IRL news and notes

[stradlin21]

that's the best post i've seen it ages!

but let's move on now, i'm sure I speak for us all...

i've heard another rumour today

Nelson Phillipe has been linked to a re-launched team from Greg Beck

Beck has been extremely vocal about his positive feelings about TEAM and has been present at all the major pre season IRL meetings

Although he has stated he would like to run a team full time again, not much has been said since

It is known that Phillipe attended a driver physical the other day and Beck was also there to talk to potential drivers for his seat....

anyone think this could be a possibility? and did anyone hear that Jon Herb has apparently purchased some more IRL equipment?

[enemy-ace]

This has to be the most accurate interpretation of what the CC and IRL forums have turned into on this board.
You guys need to step back and take a deep breath.

[mac]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

i created this thread for the purposes of the title

it's gone wrong because of WUM's invading it

Really?

stradlin, this was your (highly antagonistic) second post on this allegedly informative thread.

Originally Posted by stradlin21

Your getting desperate now DRT

1. Where does it say Ethanol require a two car team?
2. Panther are close (check their website) to annoucing a 2nd car, PJ Chesson is looking highley likley for this with Munther having the Pro Series seat
3. There is no indication that RLR are going away, as much as you would like it

Try again mate!"

Please, just calm your tone and relax - have a Coke and a smile.

For as long as I remember I've leant to the Champ Car side, but now I'm stuck right in the middle and enjoy both series.

We're stuck with what we've got, and as a racing fan (and not a stakeholder) I don't know why people can't just enjoy two pretty cool racing series without lowering oneself to petty pointscoring.

Open wheel racing has moved on so far from the initial split (different people, venues, philosophies) - I mean this is ridiculous.

Please, let's lower the aggression meter, find some Zen and discuss IRL news and notes like adults...

Let me see if I can kick it off with a note...

- I may be going to the Indy 500 this year...

[icemachine]

Good news Mac, I may be too, as it appears I may be spending some time this spring in Muncie

[luke]

So stradders, could you jot down the drivers/teams of who are confirmed along with rumors so we all have an idea all together of what the field may look like? Cheers

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by luke

So stradders, could you jot down the drivers/teams of who are confirmed along with rumors so we all have an idea all together of what the field may look like? Cheers

Fantasic idea! Let's have a look at that list of CONFIRMED drivers for the irl this season. Might make interesting viewing!

[climb]

Unfortunately it's not the focus of this thread, ms.

This is about news and notes. We're the so called silly season, so rumours are bread-and-butter to us fans.

I would welcome another thread about secured seats for 2008 (at least the IRL forum could afford one ) but rumours and hints must have citizen rights here.

[Antrodemus]

Originally Posted by mac

- I may be going to the Indy 500 this year...

Originally Posted by icemachine

Good news Mac, I may be too, as it appears I may be spending some time this spring in Muncie

I may be three I'll be somewhere in the vicinity at any rate...

(sorry, no rumours down here )

[D.R.T.]

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/42652/

Phillips look at the Matos situation and further into the IPS/Atlantic feeder system.

[climb]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/42652/

Phillips look at the Matos situation and further into the IPS/Atlantic feeder system.

Well let me say I don't agree with what he says about the IPS side.

First of all it still has to be proven that Mutoh and Lloyd are "spotty cases": why couldn't they mean that IPS is starting to deliver?

Second, it's a mistery to me why AGR, hiring Matos, should have shown IPS are useless..

Third: Phillips seems to forget that IPS in 2007 have become the most successful OW series in the world interms of grid number increase, and this year things are not expected to roll back.

[BootsOntheSide]

Agree that Phillips is far too negative about the IPS. Two of the top teams have signed its drivers for 2008, it seems more likely that the tide is turning. Meanwhile, despite big investment and hype for 2007, it remains to be seen whether any of the 2007 Atlantics crop will actually move upwards at all for 2008.

[Mystery]

I'm prepared to reserve judgement about the IPS. It's last few champions are yet to set the world alight at the top level. Howard is now getting his chance and Lloyd will occasionally - if they flunk then I'll accept it's as lame looking as Atlantics is.

