Thats true.

Everybody talks about how bad IndyCar is when Graham freakin Rahal cant get a seat, but I've never understood why that mattered. Justin Wilson showed to be a *much* better driver, despite being new to the team. Graham was never anything but mediocre, and I dont understand the fuss over him. Losing Wilson basically meant they had no chance at really good results. Rahal might have some personable qualities about him, but he's simply not quick enough for those qualities to be of any value.

I'd imagine that Newman's untimely death has had a major effect as well. Still, I tend not to use the /Lanigan suffix. It doesn't seem right somehow.

I think I sat in that car when I was a kid, only to have Mario Andretti ask me what I was doing in his car. Scared the you know what out of me, at the time he was a big hero of mine, and I thought he was serious. Got to talk to him for a few minutes, had a really nice time.

I seem to remember him being to tall to drive the 2002 Minardi! It was also a bit of a squeeze fitting into the Jaguar.

Right. I know this because its taught in the book, Webber-Bashing, chapter 5: Make Excuses for All the Drivers that Webber Beat.

Rahal is an American with a famous name, and that's one thing that Indycar desperately needs in order to connect with casual (read NASCAR) fans. He's only just turned 21, so it's still too early to condemn him as "never anything but mediocre", especially since he won on his IRL debut at St. Pete in difficult conditions.

...and along those lines, NASCAR should have snapped him up ahead of Danica, I'd say they are at about equal levels in talent with the advantage to Rahal in years.

Actually its true. Stoddart tested a few drivers before choosing Webber for 02. Wilson was going to be one of them but could not fit into the car...

At Jag they measured him up and found he could fit in their 03 car.

Knowing that most of us will have to suffer the lack of TV coverage that the Versus deal offers, IndyCar has launched its 2010 version of race control.
http://indycarnation.indycar.com/racecontrol/

Here is the demo
http://www.youtube.com/indycarseries#p/a/u/0/elEYcpzUflg

Jp

Fingers crossed they'll put indylights up as well. I'll think about getting it, as I have Vs.

Trust me, I know. 'Excuses' are often times quite valid.

But what good is a famous-named American unless he's decent? Marco Andretti? Nobody gets excited over so-so drivers.

And yea, he won that first race, but he also got quite lucky to be in the position to win that race. Granted, he did well to pull away those last few laps after the restart, but I wouldn't say that he earned that win because he was the fastest guy out there, ya know?

Graham's going into his fourth year at the top American level of open-wheel racing. He's done very little to impress me over the past three years. I think his best season was his first in Champ Car, where he actually came close to Bourdais on occasion. After that, he had his miracle day at St. Pete's, and then its been downhill after that. I really see nothing special about him.

His 2009 season was pretty strong; he finished up there with Patrick, Kanaan, and Andretti in contention for the "best of the rest" after the Ganassi and Penske.

End of an era: Phillip Morris leaves Team Penske

It was looking like at the very least Phillip Morris was cutting their funding, so not really a surprise. I wonder if Mobil 1 or Verizon will become the title sponsor of the other 2 cars or if they will stay "Team Penske"

That WILL take some POWER to get used to.

He is decent. He's not fantastic, but he's decent, and he still has plenty of years to develop into a top-line driver. Newman-Haas started at a huge disadvantage when they moved to the IRL, so of course he hasn't been a front runner on many occasions, especially since their budget wasn't anywhere near the big three teams. Wilson did very well against him in 2008, but he also did very well against Allmendinger when they were at RuSport. Look at what happened to Allmendinger when he got dumped and ended up at Forsythe. Who's to say that a change of teams wouldn't benefit Rahal too?

By the way, what do you all think about Romancini and Beatriz landing rides? Personally, I think it's great to see new blood in indy and will be curious if more Brazilian drivers = more Brazilian races. Interlagos?

Lets see if Bia will keep the seat, as a deal was agreed for the first race only, as reported.
But there is Brazilian interesting for sure. If it converts to tv viewings, then that would be great for the series.


It won't happen because of exclusive deals with FIA.

Marco's problem is being on daddies team. He needs to be outside of the coddling of Michael. Just look at the frustration that Kanaan has had because he knows everyone else is second to Marco. The silly crash at Indy. Daddy just brushed it off while you could tell that Kanaan was steaming, yet he held the teams line and bit his tongue. Graham Rahal will mature much faster than Marco for just that reason.

I grew up in a family where the Andretti name was and is sacred. I supported Mario and then Michael, but Michael needs to let his boy make his own name. He can't make it for him.

Mario could STILL whip the majority of the field. And I cried when Marco missed the 500. There is talent there but until Marco can grow up we will not see what COULD be there. Grandpa who reigned or father who was soooo close but missed out.

