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OFFICIAL - Arrow McLaren Racing SP will enter the full 2020 IndyCar season


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#1 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:10

Link at the news https://racer.com/20...ndycar-program/

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#2 paulb

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:22

Great news for Indycar. I hope Hinch gets a seat.

I am very pleased to hear they will honor Wickens comeback.

#3 teejay

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:24

https://www.mclaren....chevrolet-2020/



#4 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:27

I highly recommend MP's content

About how this influence the Chevy/Honda power state https://racer.com/20...cturer-balance/
About Shank Racing https://racer.com/20...aren-spm-union/
About driver lineup https://racer.com/20...urrent-drivers/
A 40 minutes podcast with Zak Brown https://www.podbean...._source=w_share

#5 owenmahamilton

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:28

I'd prefer an extra team enter Indycar rather than just renaming SPM. I guess Hinch and Ericsson to be the drivers with Nando in a 3rd car for the Indy 500.


Edited by owenmahamilton, 09 August 2019 - 12:28.


#6 kosmos

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:32

I wish Fernando will go for a full Indy season, but he is not going to do it, isn't it?. At least the door is open to do Indy 500 with McLaren again.



#7 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:33

"Of interest, Arrow SPM’s existing commitment to field a car for Robert Wickens, who was injured in one of its entries at Pocono in August of 2018, will be honored when the Canadian star is able to resume his IndyCar career, if he chooses to do with the reconfigured team."
 

Great :up:


Edited by Joseki, 09 August 2019 - 12:33.


#8 PayasYouRace

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:37

Sounds like good news to me. I’m pleased that McLaren are getting back on the horse after falling so spectacularly this year.

#9 PedroDiCasttro

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:45

I wish Fernando will go for a full Indy season, but he is not going to do it, isn't it?. At least the door is open to do Indy 500 with McLaren again.

For Alonso to dismiss the prospect of driving a full season at Indy so quickly, it really makes you think he has something in place for a return to F1.



#10 Anja

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:48

I wish Fernando will go for a full Indy season, but he is not going to do it, isn't it?. At least the door is open to do Indy 500 with McLaren again.

 

Looks like he just needs to say the word. If he doesn't go for it now, I think we can definitely rule out the possibility of him ever doing a full season. 

 

https://racer.com/20...ycar-for-alonso



#11 Sunnny

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:49

For Alonso to dismiss the prospect of driving a full season at Indy so quickly, it really makes you think he has something in place for a return to F1.

 

He is not that into Indy. No way he will ever drive a full season especially if he is not certain of winning. 



#12 Myrvold

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:50

I'd prefer an extra team enter Indycar rather than just renaming SPM. I guess Hinch and Ericsson to be the drivers with Nando in a 3rd car for the Indy 500.


Nope. Hinch is Honda. He'll leave.

#13 CPR

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:51

https://eu.indystar....son/1958582001/

Interesting background article...

#14 Risil

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 12:56

Cool! Judging by the debacle at Indy this year I don't think it's realistic for McLaren to go it alone, and SPM are probably the team most in need of additional funds, or rather the most able to make good use of them. Talk of the big three teams becoming a big four would be premature, but this isn't going to hurt the team.

 

I'm 50/50 between considering this a vote of confidence in Indycar and McLaren just doing random **** that we can't read into.



#15 PedroDiCasttro

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:03

He is not that into Indy. No way he will ever drive a full season especially if he is not certain of winning. 

I don't know. Seems to me that Alonso is doing all he can trying to grab a seat in the top 3 teams at F1.

 

Should his attempts fail, he might give Zak Brown that call.



#16 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:12

I'm reading rumors that HPD is not happy with the decision imposed from Honda Japan to cut ties with SPM.



#17 kosmos

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:15

For Alonso to dismiss the prospect of driving a full season at Indy so quickly, it really makes you think he has something in place for a return to F1.

 

 

I don't know, doing the Indy season is a big commitment, leaving to one side if he is attracted by the competition or not. He will have to live in USA or spend an insane amount of time in a plane if he stays in Europe.



#18 maximilian

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:34

Well, disappointed that McLaren basically just gobble up ASPM, rather than partnering and adding cars to the grid, but pleased to hear that a Wickens comeback is still in the cards (whether or not he can pull off that miracle, is another topic... but I would love to see nothing else more in racing, what a story that would be!)

 

Still great news for IndyCar to have such a legendary name involved in the series full time again.

 

Maybe now Fiat-Chrysler can follow suit, build their own Ferrari Indy engines for 2022, and enter a full time team with Scuderia Corsa collaboration?  :wave:



#19 maximilian

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:37

I don't know, doing the Indy season is a big commitment, leaving to one side if he is attracted by the competition or not. He will have to live in USA or spend an insane amount of time in a plane if he stays in Europe.

