NTT Indycar Series – Page 81 – The Pit Window by Mike Silver

Ferrucci Returns to Foyt

January 10, 2024 thepitwindow

Just a day before Content Dat A. J. Foyt Racing announced that Santino Ferrucci will return to car 14 for 2024. This leaves just the two cars at Dale Coyne Racing without confirmed drivers.

Content Days today and tomorrow will feature media availabilities with all full time drivers.

The news release from Indycar:

Popular veteran Santino Ferrucci will drive A.J. Foyt’s No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2024.

Joining the team last season, Ferrucci drove to a third-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge after starting fourth to give the team its best performance since 2000 when Eliseo Salazar started and finished third in the “500.” Ferrucci’s performance continued his string of top-10 finishes in the Indy 500 which stands at five.

“I’m super stoked to be back with the team,” Ferrucci said. “It’s really good to start building some continuity with everybody, and I think it’s going to improve our results. My expectations for the year are to come out of the gate a lot more prepared than we were last year. Working with Penske, things are hopefully going to be a lot smoother, and I’m looking forward to being back at the Indy 500 again.”

Team President Larry Foyt echoed Ferrucci’s sentiments.

“I’m very happy to have Santino back,” Foyt said. “We worked well together, and he brings a good energy to the team. Obviously, we have our eyes set on the Indy 500, but we also had some good pace in other races but didn’t get the results. Together we are focused on moving up in the championship standings, and I believe we can achieve that.”

Connecticut native Ferrucci will be joined by sophomore driver Sting Ray Robb, who was signed last month to drive the No. 41 Chevrolet. The Foyt team is not planning to field a third car for the season, which begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 10.

iRacing, INDYCAR Sign Multiyear License Agreement

January 9, 2024 thepitwindow

Includes Rights to INDYCAR SERIES, Return of iRacing Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024) iRacing and INDYCAR are pleased to announce a multiyear licensing agreement – officially reuniting the two legendary brands.
The relationship, which dates back more than a dozen years, also includes Indianapolis Motor Speedway – and the return of the hugely popular iRacing Indianapolis 500 – to the gaming format’s Special Events calendar. This annual event has historically drawn thousands of participants, who race in a virtual version of the world’s most iconic race, known for its 200 laps of pure speed at the “Racing Capital of the World.” The community event allows sim racers from around the world to get a taste of what it is like to race at the famous oval at the Brickyard.
The return of a license has been highly anticipated by iRacing members and INDYCAR SERIES fans alike.
“The INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are racing properties that need to be included in iRacing,” iRacing President Tony Gardner said. “There is no better way for fans to experience sim racing than on iRacing, and whether it’s the INDYCAR SERIES’ Indy 500, NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 or IMSA’s Battle on the Bricks, there is nothing like racing at Indianapolis. I am so pleased to be able to bring these events back to the iRacing community.”
In addition to the rebranding of INDYCAR SERIES events on iRacing, members will have access to series content for private events and leagues.
“We are very excited that our most avid gamers and fans will have full access to the INDYCAR SERIES through this licensing agreement with iRacing,” said Ben Hendricks, INDYCAR senior manager, eSports & emerging virtual experiences. “They are longtime partners, and we look forward to official INDYCAR SERIES racing on iRacing for many years to come.”
The new license agreement between iRacing and INDYCAR includes more provisions than previous iterations, allowing more flexibility to run events and series. Highlights include:

Return of the iRacing Indianapolis 500
INDYCAR SERIES branding of series on iRacing
Multiple leagues to run INDYCAR SERIES events on iRacing
License extension of Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The licensing agreement goes into effect immediately, and iRacing members will see the rebranding of series, cars and events over the coming days. Details of the iRacing Indianapolis 500 will be available later this month.

Gil de Ferran- Racer, Gentleman

December 31, 2023 thepitwindow

A slow trickle of news Friday night soon became a tsunami of shock and grief, followed by a wave of tributes to Gil de Ferran, who died of a heart attack that afternoon. I was among those in disbelief.

