Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Let’s Wait Another Year

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Photo: Will Power at the IMS hybrid test.

Today’s news about Indycar’s delaying the new hybrid component was not a complete shock. Statements from Jay Frye and Mark Miles left a lot of doubt that the system would be up and running by the St. Pete opening round.

News trickled out slowly this morning. First came word that the December test in which all teams would have a chance to test the new configuration was cancelled. Miles still insisted that the series would be ready to debut on opening weekend, and that there was no Plan B.

Then early this afternoon Indycar posted a slick PR release announcing that they are working on the hybrid component, and it will debut when it’s ready, sometime in the second half of the season. The second half of the season begins at Mid Ohio July 7.

Indycar press release:

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

It appears the issue is the supply chain, although I suspect there are still problems with consistency and reliability of the unit. It seemed to be working well at the oval test at IMS in October, and the drivers seemed intrigued by the potential of the new tool in their toolbox.

No matter how this situation is spun, it is not a good look for Indycar. Fans are eager for something new. My preference would have been a new car. The series has very stale optics- a 12 year old car and engine formula; little change in race weekend formats, for example. While hybrid technology is intriguing and could change the racing strategy, it is not something that a fan can see.

A postponement is probably the correct call. Indycar must get this right. The first half of the season would likely see a lot of mechanical issues, which the series would not want at Thermal or the Indianapolis 500.

I think the call to wait is fine, but it doesn’t go far enough. We have waited this long, and Indycar already lags F1, WEC, and IMSA in introducing a hybrid unit. What is the harm in waiting until 2025?

The release said teams will be testing through the first half of the year. Not every team has the units, and there is no timeline for them to get them. Once the season begins, there are not many times for testing. There is one week after St. Pete, three weeks after the Thermal VIP event, and one week after Barber, which teams might want for Indianapolis preparation. Competiton takes up five consecutive weekends beginning in May.

Another factor to consider is competitive balance. Four teams-Team Penske, Arrow McLaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti Global – have done all the testing. The other six teams do not have any chance at getting in the mileage that those four have had during 2024.

The second half of next season could see races with higher than normal attrition and could affect the championship down the stretch. The end of the schedule is oval heavy, and I am still not sure how a hybrid works on an oval.

The six teams who have yet to run the new power units could have a potentially decent season ruined by the mid-year introduction of new rules. The NBA doesn’t make baskets from behind the arc worth four points after the All-Star break.

The positive in today’s events is that Indycar realized that their hard St. Pete deadline was not attainable, and they adjusted. I think they need to adjust even more, and let’s wait until 2025 at St. Pete to introduce the hybrids.

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

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.”

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.

JHR Signs Grosjean

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To the surprise of no one, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced today that Romain Grosjean will drive the 77 car in the NTT Indycar Series in 2024. A sponsor was not named.

The announcement comes just a week after the team and driver Callum Ilott parted ways.

Grosjean and team principals will have a news conference at 2 pm Eastern time today. Look for more about this story later.

The brief announcement from the team:

Juncos Hollinger Racing announces new addition to 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES line-up
Indianapolis, November 2 2023: Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) is thrilled to announce the addition of Romain Grosjean to its 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES roster. He will drive the team’s #77 Dallara-Chevrolet – a proven machine on the racing circuit.

