Friday, September 16, 2022

Welcome to Zak Brown’s “Wheel of Fortune”

Are there any A’s Vanna? Yes, there’s two. and a O and U, but No I’s. yes, I’d like to solve the Question…

 

Normally I would have Heard the News via my ESPN Online Motorsports Headlines News Feed first thingy’ Wednesday morning via NFB’s Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service.

But unfortunately they’ve been “trying” to restore it for an agonizing two months now…

 

Thus it was pretty Funny listening to the Indianapolis Star’s Sports section’s article instead about How things might be changing between Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren Racing’s ensuing lawsuit over the services of Alex Palou next year…

 

With the Dateline being Salinas, CA and giving somewhat of a timeline regarding the Palou Saga. Pointing out How now McLaren Racing’s Pied Piper Zakery Brown Had simply issued that June 23rd Press Release confirming Felix rosenqvist to a long term McLaren Future in either Indy Cars or Formula E simply to put Felix’s mind at ease. And then some long willowy Platitudes about How He’d Never keep a Driver from Driving where He wanted too. Which made me immediately Bellow Out You Lying Sack of Shit! Even though I know I’ve gotta take Zak’s words at Face value…

 

Naturally Brown wouldn’t be drawn on McLaren issuing a “Paper tiger” Press Release when Rosenqvist wasn’t signed to anyting long term. And as revealed over the Laguna Seca weekend. The Clock was Ticking on Mclaren’s option for Rosenqvist, expiring at Midnight, October 1st.

 

As I believe it was Racer’s Marshall Pruett who noted awhile ago that All of the Palou Gate Saga simply felt like a really Bad version of Speed Dating gone Wrong!

 

We’ve also learned via McLaren Racing’s other Court Case, that McLaren Had signed a contract with Oscar Piastri to drive for McLaren F1 on July 4th of this year, over one week before the Chip Ganassi Alex Palou McLaren Racing Twitter Spat erupted publicly on July 12th. For which I also recall it being Marshall noting how one IndyCar Team Owner Had told Him that Palou must have been Crapping His Pants when the Piastri story Broke!

 

Nathan Browne’s IndyStar’ article notes what Pruett reported previously. That Brown and CGR Managing Director Mike Hull were seen meeting Sunday morning at Laguna Seca. Along with that Palou and His Boss and good Buddy Cheep’ spoke at Portland. And that Ganassi was asking for $10 million to release Palou to McLaren Racing next year.

 

But Wednesday morning, it was All Sunshine, Rainbows ‘N Bunnies! With multiple reports noting How this time there were No Dueling Twitter statements. And that Alex Palou Had tweeted He’s very Happy to Have a Job Next year. Uhm, That He’s staying with Chip as the Driver of the #10 Next year.

 

While Arrow McLaren SP (AMSP) subsequently announced that Rosenqvist would be retained aboard the No. 7 for 2023.

 

While Ganassi also announced that Palou would be Free to Test other forms of racing as long as it Didn’t interfere with His IndyCar commitments for 2023. As Palou and AMSP Driver Pato O’Ward were both in Barcelona busy Poundin’ round in a year old McLaren MCL-35M Formula 1 chassis  during a McLaren F1 Private Test when the News was announced.

 

As I Don’t know ‘bout Y’all, but it sounds like Zak’s busy trying to mend Fences, Uhm a lot of Broken promises, err Bruised Ego’s from All of His Hocus Pocus Magic tricks! And I have to wonder if Palou was “Used” to Divert Attenzione away from Mclaren’s Piastri signing? Or Did Brown simply think that Palou was a Better solution than Rosenqvist?

 

Whilst most interestingly for Mwah, is that both Palou and Rosenqvist’s amended “Deals” only state 2023, with No word about either being the now de riggour “Multi-year” statement, i.e.; two year contracts. With Marshall and others also having noted there’s multiple Driver “Opening” for 2024…

 

But I’d say this is Good News for IndyCar, as now we just await the Drama of Colton Herta being courted by Scuderia AlphaTauri and a seat in F1 next year. Even though Colton Doesn’t Have the necessary points to Qualify for an F1 Super License, and I Don’t see How that will Happen. Especially since Formula 1 Has shown itself to be a European Boyz’ club Only! Even if Colton’s testing for Alpine F1 next week in Hungary, taking the seat that was initially reserved for Piastri. Yet somehow I just don’t see Herta being in F1 next year…