Category: Auto Racing

Development of INDYCAR Hybrid Unit Sees Significant Steps in Preparation for 2024 

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From Indycar. Commentary to follow in a bit.

 Collaboration To Take Most Competitive Racing in World to New Heights
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023) – Since the initial on-track testing of hybrid components over a year ago, development of the new NTT INDYCAR SERIES 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with hybrid technology has passed many significant milestones.
The INDYCAR SERIES 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine was initially paired and tested with the hybrid unit Aug. 16, 2023, at Sebring International Raceway. In just three months, a total of 15,256 miles of testing have been successfully completed with the new power unit among 13 NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers.
The much-anticipated debut of the new power unit is expected to launch after the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, during the second half of the 2024 INDYCAR SERIES season.
“The partnership between Chevrolet and Honda has been phenomenal,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “The INDYCAR-specific hybrid power unit is dynamic and an engineering marvel, and we’re completely committed to its successful introduction next season.”
The INDYCAR SERIES, Chevrolet and Honda are working in collaboration on the development of the first-of-its-kind hybrid unit with testing on tracks that mirror the disciplines of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Sessions have included ovals at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Milwaukee Mile and World Wide Technology Raceway, road courses at IMS, Road America and Barber Motorsports Park and the street circuit-like surface at Sebring.
INDYCAR’s hybrid power unit will enhance the racing action with additional horsepower and further the series’ efforts to deliver the most competitive motorsport on the planet. The new powerplant unit will feature additional overtake (“push-to-pass”) options, ultimately giving INDYCAR SERIES drivers more choices and control – enhancing the on-track competition and excitement.
The start of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is expected to feature enhanced possibilities of track records with lighter chassis components (aeroscreen, bellhousing and gearbox) prepared for the hybrid addition. Once the hybrid unit is integrated, the remaining 2024 races will feature the intensified engineering and wheel-to-wheel precision of the hybrid power era.
The hybrid system is made up of the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Energy Storage System (ESS), which both fit inside the bellhousing, located between the INDYCAR SERIES combustion engine and the gearbox. Multiple strategies for regeneration and deployment have been tested as the power unit builds and transmits energy through the MGU before being saved in the ultracapacitor ESS.
The additional horsepower is deployed through the same motor generator. Unlike the traditional INDYCAR “push-to-pass” system, the hybrid power unit will not have a restriction on total time used over the course of a race.
Additional testing and continued development of the hybrid package will continue throughout the winter and spring months ahead of the first race in 2024.
More information on the competitive launch of the hybrid unit will be announced at a later date.
The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 10 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Coverage will be available via NBC and Peacock with audio coverage provided by the INDYCAR Radio Network, SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

Does Indycar Need a New ‘Big Event?’

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After reading an article by Marshall Pruett in Racer magazine in which Mark Miles discussed a possible “big event” for Indycar in 2025, I’m wondering just what is a big event? I thought Indycar already had at least a couple.

Is there a bigger event in racing than the Indianapolis 500? Isn’t Long Beach a big event? Iowa is approaching that status with the concert lineups they have had, the Nashville finale in 2024 could be on its way to that elite status.

I assume Miles is talking about a new street event in one a large, glamorous city. Since NASCAR has Chicago and F1 has Miami and Las Vegas, what remains? New York? Maybe. Boston? Not a chance. Denver? Possibly.

There seems to be a trend across motorsport to hold races in locales that offer entertainment which comes close to making the racing secondary. Iowa is close to this point, and I am concerned that Nashville could also fall into the same trap. Indycar needs to find a better balance un a new event than F1 had in Las Vegas. The race there turned out to be quite entertaining, but did it create new F1 fans?

Should the series proceed with a new “big splash” venue, they need to choose an area not served by IndyCar at present. The northeast has not seen an Indycar race since the series removed Pocono from the schedule.

A new event would have to make sense financially for all the series stakeholders. Will the new venue be a schedule expansion, or will a current venue drop off the calendar?

I applaud the series for wanting to try a different event presentation- some races could use a little more pizzazz- but wouldn’t it be even simpler to tweak things at some of their current big events?

Some Racing Notes and a Look at the 2024 Indycar Grid

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. We are just past the halfway point to the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. I have just a couple of notes, and I wanted to do an update on the grid for 2024. After a very busy off season, the grid seems to be stalled with three seats remaining.

