The Alessandro Zanardi IndyCar Thread

johnnyCarwash · Post by **johnnyCarwash** » 12 Aug 2013, 12:22

Dj_bereta wrote:Castroneves crashed pretty hard in Free Practice of Brazilian StockCar due a brake failure. He's ok, but could miss the race (Depending of Doctor's decision) and its unknown if this force him to miss the next Indycar race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq9FVQGcods

also:
http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-9 ... -car-crash

He has another 2 weeks to recover so hopefully he'll race at Sonoma and it'd be a shame if he does miss the race because he's been on fine form this season.

In other news, I hope virgin media here in the UK get their ESPN (aka Bt Sports) package sorted out before the next race as they've been off air since 1st of August and I'm resorting to streaming Indycar races :evil:

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 13 Aug 2013, 14:35

JR Hildebrand is back! He will shares the Bryan Herta's car with Luca Filippi for the rest of the season.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109258

Gerudo Dragon · Post by **Gerudo Dragon** » 13 Aug 2013, 15:07

This is good news.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 13 Aug 2013, 16:29

Dark77 wrote:This is good news.

I'm not so sure. JR Hildebrand has done very little to justify an IndyCar seat - the one time he had a shot at winning a race, he threw it away.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 13 Aug 2013, 16:29

At least the team has found someone who has oval experience. I have my doubts that Filippi can compete on an oval. Good signing there.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 13 Aug 2013, 19:36

Salamander wrote:
Dark77 wrote:This is good news.

I'm not so sure. JR Hildebrand has done very little to justify an IndyCar seat - the one time he had a shot at winning a race, he threw it away.

And grinded to a second place finish with half his car pancaked.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 15 Aug 2013, 12:02

Wait, Filippi isn't going to spend 5-6 years in Indy Lights :lol:

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 15 Aug 2013, 19:54

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mo ... 4/2615721/

There are speculations about Tony moving to Chip Ganassi for the next season. The team will put a fourth car for him.

I think this could happen, because Tony and KV are struggling to find sponsors. He started this season with a contract for 9 races only and the victory at Indy gave him a security for finish the season. Also, Chip Ganassi is way, way better than KV.

In other hand, this could be bad for KV, since TK is the man of the team.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 15 Aug 2013, 19:55

Dj_bereta wrote:http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motorsports/2013/08/03/dario-franchitti-returning-ganassi-racing-2014/2615721/

There are speculations about Tony moving to Chip Ganassi for the next season. The team will put a fourth car for him.

I think this could happen, because Tony and KV are struggling to find sponsors. He started this season with a contract for 9 races only and the victory of Indy gave him a security for finish the season. Also, Chip Ganassi is way, way better than KV.

In other hand, this could be bad for KV, since TK is the man of the team.

If I were them, I'd give AJ Allmendinger a call right about now...

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 16 Aug 2013, 22:11

Around this time last year, there were rumours in Autosport that IndyCar were working towards a round in Italy, and I was under the impression that the negotiations were merely postposed rather than called off. Anybody aware have continued/resumed for 2014?

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 17 Aug 2013, 04:03

Salamander wrote:
Dj_bereta wrote:http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motorsports/2013/08/03/dario-franchitti-returning-ganassi-racing-2014/2615721/

There are speculations about Tony moving to Chip Ganassi for the next season. The team will put a fourth car for him.

I think this could happen, because Tony and KV are struggling to find sponsors. He started this season with a contract for 9 races only and the victory of Indy gave him a security for finish the season. Also, Chip Ganassi is way, way better than KV.

In other hand, this could be bad for KV, since TK is the man of the team.

If I were them, I'd give AJ Allmendinger a call right about now...

Before he runs well enough to get a permanent Nationwide Series or Sprint Cup ride.

johnnyCarwash · Post by **johnnyCarwash** » 17 Aug 2013, 13:29

dr-baker wrote:Around this time last year, there were rumours in Autosport that IndyCar were working towards a round in Italy, and I was under the impression that the negotiations were merely postposed rather than called off. Anybody aware have continued/resumed for 2014?

