Alex Lynn had to be feeling quite good. His final Hyperpole lap edged out Sebastien Bourdais by 0.018 seconds to take the top spot and give Cadillac a front row lockout. But Kevin Estre in the Penske Porsche had yet to complete his final circuit. Estre gaiuned enough ground in the second half of the lap to steal the pole from Cadillac. His margin over Lynn was 0.148 seconds.
Penske cars have now won poles at the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500, and Le Mans.
Team Jota number 12, driven by Callum Ilott, did not participate because the car was not ready in time following a practice crash.
In LMP2, the number 14 car from AO Racing, affectionately known as Spike, will start on pole for that class. Louis Delatraz, who drives for Wayne Taylor Racing in IMSA, looks for his first Le Mans win after several close calls. The car has been in the top three in the practice sessions.
GT3 honors go to McLaren number 70, Brendan Iribe gave McLaren its first Le Mans pole.
The 2024 Le Mans grid is quite deep in all classes. I’m looking for a very competitive race.
Le Mans Continues to Astound
I thought that after a couple of days here i would find this event to return to an ordinary race weekend. The surprises keep coming. I di not expect much from yesterday’s Hyperpole shootout, nor did I expect much interest from the fans. The session had the largest crowd of the week. I watched from the same spot as I did for qualifying, just before the Dunlop bridge.
Wednesday for qualifying the crowd was about four deep from the fence. Thursday fans stood at least eight deep. I have no idea how those in the back saw anything.
I also had a chance meeting with some fellow Indycar fans. I saw on social media that they were coming, but did not have much hope of ever seeing them here. Yet, we found each other. Meeting siomeone you know here is a totally random act unless a meeting point has been pre arranged.
Friday is the Drivers’ parade at Place de la Republique. It begins a 4 pm local time. I plan to be there by 2, just going by the crowds I saw at Scrutineering last week.
I do have some thoughts on the new Indycar television package and the schedule, which I will put in another article later today. The six hour time difference is both a luxury and a curse when figuring out when to post things. It is 1:30 am Eastern as I am writing this. I try to post around 6 am Eastern, as most of you seem to think sleep is more important than reading my blog.
Alexander Rossi’s car for the Indianapolis 500 will look sinmilar to the 1974 500 winner
Arrow McLaren announced today that on Friday, April14, they will unveil special liveries for their three full time cars for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500. The lib=veries represent the McLaren cars that won racing’s Triple Crown- Indianapolis, Monaco, and LeMans.
Some fans have asked for an Indycar throwback race. I think the 500 would be the perfect venue for this. The car of Alexander Rossi will replicate the 1974 Indianapolis 500 winning McLaren of Johnny Rutherford. While not a 500 throwback, Felix Rosenqvist’s car will resemble the Penske Matlboro cars as it represents Alain Prost’s 1984 Monaco winner.
The full text of Arrow mcLaren’s release:
“In our 60th year, we are shining a light on the legacy of the team Bruce built”
McLaren Racing today announced a special livery series for Arrow McLaren in the 2023 Indianapolis 500, celebrating the team’s historic Triple Crown accolade as part of its 60th anniversary.
The livery series will be unveiled at an open event for fans and media at the Lifestyle Expo at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Friday 14 April.
Widely considered the greatest accomplishment in racing, the Triple Crown is achieved through winning the three most prestigious races in motorsport: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren’s Triple Crown is comprised of victories at the Indy 500 in 1974 with Johnny Rutherford, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix with Alain Prost, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 with JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya.
For the 107th Running of the Indy 500 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Arrow McLaren, with the support of Arrow Electronics, NTT DATA and SmartStop, will field four Chevrolets, each carrying a unique commemorative livery. Three of these will represent the individual race wins from McLaren’s Triple Crown, and one will reflect the collective achievement.
The livery series forms a part of McLaren’s 60th birthday celebrations in 2023, honoring iconic moments throughout its history, celebrating some of the team’s greatest achievements and the proud legacy built by team founder Bruce McLaren.