 

Given that Alonso doesn't seem to have anything else to do, it's a bit puzzling he doesn't delve right into the full time IndyCar adventure.  WIth his own jet, he can still fly around as he pleases, if needed, and getting a nice suite in Indianapolis wouldn't be a problem for him.  The season is also relatively short.

 

Makes me suspicious that he could have something going in F1 (I doubt it) or might seriously consider FE.  Now that McLaren made their move, I think we might hear from Alonso in the near future, whichever way he goes.



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#20 FLB

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:44

Well, another effect of this is that I would now be very surprised to see McLaren become involved in a Hypercar program (ACO / FIA WEC). Seems Brown has chosen to spend McLaren's money trying to make a ding on the American market instead of going after Le Mans. IndyCar offers a number of ways he can use to activate his marketing with McLaren's North American clients, on North American soil. 

 

Individually, the best-selling McLaren dealership is Canada (Pfaff, Toronto).



#21 Imperial

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:54

Putting all the jokes and deserved criticism of Mclaren at the 500 this year, this is excellent news for the series.

#22 Vielleicht

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:56

Fantastic news. I'm glad to see McLaren stand up bravely in response to their Indy 500 failure earlier this year.

 

It would be all to easy to have shyed away and never come back...



#23 Imperial

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 13:57

Seems to me that Alonso is doing all he can trying to grab a seat in the top 3 teams at F1.


Doing what exactly?

#24 PedroDiCasttro

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:00

Doing what exactly?

Behind of the scenes, his manager(s) must be making a lot of calls, I'd bet.



#25 ensign14

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:02

"Of interest, Arrow SPM’s existing commitment to field a car for Robert Wickens, who was injured in one of its entries at Pocono in August of 2018, will be honored when the Canadian star is able to resume his IndyCar career, if he chooses to do with the reconfigured team."
 

Great :up:

 

Unless of course they know something we don't - that it's very unlikely...  :(

 

Like Enzo's promise to field a car for Pironi if he ever got fit.  He got as far as a test but it was obvious from the accident alone he was done.



#26 CPR

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:20

Well, another effect of this is that I would now be very surprised to see McLaren become involved in a Hypercar program (ACO / FIA WEC). Seems Brown has chosen to spend McLaren's money trying to make a ding on the American market instead of going after Le Mans. IndyCar offers a number of ways he can use to activate his marketing with McLaren's North American clients, on North American soil.

 

McLaren have already said that they won't be doing the 2020 WEC season.

 

However, they've indicated that they're willing to do both IndyCar and WEC when they can sort out the financials. So I don't think this will kill off McLaren's WEC ambitions. Depending upon how the financials work out compared to their previous plans it might even make it easier (or harder of course). Basically, we'd need more information to make an accurate prediction.



#27 kosmos

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:28

Given that Alonso doesn't seem to have anything else to do, it's a bit puzzling he doesn't delve right into the full time IndyCar adventure. 

 

 

He does a lot of things for his karting school, this may not be an excuse to not do Indy, but he is not all day doing nothing.



#28 HammyHamiltonFan

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:48

that sucks, means McLaren will take resources and focus off of their F1 team just as they are doing better.



#29 f1paul

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:52

that sucks, means McLaren will take resources and focus off of their F1 team just as they are doing better.

:confused: 

Don't think that's how it works.

 

Of course it 'sucks' it's only about F1 isn't it, nothing else matters.  :stoned:



#30 Risil

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 14:55

that sucks, means McLaren will take resources and focus off of their F1 team just as they are doing better.

 

Hard to say, isn't it? Their Indy 500 attempt this year didn't appear to get in the way of the F1 team's improved showing this season. They already run sports cars with customer teams too.
 
McLaren are joining up with a team that was able to win races and score an Indy 500 pole without them. Who knows what the connection will be between Woking and the Indycar team, besides money and stronger marketing of their cars in the States. 
 
I think where things get interesting is when McSchmidt decide they need new shaker rigs, dampers etc to compete with the Penskes and Ganassis. Are McLaren going to write a cheque or will they try and do the development in-house? At that point you might see conflict with the F1 team. On the other hand, the team could benefit from cycling their personnel out to the US for new experiences and responsibilities and to understand a different way of working.


#31 BuddyHolly

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:03

Great news!

I'd love Alonso to do a full indycar season but unfortunately I don't see it happening.



#32 jonpollak

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:26

That IndyStar Jim Ayello article that CPR posted says it all for me.
Jp

#33 red stick

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:30

We've discussed this before but it evidently bears repeating--what in Alonso's experience makes anyone think he'd do a full season?  His stated goal is to win the Indy 500, not the Grand Prix of Alabama, and he's already discovered that with a capable team that knows what it's doing, he's competitive at Indy.  With a team that's feeling its way, not so much.



