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.

Servi�* 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?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by 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?

Depends where the budget came from to set up... will be a big ask to come from nothing in this series...

So is the Lotus/Judd actually happening? D-Day was the 15th wasnt it?

[marcostraz]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Depends where the budget came from to set up... will be a big ask to come from nothing in this series...

So is the Lotus/Judd actually happening? D-Day was the 15th wasnt it?

One possible option for Michael Shank Racing could be Justin Wilson, who is free agent next year...he runs the 2011 Daytona 24h for them...

[Carsandmotorracing]

Good to see Andretti get a sponser, and Dan in at AA, hmmm, me thinks not. Also very strange to see KV go with Lotus, is this another USF1 for IndyCar style when Lotus isin't on the grid next year?

[NaBUru38]

IndyCar's new face should be a proper driver, American and young. If GoDaddy wants to back one, they have em at Andretti: Ryan Hunter-Reay. It's no wonder Izod went for him in 2010. He has 5 wins and 12 podiums.

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Carsandmotorracing

And what I say to that is bull****.

No need to be touchy. I didn't report it as fact; there was talk of it happening. Will it happen?

Nope. KV confirmed at Chevrolet today, and likely back with Kanaan and Sato. Third car possible for Viso.

But it was being talked about. Penske have not re-signed Castroneves yet. I don't make things up, and I do my best not to report rumor as fact.

Originally Posted by Carsandmotorracing

Good to see Andretti get a sponser, and Dan in at AA, hmmm, me thinks not. Also very strange to see KV go with Lotus, is this another USF1 for IndyCar style when Lotus isin't on the grid next year?

Lotus may not make the grid, there certainly are doubts, but we'll see.

KV didn't like Lotus going with Judd instead of Cosworth; that's why KV cut ties with them. The Lotus funding was a lot less money than it looks like anyway.

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

IndyCar's new face should be a proper driver, American and young. If GoDaddy wants to back one, they have em at Andretti: Ryan Hunter-Reay. It's no wonder Izod went for him in 2010. He has 5 wins and 12 podiums.

The only thing Hunter-Reay is missing? A personality. Most people won't blindly support an American driver just because he's American; his whining and "I'm never to blame" attitude really put a lot of people off. Wheldon, on the other hand, has a great personality. Americans aren't xenophobic, even if the people at TrackForum are. They're a bad representation of the target fan-base. Guys like Wheldon and Power can really sell here. Especially because they're winners, and because Americans like certain accents.

[GTRMagic]

So... what if the Lotus engine isnt the real deal... can the other 2 step up to supply more cars? Or more accurately, do they want to?

[marcostraz]

I think that Castroneves is a sort of Mears of our times...he is tied for many years with Penske and it's a simble, like Mears was in the 80s...I don't see Castroneves out from Team Penske before his retirement...

In my opinion, the best chance to see Alesi qualified in the 2012 Indy 500 is if the next year situation will be similar to the first years of 2000s, with only 33 cars to try the qualifycation and with no (or at least one) bumping...if the situation will be similar to this year, with 6/7 bumped drivers, I think that a driver that is 47 nad is almost 10 years that is retired from racing, and with 0 experience on ovals. has 0 chance to qualify...

About 33 cars for Indy, I thin that the rumor thant said the engine manufacturers want to supply more than 10 engines for next year is intended for the full season...I think that for the Indy 500 they would make an exception...

Pagenaud/Newgarden lineup is exciting also for me, but two rookies (Pagenaud is almost a rookie) in the same, small team?

[Jacques Rabbit]

Newman/Haas are going the Honda direction. Lotus' offer to buy (into?) the team must not have given Carl Haas much confidence about their security. Lotus' huge expansion into motor racing was shady from the start, and it's not looking really good for them at this point. I just hope we don't see teams like Coyne or HVM get screwed out of having an engine...

...I also don't want to see INDYCAR make some odd ruling for 2013 that the FIAT-branded (could be Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa...all the same) Cosworth allegedly arriving then must be supplied to teams that didn't get a Lotus in 2012. There is zero talk of this provision at all, but it's exactly the kind of thing I'd expect..."oh, manufacture interest, well you have to supply the worst teams on the grid who just sat out a year because we could only supply 20 cars."

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So... what if the Lotus engine isnt the real deal... can the other 2 step up to supply more cars? Or more accurately, do they want to?

Engine Suppliers Talk Tough

See.. there is always an answer Although not one anybody will like...

There are some solid midfield cars still looking for engines...

I wonder if a team who currently isnt contracted, chooses to go to Honda or Chevrolet and offers US$990k for a single car engine lease, even though it is ~$300k more than the likes of Penske or Ganassi are paying, whether they would actually be accepted as a customer?

It may be the solution, as long as the situation doesnt get like the Chev powerplants of the '90's, with Chev A's and Chev B's depending on your budget...

[GTRMagic]

Penske not sure... if its 2 or 3..

As suggested earlier in the thread, and confirmed in the article, the capacity of some teams to expand and contract with the wind as they did this year will be limited by stocks of hardware.

Penske apparently has 8 chassis in their shed, and arguably could have fielded maybe 6 of them at any one point, budget not withstanding... next year we may see teams with one car per pilot, and no spares... sounds scary..!!

There is a story in Australian Auto Action today suggesting that Mr Briscoe's slot at Penske may be under threat by a budget shortage, Mr Penske apparently unwilling for Penske Truck Leasing to fund that ride... Where would he go?