series. "The commitment is there."

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

Notes: 'MythBusters' tackle IndyCar subjects
By Dave Lewandowski
Published: Sep 25, 2012


“MythBusters” co-host Grant Imahara says the the inverted running IndyCar has been the No. 1 subject the staff has wanted to tackle through the show’s 10 years on the air.

“Up till now we’re only missing three things to do the myth: A track that is either helical or some sort of round tunnel that we drive through, a driver and an IndyCar,” Imahara said. “We would love to do that one if we had the opportunity. It’s something that is theoretically possible, it’s physics and it involves IndyCars going at fast speeds. It’s like a trifecta of coolness.”

In lieu of those ingredients, the team is tackling other subjects at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week for an IZOD IndyCar Series-featured show in spring.

The Emmy-nominated Discovery Channel series, which mixes scientific method with curiosity and ingenuity to create a signature style of experimentation, begins a new season in October.

“When the chance to collaborate with Indy came up, we were all excited,” Imahara said. “Coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the place is just dripping with history. It’s also a much larger place than what I imagined.”

The on-air talent, which includes hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage along with co-hosts Tory Belleci, Kari Byron and Imahara, was filmed driving on the racetrack in a minivan for the projected show opening.

“I can’t imagine going around at 220-plus mph; it must be incredible,” Imahara said. “There is a huge amount of science, engineering and physics that goes into an IndyCar. It’s not just four wheels and an engine. It’s neat to see all of that, and it’s really cool.”

Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe and the No. 2 IZOD car also will be featured.

“You always learn interesting facts you might not even think about,” said Briscoe, an avid viewer. “I was talking with Jamie and Adam a lot about the performance aspects of an IndyCar, power to weight ratio, downforce and all those little things that make IndyCars unique. It will be a great chance to showcase IndyCars to a different crowd around the world as well.”

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

Date Race name Track Location
– March 24 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Streets of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida
– April 7 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama
– April 21 39th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Streets of Long Beach Long Beach, California
– May 5 Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 Streets of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
– May 26 97th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
– June 1–2 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Belle Isle Detroit, Michigan
– June 8 Firestone 550 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
– June 15 Milwaukee IndyFest Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin
– June 22 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Iowa Speedway Newton, Iowa
– July 7 TBA Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
– July 13–14 Honda Indy Toronto Streets of Toronto Toronto, Ontario
– August 4 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
– August 24–25 GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, California
– September 1 Grand Prix of Baltimore Streets of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland
– October 6 Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Reliant Park Houston, Texas
– October 12 IndyCar World Championships Auto Club Speedway Fontana, California

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

'Aj da se malo sustignem sam sa sobom (i predsobljem )

2013 IndyCar Schedule Features 19 Races, 3 Doubleheaders
IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard unveils an expanded 2013 schedule on SPEED's "Wind Tunnel With Dave Despain."
Robin Miller | Posted September 30, 2012


Three doubleheaders, two new venues, standings starts, a return of the Triple Crown and a prime time night race on network television are the highlights of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar schedule, which was announced Sunday night on SPEED's "Wind Tunnel With Dave Despain."

Randy Bernard has put together seven street circuits, six ovals and three road courses for a 19-race run that begins in late March and ends in mid-October.

Pocono, the tricky tri-oval originally built for Indy cars in 1970, is coming back after a 24-year absence along with the Triple Crown, which also includes Indianapolis and Fontana.

Houston, which hosted CART and Champ Car in three different settings, also returns in a course around Reliant Park and will be the third doubleheader of the season.

Detroit and Toronto will also feature races on Saturday and Sunday as Bernard tries to give IndyCar a different look in hopes of creating better crowds and more eyeballs on television.

“We’ve got the fastest, most versatile drivers in the world and I think this schedule is a good fit for them,” said Bernard, who is still open to adding a race at Providence, R.I. if details can be worked out or possibly New Orleans if Rhode Island doesn’t materialize.

“I’m excited about our doubleheaders along with our partners because it gives the fans something new and I think they’d much rather watch a race on Saturday than practice and qualifying.”

The doubleheaders, which were prominent on ovals and road courses during USAC’s reign in the ‘60s and ‘70s, will count full points and full purses with details of qualifying to be revealed at a later date.