Norris McDonald

Sad news today about the death of the dean of Canadian motorsports journalism Norris McDonald. McDonald, 81, was automotive editor of the Toronto Star. I never had the honor of meeting him, but I always enjoyed his writing and passion for motor racing.

I may not have always liked what he wrote, but it was hard to disagree with him. I know how much mu Canadian journalism friends are hurting today. Condolences to them and McDonald’s family.

Sebastian Wheldon Wins Skip Barber Series

On a happier note, Sebastian Wheldon won the Skip Barber Racing Series last week. Wheldon won six races during the season, but he needed strong finishes in the double header final weekend. Wheldon had a win and a fifth place result to clinch the championship.

The 14-year-old son of the late two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon and his brother Oliver have a development contract with Andretti Global.

The Grid- Close to Finished

Twenty four of the 27 full time seats are set for the 2024 Indycar grid. The only openings are two at Dale Coyne Racing and one at A. J. Foyt Racing.

At Foyt the number 14 car is still a question mark. Santino Ferrucci, I think, will drive the ovals at least, but who will take the wheel for the road and street circuits is still up for debate.

At Coyne I am totally in the dark. Enzo Fittipaldi was mentioned as a possibility, but today it appears as if he might be slated for a seat in F2.

Could Coyne be where Callum Ilott lands? I think Ilott would thrive there. Coyne can produce some decent results, and Ilott could deliver for this team.

The confirmed lineup:

Ganassi– Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Marcus Armstrong, Kyffin Simpson, Linus Lundqvist

Penske– Josef Newgarden, Scott Mclaughlin, Will Power

Andretti– Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson

Arrow McLaren- Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, David Malukas

Rahal Letterman Lanigan– Graham Rahal, Christian Lundgaard, Pietro Fittipaldi

Meyer Shank– Felix Rosenqvist, Tom Blomqvist

Juncos Hollinger– Romain Grosjean, Agustin Canapino

Carpenter– Rinus Veekay, *Christian Rasmussen (road/street) Ed Carpenter (ovals)

Foyt– Benjamin Pedersen

*shared ride- car 20

Harvest Home- A Tale of Thanksgiving

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This story isn’t racing related, but I wanted to share it.

Thanks to all those who read this blog throughout the year. I am grateful and humbled by you. I also wish to thank my medical team at Ascension St. Vincent for getting me back to health this summer.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving weekend. It’s just 109 days until St. Pete.

Harvest Home

There was enough at last. Our vegetable garden had finally produced the amount of food we needed for our garden Thanksgiving dinner. Vicki and I dreamed of creating the Thanksgiving meal completely from our garden one day. We drew our inspiration from Scott and Helen Nearing, who lived solely off the land in Vermont and Maine. New gardens need time to produce a bountiful harvest, and in our fourth year of gardening, we had enough to feed everyone who would attend.

Throughout the summer we froze green beans and set them aside for November. We still had plenty to enjoy immediately. The butternut and acorn squash ripened late in the season and kept well in the pantry. Varieties of potatoes left their cozy soil beds to get scrubbed and found a place near the squash, to wait for the celebration to begin.

We added carrots and tomatoes, some rescued from the first frost, to our arsenal of ingredients. Thyme, rosemary, and sage from the herb garden hung above the kitchen window after an August harvest.

On Thanksgiving morning blenders whirred, timers buzzed, knives chopped, the microwave dinged- composing a symphony as the bounties of the garden integrated into the final presentation. In the background “Harvest Home” and “We Gather Together” on the radio enhanced the meaning of the day.

Our garden Thanksgiving meals continued for several years, but that first one will always be the most rewarding. My favorite holiday hasn’t been the same since.

Newby’s Legacy: Riley Hospital

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Editor’s note: Thanks to Dr. Richard Schreiner and Karen Stroup for providing sources for this story.

Many people become known for their success in business, art or politics; many are renowned for the accumulation of wealth. Few are known for their good deeds or contributions which benefit their communities long after they are gone.. One of the IMS founders deserves more credit for what he did behind the scenes in Indianapolis.

Arthur Newby, the first Vice President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ran several successful businesses in Indianapolis. He founded Indianapolis Chain and Stamping Company, which later became Diamond Chain. National Motors was another one of Newby’s companies. Joe Dawson drove a National to victory in the 1912 Indianapolis 500.