For the April 20-21 IMS Open Test and Indy 500 practice rounds, qualifying and the iconic race itself at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet piloted by Pato O’Ward will run in an all-black livery in tribute to the F1 GTR that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans on McLaren’s first attempt.
The No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet piloted by Felix Rosenqvist will carry a representation of the iconic MP4/2 livery, in which Alain Prost earned McLaren’s inaugural Monaco Grand Prix victory.
Alexander Rossi’s No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet will race in full papaya to commemorate the M16C/D in which Johnny Rutherford claimed McLaren’s maiden Indy 500 victory in 1974.
The liveries for the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolets will be unveiled at an open event for fans and media at the Lifestyle Expo, Friday 14 April at 09:00am PST, ahead of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The reveal will be attended by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, Arrow McLaren Racing Director Gavin Ward, and Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi. Tony Kanaan, who will pilot the team’s fourth car entry for the Indy 500, will emcee the Long Beach event.
Earlier this year, Tony announced that this will be his last ever Indy 500. Tony’s No. 66 SmartStop Arrow McLaren Chevrolet livery will be unveiled ahead of the April Open Test date. This car will be inspired by the collective achievement that is the Triple Crown.
Further celebrations will be revealed throughout the Month of May across McLaren’s other race series to commemorate the prestigious Triple Crown achievement.
Fans will be able to join the team in celebrating the campaign with limited-edition Triple Crown merchandise, with select pieces available for purchase onsite in Long Beach. The collection will also be available online from the McLaren Store in May, and on-site at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through the Indy 500 race week. The special range will feature collaborations with popular brands Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Castore, with items including caps, jerseys and hoodies in the bespoke Triple Crown style.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“We are proud to have achieved motorsport’s prestigious Triple Crown as a constructor. In our 60th year, we are shining a light on the legacy of the team that Bruce McLaren built and role this plays in fueling our ambitions for the future of the team.
“As a life-long McLaren fan, I fondly remember watching Alain Prost’s dramatic 1984 Monaco victory and the incredible moment when the team conquered Le Mans on its debut entry. Meanwhile Johnny Rutherford’s first Indy 500 win in papaya is one of the most important moments in McLaren Racing history. I can’t wait to see our four-car, star-studded lineup flying the colors of our Triple Crown victories at this year’s Indy 500.”
Gavin Ward, Racing Director, Arrow McLaren, said:
“I like to encourage the team, every time they pull on a Papaya race shirt, to think about the incredible achievements of this team and what it means to play our part in adding to that rich history. That significance will be even greater in May when we roll our cars to the grid for the Indianapolis 500 with these stunning liveries honoring McLaren Racing’s Triple Crown legacy.”
Chip Ganassi racing has filed a lawsuit in Marion County, Indiana, against Alex Palou, a driver for the team and current NTT Indycar Series champion. The complaint was sealed, but the suit likely involves Palou allegedly signing with McLaren for next season even though Ganassi exercised their 2023 option on Palou.
A team spokesperson said that Palou will drive the 10 car in this weekend’s Gallagher Grand Prix at IMS and is expected to drive the remaining 2022 races.
The filing
Ganassi has requested expedited discovery, within two weeks. as he wants to resolve this case as soon as possible.
I think this case will drag on awhile. McLaren said today they will not buy out Palou’s Ganassi contract, so a settlement doesn’t appear likely.
The implications for Palou’s Indycar career are troubling. Should he not work out at McLaren, I don’t think another Indycar team will touch him. McLaren has not even said that Palou will drive one of their cars in the series next season. AMSP driver Felix Rosenqvist said last weekend that he doesn’t think Palou will be driving at all next year.
It would be a shame if Indycar loses one of its brightest future stars, who already has a championship, because a team is trying to hoard all the top talent in the series.
I thought having a legendary brand like McLaren in the series was going to be great for the series. I really don’t like what they are doing. Their signing tactics are not good for the series as a whole.
Tuesday’s Alex Palou tug-of war between Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren has some serious implications for the NTT Indycar Series. Zak Brown has a lot of money to throw around, and McLaren has a lot of cars in several series. The organization is in Indycar, F1, Formula E as of next season, and Extreme E.
