Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Technical Modifications Enhance Safety, Give Teams Options

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Indycar is adding some modifications to its cars for 2023, some involve safety, and others will give teams more options for downforce levels.

The modifications include:

A new rear attenuator and stronger rear-wheel tethers meant to protect the driver and reinforce the car in case of a collision. The red light at the rear of the car is larger to make it easier to see in rainy conditions.

 Addition of ‘rain vanes’ on the nose of the car just in front of the base of the aeroscreen. Officials believe the vanes will move moisture away from the screen.

A new, higher headrest to better pad drivers in the cockpit.

A new mandatory, “more-forgiving” steering arm capable of taking more punishment in a crash without breaking.

Optional use of short-oval barge boards at road and street course race weekends.

Optional use of the previously tested underwing sidewall at Texas.

Several changes for the Indy 500, including an optional underwing flap wicker, new mandatory stability wickers, a new optional underwing inner bargeboard (that’s also allowed at other ovals), optional underwing road and street course strakes, an optional speedway infill wicker (also allowed at Texas) and new pillar specs that create 3 more degrees of range on the adjustable rear wing that gives teams the option to add additional (or take away more) downforce.

Continued use of the EM Motorsports Telemetry and EM Marshalling systems tested at various tracks in 2022 that are designed to, among other things, make red and yellow flag calls more visible to drivers on-track and allow those calls to be relayed quicker.

I will have the second part of my season preview up tomorrow. Then it’s time to go racing.

A Tire Choice for Gateway; Qualifying Tweaks

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Look for red tires on the oval at Worldwide Technology Raceway

It’s an idea I have thought about, but I never dreamed it would really happen. The NTT Indycar Series will require teams to use road/street course tire rules at World Wide Technology Raceway in August. This will be the first time since the 2008 merger that an oval race will require to teams to use different tire compounds. This oval is the best one to try out this idea. The track drives like a road course with incline into turn 1 and the upward sweep into turn 2.

Think of the strategies involved. Does a team start on the alternates to get them out of the way? Do they save them for a late yellow and be at an advantage on a late restart? Does a driver decide to just use them in the middle of the race and hope to gain enough ground to have a chance at the end of the race?

Will the softer tires last an entire stint at high speed? I hope the teams get some test tine with the alternate at Gateway.

Another tire change for 2023- all teams may participate in the rubbering in session that was first employed at Texas Motor Speedway and Gateway last year. In 2022, only one car per team was allowed in the special session. Not everyone put a car on track. The process helped at Texas, and might help even more with more cars in the second groove/

Practice/Qualifying Changes

In an effort to give everyone a fairer chance at qualifying, the series has changed red flag procedures. The session clock will stop for the first red flag of each segment of qualifying but will keep running for any other red flags. The procedure is an attempt to allow the faster cars from not advancing because time runs out before they get their best laps in.

I understand why the rule was changed, but many times I see the faster cars just sitting in the pits waiting to do one final lap, then get hung out because of a red flag. If it’s their choice to play the clock, they have to accept that it may not work I don’t mind a few qualifying surprises. A fast car will find its way to the front most of the time during the race.

Another change Indycar made is when the clock starts for the session. Since the current qualifying procedure began, the clock starts when the green flag waves. In 2023, the clock begins when the first car crosses the alternate start/finish line, which is usually in the vicinity of the last turn before pit in. I like this change. It will allow at least one extra lap of qualifying, which may give someone a chance to make up for a bad lap, or to retake the top spot from someone late in the session.

The cars themselves have some modifications for 2023 which i will discuss next week, along with my season preview.

All Street Races to Feature Guayule Alternate Tires

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Firestone continues its push toward sustainability as the guayule alternate tire used in last year’s Music City Grand prix at Nashville, will be the alternate tire for all five street course races in 2023.

The guayule shrub is a fast-growing plant which requires less water than a rubber tree, and has a quicker maturation period.

From today’s announcement from Bridgestone:

“The Firestone Firehawk race tire will be featured as the alternative tire at the Firestone Grand Prix (March 5) in St. Petersburg, Fla., Streets of Long Beach (April 16), Streets of Detroit (June 4), Streets of Toronto (July 16) and the Music City Grand Prix (Aug 6) in Nashville, Tenn. For the 2023 season, Bridgestone will supply more than 1900 tires using a sidewall material made exclusively with rubber derived from the guayule woody desert shrub grown on the company’s own farm in Eloy, Arizona. The initiative builds on the 2022 competitive debut of guayule race tires at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville last August.”

