So much for “Christmas in July!” As I think the
month is actually May for Indy Cars…
Yeah, I know, we’re All supposed to still be Ah-Flutter’
over last Sunday’s St Pete IndyCar Season Opener, which I’ll tackle shortly. Since
after all, it’ll feel like another month until Round 2.! Yeah, I know, it’s only
three weeks, but still.
And then another three weeks Off ‘til Long
Beach, and another three weeks Off until a uncharacteristically late trip to Ye
Barbers’, before Jamming six straight weeks of IndyCar racing Down our Gullets…
Instead, just a few languishing thoughts that
struck me a Fortnight before the big Dust-up in Saint Petersburgh, since surely
there was gona be the usual Opening season Brain-fade’s! Y’all know when those
drivers are itching to stomp on the loud pedal and say Playing Thru after five
months of Not racing!
Firstly, is it just Mwah? But I find it Funny
when Racer’s Marshall Pruett is already telling us about the upcoming 106th
running of the Indianapolis 500’s grid being almost Full some three and A-Half plus
months before the race! Or is that just one more example of how the IndyCar
season is just Filler for the Month of May?
Since according to Marshall, there were 5 entries
apiece from Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing. With A.J. foyt, Arrow
McLaren Sp, Ed Carpenter Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Team Penske
fielding 3 cars each. Dale Coyne and Company, Dreyer & Reinbold and Meyer
Shank Racing are 2 Car entities, and Juncos Hollinger Racing and Top gun Racing/TBD
are the two lone One Car entries.
giving us a total of 33 Known entries as of
February 14th. With 16 bowties’ and 17 Hondre’ engines claimed, with
both manufacturers saying 18 engines is their Maximum for Indy.
Although the interesting scuttlebutt suggests
that Top gun Racing is currently without a Chassis, since driver R.C. Enerson
has split from the team, and apparently RC’s father Neal Enerson owns the Chassis
and spare tub the team raced last year…
Kerbing’ Enthusiasm
Speaking of Dallara DW12 Chassis and the
upcoming switch to the new, larger 2.4-liter V-6 twin turbo lumps’ mated with
IndyCar’s first ever Hybrid system next year.
It seems some noise was made over Scott Dixon’s
comments during the recent Media Days, when Dixon’s answer to a question was turned
into a Soundbite. Claiming the current IndyCar is akin to a “Junior” Car vs.
CART’s “Golden Era” of 900+ Horsepower Reynard/Lola’s…
Reportedly teams will need to spend between
$250-500,000 per chassis upgrade next year, to implement All of the necessary
modifications to the Ageless DW12 chassis to accommodate it’s ever increasing
weight!
As Marshall Pruett notes that the new Spec Mahle
Super capacitor Energy Recovery system (ERS) is initially expected to Add
120lbs to the Dallara’s rear. Although switching to a brand new Magnesium Bellhousing
is hoped to cut some 35lbs off the ERS unit.
And while the Dallara DW12 keeps getting Heavier
and Heavier, it’s worth remembering that it’s been around since 2012 and has
done what Team Owners mandated most, i.e.; keeping costs down by not having to
buy new chassis each season.
Although I’m slightly Cornfuzed over how the
upwards number of a Half Million per chassis can appease Owners since I’m
pretty sure it’s at least 100-grand more than a brand new Dallara goes for?
Since the last number I recall for a brand new DW-12 was roughly $390k…
Making me wonder how or why Owners would want
to have to buy brand new cars two years in-a-row? Since we’ve been led to
believe that Dallara’s DW12 replacement is supposed to be slated for 2024? But it’s
an interesting “tease” by Marshall over next year’s Indy Cars mechanical challenges
and potential solutions.
Although now Marshall says Not So Fast! As it’s
those dreaded few words we’re All becoming so accustomed to; Can Y’all Say Supply
Chain Issues? Since IndyCar has just Scrapped the first intended test session
of the new 2023 2.4-litre V-6 twin turbo ERS set-up.
As Mahle and Xtrac have both run into delays,
not to mention another issue with the new Magneti Marelli electrical Fuel Pumps.
As could we see a further Delay until 2024 for the roll out of the new Hybrid
motors?
Come On down…
Naturally All Team Owners are Always having to
look to the future regarding drivers, hoping to be able to Hire the next Hot,
Upcoming talent, since Winning is the Name of the Game!
So I’m not sure why I’m so fascinated over Cheeps’
recent Evaluation Day outing at Sebring with Kevin Bacon’ Magnussen. Where the
Dane’ ran a Mega’ 136-laps running thru a list of engineering evaluations for
the team, instead of simply going for outright lap-times.
But may be it’s because of Kevin’s unbridled
enthusiasm over the DW12 being an Absolute Beast of A Car to Drive! Making it
sound like Kevin thoroughly enjoyed his day’s outing and would like to continue…
Presumably Chip Ganassi Racing will have one
vacancy of it’s current four cars when Jimmie Johnson decides to Hang up his
Helmet? Since I have Zero clue if JJ’s just on a two year contract that ends
this year?
As it seems that Marshall’s also previously speculated
that the upcoming Hottest property for 2022’s IndyCar Silly Season is none other
than Alexander rossi, and that Rossi could end up at CGR since He’s been a
Honda driver his entire IndyCar career.
Whilst I also know a fellow IndyCar blogger has
speculated that Rossi could be bound for Team Penske’s #12 seat with Will Power
moving onto Penske’s Porsche Sports Car project?
And how many more years will Scott Dixon, who
turns 42 this July 2nd race in Indy Cars? Although He’s currently a “Spring
Chicken” compared to Hulio,’(Castroneves) Johnson and Takuma Sato, although I’m not sure
if that’s a compliment? Meaning Cheep’ could potentially need two new drivers?
Naturally when El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske
Calls, you Answer the phone! But I’m not sure how deep Rossi’s ties to Honda
are? Since reportedly He skipped going to Penske previously since He felt obliged
to Mikey A’ and Honda.
But I would enjoy seeing Magnussen race
Fulltime in IndyCar, along with the Young Turks Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas
All in Top flight rides!
And I just had a really Bizarre thought! What if Rossi went to RLLR as Graham Rahal’s replacement? Yeah, Crazy Shit Maynard’, but that’s what happens when you’re waiting for the St Pete season opener and have been reduced to just being able to watch a single day’s coverage! By the way, Ain’t if Fantastic Paying extra for All of those commercials on Peacock?