A seasoned competitor joins JHRRomain is no stranger to high-speed competition, having completed the 2023 season at 13th place in the INDYCAR points standings. His standout performances included consecutive second-place finishes at both the Long Beach and Alabama circuits.
A new challenge for an industry veteranWith nearly a decade of consecutive Formula One racing seasons under his belt, Romain took the INDYCAR scene by storm in 2021. At 37, he sees the transition to JHR as an exciting new chapter in his already illustrious career.
“I’ve been closely following JHR’s ascension in the past few seasons. The team has showcased significant growth and I am eager to contribute my experience as we aim for a strong 2024 season,” he said.
Leadership’s perspectiveRicardo Juncos, JHR co-owner and team principal, said: “Romain brings an unparalleled pedigree in motorsports. His leadership and experience are precisely what we need to propel JHR to new heights in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”
Brad Hollinger, JHR co-owner, added: “Romain has a history of competing at the pinnacle of motorsports. His expertise will be invaluable as we strive to redefine our performance metrics, both on and off the track.”
Looking ahead to 2024The team is set to kick off its 18-round NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign on the Streets of St. Petersburg on March 10, 2024. With the addition of Romain, JHR solidifies its commitment to achieving new milestones in the upcoming season.

Full Repave of Racing Surface Completed at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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Planning for comprehensive project began in 2022

Article and photos from Mid Ohio Sports car Course

Photos provided courtesy of Kokosing/Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Oct. 31, 2023) – A full repave project of the entire racing surface at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was completed last week, officials from Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which owns and operates the track, announced today. Ohio-based Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. began initial repair work the week of October 16th, followed by milling the existing track surface on Monday, October 23 and completing the paving of the final asphalt surface layer on Friday, October 27. 
The project was a collaborative effort using the expert services of Kokosing Construction Company, Inc., Kokosing Materials, Inc. and Advanced Materials Services, LLC. Planning and thorough research for the repaving began in 2022 with a test layer placed in Turn 1 for performance evaluation of a racetrack-specific asphalt mixture during the 2023 racing season. The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course racing surface was last repaved starting fall 2005 and completed in spring 2006.
“We were blessed with outstanding weather last week for the crews to complete this major project in a relatively short amount of time,” said Kevin Savoree, co-owner, president and chief operating officer of Green Savoree Racing Promotions. “It was a tremendous accomplishment and collaboration between Kokosing Construction, Kokosing Materials, Advanced Materials Services and our own track operations team to make it happen. We look forward to getting race cars on it for the first time next spring!”
Last week’s work utilized approximately 100 people, 5,000 manpower hours, 15 trucks to remove approximately 6,000 tons (300 truckloads) of old track material and 30 trucks to haul in 6,000 tons of the new asphalt mixture onto the property. The project encompassed 11,550 feet of surface paving, 3,500 feet of various turn reinforcement, 500 feet of full depth repair in the Keyhole and Turn 12 areas and 300 feet of transverse joint repair. 
After milling the racing surface, the second step of the process for Kokosing featured asphalt repairs and reinforcement of high stress areas which required additional milling depth. For the final stage, two pavers placed the asphalt surface layer at 40-foot width around the entire circuit, working in echelon (side-by-side pattern) to avoid a centerline joint throughout the track’s 2.258-mile, 13-turn or 2.4-mile, 15-turn layout. The old, milled track material is being recycled and regraded to create additional paddock and parking surface areas on the Mid-Ohio property. 
“Plans for the 2023 project started in 2022, immediately after completing the resurfacing of Turn 1,” said Bart Moody, vice president of asphalt estimating and engineering at Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. “Logistical challenges had to be overcome to produce the mix and perform the work with limited time and access. A full-time truck coordinator was in constant communication with material trucks to ensure they entered and exited the track at the correct locations as work progressed. Crews worked extended hours in order to maintain the schedule that made use of unseasonably warm weather for October in Ohio.”
Aggregates were sourced locally in Ohio from Olen Corporation’s Upper Sandusky and Fredericktown plants. Durable aggregates were selected to withstand the loading applied to the track, and a highly polymerized asphalt binder was produced by Kokosing Materials, Inc. to withstand the high temperatures and stresses. The asphalt mixture used was tested at the Kokosing Materials Asphalt Plant and at the track for a variety of properties such as asphalt content, gradation and density. 
“The stresses on a racetrack, especially road courses with tight turns, are much higher than those typically seen on conventional asphalt pavements,” said Graham Hurley, project engineer at Advanced Materials Services, LLC. “The much stiffer PG 88-22 asphalt binder used counteracts the shear stresses imparted on the track surface by race cars, which prevents any ravelling that may occur. Additionally, the specifications used for this project were much tighter than a traditional highway specification. The target minimum softening temperature for asphalt binder and the target in-place density values were both set higher than conventional specifications for vehicular traffic. Kokosing successfully met these higher conditions with ease.”
The new track surface will be allowed to cure for over five months in advance of the 2024 season. The road course annually hosts a variety of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events as well the driving and riding courses provided by The Mid-Ohio School. 
The full schedule and ticket information for the 2024 major spectator events featuring IMSA, SVRA’s SpeedTour, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, American Motorcyclist Association and MotoAmerica will be announced at a later date. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult at all Mid-Ohio events. Visit midohio.com for more information, and follow its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, Twitter at @Mid_Ohio or Instagram at @officialmidohio for the latest news.   
About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally-sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.
For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.
About Kokosing:Kokosing is one of the largest family-owned construction companies in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Known for unwavering integrity and exceptional safety and quality, Kokosing companies provide extensive resources for their customers. Kokosing’s primary business lines include industrial, transportation, pipelines, water and wastewater, marine and renewable energy. Additionally, aggregates and asphalt material suppliers are part of the Kokosing family of companies.
About Advanced Materials Services LLC:Founded in 2007 and located in Auburn, Alabama, Advanced Materials Services, LLC provides pavement engineering, testing, and consulting services. AMS supports all aspects of flexible pavement design, testing, and construction inspection, particularly for specialty pavements, such as airfields, automotive proving grounds, intermodal facilities, and racetracks. AMS staff have over 60 years of cumulative experience in the development of asphalt specifications, asphalt mixture design, quality assurance support, materials research, and geotechnical engineering. To date, AMS has provided support to over 35 racetracks across the country.

