Scott McLaughlin, Australian VA Supercar champion, makes his Indycar debut this weekend in the number 3 Chevy powered entry. McLaughlin finished 5th in last Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.
Oliver Askew returns to Arrow McLaren SP for his final drive in the 7 car. Askew missed the Harvest Grand Prix while undergoing treatment for concussion symptoms.
A look this morning at the ticket situation for St. Pete, according to their website, shows that tickets for Friday are sold out. General admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday are available, for individual days or a two day ticket. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is not selling any more grandstand reserved seats.
The event has a 20,00 fan limit per day. Ticket prices – $60 for a 2 day ticket to $40 for Saturday only, and $55 for Sunday only. There is a $10 service charge.
An email sent to ticket holders yesterday asks fans to complete a self assessment of their health before coming to the track. Only the Road to Indy and Mazda MX-5 Cup paddocks are open to spectators. Seems odd that any paddocks are open.
Masks are required to be worn at all times at the track. Expect a temperature check upon entry.
From the email regarding viewing areas:
As other tracks have done this year, St. Pete is taking the usual precautions. I think a street race venue will be quite a challenge to monitor.
Since this race is the 2020 finale and the 2021 opening event for the NTT Indycar Series, I’m sure they will want to have a smooth weekend. We can hope that things will improve somewhat by next March.
| Courtesy of Indycar- an interesting breakdown of the seasons of Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden. |
| For the 15th consecutive season, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship will be determined in the final race of the season. But for the first time, it will be determined on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing leads defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske by 32 points heading into the 100-lap race on Oct. 25 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC). Below are numbers to note entering the final race of the NTT INDYCAR season: Clck HERE to download the Championship Clinch Scenarios and click the graphic below to download the 2020 Championship – By The Numbers (PDF) |
The postponed Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg not hosts the NTT Indycar Series finale, the Road to Indy season ending races also take place this weekend. Mazda MX-5 Cup and Porsche GT3 Cup action is also on the agenda. Indycar does not get on track until Saturday morning at 10:55 am for a 90 minute practice. Friday is dedicated to practice and qualifying for USF 2000, Indy Pro 2000, Mazda mx-5 Cup, and Porsche GT3 Cup. each of the support series will have two races. Both Mazda races are Saturday. The second races for the other three series are on Sunday before the Indycar finale. The schedule by day (all times Eastern):
Friday
| Time | Series | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 8:45 AM – 4:00 PM | Gate Hours | |
| 9:00 AM – 9:40 AM | MX-5 Cup | Practice 1 |
| 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Porsche GT3 Cup | Practice 1 |
| 11:05 AM – 11:35 AM | USF2000 | Practice 1 |
| 11:55 AM – 12:25 PM | Indy Pro 2000 | Practice 1 |
| 12:45 PM – 1:25 PM | MX-5 Cup | Practice 2 |
| 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM | Porsche GT3 Cup | Practice 2 |
| 2:35 PM – 3:05 PM | USF2000 | Qualifying 1 |
| 3:25 PM – 3:55 PM | Indy Pro 2000 | Qualifying 1 |
| 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM | MX-5 Cup | Qualifying |
| 4:55 PM – 5:10 PM | Porsche GT3 Cup | Qualifying |
Saturday
| Time | Series | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 8:15 AM – 5:45 PM | Gate Hours | |
| 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM | MX-5 Cup | Race 1 |
| 9:30 AM – 9:50 AM | USF2000 | Qualifying 2 |
| 10:10 AM – 10:30 AM | Indy Pro 2000 | Qualifying 2 |
| 10:55 AM – 12:25 PM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Practice |
| 12:50 PM – 1:35 PM | MX-5 Cup | Race 2 |
| 1:55 PM – 2:40 PM | Porsche GT3 Cup | Race 1 |
| 3:05 PM – 4:20 PM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Qualifying |
| 4:40 PM – 5:25 PM | USF2000 | Race 1 |
| 5:35 PM – 6:15 PM | Indy Pro 2000 | Race 1 |
Sunday
| Time | Series | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15 AM – 3:00 PM | Gate Hours | |
| 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM | USF2000 | Race 2 |
| 10:40 AM – 11:10 AM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Warm-Up |
| 11:30 AM – 12:20 PM | Indy Pro 2000 | Race 2 |
| 12:40 PM – 1:25 PM | Porsche GT3 Cup | Race 2 |
| 2:30 PM | NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Race |
The broadcast schedule for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is out. Notable is the delayed television broadcast of qualifying. Qualifying will be shown live on NBC Gold for those who have purchased it. This qualifying sesion will be just the second traditional knock out qualifying leading the Fast Six this year. I have missed the Fast Six format, although I have enjoyed the way the grid is set for the double headers. The broadcast schedule:
Oct24 Saturday Practice 10:55 AM – 12:25 PM ET
Oct24 Saturday Qualifications (Live) 3:05 – 4:20 PM ET
Oct24 Saturday Qualifications (Delay) 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Oct25 Sunday Warmup 10:40 – 11:10 AM ET
Oct25 Sunday Pre-Race 2:00 – 2:30 PM ET
Oct25 Sunday Race 2:30 – 4:30 PM ET
Yesterday afternoon, Green Savoree, the race promoter, put a limited number of tickets on sale. the event has a 20,000 fan limit per day. Ticket holders who had seats for the original March date received an email yesterday with a reassigned seat. In my case, I am in the same grandstand, same section, but just four rows lower than my regular location. I even retained the same seat number.