He also owned a board track for bicycle racing with Carl Fisher. In 1909, the two men, along with James Allison and Frank Wheeler pooled $250,000 to form the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

While Wheeler, Fisher, and Allison had mansions on Cold Spring Road, Newby lived in a home at 40th and Meridian Streets. He donated part of his property to the fledgling Hoosier Motor Club, the forerunner of the American Automobile Association, which had its main office at that location for decades. The site is now home to the Martin Luther King center. Tarkington Towers occupies the site of his home.

In 1916 their friend, the poet James Whitcomb Riley died. Fisher was an honorary pallbearer at Riley’s funeral.

The following year a meeting took place in the home of L. C. Boyd to explore creating a children’s hospital as a memorial to Riley. The hospital would be open to children anywhere in Indiana and would be free to those who could not pay. A story in The Indianapolis News from August 21, 1917, lists the attendees. If you have ever driven in downtown Indianapolis and noticed the names on some of the older buildings, it is likely that the founder of that company was either there that day or expressed interest in helping with the project.

Allison was the only member of the speedway ownership group to attend, but the other three owners sent telegrams pledging support with time and donations. Allison became a part of the committee to create plans for the children’s hospital. The committee chairman was J. K. Lilly.

Newby’s $50,000 donation was the largest individual contribution to the building fund. When the hospital opened in 1924, the outpatient clinic was named the Newby Exoclinic in his honor. A tile on the floor of the clinic honors Newby, who made the donation in memory or of his parents and sister,

The tile recognizing Arthur Newby’s gift to Riley Hospital now rests in the atrium lobby of the hospital, 24 feet from its original location in the outpatient clinic.

Newby’s contribution to Riley was arguably the most public of his philanthropical gifts. he built and bought homes for homeless people. He gave kids money to go to school with the stipulation that they did not reveal where the money came from.

Butler University and Earlham College also received sizeable gifts from Newby. he also purchased land in Parke County which he donated to the state of Indiana. The property is now Turkey Run State Park.

The link between Riley and the Speedway continues today. Riley sponsors the turn 2 suites. Drivers visit the hospital to meet with patients during May.

RLL Extends Graham Rahal Contract

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From Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing:

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (November 13, 2023) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that the team has entered into a new multi-year agreement that will see Graham Rahal continue to compete for the team in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Rahal earned two of the final four poles in 2023, made three front row starts and returned to the podium at the Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis with a second-place finish in what was the closest finish recorded on the road course with a margin of -0.4779 to the winner, Dixon, after he led a race-high 36 laps.

Rahal’s rookie season of INDYCAR competition was in 2007 and he joined RLL full time in 2013. Since that time, he has earned three of his five career poles and five of his six career wins with RLL and contended for the championship in the final race of the 2015 season from a second-place rank. Rahal joins teammates Christian Lundgaard and Pietro Fittipaldi for RLL’s 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES lineup.

The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10 and the 17-race schedule includes the return of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Weekend doubleheader on Saturday, July 13 and 14 – both at Iowa Speedway. For more information about the series or team, visit http://www.indycar.com and http://www.rahal.com.

QUOTEBOARD:

GRAHAM RAHAL, Driver of the No. 15 Honda: “I’m extremely excited to get a new multi-year agreement in place and hopefully continue to build and improve the team. At the end of the season, we saw some glimpses of what we can and should be. Obviously, there is a lot of work still to be done to ensure that we continue to grow and get ourselves in a place for continuous success but I’m excited about the signs that I saw. I’m also excited to continue working with the tremendous partners that we have. It was important to me to continue to represent them and hopefully do a great job for them as we go forward. I’m glad that we were able to come together with Mike, my dad, David (Letterman) and everyone at the organization to continue together.”

BOBBY RAHAL, Co-Owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “We are pleased to have been able to come to an agreement with Graham to drive for the team for the coming years. Clearly, when we’ve given him a car that he likes he shows what he can do by running up front. Two pole positions, really within a fraction of a second for a third this year and led many laps. All of that should reaffirm to everyone what he is capable of. He’s as driven as ever to win races and it’s exciting to watch. Clearly the efforts of the team over the off season are to ensure we have competitive cars at every race next year, including the Indy 500.”

