Do you require a real or sarcastic answer?

Can I have a "non-sarcastic, but perhaps with a touch of gentle irony" one please?

Justin Wilson is driving for Chip Ganassi at Daytona this year.

Go on Chip, put Justin in a third car this season. You won't regret it!

Beat me to it http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=7.

I think I may take a drive down to see this on Tuesday - anyone else? Brian

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=15627

Little too far from West Yorkshire

Seems to be the final layout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKbRL0ojlU4

Ah, urban decay at its finest. That said, I do like the following:
1) The section with the grandstands on either side
2) Trees. Lots and lots of trees.
3) The part that dips down under the bridge.

While at the Speedway yesterday for the Borg-Warner trophy bust unveiling and ring presentation for Helio Castroneves' third "500" victory. Helio was great in taking the time to greet, sign autographs and converse with all who chose to do so at the event. Including me, in the final photo taken by my friend and Speedway photo shop "guru", David Hilberry. Thanks for making me feel right at home, as usual. Brian

photos: B²

Helio arrives

checking out his vein after blood test for annual drivers physical

Helio checks out Wilbur Shaw's Boyle-Maserati

The unveiling with Bob Jenkins.

Pondering his greatest racing prize.

Television interviews followed.

B² & Helio

I saw Townsend Bell at the Speedway yesterday and am glad of the following:

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=15646

Two short videos from IMS Productions in regard to yesterdays ceremonies for Helio Castroneves:

http://www.youtube.com/user/IndyMotorSpeed...u/0/qhVzIgYWnI0

http://www.youtube.com/user/IndyMotorSpeed...u/1/Zerh7PYaI1A

Robin Miller's latest on speedtv:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/mil...dont-fear-2012/

B²

This circuit could rival Monte-Carlo for glamour. Just look at the colour of the river!

Seriously though, i really look forward to seeing this race.

I sure hope they flatten out that driveway apron at 1:41!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrNhZuzndO0...player_embedded

A little bit of cheating about who'll come from outside to watch IndyCar from our Government... =P

Wow! Graham Rahal is still not signed by Newman/Haas/ Lanigan and may end up with de Ferran or Ganassi. Curt Cavin from the Indy Star: B²

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100115/S...-Series-meeting

Congrats to Justin. Be interested to see if he sticks with DCR or moves.

Will Power is a champion on street circuits, and especially on the streets of Surfers where he had three consecutive poles between 2006 and 2008 Apart from that he always does well on temporary courses, but he tends to crash out a bit too often...

Tony George Resigns From IMS - 19 Jan 2010 - Robin Miller

great.. now all we need is a time machine, go back in time and do whatever it takes to prevent the split and the other nonsense..

crikey

Don't we need sponsor money to do that

Speaking of sponsors:

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=15670

B²

How happy can a sponsor be when the TV contract with IC just got reduced viewership potential they had last year?
I believe they are now available to about 10 million less customers than last year now that they have dropped Vesus from the Direct TV line up.
Now that Comcast has bought/merged with NBC/Unisversal, I have not heard a peep whether some races may move from Versus to NBC, although I suppose the potential is out there for that. I seriously doubt that ABC would lay down for that, though.
Any truth to the rumours that the reason for TG getting off all the boards that are IMS related is in order for him to make a run at buying the IRL outright from his sisters?
Although if he is having trouble attracting sponsorship for his team, I question whether he would be able to attract enough investors to buy the irl.

Such a pity that TGs 'vision' ended up an illusion. His actions over the last decade and a half may well have put USOW racing into a death spiral.

Just wait until he anounces his new series: Nascar Open Wheel Cup! Only Ovals and only born and raised Americans allowed. (again)

I swear I've heard that somewhere before....

I don't think Tony George has ever been on particularly friendly terms with the France family. Someone on Robin Miller's mailbag suggested that Indycar might be sold to DMG and run as a Grand-Am style series.

To be honest the way things are going we could be headed for another split. Penske, Andretti and especially Ganassi seem to be becoming increasingly disillusioned with the series's leadership, if they were ever illusioned. First, the aerodynamic changes that 'saved' the oval racing last year, which originated directly from a CGR engineer, and now this Delta Wing new car project that the few full-time teams that are left are working on by themselves. Cue the deafening silence from IRL management, and the removal of Tony Cotman, a man who is known and respected by many of the teams. But with George's resignation, IMS doesn't look like its up for another fight.

I can see the remnants of CART 'winning' this war, eventually.

Robin Miller comments on Tony George via speedtv:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/mil...or-tony-george/

Looks like Ganassi et al are going to show the "Delta Wing" at the Chicago Auto Show. Since I am a few hours drive away I think I will attend the show to get a good look at the bugger. I hope it is what they say it is.

