As I Love the smell ‘O Methanol in the Morning!
Y’all may wish to check out this wonderful
video taken during Friday’s first practice session for the HMSA Vintage
IndyCars grid taken by Marshall Pruett! As Yes, those are real, honest to
goodness Bundle ‘O Snakes on the 1966 AAR Eagle!
https://racer.com/2024/04/19/vintage-indycars-roll-out-for-first-long-beach-session/
Especially since the entire race finished three
times Faster than IndyCar’s 42 days Hiatus…
Yes Ladies ‘n Germs’, it’s another way behind
the proverbial eight ball No Fenders story that I’ve been sitting on whilst
recuperating…
Yet it still seems worthy of noting that Sara
Price became the first U.S. Female to win a stage in the grueling Dakar! As the
31yr old Californian just went for broke this year after cobbling together
$500,000 in various fund raisers. Saying She didn’t care if it cost every penny
of Her savings, She was going!
Price is not only a Stunt Driver, but has also
won medals at X-Games and won 17 Motocross titles. Along with being an
accomplished racer. Having driven previously for Chip Ganassi Racing’s Extreme
E team during the 2021-22 season, becoming the very first Female driver hired
by Ganassi. Plus contesting Stadium Super Trucks during 2016-17.
Yet Price has focused primarily upon rallying
and in 2019, became the Baja 1000’s first Ironwoman, finishing runner-up in the
Trophy Truck spec class wile driving solo!
Sara arrived at this year’s Dakar with just Her
Mechanic, Navigator, Best Friends and Boyfriend Ricky Bravic. As perhaps Y’all
have heard of Him?
As Bravic was the first American to win the
Dakar, winning the 2020 Motorcycle class, which He repeated this year.
Sara and navigator Jeremy Gray warmed up for
this year’s Dakar in last October’s Rally du Morac. Where Price made more
history by winning stages and finishing second overall in the Rally of Moraco.
Price made Her Dakar history when winning the
third to final stage in the Can Am (Side-by-Side) class. With the Californian
becoming only Dakar’s third female to ever win a stage. Joining Jutta
Kleinschmidt and Christina Gutierrez.
As Spaniard Gutierrez won this year’s ATV
class, becoming only the second woman to ever win the Dakar. Joining Germany’s Kleinschmidt,
who previously won in 2001.
As Kleinschmidt was a true trailblazer.
Claiming a Hat trick of first in the Dakar. Winning the first Stage by a woman
at Dakar Wayback’ in 1997. Then becoming the first female pairing with
co-driver Tina thorner to stand atop the podium in 1999, when they finished
third overall.
And then for la piece di la resistance,
Kleinschmidt won the 2001 Paris Dakar with co-driver Andreas Schulz in a Factory
Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution With All of
Her “firsts” coming in the Cars category.
Meanwhile El Matador, aka Carlos Sainz won His
fourth Dakar at age 61, breaking His previous record for oldest winner. While
Sainz’s win aboard Audi’s technological marvel, the RS Q e-tron, becomes the
first ever electric vehicle to win the Dakar.
As reportedly, Mr. Dakar, the legednous’ Stephan Pederhansel claimed that the RS Q e-tron was a super physical car to drive. And that it’s brutality was akin to being in a Boxing match while driving it!
Mark Donahue’s winning 1972 Penske Sunoco #66
McLaren on display at IMS Hall of Fame museum. (The Tomaso Collection)
As I just wish I could Hear this amazing cacophony’s
soundtrack of vintage Indy Cars live!
Ran across Marshall Pruett’s Racer article
titled Great Cars from IndyCar’s past prepare to take to the Streets of Long
Beach recently, and wondered what’s that all about, Eh?
The article details the this weekend’s Historic
Motor Sports association (HMSA) running of 17 vintage Indy Cars from the past’s
Glory Years…
As Marshall notes that the oldest is a 1966 AAR
Eagle built by Dan Gurney’s All American Racers of nearby Santa Ana,
California.
The car is owned by Rob Dyson of Dyson racing
fame, and will be piloted by ‘lil Stevie Johnson’, aka Stefan Johansson.
