2015 Open Wheel Racing Chat (and More)

[marble21]

Well, now we are at Summer break, so who knows what will happen, what do I think? I think Renault will buy Lotus & Bottas will be named Seb's new teammate... What do you all think?

See you in August, at Belgium....

Renault buying Lotus out could well happen as they have confirmed to the press that they are interested. If they do buy Lotus then that should pretty much confirm that they will not be renewing their agreement with Red Bull (and Toro Rosso) beyond the current contract which ends after the 2016 season.

Bottas to Ferrari also seems likely. He currently doesn't have a deal in place for 2016, so if he doesn't re-sign for Williams over the Summer break then that can only really mean one thing.

Also interesting to note is that from Spa onwards, the rules will have changed regarding start procedures. The drivers will now receive less help from the pitwall and less help with clutch settings. Mercedes have had a few poor starts recently, so surely over the next 3 weeks there will be a huge emphasis from them on getting this right.

[rvrdgsfn]

A bit of a shake up in Indycar...

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/119776-indycar-derrick-walker-to-resign-as-president

Mark Miles, CEO, Hulman & Company, announced that Derrick Walker, President of Competition & Operations for IndyCar, has decided to leave the company effective Aug. 31, 2015, in order to pursue other professional opportunities. A search for his replacement is under way.

Walker has made several important contributions that advanced IndyCar as a sanctioning body. During his tenure, he greatly assisted in securing Boston as a new event on the 2016 schedule, successfully introduced the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis in 2014, spearheaded additional investment to improve technology in Race Control and led innovation of the new Indy car aero kits. His focus on continuous safety advancement resulted in changes to the Indy car underwing, making the cars more stable and strengthening sidepods, further protecting drivers.

IMO, for his replacement, anyone BUT Tony George....

Meanwhile, as the Red Bull drama turns....

http://www.grandprix247.com/2015/07/28/red-bull-considering-mercedes-and-honda-power-for-2016/

Red Bull is not expecting its surge in form to stay on track beyond the Hungarian grand prix, and are apparently studying alternative options to Renault power – with Mercedes and Honda on their radar.

Amid an uncompetitive season so far for the former champions, both Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo were on the podium at the twisty Hungaroring track.

But Helmut Marko said: “Sadly it will not be the same at Spa and Monza, unless it rains.”

Red Bull has made it abundantly clear in 2015 that the biggest problem with its 2015 package is the underpowered Renault engine.

I'm still calling it that Red Bull will be powered by Merc, but they'll say Aston Martin...

[dfwabel]

Poor, poor Derrick Walker, as he resigns as IndyCar President.

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/indycar-president-derrick-walker-resigns-amid-controver-1721439392

I do love how Racer tries to basically compare him to Reddit's Ellen Pao in terms of knowing their respective businesses.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/119758-derrick-walker-on-why-he-s-leaving-indycar?showall=1&limitstart=

The Racer racer writer used, "upbeat and impressively defiant", which is as if the writer was really looking at the Reddit fiasco as of late too.

[rvrdgsfn]

Results from Mid Ohio

1. Rahal

2. Wilson

3. Pagenaud

4. Dixon

5. Kanaan

6. Vautier

7. Hunter-Reay

8. Hawksworth

9. Munoz

10. Andretti

Montoya finished 11th, & Rahal means business today. He drove his car like there was no tomorrow plus this is considered his home race, so the victory is even sweeter.

Next up, Pocono

[cubsfan2015]

The only problem I have with IndyCar is not enough races.17 races on the schedule,compared to 36 on the Cup.And that's why Tony left IndyCar for NASCAR.

[rvrdgsfn]

Well, its funny that you mention that...

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/119868-indycar-big-changes-coming-to-2016-schedule

The 2016 Verizon IndyCar season isn't finalized yet, but it's going to last longer, have more events, and probably include at least two or three old favorites.

"I have three different versions of next year's calendar and all I can say right now is that we're going to have more races than we did this year and the spacing will be better," said Mark Miles, the president and CEO of Hulman & Company.

"And it looks like to could have anywhere from two to four new races and that will be exciting."

