Auto Racing – Page 51 – The Pit Window by Mike Silver

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Event Update

January 23, 2025 thepitwindow

Editor’s note: Apparently there is more to the story. I’ll elaborate tomorrow night.

From IMS

All Roads Lead to Nashville for 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Finale

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025) – Penske Entertainment Corp. and Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta jointly announced today an updated event structure for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix:
Penske Entertainment will assume responsibility for the promotion of the race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway.
Big Machine will remain the event’s entitlement partner, continuing to enhance the event’s connectivity to the entertainment industry and downtown Nashville.
Penske Entertainment executive Anne Fischgrund has been named president of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.
Big Machine served as the original entitlement partner for the event across its first three editions and stepped up in an additional promoter capacity as the race weekend transitioned to Nashville Superspeedway last year. Moving forward, its continued involvement as entitlement partner will be an asset for exciting musical programming and to showcase the brands’ artists, products and community endeavors.
“All things” Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta also will serve as a liaison to Nashville’s entertainment community and civic leaders, keeping the event fully connected to the Music City.
Following a successful debut at famed Nashville Superspeedway this past season, the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will continue as the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES finale, taking place Sunday, Aug. 31 with a national network showcase on FOX. The 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone finale will precede the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship race that day.
“Year one at Nashville Superspeedway was a tremendous success, thanks in great part to the terrific partnership and strong leadership exhibited by Scott Borchetta and his team at Big Machine,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles.
“As we grow our event portfolio at Penske Entertainment, it’s strategically important to take the reins of our season finale at such an exciting and renowned racetrack. And to see the relationship with Big Machine carry forward through this continued partnership only underscores the growth opportunities before us in the Music City.”
A thrilling 2024 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix championship finale produced the best INDYCAR SERIES numbers on record at Nashville Superspeedway, including the most on-track passes, passes for position, passes in the top 10 and passes in the top five. Colton Herta picked up his first win on an oval while Alex Palou celebrated his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.The event also was highlighted by a street festival alongside Nashville’s iconic honky-tonks, including the Battle on Broadway Pit Stop Challenge, to begin championship weekend.
“We are very proud to continue our relationship with INDYCAR and build from our record-breaking 2024 season finale as the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix becomes a true crown jewel for Nashville, Middle Tennessee and global motorsports fans,” Borchetta said.
“We will also continue to produce the incredibly successful downtown street party, which will serve as the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix kickoff event, on Friday, Aug. 29, so make plans to be with us!”
Additionally, veteran motorsports executive Anne Fischgrund assumes the role of president of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Fischgrund is relocating from Indianapolis to Nashville after her successful tenure as the general manager of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway.
Penske Entertainment continues to prioritize an enhanced NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar, leveraging new partnerships and strategic investments. In October, it unveiled the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, powered through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. In November, it announced the acquisition of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach ahead of its epic 50th anniversary edition this April.
This year, all 17 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races will be broadcast on FOX, beginning with the season opener Sunday, March 2 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on the streets of St. Petersburg. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in North America with all races broadcasting on network television.
The full 2025 schedule is available here.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Event Update

January 23, 2025 thepitwindow

Editor’s note: Apparently there is more to the story. I’ll elaborate tomorrow night.

From IMS

Rolex 24 Preview

January 22, 2025 thepitwindow

Photo – IMSA

Nine fulltime IndyCar drivers from last season and a half dozen others who drove at some point in the series in 2024 will race this weekend in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

IndyCar team owners also have entries in the 61-car field, with Meyer Shank returning to competition and Chip Ganassi Racing out for this year. Penske will field two Porsches, Rahal has 2 BMWs and Meyer Shank returns with 2 Acuras in the GTP class.

Andretti Global still has a stake in Wayne Taylor Racing’s 2 Cadillac entries.

BMW was strong during the Roar this past weekend, as were the Porsches from Proton and JDC-Miller.

IndyCar Drivers

The IndyCar drivers by class, car number, and manufacturer

GTP

60- Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist Acura

63- Romain Grosjean Lamborghini

93- Alex Palou Acura

LMP 2

04 Colton Herta

8 Sebastien Bourdais

71- Hunter McElrea

73- Callum Ilott, Pietro Fittipaldi

99- Christian Rasmussen

GTD Pro

14- Kyle Kirkwood, Townsend Bell Lexus

91- Scott McLaughlin Corvette

GTD

12- Kirkwood Lexus

Kirkwood will be driving both Vasser Sullivan cars.

Other drivers of note to watch:

Former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen in the BMW number 24.

Australian Supercar champion Shane van Gisbergen and teen sensation Connor Zilisch on Scott McLaughlin’s team.