Whenj the March race was cancelled the promoters gave ticketholders the opportunity to get a credit for the 2021 race. i know several fans who took advantage of that offer. Some were unhappy because there was no cash refund option. I’m disappointed that Green Savoree did not extend a similar deferral until 2021 option to those who kept their tickets, but who cannot for one reason or another go to this race. I have chosen not to attend because of the pandemic. I know of another fan, who I believe has been to every St. Pete race, also in this situation.
I understand this promoter has been hit the hardest by the schedule upheaval this year. They have lost two races entirely, Toronto and Portland, were allowed just 6,000 fans per day at Mid Ohio, and were in danger of losing this event completely as well. It is a sham that the good will of the fans takes a backseat to their bottom line.
Photo- Felix Rosenqvist on his way to his first win at road America. Joe Skibinski, Indycar
Arrow McLaren SP continues to dominate the 2021 driver lineup. Their third announcement this week blew the lid off the simmering kettle of Indycar Silly season. Felix Rosenqvist wil move from Chip Ganassi Racing to the second year team to drive the number 7 car vacated two days ago by Oliver Askew. Askew will drive for the team in the season finale at St. Pete if he is medically cleared to drive. Rosenqvist will complete his contract with Ganassi at that time as well.
Chip Ganassi Racing has an agreement with 7 time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to run the road course portion of the 2021 schedule. Before the Rosenqvist announcement, ti was assumed that Johnson would be in a fourth Ganassi car. Does he now move to the 10? If so, who drives the car at the four oval races next year?
Helio Castroneves was thought to be a strong candidate for a third car at AMSP. Is that still an option? Will Castroneves now go to Ganassi? I can’t see him being willing to run an oval only program. Tony Kanaan is a possibility for the oval portion of the Johnson ride.
Both AMSP and Ganassi looked as if they would each expand by one car for 2021. That possibility is now in question. Two more cars on the grid would leave more room for drivers looking for work.
Meanwhile, team Penske is expected to run four cars next year with the addition of Scott McLaughlin, who will make his debut at St. Pete.
Andretti Autosport, which ran five cars this season, has only Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta locked in for 2021. Will veteran Ryan Hunter-Reay retire or became an Indy only driver?
Other drivers with uncertain status for next year are Conor Daly, Rinus Veekay, James Hinchcliffe, Charlie Kimball, and Dalton Kellett.
The 2021 lineup, which just a couple of weeks ago appeared to have some minor tweaks plus the possibility of a larger grid, now looks like there may be some major shuffling.
Photo: pato O’Ward at World Wide technology Raceway. James Black, Indycar
A day after Arrow Mclaren SP announced that Oliver Askew would not return to the team next season, the team today announced that Pato O’Ward will return for the 2021 NTT Indycar Series season. O’Ward has one pole and a second place finish this year and is currently 5th in the points standings.
The official announcement from the the team:
Pato O’Ward to continue with Arrow McLaren SP in 2021
October 13, 2020
Arrow McLaren SP announced today that Pato O’Ward will continue to race for the team for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, once again piloting the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet.
“I am beyond excited to be racing with Arrow McLaren SP next season to build on what we have accomplished so far this year. Such a great group of people who truly have welcomed me like a second family,” said O’Ward. “Given how much change I have seen in my career to this point, it is invaluable to get the opportunity to put down roots and build on a foundation year over year.”
O’Ward will continue with the team after a strong showing in his first full season in INDYCAR, currently sitting fifth in the championship standings with one race remaining. The Mexican driver, who is still only 21-years-old, will once again be behind the wheel of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet in 2021, which he has raced to one pole position, three podiums and nine top 10 finishes in 2020.
“The entire team and I are thrilled to have Pato back in the car next year,” said Arrow McLaren SP co-owner Sam Schmidt. “He has shown incredible form this year and has kept himself in the championship hunt all season long. I think he has the potential to compete at the highest level in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for a long time.”
Arrow McLaren SP’s 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES full driver lineup will be announced in due course.
The team has one race remaining in the 2020 season, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on October 25. Tune in on NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET and follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube at @ArrowMcLarenSP.
