2024 NTT Indycar series - News, rumours and hijinx

[MonteCristo]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Dreyer & Reinbold planning for two-car Indy 500 entry

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is set to return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2024 with another two-car effort.

Its most recent lineup of 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and IndyCar veteran Graham Rahal — a stand-in for the injured Stefan Wilson — had a strong performance in May where its cars placed 11th and 22nd. And while the team has yet to announce its next roster, the Chevy-powered outfit is said to have both seats earmarked for specific drivers to contest the May 26 classic.

“We’re trying to accomplish a few things; we have a direction we want to go, but we aren’t quite there yet,” Dennis Reinbold told RACER. “But we’ll be at two cars again, which is what we have in motion.”

https://racer.com/2023/12/06/dreyer-rei ... 500-entry/

And in wider news:

IndyCar confirms postponement of hybrid debut until after Indy 500
The NTT IndyCar Series has made the decision to delay the introduction of its energy recovery system.

“The much-anticipated debut of the new power unit is expected to launch after the 108th Indianapolis 500, during the second half of the 2024 IndyCar Series season,” the series confirmed.

The call comes one year and one day after IndyCar announced it would be halting the introduction of its new 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engines in favor of continuing with its 2.2-liter motors and having Chevrolet and Ilmor Engineering, and Honda and Honda Performance Development, reassign their sizable new 2.4L motor creation budgets to designing and making new supercapacitor-based ERS units for 2024.

[Vassago]

Honda threatening to walk away after 2026. Sounds like a bluff tbh. I still don't know which third engine supplier would join the series anytime soon...

https://racer.com/2023/12/08/honda-weig ... e-slashed/

[John]

I don't think it's a bluff, they've been screaming after a third OEM for quite some time and with the recent restructuring of Honda motorsports dept., I don't think Indycar is solely up to HPD America any more. Supplying 9-10 cars rather than 17-18 is massive.

[MonteCristo]

I don't think it's a bluff, they've been screaming after a third OEM for quite some time and with the recent restructuring of Honda motorsports dept., I don't think Indycar is solely up to HPD America any more. Supplying 9-10 cars rather than 17-18 is massive.

And short of there being enough money coming in from engine fees (eg: each engine is nice and profitable), I can see how the situation could easily change with a restructure/change at the top.

Hopefully it doesn't come to pass. But one way or another, neither Honda or Chevy will be around forever. They need others to come in.

[Vassago]

DHL moves in to become the main sponsor for #10 Palou. Yellow time!

[MonteCristo]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ilo ... r-drivers/

Ilott off to WEC. Can't blame him after the abuse.

A shame. Decent talent. Good luck to him.

[MonteCristo]

https://racer.com/2023/12/13/hondas-pro ... ply-costs/

“I think there are several areas where you could save money,” Schifsky told RACER. “The biggest way that you could do that is to take a page out of the development of the hybrid system. So the hybrid system, once it’s up and developed and in the cars, and you’ve worked out all the bugs, and it debuts, the bulk of that development cost is finished. Everybody’s using the same part.

“You can’t mess with it. Teams can’t take it to their super-specialized dynos to trick out their supercapacitor packs or any of that. And so one could look at that and say that we should probably do the same thing with the ICE, where it’s a spec engine; everybody runs the same engine. Ilmor could build it.”

Honda’s suggestion for Ilmor Engineering to become the series’ sole ICE supplier, which is co-owned by IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske, which also builds Chevy’s IndyCar engines, is nothing less than remarkable.

Honda circling the drain.

Gulp.

[Everso Biggyballies]

https://racer.com/2023/12/13/hondas-pro ... ply-costs/

“I think there are several areas where you could save money,” Schifsky told RACER. “The biggest way that you could do that is to take a page out of the development of the hybrid system. So the hybrid system, once it’s up and developed and in the cars, and you’ve worked out all the bugs, and it debuts, the bulk of that development cost is finished. Everybody’s using the same part.

“You can’t mess with it. Teams can’t take it to their super-specialized dynos to trick out their supercapacitor packs or any of that. And so one could look at that and say that we should probably do the same thing with the ICE, where it’s a spec engine; everybody runs the same engine. Ilmor could build it.”

Honda’s suggestion for Ilmor Engineering to become the series’ sole ICE supplier, which is co-owned by IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske, which also builds Chevy’s IndyCar engines, is nothing less than remarkable.

Honda circling the drain.

Gulp.

Yep it seems like their decision is as good as made to get out of Indycar..