Weather

Weather usually comes into play during the weekend, and as of now rain could affect qualifying. Saturday and Sunday look dry but cooler than normal. The temperature at the start of the race should be around 60 degrees, drop to the upper 40s overnight, and finish with the air at 65 degrees.

There has been worse weather for the race, both precipitation and temperature wise, but I think the event would be better served by moving it to the first weekend in February. Florida begins to warm as the second month of the year begins.

Coverage

Qualifying on Thursday will be streamed live on Peacock, beginning at 2:05 pm Eastern.

The entire race will be streamed on Peacock, IMSA TV, and YouTube.

Over the air coverage:

All times eastern

NBC

Saturday

1:30 pm-2:30 pm

Sunday

Noon-2:00 pm

USA Network

Saturday

2:30 pm-6:30 pm

Cannon Leaves PREMA

January 21, 2025 thepitwindow

Michael Cannon has resigned from PREMA before the team has its first test. Cannon, who joined PREMA as head of engineering and was introduced at the team’s reveal presentation, issued a statement explaining his reasons.

It appears PREMA is making the same mistake other European teams make when they attempt to enter the series. They feel that they have all the answers and ignore advice from people who have a lot of experience in IndyCar. This arrogance has not worked out well in the past.

I thought PREMA was far ahead of Carlin, who came into the series without much ehlp and struggled mightily.

PREMA’s premiere presentation gave me hope that this was a European team approaching IndyCar the right way with an all star cast of IndyCar support veterans. While they still have Piers Phillips and Ryan Briscoe, Michael Cannon would have helped this team tremendously.

I hope Cannon can find another spot in the series. He is too good to not be on someone’s team.

A Busy Week for IndyCar

January 17, 2025 thepitwindow

IndyCar started the year with a very busy week. Content Days were followed by A.J. Foyt’s 90th birthday (I’m not that old- how can he be that old?), and a presence at the Detroit Auto Show, which has moved back to its traditional January date.

The main highlight from Content Days was the universal praise for FOX and the preseason prep they have been doing. The drivers involved in shooting the promos were impressed by the level of professionalism and attention. Other drivers also feel very good about the switch to the new network.

A. J. at 90

Considering the era in which Foyt raced, it is remarkable that he survived it. The 50s and 60s were two of the deadliest decades in the sport.

His accomplishments have been well documented, and I won’t rehash them here. Ibn y humble opinion, there has never been a better all-around driver then A. J. Foyt.

I think Foyt’s competitiveness is keeping him going. Paul Goldsmith dies last year at age 98. I’m pretty sure Foyt wants to beat that.

Baby Borgs

Yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show Josef Newgarden and Roger Penske received their baby Borg trophies for winning the 2024 Indianapolis 500.

David Malukas also appeared at the show.

Notes

Single day tickets are now on sale for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The opening race of the season is the weekend of February 28-March 2.

Testing

Full field Indycar tests:

February 17-18 Sebring

April 23-24 IMS

Individual teams may also have private tests scheduled.

Next week is the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Several IndyCar drivers and teams will participate.

Buxton Heads FOX Broadcast Team; Hinchcliffe, Bell Return

January 15, 2025 thepitwindow

IndyCar on FOX will have a new lead play by play (lap by lap?) man teaming with two faces familiar to IndyCar fans. Will Buxton, who has covered Formula 1 extensively for more than a decade, will join IndyCar broadcast veterans James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell in the broadcast booth.

Buxton has followed IndyCar but has never been to the Indianapolis 500. He did visit IMS on a qualifying weekend in the mid 2010s. I think he is more than up to the challenge, and I am looking forward to him as the lead.

I am relieved that Hinchcliffe will remain. He brings great insight with his experience in the car as it is currently configured. I have never been a fan of Bell’s style. I find him a bit condescending at times, but I can’t think of another former driver who is prepared to step into the analyst role.

Pit reporters will be announced later. I’m hearing a couple former drivers are under consideration, but I’m not hearing Kevin Lee’s name much. FOX would be making a huge mistake not to include him, in my opinion.

Content Day Continues

The second half of Content Day begins at 8 am Eastern this morning with more driver interviews. The main takeaway from yesterday is universal and effusive praise for the work FOX has already done for the upcoming season.

Another theme was the new car. Drivers want something sexy, loud, and fast. I think they will be disappointed on the first part.

I hope to avoid any more home disasters today and check in on a few more interviews.

Coyne Signs Abel to Car 51

January 13, 2025 thepitwindow2 Comments

Dale Coyne Racing announced today the signing of Indy NXT runner-up Jacob Abel to a full season deal to drive car 51. The move leaves just Coyne’s second car, number18, as the only seat left to fill for the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series grid.

