5061 replies to this topic

[red stick]

Twelve weeks.

 

To the faithful, it seems an eternity, and may be yet again delayed if the U.S. can't manage to get its pandemic response in order, but according to IndyCar's official 2021 schedule, the human drama of athletic competition begins once more, in the place we recently crowned a six-time champion, in just twelve weeks.

 

Synchronize your watches.

 

IndyCar 2021 schedule

March 7 – Streets of St. Petersburg (NBC)

April 11 – Barber Motorsports Park (NBCSN)

April 18 – Streets of Long Beach (NBC)

May 1-2 – Texas Motor Speedway doubleheader (NBCSN)

May 15 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (NBC)

May 30 – Indianapolis 500 (NBC)

June 12-13 – Detroit Belle Isle GP doubleheader (NBC)

June 20 – Road America (NBCSN)

July 4 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (NBC)

July 11 – Streets of Toronto (NBCSN)

Aug. 8 – Streets of Nashville (NBCSN)

Aug. 14 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway GP 2 (NBCSN)

Aug. 21 – World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (NBCSN)

Sept. 12 – Portland International Raceway (NBC)

Sept. 19 – WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway (NBC)

 

And to show how little sometimes changes from year to year, here is last year's introduction to the season, updated:

 

 

Only ten twelve weeks to go!  Plenty of time for:

 

1.  Josef Newgarden to plot how to add a Borg-Warner trophy to his collection of Astor Cups.

2.  Scott Dixon to work on his conversational Swedish Spanish, maybe while he changes [fewer] diapers.

3.  Felix Rosenqvist Pato O'Ward and Juan Pablo Montoya Oliver Askew to remember all the new names they'll be learning at Arrow McLaren SP.  [O'Ward presumably can remember all the names by now.]

4.  Roger Penske to finish his [updated] to-do list of potential changes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

5.  James Hinchcliffe to find a ride.  [plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.]

6.  Foyt to properly calibrate the equipment they'll be using at this year's off-season tests.  [Always a good practice.]

7.  Coyne to announce he's signing Ferrucci.  Or whomever.

 

 

A double-header at Texas.  A race over the Cumberland River in Nashville.  A return, let us hope, to beloved venues that were skipped last year due to health concerns.

 

Can this season come off as scheduled?  Or is the above just the first of many TBAs?

 

 

 

Cross your fingers.

 

Roll up your sleeves.  Get your (whenever they get around to providing it in your area) vaccinations.

 

Bring it on!

Edited by red stick, 13 December 2020 - 22:30.

[maximilian]

Oooooooh BABY! 

[paulb]

Thanks, Mark!

Wait, where’s Burkefront Airport?

[red stick]

iRacing?


No, no, forget I mentioned it.

[PayasYouRace]

Thanks, Mark!

Wait, where’s Burkefront Airport?

It’s still in Cleveland. 

[H0R]

You beauty! 

[red stick]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to actually have some season-specific things to watch out for, rather than lazily using last year's good-enough-for-government-work queries.

 

So:

 

1.  Is this the year Newgarden finally figures out the secret to winning the Indy 500?  I have a recently acquired jersey and t-shirt from the IMS end-of-year sale that say, "I hope so."  

2.  Does Bourdais's end of year form signal a change in fortune at Foyt?  Or are the engineers and mechanics simply going to learn a fresh set of French swear-words?

3.  O'Ward plus a year's experience, and a theoretically more helpful teammate.  Championship run in the offing?

4.  Does Team Andretti's late season form suggest it can hit the ground running?  Or will they, come March, again "forget the heat"?  

5.  Is a change of scenery all Rosenqvist needs?  Or will ovals still present a weakness?

6.  Can Palou find a way to use all the tools available at Ganassi to be a meaningful teammate/points scorer/challenger for Dixon?  Or will he be merely the latest driver Scott makes look ordinary?  

7.  Pato.  Rinus.  Alex.  Scott.  (McLaughlin)  Who gets to victory lane first?

8.  Herta or Rossi?  There's only one Astor Cup.

9.  Is this the last year for Power?    Pagenaud?      Both?      Neither?   

10.  Can Conor Daly finally unpack?   

 

Stay tuned . . .

Edited by red stick, 13 December 2020 - 21:00.

[M66R]

Nice for the season to start so early in the year. Shame there's a such a big gap between rounds one and two.

Plenty of high hopes for the season though.

[Ross Stonefeld]

iRacing?


No, no, forget I mentioned it.

 

That would be an awesome track to model. Probably wouldn't be too hard to scan. I mean it'd take time obviously but it's hardly a major airport. 

[Risil]

Pagenaud starts on the presumptive Hot Seat.

 

If Andretti start slowly again I think a few of our regulars will flip their lids. Please don't.