I guess with their confirmation earlier in the year of again becoming an F1 engine supplier in their own name (as opposed to one with an RBPT name as present) with their signing up of Aston Martin as their works engine supplier from 2026 on it seems that F1 is their preferred (car) Motorsport avenue at the expense of spending on an Indy car programme as well.. Putting all their eggs in the F1 basket.

[John]

https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports/mo ... 899549007/

More bad press for Indycar in what has been a catastrophic off-season from a PR perspective.

[MonteCristo]

https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports/mo ... 899549007/

More bad press for Indycar in what has been a catastrophic off-season from a PR perspective.

Plenty of legitimate points and concerns there.

But you know when someone is trying to be negative on purpose when you get statements like this:

Some believe the series feels stale with its soon-to-be 13-year-old chassis, its eventual hybrid engine and its inclination to try and revive old events (see Iowa and Milwaukee) that had previously fallen off the calendar.

Yeah, the chassis IS a dinosaur.

But they are going hybrid (is the writer saying they shouldn't?).

Iowa has been a success (so far).

And everyone is happy to see The Mile back (though if it'll get fans in seats is anyone's guess at this stage). Who raged that North Wilkesboro is coming back? Boo! Boo I say! NASCAR is stale BECAUSE North Wilkesboro is coming back!

[MonteCristo]

BACK THE TRUCK UP AND SHUT THE FRONT DOOR PEOPLE!

BIG INDYCAR NEWS!

The People's Sting Ray (Robb) is moving to Foyt.

https://racer.com/2023/12/15/robb-moves ... -for-2024/

Quaking in his boots, Palou is already rumoured to be wanting to sign for another team in response of this earthshattering news.



Now let us pray.

*bows head*

Our Sting Ray who art at Foyt, Robb be Thy name. By kingdom come, Thy will be crowned champion, at Laguna as well as Indy.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Joy to the people. The Lord above has answered our prayers.

As Alice Cooper once sang
".....I'm suddenly twice my size
My pants are all wet inside...."

[Everso Biggyballies]

https://racer.com/2023/12/13/hondas-pro ... ply-costs/

“I think there are several areas where you could save money,” Schifsky told RACER. “The biggest way that you could do that is to take a page out of the development of the hybrid system. So the hybrid system, once it’s up and developed and in the cars, and you’ve worked out all the bugs, and it debuts, the bulk of that development cost is finished. Everybody’s using the same part.

“You can’t mess with it. Teams can’t take it to their super-specialized dynos to trick out their supercapacitor packs or any of that. And so one could look at that and say that we should probably do the same thing with the ICE, where it’s a spec engine; everybody runs the same engine. Ilmor could build it.”

Honda’s suggestion for Ilmor Engineering to become the series’ sole ICE supplier, which is co-owned by IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske, which also builds Chevy’s IndyCar engines, is nothing less than remarkable.

Honda circling the drain.

Gulp.

Yep it seems like their decision is as good as made to get out of Indycar..

I guess with their confirmation earlier in the year of again becoming an F1 engine supplier in their own name (as opposed to one with an RBPT name as present) with their signing up of Aston Martin as their works engine supplier from 2026 on it seems that F1 is their preferred (car) Motorsport avenue at the expense of spending on an Indy car programme as well.. Putting all their eggs in the F1 basket.

Perhaps another indicator of Honda giving its Indycar involvement the flick .... It certainly looks like a bit of refocussing going on at the newly rebranded Honda Racing Corporation USA setup.

(The organisation previously known as Honda Performance Development has from today been renamed Honda Racing Corporation USA)

Honda USA to contribute to 2026 F1 power unit for Aston Martin

Honda’s rebranded US motorsport division will contribute to the development of the new Formula 1 power unit that will be raced by Aston Martin from 2026.

The change reflects closer ties with HRC Japan, as the US arm steps up its involvement in the company’s global programmes.

Honda says that “with three F1 races now in the US, the new HRC US will be involved in F1 power unit development and race support starting in 2026”.....

Im a bit on the fence whether this is specifically another nail in the Honda Indycar engine programme coffin, or whether it is a move to strengthen the Honda US resources. It does howeer seem to be a refocussing of US personnel away from Indycar and onto more global programmes, namely F1. Will that be at the expense of Indycar? It is without doubt not a positive step in terms of Indycar programme.

More on the specifics relating to Honda Racing USA and their F1 intentions in the F1 Engine thread here viewtopic.php?p=457956#p457956

[MonteCristo]

The hated one returns full time.