Pruett also notes the variety of IndyCar
chassis taking part include one of ‘Ol superTex’s’, nee A.J. foyt’s 1977
Coyote’s, having just finished it’s restoration. An ex-Sebastien Bourdais ’05
Lola and Mario Andretti’s former March 85C to mention just a few.
With the “newest” vintage IndyCar being an
ex-Oriel “suitcase” Servia 2007 Panoz DP01 chassis.
But I have to say I’m most intrigued by the
mount former IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan’s piloting this weekend, being from the
McLaren Heritage Collection.
As TK’ will be behind the keyboard of Lone Star
JR’s 1974 Indianapolis 500 winner. An McLaren M16 powered by the ubiquitous
Offy’ lump’. With Pruett noting how these turbocharged inline four cylinder
engines were routinely producing 1,000 Horsepower “Back in-the-Day!”
Which it’s hard to
believe I scribbled the following two part No Fenders tome about McLaren at
Indy Wayback’ in Gory Ought Eight!
http://www.nofenders.net/2008/07/mclaren-at-indy.html
Whilst Y’all can
listen to another entertaining TK’ interview, with Kanaan discussing this
adventure with Pruett on the following Podcast…
https://marshallpruett.podbean.com/e/mp-1509-the-week-in-indycar-with-tony-kanaan/
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a current
HMSA entry list for the weekend’s event, with their website still having last
year’s Formula 1 cars listed instead…
As I’d hope that Bryan “High Speed Hurdles”
Herta would be running His 1998 Laguna Seca winning Reynard 98i Ford/Cosworth chassis,
that son Colton gave Him as a birthday present last year. Before the duo ran it
prior to Laguna Seca’s IndyCar season finale last September.
As the HMSA grid will run 20 minute race sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, which should be worth the price of admission alone!
Update
During Friday’s first IndyCar practice session.
IndyCar Radio Driver Analyst Davey Hamilton mentioned that the 1977 Coyote was
actually a backup chassis that was never built originally! Whilst cannot
remember if He said the restorer had the help of A.J. foyt enterprises or not?
And that the restoration took four years to completely build the car from
scratch.
Meanwhile, Y’all may enjoy Marshall Pruett’s
brief Paddock video showing off a few of the vintage racecars below.
https://racer.com/2024/04/19/vintage-indycar-long-beach-paddock-tour/
As I miss the days of talking about Suzuker’
Specials when Honda (and others) made special Qualifying lumps’ for the
Japanese Grand Prix…
Although I totally expected MaxiMillions’, nee
Max Verstappen to dominate the Suzuka weekend and win from Pole position again,
Yawn! Since I highly doubted His Brakes would catch on Fire this weekend…
As I really Don’t find myself to interested in
Formula 1 these days. Yet nonetheless, I decided to tune-in to Friday’s and Saturday’s
action from one of my favourite racetracks, ergo Suzuka. Especially since we’re
in the middle of a month’s Hibernation by Indy Cars! And the last time I tried
“watching” an F1 race was over a month ago at Jeddah.
As I’m mostly intrigued by two key issues in F1
right now. The plight of Williams having no spare chassis. And DannyRic’, aka
Daniel Ricciardo’s current performance “slump” in particular. Along with
wondering if any of the other top teams, i.e.;Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren can
ever truly mount a challenge to Red bull and Verstappen? With ‘Ol Frederico
Suave, nee Fernando Alonso making All the right noises about increased
Competizione…
As I’ve heard Williams team principal James
Vowles “TeamSpeak” over why Williams currently doesn’t have a spare chassis,
and has been without one since season’s start. For which I say Poppycocl! Or is
Williams really that far behind on modernizing it’s team’s approach to thee pinnacle
‘O motorsports?
This got me thinking about the days when Der
Terminator’, nee Michael Schumacher routinely, and always had la Scuderia’s
(Ferrari) third car and spare F1 chassis at His disposal for running on
Friday’s. Although my Foggy memory thinks He also would run it during the Sunday morning’s race warm-up?
This sent me down another Wabbit’ Hole, since I
loosely recalled the term T-Cars in my memory, but couldn’t rmember if that was
Formula 1 or IndyCar?
As I was able to discern that the running of
third cars on Friday’s in formula 1 was Banned in 2007, due to the FIA
implementing cost-cutting measure to save F1 Teams money.
