Bobby Rahal’s long-held dream of expanding the Rahal Letterman Lanigan NTT IndyCar Series team to three full-time entries is about to come true.
RACER understands the two-car effort led by Graham Rahal in the No. 15 and Takuma Sato in the No. 30 will be joined by the part-time No. 45 entry transitioning to a full season program after the team recently reached its fundraising goal to field three cars at every round for 2022.
Albon to RLL? KMag?
Though I guess more likely Lundgaard's money cleared.
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"Factory Mazda DPi driver Harry Tincknell isn’t sure what he’ll be doing after the Japanese manufacturer shutters its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program in November. As a result, the Briton, a two-time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and one of the fastest drivers in the DPi category, is wondering whether a return to his open-wheel roots might be possible with a look towards the NTT IndyCar Series."
Sounds more like his PR people floating an idea more than anything. But he seems talented.
Oscar Piastri in F1! Catch the fever! Vettel Hate Club. Life membership.
Sato on brink of deal with Dale Coyne Racing for 2022
Asked what it would take to get the deal done, Coyne replied: “There are some important details to finalize. I’d say we’re 80 percent there. But there’s willingness on both sides to make it happen, and that helps.”
IndyCar has announced its 17-race 2022 schedule, which sees Iowa become the only double-header, and the season-opener at St. Petersburg moving to February.
Of particular note is St. Petersburg shifting forward to February, and the second round being Texas Motor Speedway, which reverts to a one-race weekend after hosting two races this year.
The Detroit event at Belle Isle will move back to its usual week after the Indy 500, but becomes a single race for the first time since 2012.
National and state laws allowing, IndyCar will return to Toronto in July, and this will be followed by the only double-header on the calendar, as IndyCar returns to Iowa Speedway after a one-year hiatus.
With the Grand Prix of Long Beach returning to its usual April date, Laguna Seca will become the season finale, as it was in 2019.
“This schedule continues to build on the growth and momentum the NTT IndyCar Series has achieved, especially in 2021,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles. “Our drivers and teams will give the fans a strong, earlier start with six consecutive races on NBC, building even more anticipation for the crown jewel of the Indianapolis 500 in May.
“Our summer schedule also is full of action, with no extended breaks in the calendar, leading into the crowning of a champion on the West Coast with our last two races also on NBC. This is an excellent schedule for the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series championship.”
He added that the blend of seven road courses, five ovals and five street courses was significant, as “variety and required versatility from our drivers are important, distinguishing attributes of NTT IndyCar Series racing” in 2022.
John wrote: ↑2 years ago
TMS clashing with Sebring 12 hrs. One month gap between race 1 and 2. Season ends stupidly early as usual.
But 14 races on network television.
Succinct summary. I'll just add: another two-time IMS RC visit - sigh. But the dropping of the second Detroit race is a win.
I can deal with an early start or end, but I don't know why they persist with the gap between the first and second races. Kills any momentum.
If they have problems with tracks with the timing, surely that's when you bring in one race you can control - IMS RC.
As it stands, they have three races at IMS anyway in the three months between May and July. So it's no different having three races at IMS between March and May... And that way July wouldn't be so clogged.
Oscar Piastri in F1! Catch the fever! Vettel Hate Club. Life membership.
Callum Ilott’s audition for Juncos Hollinger Racing has gone well enough for the 22-year-old Briton to earn the team’s confidence and a contract to remain in the No. 77 Chevy as its full-time driver in 2022.
The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 reserve driver and Ferrari F1 test driver will lead the team owned by Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger, which is actively seeking more high-caliber team members to support Ilott’s rookie campaign in NTT IndyCar Series.
In two races with JHR at Portland and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Ilott’s shown considerable promise while learning the car, tracks, and intricacies of American open-wheel racing. He’ll complete the initial three-race stint with JHR this weekend in Long Beach and then move onto preparing for the 17-round IndyCar calendar that starts in February.
