Category: Auto Racing

Matthew Brabham Returns to Indy Lights with Andretti

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Photo from Andretti Autosport

Matthew Brabham will return to Indy Lights, driving the number 83 car for Andretti Autosport. Brabham has spent the last few years driving in Stadium Super Trucks. Andretti as usual has a solid stable of drivers in Indy Lights, including veteran Sting Ray Robb.

The announcement from Andretti Autosport:

01.10.22

Indy Lights veteran Matthew Brabham will return to the Road to Indy ladder system in 2022 with Andretti Autosport as he steps into the No. 83 Indy Lights machine. Brabham and Andretti Autosport have a storied history together competing in both the Indy Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championships. The second-generation driver was crowned the 2013 Indy Pro 2000 Champion (formerly Pro Mazda). Brabham returns to the American open-wheel series with unfinished business as he finished in the top four of the Indy Lights championship in 2014.

“We’re really excited to have Matty back in our Indy Lights lineup,” said Michael Andretti, Chairman and CEO, Andretti Autosport. “He’s always shown natural talent behind the wheel and was a great Road to Indy contender for us in the past. I’m really looking forward to seeing what our Indy Lights lineup accomplishes this year as all of their talents continue to grow.”

Brabham first entered the Road to Indy ladder with the USF2000 Championship in 2012, where he captured the 2012 championship with four wins and 11 podium finishes. The 2012 USF2000 scholarship propelled the Australian-American to the Indy Pro 2000 field where 13 victories, 10 pole positions and 15 podiums led to the 2013 title and the chance to compete in Indy Lights for the 2014 season. Brabham went on to collect one victory, one pole position and 10 top-five finishes in 17 Indy Lights race starts.

“I’m extremely grateful to Michael, JF and everyone who is a part of Andretti Autosport,” said Brabham. “They have given me many great opportunities over the years, including this one. We have accomplished amazing results together. We have won a total of 14 races and a championship in the past. I’m absolutely ecstatic to be back racing full time in a proper open-wheel car again with a top team. I feel it’s where I’ve always belonged. I’m willing to give everything I have at this and more to follow my dream of getting back into the INDYCAR SERIES.”

Brabham completes Andretti Autosport’s lineup piloting the No. 83 Dallara for the 2022 Indy Lights season alongside teammates Sting Ray Robb [No. 2 Dallara], Hunter McElrea [No. 27 Dallara] and Christian Rasmussen [No. 28 Dallara].

Testing Today Starts 2022 Season

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Photo: 2021 Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will run the full season in 2022. he starts testing today at Sebring. Photo by Chris owens, Indycar

The NTT Indycar season begins today with testing at Sebring. Just three cars will be on track today. Meyer Shank Racing will have its two cars running. Rahal letterman Lanigan racing will use one of its rookie test days with Christian Lundgaard.

Testing before the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is minimal this year. Just one other day in January will have testing. Team Penske and A. J. Foyt Racing will run one car each in an evaluation test on the 19th.

The big test day is February 14 at Sebring when 20 cars will be on track. All cars from Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, Penske, AMSP, RLL, and Ed Carpenter Racing are planning to participate. Will we know the ECR road/street course driver before then? Also testing that day is Juncos Hollinger Racing. Dale Coyne with HMD Racing is using the 14th as a rookie day with David Malukas.

The following day Coyne will have both cars on track. Meyer Shank will also use a second test day on the 15th.

That is all at this time before the season opener. I assume there will be some oval tests between St. Pete and Texas on March 20.

Long Beach Extended Through 2028

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Indycar photo by Chris Owens

I’m finally settled in winter headquarters after a journey that took a bit longer than expected. We just missed cold temperatures in Indianapolis and passed Nashville just before their big snowstorm. Now on to the big news of the week.

The Long Beach City Council approved the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach through 2028. This is an unusually long extension and shows how much the city appreciates Indycar’s presence as part of the community. The council’s action should permanently put to rest the attempts to by groups wanting Formula 1 to return to the venue.