MIKE LANIGAN, Co-Owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “I have worked with Graham for the last 18 years, first as a 17-year-old in the Atlantic Series and many years as an INDYCAR driver.  Watching him grow and excel not only in racing, but also off the track, has been very impressive. Signing him with RLL will certainly continue to enhance the team’s ability to succeed in the competitive world we race in. His experience and knowledge in all aspects of racing is one the team will take full advantage of.”

Jacob Abel Back with ABEL Motorsports for Shot at 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone Title

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From Abel Motorsports:

Speedway, Ind. – INDY NXT by Firestone veteran, Jacob Abel, will be back behind the wheel of an ABEL Motorsports Dallara IL-15 for another shot at the INDY NXT championship in 2024. Abel will once again be doing battle in the No. 51 ABEL Construction car for the duration of the 14-race schedule.

It was a breakout season in 2023 for the Louisville Kentucky native, highlighted by his first pole position at the Iowa Speedway along with 4 podium finishes and 8 top 5 finishes, on track to a 5th place finish in the season championship. To top the year off for Abel, the 22-year-old completed his first laps behind the wheel of an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on November 6th at Sebring International Raceway.

“I’m really looking forward to returning for a 3rd season of INDY NXT in 2024.” Said Abel. “2023 was a big year of growth for our team and me personally, and I’m excited to carry that momentum into the 2024 season.”

2-years of progression has led to the 2024 INDY NXT season for Abel, whose goal is clear: to win races and contend for the season championship. After spending most of the season in the championship battle in 2023, Abel knows the key to success in 2024 and is ready to build on the pace and consistency that was found last season.

“We had lots of highs in the 2023 season.” said Abel. “We fought for wins at multiple different races throughout the season but were never able to end up on the top step for one reason or another,” exclaimed Abel. “2024 will be all about putting everything we’ve learned from the past couple of years together to hopefully contend for the championship.”

Abel becomes the 2nd driver announced for ABEL Motorsports for the 2024 INDY NXT season alongside series rookie Yuven Sundaramoorthy, as ABEL Motorsports looks to expand to a full season multi-car effort in INDY NXT.

Next up for Jacob Abel and the ABEL Motorsports outfit is the final INDY NXT test of 2023 on November 13th at the Barber Motorsports Park. “I’m excited to get to Barber and start working on 2024, that was one track we struggled a little bit on last year which will make maximizing this test very important,” said Abel. “We get more testing this offseason than we did last year, so it will be very important for everyone on our team to work diligently to maximize these days to fully prepare us for St. Pete and the rest of the season.”

Keep up with all things ABEL Motorsports, including off-season driver announcements, by following the team on social media @abelmotorsports or by visiting www.abelmotorsports.com for all of the latest news surrounding the team.

2024 INDY NXT SCHEDULE:
Round 1 – March 8 – Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, FL – Street Course
Round 2 – April 28 – Barber Motorsports Park – Birmingham, AL – Road Course
Rounds 3/4 – May 10-11 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis, IN – Road Course
Round 5 – June 2 – Detroit Grand Prix – Detroit, MI – Street Course
Rounds 6/7 – June 22-23 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, CA – Road Course
Round 8 – July 7 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, OH – Road Course
Round 9 – July 13 – Iowa Speedway – Newton, IA – Oval
Round 10 – August 17 – World Wide Technology Raceway – St. Louis, MO – Oval
Round 11 – August 25 – Portland International Raceway – Portland, OR – Road Course
Round 12 – August 31 – Milwaukee Mile – Milwaukee, WI – Oval
Round13 – September 15 – Music City Grand Prix – Nashville, TN – Street Course

XXX

Abel Motorsports including team Principal, Bill Abel, has been competing since 1972. ABEL Motorsports is now on to the third generation with Jacob Abel being the flagship driver for the team. The team was able to capture the inaugural F3 Americas Championship in 2018, and currently competes in the freshly rebranded INDY NXT by Firestone, the official development series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as the team’s first entry into the Indianapolis 500 with driver RC Enerson in 2023. For more information visit the official team website at: www.abelmotorsports.com

IMS, Purdue Partner for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Experience