I expected that I would need to write another obituary column at some point before I retire this column, but this was not one I thought I’d be writing. To be honest, I hope I don’t have to do another one while this space is active. I think that is what makes this such a shock.

de Ferran was 56, 20 years removed from racing in Indycar, and had built a great post driving career as a team owner, manager, and consultant. Everyone like de Ferran, known to be a class individual outside the car. He drove with a will to win, as evidenced by his two Indycar titles and the 2003 Indianapolis 500 victory.

I thought he was under appreciated as a driver, drowned out by the feats of fellow Brazilians Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan. In addition to his 12 Indycar wins, de Ferran had three top 10s in four Indianapolis 500s.

His closed course one lap record of 241.428 miles an hour, set in October 2000, at California Speedway, may never be broken. de Ferran’s ALMS Acura team won five races in 2009, including four in a row.

As I have said before, do not miss an opportunity to tell your heroes how much you appreciate them. many of them are at a track or two during the season. Also hug your loved ones.

Statements on Passing of Indy 500 Winner, INDYCAR SERIES Champion de Ferran

December 30, 2023 thepitwindow

2003 Indianapolis 500 Winner de Ferran Dies at 56

December 29, 2023 thepitwindow

From IMS. My thoughts will be up later this weekend.

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 29, 2023) – Gil de Ferran, who won the 2003 Indianapolis 500 and two INDYCAR SERIES championships, died suddenly after a brief illness Dec. 29 near his home in Florida. He was 56.
De Ferran edged Team Penske teammate and fellow Brazilian Helio Castroneves in a scintillating finish in the 2003 edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” earning his victory by .2990 of a second after passing Castroneves for good on Lap 170. De Ferran earned his sole “500” victory in the last of his four career starts in the race, as he retired as a driver after the 2003 INDYCAR SERIES season.
While de Ferran denied close friend Castroneves a record-setting third consecutive “500” win in 2003, de Ferran’s drive to victory circle was the third straight Indy win for Team Penske. He also finished runner-up behind Castroneves in 2001.
The Indianapolis 500 victory was the zenith of a remarkable career that also included INDYCAR SERIES championships under CART sanction in 2000 and 2001 while driving for Team Penske. In both seasons, de Ferran used a combination of speed, consistency and racecraft to win the championship despite not being the driver with the most victories. That encapsulated the meticulous, analytical approach to his craft that de Ferran showed during his entire career.
De Ferran ended his INDYCAR SERIES driving career with 12 victories and 21 poles, with his final win coming in his last career start, on Oct. 12, 2003, at Texas Motor Speedway. His first victory came as a rookie in 1995 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca while driving for Hall/VDS Racing. He earned CART Rookie of the Year honors in 1995.
The Brazilian moved from Hall/VDS to Walker Racing in 1997 after Hall/VDS owner Jim Hall retired from the sport. De Ferran finished second in the CART standings in 1997 despite going winless that season. But he still gained notoriety that year by finishing second to Mark Blundell at Portland International Raceway by .027 of a second, the closest result ever in a CART-sanctioned event.
De Ferran’s career blossomed when he joined Team Penske for the 2000 season, pairing with Castroneves for the next four seasons. He won the first of his two-straight championships and made racing history during qualifying at California Speedway when he set the closed-course land speed record with a lap of 241.428 mph, a mark that stands today. De Ferran also earned Team Penske its 100th INDYCAR SERIES career victory in 2000 at Nazareth Speedway.
After his INDYCAR SERIES career, de Ferran mixed driving in sports cars and his budding career in team management with his usual blend of courtesy and class.
He joined the BAR-Honda Formula One team as sporting director in 2005, remaining in that role until 2007. Then de Ferran returned to the cockpit in 2008 in a factory-backed Acura LMP2 prototype in the American Le Mans Series as the owner-driver of his team, de Ferran Motorsports, sharing the wheel with future INDYCAR SERIES champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud.
The team climbed to the premier LMP1 prototype class as an Acura factory team in 2009, with five victories and seven poles en route to a runner-up finish in the standings.
De Ferran retired as a driver after the 2009 season and co-owned de Ferran Dragon Racing in the INDYCAR SERIES through 2011. During this time, de Ferran also served as a team owners’ representative on the ICONIC committee that evaluated designs for the next generation of INDYCAR SERIES chassis, with his immense technical and managerial acumen adding greatly to the process.
In July 2018, de Ferran was named sporting director for McLaren Racing in Formula One, a role he held until early 2021. In May 2023, he also was rehired by McLaren as a consultant and advisor.
De Ferran started racing in karting in Brazil, where he moved as a toddler with his family after being born in Paris. He advanced through junior open-wheel formulas in Brazil before moving to Great Britain to race.
He finished third in the 1991 British Formula 3 championship, behind only future F1 race winners Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard. In 1992, de Ferran won the British F3 title for Paul Stewart Racing with seven victories. He raced in Formula 3000 (now Formula 2, one step below F1) in 1993 and 1994 for Paul Stewart Racing, finishing tied for fourth in 1993 and third in 1994 before moving to America to race in 1995.
De Ferran is survived by his wife, Angela, whom he met when she worked for Paul Stewart Racing; daughter, Anna; and son, Luke.