Whilst thanks to Geo. Phillips of Oilpressure
Fame. George helped me upon my hazy memory of Indy Cars entering backup chassis
with the designation of X during the CART days, i.e.; #6X for Mario Andretti,
etc. With George explaining that at Mother Speedway’ which was then sanctioned
under USAC Rules. Backup chassis for the Indianapolis 500 were instead designated
as T-Cars, i.e.; #6T for Mario Andretti, etc.
Although today IndyCar T-Cars are basically
“Trailer Queens”. Being stored in team Haulers sans engine. And typically only
“wheeled” out to replace said primary IndyCar chassis due to significant crash
damage. Being a function of today’s IndyCar engine leases, and Arse-sumedly
also to reduce costs…
According to Vowles, Williams has totally
modernized and changed it’s chassis building process, which took longer than
expected to implement. Along with the now de riggour Supply chain excuse…
Since All F1 Teams including Williams, have
needed to build spare F1 racecars for each yearly season’s beginning. Which
implies to Mwah that Team Willy’ is building their carbon fibremonocoque
chassis entirely differently tooling-wise. Which Vowles may have already eluded
to?
But it just seemed really awkward that Williams
had to withdraw Logan Sargeant for the Australian Grand Prix weekend due to my
Numero Uno F1 Driver Alexander Albon destroying His sole chassis!
Which was the totally pragmatic decision due to
Albon having outscored Sargeant 27-1 points-wise during their tenure at
Williams, for which it sounds like Sargeant was a dutiful “team” Player.
While no need to pile on Sargeant for making an
unforced error during Friday’s “(Free Practice) FP1 session – where He crashed
Heavily into a tyre barrier. For which thankfully the chassis monocoque
survived, with Vowles saying the rest of the Bits were a write-off!
Since although Sargeant missed FP2 due to the
team rebuilding His lone racecar, the inclement weather meant that He and the
team really missed very little. While I’m happy to report that Sargeant
qualified 19th, ahead of Sauber’s Guanyu Zhou. Since the Switzerland based team
is enduring it’s own struggles currently.
As Jokes were made about how Sauber had completed a
Pitstop with zero issues during Saturday’s FP3 session. Since the team has been
suffering from slow, poor Pitstops during races…
I also find it fascinating how Williams has
divulged that Albon’s repaired chassis that Sargeant was using at Suzuka, and
presumably a Fortnight at Shanghai, was only 100 grams heavier than when
originally built. As leave it to Formula 1 for such detail!
Whilst I’ll also Arse-sume that this battered,
bruised, as what’s that ‘Ol Timex
saying? Takes a licking but Keeps on Ticking Me Thinks? Will become Williams
spare chassis at Miami, when the team finally has a third racecar’s monocoque built.
And I’d also guess that the newest chassis would go to Albon, with Sargeant
getting the second best chassis, Eh?
Yet to be fair to Williams and Vowles. It was
also divulged over the Japanese Grand Prix weekend that Alpine had no spare
chassis on-hand, but would have one ready for Shanghai…
Whilst Albon’s unfortunate accident on lap-1 at
Suzuka with the forlorned Ricciardo didn’t do the team any favours with it’s
hard impact, bringing out the race’s only Red flag! Before Sargeant added
company to the team’s misery when making another mistake during the race and
also crashing out, Urgh!
Although the week’s break between Suzuka and
Shanghai should allow the team to run both drivers, even if the team’s running
low on spares, i.e.; front and rear wings and other “Bits”…
Epilogue
In the April 10th Racer Mailbag, Chris Medland
covered the Williams dilemma brilliantly. Noting how the carbon fibre monocoque
and suspension mounting points need to be “released” by October of the previous
year. Since it takes up to three months to pass the mandatory FIA Crash
testing.
With Vowles noting it takes approx. eight-ten
weeks to build a full carbon fibre monocoque. With F1 Teams trying to focus
upon getting the first three chassis produced with a fourth in the pipeline,
without needing to divert resources to producing spare parts, i.e.; front and
rear wings, floors, etc.
Alpine has also been without a spare chassis the first three races after continuously failing to pass the crash test. But due to not having wrecked their cars during races, have been able to complete it’s third car, i.e.; spare chassis sooner than Williams has…
As does anybody still read what I scribble Here,
Eh?
Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari
FOM Rejects Andretti Cadillac F1 Bid
Guaranteed Indianapolis 500 Starting Spots
Horner Gate
Pre Season Testing
IndyCar Whose Your Daddy $1 Million Sweepstakes Challeng
Having completed lap-14 of my eight weeks Open
Heart surgery recovery when I first set
about scribblin’ this. Wayback’ on February 7th , I must confess I really
didn’t feel like scribbling anything for a future No Fenders post, and have
quite enjoyed my sabbatical from said Blogosphere.!
Arse-sumedly why
I’ve let another two weeks plus slip by without bothering to type any more of
my riveting No Fenders Yarn’ below…
And even though I’ve been paying loose
Attenzione to the motorsports world since returning home from Hospital on
January 29th. Like I said, I’ve just really not been to interested
in returning to Blogging Full-time…
Whilst naturally three of the then four largest
racing Headlines revolved around Formula 1, with IndyCar getting a sniff. Since
ther return of 100 Days to Indy’s second season. Which sums up the prevailing
attitude of IndyCar ever since I began following it – being nothing more than a Shill for the Indy 500,
even though Thars’ a whole season’s worth of other races o on the calendar!
Really is a non-starter news-wise to Mwah…
Especially since it’s Funny how one’s opinions
of what really matters in life changes dramatically after such a life altering
experience like Open Heart surgery!
Thus I totally missed IndyStar’s Nathan
Browne’s piece about IndyCar and it’s proposed Franchise, Err Charter system
guaranteeing starting spots in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing!” And yeah,
Bully-who, I’m totally aware that’s a registered trademark of IndyCar or
whomever, but I digress…
Being a Diehard IndyCar Fan now fast
approaching forty years, Youza! Like where did the time go? And why have I
stayed so devoted ever since attending my first IndyCar race at Portland
Wayback in 1987? Naturally you can All figure out which side of the debate I
land upon this bit of ridiculousness!
With others having already pointed out how ‘lil
“Ronnie” George’s infamous 25/8 rule sit in our Craws nearly some three decades
later!
Having grown-up as a CART loyalist, obviously
Tony George will forever be a thorn in my side! Although it took me many years
to accept the fact it takes “Two to Tango”. Yet I still hold TG’ largely
responsible for creating the debilitating Split that’s cost IndyCar generations
of new Fans…
Reading Racer’s February 21st Mailbag, the
comments overwhelmingly were Heartedly opposed to the notion of El Capitano’s
push for guaranteed starting spots in the Indianapolis 500. Which after all,
prides itself upon the ageless tradition of the Fastest 33 Qualifiers; end of
statement!
Yes, the Daytona 500, NAWSCAR’s “Super Bowl”
features 36 guaranteed starting spots with a palty four “Open” grid spots for
“Interlopers” to attempt making the field. For which I’d argue does Qualifying
for the Day-Toner’ 500 really matter?
And how much manufactured “Drama” is really
created over two cars apiece advancing to the race during the Twin Gatorade 150
Duel’s or whatever they’re called these days?
Now I categorially know that El Capitano’, nee
RP’, ergo Roger Penske doesn’t give a Tinkers Dam over what I say or scribble
on this No Fenders Blog. Especially if it Ain’t 109% All Sunshine, Bunnies ‘n
Rainbows!
Yet does Roger really wish to tarnish His
legacy as Custodian of Mother Speedway, aka Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS)
forever by ruining one of the Indy 500’s most cherished traditions?
Or as Marshall Pruett wrote. Be remembered as
Tony George 2.0 forever?
As I get the business aspects of Penske’s
insistence over making sponsors Happy, especially since He’s a Businessman
first. But for 113 years now, IndyCar Teams and Drivers have truly had to earn
their way into the Indianapolis 500! And there should be No Guarantees to race
upon Indy Cars Biggest Stage! And if you cannot Qualify as one of the 33
Fastest entries, then you Don’t deserve to make the Show – End of Rant!
