Tuesday, March 6, 2018

INDYCAR: 2018 Rookie Class - Partial Season Drives, The Brits' are Coming...



As Thars' three times as many Stateside vs. Formula 1!

Never fear, for those of Yuhs who get caught up in Patriotic Fever, or more likely nationalistic Jingoism... Don't Sweat, as the number of Californians outweighs the total number of Brits' itself; but is Charlie Kimball really a Californian?

Ed Carpenter Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
#20) R-Jordan King; UK
Age: 24

Career Highlights
Rightly or wrongly, for Mwah, Jordan's remembered mostly for being the son of Justin King, former CEO of Britain's Mega' Sainsbury grocery chain. Along with being Alexander Rossi's GP2 team-mate in 2015.

Although Jordan's apparently No slouch behind the wheel, having won the 2011 MRF Formula 1600 Single Seater championship. Then following that up by winning the 2013 British F3 title.

In 2015 Jordan joined the Racing Engineering GP2 squad alongside that Yank Rossi, who we all know, afterwards won the 2016 Indy 500!

As Jordan's father's name should strike a chord, since he was involved with the Manor F1 team project, for which his son was named a Development Driver for. Making his Formula 1 debut in Austin, Texas during Friday's Free Practice session for the 2016 USGP.

Jordan remained with Racing Engineering for a second season in GP2, ultimately his best season, since he won two races that year and finished seventh overall. Next he switched teams to MP Motorsports for the rebranded FIA Formula 2 series last year, but failed to score anymore victories.

As Jordan has the dubious distinction of racing in two FIA Formula 2 series, with the first being under Dr. Jonathan Palmer's reign, circa 2009-12, before the FIA took over the name for 2017...

thus Jordan, like Rossi and fellow Brit Max Chilton, has sought refuge in the Indy Cars series, and will drive the "Twisties" portion of the calendar, aka Street Circuits & Road Course races for ECR.

As not sure, but think I read somewheres' that Jordan's doing an Oval test, so what's that all about, Eh? Since we know that Queen Dan-Dan-Danica's running FAST EDDIE's third entry at Indianapolis this year...

Michael Shank Racing with SPM
Engine: Honda
#60) R-Jack Harvey, UK
Age: 24

Career Highlights
The short Skinny upon the amiable Brit is that he was Bridesmaid twice in Indy Lights, finishing runner-up in 2014-15, and actually tied for the title in his first go-around with Gabby Chaves, but lost out on the second tie-breaker, since both drivers finished tied in points and wins apiece. With Chaves having more second place finishes.

As whenever I listen to this Brit, another voice enters my Head, his fellow countryman of multiple aliases like "bloody Nige" or "red 5," ergo Nigel Mansell.

As Harvey's a multiple Go Karting champion, along with claiming the 2012 British Formula 3 title with Carlin. And although he finished runner-up to Spencer Pigot, he won the 2015 Freedom 100 for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. (SPM)

Jack was the "Other Rookie" during last year's Indy 500 with Mikey A's six car Armada, while the entire world focused upon some Spaniard named Fernando, Ci!


Afterwards, Harvey ran the final two races for his 'Ol lights team, filling the SPM seat vacated by Mikhail Aleshin at Watkins Glen and Sonoma. As Harvey will once again strap on an IndyCar this year, beginning at St Pete. As he'll run a six race programme for Mike Shank in conjunction with SPM in a cooperative technical alliance as the team's pseudo third entry, as shank & Harvey both seek to become Fulltime IndyCar competitors in the future.