Photo: The Festival Camaros lined up in front of the yard of bricks
It is now less than two weeks until the 2021 NTT Indycar Series begins. The season unofficially begins Thursday with a two day test for all Indianapolis 500 participants at IMS. All full time teams are expected to take part, as well as the new Paretta Autosport team with Simona de Silvestro driving. and the Dale Coyne/Rick Ware number 52. More on the Coyne car later. The test is open to fans in the turn 2 mounds.
The four drivers who took part in the hybrid simulation test qa week and a half ago, felt that passing should be improved. Indycar frilled in the hole in the floor and added strakes. This week will be a better test of the improvements with a larger number of cars.
Notes
Cody Ware tested at Texas last week and will take his rookie test at IMS this week. Ware was rumored to drive the 52 at the Indianapolis 500 when the team was announced, but those rumors cooled. Now it appears Ware will be the driver for the 500..
Doug Boles was the weekly guest on the Marshall Pruett Podcast last Wednesday. Boles said that an attendance decision is about 15-20 days away, which is right around the time of the season opener at Barber. Numbers in Indiana and Marion County are ticking upward at the moment. We will just have to wait and see.
As far as support events for the race, Boles said there is a plan for some music piece, but the race is the priority. he also said that no matter the COVID situation, masks will probably be required.
The entire podcast is at this link:
I was disappointed to learn from the Texas test that the upper groove still has the NASCAR traction compound on it and that the drivers still consider it a “no-go zone”. Last year’s race in June featured very little passing because the track had just one groove. Texas is now another track where great Indycar racing has been ruined by NASCAR modifications.
Later this week, watch for my season previews.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 