Ferrari are evaluating a 2022 Indycar entry

I wonder how serious this is, could they afford to do F1 and Indycar at the same time?

https://www.autospor...2-indycar-entry

Edited by owenmahamilton, 14 May 2020 - 20:32.

Alright, who wins the Triple Crown first: Alonso or Ferrari? 

Edited by Luca Pacchiarini, 14 May 2020 - 20:34.

A year or two ago I wouldn't think it possible. But with Roger Penske in charge, who knows - it largely depends on his priorities for the series. If he wants to build more of an international presence, getting Ferrari on board would be a massive boost and not a chance he'd let slip by easily... On the other hand if the aim is to focus on solidifying the current grid for now, it could rock the boat a bit too hard and especially the smaller team owners probably wouldn't be too happy. 

Edited by Anja, 14 May 2020 - 21:26.

I wonder how serious this is, could they afford to do F1 and Indycar at the same time?

 

https://www.autospor...2-indycar-entry

Sì:

https://www.cnbc.com...s-and-ford.html

Will never happen

Alright, who wins the Triple Crown first: Alonso or Ferrari?

Edited by Lights, 14 May 2020 - 21:29.

I would have thought it to be more likely they'd decide on a sportscar program than Indy but who knows really... everything seems possible right now! 

Believe it when I see it.  For now it's just a ruse by Ferrari to get Liberty to ease up on the budget cap.

A year or two ago I wouldn't think it possible. But with Roger Penske in charge, who knows - it largely depends on his priorities for the series. If he wants to build more of an international presence, getting Ferrari on board would be a massive boost and not a chance he'd let slip by easily... On the other hand if the aim is to focus on solidifying the current grid for now, it could rock the boat a bit too hard and especially the smaller team owners probably wouldn't be too happy. 

As an engine supplier it would change not much.

Rules are tight in Indycar

Believe it when I see it.  For now it's just a ruse by Ferrari to get Liberty to ease up on the budget cap.

Any other time I'd agree but I get the sense the proposed budget caps now are out of necessity rather than desirability. Which means Ferrari's ability to threaten their way out of it is somewhat diminished. 

Alright, who wins the Triple Crown first: Alonso or Ferrari? 

Could be a draw.

I hope and wish Ferrari enters as a team and an engine manufacturer, but not as an additional chassis manufacturer.  I don't think chassis inequality would be a good thing for IndyCar, and only drive up costs.  If Honda and Chevy can run in a Dallara chassis, I don't see why Ferrari can't do the same.

Also wondering whether Ferrari engines would be made available to other teams, perhaps under a different badge, too?

Smells like they just want something on their hands when negotiating with Liberty. 

Edited by revmeister, 14 May 2020 - 23:48.

Don't evaluate! Just do!

Sure, master Yoda.

The worst case scenario is if they show up with the equivalent of the 2012 Slotus. God forbid if a Ferrari shows up and is slower than a Chevy... people who drive Corvettes are interminable enough as it is.

do it!!!

The Ferrari-Dallara could exist as reality and not just as a joke.

Ain't gonna happen, not under current IndyCar rules, i just can't see a bespoke Ferrari factory team running Dallaras with universal aerokit. Even if they join as the third engine supplier there is no factory team advantage to be gained from it as they would be under obligation to offer their engines to other interested teams (IIRC each manufacturer must be ready to supply at least 16 cars with engine leases, if there are takers). In such case, i can see them forming a "special" partnership with one of the teams (like Chevy -> Penske, Honda -> Andretti, so probably with Ganassi) but nothing more than that.

Unless the rules are changed and chassis development is opened up, but i'm not sure that's a road IndyCar would want to take.

Believe it when I see it. For now it's just a ruse by Ferrari to get Liberty to ease up on the budget cap.

I hope and wish Ferrari enters as a team and an engine manufacturer, but not as an additional chassis manufacturer. I don't think chassis inequality would be a good thing for IndyCar, and only drive up costs. If Honda and Chevy can run in a Dallara chassis, I don't see why Ferrari can't do the same.

Also wondering whether Ferrari engines would be made available to other teams, perhaps under a different badge, too?

The Ferrari-Dallara could exist as reality and not just as a joke.

This would potentially make a lot more sense than the Ferrari 637. As I understand it, Ferrari have reluctantly accepted the budget cap in F1 for 2022 and will therefore have a lot of technical staff who they don't wish to make redundant....an IndyCar programme could well be one way of keeping them on...ensuring they're not jobless or working for the competition. 

See Ferrari 333 SP.

And Lancia LC2 for that matter, that was also a Dallara built chassis with what was effectively a Ferrari engine.

Alright, who wins the Triple Crown first: Alonso or Ferrari?

Alright, who wins the Triple Crown first: Alonso or Ferrari? 

A team with 80 years of history vs a single person. What an incredible fight.

Next, the entire US military vs me with a stick.