I talked to Cara Krstolic last May, who told me that the tire would be introduced gradually. We may see it on some road courses in 2024.

The guayule tires on display at IMS in May

“We are driving sustainability in every area of our business, and we’re thrilled to be advancing guayule and other sustainable practices in America’s premier open-wheel racing series,” said Paolo Ferrari, CEO of Bridgestone Americas. “Firestone has a tremendous legacy of innovation and performance in racing, which we will continue to build upon as we move into this new era of cleaner, safer and more sustainable mobility on and off the track.”

The 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 will feature a tire made from recycled material.

From the Bridgestone announcement:

“This year at the Indy 500, all race tires – for practice, qualifying and race– will incorporate ISCC recycled-attributed butadiene, a monomer produced with recycled post-consumer plastic waste, to create the synthetic rubber in the tire. The new monomer will replace the fossil-based monomer and will be supplied by Shell, the race series’ official fuel, oil and lubricant sponsor.”

Shell becomes the official fuel, oil, and lubricant supplier for the NTT Indycar Series this season. The company will provide a plant based fuel for the cars.

Advance Auto Parts Named Official Sponsor of Checkered Flag for NTT INDYCAR SERIES

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From IMS and Indycar:

 Advance Also Becomes Official Automotive Aftermarket Retail Partner of INDYCAR, IMS

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023) – Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider, today announced a multiyear agreement to become the official sponsor of INDYCAR’s checkered flag used at each NTT INDYCAR SERIES race through the 2025 season.

The partnership connects Advance’s distinctive logo, which features the checkered flag icon, with the iconic flag NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers aspire to see first at the end of each race.

Through the agreement, Advance also becomes the official automotive aftermarket retail partner of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Advance’s marks will be displayed on the iconic IMS Scoring Pylon and other digital boards throughout the “Racing Capital of the World” for its signature events, including the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May and the Brickyard Weekend tripleheader in August.

“We’re honored to welcome Advance Auto Parts to both the INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway families,” said Mark Miles, president & CEO Penske Entertainment Corp. “Advance is a world-class and highly respected brand, and the perfect partner emblem to display on the checkered flag welcoming our NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers to the finish line at the iconic Yard of Bricks and across all of our events.”

Advance’s partnership with INDYCAR will include a charitable component during the 2023 season. As race-winning drivers strategically use “advance” as a verb in their post-race interviews, Advance will gift winning drivers a cash prize to be donated to a charity of their choice.

“It’s a privilege to associate the Advance brand and our checkered flag with those used at the Indianapolis 500 and every INDYCAR race,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and eCommerce.


“We know INDYCAR fans are incredibly passionate about the sport, its heritage and future. Whether they’re road-tripping to the next race or tackling their everyday commute, race fans know we’ll be ready with quality auto parts and expert advice to help them advance to their own checkered flag.”


Advance and INDYCAR also will team up on a unique content series viewable on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Leading into each race weekend, INDYCAR will create a video highlight reel celebrating the most exciting wins and checkered flag moments at that track, giving race fans an opportunity to witness some of auto racing’s most historic wins though archived footage.

The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 5 (Noon ET on NBC, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Indycar Season Preview-2023 Breakthroughs and Hot Seats

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Today is the first in a series of preview articles as we head into the 2023 NTT Indycar Series season. Let’s take a look at four drivers who I think are going to have much improved years. Three are rookies from last year, and one young veteran I think is about to hit his stride. We will also look at some drivers who may be fighting for their jobs this year.

Drivers to Watch

Kyle Kirkwood

Kirkwood seems to be enjoying his new team. he has been quick in testing, as have his Andretti teammates. What remains to be seen is if his racecraft has improved. Last year Kirkwood sometimes tried too hard to overcome equipment deficits. the result was a lot of unforced errors and a 24th place finish in the final standings. He has the equipment and the team behind him to succeed this year. i expect to see a lot of the Kirkwood we saw on the Road to Indy in 2023. Will he win a race? I think that is possible, but not likely this season.

Christian Lundgaard

Lundgaard quietly earned Rookie of the Year in 2022, and showed steady improvement as the season went on. He earned seven Top 10 finishes, including two Top Fives and one podium. A year’s experience, backing by Hy-Vee, and an improving RLLteam should combine to see even better results for Lundgaard in 2023. I see him ending up in the TopTen at the end of the year.