 

When I look into my heart I find I'm most excited about the four winless newbies metioned in Red Stick's point 7.

[FLB]

Pagenaud starts on the presumptive Hot Seat.

 

And I imagine Rossi was hot under the collar after this past season.

[red stick]

It's a long winter.  A little heat shouldn't be laughed away.    

[juicy sushi]

I think Palou wins the Indy GP, but Pato will win Long Beach. I think Newgarden wins the title. I think Herta will be the highest finishing Andretti car in the championship. I think Rossi wins the 500. I think Pagenaud will be tapped for a factory sports car seat in 2022. French fry will give Super-Tex his dignity back.

[jonpollak]

I have my vaccine appointment on Feb 31st.
Jp

[maximilian]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to actually have some season-specific things to watch out for, rather than lazily using last year's good-enough-for-government-work queries.

 

So:

 

1.  Is this the year Newgarden finally figures out the secret to winning the Indy 500?  I have a recently acquired jersey and t-shirt from the IMS end-of-year sale that say, "I hope so."  

2.  Does Bourdais's end of year form signal a change in fortune at Foyt?  Or are the engineers and mechanics simply going to learn a fresh set of French swear-words?

3.  O'Ward plus a year's experience, and a theoretically more helpful teammate.  Championship run in the offing?

4.  Does Team Andretti's late season form suggest it can hit the ground running?  Or will they, come March, again "forget the heat"?  

5.  Is a change of scenery all Rosenqvist needs?  Or will ovals still present a weakness?

6.  Can Palou find a way to use all the tools available at Ganassi to be a meaningful teammate/points scorer/challenger for Dixon?  Or will he be merely the latest driver Scott makes look ordinary?  

7.  Pato.  Rinus.  Alex.  Scott.  (McLaughlin)  Who gets to victory lane first?

8.  Herta or Rossi?  There's only one Astor Cup.

9.  Is this the last year for Power?    Pagenaud?      Both?      Neither?   

10.  Can Conor Daly finally unpack?   

 

Stay tuned . . .

 

1. No

2. Start strong and fade, just like with Coyne

3. Championship is a tall order, but perhaps a first win 

4. Should be just fine, methinks

5. Expect a similar performance from Felix.  Felix is Felix.  In theory, Ganassi was the better ride, so should we expect improvement?

6. Nobody challenges Dixon at Ganassi, but Palou should have a clear upper hand on Ericsson and the oldies.

7. Scott, by the Grace of God Penske.  Unless Pato sneaks a quick one first.

8. Herta.  Rossi has to be careful not to be yesterday's news in 2021.

9. No!!! and Non!

10. Uhmmm no?  He seemed better in 2019, didn't he?

Edited by maximilian, 14 December 2020 - 00:42.

[jcbc3]

I am angry and disappointed!

 

NO MENTION OF SATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!  ??

 

You lot should be ashamed, yes ASHAMED, of yourself.

 

The only thing that matters this year is how much SATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO'S winning margin will be at the Indy 500

[H0R]

[Branislav]

iRacing?


No, no, forget I mentioned it.

Believe me or not I would rather watch IndyCar iRacing on ovals than only two real ovals on this calendar

[red stick]

I am angry and disappointed!
 
NO MENTION OF SATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!  ??
 
You lot should be ashamed, yes ASHAMED, of yourself.
 
The only thing that matters this year is how much SATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO'S winning margin will be at the Indy 500

Good thing there was somebody to pick up the slack.

RLL presents this problem annually when the forecasting starts, as they're always good for a few wins but never really a championship threat.

[juicy sushi]

RLL are a bit of a random number generator.  Occasionally tossing up a 1, but just as often an 18.  Better driver/engineer matching might give them the consistency to grow beyond that and get back to Bobby's heyday.

[red stick]

To avoid any further shame,

 

 

a look at a few other teams:

 

11.  Can Carpenter regain oval mastery, and position Ed for his dream Indy win?

12.  Will Rinus and perhaps Conor Daly make ECR a more rounded threat on non-oval courses?

13.  Can RLL improve their initial "off-the-truck" setups enough to engage the top teams, rather than qualifying mid-pack and hoping for the best?

14.  Will we live in a world where Newgarden's frustration at Indy continues, Dixon, for all his glory, like Mario, only wins once, and Sato is a three-time Borg-Warner honoree?

15.  Will Coyne surprise with a set of drivers like Wilson?  Bourdais?  Or Dracone?

16.  Will Carlin field a second car?  Will we care?

Edited by red stick, 14 December 2020 - 16:54.

[rghojai]

No cat is mentioned
Red Stick is getting shameful
Not acceptable

[red stick]

There was a river . . .