[foreversideways]

Originally Posted by Mystery

I'm prepared to reserve judgement about the IPS. It's last few champions are yet to set the world alight at the top level. Howard is now getting his chance and Lloyd will occasionally - if they flunk then I'll accept it's as lame looking as Atlantics is.

Where else would you take your drivers from then if not IPS. These guy run the same circuits as IRL, the teams are professional. Looks like a good training ground. Very similar to GP2 in this regard.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

To be honest... from Europe. As others have said, if Lloyd, Mutoh & Co. turns out to be rubbish that will be where the talent will come from. Not that I believe it will happen, considering Mutoh's excellent performance in the last IRL round.

[foreversideways]

Yes i can see that. But you need a feeder series that is going to be able to promote home grown talent as well as international drivers. With the likes of Lloyd, Mutoh etc coming into the series from abroad, it should raise the overall standard. I can't see any mileage in bringing in failed F3, Renault World Series or GP2 drivers, as they have no oval experience.

[Mystery]

That is absolutely correct fs. I would never suggest that IPS shouldn't be where the IRL gets its drivers from - it does need one or two of Mutoh, Howard and Lloyd to really perform this year to give it some credibility.

[icemachine]

Cotman to IRL

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/42854/

As speculated the past two weeks on SPEED, Tony Cotman will be named vice president of competition for the Indy Racing League on Friday.

“I’m just going where I think the future of open-wheel racing is going to be,” said Cotman, who quit as Champ Car’s executive vice president earlier this month. ”It’s a good job. I’m going to oversee anything that has to do with competition, technical issues, tracks and assist Brian (Barnhart) in race control.”

[drdisque]

IndyCar Series news:
AJ Foyt IV confirmed in second Vision car
Milka Duno is reportedly shopping the Citgo sponsorship to other teams and potentially other race series.
SAMAX has been in discussions with Mario Dominguez to run a full season in their car.
Tomas Scheckter to drive in 3 races, including Indy 500 for Luczo Dragon Racing (car prepared by Penske)


IPS News:
Schmidt confirms driver lineup - Bia Figueredo (looks like she's going to use the name Ana Beatriz in the US), Australian James Davison, and Richard Antinucci
Bobby Wilson to new Team E - clocks fastest lap at Sebring test
Tyce Carlson and two other guys form a new IPS team - Alliance Motorsports (they and Fuzion Autosport who will field Adam Andretti purchased the assets of Kenn Hardley racing and will both operate out of the former Hardley shop)
Leilani Munter and former NASCAR driver Brent Sherman have both tested for the Panther IPS ride. Reportedly they both bring a pretty good budget and I think it's possible that they could expand to two cars and run both of them.

[cptkablamo]

So what does Scheckter have planned for the rest of the year

[NAC]

Hi boys and girls

It's been a while since I ventured back here. Without reading the last 140 odd posts can someone give us a breif who's up who and who's not paying

[drdisque]

Scheckter doesn't have anything else planned for the rest of the year.

He's probably figuring someone will get fired or injured at some point and he can come in and pick up some extra races.

[luke]

Yeah, no doubt he'll find a ride later in the year and probably land a Indy race. JMOT..

[drdisque]

Like I said, he already has a deal for a really good car (essentially the third penske car) for Indy.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by drdisque

IndyCar Series news:
AJ Foyt IV confirmed in second Vision car
Milka Duno is reportedly shopping the Citgo sponsorship to other teams and potentially other race series.
SAMAX has been in discussions with Mario Dominguez to run a full season in their car.
Tomas Scheckter to drive in 3 races, including Indy 500 for Luczo Dragon Racing (car prepared by Penske)

Dominguez would be a very welcome addition to the series, but Schekter not having a full season ride is quite appaling.

[Mystery]

Scheckter has to start from scratch again sadly. He got lost in Vision and hadn't really set the world alight for a couple of years before that. I'm intrigued which his other 2 races will be.

Actually it's interesting seeing "Penske" Luczo ramping up their efforts. Could this be a precursor for a bigger program? If so, it's exactly where Tomas should want to be.