Monday, September 16, 2024

No Fenders Summer Olympics Break rewind

Wasn’t Thar’ some season finale IndyCar Oval race recently, Say What?

 

Not to mention way too Mucho  Pigskin’s being thrown right now!

 

Yeah Kiddoes’, Y’all know the drill here upon thoust Isle ‘O Nofendersville. As lookie Thar’, its another message in a bottle…

 

As here’s just some of what I haven’t been able to adequately Back-time onto Ye Blog whilst having previously scribbled 22 Blog posts before going on Holiday the weekend of the Portland IndyCar race. Ironically passing the racetrack via Amtrak during Qualifying on my way north to Warshington’…

 

Hmm, where have I heard that number 22 before?

 

This year, I didn’t start “watching”, Err listening to Formula 1 via Thy Telie’ which serves as an oversized speaker for Mwah until the Miami Grand Prix. Although I do tend to recall that I watched the Saudia Arabia Grand Prix, and after MaxiMillions’ won again. I figured this season would be business as usual, Sigh!

 

Thus, I found the Miami Gardens race to be very enjoyable due to Lando Norris winning His debutante Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen, even if He’s part of my current F1 Brat Pack!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2022/10/formula-ones-brat-pack-young-turks.html

 

This, along with Verstappen only able to muster forth in Qualie’ inspired me to get up at six Freakin’ AM to watch the British Grand Prix live. Where strangely I was rootin’ for Lando instead of the old Goat Sir Lewis.

 

Next I took to watching the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix via le Douche’s evening’s “Encore” presentations. Which both were certainly dramatic!

 

And as much as I’m not a fan of George Russell’s either, who’s another card carrying member of my F1 Brat Pack! Nevertheless, you have to feel for the lanky Englishman who pulled off a brilliant Master Class strategy at Spa! Only for His car to be 1.5kg (3.3lbs) under the minimum weight! Which wasn’t announced until 2.5hrs after the podium celebrations…

 

As I’ve read the headlines saying that part of His being underweight was due to the loss of rubber from extending His strategy to a single stop, and running His Hard Pirelli tyres for 34-laps. For which Pirelli didn’t even think was possible at the Mighty Spa-Francorchamps!

 

Along with due to the circuit’s length, drivers aren’t allowed the traditional, full cooldown lap to run off the racing line and collect marbles to ensure proper minimum weight ballast. With Mercedes conceding that these two rubber aspects alone could equal as much as 0.8 kilo of the 1.5 kilos theat Russell’s mount was underweight, i.e.; half of the missing amount!

 

Meanwhile, and some on Ye blogosphere have said it was the worst kept secret. Which I’ll grant the Cadillac to (Wayne Taylor) WTR-Andretti campaigning the two car Factory effort in IMSA GTP next year is. But I certainly didn’t “See” Hertz Team Jota becomingCadd-Oh-lac’s Werks’ team partner in the FIA World Endurance Championship! (WEC) For which Jota will turn in it’s privateer Porsche 963’s for a pair of Cadillac V-Series.R racecars in 2025 instead.

 

As somebody asked Marshall Pruett on His Week in IndyCar podcast if Callum Ilott was “done” as an IndyCar driver? With Marshall saying that it seemed for now Ilott’s name has gone “Cold”. Not to mention the vast amount of interest He’s receiving in the WEC, and presumably will land a paying Werks’ drive somewhere there. Perhaps staying with His current employer Jota?

 

Whilst Arse-sumedly Y’all know about Augustin Canapino’s fractious IndyCar career coming to a close following Toronto. Which I suppose should have been a no brainer when Pruett whispered that veteran Oval ringer Conor Daly had tested for Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) at Gateway, nee WWTR during the Olympics break. With Marshall saying He’ll be very surprised if Daly’s not the No. 78’s chauffeur the remainder of the season, which was confirmed shortly after. Due to JHR desperately needing to hoist it’s second, unsponsored entry back into the vaunted Leader Circle prize fund!

 

Having been out of the loop the past few weeks due to a family visit and travel. Now having missed listening to Gateway thru Milwaukee’s Double Header IndyCar races live. Along with missing the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix. I’m not aware what the latest scuttlebutt is for either Formula 1 or IndyCar?

 

Obviously, Indy Cars dearth of issues like it’s vaunted Charter system, FOX Announcers and remaining Silly Season will be resolved over the ridiculous winter’s slumber, Err now commencing offseason…

 

Since I know much has been said about Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) slimming down to only a three car operation due to the impending Charter system rules. And whether or not CGR lands a new IMSA Sports Car program to replace it’s current Cadillac operation?

 

While Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) confirmed the rumoured technical partnership, Err alliance with Ye Cheepster’ (Ganassi) Wayback’ on August 19.

 

All of which leaves me wondering where, if at all? CGR’s two jettisoned Honda powered Dallara’s, drivers and team personnel land? Since even if somebody takes on an extra Honda entry, it won’t be granted an extra Charter. Making me wonder if we’re really going to have the perceived 29 Fulltime IndyCar entries next year with the arrival of Prema Racing’s two car Chevrolet entry…

 

Whilst naturally, we should also be seeing some clarity on the remaining 2025 IndyCar driver market, unless we’ve already had some announcements that I’ve missed the memo upon?

 

Ah, those were prophetic words, since two days after I’d initially finished typing this. I was most startled over the announcement that Davey Malukas had inked a multi-year contract to drive for A.J. Foyt Enterprises starting in 2025, Say What?

 

Naturally, like others in Ye blogosphere, I can only surmise that young David who turns 23 on September 27. Is hoping to use this as a springboard to graduate to Team Penske as DJ WillyP’s, ergo Will Power’s future replacement…

 

I just truly hope that Foyt can manage to afford to keep Santino Ferrucci in the No. 14! Since Ferrucci and Malukas is a far more formable driving duo vs. Sting Ray Robb and Malukas! But that’s using Air Quotes from Captain McObvious…