2012 IndyCar silly season

[marcostraz]

It's almost september and I think it's time to open the 2012 IndyCar silly season thread. Here is a summary of the situation at the moment, with a mix of sure situations and rumors:

Full time:
3 Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda): Franchitti, Dixon, Rahal
3 Team Penske (Chevrolet): Castroneves, Power, Briscoe
3/4 Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet???): Andretti, Hunter-Reay, Conway, Wilson???
3 KV Racing Technology (Honda??): Viso, Sato, Servia???
2??? Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (???): Wilson??? Beatriz??? Pagenaud??? Pantano???
1/2 Dale Coyne Racing (???): ???
1/2 Conquest Racing (Lotus???): ???
1/2 Sam Schmidt Motorsports (Honda): Tagliani??? Pagenaud??? Newgarden??? Cunningham???
1 Panther Racing (Chevrolet???): Hildebrand
1 A.J. Foyt Enterprises (Honda): Meira
1 HVM Racing (Lotus???): De Silvestro
1 Newman Haas Racing (Lotus???): Kanaan??? Hinchcliffe???
1 Wayne Taylor Racing (Chevrolet???): R.Taylor???
1 Dragon Racing (???): Tung???

Part time:
1 Sarah Fisher Racing (Honda???): Carpenter (only ovals)
1 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (???): Mann???
1 Bryan Herta Autosport (Honda???): Wheldon (only Indy)
1 SH Racing (???): Scheckter
1 AFS Racing (???): Plowman???

Possible drivers:
Baguette, Matos, Tracy, Kimball, Saavedra, Jakes, Bourdais, Howard, Bell, Junqueira, Senna, Hulkenberg

[Jacques Rabbit]

Don't be so sure about three cars at Penske, or with those three drivers.

Conway's not confirmed back at Andretti, we'll see.

I expect KV down to two cars. Engine politics mostly.

Wheldon's making a lot of noise about full-time in 2012. A lot of teams he's talking to.

[DanicaFan]

Andretti Autosport will only be a 2 car team next year..

Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay

[GTRMagic]

All the teams that could trot out an additional car at some events, including Indy, had them as rolling stock for some years... such was the longevity of the current chassis. A total junking of these cars may ensure thin grids at some events, just due to access to bits and pieces to run them. Like tubs. Like aero packages.

Too many cars without a confirmed engine package to be signing too many drivers just yet either I would have thought.

Mr Andretti's squad was previously well-loved by Honda, who gave them preferential treatment and a budget tickle.. but that was in the open competition Danica-era... would that return? Mr Hunter-Reay is game signing for a team without a powerplant... and one that doesnt have a mega sponsor subsidising the not insignificant chassis changeover cost.

KV Racing hasnt exactly fallen over themselves to suggest they might run the new Lotus powerplant either.. the article above suggests from Mr Vasser that they may choose Honda or Chevrolet... With Mr Sato there, I would have said Honda..

Funny how there was a load of chat about Dale Coyne not being able to fund a changeover to the new chassis, but Mr Coyne seems likely to keep Mr Bourdais for a full program, including ovals. (A shame actually, Mr Bourdais would have been brilliant in a V8Supercar for 2012...). Would they follow the Penske example and do a deal with Chevrolet?

While Sarah Fisher Racing is in a similar boat... Chevrolet too?

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Mr Andretti's squad was previously well-loved by Honda, who gave them preferential treatment and a budget tickle.. but that was in the open competition Danica-era... would that return? Mr Hunter-Reay is game signing for a team without a powerplant... and one that doesnt have a mega sponsor subsidising the not insignificant chassis changeover cost.

KV Racing hasnt exactly fallen over themselves to suggest they might run the new Lotus powerplant either.. the article above suggests from Mr Vasser that they may choose Honda or Chevrolet... With Mr Sato there, I would have said Honda..

Funny how there was a load of chat about Dale Coyne not being able to fund a changeover to the new chassis, but Mr Coyne seems likely to keep Mr Bourdais for a full program, including ovals. (A shame actually, Mr Bourdais would have been brilliant in a V8Supercar for 2012...). Would they follow the Penske example and do a deal with Chevrolet?

While Sarah Fisher Racing is in a similar boat... Chevrolet too?

Andretti's Honda support slowly left, and if he's running four cars, he's going to have a tough time convincing either supplier to take up 40% of their spots with just his team unless he can really ensure they'll be competitive. It's almost a foregone conclusion they're going to Chevrolet, though.

KV won't run the Lotus. Lotus chose Judd over Kalkhoven's Cosworth. They weren't getting much money from them, anyway, and Lotus are just going to get whatever is left over. No one will sign up for them willingly. I can see KV down to two cars, though, as they're likely to run the Cosworth engine in 2013 (whether it has a FIAT/Alfa Romeo/Dodge/Chrysler badge or a Ford one...but I'm pretty sure the Ford is fantasyland talk), so the suppliers don't really want them just for one year...

Coyne want Chevrolet or Honda, no Lotus...but then again, all teams feel that way. I think if they can sign Bourdais, it makes them seem legitimate enough that suppliers may have more interest.

Sarah Fisher Racing have been legitimately backed by Honda since day one, and there's no way they won't be a Honda team. Fisher and Honda have a very strong relationship. They're likely to be Honda's "eleventh team" on the basis they only run part-time.

[Jacques Rabbit]

So Kanaan confirmed at KV next year by Vasser and Cavin, though he was trying not to say that on the broadcast not realizing Vasser himself had confirmed it.

Pagenaud's apparently all set to go to Sam Schmidt's team.

Servià and Telemundo are then retained by Newman/Haas.

Some talk Honda want Castroneves to join Kanaan at KV. That would be huge.

[racer69]

Originally Posted by Jacques Rabbit

Don't be so sure about three cars at Penske, or with those three drivers.

It'd probably depend on the car count as much as sponsorship, if the car count is low Penske would probably be persuaded to keep running three irrespective of if fulltime sponsors are found for #3 and #6

[kurski]

Originally Posted by marcostraz

Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet???): Andretti, Hunter-Reay, Conway, Wilson???

In the past Robert Doornbos gave a Dutch site that he intends to negotiate with next year's IndyCar contract Andretti Autosport with.

[Carsandmotorracing]

Originally Posted by kurski

In the past Robert Doornbos gave a Dutch site that he intends to negotiate with next year's IndyCar contract Andretti Autosport with.

That would fantatsic!

[NaBUru38]

It's the economy! It's just sponsors accepting proposals of teams and/or drivers. We never know until St Pete. Anyway, I'll take my seat here.

[Carsandmotorracing]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

It's the economy! It's just sponsors accepting proposals of teams and/or drivers. We never know until St Pete. Anyway, I'll take my seat here.

This, TK didn't have a ride until 5 days before the start of the season.

[marcostraz]

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...to-take-shape/

The GrandAm team that would be in the series next season colud be Michael Shank Racing...

[Carsandmotorracing]

Would love to see Sebastian full time in IndyCar :-)

[GTRMagic]

RC Cola announced as Marco Andretti's 2012 sponsor

While it seems GoDaddy may be returning to Andretti Autosport, likely on Dan Wheldon's car there Story Here which also confirms KV is Chev-powered..

No sponsor announcements for KV... but I may have thought Mr Kalkhoven may have pitched a Cosworth powerplant for this squad

[marcostraz]

INDYCAR: Michael Shank Racing Set For 2012 Debut:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...or-2012-debut/

In your opinion who will be the driver for Micheal Shank Racing? An ex-GrandAm driver or an IndyCar veteran? An US or an european rookie?