“I’ve been talking with Randy and ABC for several weeks and I can’t tell you how excited we are to have back-to-back races which will be televised on ABC from 3:30 to 6 (p.m.),” said Bud Denker, the president of the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle.

“General Motors thinks its crazy good and our sponsors get double the value. It’s going to be busy with GRAND-AM, Indy Lights and the [SCCA] World Challenge but I can’t think of one reason we wouldn’t want to do it.”

Kim Green and Kevin Savoree promote races at St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio and Toronto and they were happy to bring a double to the passionate Canadian fans.

“We told Randy we were definitely interested the first time we heard about it and we’d love to grow our Saturday crowd and we think it’s going to make us a stronger event,” said Green.

“It gives the fans a lot of choices and right now we’re trying to figure out what is the right ticket package to make it a good value for everyone.”

As a car owner and promoter, Mike Lanigan loves the idea of doubling your pleasure.

“It’s cost effective for everyone,” said Lanigan, the co-owner of the Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan entry in IndyCar who is bringing back the Reliant Park circuit in Houston with the help of title sponsor Shell. “The track is already set up and the fans are coming for the weekend so it’s going to be more exciting for them.

“And giving the fans a standing start one day and a rolling start the next is innovative and I think it’s fantastic.”

Standing starts, which were successfully introduced by Tony Cotman back in Champ Car in 2006, will be part of the doubleheader weekends.

“I’m looking at standing starts on Saturday and rolling starts on Sunday,” said Beaux Barfield, IndyCar's race director. “Once we get a couple under our belt we’ll consider other venues as well.”

But Bernard’s biggest plum may be what he’s doing with ABC.

From May 26th at Indianapolis to July 7th at Pocono, ABC will telecast six races – including a Saturday night prime timer at Texas Motor Speedway on June 8.

“ABC really stepped up and I think it’s the continuity we’ve been looking for since they will carry five of six races in that period,” said Bernard, who intends to pay $1 million for anyone sweeping the Triple Crown. “It’s tough to build momentum when you’re switching back and forth and this is a nice mix.

“NBC Sports Network kicks off the season with four in a row, then ABC takes over for six weeks and NBC takes us home with the last eight races. I think it is good everyone concerned.”

Iowa, which has become one of the most popular stops on the circuit, moves from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon as it goes to ABC while Pocono will likely be a 400-miler because of the TV window. The finale at Fontana’s Auto Club Speedway will again be 500 miles but is moving back to October to try and avoid the scorching heat that IndyCar had to deal with in September.

In addition to 13 races, NBC Sports Network will also cover qualifying at Indianapolis on May 18-19.

2013 IZOD INDYCAR SCHEDULE

March 24 – St. Petersburg, street circuit, (NBC Sports Network)
April 7 – Birmingham, Ala., road course, (NBCSN)
April 21 – Long Beach, street circuit, (NBCSN)
May 5 – Sao Paulo, Brazil, street circuit, (NBCSN)
May 18-19 – Indianapolis qualifying (NBCSN)
*May 26 – Indianapolis 500, oval, (ABC)
June 1 – Detroit, street circuit, (ABC)
June 2 – Detroit, Street circuit, (ABC)
June 8 – Fort Worth, Texas, oval, (ABC)
June 15 – Milwaukee, oval, (NBCSN)
June 23 – Newton, Iowa, oval, (ABC)
*July 7 – Pocono, Pa., oval, (ABC)
July 13 – Toronto, street circuit, (NBCSN)
July 14 – Toronto, street circuit, (NBCSN)
Aug. 4 – Lexington, Ohio, road course, (NBCSN)
Aug. 25 – Sonoma, Calif., road course, (NBCSN)
Sept. 1 – Baltimore, street circuit, (NBCSN)
Oct. 5 – Houston, street circuit, (NBCSN)
Oct. 6 – Houston, street circuit, (NBCSN)
*Oct. 19 – Fontana, Calif., oval, (NBCSN)
(* denotes a Triple Crown event)

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

F1’s Karthikeyan Pondering IndyCar Switch
Marshall Pruett speaks with Indian F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan, who reveals he's contemplating staying in F1 or making a move to IndyCar.