2022 will mark 47 years of racing on the streets of Long Beach. The first race, a Formula 5000 event founded by Chrism Pook and Dan Gurney in 1975, became a staple of F1 from 1976 through 1983. In 1984, CART began racing on the downtown streets. Indycar in its various sanctions has raced there ever since, until the pandemic halted the race in 2020. The race returned last year with the title deciding event in the fall. In 2022 the race returns to its traditional April slot. After the 2028 race, Indycar will have raced at Long Beach 45 times, making it the third oldest event in series history, I believe, Behind Indianapolis and Milwaukee. 2025 will be the 50th race of some form on the street circuit.

Added Action

The usually busy Long Beach weekend just got a bit busier. Indycar IMSA, Porsche Cup, and Stadium Super Trucks will be joined by the Historic IMSA GTP Challenge, a vintage sportscar prototype series. I am excited to see these cars, which have never raced at Long Beach. Track time will be at a premium April 8-10.

Kevin Kalkhoven, 1944-2022

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Statement from Vasser Sullivan Racing:

KEVIN KALKHOVEN

June 1, 1944 – January 4, 2022

The entire Vasser Sullivan Racing organization extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of Kevin Kalkhoven.

Kevin was a giant in both the technology and racing worlds and more
Importantly, a great friend.

He will be truly missed,
 Statement from Jimmy Vasser:
“Kevin Kalkhoven lived life to the absolute fullest.  He showed how life was to be lived. He was a great partner and dear friend. I will always miss his mischievous smile and uproarious laughter. Rest In Peace Dear Friend.”

Indycar 2022 Grid- The Field Gets Younger

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As you read this, The Pit Window will be on the way to winter headquarters for the first time since 2019. The plan is to arrive on Thursday, so this may be the only post for this week. My being unavailable to post can only mean one thing- there will be huge breaking news the next couple of days. A third OEM, F1 returning to IMS, Ed Carpenter announcing Mick Schumacher as his road and street course driver in the 20 car all could happen since I will be out of touch.

Today we will take a look sat the 25 cars that will make up the full time Indycar field for 2022. The only opening is the road/street seat for the number 20.

The grid is getting younger. This year’s field includes five rookies and eight other drivers with three years or less experience. The youngsters held the spotlight in 2021, and I expect a repeat performance this upcoming season. Here is the grid as of this morning:

Team Penske

2- Josef Newgarden

3- Scott Mclaughlin

12- Will Power

Chip Ganassi Racing

8- Marcus Ericsson

9- Scott Dixon’

10- Alex palou

48- Jimmie Johnson

Andretti Autosport

26-Colton Herta

27- Alexander Rossi

28- Romain Grosjean

29- Devlin Defrancesco

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

15- Graham Rahal

30- Jack Harvey

45- Christian Lundgaard (R)

Arrow McLaren SP

5= Pato O’Ward

7- Felix Rosenqvist

Dale Coyne Racing with HMD

18- David Malukas (R)

Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing

51- Takuma Sato

Meyer Shank Racing

06- Helio Castroneves

60- Simon Pagenaud

A. J. Foyt Racing

4- Dalton Kellett

14- Kyle Kirkwood (R)

Ed Carpenter Racing

20- ovals- Ed Carpenter; road/street- TBD

21-Rinus VeeKay

Juncos Hollinger Racing

77- Callum Ilott (R)

Book Review- Hello, I’m Paul Page “It’s Race Day in Indianapolis”

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Paul Page’s only goal in life is to be in broadcasting. He especially wants to be on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasting the Indianapolis 500, working alongside his hero, Sid Collins. It is a long circuitous route to the race day team filled with some self inflicted mistakes.

With the guidance of his uncle, Harry Geisel, a former major league baseball umpire, Page builds a faux broadcast studio in his uncle’s basement. Geisel also takes Page to his 500 mile race in 1960. Page then set his career path to be a part of the race.

Back home in Chicago, Page writes to Eddie Sachs, his favorite driver, and shares his ambition. Sachs replied, telling Page, “You must stick with something if you want it.” Page has lived by those words ever since.

The autobiography, written by Page and J. R. Elrod, is mostly chronological. The narrative alternates between summaries of each 500 mile race since 1960 and Page’s personal life. There are anecdotes about drivers and news stories Page covers as well.

Page intersperses his story with explanations of terms and history of auto racing. Much of these descriptions are geared for the casual or non-racing fan, which broadens the appeal of the work.

While working low paying radio jobs, Page joins the National Guard and learns much of his craft at the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. Page also enrolls in DePauw University’s paramedics course, earning a license.