Rumors include Road America, Phoenix, Cleveland, Laguna Seca, Mexico City, Homestead, Richmond, Norfolk (I hope at least one of the 2 in Virginia so I can go!) However, it looks like NOLA is a one & done. Rumor is schedule will be from Feb-Oct as Fontana or Sonoma is rumored to be the finale. We'll find out soon enough!

Meanwhile for those that watch DTM, this cause a bit of controversy...

Of course we can all see why, there were orders from Audi themselves to say push them out... Thus this happened...

http://www.touringcartimes.com/2015/08/02/timo-scheider-excluded-from-race-2-at-the-red-bull-ring/

Audi Sport Team Phoenix’ Timo Scheider has been excluded from the result of the second race held at the Red Bull Ring, host of the fifth round of the 2015 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season, this afternoon. The German was found responsible for pushing Mercedes’ Robert Wickens, which ended with both the Canadian and Pascal Wehrlein’s races.

[rvrdgsfn]

Bumping for some bad news...

It's a bad day to be Jenson Button...

http://www.grandprix247.com/2015/08/07/button-and-wife-gassed-during-burglary-in-france/

While holidaying on the French Riviera, Jenson Button and his wife Jessica were victims of a burglary, in which gas was reportedly used to stun them.

Button’s spokesman told BBC: “Two men, who stole jewellery including Jessica’s engagement ring, may have pumped anaesthetic gas through the air conditioning before breaking in on Monday.”

“Two men broke into the property whilst they all slept and stole a number of items of jewellery including, most upsettingly, Jessica’s engagement ring.”

Seriously, a few years ago, he was mugged on a beach in Sao Paulo & now this? How could it get worse?

http://www.grandprix247.com/2015/08/07/silly-season-latest-vandoorne-to-replace-button/

Stoffel Vandoorne will be Fernando Alonso’s new teammate at McLaren-Honda next year, according to specialist Italian-language publication Italiaracing, citing sources.

The report said it will be announced by the Woking team at Spa-Francorchamps after the summer break that 23-year-old Belgian Vandoorne, the McLaren junior and GP2 series leader, will replace 35-year-old veteran Button for 2016.

Maybe he should consider that hosting gig for Top Gear... Poor guy

Meanwhile, it's a bad day for Nissan's Endurance Program....

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/item/120001-wec-nissan-p1-program-to-forego-next-three-rounds

A recent test by the Nissan Motorsports LMP1 team at Circuit of The Americas delivered appreciable increases in performance, and was hailed as a relative success by the NISMO GT-R LM program. Despite their progress, RACER has learned a new decision by Nissan--made after the two-day run at the Austin, Tx., facility-- will keep the front-engine prototypes from competing at the next three rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The revised plan is for the radical front-engine LMP1-Hybrid prototypes to return for the final two races on the FIA WEC calendar in China (Nov. 1) and Bahrain (Nov. 21).

With little to be gained from a Manufacturers' or Drivers' championship standpoint, or on the marketing side, Nissan will focus its energies on developing the second-generation GT-R LM NISMO scheduled to debut in 2016

[rvrdgsfn]

Bumping for some news that came out of nowhere & news that FINALLY happened...

First a change in sponsor for IMSA

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/120120-imsa-weathertech-replaces-tudor-as-title-sponsor

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and WeatherTech jointly announced today that the leader in automotive accessories and one of the industry's most strategic marketers of its products will become the new entitlement partner of IMSA's premier sports car series. As part of a multiyear agreement with IMSA, the series will be called the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship effective November 1, 2015.

It seems appropriate with the changes going on with the GT3's coming in & the future changes with the prototypes.

We also got the schedule for 2016

Round 1: Daytona, January 30-31 (All)
Round 2: Sebring, March 19 (All)
Round 3: Long Beach, April 16 (P, GTLM, PC, with IndyCar)
Round 4: Monterey, May 1 (All)
Round 5: Detroit, June 4 (P, PC, GTD, with IndyCar)
Round 6: Watkins Glen, July 3 (All)
Round 7: CTMP, July 10 (All)
Round 8: Lime Rock, July 23 (GTLM, PC, GTD)
Round 9: Road America, August 7 (All)
Round 10: VIR, August 21 (GTLM, GTD)
Round 11: COTA, September 17 (All, with WEC)
Round 12: Road Atlanta, October 1 (All)

Bold are North American Endurance Cup races...