Marshall Pruett | Posted October 04, 2012


If India’s most popular racing driver grows tired of racing for the tail-end HRT Formula One team, he could be up for a move to the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2013.

35-year-old Narain Karthikeyan, who became the first Indian to compete in F1 in 2005, has represented his nation of a billion-plus countrymen through taking part in 40 Grand Prixs, the A1GP series, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and even in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, but has struggled to find a permanent home in any single championship.

Now in his second season with HRT—one that lasted only eight of 19 rounds in 2011—Karthikeyan has had predictable outcomes at every race, suffering early retirements or finishes well outside of the points.

But as he told SPEED.com in an exclusive on Thursday, a return to America to try his hand at racing in the IndyCar Series is one of his options.

“We still haven’t decided yet, but I have several friends who are racing in IndyCar,” he said while preparing for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. “We have to see when the [F1] season is over.”

The specter of oval racing, which has dampened the enthusiasm of many F1 drivers pondering a shift to racing in America, wouldn’t be a challenge for Karthikeyan.

Prior to his move to F1, the talented Karthikeyan completed a 60-lap test at the 1-mile Phoenix oval for the Red Bull Cheever Racing IndyCar team, impressing on his maiden oval outing before rain intervened.

He’d later use the findings from that test to run nine NASCAR Truck races, averaging a respectable 19th starting position and an average finishing position of 18th as a rookie in 2010.

Karthikeyan, who was curious to learn about prize money, driver salaries and IndyCar’s 2013 TV package, said there's a strong chance he'll stay with HRT next year, but with his management team also reaching out to a few different IndyCar principals, the open-wheel veteran has plenty to consider in the coming months.

With a significant time difference to India, IndyCar broadcasts, delivered to 34 million households through ESPN International, present a greater challenge for Karthikeyan’s sponsors, but the bigger question he has seems to be one of potential exposure versus personal satisfaction.

F1 reaches a massive international audience—one that dwarfs every other form of motorsport—but it appears he’s beginning to wonder what for another season of futility and minimal TV coverage in F1 will do for his career.

Armed with a loyal group of backers, it’s undeniable Karthikeyan would reach a smaller crowd in IndyCar, but with his 36th birthday on the horizon, and no seats available at mid-pack F1 teams, the chance to be more competitive in IndyCar clearly has its merits.

With the costs of a front-running IndyCar drive going for $4-$6 million, Karthikeyan is aware racing in America would cost far less than an entry-level F1 drive, but it would take the blessing of his family—something 19-year F1 man Rubens Barrichello also needed prior to joining IndyCar—before taking the next step.

“I know IndyCar is competitive; Dallara always makes good cars,” he remarked. “It depends on what I want to do and if my family allows me to go to America.

“Here, you’re always going to run at the back, but in IndyCar, with a half-decent team, I think I can be much more competitive. We’ll see what happens next. I’ll leave everything open.”

Provided Karthikeyan heads Stateside, he'd join fellow F1 drivers Barrichello, Sebastien Bourdais, Takuma Sato and Justin Wilson in IndyCar, along with a number of drivers who cut their teeth in similar European feeder series, including Dario Franchitti, Will Power, Ryan Briscoe, Mike Conway, E.J. Viso and James Jakes, among others.

It’s far too early to predict which direction Karthikeyan will follow, but with the Asian-Indian community continuing to rapidly grow in the United States, it’s clear the IndyCar Series would be the greatest beneficiary of Karthikeyan’s presence on a domestic and international level.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

Apdejt sa glasinama oko transfera i mogucih novih timova, fuzija i ostalo:

With Ryan Hunter-Reay electing to stay with Andretti Autosport, the silly season took a bit of a hit but there’s still plenty of wheeling and dealing going on these days.

The 31-year-old American was the biggest domino to fall this off-season, and had he chosen to sign with The Captain as teammate to Will Power and Helio Castroneves, a feeding frenzy would have been set off with half the paddock trying to fill his shoes in the No. 28 DHL/SunDrop Chevy.

With RHR forsaking Penske, what we’re left with are questions over how many cars the team will run next season, and if they’re genuinely interested in keeping Ryan Briscoe on the payroll and his third entry on the track.