Funny you should say that.
Today Autosport have released an article for Indycars to run at the Indy road course

Though an Indycar race in Europe surely can't be a bad thing and Mugello seems a good fit due to Dallara being Italian and the circuit itself being one of the better circuits in Europe, as described by Webber at the F1 test there last year

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 17 Aug 2013, 15:23

johnnyCarwash wrote:
dr-baker wrote:Around this time last year, there were rumours in Autosport that IndyCar were working towards a round in Italy, and I was under the impression that the negotiations were merely postposed rather than called off. Anybody aware have continued/resumed for 2014?

Funny you should say that.
Today Autosport have released an article for Indycars to run at the Indy road course

Though an Indycar race in Europe surely can't be a bad thing and Mugello seems a good fit due to Dallara being Italian and the circuit itself being one of the better circuits in Europe, as described by Webber at the F1 test there last year

Indy isn't quite Europe, y'know. A bit difficult to do a road trip there from SE England...

But I would love to see IndyCars at Monza (the history) or Imola (an excuse for me to go and visit with a purpose). And it would make sense to me for Europe to have two races on two consecutive weekends, so the other race at either Brands Hatch (Indy loop has that name for a reason!) or Rockingham (ChampCar history, as does Brands). But I reckon I'll have to dream on for a few more years to have an IndyCar roadtrip from home...

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 17 Aug 2013, 15:26

the indy loop is terrible for open-wheeling.
run the full course! we want turbos running full chat down Dingle Dell again!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 17 Aug 2013, 15:33

nome66 wrote:the indy loop is terrible for open-wheeling.
run the full course! we want turbos running full chat down Dingle Dell again!

Well, yes. I saw the ChampCar race there in ?'03 and there wasn't much overtaking. But at the time, a lot of it seemed to be attributed to the pit-stop window rules not being amenable to the racing. Still, it was Bourdais's first victory in the series.

And if they race on the Grand Prix loop, let's hope that there's no repeat of this crash that Chris van der Drift had a few years ago. Thank goodness he 'only' had a broken ankle, two broken ribs, a cracked shoulder blade, a dislocated shoulder and two broken fingers (according to Wikipedia). Could have been so much worse.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 17 Aug 2013, 19:28

Speaking of Allmendinger, he's running well in the NASCAR series for Penske at Mid Ohio so KV Racing better move fast on A.J. if they want him before he gets a permanent NASCAR ride.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 19 Aug 2013, 21:21

More IndyCar silly season news:

Now, there's speculations that Andretti is trying to find sponsor to put a car for Montoya for the next season. So, Andretti will run with five cars? Or someone will get the boot(more likely Viso)?

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 20 Aug 2013, 02:58

Dj_bereta wrote:More IndyCar silly season news:

Now, there's speculations that Andretti is trying to find sponsor to put a car for Montoya for the next season. So, Andretti will run with five cars? Or someone will get the boot(more likely Viso)?

I suspect either Hinch or Viso getting fired. If the team expands to five then we know nobody is fired or that both Montoya and either Carlos Munoz or Ryan Briscoe will be driving next season with someone being fired.

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 20 Aug 2013, 08:14

Onxy Wrecked wrote:
Dj_bereta wrote:More IndyCar silly season news:

Now, there's speculations that Andretti is trying to find sponsor to put a car for Montoya for the next season. So, Andretti will run with five cars? Or someone will get the boot(more likely Viso)?

I suspect either Hinch or Viso getting fired. If the team expands to five then we know nobody is fired or that both Montoya and either Carlos Munoz or Ryan Briscoe will be driving next season with someone being fired.

I don't think Hinch is going anywhere. Carlos Muñoz probably has a drive with them for next year and he has some decent backing, so I'd say Viso is out.