Page gets a job at WIBC, the flagship station for the 500. He hopes to impress Sid Collins and get a spot on the race day radio team. His first encounter with Collins does not go well. Collins declared page’s interview with the winner of the Soap Box Derby the worst interview he has ever heard. Collins then spends the next three hours instructing Page how to conduct a proper interview.

Page loses his job at WIBC, works at other stations, and finally returns to the station in 1969. He does not get on the race day crew until 1974. His first race nearly becomes his last. Page worked the pits that day. Collins asks him to interview stuntman/daredevil Evel Kneivel. Page has no interest in talking to him, and he tells Collins he can’t find him. Collins had a good view Page’s position from the broadcast booth.

“Isn’t he standing right next to you?” Collins asked.

In 1977 Page becomes the Voice of the 500, but not in the way he hoped. Collins commits suicide on May 2, leaving the station little time to appoint a successor. The broadcast goes well, but in December Page’s tenure at the mike at IMS nearly came to an end. Page does live news reports from a helicopter which crashes on the Speedway High School football field. Page suffers multiple fractures of his left leg.

Page discusses how the Indycar split in 1996 affected not only the sport’s drivers and teams, but also the broadcasters. ABC told him he could only cover CART races, which meant no Indianapolis 500.

Page talks about his time in the broadcast booth with Bobby Unser. Page admires Unser for his knowledge, but wishes he didn’t talk so long. The producers tell Unser that Page has a button that cuts His mike after a couple of minutes. Unser cuts his talking. Later we find that there was no button.

Paul Page witnesses an experiences every aspect of racing from crew man to driver. He takes this knowledge to the broadcast booth. Page’s autobiography is a rich perspective of what happens behind the scenes at a race track both inside and outside the television and radio booths.

Note:

I wish everyone a Happy New Year. The Pit Window will be moving to winter headquarters tomorrow. Thanks for reading all year. I hope you will put up with me for another one.

Indycar, Dallara Announce Multi-year Extension

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Not really a surprise. Here is the announcement from Indycar:

INDYCAR has announced a multiyear extension with chassis manufacturer Dallara, continuing a relationship with one of the longest-running partners in the series.

The contract runs parallel to the current agreements with engine manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda, furthering an era of continuity for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series.

“Dallara is a tremendous partner and instrumental in everything we do on the racetrack,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “An important part of the success and growth of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES can be directly traced to Dallara’s collaboration with our entire paddock.

“This extension provides INDYCAR and its teams continuity and a stable platform as we look well into the future.”

Dallara, an Italian company, first supplied driver safety cells for the INDYCAR SERIES in 1997 and has been the sole chassis supplier since 2008. In 2012, the manufacturer expanded its U.S. operations by opening the Dallara INDYCAR factory in Speedway, Indiana, where the company produces and assembles chassis for a variety of racing series.

Since 2015, production has included the chassis for INDYCAR’s Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. In 2018, Dallara began manufacturing the current universal body kit (AK-18) for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 2022 marks the company’s 26th consecutive season with INDYCAR.

“Dallara is honored to have been part of this journey for 26 years and counting,” said Andrea Pontremoli, Dallara Group CEO. “We understand the responsibility that comes in extending our partnership with INDYCAR over the course of the years to come and are excited to be part of this long-term plan.

“Being such an integrated partner to INDYCAR, we feel the inspirational leadership of Roger Penske, along with the management of Jay Frye, has allowed the series to have a continuous focus on safety while always providing an exciting atmosphere for all of our competitors and fans.

“This partnership will continue to fall in line with Dallara’s core values and what we want to see our technology and innovation developed for – adding emphasis to safety and sustainability for the future. It is a great time for INDYCAR, and Dallara is proud to continue as the chassis manufacturer.”

The 17-race 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opens Sunday, Feb. 27 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. NBC will provide live coverage from the Streets of St. Petersburg as part of a record 14 races on broadcast television next year, including the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29. All races are also available on the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Zanardi Goes Home

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Alex Zanardi went home from rehab yesterday, 18 months after suffering traumatic brain injuries in a cycling accident. He was training for a race in July, 2020, when his hand cycle hit a truck.

Zanardi will continue therapy and at home. He will still need top go to rehabilitation clinics at times.