Before the first Indycar race in St. Petersburg, a CART race in 2003 won by Paul Tracy, sports cars raced through the streets in the mid 1980s and had a brief revival in the 90s. The early tracks did not use the Albert Whitted Airport runway and ran further uptown. The course we know today still has parts of the former tracks in it.
In 1985, St. Petersburg sought a way to gain more exposure and attract tourism. A street race was proposed. The nine turn course ran along the waterfront, returning to the finish line via Bay Shore Drive. Turn 6 looks interesting, if not downright scary. SCCA Trans Am and Can Am cars participated.
Willy T. Ribbs won the inaugural Trans Am race, and Dr. Lou Sell won the Can Am race
For 1986 the course was revised. Businesses along the pier were not happy that they were cut off during the time of the race. This configuration continued through 1990, when the race stopped after losing its sponsor. The 180 degree turn is gone. The track went to the Vinoy hotel and then to Bay Shore Drive. This track has 10 turns and a more straightforward route.
Pete Halsmer and Scott Pruett were two winners with an Indycar connection in this era. In 1987 Johnny O’Connell won in Formula Atlantics. I can’t imagine what a young O’Connell looked like. Tragedy struck in 1987 when Jim Fitzgerald suffered fatal injuries after hitting the concrete barriers in turn 1. Firtzgerald had been a mentor to Paul Newman as Newman began his racing career.
In 1996 and 1997, a race sponsored by Kash n Karry ran on a course around Tropicana Field. The sponsor pulled out before the 1998 race and racing was done in St. Pete until CART returned in 2003.
The new track is basically the same layout we are familiar with today, 14 turns with the wide runway as the front stretch. The curbing in turns 2 and 10 stays down all year long.
There was no race in 2004 as the promoters were uncertain of the viability of CART. In 2005 the IRL began racing and has continued annually since.
In 2017 a subtle change was made with a little kink between turns 2 and 3.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will run on October 25 this year. If it runs as scheduled March 7 in 2021, it will serve as the 2020 season finale and the 2021 season opener. The races would be held less than five months apart.
Great news from Indy lights:
Championship Incentives include Larger Scholarship, INDYCAR Test
PALMETTO, Fla. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires has served as a crucial step for many drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES including young stars Oliver Askew, Colton Herta, Patricio O’Ward and Rinus VeeKay amongst many others. Following a year’s hiatus due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the series is set to re-emerge in 2021 in its rightful place as the stepping-stone to the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing. The rejuvenated Indy Lights series will benefit from additional initiatives being formulated in conjunction with INDYCAR, its sanctioning body, to ensure continued growth as the top level of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires driver development system.
Enhancements in 2021 include an increased value of the champion’s scholarship award to $1,250,000. A guaranteed entry for the champion into at least three 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, including the Indianapolis 500, will remain. Also new in 2021, the top-three finishers in the Indy Lights championship will each receive a NTT INDYCAR SERIES test at the conclusion of the season.
The driver assist program remains an important part of the entire Road to Indy program. Since the formation of the ladder system in 2010, 37 Indy Lights drivers have made starts in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Twenty-three of the 33 starters in this year’s Indianapolis 500 were Indy Lights graduates including eight Indy Lights champions.
“After careful planning with the INDYCAR team, we are pleased to confirm the exciting addition of a season-ending INDYCAR test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway soon after the 2021 season,” said Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “We continue to explore additional ways to strengthen the Indy Lights championship. In the interim, we want to spread the word that Indy Lights will be back and it will be stronger than ever.”
“From top to bottom, the entire team recognizes the role and commitment Indy Lights has played in bringing new talent to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment. “We are firmly committed to ensuring its continued success.”
The 2021 Indy Lights grid will see three scholarship cars in what is expected to be a solid field. Reigning Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires champion Kyle Kirkwood will return in his quest to be the first driver to win successive championships in all three levels of the Road to Indy. The still-to-be-named 2020 Indy Pro 2000 champion will advance to the next level. That field is headed by Juncos Racing’s Sting Ray Robb, who holds a 49-point lead with five races remaining in a battle for a guaranteed Indy Lights program with the team of a driver’s choice. In addition, the FR Americas champion will also earn an Indy Lights scholarship for next season. That championship has been dominated by Swedish driver Linus Lundqvist, who has won 12 of the 14 races held to date.
The Cooper tire-shod Dallara IL-15 with a 450-horsepower AER powerplant will see the addition of a Dallara-designed and installed Titanium Halo in 2021 for increased safety. The package has produced incredible competition with a strong parity across the board showcasing racecraft. With similarities to an Indy car, the equipment package provides the appropriate training for drivers to take the next step including a six-speed, paddle-shift transmission, a 50-horsepower “push-to-pass” feature, “drive-by-wire” throttle control and advanced engine management electronics.
The 2021 Indy Lights calendar will be unveiled prior to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES finale, October 25, on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The schedule will see some change, but will remain a 10-event, 18-race schedule featuring all three circuit types – oval, road course and street circuit.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 