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 20 Aug 2013, 14:11

viso's getting the boot and taking his Maldonodo-sponsorship elsewhere, calling it right now!!
i think he'll end up in a foyt machine next season.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 22 Aug 2013, 19:41

With the recent silly seasons rumors:

http://www.racer.com/insight-indycar-si ... le/304784/
http://openwheelamerica.com/2013/08/08/ ... on-update/
http://openwheelamerica.com/2013/08/19/ ... r-drivers/

The most likely scenarios:

Andretti
RHR
Andretti
Hinchcliffe/Munoz/Montoya
Viso/Munoz/Montoya
Munoz/Montoya*

Penske
Castroneves
Power
A.J*

Ganassi
Dixon
Franchitti
Kimball
Hinchcliffe/Kannan/Briscoe/Wilson/Bourdais

Panther
Briscoe/Servia
Briscoe/Servia*

KV
De Silvestro
Kannan/Servia

Dale Coyne
Wilson
S.Wilson/Davidson/Hawksworth/Hirakawa/Conway/Mann/Another driver with some sponsor

Barracuda
Hildebrant/Servia/Filippi/Daly

Fisher
Newgarden
Luhr*

Dragon
Bourdais/Some senior driver if Bourdais leaves
Saavedra

A.J Foyt
Sato
Daly*

Schmidt
Pagenaud
Valtier

Rahal
Rahal
Jakes

EDR
Carpenter

* = If the team put an extra car.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 22 Aug 2013, 20:06

IndyCar to expand their calendar? But you put my hopes up for an Italian round for 2013 last year, but that didn't happen. And the print edition seems to suggest that Europe doesn't feature in the plan anyway.

I had my interest piqued again for an IndyCar/European roadtrip, but alas. Please stop doing this to me, Autosport.

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 22 Aug 2013, 21:26

probably Road America, Ft. Lauderdale, and the Indy Road Course.
at least those three. and a Pocono 500 miler for the REAL TRIPLE CROWN.

andrew2209 · Post by **andrew2209** » 23 Aug 2013, 09:16

If they want to do international races, then they could use Rockingham or EuroSpeedway as oval races.

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 23 Aug 2013, 09:44

andrew2209 wrote:If they want to do international races, then they could use Rockingham or EuroSpeedway as oval races.

No chance at Rockingham, unfortunately. The noise restrictions from the local council have pretty much crucified Rockingham. They are allowed very few days of noise-restricted racing (BTCC, GTs, etc.) and a few track days with unrestricted noise levels (and that's where the money is). They can probably make more money from the BTCC than IndyCars. Proper oval racing in the UK is finished.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 23 Aug 2013, 12:56

nome66 wrote:probably Road America, Ft. Lauderdale, and the Indy Road Course.
at least those three. and a Pocono 500 miler for the REAL TRIPLE CROWN.

A Pocono 500 miler would work better than one at Michigan as the repave might take it into we have hit the aerodynamic limits of the car.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 23 Aug 2013, 17:08

Faustus wrote:
andrew2209 wrote:If they want to do international races, then they could use Rockingham or EuroSpeedway as oval races.

No chance at Rockingham, unfortunately. The noise restrictions from the local council have pretty much crucified Rockingham. They are allowed very few days of noise-restricted racing (BTCC, GTs, etc.) and a few track days with unrestricted noise levels (and that's where the money is). They can probably make more money from the BTCC than IndyCars. Proper oval racing in the UK is finished.

Didn't realise it was that bad. But it's ridiculous - it's in the middle of an industrial centre! No back yards nearby anywhere... And what's the point of having an oval if it just ain't ever gonna get used? :cry:

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 24 Aug 2013, 12:12

dr-baker wrote:
Faustus wrote:
andrew2209 wrote:If they want to do international races, then they could use Rockingham or EuroSpeedway as oval races.

No chance at Rockingham, unfortunately. The noise restrictions from the local council have pretty much crucified Rockingham. They are allowed very few days of noise-restricted racing (BTCC, GTs, etc.) and a few track days with unrestricted noise levels (and that's where the money is). They can probably make more money from the BTCC than IndyCars. Proper oval racing in the UK is finished.