Foyt completes its 2024 IndyCar lineup with Ferrucci

https://racer.com/2024/01/09/foyt-compl ... -ferrucci/

[MonteCristo]

Team news. As in, teams, not drivers. And new teams at that.

Some interesting stuff here...

Prema Racing, one of the most successful teams competing on the European open-wheel ladders that lead to Formula 1, is considering an expansion into the U.S. with an NTT IndyCar Series program.

https://racer.com/2024/01/11/prema-cons ... r-program/

Pratt Miller Engineering, the Michigan-based racing operation that supported Team Chevy’s IndyCar program through 2022 and is responsible for building the Corvette Z06 GT3 as well as running General Motors’ factory Corvette IMSA GTD Pro effort, continues to work towards creating an NTT IndyCar Series team of its own with goal of launching in 2025.

https://racer.com/2024/01/11/pratt-mill ... r-program/

Bill Abel is working on an ambitious plan to add a full-time NTT IndyCar Series program alongside his burgeoning Indy NXT effort.

The Kentucky-based construction company owner made his first foray into IndyCar team ownership last year at the Indianapolis 500 in partnership with Neil and RC Enerson, and plans to return in May for Abel Motorsports’ second adventure at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a new chassis he’s due to receive from Dallara in the coming weeks.

The investment in a Dallara DW12 and more of the equipment needed to compete at every round is part of Abel’s bigger plans, which involve becoming IndyCar’s newest full-season entrant in 2025.

https://racer.com/2024/01/04/abel-aims- ... m-in-2025/

[Everso Biggyballies]

Rosenqvist fastest in opening day of Homestead IndyCar test

And more to the point the peoples favourite, Sting Ray Robb finished in the top 10. Praise the Lord..... Oh, did I mention there were only 10 drivers who took part.....

Felix Rosenqvist was fastest among the 10 teams and 10 drivers who took part in the first of three days of testing at the Homestead-Miami roval in Florida. The Swede turned a best unofficial lap of 1m11.244s in the No. 66 Honda, and had countryman Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global close behind at a 1m11.446s in the No. 98 Honda.

Reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou was third for Chip Ganassi Racing in the No. 10 Honda (1m11.529s), and in fourth, Arrow McLaren newcomer David Malukas was the first Bowtie representative in the No. 5 Chevy (1m11.757s). Behind him it was Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Agustin Canapino in fifth with the No. 78 Chevy (1m12.249s) and Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay in sixth with the No. 21 Chevy (1m12.342s).

Graham Rahal was seventh in the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda (1m12.486s), Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was eighth in the No. 12 Chevy (1m12.587s), Dale Coyne Racing tester Jack Harvey was ninth in the No. 18 Honda (1m13.895s), and A.J. Foyt Racing’s Sting Ray Robb rounded out the top 10 in the No. 41 Chevy (1m14.632s).

“It was a super smooth day for our first day running together,” Rosenqvist told RACER. “It’s a smaller team than I’m used to, but I quite like that about the team. Everybody is really happy to be working together with each other, and it’s already a cohesive group. And I really liked the car. Like, that’s the thing that’s on your mind the whole time when you’re changing teams; what’s the car going to be like, and will it be something I can work with easily? That was probably the best part of the day. The car was obviously quick, but it was a pleasure to drive.”

With teams limited to three sets of new tires per day and Homestead-Miami’s reputation for creating some of the highest tire degradation, teams were limited in how often they could run — and how many laps they could turn — before losing a lot of grip.

“It’s something everybody has to deal with here, but yeah, it means you get a couple of laps if you push hard and then the peak comes off pretty quickly,” Rosenqvist said. “We’re going pretty fast around here, and the tires get consumed fast as well. You just have to plan your day and what you’re trying to do around it.”

Due to limited supplies of the new-for-2024 lightweight chassis components, IndyCar instructed each of its full-time teams to bring one car to Homestead-Miami while the other cars in each team’s stable is updated to the current specification in the coming weeks.

As a result, the 10 teams have brought a single chassis to Florida to cycle its chosen drivers through the car over the three days, which explains why Penske’s Newgarden, for example, was in Will Power’s No. 12 Chevy on Monday, and will step out and hand over testing duties to his teammates for the remaining days of the outing. Palou’s No. 10 Ganassi Honda will have Scott Dixon and Linus Lundqvist on board this week, and the other teams are following a similar rotational practice as well.

.https://racer.com/2024/01/22/rosenqvist ... ycar-test/