Except for the sounds of Squealing tyres and
wurring of Gearshifts…
Presumably very few racing fans Stateside were
aware that Portland International Raceway was the site of this year’s United
States round of the Formula E Championship held on June 24th, El Correctomundo?
Since I myself lost track of what date it was being held on…
For which two comments made during Friday’s
first IndyCar practice session at Mid-Ohio made me think about it.
The first being the universal modicum of “Out
of site, Out of Mind”. When discussing why conor Daly was busy making the rounds
in the IndyCar Paddock. For which Conor
handled Himself professionally when being interviewed, along with thanking Bitnile
and it’s CEO for having allowed Him to race in IndyCar. Not to mention spending
4-5 Hours Saturday preparing Himself to possibly drive as Simon Pagenaud’s
substitute…
Then IndyCar Radio’s Michael Young was
interviewing Andretti Autosport Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rob Edwards over
the switching of Colton Herta’s Race Strategist for the third time this season.
And I don’t remember what the question was?
But Edwards said He didn’t know since He’d been
at Portland the week prior “Overseeing” Andretti’s formula E concern. To which
Young asked if He’d learned anything at Portland that would apply for the
IndyCar race?
With Edwards cheekily replying I know they won’t
be six wide at Portland like Formula E was!
And since it’s been several years now since I
could easily tune into Formula E on Fox Sports with Bob Varsha, Dario Franchitti
and Steve Matchett. Like the saying about, Formula E’s been out of my mind for
awhile now…
As I’d love to know what the “Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge”
announced attendance was? Since I’m guessing it was even smaller than the
yearly IndyCar race’s numbers?
Thus having not paid any Attenzione to Formula
E for years, although I did know that they’re now racing with their latest GEN3
chassis. Interestingly, the series runs on Hankook tyres. With manufacturers apparently
being allowed to construct their own electric powertrains.
Since Spark racing Technology simply builds the
GEN3 chassis, with Williams Advance Engineering providing the Battery. While this
iteration of racecar is the first encorporating a “powered” front axle. And the
battery is designed for High Speed recharging during Pitstops, with an estimated
top speed of 322kph, or 200mph!
On a sidenote,
Spark Racing Technology was founded in 2012 by Frederic Vasseur, whose
currently la Scuderia’s (Ferrari) Formula 1 Team Principal…
There are eleven traditional two car teams competing,
representing eight nations. With Teams listed in alphabetical order, with
Nation in parenthesis below.
Abt Cupra Formula E Team, (Germany) Avalanche
Andretti Formula E, (United States) DS Penske, (France) Envision Racing,
(United Kingdom) Jaguar TCS Racing,
(United Kingdom) Mahindra Racing, (India) Maserati MSG Racing, (Monaco) Neom
McLaren Formula E Team, (United Kingdom) Nio 333 Racing, (China) Nissan Formula
E Team (Japan) and Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. (Germany)
IndyCar Fans should easily recognize three team
names, i.e.; Andretti, McLaren and Penske. Although that’s not El Senor Penske,
known here upon No fenders as El Capitano’. Whom others simply call Him The
Captain, Roger Penske or RP.
Instead DS Penske is run by Roger’s son Jay
Penske, who formerly ran Luczo Dragon Racing and Dragon Racing in IndyCar
between 2007-2013. And is also known here upon No Fenders as Pissenbootz’,
along with His very nasty firing of thy Leggy Juan’, aka Katherine Legge.
Also couldn’t figure out why DS Penske runs
under the French Tricolour? As the team runs it’s own DS D-Tense FE23 chassis
with defending Formula E Driver Champion Stoffel Vandoorne racing with the No.
1 plate. And Jean-Eric Vergne in the No. 25. With both being ex-formula 1
drivers, with Vergne fifth in points with the team’s lone victory with two
rounds remaining.
As I did chuckle to myself about how the Apple
doesn’t Fall far. Since Roger Penske is famously known for the Unfair
Advantage. With DS Penske being Fined by Formula E for utilizing RFID scanning
technology at Portland! Although the team claims they were just monitoring tyre
temperatures…
While the Neom McLaren formula E Team is part
of the McLaren umbrella that the Man with A 1000 Points of light named Zakery
Brown controls. Having acquired the assets of the outgoing series champions
Mercedes outfit. Wit drivers jake Hughes (#5) and Rene Rast (#58) piloting the
team’s Nissan E-4ORCE 04 chassis.
Avalanche Andretti is part of Mikey A’s racing
empire. Having been a longtime formula E
fixture, previously being BMW’s Werk’s team. With Jake Dennis (#27) whose
notched one win and eight podiums this season, and Andre Lottoer (#36) at the
controls of the team’s Porsche 99X Electric chassis.
Whilst the Drivers Championship has become a
three way title fight. With Tag Heuer Porsche’s No. 94 Pascal Wehrlein leading
much of the way due to His three wins. With the German ex-Formula 1 Pilote’
being third overall with 138-points. While current Points leader Jake Dennis
(Avalanche Andretti) Holding a micro-slim One point lead (154-153) after Nick “Not
David” Cassidy’s victory at Portland.
As Cassidy drives for Envision Racing aboard the
team’s No. 37 Jaguar I-Type 6 racecar. And claimed His third W’ at Portland! With
Dennis finishing runner-up, His sixth second place finish of the year. And Wehrlein’s
teammate Antonio Felix da Costa finishing third.
As I’ve read it was a thralling race in the Rose City, with drivers having to figure when to use their “Maximum Attack” battery power and when to conserve it in order to stand atop the podium. With Cassidy storming His way forward from tenth!