Added note: bring on the Deltawing. It's definately not sexy but it will bring interest and if it can compete, the crowds. Family in Indy says it has already brought some of the old buzz back...

Come on! He's about to turn 70 years old! He hasn't raced at Indy in 15 years...

I think you grossly overestimate the quality of the field that AOWR puts out now. It is a different discipline BUT I don't give Sato long and I think he can run behind the big boy teams on the road courses. Some can get the ovals others just can't so it is still to be determined if he can there too.

Grandpa can still kick ass... I don't see his arm falling off yet so I think he can sling some wheel still. There may be MAY BE five or six in the field who could make it to an F1 seat. Money aside. Hell as so many like to point out look what Bourdais did and he whiped the floor with all of them.

It feels so sad

The Marlboro livery is part of Penske's modern DNA and to have it gone like that feels really sad. Especially with them continuing to sponsor the team it's rather strange that the cars will no longer be red and white.

"It feels so sad

The Marlboro livery is part of Penske's modern DNA and to have it gone like that feels really sad. Especially with them continuing to sponsor the team it's rather strange that the cars will no longer be red and white."

You can borrow a tissue from me! I miss the days of the Penskes in the Marlboro red and white and the black and white Texaco/Havoline turbos! Andretti's vs Unser and Fittipaldi!

Damn you Tony George!

Well, they aren't getting any money from Phillip Morris, but are probably contracted to have the logos on the car for 2010. So this is the way they're phasing out Marlboro.

We'll see. I simply dont see the 'spark' of a brilliant driver. Seems like a mediocre journeyman to me.

Lol, I'm not talking about the quality of the field; Mario is an old man. I don't think he's got the endurance to pilot an Indycar for the entire duration of a race. He hasn't even raced in sportscars in a decade.

How much effort does it take to lap Indy these days, anyways?

There were similar calls of sacrilege when Rick Mears rolled out in 1991 in Marlboro colours, instead of the usual Pennzoil yellow. Rick nearly won his first race in red and white at Surfers Paradise, only to lose it in the last couple of laps to... the Pennzoil car of John Andretti.

Just try driving hard a go kart for half an hour and you will figure it out.

Some random news: DFLDR (That's de Ferran Luczo-Dragon Racing) has signed Davey Hamilton for 3 races (Indy, Texas, and an oval TBD) with HP sponsorship. http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2010/02/d...s-hamilton.html

It reminds me of Little Al's Valvoline Galles car from the early 90's, only with black instead of blue..

http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/attachment...race-finish.jpg

Driving a go-kart where, though?

I'm pretty sure I could drive one in a straight line for hours and hours.

Basically, is driving Indy in a modern open-wheeler really physically strenuous anymore?

Galmer!

btw, what does everybody think about Rossiter and de Silvestro appearing in Barber? And where the hell is Doornbos, he had already signed a contract with HVM.

Well, De Silvestro was pretty strong in Atlantics last year (judging by results), but how strong were the Atlantics? I didn't see any in '09.

To me, its ludicrous that Rossiter hasn't had a full-time ride since 2006 (bar testing duties of course) and i would love to see him in an IndyCar. I suspect though that his drive will be the one that is given to Tracy at Indy and the Canadian rounds.

I was thinking more of this car:

Oh, I dunno... He was "flying" there in what, 2003?

Exactly. How long do you give Sato before he tries to up that one...

After his "flying lesson", I'm pretty sure mama Andretti won't let him anywhere near a current race car.

Sato on a high speed oval - in company with other cars.

I reckon he'll be just fine, both on street/road coures and on ovals. He's a professional racing driver, not some amateur kart jockey.

Come on, Sato was no more prone to unsafe driving in F1 than Zanardi or Michael Andretti. Michael was CART's all-time oval master, and Zanardi's results in CART hardly need repeating. Neither of them were in any way a danger to themselves or others on the racetrack, Zanardi at Mid-Ohio 1998 notwithstanding.

Andretti Autosports "Signature look": a chrome nose.

If you can't race it........

Simona de Silvestro lands ride with HVM Racing.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100302/S...-lands-IRL-ride


Anyone else planning on being at the Birmingham race in five weeks or so?

I moved back to Canada (hurray) so Barber isn't a 90min drive anymore (booo)...

CC

Do you mean drivers, or us? I'll be there, barring a catastrophe.

I mean readers of this distinguished forum.

Tickets evidently will be mailed next week.

Anyone here in the states plan on going to see The Sato race this year? I was getting tickets from a buddy free from Marlboro, but with the Penske disconnect I might just have to buy this year.

Though the blue is a bit darker, the Penske livery is actually quite reminiscent of their scheme in the early 1980s when they were sponsored by Gould and Norton. Rick Mears won several titles and Bobby Unser the controversial 1981 Indy 500.