Last but most certainly not least.... Indy Car is coming back to Elkhart Lake!!!!

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/120092-indycar-road-america-return-confirmed-for-june-2016

As RACER's Robin Miller revealed last week, the Verizon IndyCar Series will finally make its first appearance at the beloved Road America circuit in 2016. Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles and track president George Bruggenthies confirmed a date of June 24-26 for the series' inaugural run on the winding 4.0-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

"We know how revered Road America is by our drivers, teams and fans and we're confident it will be a great event on the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series calendar," said Miles. "We're thankful to George Bruggenthies and his staff for their collaboration in bringing INDYCAR back to one of the most iconic road courses in North America. This event, along with a new street race in Boston, are integral additions for 2016 as our efforts to finalize the entire schedule continue to progress."

Here's the schedule for IndyCar so far...

Along with Road America, seven IndyCar dates have been confirmed for 2016:

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 11-13

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 15-17

Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, May 12-14

100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, May 29

Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, June 3-5

Grand Prix of Boston, Sept. 2-4

My initial reaction to hearing Road America is back...

[rvrdgsfn]

Bumping with some news & notes that has happened & possible rumors with F1 & IndyCar....

Fact:

- Kimi is staying with Ferrari

- Fontana is off the IndyCar schedule

- Formula 1 with have a clampdown for driver aides coming next year

Rumors:

- Monza could be dropped

- Renault is close to coming back as a factory team

- Ferrari wants Verstappen

- Haas is looking at 10 potential drivers

- Other rumblings include Massa & Maldonado looking for new seats

Interesting times ahead, Belgium & Pocono this weekend, welcome back Open Wheel

[rvrdgsfn]

Bumping for results

First up, Belgian Grand Prix

1. Hamilton

2. Rosberg

3. Grosjean

4. Kvyat

5. Perez

6. Massa

7. Räikkönen

8. Verstappen

9. Bottas

10. Ericsson

The silver arrows showing dominance once again, Seb had a rough day with the tyres & his chances of becoming a threat to Mercedes took a hit, Grosjean finally got on podium considering the rumblings going on in the paddock. Never a dull moment at Spa. Next up Italy...

Indycar results from Pocono:

1. Hunter-Reay

2. Newgarden

3. Montoya

4. Power

5. Munoz

6. Sato

7. Pagenaud

8. Briscoe

9. Dixon

10. Jakes

Montoya extends his points lead after a very rough day for Graham Rahal, not only a bad pit stop but then a wreck after Vautier tried to go 3 wide & caused a crash. So it should be interesting coming into Sonoma in 2 weeks...

Last but not least it looks like Justin Wilson hit some debris from a wreck and was airlifted to a hospital. He was showing no motion. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

[Rockstar Matt]

Justin Wilson has passed away at the age 37. Maybe Indycar should consider closed cockpits on their superspeedways, as he's the second driver to die because of a head injury that occured on track, in the last 5 years

[Davidellias]

that would cause a whole new set of issues. Mostly what happens if you are trapped upside down and on fire. I think some form of a windshield that could deflect debris from the driver would be the best solutions.

[2001mark]

r.i.p. Mr. Wilson

[Rockstar Matt]

that would cause a whole new set of issues. Mostly what happens if you are trapped upside down and on fire. I think some form of a windshield that could deflect debris from the driver would be the best solutions.

It could. Maybe have a little roll cage like they do in the top fuel dragsters or even have a closed cockpit that opens by sliding forward, similar to fighter jets. Have it open with emergency hydraulics if the driver can't open it on his/her own.

Just for the ovals, mind you. Those are the only tracks where they're going fast enough to have incidents like what happened on Sunday.

EDIT: They're already talking about introducing plastic canopies, either full or partial. Apparently, top fuel dragsters have already begun to use plastic canopies like so:

They definitely need to do something like this.

