It’s Almost showtime Ladies ‘n Germs, Ready or Not,
we’re live in 24Hrs!
Well, and No Tomas Sr. It’s A Deep subject Joke
Here Folks, Hya! But It’s time again to throw the Green flag and Go Racing! As
the IndyCar’s and their former Road to Indy supporting cast, including Indy NXT
take over the Saint Petersburg’s Airfield
temporary Street Circuit beginning this Friday, March 8th.
As Y’all Don’t
know how mucho I’ve been looking forward to this! Counting down the weeks
during my Open Heart surgery recovery, Hopefully now on week six-of-eight! And finally
get to listen to something I’ve been anxiously Ah-waitin’ since January 23rd,
Hurrah! Since I Ain’t getting up at OH-Dark 30 to watch MaxiMillions win
another Gory Grand Prix!
let’s go Racing!
NOTE
Full disclosure
Folks. This story was written in early January. And therefore, as of the morning
of January 20th, when I uploaded this No Fenders post. Dale Coyne still hadn’t
divulged who it’s two IndyCar drivers would be this season.
2024 Honda Team line-ups
Attempting another hypothetically short synopsis
of the 15 Honda powered Drivers on this year’s IndyCar Grid.
Andretti
Global (3)
(Team/Car
No/Drivers)
#26 Colton
Herta, USA
#27 Kyle
Kirkwood, USA
#28 Marcus
Ericsson, Sweden
2023
Wins: 2
Kyle Kirkwond (2)
More changes abound at Mikey A’s team this year.
The biggest being the downsizing to only three cars for the first time since
2004 Me Thinks. Along with the departure of Romain Grosjean in favour of Marcus
Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner.
Ericsson got His wish upon leaving Ganassi to
become one of the small cadre of paid IndyCar drivers this year, and will team
with Grosjean’s former engineer Olivier Boisson.
As the Swede’ won once last year at St Pete,
following Pato O’Ward’s momentary plenum fire! Along with a dejected runner-up
finish at the most controversial Indy 500 last year! Finishing sixth overall in
the series Championship, ahead of His two new teammates.
Colton Herta had a season of what could have
been? Including multiple Race Strategists whilst seeing two W’s slip away! As
Herta will be eager to reinsert Himself into the title fight and rebound from a
disappointing 10th place overall finish.
Kyle Kirkwood was Andretti Autosport’s shining
light last year, notching His first two IndyCar wins, with a dominating weekend
at Long Beach. Along with a late race pass to win at Nashville. And having
vaulted 13 spots in last year’s standings to P11, “Kirk” Kirkwood will be
aiming to crack the Top 10 this year.
Chip
Ganassi Racing (5)
#4 (R)
Kyffin Simpson, Cayman Islands
#8 (R)
Linus Lundqvist, Sweden
#9 Scott
Dixon, New Zealand
#10
Alex Palou, Spain
#11
Marcus Armstrong, New Zealand
2023
Wins: 9
Alex Palou, (5) Scott Dixon (3) and Marcus
Ericsson (1)
Obviously the Biggest change at Ganassi is the
expansion to five Full season entries, a first for CGR. Along with reigning
IndyCar Champion Alex Palou having decided to stay with Cheep’ in 2024 vs.
moving on to McLaren. Take that Zakery!
As Palou had a magical season enroute to His
second title in three years with five wins, and will be hard pressed to repeat
that.
While what can I say about the timeless Scott
Dixon? Other than Dixon won’t be content with finishing runner-up to Palou last
year!
Although have to say I’m more interested in the
progress of two of it’s newest members. Last year’s Rookie Of the Year (ROY) winner
Marcus Armstrong, who’ll be contesting His first full season, plus His
debutante Indy 500. Along with 2022 Indy Lights Champion Linus Lundqvist.
As I’m totally “Stoked” upon both of these
drivers, and totally hard pressed to pick whom I like better? As I look for
good things from both Kiwi’ Armstrong and Swede’ Lundqvist, whose making His
Full season rookie campaign this year.
The fifth Ganassi runner is still a Head
Scratcher for Mwah. As 18yr old rookie Kyffin Simpson seems totally unready to
graduate to IndyCar. But with His father’s Ridgeline sponsorship backing,
Kyffin makes the leap ahead of schedule, and most likely will be a non factor…
Dale
Coyne Racing with HDM Motorsports (1)
#18
TBA
The wily Dale Coyne reverted back to His time
honoured tradition of being the last to announce His latest driver choices in
the new year. As we All Ah-waited with Baited Breath over who’d Dale would choose?
As Enzo Fittipaldi, younger brother of Pietro
tested late last year. With FIA formula 2 Champion theo Pourchaire mentioning
His interest in giving Indy Cars a crack. Whilst I’ve got zero clue over who
the other interested prospects are?
Other than I know that DCR Development driver
Danial Frost is a possibility, along with Sparky’, aka Devlin De Francesco.
And Marshall Pruett sounded fairly certain that
Sparky’ would indeed be one of the two DCR drivers during His January 10th The
Week in IndyCar’s podcast. Making me think DeFrancesco will be piloting the No.
18 this season…
Dale
Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing (1)
#51
TBA
Text
Meyer
Shank Racing (2)
#60 Felix
Rosenqvist, Sweden
#66 (R)
Tom Blomqvist, UK
(Technical
Partnership with Andretti Global?)
Meyer Shank starts the season with a clean
sheet on the drivers front with the departures of Helio Castroneves and Simon
Pagenaud. Although Hulio’ will run a third MSR entry at Mother Speedway this
May.
Hopefully I’m not putting too much pressure
upon whom I enjoy calling tom “The Bomb” Blomqvist! As the former MSR Sports Car
champion was blindingly quick in the Acura IMSA GTP Prototype. Being intent upon
improving in Indy Cars this year after His few tune-up starts last season as one
of Pagenaud’s substitutes.
No Fenders Offical’ Photographer CARPETS’ has anointed
Felix Rosenqvist with the nickname of Felix-the-Cat. Possibly due to His nine
lifes for remaining an IndyCar driver?
As I’m a Fan of the Swede’s and would like to
see Him win His second IndyCar race for MSR.
Rahal
Letterman Lanigan Racing (3)
#15 Graham
Rahal, USA
#30
Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil
#45 Christian
Lundgaard, Denmark
2023
Wins: 1
Christian Lundgaard (1)
Graham Rahal, entering his 18th IndyCar season
Me Thinks? Is the De Facto Team leader. And obviously “Hungry” to continue upon
His marked upswing towards season’s end, and finally return to the top step of
the podium! Now entering His seventh season without a win, Yikes!
22yr old Dane’ Christian Lundgaard, former FIA
Formula 2 championship and Alpine Academy driver, gave RLLR it’s first victory
in three years last July Up North Eh! At Toronto and finished eighth overall in
the driver standings. As Lundgaard seems poised to continue His upwards trajectory.
Whilst I’m still totally baffled over Pietro Fittipaldi’s
selection to replace Jack Harvey! Other than having already noted that
Fittipaldi’’s got a better sound vs. vips, and His Oval prowess should be a
benefit for the team…
(R = Rookie)