#34 KWSN - DSM

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:32

Nasr and Latifi as drivers, or at least as options according to Autosport... That would be a weird way to launch a full time Indycar effort in my view... did they learn nothing form this years debacle?

 

:cool:



#35 red stick

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:39

Nasr and Latifi as drivers, or at least as options according to Autosport... That would be a weird way to launch a full time Indycar effort in my view... did they learn nothing form this years debacle?

 

:cool:

Start the "Nobody shall get in the way of Alonso winning Indy" rumors now . . . :smoking:



#36 eibyyz

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:44

Nope. Hinch is Honda. He'll leave.

 

So where does Hinch go, and will Honda Japan write a check to put him at Ganassi?  Maybe Andretti will get to ten cars--five run by Michael and five by...Marco!



#37 djparky

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:46

So where does Hinch go, and will Honda Japan write a check to put him at Ganassi? Maybe Andretti will get to ten cars--five run by Michael and five by...Marco!


RLL want to run a third car...

#38 HammyHamiltonFan

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:50

:confused:

Don't think that's how it works.

 

Of course it 'sucks' it's only about F1 isn't it, nothing else matters.  :stoned:

 

you think they are going to keep putting as much money into F1 AND fund a fully team for a full season in IndyCar? I doubt it somehow.

 

F1 is the pinnacle of Motorsport and has a global market, IndyCar is only really a big market in the States and isn't as high standard as F1 imo.



#39 Risil

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:53

Nasr and Latifi as drivers, or at least as options according to Autosport... That would be a weird way to launch a full time Indycar effort in my view... did they learn nothing form this years debacle?
 
:cool:

 

Schmidt didn't struggle in 2012 when they picked Pagenaud out of ALMS and built their team around him. Nasr is experienced, currently races in America and has tested an Indycar. Can't see why he wouldn't do well. I don't really know much about Latifi but I assume he's not slow and can bring money.



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#40 bargeboard

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:57

This makes me happy for Sam Schmidt. He's potentially got the money to take his team right to the top now. 



#41 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:58

The same Autosport that said McLaren was doing glory runs in testing to mask their very slow pace predicting their driver lineup?

 

Somehow I doubt they are right, but even a broken clock is right twiece a day.

 

EDIT: literally 1 minute after I posted this I was proven right :rotfl:


Edited by Joseki, 09 August 2019 - 16:00.


#42 sblick

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:58

I'm reading rumors that HPD is not happy with the decision imposed from Honda Japan to cut ties with SPM.

Honda America and Honda Japan sometimes don't see eye to eye.  There is a lot of butting heads between the two.



#43 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 15:59

Hinch to McLaren!

 

https://twitter.com/...854095399890945



#44 balage06

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:00

Yeah, our local media reports that Hinch and Ericsson will drive for McLaren, but maybe something's lost in translation.



#45 Joseki

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:03

Honda America and Honda Japan sometimes don't see eye to eye.  There is a lot of butting heads between the two.

 

Now that they lost SPM and Hinch I REALLY doubt they are happy about the decision from Honda Japan.



#46 sblick

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:04

Give me Bourdais and Herta at McLaren.  Bourdais for experience and Herta for speed.

I would assume for a while a car will be shipped to Woking to go on shaker rigs.



#47 Marklar

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:08

Hinch to McLaren!

https://twitter.com/...854095399890945

Rip Honda

#48 paulb

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:12

Happy for Hinch! Just like I predicted. ;)

 

That said, he has to have very high expectations and must perform next season.



#49 AustinF1

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:16

I wish Fernando will go for a full Indy season, but he is not going to do it, isn't it?. At least the door is open to do Indy 500 with McLaren again.

Who knows? He's been saying he won't do a full IndyCar season in 2020, but hasn't ruled out doing one later.



#50 AustinF1

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Posted 09 August 2019 - 16:19

For Alonso to dismiss the prospect of driving a full season at Indy so quickly, it really makes you think he has something in place for a return to F1.

 

Has he dismissed this prospect?

 

Looks like he just needs to say the word. If he doesn't go for it now, I think we can definitely rule out the possibility of him ever doing a full season. 

 

https://racer.com/20...ycar-for-alonso

 

I dunno. It depends on what he already has planned to do (or not do) next racing season. And as Kosmos noted, it's a huge commitment requiring a significant upheaval of his life. IIRC Fernando has mentioned those exact problems when discussing not wanting to do a full season just yet.


Edited by AustinF1, 09 August 2019 - 16:28.