[crashcarson15]

There’s a place and time for the proper discussion on canopies/closed cockpit in IndyCar.

That’s not right now.

[2001mark]

Hinchcliffe was on Toronto radio earlier, I think he mentioned a possible fixed (arched probably) cage bar type thing just above a driver's line of sight has been discussed before.

Not a roll bar, rather to act as an impediment from large deadly objects from striking a driver's head. I suppose to act like how a baseball catcher's mask is set - opened eye line, cage out of sight to impede the baseball.

As for cockpits, they touched on that... it would simply open the doors to too many new concerns that have been rejected time & again by the open wheel community. It's a non starter.

I would have to agree, not every incident is a blow to the head... the vast majority seem to be ones where a quick getaway from the open cockpit, not to mention oncoming traffic, is paramount.

[HedleyLamarr]

There’s a place and time for the proper discussion on canopies/closed cockpit in IndyCar.

That’s not right now.

With all due respect, discussing safety issues in the wake of a person's death is the perfect time.

When there's no catastrophic incident for a long stretch of time, people treat messages of "We're always looking for ways to be safer" as nothing more than lip-service. That's just human nature...that aura of invincibility. But when disaster does strike, it places more emphasis and focus on safety because it's in the forefront of everyone's minds. Measure A wasn't in place, so now we see what Consequence A is. Now there's a greater priority in looking into driver protection/safety, even if this is some 1-in-1000 fluke incident.

[crashcarson15]

There’s a place and time for the proper discussion on canopies/closed cockpit in IndyCar.

That’s not right now.

With all due respect, discussing safety issues in the wake of a person's death is the perfect time.

When there's no catastrophic incident for a long stretch of time, people treat messages of "We're always looking for ways to be safer" as nothing more than lip-service. That's just human nature...that aura of invincibility. But when disaster does strike, it places more emphasis and focus on safety because it's in the forefront of everyone's minds. Measure A wasn't in place, so now we see what Consequence A is. Now there's a greater priority in looking into driver protection/safety, even if this is some 1-in-1000 fluke incident.

When it comes to issues like gun control, or whatever, I agree with you — I’ve asserted that stance in the past. We putz around with the “it’s not the right time stuff,” and end up burned out before it’s the “right time.”

But the IndyCar community actually, well, cares. Whether or not this discussion happens today, or in two weeks, isn’t going to make a big difference. It’s a discussion that’s going to happen — everyone wants it — so let’s do it in a little bit.

[DelayedPenalty]

I'm not an engineer, nor would I ever claim to be, but the idea of an enclosed canopy that is accessible from inside and outside the cockpit in the event of a quick evacuation situation seems like a fairly simple idea. If it's feasible in a top fuel car, which is practically on fire every time it hits the track, then IndyCar and F1 can make it work too.

I've read and heard whining from open wheel "purists" who say a closed cockpit ruins the aesthetic and spirit of open wheel racing. I don't remember ever hearing that open WHEEL racing had to mean open TOP. Open wheeled cars can have tops, and closed wheeled cars can be topless. And I think the look would be pretty awesome, as concepts have shown.

I agree that the sudden outcry is reactionary to Justin's death, but a closed cockpit could have potentially prevented a handful of deaths in recent years. Emphasis on potentially. Jules Bianchi, Justin Wilson, Dan Wheldon, Henry Surtees...

I'm sad, I'm upset, that IndyCar and the motorsports world has lost another. As a lifelong IndyCar fan I've seen enough drivers lose their lives to say that something needs to be done to protect the drivers better. Steps have been made with the SAFER barrier, the DW12 chassis, safety cells, etc. but there is always more that can be done.

RIP Justin.

[lopernv]

I agree with HedleyLamarr that the time to talk about it is right now. 15 years ago people thought a HANS device was silly, but no young driver would step into a car without one today. It was reactionary to Senna's death.

Roll cages would be a start but they wouldn't help much with small debris, Massa was incredibly lucky.

Closed canopies need to be a thing immediately at high-speed ovals.