Didn't realise it was that bad. But it's ridiculous - it's in the middle of an industrial centre! No back yards nearby anywhere... And what's the point of having an oval if it just ain't ever gonna get used?

The noise restrictions in Rockingham are one of the main reasons why ASCAR died. Rockingham used to have loads of testing. I remember doing Formula 3, GT and sportscars tests there and the sessions were always fully booked.
There were a couple of housing estates built relatively close to the track a few years ago and someone must have complained about the noise. That's the UK for you, unfortunately.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Aug 2013, 12:31

Faustus wrote:The noise restrictions in Rockingham are one of the main reasons why ASCAR died. Rockingham used to have loads of testing. I remember doing Formula 3, GT and sportscars tests there and the sessions were always fully booked.
There were a couple of housing estates built relatively close to the track a few years ago and someone must have complained about the noise. That's the UK for you, unfortunately.

Typical. The track's only about 13 years old, but came BEFORE the housing estates, and they dare complain about the local facilities? I :evil:

NIMBYism... Rockingham is a great track for specatators, so it is idiotic that it cannot be utilised more.

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 24 Aug 2013, 12:38

dr-baker wrote:
Faustus wrote:The noise restrictions in Rockingham are one of the main reasons why ASCAR died. Rockingham used to have loads of testing. I remember doing Formula 3, GT and sportscars tests there and the sessions were always fully booked.
There were a couple of housing estates built relatively close to the track a few years ago and someone must have complained about the noise. That's the UK for you, unfortunately.

Typical. The track's only about 13 years old, but came BEFORE the housing estates, and they dare complain about the local facilities? I NIMBYism... Rockingham is a great track for specatators, so it is idiotic that it cannot be utilised more.

There are loads of different layouts and combinations possible for the circuit as well. And you're right, it's one of the few tracks where you watch the entire circuit from the stands on the oval. Cleanest toilets of every track I've ever been to, as usual. And clean showers. We used to stay in caravans in the paddock when I did ASCAR and we used the toilet, shower and kitchen facilities.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Aug 2013, 12:48

Faustus wrote:
dr-baker wrote:
Faustus wrote:The noise restrictions in Rockingham are one of the main reasons why ASCAR died. Rockingham used to have loads of testing. I remember doing Formula 3, GT and sportscars tests there and the sessions were always fully booked.
There were a couple of housing estates built relatively close to the track a few years ago and someone must have complained about the noise. That's the UK for you, unfortunately.

Typical. The track's only about 13 years old, but came BEFORE the housing estates, and they dare complain about the local facilities? I NIMBYism... Rockingham is a great track for specatators, so it is idiotic that it cannot be utilised more.

There are loads of different layouts and combinations possible for the circuit as well. And you're right, it's one of the few tracks where you watch the entire circuit from the stands on the oval. Cleanest toilets of every track I've ever been to, as usual. And clean showers. We used to stay in caravans in the paddock when I did ASCAR and we used the toilet, shower and kitchen facilities.

Brands Indy is one of the few other tracks in Britain (Europe?) where you can see pretty much the whole track from the grandstands. After seeing the pickups race on the oval earlier this year, it makes me sad that I am unlikely to see anything else race on that configuration. Wish I had been to the Champ Car races there now...

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 24 Aug 2013, 13:09

dr-baker wrote:Brands Indy is one of the few other tracks in Britain (Europe?) where you can see pretty much the whole track from the grandstands. After seeing the pickups race on the oval earlier this year, it makes me sad that I am unlikely to see anything else race on that configuration. Wish I had been to the Champ Car races there now...

Did you go to any of the ASCAR races? They used to be incredibly popular and very well promoted, especially locally. In the summer races, there were 35-40 thousand people on the sunday. Whole families, with picnics, there for the entire day. The organisers used to put on music gigs as well, with some of the big chart hits of the time. Good times.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 25 Aug 2013, 00:49

Ganassi is in a high note. First row for the race and Kimball is in top 10 too.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 25 Aug 2013, 17:36

Is there a live chat page I could use?