Five drivers in the Indycar paddock- Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist, and let’s assume Palou- have contracts of some sort with Mclaren. All are in the top 11 in the standings. Only O’Ward, Herta, and Rossi are guaranteed to be in Indycar in 2023. Herta will likely still be with Andretti Autosport. He recently completed his first F1 test with McLaren with more to come. Rosenqvist and Palou are aligned with McLaren, not necessarily the Indycar team. Arrow McLaren SP has plans for a third full time car in Indycar next season but has not named a driver.
Rosenqvist appears headed to Formula E, but we don’t know where Palou will be should McLaren prevail.
My concern is that McLaren is taking several of Indycar’s best drivers and stockpiling a driver pool to assign to their various racing ventures. Will they stop when all their seats are filled, or are they looking for some reserves as well?
The good news is that Indycar talent runs deep, and McLaren can’t get everyone, but what effect will this have on the series? Team owners may have to start offering better salaries to keep the top drivers, and perhaps offer them rides in other series they wish to try. Will the higher price for drivers cause smaller teams to fold?
I have become a big fan of Alex Palou, and I would hate to see him leave the series after just three years. he has the potential to be a huge star and win several Indycar titles and the Indianapolis 500. I would hate to see Indycar become a series where drivers win and one year and leave the next.
An answer to a question by Robin Miller in Racer magazine mailbag may offer a hint as to what to expect attendance wisewhenever the Indianapolis 500 is run. I’m still not optimistic about August. The answer:
From IMS President Doug Boles: “We are not installing the southern third of the Pit Road Terrace seats this year. The Pit Road Terrace seats are the temporary bleachers that we install behind the pit road fence on the south side of the Pagoda. It would not impact a decision to bring back the apron or not. A couple of reasons for the change: (1) With IndyCar using the Gasoline Alley garages on July 4 weekend, it helps us with our install time by not putting up as many seats between the race and Aug 12, and (2) in a typical year, we only sell about 50% of these seats, so a third reduction in more appropriate related to demand. And, not the reason why, Skip is correct that it would be a benefit in a COVID year in the sense that it is less people in the area. Ticketing customers in the impacted seats are being relocated inside the remaining Pit Road Terrace seats or given an option for another seat without having to pay the seat price difference.”
Along with fewer seats there will likely be no fans in the infield. Another blurb I read last week said that 175,00 tickets have been sold. Will IMS cap the sales now? I would expect a decision about August needs to come by mid July. The COVID-19 numbers in Indiana continue to decline, but several other states are experiencing large spikes in cases and deaths. Stay tuned. Wash your hands.
Earlier this week an announcement from the Birmingham News Journal said that the NTT Indycar Series and Barber Motorsports Park signed an extension of their agreement through 2023. Today, a Barber spokesperson said the contract runs through 2022. Barber is a staple on the Indycar calendar. The track is a great setting for a race. It is one of my favorite tracks to go to.
Illinois Opens Tracks With Limited Attendance
The state of Illinois has allowed race tracks to open with fan attendance limited to 20%. I’m not sure of the specifics of Illinois’ phased openings, so I don’t know what this means for Gateway yet. Gateway is another track that may have to make an attendance decision. The best attended non Indianapolis oval could open the first turn grandstand to allow the fans to spread out more.
McLaren Financial Troubles
reports this week say McLaren is facing some financial issues. The company is seeking a loan and legal action to raise 280 million pounds. A buyout and lease back arrangement is a possibility. We will have to wait and see what effect this has on their Indycar program.
A Positive Ending
Former Indy lights driver Aaron Telitz has signed on full time with AIM Vasser Sullivan’s IMSA GTD program. Telitz replaces Chase Parker, who was let go by the team last week. Telitz is a good driver. He is with a team with an Indycar connection, which I hope will earn him a chance at an Indycar ride someday.