[prommer]

As is customary, I'm getting an early, mostly contentless post in so that I see a star rather than a circle.

 

Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642.

[FLB]

There was a river . . .

 

As is customary, I'm getting an early, mostly contentless post in so that I see a star rather than a circle.

 

Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642.

 

And the Richelieu River goes though Saint-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, where 1995 IndyCar champion Jacques Villeneuve was born in 1971.

 

[GlenWatkins]

I have my vaccine appointment on Feb 31st.
Jp

You are going to need 2 shots 3 months apart if you are thinking of going to Indy.

[GlenWatkins]

And what about Marco? I hadn't read where he confirmed that he is going to race this year.

[Muppetmad]

As is customary, I'm getting an early, mostly contentless post in so that I see a star rather than a circle.

 

Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642.

Now there's an interesting debate: Richelieu, Mazarin or Colbert?

[BRG]

You are going to need 2 shots 3 months apart if you are thinking of going to Indy.

I thought it was two weeks apart?  So he would need to go back on Feb 45th.

[jonpollak]

I had my Polio vaccine in a sugar cube when I was 5 and I’m still good.
Jp

[red stick]

Now there's an interesting debate: Richelieu, Mazarin or Colbert?

Richelieu!

 

[jcbc3]

I'm not getting into an argument with her!

[juicy sushi]

You should, they could never get the guns to shoot straight.

[red stick]

With 15 inch, close could seriously ruin your day.

[prommer]

Now there's an interesting debate: Richelieu, Mazarin or Colbert?

 

Mazarin, if only he wasn't such an idiot on social media. -- Wait, I may have read that wrong.

[FLB]

Now there's an interesting debate: Richelieu, Mazarin or Colbert?

Colbert. Definitely.

 

[red stick]

Have we ever before just completely lost the thread this early? 

 

OTOH, if we have any photo of anything remotely Mazarin anywhere near anything resembling water, we've got the trifecta.  CHALLONNNNNNGE!

[juicy sushi]

With 15 inch, close could seriously ruin your day.

Yeah, but close was more of an aspiration than an achievement.  Apparently quality control problems with the powder meant they never really knew how much boom they were going to get. Sort of like the Italian Navy at the same time.

[juicy sushi]

Have we ever before just completely lost the thread this early? 

 

OTOH, if we have any photo of anything remotely Mazarin anywhere near anything resembling water, we've got the trifecta.  CHALLONNNNNNGE!

I think a race thread last year went off the rails with the opening post, but this was pretty early.

[red stick]

Alert:  On Topic post!

 

RLL's loss is Honda Museum's gain.

 

https://racer.com/20...hassis-retired/

 

Edited by red stick, 14 December 2020 - 20:10.

[red stick]

Yeah, but close was more of an aspiration than an achievement.  Apparently quality control problems with the powder meant they never really knew how much boom they were going to get. Sort of like the Italian Navy at the same time.

The irony, of course, is that part of her career was spent as a gunnery training ship . . .

[OvDrone]

I've never been on the front page of a general main Indycar thread before, so here I am y'all.

 

I was thinking the other day, who are my faves in all series I follow and I realized that I have 3 ( !!! ) this year in Indycar: Pagenaud, Johnson and McLaughlin.

 

Fantastic.

 

Ok, gotta do my personal Tarot spread for tonight's Eclipse. Cheers.

Edited by OvDrone, 14 December 2020 - 20:16.

[red stick]

While you're hanging around, anything of significance to glean from the Saturn-Jupiter convergence?  Asking for a friend.

[OvDrone]

While you're hanging around, anything of significance to glean from the Saturn-Jupiter convergence?  Asking for a friend.

Check your inbox tomorrow after your Mississippi-time morning.

[jcbc3]

The best kind of mazarin:

 

[rghojai]

Indycat licks her chops at the thought of the 2021 season, mazarin, marzipan, marsupials, the Marshall Tucker Band.

 

[prommer]

So the Silly Season thread is now retired, yes? So:

 

Nathan Brown

@By_NathanBrown

·

12m

 

.

@AJFoytRacing

will announce tomorrow their 2nd full-time driver, who will all but certainly drive the No. 4 Chevy next year. Larry Foyt and the driver to-be-announced will appear on a Zoom call to discuss the move at 1pm.

 

 

 

The only way this flies so far under the radar is if it's just Dalton Kellett again. 

[red stick]

I don't think the Silly Season thread has been officially closed, despite all indications that it has simply moved here.

 

Max would have let us know . . .

[red stick]

And Kellett would be predictable.  Understandable.  And not that exciting.  

 

Unless, of course, you're cashing the checks.    

[red stick]

The best kind of mazarin:

 

Do you have a photo of one accompanied by, I don't know, a glass of water?