David Malukas

A rough start to 2022 probably cost Malukas the Rookie of the Year title. He lost to Lundgaard by only 18 points. A driver who showed increasing maturity as the year progressed, Malukas drive to a brilliant second place at World Wide Technology Raceway. Malukas had one other top 10, at Iowa. He was the highest finishing rookie at the Indianapolis 500, but his lack of NASCAR titles cost him Indy Rookie of the Year. Of the three sophomores, I think Malukas is the most probable to eke out a win in 2023. Dale Coyne Racing doesn’t have the best equipment, but they know how to play the rules, and I think a race will fall his way.

Rinus VeeKay

It’s time for Rinus to stop teasing us. The potential is there for a breakout season. We have been waiting for the ECR driver to put together a solid, consistent season. VeeKay won the pole at Barber and finished third after a slow out lap following his second pit stop. He had a decent year in 2022 with six Top Tens and three Top Fives, but just one podium. Maybe we expect too much of VeeKay. I look for a top ten season finish and more regular top five appearances. A win is possible.

Hot Seats

Three drivers need to have really good seasons if they wish to stay in Indycar in 2024. One will be leaving his current team after the season, and this year is an audition for all the other teams. The other two have to show significant improvement in 2023.

Jack Harvey

We still aren’t sure what kind of a driver Jack Harvey is. Harvey had just one Top ten in 2022. That will not be good enough this coming season., I hoped for better results since he joined the series. For 2023, a different sponsor, different car number, and new crew may help Harvey rise to the level that fans have expected of him. I’m not expecting a win, but a final spot in the top 15 would be a significant improvement.

Romain Grosjean

I don’t know Grosjean’s contract status, but I thought when he joined Andretti, he would be a consistent contender for podiums and wins, 2022 was not a good year for Andretti overall, but I thought the former F1 driver would enhance their program. It didn’t happen. Grosjean has been quick in testing during the preseason, and he seems to feel the team has a better baseline heading into 2023. A win is possible, but more top five and top ten finishes are needed.

Felix Rosenqvist

Rosenqvist will depart Arrow McLaren at the end of 2023. In 2022,he had to fight to keep his job, and he showed himself to be up to the task. In 2023 his objective si to show the other teams that he belongs in Indycar. I think he does, and I have no doubt Rosenqvist will show well this season. A win will be tough given his teammates and the competition from other teams,but look for Rosenqvist to have a deal in place with a new team for 2024 before the season ends.

‘100 Days to Indy’ Premieres April 27

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From IMS:

VIEWERS, START YOUR ENGINES! THE CW NETWORK SETS MOTORSPORTS DOCUMENTARY SERIES “100 DAYS TO INDY” PREMIERE FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Unscripted Series from VICE Media Group, Penske Entertainment & NTT INDYCAR SERIES to Chronicle Road to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race

February 17, 2023 (Burbank, CA) — Let the countdown begin. Today, on the 100th day until the start of the world’s premier motorsports competition, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, The CW Network is announcing its new documentary series 100 DAYS TO INDY will premiere on Thursday, April 27 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). Produced by Penske Entertainment and VICE Media Group, the six-part series will take fans behind the scenes to chronicle the bold and brash personalities of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as they begin the 2023 season and start their quest for racing’s greatest prize.


“As we hit the 100 day milestone until the Indianapolis 500, the production team behind 100 DAYS TO INDY has been working tirelessly to capture the powerful stories of these incredible drivers as they compete at death-defying speeds to be the best of the best,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment, The CW Network.


From the balmy high-speed turns of St. Petersburg, Florida, to the demanding banked oval in Fort Worth and the sun-swept streets of Long Beach, California, every mile is an epic moment as 100 DAYS TO INDY takes viewers into the drivers’ seat for unprecedented access to top NTT INDYCAR SERIES stars as they compete for racing’s greatest prize: the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Of the 33 drivers racing for a coveted spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy, Helio Castroneves is eyeing his record fifth win while last year’s champion, Marcus Ericsson, is hoping to repeat. But they face fierce opposition from legendary Team Penske, led by two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, and rising stars from other rival teams like Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta and Christian Lundgaard. 100 DAYS TO INDY will showcase all the intense preparation, relentless competition, a few pranks and plenty of speed before the green flag drops and 300,000 fans roar at the world’s largest single-day sporting event.


Produced by multiple-award winning VICE World News, 100 DAYS TO INDY is directed and co-executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Patrick Dimon and executive produced by Bryan Terry for VICE. Adam Marinelli serves as showrunner and co-executive producer, and Falguni Lakhani Adams is executive producer for VICE TV. 100 DAYS TO INDY is distributed globally by Vice Content Distribution.