I saw this ad on this month's issue of Spirit (Southwest Airlines plane magazine)

The last two blogs from Curt Cavin at the Indy Star:

http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/201...nd_aussies.html

http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/201...and_pole_d.html

I also noticed the national ads regarding IndyCar from Izod during the NFL division championship games.

Robin Miller's latest Speedtv mailbag:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ind...rs-mailbag-127/

Two sources on IndyCar's possible new CEO:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ind...igning-new-ceo/

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100128/S...lls-IRL-CEO-job

I'm not sure what to think about this choice, if it happens. I don't follow his sport. Anyone who can enlighten me more than his resume in the articles? Thanks, B²

So, if anyone's keeping score over who "won" the IRL/CART battles, Penske, Ganassi et al have teams in a series that they do not have to fund.

Tony George now no longer has a series, a seat on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway board, or a team.

Vision Racing apparently is no more.

Confirmation

At least Ed Carpenter still has his talent. Doubtless that will ensure a top drive.

just heard a radio interview with robby gordon, he is seriously looking at a indy 500 program

I think it's more of a lose-lose situation for all sides, including the fans.

Well they can still win battles, but the war could not be won anymore. I'm happy to see George leave though, having less of him is always better

I used to be a big fan of CART. I haven't watched an IRL race since the split. I'm just glad to hear that tony george is out of the sport. They really need to update the cars if they hope to attract a new fan base.

There is a such a thing as Karma
Too bad his bad Karma had such a disastrous effect on all of USOW racing.

Anyone know what the car count is like for this year yet?

Talent? Yer kidding me? He's only faster than Milka Duno and Marty Roth on road courses You're scarrying me...

Back in the dirt track days, he could have been someone though...

Ganassi 2
Penske 3
N/H/L 2 (drivers unconfirmed)
Andretti 3+1
KV (will have) 1+Tracy
Luczo Dragon (will have) 1
Dale Coyne 1-2
Dreyer & Reinbold 2 (possibly three)
Panther 1
Fisher 2 (part-time)
Foyt 1
Conquest 1 (I think so...)

Honestly, this looks bad...

No, it is not too strong. Cavin's Indy Star blog today states that N/H/L may only be 1) car (Mutoh) with Rahal in a third Ganassi car. Edit: the Rahal info was in yesterday's.

Also:

Fazzt (Tagliani) 1
3G (?)
HVM (?)

He's looked good on a lot of the ovals, actually. On road courses he seems a bit lost. Not his fault they changed the game halfway through he was playing it though.

I'm a little afraid for Newman-Haas. It's terrible to see such a great team disintegrate so openly.

Both from this mornings Indy Star. IRL hires now ex-professional bull-riding CEO, Randy Bernard as their new CEO. He has never attended an IndyCar race. Bright things have to be on the horizon. I truly hope I am wrong and this guy can make positive things happen.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100130/S...eplacing-George

Meanwhile... Tony George and Kevin Kalkhoven deny they are trying to buy the IRL. Here we go again?....

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100130/S...ying-to-buy-IRL

He didn't know jack about bull riding either. He's not here to develop the next car, he's here to run the business side of the series. He can do that bit quite well.

He didn't know jack about bull riding either. He's not here to develop the next car, he's here to run the business side of the series. He can do that bit quite well.

First off, do you really think you need to tell me he's not here to develop the next car?

Secondly, as I asked a few days ago on this same thread, what makes this gentleman so great? I don't see television ratings through the roof for bull riding. I don't see masses of people walking around in bull riding gear. I personally cannot name one famous bull rider and on and on..... I commend him for his successes in his chosen field, but we've been down that road before. Bill Stokkan was a great marketing man for Playboy. That didn't work out too well, if I remember correctly.

According to Curt Cavin's Indy Star blog, Justin Wilson and Mike Conway to be confirmed at Dreyer & Reinbold tomorrow:

http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/201...from_miami.html

I'm planning on going to Chicago to see the unveiling of the "Delta Wing" prototype on Wednesday February 10. Anyone else?

I don't really know if Dreyer & Reinbold are going to be any better than Dale Coyne for Justin. What will it take for the top teams to take him seriously?

About ten million dollars would do the trick.

Facetiousness aside, who in Indycar these days can afford to pick a driver based on talent alone? Probably just Penske and Ganassi. This isn't to say the others aren't talented drivers, but Andretti runs Hunter-Reay because of Izod, Danica because she's Danica, Marco because he's Andretti, and Kanaan because he's Andretti-Green Racing. Ganassi probably employs the only two drivers in Indycar who are better than Wilson; and Penske have Castroneves whose value at Indy is reason enough to keep him, Briscoe who's turning into a world-beater, and Power who is very promising.

Wilson and Conway confirmed at Dreyer & Reinbold

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81215

I just hope it doesn't mean that Coyne goes bust...