And Lancia LC2 for that matter, that was also a Dallara built chassis with what was effectively a Ferrari engine.

Also, I forgot the Dallara BMS-92 Ferrari from the 1992 F1 season.

Edit: But neither of these were “marketed” as Ferraris. The 333 was.

There's defintely an air of plausibilty this time around that just hasn't been there with all previous intstances of Ferrari evulating another series to race in.

Will be interesting to see how this all goes.

Also, I forgot the Dallara BMS-92 Ferrari from the 1992 F1 season.

 

Edit: But neither of these were “marketed” as Ferraris. The 333 was.

I forgot that '92 F1 car as well.

But you're indeed right on the 333SP. So....

A team with 80 years of history vs a single person. What an incredible fight.
 
 
Next, the entire US military vs me with a stick.

If Alonso showed up with the right team he could win it this year. Being one person has advantages.

Indy is a hard race to win. There are always multiple cars in a fight and lots can go wrong. Look at the last decade. 10 races, 9 winners.

"Evaluating" is Ferrari code for doing nothing at all. I swear they've been "evaluating" an LMP1 programme for the past two decades?

I honestly think Ferrari entering any other motorsport series, whilst they're still in F1 (and no, they're not going to quit F1 either) is even more fanciful than the repeated "Porsche to F1" story. Not. Going. To. Happen.

They can run it on spare change found between the seats from their customers. 

I would love Ferrari in Indycar. While the notion may only be leverage against Liberty, if it really happened it would raise Indycars stature on the world stage.

C’mon Ferrari, c’mon Mr. Penske, make it happen!

It would be interesting. I don't think F1 and NASCAR really compete at all but if you threw an attractive and competitive Indycar into the mix, you've got a recipe for conflict as it's well-placed to take a degree of attention away from both. Is Indycar ready for that? Is F1? Is NASCAR? Who knows.

This would potentially make a lot more sense than the Ferrari 637. As I understand it, Ferrari have reluctantly accepted the budget cap in F1 for 2022 and will therefore have a lot of technical staff who they don't wish to make redundant....an IndyCar programme could well be one way of keeping them on...ensuring they're not jobless or working for the competition. 

"Evaluating" is Ferrari code for doing nothing at all. I swear they've been "evaluating" an LMP1 programme for the past two decades?

 

I honestly think Ferrari entering any other motorsport series, whilst they're still in F1 (and no, they're not going to quit F1 either) is even more fanciful than the repeated "Porsche to F1" story. Not. Going. To. Happen.

Yes, we've seen these kind of stories before. I just don't think this one is so much a threat to get what they want as much as it is a solution to a problem they are legitimately facing.

As I understand it from the reporting I've read (and if someone could calrify this that would be great) the strength of their opposition has been based on a budget cap forcing them to lay off a significant number of staff from the F1 team which would hurt them because of (current?) Italian tax laws trying to discourage layoffs.

It sounds like the other F1 teams, now facing the financial crisis because of the virus, finally cracked and flat out told Ferrari they were being unreasoanble in their opposition and putting the health of the championship at risk. This budget reduction isn't about ideals and fairness anymore, but how to get F1 through a very challenging time.

The result is that Ferrari can't realistcally oppose the budget cap but also can't really lay off the staff (what they are referring to as their social responsibilty) within the timeframes proposed, meaning starting up a new factory program in another might be the easiest way to keep everyone happy.

This doesn't feel like a threat to me, at least not in the way they have done previously, primarily because I don't think they have a realistic chance vetoing the lower budget cap given the FIA's clarification to the International Sporting Code.

I also don't think Liberty are quite as bothered about Ferrari racing somewhere else in addition to F1 as Bernie Ecclestone was (though he likes to pretend it never bothered him), especially given the crisis they are currently having to navigate.

Edited by Vielleicht, 15 May 2020 - 11:20.

As if failing in one series isn't (bad) enough, now we want to diversify too... Can't wait

A team with 80 years of history vs a single person. What an incredible fight.

 

 

Next, the entire US military vs me with a stick.

Lighten up, dude, it was yoke

As if failing in one series isn't (bad) enough, now we want to diversify too... Can't wait

Spreading your losses it is called.

Alright, who wins the Triple Crown first: Alonso or Ferrari? 

Too late, Ferrari.  McLaren already did the Triple Crown years ago.

Believe it when I see it.  For now it's just a ruse by Ferrari to get Liberty to ease up on the budget cap.

Yes, it is Ferrari using Enzo's old 'Guide to Getting Things All Your Way in Motor Racing'.

Unfortunately, Liberty have got a copy of Bernie's 'How To Screw Everyone Else Over In One Easy Step'.

Neither is actually fit for purpose in the New Normal World, but, hey, it's a legacy thing.

BTW, what if Ferrari were to buy Dallara?  Then it could be a proper all-Ferrari Indycar?