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 25 Aug 2013, 23:24

Will Power survived the carnage race (like Toronto 2011) and wins.

For ROTR, I was planning to give it to Marco Andretti, for being a moron in every restart in this race, forcing you path, making contact with the others and almost causing a massive crash in pit straight in one of these restarts. Castroneves was very very lucky to escape of Marco's antics.

But after this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddyn1SNl2nM

There's no other ROTR options than STEWARDS! for penalizing the leader Dixon for that! This is one of most ludicrous penalties that I even see in my life! Its clearly was the Penske's pitcrew member fault in that incident! Also, this affects the championship as well, greatly helping Castroneves. Another reason to I give it to stewards its because Marco didn't got a penalty for your antics.

Special Mentions to:

Dragon Racing: Your drivers caused 4 incidents. Saavedra is following Cecotto's footsteps very well.
KV racing strategist: Just go home! another useless strategy for TK.
Charlie Kimball: Mid-Ohio hero to Somona zero. Spun off and makes a ridiculous move on Sato.

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 25 Aug 2013, 23:35

I didn't watch most of the race, but that was a ridiculous reason for a penalty right there. Hell, even Marco deserved a penalty 4 times more than Dixon did.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 26 Aug 2013, 13:11

For some reason, when the field was under caution after the start I just got fed up and quit listening.
I'll just look at the results now...

Power wins, Wilson 2nd, good, Dario 3rd, nice. And Sato DNFs again. :shock:

I mean come on again did someone curse him after Sao Paulo or what?

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 26 Aug 2013, 17:01

good_Ralf wrote:For some reason, when the field was under caution after the start I just got fed up and quit listening.
I'll just look at the results now...

Power wins, Wilson 2nd, good, Dario 3rd, nice. And Sato DNFs again. I mean come on again did someone curse him after Sao Paulo or what?

Sato's race was very, very unlucky. In one of restarts, Marco forced a three wide. Rahal was squeezed and spun. Sato had nowhere to go and hit his front wing, damaging your suspension. He loses a lot of laps in the pits, but returned to the race. In the last caution, Kimball was hit and spun. He tried to return to the track quickly, but he hits Sato.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 26 Aug 2013, 19:40

Dj_bereta wrote:
good_Ralf wrote:For some reason, when the field was under caution after the start I just got fed up and quit listening.
I'll just look at the results now...

Power wins, Wilson 2nd, good, Dario 3rd, nice. And Sato DNFs again. I mean come on again did someone curse him after Sao Paulo or what?

Sato's race was very, very unlucky. In one of restarts, Marco forced a three wide. Rahal was squeezed and spun. Sato had nowhere to go and hit his front wing, damaging your suspension. He loses a lot of laps in the pits, but returned to the raced. In the last caution, Kimball was hit and spun. He tried to return to the track quickly, but he hits Sato.

Sato's luck has literally vanished since Indy I suspect when he used it up in the spin where he kept it off the wall and other drivers.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 27 Aug 2013, 13:04

Faustus wrote:
dr-baker wrote:Brands Indy is one of the few other tracks in Britain (Europe?) where you can see pretty much the whole track from the grandstands. After seeing the pickups race on the oval earlier this year, it makes me sad that I am unlikely to see anything else race on that configuration. Wish I had been to the Champ Car races there now...

Did you go to any of the ASCAR races? They used to be incredibly popular and very well promoted, especially locally. In the summer races, there were 35-40 thousand people on the sunday. Whole families, with picnics, there for the entire day. The organisers used to put on music gigs as well, with some of the big chart hits of the time. Good times.

Sadly not. Only oval race I have ever watched live was a pick-up race in May this year in the rain. Great racing, a close finish, and I would love to see more there, but with (N)ASCAR and IndyCars or something similar (EuroRacecar perhaps?).