Yet I’ll confess that I’ve actually parachuted
a few current No Fenders stories in-between my 27 “Canned” posts I uploaded
before my surgery. And have been paying closer Attenzione to Der Wurld de
Motersporten since the end of February. As Y’all can probably figure out which
arecurrent No Fenders yarns…
As I won’t bore Yuhs with recapping my major
story Headlines above, since everybody already knows about them. Instead I’ll
leave Y’all with the following dribble, Pun intended! Over how much of the loop
I’m out of racing right now. Especially since I still haven’t found a decent
MotoGP website to keep abreast of what’s happening.
Thus I was totally unaware that Turner Sports
had swooped in? And bought the TV Broadcast rights to MotoGP this season, Huh?
After searching in vain on CNBC for a MotoGP
race. Only to finally discover after a half hour’s searching or more? That my
ridiculously Overproced Spectrum Cable TV provider did carry Turner Sports on
the totally unknown TRUTV channel, who? Which I did two nights before
“watching”, Err listening to Grand Canyon University beat Saint Mary’s in the
NCAA’s March Madness.
Being even funnier since I never watch any Stick ‘n Ball Sports!
But will we really learn Anything from testing?
Yeah, Y’all are probably way ahead of me.
Knowing that yesterday marked the beginning of Indy Cars two day “Open” test at
Mother Speedway, in preparation for this year’s 108th Indianapolis 500 running.
As the test runs from April 10-11, weather
permitting…
And Wayback’ in Mid-February, with the
announcement of Takuma Sato running Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s (RLLR)
fourth Indy 500 entry. The unofficial entry list had swelled to a robust 35 entries.
Since we know Thars’ 27 Full-season entries.
Along with “One OFF” entries for Marco Andretti at Andretti Global. Some Roundy
Round Star named Kyle Larson at Arrow McLaren. Christian Rasmussen at Ed
Carpenter Racing, Helio Castroneves at Meyer Shank Racing, and the
aforementioned Sato.
Not to mention the two car Dreyer &
Reinbold/Cusick Motorsports entry of Ryan Hunter-Reay and Conor Daly. Which my
rudimentary math gets us up to 34 entries.
And that’s before adding Abel Motorsports entry
for R.C. Enersen to the mix. Although the Enersen’s, ergo Pops’ and R.C. were
scrambling to find a primary sponsor prior to the Open test. With Bill Abel,
the proprietor of Abel Motorsports having bought a brand new Dallara DW12
chassis to potentially run a different “funded” driver aboard, if the Enersen’s
effort falls short.
Although I don’t expect Abel Motorsports to
participate in the Open test, unless they’re running somebody besides R.C.
Enersen…
While A.J. Foyt Enterprises has elected to not
field a third entry, leaving us with a maximum of 35 cars vying for those
Hallowed 33 starting Grid slots. Y’all know those still being the Fastest 33
Qualifiers overall!
Chevrolet (17)
Abel Motorsports, (1) Arrow McLaren, (4) Ed
Carpenter Racing, (3) Team Penske, (3) A.J. Foyt, (2) Dreyer & Reinbold (2)
and Juncos Hollinger Racing. (2)
Honda (18)
Chip Ganassi Racing, (5) Andretti Global, (4)
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, (4) Meyer Shank Racing, (3) and Dale Coyne
Racing. (2)
We also know that everyone will be racing their
2024 Spec Dallara “lightweight” chassis, minus the “Hybrid” Energy Recovery
System. (ERS) Which will be the first Full field running upon an Oval.
Not sure what to expect? Since the April
running typically doesn’t correlate to May’s race conditions. Making me feel
like the IMS test is slightly akin to Formula One’s vaunted three days Winter
Olympics Pre-season test…
Although Dale Coyne and Company will be running
a brace ‘O new drivers for Indianapolis.
As we know that rookie Nolan siegel will be attempting to make His Indianapolis
500 debut. Whilst we’ve just been waiting for official confirmation that Thy
Leggy Juan’, aka Katherine Legge will be piloting the No. 51 on Ovals this
season at the team with a rotisserie of IndyCar drivers…
Thus by my unofficial thumbs ‘n fingers count
Pre-Open test, Thars’ a total of seven rookies this year vying for the 108th
Indianapolis 500. Where still only the Fastest 33 Cars make the Show. Can You
Hear Me Roger!