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023) – Purdue University is joining the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as presenting sponsor for Total Solar Eclipse viewing event April 8, 2024, in front of a worldwide audience, further deepening the long-standing history between the two iconic organizations.
The Total Solar Eclipse Event at IMS presented by Purdue University will be one of the nation’s most prominent viewing events for the once-in-a-generation phenomenon. Chosen as one of only a few NASA broadcast sites that day, IMS will draw all eyes to Indianapolis, located in the heart of the path of totality. The exciting day of programming and festivities will feature Boilermaker experts, alumni, students and more during the in-person event and broadcasted across the world.
“Purdue’s support for this event is a perfect fit because of its storied, successful history in space exploration, motorsports and engineering education,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said.
“‘Boiler Up’ will take on a whole new meaning through this partnership as thousands look upward to the sky April 8 for a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
The partnership is a natural extension of Purdue’s long history in motorsports and space. Home to the Cradle of Astronauts and the nation’s only accredited motorsports engineering program, Purdue puts more graduates in space and Gasoline Alley than any other university in Indiana.
“Purdue has a special place in space exploration and at IMS,” said Purdue University President Mung Chiang. “Whether the International Space Station or the Yard of Bricks, Boilermakers are there, persistently pursing their next giant leap. The total solar eclipse is the perfect event to showcase it all, especially in the quarter before the birth of Purdue University in Indianapolis: our capital city’s first top-50 university in America.”
Loral O’Hara became the 27th Purdue astronaut after launching from Baikonur Cosmodrome on Sept. 16 for a six-month stay on the International Space Station. More than 47 space shuttle flights have featured Purdue alumni onboard, and 11 missions have included multiple Boilermakers.
While Purdue’s astronauts may be popular, thousands of fellow alums enable the next giant leaps in space exploration working for NASA or within the private sector.
Between its campuses in Indianapolis and West Lafayette, Purdue has propelled students and graduates to exciting motorsports careers at the highest levels of racing, including NASCAR, INDYCAR and the International Motor Sports Association, as well as with manufacturers, most notably Dallara, a prominent race car builder, and Cummins, a global power technology leader.
Boilermakers are no stranger to victory lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Matt Kuebel and Mike Koenigs (Josef Newgarden, 2023) and Angela Ashmore (Marcus Ericsson, 2022) were key parts of Indianapolis 500-winning teams the last two years.
“Our partnership with IMS is a very natural extension for our brand and offers us the opportunity to share more incredible stories of Boilermakers taking their next giant leaps — in both space and motorsports — as we get closer to April 8, 2024,” said Katie Ellis, director of marketing strategy at Purdue University.
“Purdue’s legacy in space exploration started decades ago, but we have incredible students, faculty and alumni working every day to make world-changing discoveries, so we cannot wait to spotlight them through this partnership.”
This is the first time in 819 years a total solar eclipse has been visible in Indianapolis, and another 129 years will pass before it occurs again. For three minutes and 46 seconds, Indianapolis will experience darkness as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun.Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the Total Solar Eclipse Event at IMS presented by Purdue University and for more information on event details. 

Is Juncos a Better Fit for Grosjean?

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Romain Grosjean’s move to Juncos Hollinger Racing could turn out to be a good thing for his Indycar career. At the media availability last Thursday, Grosjean expressed tempered optimism with modest, reasonable goals while praising the achievements of the team and their rookie driver, Agustin Canapino.

He admits that there are challenges on the small two car team. Grosjean will drive a Chevrolet after three years of Honda power. He has to learn the dynamics of a new team and an owner with a different management style than former boss michael Andretti has.. Grosjean joins Juncos Hollinger as the most experienced driver and team leader by default.

Grosjean thins the introduction of hybrid system may help level the field a bit in 2024, since it is new to everyone. he thinks the team can be competitive as they were at the end of this past year.

There are some things we won’t know until the new season gets underway. How will he handle a disagreement with Ricardo Juncos? How will Canapino’s fans react should the teammates have an on track incident? Will the team show Grosjean support should a clash occur?

While we have to see how the year goes, and whether the team can regain some of the good will they had with many fans before the end of 2023, I still think overall, that this ride may be the best fit Grosjean has had in Indycar.

The size of the team should increase his comfort level. I got the feeling he didn’t like driving for a team the size of Andretti, who had four drivers plus an affiliation with the two drivers at Meyer Shank Racing. Grosjean was impressive as a rookie at Dale Coyne Racing at a team similar in size to Juncos Hollinger Racing. I think this is the size of team that suits him best.

Grosjean said his goals are to get the team closer to the top ten if not into the top ten. I believe that is a reasonable goal. If the team dynamic factors align, Grojean and JHR could have a decent 2024 season.