Kanaan: ‘I Had a Great Career’

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Tony Kanaan admits that if he hadn’t finished third in the 2022 Indianapolis 500, he probably wouldn’t be talking about his final race coming up in May. Kanaan announced yesterday that the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 would be his final IndyCar race. The Brazilian driver has driven in Indycar/Champ Car since 1998.

How does a driver know it’s time to step aside?

“You don’t,” Kanaan said. “You’re never ready for this.
But you got to weigh your options. I went from a full-time
to a part-time. You’re 48. You had a great career. As
much as you don’t want to go, it’s there. If you’re smart,
you make the right decisions at the right time.”

Kanaan in the 500 has a win in 2013, a pole, nine top five finishes and 12 top 10s. In 2011 he started 33rd and passed 10 cars by the time the field reached the backstretch at the start. Only a caution flag prevented him from picking off a couple more cars. He led in each of his first seven 500s.

Kanaan after his popular win in 2013

He has 17 wins in Indycar racing14 poles, and 79 podiums. In winning the championship in 2004, Kanaan completed every lap of the season.

Kanaan and his Arrow McLaren team also announced a sponsor, SmartStop, a storage company, and the car number for Kanaan’s last ride, 66. The number has significance for the team and driver. His 318 consecutive starts is still the record.

“No. 66. Bruce McLaren and McLaren won their first race in 1966 Mark Donohue was here in ’72. My first go-kart number was No. 6. I picked that. My entire go-kart career,
I won five championships with that number. One of the races that I couldn’t race the 6, I raced 66. When Zak told me the story, the number, it’s just perfect.
That’s what we’re banking on,” Kanaan explained.

Kanaan has never been one to hide his feelings. Asked about how emotional Race Day will be, he said, “End of May, I think it’s going to get more difficult from now
on. I’m at peace in my decision. I have a great team
behind me. I think I had a great career. I have a really
good shot of winning this thing. If I win, might be sitting
here again next year. You never know.”

How will he fill his time after May?

“I’m probably going to come and bug Mark Miles and his team and Jay Frye here. I live five, ten minutes from here. Anything I can do? Can I warm the Corvette up? The Corvette needs a ride. Hey, Doug…”

Would he consider team ownership? It doesn’t sound likely.

“I actually own an eSports team that gives
me the feeling I don’t know if I really want to own a real
team ever. You never know. I mean, I love racing. I love challenges.
If the opportunity presents, 100%. I know for a fact my wife
will not let me spend any of my money, our money – her money, sorry – in a race team. But if the opportunity presents, I’ll consider. Anything that is involved in racing and INDYCAR, I’ll be willing to consider, for sure.”

Kanaan Will End Indycar Career after Indianapolis 500

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From @Indycar on Twitter

There will be a media conference at 2 PM Eastern Time today. I will have a story up afterwards,.

The time comes for all drivers. TK will be missed.

Sebring Test – Busy Morning, Laid Back Afternoon

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Photo: Rinus VeeKay

I don’t know how the 2023 Indycar season will turn out, but I can tell you that the cars will look great. I saw 10 cars on track today. Seven had new or improved liveries from last year. The 10th car was a one lap run by Team Penske car 22. Will Power drove the car, which will have more time tomorrow. I believe it is the car that is testing the new recovery system.

It was my first trip to Sebring gin three years. I was so glad to return. I have been inlove with this track since I was in fifth grade.

Teams on track today-

Andretti Autosport– Colton Herta, Romain Grosjean, Devlin DeFrancesco, kyle Kirkwood

Ed Carpenter Racing– Rinus VeeKay, Conor Daly

Juncos Hollinger Racing– Callum Ilott, Augustin Canapino

Chip Ganassi Racing- Marcus Armstrong

Some fans who were there before I arrived said that he 22 and Josef Newgarden were out briefly early. They heard a slight whine from the ERS under braking.

My observations:

Before the lunch break , the track had a continuous stream of cars. In the 90 minutes I watched after lunch, action was more sporadic. The ECR cars of Rinus Veekay and Conor Daly looked to have turned the most laps. Colton Herta and Romain Grosjean looked very quick.

Rookie Augustin Canapino looked very smooth in the set of turns by the hotel.

Rookie Marcus Armstrong did a good job. He was the only Ganassi car running today.

Tomorrow will see more testing of the ERs, and nine more cars. I wish I could return, but other commitments await.

Here are some photos from today. Thanks for following along.

Augustin Canapino
Marcus Armstrong
Devlin DeFrancesco
Conor Daly
Kyle Kirkwood
Colton Herta