Ganassi Racing is facing a similar dilemma with the No. 38 car that Graham Rahal drove for the past two seasons. Will the Indy 500-winning team stick with four cars, or reduce to three for 2013?

We don’t have the answers yet for this pair of top-line drives, but as talks continue to take place, it looks like Penske’s loss could be Ganassi’s gain.

The Penske camp has been tight-lipped on its plans for Briscoe, which has only helped to accelerate the Aussie’s search for a new home.

Early talks with Bobby Rahal seemed to indicate the Sonoma race winner might end up as teammate to Graham Rahal next year, and it still remains a possibility, but interest in having the 31-year-old rejoin the Ganassi fold, the first IndyCar Series team he drove for back in 2005, continues to heat up.

Ignoring Briscoe’s crash at the season finale, his oval skills are of particular interest to Honda, and with the need to strengthen its assembly of teams to take the fight to Chevy, his eight IndyCar wins and 13 poles would fit nicely in a proven Franchitti-Dixon-Briscoe package at Ganassi.

To move forward, funding for Rahal’s former Ganassi ride is the most challenging part of the equation.

Ganassi’s pair of Target cars is supported by sponsorship, while its satellite entries for Rahal and Charlie Kimball have been made possible by sponsors brought to the team by both drivers.

It’s believed that while some backing is in place for the No. 38 car, Briscoe and the team would need to put most of the necessary budget together for 2013. The other piece of the Ganassi puzzle involves filling some new (and expected vacancies) with the No. 38 program, including Rahal’s former engineer Martin Pare.

There’s a desire on all sides to see Briscoe in the No. 38, which would clearly be his best option if Penske doesn’t offer him a new contract. If something doesn’t happen at Ganassi, Penske or Rahal, Briscoe’s options could be limited.

Dale Coyne Racing is on pole position to re-sign Justin Wilson for his third tour of duty, but the lanky open-wheel veteran has also commanded interest from the same teams talking to Briscoe—Penske, Ganassi and Rahal. If Coyne lets him slip away, the former F1 and Champ Car ace would make the Chipster’s team a legitimate triple threat at any track, and especially after he scored his first oval victory at Texas.

Wilson would also be just as valuable for a Penske team that has struggled to find the consistency needed to win championships. Indy car’s winningest team has spent plenty of money on a three-car operation since Will Power joined full-time in 2010, but Power’s never really had a teammate who could keep up with him on the track or in the final standings.

The Brit finished runner-up twice in Champ Car against some stiff competition, so he knows how to get the job done, but has never had a front-line ride in the IndyCar Series to chase a title. If Roger wants to improve his team, he knows Wilson’s number.

Wilson and his engineer Bill Pappas, two of the tallest people on pit lane, also tend to come together as a package. They won Coyne’s first IndyCar race in 2009 and again this year at the Texas 550, which makes them a turnkey solution.

Ask a Power or Franchitti who they’d like to have under their tent and Wilson’s their guy, but Coyne knows how much of a gem he has in the Sonny’s BBQ car, so don’t expect him to let anyone poach his driver and engineer without a fight. Wilson’s also a loyal kind of guy, which Coyne respects, and who will win the race to get him to sign on the dotted line is something to follow as we look ahead.

What looked like a done deal between Sam Schmidt, Davey Hamilton and Rubens Barrichello just a few weeks ago at Baltimore has recently taken a few steps back. The costs involved with running the 40-year-old Brazilian have required more time and attention than originally expected, and the sponsorship needed to make it happen hasn’t completely materialized.

The Formula One veteran is expected to get a deal worked out with the Honda-powered team, but the timeline involved with bringing the financials together is open-ended. Barrichello’s name also popped up again as a possible replacement for Rahal at Ganassi, but he still stands the best chance of partnering with 2012 Rookie of the Year Simon Pagenaud at Schmidt’s smart little team.

Team co-owner Hamilton, who brought primary sponsor Hewlett-Packard to keep Schmidt’s team on the grid, looked set to depart Schmidt’s program after one season but now expects to stay for 2013.

After Briscoe, Wilson and Barrichello, the next player in the 2013 silly season is Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Takuma Sato.