Zanardi, 55, won the 1997 and 1998 CART championships, lost both of his legs in an accident at the CART race at Lausitzring in Germany in 2001. He then become a gold medalist in cycling at the paralympic games. He has returned to a race car. Zanardi drove in the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Zanardi’s wife, Daniela, issued a public statement.

“An important step was that Alex was able to leave hospital a few weeks ago and is back at home with us now,” she said. “We had to wait very long for this and are very happy that it was possible now, even if there are still temporary stays in special clinics planned for the future to carry out special rehabilitation measures on site.”

“The recovery continues to be a long process,” said his wife. “The rehabilitation programme led by doctors, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists and speech therapists has enabled steady progress. Of course, setbacks are there and can still occur. Sometimes you also have to make two steps back in order to make one step forward. But Alex proves again and again that he is a real fighter.”

“It is a big help for him and us that we receive so much support on this way, not only from the doctors and therapists that intensively work with him,” she said.

“We are very grateful to everyone for that and for so much more because these strong ties give us additional energy. This also goes for the continued sympathy we receive from racing drivers, fans and acquaintances from all over the world. We would like to express a big ‘grazie’ to all who send their good thoughts and power to Alex.”

Holiday Wishes for Indycar

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As we begin the most festive week of the year, I have some holiday wishes for Indycar. The first practice at St. Pete is just two months from Christmas day. Knowing that should make the holiday better. Here are six things I wish for in 2022.

A Full 17 Race Schedule

Indycar has not run its complete, originally announced schedule in two years. 2021 looked promising, but Toronto again was cancelled due to COVID-19. The border has reopened, but will the Omicron variant close it again? If it does, for how long?

I hope by July that things will have settled down enough to allow the race to go on.

I am not concerned about St. Pete or Texas yet, but the situation warrants wartching.

The Unicorn

I wish for the elusive third OEM to be announced. An announcement in 2022 means the new engine will appear in 2024. With the growth in entries anticipated for next season and a number of other teams looking to join Indycar, a third engine is a necessity. Honda is maxed out for the season and the Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet is close to capacity as well.

A third engine opens the possibility for 30 cars at some tracks and 39 or more entries at the 500. I think one of the bigger teams will align with the new manufacturer.

A Sold Out Indianapolis 500

Conditions permitting, it would be great if the 106th running of the 500 would be a sell out. Local television might show the race live again if all tickets are sold. Many fans who skipped the 2021 race plan to return. The 135,00 or so at the 2021 race seemed larger than that to those who were there, but the partially empty grandstands did not look good on television.

I spoke briefly with Doug Boles at the PRI show. He said that ticket sales are looking good.

A Title Fight Between O’Ward and Herta

Just like 2021, 2022 will bring more of the younger kids contending for the championship. This coming season I would love to see a battle for Astor Cup between Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta. The youngsters had two the fastest cars last season. Herta was never really in title contention because of some early DNFs. He still tied for the most wins in the series with three, and he had four poles.

O’Ward had some early issues with team strategies and setup problems. He finished third in the standings after being taken out of the finale early. His two wins in 2021 kept him in the hunt. I think he is ready for an even bigger season.

Some Top 5s for Kirkwood

First of all, I am happy that Kyle Kirkwood has a full time ride. Of course, I wish he were on a more competitive team. But I hope he can raise the bar at A. J. Foyt Racing and maybe squeeze a top 5 or two out of the car. It will be a challenge. His best chance for a good finish will be at World Wide Technology Raceway, where Foyt cars have a third and two fifth place finishes.

Kirkwood might sneak in a good finish at a road course somewhere as well. Realistically, I can see him getting some top 10s in 2022.

The Biggest Wish of All

Well, maybe the second biggest after the third OEM, but an announcement of a 2023 IMSA race at IMS would make me very happy. The odds are long as IMSA has established a May race at Mid Ohio. The sports car series seems happy with their schedule. I don’t think they are looking for new venues or to switch any dates around.

I have also heard IMSA is not happy with Indycar putting Texas on the schedule on March 20, the day after the Sebring 12 Hour race. Many Indycar drivers participate in the 12 hour as an extra driver. Some plan to do double duty that weekend.

All, or possibly none of my wishes may come true, but I hope that all of your holiday wishes do. I will have a post next week before moving to winter headquarters. Happy holidays, everyone.