Thoughts on Ilott and JHR; Notes

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While the news that Callum Ilott and Juncos Hollinger Racing agreed to “mutually part ways” came as a shock at first, after some reflection, it wasn’t really a surprise. The tension had been there all season.

At last spring’s open test at IMS Ilott expressed frustration about some issue with the car.

There was the incident at Long Beach where he exited the pits in front of teammate Agustin Canapino. Fans of the Argentinian were outraged and flooded Ilott’s Twitter account with death threats and tasteless comments. The team response to these comments were mild.

JKHR laid off some people midseason, and Ilott’s performance faltered.

At Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, both drivers were contending for high top 10 spots when their cars came together. I thought it was more Canapino’s fault, but Ilott took the brunt f the blame. Again, the death threats and vile comments were hurled Ilott’s way. The series and some drivers issued strong statements of condemnation, but JHR released a rather tepid response, barely a reprimand.

I wondered at the time how Ilott could stay at a team that would not support him.

Iam sure money has something to do with his departure. Canapino had to scrape together a new deal for 2024 since the government of Argentina could not renew their sponsorship.

JHR did Ilott a disservice by releasing him so late. There may be just one quality ride available, which Ilott can’t afford.

Now Ilott joins a pool of five drivers who are vying for maybe four full time seats. There are also some European drivers like Enzo Fittipaldi and Theo Pourchaire who will be testing with Indycar teams soon.

Ilott is a driver with some talent, and I would love to see what he could do with none of top rides. We may not get that chance next year, which would be Indycar’s loss.

Notes

I confirmed Friday that the IMS Museum’s last day before closing for nearly 18 months for renovation is November 5th. The gift shop will move to the white building just south of the museum and will be open beginning November 6th.

Pietro Fittipaldi’s ride in the number 30 car for RLL continues Indycar’s string of Brazilian drivers which was nearing extinction. His brother Enzo will be testing with Dale Coyne Racing soon. I’m not sure Enzo is ready for Indycar, but we have seen drivers make this leap before.