The ultra-popular Japanese driver made great strides in his first year of driving for the 1986 Indy 500 winner, but looked like he might be searching for a new series after his longtime supporters and financiers at Honda Japan balked at the idea of ponying up for his 11th season as a factory representative.

Despite crashing after coming tantalizingly close to winning both the Indy 500 and at Fontana, and possessing a winless streak that dates back to 2002, the will-he-ever-stop-being-a-project Sato has received another vote of confidence from the homeland and is expected to return for his fourth season of IndyCar competition.

Now he needs to figure out where he’ll be driving.

Honda, a name mentioned repeatedly in silly season dealings, has the most work to do to fortify its lineup next season and in particular, to turn as many of its five single-car teams into two-car programs as possible.

With Schmidt Hamilton at the forefront of the Barrichello sweepstakes, it leaves Rahal’s team, A.J. Foyt Racing, Barracuda Racing (Bryan Herta Autosport) and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing as Sato’s only real options.

As much as he’d like to take over the fourth seat at Ganassi, Sato would need a serious financial windfall to make it happen.

Although the thought of a Sato/Foyt pairing is off the charts on the Unintentional Comedy Scale, that’s also a longshot to come to fruition. It’s possible Mike Conway, who has retired from oval driving, could return to compete on road and street courses in a second Foyt entry, but for their primary No. 14 car, the father and son duo of A.J. and Larry Foyt want to sign a driver who’s a complete package. And when it comes to ovals, that isn’t Sato.

Herta’s team has options for a second entry, with former KV Racing driver E.J. Viso, who is looking for a partner to run him in IndyCar and to help build a ladder for Venezuelan drivers, taking a shine to what the Barracuda team has to offer.

In terms of teams that are capable of running at the front, Sato would certainly find it with Herta and BHA co-owner Steve Newey, but we can’t say if Sato’s rigid working style would blend well with the dynamic culture they’ve built around Alex Tagliani.

Next is the Fisher/Hartman team, but I’d expect the culture clash to be even greater at the mom-n-pop program. With a project of their own in Josef Newgarden (the good kind of project), Sato probably isn’t what SFHR needs as it looks to turn tons of potential into genuine results next season.

If we’re looking at the best fits and most likely scenarios, that leaves a return to Rahal for Sato. As long as Briscoe and Wilson are on the table, Sato serves as a backup-backup-backup plan for Bobby and co-owners Mike Lanigan and David Letterman.

Unfortunately, Sato’s earned a well-deserved reputation as a crasher, and with a modest budget to offer, the likeable Japanese driver might have to wait a while to get his invitation to the dance.

KV Racing, through a variety of possibilities, could partner with Ed Carpenter Racing and/or HVM Racing next year with its driver Tony Kanaan, whose No. 11 car serves as its only confirmed program left over from 2012. With a long off-season ahead, and a number of drivers and owners currently on vacation, potential deals like KV+ECR or KV+HVM could simmer for a while before coming together or falling apart.

And if the KV situation wasn’t interesting enough, could Kanaan, who used Chevy power with the team in 2012, be pining for a return to Honda? There’s more than a shred of truth to that scenario.

Panther Racing has JR Hildebrand under contract for 2013, Panther DRR is closing in on a new contract with Oriol Servia, Dragon Racing has Katherine Legge, who was recently evaluating her options, committed to return and team owner Jay Penske has previously spoken of taking up Sebastien Bourdais' option to lead the program in 2013. Michael Shank is also trying to get his MSR Indy operation off the ground.

A few new drivers are trying to break into the series next year, and at least one new team stands a chance of adding an IndyCar program to its current sports car efforts.

We’ll update the story on IndyCar’s silly season as it continues to develop.

[Rad-oh-yeah?]

Izdesavalo se svasta na politickom planu Indikar univerzuma u vreme mog odsustva sa neta, najvaznije je to da je Toni Dzordz, osnivac IRL-a i unistitelj nekadasnjeg CART sampionata koji je polovinom 90-tih kvalitetom i atraktivnoscu bio ozbiljna konkurencija F1 sada pokusao da preuzme i ovu novu ujedinjenu Indikar sankciju ali nije u tome uspeo, i kao posledica sledi njegovo udaljavanje sa borda direktora kompanije porodice Halman (kojoj inace i sam pripada) vlasnika staze u Indijanapolisu i vecinskog deonicara Indikara:

Tony George Resigns From Hulman & Co Board of Directors
"I realize that my recent efforts to explore the possibility of acquiring INDYCAR represent the appearance of a conflict," said George.
Media Release | Posted October 19, 2012


The board of directors of Hulman & Company accepted the resignation of Anton H. "Tony" George from the board Friday, Oct. 19. The resignation is effective immediately.

