2020 IndyCar Silly Season Thread

Did they mention that the McLarens sported Arrow logos for the first time at Barcelona?

Yes, as was Fernando's Indy 500 QUALIFYING-ONLY car, too.

https://racer.com/20...xpected-reboot/

Stange/SPM want Servia back for a possible 6 race schedule in 2020, followed by full season in 2021?  Surprise!

It was mentioned and discussed by Robin Miller and the broadcast crew on NBC Sports Gold during Indy Practice this past week.  I haven't seen anything seriously written about it as of yet.  Sam Schmidt denies it, but Robin Miller usually has his finger on the pulse, and there seemed to be something up, even though he classed it as "not yet, but..."

Ooh, that would be interesting.  They'd be able to run a full-time team that way, with expansion room to cover Alonso being Indy-only.  With competence guaranteed, since it isn't actually McLaren (yes I feel like being catty).

https://racer.com/20...xpected-reboot/

 

Stange/SPM want Servia back for a possible 6 race schedule in 2020, followed by full season in 2021?  Surprise!

Are we sure that Oh'riol is not also an ancient Sumerian deity at this point?!

Are we sure that Oh'riol is not also an ancient Sumerian deity at this point?!

No. Judging by how long that particular Spaniard has been in America, I think he was one of the conquistadors.

https://racer.com/20...xpected-reboot/

 

Stange/SPM want Servia back for a possible 6 race schedule in 2020, followed by full season in 2021?  Surprise!

This old cat has more lives than Roberto Moreno!!

No. Judging by how long that particular Spaniard has been in America, I think he was one of the conquistadors.

Oh'rioldorado?

This old cat has more lives than Roberto Moreno!!

Not yet! Moreno had his last random apperance in ChampIndy in 2008. After doing Indy500 and a single one off in Champ Car in 07.
Give Servia that 2020&2021 thing. Leave him out for 3 years and bring him back in 2024! Then we have a proper Moreno copy!

But I really like the idea!!

Moreno finished second to his teammate Nelson Piquet at the Japanese GP where Senna took out Prost at the start.

And a dream dies.  ZB inevitably backpedals on McLaren's full season Indy aspirations.  No surprise here...

https://racer.com/20...l-time-in-2020/

Fred to Juncos....Make it happen.

Moreno finished second to his teammate Nelson Piquet at the Japanese GP where Senna took out Prost at the start.

And a dream dies.  ZB inevitably backpedals on McLaren's full season Indy aspirations.  No surprise here...

 

https://racer.com/20...l-time-in-2020/

They just don't get it. They failed BECAUSE they weren't participating in the Series MORE. Completely bass-ackwards way of thinking.

Pagenaud surely has saved his seat for 2020 with two consecutive victories.

Actually I have started to wonder, whether Power might start to feel the heat in the Penske trio. He is already 38-y-o and blows so much hot-and-cold during the season. Some spectacular wins each season, but also some pretty deep lows. I wonder if Penske could start losing belief that he could ever win another championship?

Pagenaud surely has saved his seat for 2020 with two consecutive victories.

Penske has confirmed Pagenaud's seat for next year.

Pagenaud surely has saved his seat for 2020 with two consecutive victories.

Living well is the

best revenge, or so sayeth

Simon Pagenaud.

Actually I have started to wonder, whether Power might start to feel the heat in the Penske trio. He is already 38-y-o and blows so much hot-and-cold during the season. Some spectacular wins each season, but also some pretty deep lows. I wonder if Penske could start losing belief that he could ever win another championship?

The Poles!  The Miscues!

The yin and yang that define

DJ Willy P.

Edited by red stick, 30 May 2019 - 16:03.

 

Actually I have started to wonder, whether Power might start to feel the heat in the Penske trio. He is already 38-y-o and blows so much hot-and-cold during the season. Some spectacular wins each season, but also some pretty deep lows. I wonder if Penske could start losing belief that he could ever win another championship?

Fred to Juncos....Make it happen.

Realistically if Penske wanted someone new in then Power would be the obvious one to move aside.

I may be biased though, I've always had a (probably irrational) dislike of him.

We are not now that strength which in old days 
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; 
One equal temper of heroic hearts, 
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in Will Power
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

I believe if Power wishes to stay with Penske he should consider Roger Penske's style and personality and the way the team is managed, and then think about giving everyone the bird (with both hands!), loudly complaining about the officiating and the penalty he got for hitting a crewman (and running 0ver an airhose) and his similar actions.

If he thinks those actions are not one factor in driving for Roger Penske he might wish to think about that some more.  If Penske were to release one driver to make way for someone else I suspect Power would be the one on that bubble.

Edited by Cynic2, 30 May 2019 - 20:34.

, loudly complaining about the officiating and the penalty he got for hitting a crewman

 

I had my head in my hands when i read his quote "the fueler hit my car with his leg" (paraphrased)

DJWillyP. The Original. The Best. 