Happy Holidays from The Pit Window

December 21, 2023 thepitwindow1 Comment

It’s been a year. At times it seemed as if I spent as much time in medical facilities as I did at racetracks. Everything is fine now. I still attended 10 Indycar races, a seven year low for me; the BC39, and three IMSA races- the Rolex 24, Sebring, and the inaugural Battle on the Bricks at IMS.

While I didn’t think the racing on track was as good as it was in 2022, there was lots of off-track drama to spice the up the summer. Silly Season has created even more drama which will take some time to resolve. It will be interesting see how it all will turn out.

My in-person schedule will somewhat make up for the races I missed last season. I plan to be there for 12 Indycar races, including the two double headers. I will go to Sebring and the Battle on the Bricks. I have not decided about the Rolex 24 because…

I am going to LeMans!

The granddaddy of 24-hour races has been on my bucket list since before there were bucket lists.

I want to thank all of you who took time to read this space this year. I also want to thank the media directors of the tracks, and the media staff at IMS and Indycar for allowing me space during race weekends.

Have a happy holiday season. Unless something crazy happens next week, I will see you after the first of the year.

The Pit Window will head to inter headquarters around January 7.

Iowa Sets Concert Lineup

December 18, 2023 thepitwindow

HyVee Indycar Weekend at Iowa Speedway this summer will feature just two concerts instead of the four that supported the double headers in 2022 and 2023.

The announcement from Iowa Speedway:

2024 CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT

Award-winning artists Luke Combs and Post Malone will lead the star-studded entertainment lineup for next summer’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend, July 12-14, 2024. Entering its third year in 2024, Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend brings capacity crowds to Iowa Speedway for a turbocharged blend of thrilling racing, world-class live music and three days of fun and excitement.

Want to celebrate the Hy-Vee #INDYCAR Race Weekend? Buy your tickets NOW for 2024 and catch night racing, award-winning musical artists and so much more. Don’t miss out!

Act now for the best seats at the lowest remaining prices of the year! We are excited to return to Iowa Speedway in 2024 with three days full of amazing concerts, thrilling racing, and great food. Prices will increase closer to Race Weekend.

Indy 500 Winner Newgarden Unveils Image on Borg-Warner Trophy

December 16, 2023 thepitwindow

From Indycar. I will have a follow up story with more photos later this morning.

