2011 IndyCar silly season

[NaBUru38]

Robin Miller says the same, Lotus will go for Newman/Haas.

[Jacques Rabbit]

If there is a Lotus.

It's also been suggested that Tony Kanaan and Oriol ServiÃ* would essentially swap seats, bringing their respective sponsors. Kanaan is currently a Lotus guy, so that makes sense, and ServiÃ* is a friend of Jimmy Vasser's, a former KV driver, and hopefully smart enough to realize that the Lotus package is the most doubtful of all of them. Being the "anchor team" for Lotus might not be the best place. Plus, if Lotus are buying into the team, he may know that many of his old friends there, or the people who have continued to hire him for three separate stints at Newman/Haas, might be on the out or downgraded in power.

But I definitely can see it happening considering that Carl Haas is getting older and the exit strategy to have Mike Lanigan as his successor isn't going to work since Lanigan left the team a while back.

A question: someone, somewhere had suggested the suppliers cannot actually sponsor cars anymore, yet Lotus do that at present and seem keen on doing that through ownership of a team. Plus, we hear that Simon Pagenaud and Dan Wheldon will be helped to rides by Honda, which sounds like sponsorship, too. So, is this sponsorship allowed, and was the rumor false, or did Randy Bernard just change his mind?

[ptclaus98]

Lotus has all my favorite drivers and are aligned with one of my favorite engine builders. Too bad they are, as mentioned elsewhere, vaporware. Hopefuly Ford is there to pick up the pieces when Lotus does fail.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Jacques Rabbit

If there is a Lotus.

It's also been suggested that Tony Kanaan and Oriol ServiÃ* would essentially swap seats, bringing their respective sponsors. Kanaan is currently a Lotus guy, so that makes sense, and ServiÃ* is a friend of Jimmy Vasser's, a former KV driver, and hopefully smart enough to realize that the Lotus package is the most doubtful of all of them. Being the "anchor team" for Lotus might not be the best place. Plus, if Lotus are buying into the team, he may know that many of his old friends there, or the people who have continued to hire him for three separate stints at Newman/Haas, might be on the out or downgraded in power.

But I definitely can see it happening considering that Carl Haas is getting older and the exit strategy to have Mike Lanigan as his successor isn't going to work since Lanigan left the team a while back.

A question: someone, somewhere had suggested the suppliers cannot actually sponsor cars anymore, yet Lotus do that at present and seem keen on doing that through ownership of a team. Plus, we hear that Simon Pagenaud and Dan Wheldon will be helped to rides by Honda, which sounds like sponsorship, too. So, is this sponsorship allowed, and was the rumor false, or did Randy Bernard just change his mind?

With Newman passed away and Carl Haas being ill and infirm and not involved in day to day matters, I do wonder the future of that team.

Lotus has a sponsorship contribution that is extremely small. Last year everyone thought it was some mega deal and then I merely asked and got the facts, which was 3 lotus engineers on race weekends and some technical support. It was a contra deal to try to get Lotus to subcontract work to Cosworth or Lotus to buy Cosworth pieces. This year Lotus did kick in some cash, but it is a tiny sum.

Honda has recently stated they are not sponsoring anyone or showing any favoritism or paying drivers or anything of the sort.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

Lotus has all my favorite drivers and are aligned with one of my favorite engine builders. Too bad they are, as mentioned elsewhere, vaporware. Hopefuly Ford is there to pick up the pieces when Lotus does fail.

Ford? Last I heard they had no interest in the irl at all.

[jondownunder]

Giorgio Pantano to fill in for Wilson at D&R (replacing Pagenaud) at Sonoma and Baltimore:

Link

I hope this leads to a full time ride, Pantano's too much of a talent to be sitting around doing nothing.

Tomas Scheckter's SH Racing effort will also be run by D&R at Baltimore.

[GTRMagic]

Were D&R disappointed in Pagenaud?

[jondownunder]

Ho-Pin Tung to race for Dragon Racing at Sonoma:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...t-with-dragon/

[cds_uk]

Just got back from holiday so have only just read about the news, can't tell you how happy i am about Giorgio getting the drive, i just hope luck goes his way and he puts on a decent show, would really love to see him get a full time drive for next year.

[Yannick]

These are some interesting news there. The "Great Pantano" will be interesting to watch. GP2 / F3000 talent has always done well in American Open Wheel.
Yet, with another rookie joining D&R, the team will have to face some kind of lack of experience. Is Bia in her 2nd year already?

Tomas Scheckter definitely deserves a full-time ride with a big team. His moves around the outside on the ovals are usually nothing short of stunning. Here's hoping he can get something going for next season.

It's good to see Dragon Racing back, too. Scott Speed's formerly planned appearance at Vegas will be taken up by Paul Tracy. He sure enough will not be eligible for Randy's Jackpot, will he?

By the way, what happened to the 2nd Panther Racing entry? Given the fact how competitive they used to be in Kentucky last year, they really should consider fielding 2 cars there again. It would be great to see Buddy Rice compete again in IndyCars, too.

Coyne deciding against the Lotus engine is interesting, too. I don't believe Newman/Haas would risk it, especially given the momentum they have got going now with Hinch and Oriol Servia, when the sponsor would want to pick the drivers. So if KV would not want Lotus again, how about Conquest Racing?

We'll see.

Has Sam Schmidt announced an engine deal yet?

