Yesterday’s signing of Kyffin Simpson by Chip Ganassi Racing was a surprise and leaves me with some concerns. His age, for one, is concerning. Another concern is that he was 10th in the IndyNXT series this past season with just two podiums. I have never figutrd out how some IndyNXT drivers leapfrog over others with bretter performances to Indycar.

Simpson has won in sportscars and by all accounts has talent. Indycar is a different game. I hope he is ready.

Juncos Has a Problem

The firestorm of threats and insults hurled at Callum Ilott after the Indycar finale at Laguna Seca is completely unacceptable. This is the second time this year that fans of Agustin Canapino have been angered by Ilott husting their driver’s race.

Yes, we all get angry when a driver ruins our favorite driver’s race. But death threats are not acceptable under any circumstances.

Juncos Hollinger Racing did not help the situation with a weakly worded statement attempting to condemn the comments. The mild statement looked even worse the day after when the Minnesota Vikings posted a strongly worded condemnation of fans ‘ comments regarding one of their players who apparently made a misplay during the game.

How can Ilott continue to drive for a team which will not give him their full support? I hope Ricardo Juncos sits down with Callum and talks this out. I have left jobs when I didn’t have full support of my employer.

Carpenter Short List

Monday at Barber Ed Carpenter racing will test IndyNXT champion Christian Rasmussen and Oliver Askew in a tryout for the 20 car for 2024.

Once again we see the Indy NXT champion without a ride while another driver from the junior series is already signed. I don’t know the solution to this issue, but it needs to be addressed. Right now, except for the honor, winning the NXT championship doesn’t carry any weight as far as moving up.

Askew, the 2019 Indy Lights champion, drove 13 races in 2020 for Arrow Mclaren SP with three top 10s and one podium. He had a hard crash at the Indianapolis 500 and after the next four races withdrew from the team with concussion like symptoms. He drove one race for Ed Carpenter Racing in 2021 and also drove three races for Rahal letterman Lanigan Racing later that year. Askew earned a top 10 result for RLL. The team decide to give the ride full time to Christian Lundgaard.

On the Move

The IMS Museum has begun to move the cars out of the basement in preparation for the renovation which begins in November. I thought it was exciting to see the cars on the news as they go to wherever it is they are being stored.

I think the museum could have made a bigger deal of this with maybe a staged procession and invited fans to watch. The cars that are permanently on the display deserve a ceremonial exit.

The Lionheart

Heartland International Film Festival, my second favorite Indianapolis event, will premiere The Lionheart, a documentary about Dan Wheldon, October 5, at Newfields. Tickets are $20. Go to https://www.heartlandfilm.org/festival to purchase tickets.