"Tony George has made the difficult decision to resign from the board because of his involvement with a group that has recently expressed an interest in purchasing the Hulman & Company-owned INDYCAR organization," said Jeff Belskus, Hulman & Company president and CEO. "While the business is not for sale and no offers to sell it have been considered or are being considered, we applaud Tony's efforts to resolve the appearance of a conflict and appreciate the gravity of this decision."

George played an instrumental role in Hulman & Company over the last two decades, serving as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1990-2004 and serving as IMS chief executive officer from 1990-2009. He also served as CEO of INDYCAR from 1994-2009 and previously served as president of Hulman & Company.

"I realize that my recent efforts to explore the possibility of acquiring INDYCAR represent the appearance of a conflict, and it is in everyone's best interest that I resign from the Hulman & Company board," George said. "It goes without saying that I want to do what is best for this organization."

Belskus indicated there is no immediate plan to fill the vacancy left by George's resignation and thanked George on behalf of the entire Hulman & Company board.

"Tony has been involved with our businesses for many years and has contributed significantly through his leadership role with IMS and INDYCAR and as a member of this board," Belskus said. "We wish Tony much success in the future."

The current composition of the Hulman & Company board is Mari Hulman George, Nancy L. George, M. Josephine George, Katherine M. George-Conforti, Andre B. Lacy, Michael L. Smith, John F. Ackerman, Jeffrey G. Belskus, Mark D. Miles and James T. Morris.



Interpreting Tony George’s Departure
By nature, auto racing press releases always contain some of the most creative writing you will ever read...
Robin Miller | Posted October 21, 2012 Indianapolis, IN


By nature, auto racing press releases always contain some of the most creative writing you will ever read because the quotes are either scripted or laced with saccharine or miles from the truth.

Like the one from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week concerning Tony George’s resignation from the Hulman & Company board of directors.

By my calculations, it covered all the bases.

So, in the interest of Indy car fans that are panicked that George is re-gaining control of the series, yours truly will translate what I believe that document really said.

Let’s take the opening quote from Jeff Belskus, the CEO and president of Hulman & Company.

“Tony George has made the difficult decision to resign from the board because of his involvement with a group that has recently expressed an interest in purchasing the IndyCar organization.”

Translation: First off all, the board of directors just met last month so this looks like it was a hastily-called meeting to address all the negative publicity and uncertainly generated by George’s takeover rumor, which first surfaced last June. It’s not good for business to have this story keep festering and methinks the board simply told TG either you resign or we’ll do it for you. The release was a nice mea culpa.

“While the business is not for sale and no offers to sell it have been considered or being considered, we applaud Tony’s efforts to resolve the appearance of a conflict and appreciate the gravity of the situation,” said Belskus.

Translation: We don’t care if your buddy Zak Brown has Bernie Ecclestone and Gene Simmons as partners, the series isn’t for sale. TG spent all those millions on the IRL to try and make sure IMS controlled the rules and didn’t take orders from owners. We’ve got some smart businessmen on the board nowadays (thanks to you Tony) and they’re not about to turn things over to his posse.

George supposedly weighed in with this gem: “I realize that my recent efforts to explore the possibility of acquiring IndyCar represent the appearance of a conflict and it is in everyone’s best interest that I resign from the Hulman & Company board. It goes without saying that I want to do what is best for this organization.”

Translation: Of course it was a conflict of interest and only in the best interest of Tony. If he read the forums it seems like about 90 percent of the people who still care about Indy car racing are ADAMANT that if he returns to power in any way, shape or form they are DONE watching or attending races. The best thing he can do for the organization is remain a car owner.

The bottom line is that the release wasn’t very well written because it still reads like the door is open for TG to pursue a purchase even though the same paragraph says there’s no chance it can happen.