As McLaren has Kyle Larson, whilst Ganassi has
three rookies, i.e.; Marcus Armstrong, Linus Lundqvist and Kyffin Simpson. Dale
Coyne and His Band ‘O Merrymen have the aforementioned Nolan siegel. As No Stu
Seagull Jokes here as my Awntie’ Harriet called Steven Seagal, Hya!
ECR has Christian Rasmussen, and MSR has tom “the bomb” Blomqvist filling out the rookies roster. As I don’t think I missed anyone?
Update
Mother Natured decided that She should be on
Pole position or the top of the scoring pylon after All 34 entries, minus Abel
Motorsports ran during Wednesday morning. With Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden
being quickest before rain brought the afternoon session to a premature close.
Thursday’s second day of practice was cancelled
outright due to inclement weather, with the next IndyCar action to be at Long
Beach on April 21st.
As the weekend wasn’t an entire Dud…
Yeah, I know we’ve All since long moved on from
that Whose Your Daddy $1 Million Challenge Sweepstakes race at the Thermal club,
along with what could be done to make it better. Especially since we’ll be
salivating over the IndyCar Open Test at Mother speedway this week…
Yet lost in All of the Thermal club Drama, was
the debut of Nolan “flock ‘O Seagulls” Siegel’s debut in what my Awntie’
Harriet called the Big boyz’, nee IndyCar debut. Although now I’m cornfuzed
over how the IndyCar revisionist record books will record said debut? Since
after all, it was a (NC) Non Championship Points race, so does that constitute
being a Full fledged IndyCar race, Oh Never Mind!
Whilst I’ll also try refraining from any more
Stu Seagull Jokes about Nolan, whom Harriet called Steven Seagal, but I
digress…
The 19yr old Palo Alto, California native will
run a total of four races this season for Dale Coyne Racing (DCR) including the
Thermal Club event. Along with the upcoming Long Beach, Indianapolis 500 and
Toronto races. Running just a maximum of four IndyCar races in order to
preserve His rookie IndyCar status for next year.
As Siegel will share the No. 18 entry with Jack
Harvey, who’ll run the remainder of the 14 points paying IndyCar events.
Arse-sumedly Nolan began His racing career like
most contemporary drivers by competing in Karting, before making His single
seater debut in the 2019 U.S. f2000 National Championship driving for Newman
Wachs Racing, finishing 15th overall.
The following year, Siegel switched to Jay
Howard Driver Development for His sophomore U.S. F2000 campaign, finishing P13
overall.
Then for His third and final U.S. F2000 season,
Nolan switched to DEForce Racing, finishing eighth overall while claiming His
maiden victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Having made His Indy Pro 2000 series debut in
2021 at Gateway, Siegel graduated to the Indy Pro 2000 championship for a full
season drive with DEForce Racing. Nolan won first time out at St Pete, before
dominating the next round at Barber Motorsports Park. Yet that would be the
last of Siegel’s victories, ultimately finishing fourth overall in the title
fight.
Siegel also contested the final Indy Lights
race at Laguna Seca driving for HMD Motorsports before joining Indy NXT
fulltime in 2023, remaining with HMD Motorsports.
Siegel impressed as a rookie by winning two
races and finishing third overall, also claiming Indy NXT’s rookie Of the Year
(ROY) Honours. And is currently leading the 2024 Indy NXT Championship after
leading wire-to-wire from Pole at St Pete’s season opener.
Siegel will contest the entire Indy NXT
championship once again for HMD Motorsports, which presumably due to it’s
affiliation with DCR, made Nolan an easy choice to run at Sebring in one of
Dale Coyne’s Indy Cars during Pre-season testing. And being suitably impressed
with the youngster, Nolan’s now in the midst of His four race IndyCar campaign…
As Siegel started P12 in the 14-car Group-1
Heat Qualifier and finished an impressive seventh. One place behind Colton
Herta in sixth, the final transfer slot for Sunday’s main event.
As Nolan claims He learned a ton by following Herta and observing where Colton kept Him from passing to transfer to the main event. And it’ll be interesting to see how Nolan fairs in the upcoming Long Beach Full tilt boogie IndyCar weekend, when racing against 26 other cars at once over a longer race distance…