2021 Road to Indy

[NaBUru38]

Indy Lights - standings after Laguna Seca:

1. USA Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti), 488
2. USA David Malukas (HMD), 473
3. SWE Linus Lundqvist (GRG/HMD), 403
4. USA Benjamin Pedersen (GRG/HMD), 322
5. SIN Danial Frost (Andretti), 304
6. CAN Devlin DeFrancesco (Andretti), 294
7. USA Robert Megennis (Andretti), 285
8. GBR Toby Sowery (Juncos), 236

[NaBUru38]

Indy Pro 2000 - standings after New Jersey

1. DEN Christian Rasmussen (Howard), 392
2. USA Braden Eves (Exclusive), 374
3. NZL Hunter McElrea (Pabset), 347
4. USA Reece Gold (Juncos), 337
5. RUS Artem Petrov (Exclusive), 329
6. USA Jacob Abel (Abel), 264
7. CAY Kyffin Simpson (Juncos), 231
8. MEX Manuel Sulaimán (Juncos), 214

[NaBUru38]

USF2000 - standings after New Jersey:

1. BRA Kiko Porto, 368
2. USA Michael d'Orlando, 319
3. USA Yuven Sundaramoorthy, 295
4. USA Josh Pierson, 266
5. USA Christian Brooks, 257
6. USA Josh Green, 229
7. USA Spike Kohlbecker, 210
8. USA Jace Denmark, 203

[mstets]

Kirkwood put on a clinic at Laguna Seca, pulling away to lead by seconds from the start and every restart in both races.

Also news this past week that Penske/Indycar is taking over the Indy Lights series.

[peebee2]

I thought they already ran it!

[broadrun96]

Nope, it was handed off to Andersen Productions almost 10 years ago for management. Penske Group owns the series but do not manage it currently. The contract was always set to expire after 2021 with Indy looking to take over again as Mazda has left and that was the partnership it was handed to Mazda and Andersen.

That only covers Lights, the remaining 2 series will remain with Andersen and managed by them it appears

[peebee2]

Ok, thanks. I thought Penske owned it but didn’t realise Andersen ran it.

It certainly needs a new approach.

[NaBUru38]

I hope that the Freedom 100 returns as a non-points race.

[mstets]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I hope that the Freedom 100 returns as a non-points race.

I seem to remember Robin Miller saying that Roger Penske was against continuing that race. I don't remember if a reason was given. The sanctity of the Indy 500 as the only race at the venue is long gone. The Freedom 100 was a great race that only lacks for exposure/promotion. The only rational reason I see for it not to continue is if there are safety concerns about the cars at IMS.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by mstets

I seem to remember Robin Miller saying that Roger Penske was against continuing that race. I don't remember if a reason was given. The sanctity of the Indy 500 as the only race at the venue is long gone. The Freedom 100 was a great race that only lacks for exposure/promotion. The only rational reason I see for it not to continue is if there are safety concerns about the cars at IMS.

The question came up with Mr Miles in a media session at Long beach. He said there was no intention there was no intention to resurrect it and that they were concerned that any product they promoted met the standards of entertainment they adhered to and wanted to support.

I could take from that the lower entry count and repercussions of any major incidents /accidents on a support race for the 500.

Its interesting that the NASCAR race is now on a road course and that maybe from concerns around passing and overtaking on the oval.
So the '500 is more 'sanctified' than it was.
Im not sure how long the NASCAR race will continue to run at Indy....

[broadrun96]

I would expect the Lights guys to still only be at a road course Indy event, unless the fields explode. It was exciting with Herta and Co a few years back but honestly it often felt kinda meh with only a few cars at full pace. The gap between those going to Indycar and those who have maxed out in Lights is even more evident at the big track.

It does seem like Nascar stepped in it with the road course event. Mostly of their own doing as the drivers just could not understand the track will break and then everyone made sure to point fingers at the track for being 100% at fault. And no everyone who didn't watch the Brickyard all claimed they missed the race.