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 15, 2023) – 2023 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Josef Newgarden unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy on Dec. 15 in Indianapolis, one of the most significant honors since he won his first Indy 500 on May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Newgarden, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, earned his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. This was the 19th Indy 500 victory for Team Penske.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Stutz Museum. Located in downtown Indianapolis, the Stutz Museum is a boutique car museum showcasing rare classic cars alongside Indianapolis automotive history.
The bas-relief, sterling silver image of Newgarden is the 110th face to be affixed to the iconic trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936.
“It’s a tremendous honor to even compete in the Indy 500,” Newgarden said.
“Having my face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy is one of the coolest parts about winning the race. I already had a lot of respect for the trophy, but learning about the process and how detailed it is, it’s incredible what (sculptor) Will Behrends does each year.
“Finally seeing the finished product is very special. I thought I knew what it would be like to win the ‘500,’ but there’s a deeper appreciation than you can imagine.”
Renowned sculptor Behrends created Newgarden’s image, as he has for every winner since 1990.Behrends begins his creative process by studying a series of 360-degree photos of the winner to get a baseline for sculpting.
Newgarden then visited Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session where Behrends constructs a full-scale clay model of the driver’s face.
This life-size clay version is used as reference for Behrends to construct the smaller model, a piece created out of a mixture of oil-based clay. The smaller clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before being sent to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before adhering it to the trophy.
“It is my absolute honor, on behalf of BorgWarner, to unveil Josef’s image on the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy today,” said Michelle Collins, global director of marketing and public relations, BorgWarner.
“This solidifies Josef’s place in history as one of the few who have conquered the tremendous feat of winning the Indianapolis 500. We extend our congratulations to Josef and Team Penske and also our thanks to our sculptor Will Behrends, who makes this all a reality.”
Originally designed in 1935, the sterling silver trophy measures over 5 feet, 4-3/4 inches tall and weighs more than 110 pounds as it carries the sculpted face of every victor since 1911.
Early next year, Newgarden will receive his BorgWarner Championships Driver’s Trophy, also known as the “Baby Borg,” a miniature replica of the large-scale Borg-Warner Trophy.
Tickets for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com.

Robb Joins Foyt for 2024

December 15, 2023 thepitwindow

Sting Ray Robb moves from Dale Coyne Racing to A. J. Foyt Racing for 2024. He replaces Beniamin Pederson, who was thought to have a multi year deal with Foyt. Robb will drive car 41, which is the renumbered 55. The number 41 has a staple of Foyt cars dating back to the late 60s.

The driver of the flagship car 14 has yet to be named. Santino Ferrucci drove the car in 2023, but he may not continue in that seat full time.

Indycar’s news release:

Sting Ray Robb will drive the No. 41 Chevrolet-powered car for AJ Foyt Racing in his second season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2024, team officials announced Dec. 15.

Idaho native Robb, who’s named after the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, will drive a Chevy-powered car for the first time in his career.

“I’m truly honored to pilot the No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet for the ‘24 season,” said Robb, who lives in Indianapolis. “This is a dream come true to be driving for the legendary A.J. Foyt and his team under the leadership of Larry Foyt. It provides an opportunity for me to implement past lessons and carry momentum forward in my sophomore season as we enter a very competitive field of teams and drivers. Building together upon our successes, I am excited for the season ahead.

“To my family of partners and supporters thank you for being a part of this journey, we’ll continue to work hard and grow into what God has called us to be.”

Robb, 22, made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut last season with Dale Coyne Racing, earning a best finish of 12th in the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The climb to the pinnacle of North American open-wheel racing came for Robb after a successful junior open-wheel career. He won the Indy Pro 2000 title in 2020 with seven wins, five poles, 11 podiums and four track records. He finished runner-up in INDY NXT by Firestone in the 2022 season, with a victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Robb’s car will be based in the team’s Speedway, Indiana, race shop. The team’s engineering department, headed up by Michael Cannon, also is located there.

“I’m looking forward to working with Sting Ray,” AJ Foyt Racing Team President Larry Foyt said. “I have to admit his name caught my eye when he was in the junior formulas, so I watched his rise through INDYCAR’s ladder system, where he did really well. I believe he is a great addition to our program and will showcase everything he learned in his rookie campaign in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”

The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 10 at St. Petersburg, Florida.