[Tim Northcutt]

Don't quote me on this, but I think Sam announced a couple of weeks ago that he signed up with Honda...

At least that is what I remember

That info might be in the 2012 Car thread.

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Yannick

Tomas Scheckter definitely deserves a full-time ride with a big team. His moves around the outside on the ovals are usually nothing short of stunning. Here's hoping he can get something going for next season.

It's good to see Dragon Racing back, too. Scott Speed's formerly planned appearance at Vegas will be taken up by Paul Tracy. He sure enough will not be eligible for Randy's Jackpot, will he?

By the way, what happened to the 2nd Panther Racing entry? Given the fact how competitive they used to be in Kentucky last year, they really should consider fielding 2 cars there again. It would be great to see Buddy Rice compete again in IndyCars, too.

Coyne deciding against the Lotus engine is interesting, too. I don't believe Newman/Haas would risk it, especially given the momentum they have got going now with Hinch and Oriol Servia, when the sponsor would want to pick the drivers. So if KV would not want Lotus again, how about Conquest Racing?

We'll see.

Has Sam Schmidt announced an engine deal yet?

Scheckter and REDLINE will likely be around in some capacity next year. His passes may be stunning, but his wrecks are just as plentiful. It's hard to shake that reputation.

Speed was never a $5,000,000 challenge driver. He just said he wanted to be, and Dragon asked about his eligibility, but he was never actually invited.

Second Panther looks decent for Kentucky and Las Vegas according to rumors.

Newman/Haas will accept if Lotus are going to buy into the team. Their future has been cloudy for years. Plus, there are team limits...10 cars per supplier. Chevrolet and Honda can only take on so many, and will only take on teams that can present a legitimate 2012 budget. Newman/Haas can't until ServiÃ* figures out where he and Telemundo will be, and if Kanaan brings GEICO/Itaipava to them or SSM.

SSM is a Honda team. Kanaan and Pagenaud are rumored to be the two drivers. Tagliani could take his money to KV or Newman/Haas or who knows where else.

[cds_uk]

Anyone got the official times from the Infineon test? interested to see how Giorgio and Tung got on.

[Yannick]

Originally Posted by Jacques Rabbit

Scheckter and REDLINE will likely be around in some capacity next year.

Well, I can only hope it's for a full season.

Second Panther looks decent for Kentucky and Las Vegas according to rumors.

Good. I'd never thought I'd say that because this was never my favourite team, to say the least, but this year's Indy 500 turned their sympathy levels around completely for me. I wonder who the driver will be.

SSM is a Honda team.

Good choice.

[PabloTeK]

Originally Posted by Jacques Rabbit

Newman/Haas will accept if Lotus are going to buy into the team. Their future has been cloudy for years. Plus, there are team limits...10 cars per supplier.

I can see an issue for the 500, 10 * 3 is 30. There are 33 cars...

[Daisy]

Originally Posted by PabloTeK

I can see an issue for the 500, 10 * 3 is 30. There are 33 cars...

I guess that they'll make an exception for that race?

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

Anyone got the official times from the Infineon test? interested to see how Giorgio and Tung got on.

Pantano was fourth fastest. Didn't hear about Tung.

[cds_uk]

Nice one Jacques, cool about Giorgio, not exactly shocked by Tung, he is bloody hopeless.

[Andy Roberts]

1) Power 79.04
2) Dixon 79.49
3) Franchitti 79.60
4) Hunter reay 79.77
5) Pantano 79.79
6) Viso 79.79
7) Plowman 80.00
8) Servia 80.04
9) Saavedra. 80.04
10) Bourdais 80.06
11) Andretti 80.12
12) Sato 80.21
13) Jakes 80.24
14) Rahal 80.39
15) De silvestro 80.41
16) Conway 80.51
17) Beatriz 80.57
18) Hildebrand 80.58
19) Scheckter 80.77
20) Tung 81.04

[Carsandmotorracing]

Not suprised, Will will (lol) win the race as well.

[Jacques Rabbit]

Thanks for the full times. Surprised Plowman wasn't incompetent. Never thought much of him. Really nice guy and all, and would like him to do well, but just not sold on his ability. Not a terrible debut session.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by Jacques Rabbit

Thanks for the full times. Surprised Plowman wasn't incompetent. Never thought much of him. Really nice guy and all, and would like him to do well, but just not sold on his ability. Not a terrible debut session.

Pretty sure he raced at Mid-O.

[Jacques Rabbit]

You are correct, my bad. Didn't watch the Mid-Ohio race; sometimes I forget it was ever even run.

[marcostraz]

I think/hope Pantano can build a career in IndyCar...of course, he is 32, and honestly I'm not sure what kind of career can build... maye a road course specialist career, with an operation in Bourdais style this year...I think he still has the speed and "chutzpah" to do well, although the current IndyCar is certainly not that of 2005 and that the grid is much more competitive... so it will not be easy...

[Jacques Rabbit]

The only three possibilities for Vegas:

Kasey Kahne - but he wants to do it with Penske, and Penske will not have any cars in the Challenge

Travis Pastrana - but he's obviously injured

Alex Zanardi - Ganassi is unsure if he wants to

Randy Bernard says they'll keep trying, but may scrap the whole thing.

Bernard just gets worse and worse. He addresses nothing of importance, and then can't even make the silly things he focuses on work. And Chip Ganassi is the CEO anyway, not him, but it's always been like that...sack up, Cowboy, stand up and pull your pants back on...or just GTFO.