That’s the most honest part – Tony finally admitted he was interested in buying the series and Belskus again reiterated it’s not for sale.

It’s time this story went away and it seems to me like the board agreed. And this time I don’t think it was Tony’s sisters who pulled the hook on their brother.

Ostale zanimljivosti - moguce prosirenje kalendara za sezonu 2013 i stroza regulacija testiranja:

Series Talking With Mugello Circuit About 2013 Date
IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard admitted the series has had talks with the Italian circuit, along with other potential sites.
Robin Miller | Posted October 09, 2012


A story in an Italian newspaper La Repubblica says IndyCar is coming to the Ferrari-owned Mugello road course next September, but it's a long way from being a reality.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard admitted the series has had talks with the principals at the 3.2-mile, 15-turn Italian circuit, along with other potential sites.

"We've had discussions with a variety of potential promoters and that includes initial, exploratory discussions with Mugello," said Bernard on Tuesday afternoon.

In the past Bernard has met with Fiat officials about the possibility of building an Indy car engine. Fiat owns Ferrari, among other brands.

The 2013 IZOD IndyCar schedule has a hole from Sept. 1 to Oct. 9 so Italy could be slotted in but time is running out to do anything for next year.

Series Reveals Tighter Testing Regulations
As SPEED.com chronicled in August, the IZOD IndyCar Series has made sweeping cuts and significant changes to its testing policies for 2013.
IZOD IndyCar Series | Posted October 08, 2012


INDYCAR announced today that testing for IZOD IndyCar Series manufacturers and teams will be reduced from 2012 rules. Limits affect all manufacturer and team off-season, preseason and in-season private testing through the 2013 season finale at Auto Club Speedway.

"In the interest of continued cost containment and with the support of the majority of the partners involved, testing is being reined in after the initial development of the new car," said Will Phillips, vice president of technology, INDYCAR. "We're recovering from the cost of re-capitalizing the whole field and testing can be the most expensive part of a team's program."

Engine manufacturer preseason testing in 2012 had been unlimited as Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus prepared their 2.2-liter turbocharged V6 engines for the 2012 season on the most diverse set of racetracks in motorsports.

Approved manufacturer testing:

In the updated testing regulations distributed to teams and partners, manufacturers are limited to two days each during the off-season (through Dec. 31) and preseason (Jan. 4, 2013, to the March 24 opener on the streets St. Petersburg, Fla.). In-season manufacturer test days have been reduced from six to four, with a restriction of two manufacturer days per team.

Approved team testing:

Similarly, team private off-season, preseason and in-season testing has been reduced from six total days to two days, plus four total engine manufacturer test days per team.

Tires:

Each full-season entrant will be allocated a maximum 16 sets of tires for off-season, preseason and in-season private test days - half the total as 2012. This excludes engine manufacturer tests and Open Tests. Open Test entrants will be allocated three sets of tires per day per entry.

Open Tests:

These tests, which supplement private test days, are scheduled during the race week at Barber Motorsports Park in early April, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in early August, and at Sonoma Raceway in late August. Additionally, an Open Test is scheduled for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April. Dates and times will be announced at a later date, as will a preseason Open Test venue.

New teams, drivers:

Teams will be allocated two additional test days and three sets of tires per day for the purpose of testing a rookie driver. Any new IZOD IndyCar Series teams for the 2013 season will be allocated two additional team test days and three additional sets of tires per day during the off-season and preseason period.

Also new for the 2013 calendar year:

Full-size wind tunnel testing is restricted to two days per team and four days per engine manufacturer. Model wind tunnel testing is permitted. Testing that requires the use of an approved chassis must be submitted with a minimum of seven days' notice to INDYCAR for approval.

"We've spent a good part of the 2012 season dealing with the expenses associated with the sport, especially as it was the introductory year of the chassis," said Brian Barnhart, president, operations and strategy, INDYCAR. "We listened to the owners talk about the need to reduce the cost of participation, and one of the ways of doing that is to examine the testing rules that were allowed and necessary in 2012 and revising them for 2013. With the car performing as well as it did and the competition at a high level, there simply isn't the need for as much testing. Teams will benefit from a sizable cost reduction through this more restrictive testing plan."