Kody Swanson, USAC midget and Silver Crown driver, tested an Indy Pro 2000 car this week. Swanson is another driver who is long overdue for a shot at Indycar. It would be great if he could get some Road to Indy races in this year.
We are just nine days away from the next Indycar race!
Silly Season was straightforward this year. Alexander Rossi stays with Andretti. Done. Wrap it up. Look to next year. Today, with McLaren’s announcement that they are joining Arrow Schmidt Peterson for 2020, the dam has burst. There are ripples throughout the paddock. Here are some of my thoughts about this development.
McLaren has a lot to prove after their debacle in May. Will partnering with Schmidt Peterson help them?
I’m disappointed that McLaren does not add to the car count. I’ve said before they are looking to come in the easy way, becoming part of an existing team instead of building their own team with a technical alliance with an established team.
It’s a shame the way Honda’s hand was forced to make this deal happen. I can’t think of a Chevy team that would be a good match for McLaren. I’m not sure they even considered one.
My first concern was for James Hincliffe and Robert Wickens. In Marshall Pruett’s story, he said that the commitment to Wickens will be honored. Later this morning, Hinchcliffe issued the following statement:
I hope he also has a contract extension. Hinchcliffe’s current contract expires after the 2020 season. He also is losing his Honda commercial deal. I hope that he receives compensation for that.
Marcus Ericsson was likely going somewhere else anyway. he may be in a carlin car next year. Which brings up the question- who will drive the second car for the new team? Fernando Alonso said he is not interested in a full time Indycar ride.
Colton Herta may be available, but I think he will become the fifth driver at Andretti Autosport. If he is, is Conor Daly once again out of a potential full time ride? It’s those paddock ripples splashing up.
With whom does Meyer Shank now partner with as they prepare for a full schedule in 2020? The team is committed to Honda. An alliance with Andretti or Coyne seems most probable. I don’t think Ganassi is interested in being anyone’s partner.
The new team name is Arrow McLaren Racing SP. It bothers that mcLaren comes before Schmidt and Peterson and that the two founders names are reduced to initials. Since mcLaren is buying the team or acquiring the shares of either owner, I guess it’s a name recognition thing.
The biggest positive in today’s events is that Indycar now has a worldwide name in its paddock. it should help with recognition in Europe and may cause a bit of a bump in the United States.
I will keep updating as i learn more. Everything I just wrote could be incorrect by now.
The jaws are back. Andretti Autosport announced today that Conor Daly will drive the number 25 USAF car, the same one he drove in this year’s Indianapolis 500, in the NTT Indycar Series finale at Weather Tech Raceway. In the 500 Daly started 11th and finished 10th. he ran as high as fifth during the race.
This season Daly has also driven twice for Carlin Racing- at Texas, finishing 11th after a 19th place start, and at Iowa, where ended 13th from 16th on the grid.
I am glad Daly will drive for Andretti again this season. I was hoping he would be back in this car before Laguna Seca. Part of the reason I think the team is entering him in the finale is to serve as a point blocker to help Alexander Rossi get the championship. It would depend on where Daly qualifies, but it could help.
McLaren Closer to Indycar?
⚡@McLarenF1 is in the advanced stages of forming an @IndyCar partnership for next year, per paddock sources, and the team could announce its deal in the near future.
This Tweet from Adam Stern indicates some progress by McLaren toward the 2020 Indycar season. The engine issue and James Hinchcliffe’s contratc still seem like huge stumbling blocks. There is word McLaren is also after Colton Herta. I think there is still a lot of work to be done before we see orange cars on the grid full time.
Third Car for Rahal?
In an interview with RACER magazine Bobby Rahal said this week that a third car for Rahal letterman Lanigan Racing is closer than they’ve been before. The third RLL car has been a perennial Silly Season story. I hope it finally appears at St. Pete next March.
More Indy Lights Drivers Test Indycar
Oliver Askew tested with Chip Ganassi Racing at Portland International Raceway yesterday. The CGR team was impressed with his performance. Rinus VeeKay also tested for Ed Carpenter Racing the same day at Portland.