And a dream dies. ZB inevitably backpedals on McLaren's full season Indy aspirations. No surprise here...

https://racer.com/20...l-time-in-2020/

Alonso may as well split with McLaren ASAP and work on trying to get a full time Indycar driver of his own. It’s a shame because I thought it would’ve been a given that McLaren needed to run a full season if they wanted to become competitive for the 500. Apparently not!

Maybe the one scenario where Penske might run a 4th full time car? 

Maybe the one scenario where Penske might run a 4th full time car? 

What's the upside for Penske? 

I think the more likely scenario if Alonso looks for a new ride is Andretti--willingness to run extra cars, history with McLaren, history with Alonso, etc.

You pose the correct question, red stick. I respect Alonso greatly, but there's no denying that where he goes, drama tends to follow. Penske has no need for drama on his team: he has three excellent drivers already, and no doubt other excellent drivers on the grid would jump at the opportunity to drive for the team if a seat emerged. Simply, there is nothing for Penske to gain by running Alonso.

I'd take Bourdais - but I've been saying this since 2011!

I'd take Bourdais - but I've been saying this since 2011!

And I think a lot of us might.  But Roger seems to feel otherwise.  I guess it might be that he doesn't think Seb is enough of an improvement to warrant it. Your guess is as good as mine.

Bourdais did of course race for Roger Penske's son in 2012. The big three teams have all been cold on Bourdais for reasons I don't fully understand. Maybe it's a personality thing?

You pose the correct question, red stick. I respect Alonso greatly, but there's no denying that where he goes, drama tends to follow. Penske has no need for drama on his team: he has three excellent drivers already, and no doubt other excellent drivers on the grid would jump at the opportunity to drive for the team if a seat emerged. Simply, there is nothing for Penske to gain by running Alonso.

Edited by jonpollak, 31 May 2019 - 17:26.

O'Ward skipping the remaining oval races he was due to run does rather suggest he's not in this for the long haul, doesn't it?

Here’s some food for thought:

Robert Wickens was a prominent figure in the media during the run-up to the Indy 500. He mentioned in one interview that he could jump into a car with hand controls “tomorrow” and he’d be back driving, but mentioned that he didn’t want that while he still sees a chance at driving while using his legs.

He’s made some tangible progress in the last couple of months – just compare the two videos of him boarding a plane – but even in case he doesn’t regain use of his legs to such a degree that he could operate his car with them, he seems to be committed to making a comeback.

Could SPM realistically expand to a 3-car operation? I could imagine that, even in this day and age, the lure of being on Wickens’ car might lead to a short-term boost in interested sponsors at least.

One can hope, and I certainly do.

O'Ward skipping the remaining oval races he was due to run does rather suggest he's not in this for the long haul, doesn't it?

Can't risk that Red Bull Meal Ticket.

Can't risk that Red Bull Meal Ticket.

Particularly with Gasly evidently disappointing and the musical chairs potentially in play.  Carlin seat good, Red Bull seat better, Toro Rosso seat also not so bad at present.

Particularly with Gasly evidently disappointing and the musical chairs potentially in play. Carlin seat good, Red Bull seat better, Toro Rosso seat also not so bad at present.

What can we say, except that the allure of F1 is like love, which is reportedly, famously, and notoriously, blind.

I’m bummed the transition is happening so soon. I hope he is ready for the shark tank, pirhana club, meat grinder, or however one describes F1 culture.

Edited by paulb, 31 May 2019 - 22:25.

Edited by bargeboard, 31 May 2019 - 23:35.

O'Ward skipping the remaining oval races he was due to run does rather suggest he's not in this for the long haul, doesn't it?

Is it that he's skipping them, or is he being told to skip them?

It may well have more to do with him crashing in Indy than anything Red Bull related...

Fast 'Fraiddy says he won't run a full IndyCar season in 2020.  Huge opportunity missed, I think.  What the hell else better does he have to do anyways? 

In 2017, Alonso had an excellent ride behind him at Indy and he did a great job; this year, reality hit.

Only, it doesn't seem to have hit. I have a lot of respect for Alonso, but he's naïve if he thinks that he can simply turn up once a year at Indy and hope to win in the next few years. As Danica or Marco can tell you, a strong rookie performance at Indy is no guarantee of future success. If he's serious about the 500 and the Triple Crown, he needs all the experience he can get in the car - and a full-time entry would be ideal for this.

Edited by Muppetmad, 04 June 2019 - 10:19.

Indy is such a different challenge to anything else on the calendar that he doesn't stand to gain much from doing any of the other races except maybe the other ovals and they don't occur until after Indy anyway. McLaren's project can use as much track time to gel as it can get, but I don't see Alonso missing out if he doesn't do the full calendar.

Reading between the lines, I suspect he's not going to be driving for McLaren next year.