The announcement from Dale Coyne Racing:

Plainfield, IL. (Monday, January 13, 2025) Dale Coyne Racing today announces that multiple-time Indy NXT race winner and 2024 vice champion Jacob Abel will step up into the NTT IndyCar Series in the No. 51 My Entry for the full 2025 season. The 23-year-old American driver is making the leap from Indy NXT after a successful 2024 campaign that saw him finish in the top five 11 times in the series’ 14-race schedule, three of which were victories, ending the season as vice champion.

“We are excited about running another Indy NXT Vice Champion here at Dale Coyne Racing,” commented team owner Dale Coyne.

“We have watched Jacob over the years and did an evaluation with him at the end of the 2023 season, where he showed great promise in these cars. It will be good to get back to one solid driver for the whole season again. Our plans for our second driver are coming along quite nicely, and we will have more news on that in approximately 3 weeks.” In the fall of 2023, Jacob got the call up from Dale Coyne to do an evaluation day at Sebring. Jacob adapted quickly to the pinnacle open wheel Indy Car and impressed his suitors.

“I cannot tell you how excited I am to get a full time Indy Car ride for 2025. I have worked my whole life for this opportunity,” gleamed the likeable 23-year-old Abel.

“The test at Sebring with Dale and the test this fall with Chip Ganassi, only made my resolve greater. I know it is a competitive road ahead, but we look forward to hard work and showing what we can do together as a team.”

Abel will begin his time with Dale Coyne Racing with a test session at The Thermal Club, where he will start preparing for the NTT IndyCar Series’ first race of the season at St. Petersburg, FL, on Sunday, March 2nd, with coverage beginning at 12 p.m. ET.

PREMA Launch- a New Standard for Team Launches?

January 11, 2025 thepitwindow

PREMA’s Indycar team launch on Friday made a strong statement as to the team’s serious intent to compete in IndyCar. The event was a splashy affair, hosted by motorsport commentator Will Buxton, who introduced team owner Rene Rosin, Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles. PREMA IndyCar director Piers Phillips. and PREMA’s drivers, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman. Shwartzman will be the first Israeli born driver in the series.

If you missed it, here is the link to the YouTube event. Warning- there is a 15-minute countdown at the beginning. You’ll want to fast forward through.

Romain Grosjean has signed as a reserve driver for the team, and Ryan Briscoe will take on an advisory role. The team has also added engineer Michael Cannon. All in all, the new entry to the series is beginning with quite a solid supporting lineup.

PREMA faces many obstacles in his inaugural IndyCar season, which I will discuss at a later date. Friday was a day for celebration and optimism as the American open wheel series welcomes a new membr.

The car will carry the colors of the Italian flag. I like the color scheme.

Ilott will drive car 90, and Shwartzman will be the pilot of car 83. Thye numbers reflect significant dates in the history of the team. The team began in 1983. 1990 saw PREMA’s first championship.

Friday’s program was very well done, and I would like to see other IndyCar teams do a similar season kickoff. It’s a great way to have a day of publicity for each team. It would be a boost for the smaller teams who don’t get much attention once the racing starts.

Marco Returns for Indy; Helio to Attempt Daytona 500

January 8, 2025 thepitwindow

The Andretti name stays on the grid. The rumors and speculation have been put to rest. Andretti Global confirmed that Marco Andretti will return to the team for his 20th Indianapolis 500. The 2020 Indianapolis Pole winner has eight top 10 finishes and top 5 runs in the 500. His best finish was his rookie year, when he was nipped at the line by Sam Hornish, Jr., in 2006.

Andretti’s’ last Top 10 was in 2017, an eighth-place result, and his last Top 5 was in 2014 when he ran third. In addition to his pole, Andretti also started on the outside of the front row in third.

Castroneves Tries Daytona

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 next month with Trackhouse Racing. Castroneves, a part owner of Meyer-Shank racing, will also drive in the Indianapolis 500.

I like when drivers race in different forms of racing outside their primary category, but the corporate. proprietary nature of racing today makes it such a big deal when it happens. It shouldn’t be. Drivers used to race in several different series all the time during the season.

The Field of 33

Andretti’s entry brings the entry list to 33 for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The entry list to date:

McLaren (4): O’Ward, Siegel, Lundgaard, Larson

Penske (3): Newgarden, McLaughlin, Power

ECR (3): Rossi, Rasmussen, Carpenter

Foyt (2): Ferrucci, Malukas

JHR (2): Robb, Daly

Prema (2): Ilott, Shwartzman

DRR (2): RHR, Harvey

Andretti (4): Herta, Kirkwood, Ericsson, Andretti

Ganassi (3): Simpson, Dixon, Palou

MSR (3): Rosenqvist, Armstrong, Helio

RLL (3): Rahal, DeFrancesco, Foster

DCR (2): TBA, TBA