Indycar News & Rumors.

[peebee2]

Haas F1 sold both seats for big money for this year, not just one.

[S griffin]

Haas desperately needed the money and while it's nice to have a rookies joining, especially with limited seats, I am sure they would have preferred if they had a more experienced driver in one of the seats. But anyway moving on

[HighParker]

Originally Posted by rwintle

...I wonder how this venue might be used by the three big annual events on the grounds (Honda Indy Toronto, Canadian National Exhibition, and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)...

In reading some other comments and articles in the last couple of days, it's starting to sound like all of this was just a bunch of noise about nothing, and should have been ignored. They made some renderings to show off and get attention, but otherwise, as in the CityNews article you linked, they say they have $80 million to build something that will cost $500 million. They'll probably be told to get lost and don't come back until you've found all the money for something you can build.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I've referred to him as Monsieur Crashie for years, but this is a bit extreme dontcha think?



https://www.thedrive.com/news/39466/...ow-or-his-kids

It makes sense a bit but does seem knee-jerk so soon. Honestly given Haas and his time with Grosjean I would give him a bit of slack in pulling funding. But wait a bit and consider it, or amend it to a limited program.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Haas F1 sold both seats for big money for this year, not just one.

We don't know when "The Race" interviewed Romain. Perhaps at the time of writing it was only Mazepin? I don't remember the timeline of the whole deal.......

[bjohnsonsmith]

SPAM have unveiled their new liveries and very nice they look too.

[Nick Woodbury]

Exceptional Liveries, especially Pato's. I've loved their livery design since the hopped into Indycar, very evocative of the fantastic 2000-2002 Arrows colors.

[rwintle]

Much better than last year, particularly the one with blue. Last year's had so little that it looked out of place - much better integrated into the black/orange palette this time around.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by HighParker

In reading some other comments and articles in the last couple of days, it's starting to sound like all of this was just a bunch of noise about nothing, and should have been ignored. They made some renderings to show off and get attention, but otherwise, as in the CityNews article you linked, they say they have $80 million to build something that will cost $500 million. They'll probably be told to get lost and don't come back until you've found all the money for something you can build.

From my perspective, that might be the best outcome. No disrespect to the eSports community, but I'm not sure such a facility is really needed in Toronto at this point - and if it is, I'd rather see it built somewhere else (he said in his best selfish-motorsport-fan voice).

[S griffin]

I don't think it's really needed either. There are plenty of other places they can go.

[bjohnsonsmith]

O’Ward tops testing at Laguna Seca,



https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...-test/5540709/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

O’Ward tops testing at Laguna Seca,



https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...-test/5540709/

I know it is just a test, but it has to feel good topping that list. And Ed Jones has to be pretty happy. Mr Grosjean got himself up in to third too!

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by joeb

I know it is just a test, but it has to feel good topping that list. And Ed Jones has to be pretty happy. Mr Grosjean got himself up in to third too!

Just testing.

But yeah, that's nice to see that Romain is at least up to "pace".

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Just testing.

But yeah, that's nice to see that Romain is at least up to "pace".

I’ve no idea how he’s going to get on, but nobody should be in any doubt that Bigjohn Grosjean is a seriously, seriously rapid driver.

[bjohnsonsmith]

NBC announce 2021 schedule.


https://racer.com/2021/03/03/indycar...cast-schedule/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Both Michael Schumacher and Paul Page have been elected to the IMS Hall of Fame.


https://www.indianapolismotorspeedwa...pNTRjCD3DUbqWA

[chunterer]

Is it still going to be shown on SkysportsF1 channel this year?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Is it still going to be shown on SkysportsF1 channel this year?

Sky signed a multi-year deal with IMS in 2019, when Mark Miles was CEO of Hulman & Company, before Roger Penske bought up IMS. I haven't heard or read anything to say that's changed. Interesting to note, both NBC and Sky are owned by Comcast.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Sky signed a multi-year deal with IMS in 2019, when Mark Miles was CEO of Hulman & Company, before Roger Penske bought up IMS. I haven't heard or read anything to say that's changed. Interesting to note, both NBC and Sky are owned by Comcast.

Yes, interesting indeed. Thanks for the reply.

[S griffin]

Shame Indycar doesn't get big exposure over here. If only they could get a top GP star in the series

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Shame Indycar doesn't get big exposure over here. If only they could get a top GP star in the series

I'm not sure much would change - other than it being a short flash in the pan for UK audiences. There is already a healthy representation of drivers who have been in F1 (I'm assuming that is what you mean by GP) competing in the series, and the UK has been represented regularly - but UK audiences on the whole are not interested.

For the majority of UK TV audiences, there are three types of racing:
F1 - everything else open-wheel is seen as less important.
BTCC - everything else with a roof is too long/lacks characters/lower quality.
Rallying - cars look impressive for a few moments, but when they realise the only way to keep track of the action is through timing screens, and there is no wheel-to-wheel action, it gets repetitive to watch.

Trying to get UK TV audiences interested in yet another form of Motorsport is difficult enough - add into that the fact that it is a foreign series, looks like F1 and is not forward looking in terms of technology and your potential audience is very limited. It's hard enough to retain enough enthusiasm for F1 alone; diluting the mainstream TV market would hinder, rather then enhance, the Motorsport offering in the UK I feel.

[NaBUru38]

In Hispanic America, IndyCar airs on video streaming service Claro Video. It's only available for Claro phone users, and it requires an extra season pass. I tried to buy it last year and the website failed...

[S griffin]

Online watching is not for everyone. But at least it’s better than no Indycar coverage. Hope you sort the website issues out

[HighParker]

Originally Posted by rwintle

From my perspective, that might be the best outcome. No disrespect to the eSports community, but I'm not sure such a facility is really needed in Toronto at this point - and if it is, I'd rather see it built somewhere else (he said in his best selfish-motorsport-fan voice).

The province of Ontario has apparently been pondering plans for the last two or three years regarding what will happen just across the road at Ontario Place, and it could also involve Exhibition Place, if the only plan anyone has seen is realistic and has the money behind it. If the trade centre was to be expanded out to be almost beside the football stadium, and the parking lot that's used for the vendor (Thunder Alley) area, support races paddock, etc., gets turned into underground parking with buildings and other things on top of it, there might not be much room left for the race.
https://theperfectcity.ca/wp-content...March-2019.pdf
Supposedly "the province will be sharing more news in the spring about plans for the redevelopment".

[NaBUru38]

Hélio Castroneves spoke about his third Indy 500 win.


https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...0-win/5672454/