Andretti Autorsport Indy Lights driver Ryan Norman also tested for Andretti at Mid Ohio last week.
I don’t get too excited about Indy lights drivers testing with Indycar teams. It’s great that they get the experience, but the tests have zero implications for future Indycar rides.
I’m thinking the hybrid engine may not be the last bombshell announcement of this Silly Season. We need a race soon. Very soon.
Motorsport Magazine reports this morning that McLaren and Fernando Alonso have parted company. The separation is believed to be amicable.
“We have no plans to run him in any further F1 test sessions this year…He is free to pursue other opportunities in motorsport and we support him doing so,” a McLaren spokesman said.
Alonso has had an off and on relationship with McLaren since his first season with them in 2007, when he complained of the team giving preferential treatment to Lewis Hamilton. When he returned to McLaren for the 2015 season, Alonso complained loudly and often about the uncompetitive Honda engine.
This past May at Indianapolis Alonso and McLaren failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 after a series of missteps by the team.
Where does Alonso go from here? If he wants to pursue the triple crown Alonso will need to find an existing team. Will it need to be Chevy team? I’m not sure. it seemed Honda was less happy with McLaren than Alonso. He will also need to bring a lot of money.
I believe his commitment to Toyota in WEC ends after this season as well. Alonso has talked of racing in virtually every major series in the world, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him doing a bunch of one-offs. We might see him in the Daytona 500 next year as well as the Indianapolis 500. Perhaps a couple more races with Wayne Taylor Racing are in the cards.
I would like to see Alonso try a couple of Indycar road races, especially road America and Laguna Seca. While McLaren may eventually come to the NTT Indycar sreries full time, I see Alonso just running selected races.
We know wherever he races there will be crowds of fans and press following him.
McLaren revealed the car Fernando Alonso will drive in the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 next month. The mainly papaya orange machine, the traditional McLaren color, has blue accents. While similar to Scott Dixon’s car, I think they are different enough to tell apart. The McLaren has less blue in the middle and is a different shade of orange from the Ganassi PNC Bank entry.
The sidepod sponsor is an e-cigarette company and includes a health warning. Don’t look for tobacco companies to come rushing back to motorsports just because they can add a health warning. This si the second e cigarette company to be on a car. Blu sponsored Sebastien Bourdais a few years ago.
It’s a great looking car and it always adds to the race to have a former F1 champion in the field.
HSR Adds King Taco for Long Beach
Harding Steinbrenner Racing will carry King Taco sponsorship on Colton Herta’s car at Long Beach this weekend. King Taco usually sponsors a car in their local race. GESS, the primary sponsor of the 88 at Barber, is an associate sponsor this coming weekend.
It will be interesting to see if GESS commits further with the program in May.
Rich Energy Sponsors Jordan King
Jordan King, who will drive in the Indianapolis 500 as a third entry for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, yesterday announced Rich Energy is now a personal sponsor. This might help King, who drove the Ed Carpenter Racing number 20 on the road/street courses last year, get more races. Not sure if Rahal wants to do a third car for more than Indianapolis with the momentum the team has built the last two races.
Frye- Third OEM May Become Necessity
In a media availability at Barber Motorsports Park this past weekend, Indycar President Jay Frye said as more teams enter the field, a third engine manufacturer may “become a necessity rather than a luxury.”
It sounds as if he expects some more teams may be planning to enter the series. I agree. Honda and Chevy are getting stretched a bit already, especially in May.
Frye did not give any hints that a third OEM is imminent though rumors persist that a certain German company may have its name mentioned next month.
Last Look at Barber in Photos
Here are some final photos from Barber. The first two are from my friend Kyle McInnes, a photographer aspiring to become an Indycar photographer. Check out his work at kylemcinnesphoto.com.
Top: Matheus Leist after spinning in practice.
Bottom: Spencer Pigot brings out another red flag Friday’
Photos by Kyle McInnes
Scott Dixon makes his final pit stop.
Sato’s crew celebrates after the checkered flag.
Takuma Sato addresses the media after his convincing victory.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 