Tags is Back

Conquest Racing has called upon Alex Tagliani to replace the injured Enrique Bernoldi to race in Sunday’s Indy Grand Prix of Detroit.  Bernoldi who has competed in a few practice sessions in Detroit says “I couldn’t give my all (in practice) because of my left hand”.  The left hand that he is speaking of what injured in a spin in qualifications last weekend, taring a ligament in his thumb, rendering him unable to compete this weekend.  Tagliani who was scheduled to run in a NAPCAR Canadian tire event this weekend had this to say.”It’s a lot to learn in a 30-minute session for me, I’ve been used to the heavy cars and think I was a little bit rusty in the open-wheel cars. I’m catching it, but Detroit is not the track to get back in it, test and help the team with their chassis setup and everything. The opportunity is there so I’m definitely going to take it. My goal and my wish is to be back here with everyone.”

Title Sponsor Update

Word from Curt Cavin is that there were a couple possible title sponsors that were initially concerned after Versus and the IRL formed there 10 year partnership saying, “We need to take a look at it; we’re not sure”.  However Terry Angstadt (president of the IRL commercial division) says that “Now that they’ve run the full numbers, I think they understand (the TV package) and like it.  Angstadt is still confident that the Indycar Series will have a title sponsor for the 2009 season, but if a deal is not reached  by the end of October, IRL officials will be looking ahead to 2010.

Turbos Are Back

According to the always reliable Curt Cavin, Turbocharged engines will be back in the IRL for the new 2011 car design.  The only decisions yet to be made is if it will be 4 or 6 cylinders and if they want to go the twinturbo route.  Because the manufactureres want to have engines “relevant to their consumer product”, they are leaning towards the 6 cylinder.  The plan to switch from the normally asperated engines that Indycar fans have been used to since 97′, will be shared with the three or four engine manufacturers that are expected to attend the next roundtable on September 16-17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Not only will the switch dramatically change the sound of the current Honda engine, but it will also increase by 100 horesepower, from the current 650.  They hope to have all the specs decided on by December, to give 2 years for designing, testing and mass producing of the new engine slated to be ran in the 2011 season.

Thursday 8-28 Cavin & Kevin

Tonight on the weekly Cavin & Kevin radio show, they will have Indy Racing League President of Competition Brian Barnhart.  Scott Roembke, from Rahal Letterman Racing will also be on the show, as will Patrick Stephan from tracksideonline.com.  Because of there travels to Sonoma for this weekends race they won’t be excepting phone calls, but will take questions & comments via E-mail (Kevin@1070thefan.com).  The show can be heard between 7-9pm ET on 1070thefan.com or if your in central Indiana you can have your radio set to 1070.

Marlboro Team Penske Up In Flames

A report by the AP:

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Roger Penske’s IndyCar team is scrambling to replace its two cars for this weekend’s California race after they were damaged in a transporter truck fire.Team spokesman Dan Passe said the fire occurred Wednesday morning outside Cheyenne, Wyo., en route to Sunday’s race at Sonoma, Calif. There were no injuries.Penske had two other cars already in Sonoma because the team was testing there last week. The team is now trying to get those cars into race condition.

Don’t get me wrong I hate to see this happen to anybody, but if it has to happen, at least its to a team that has virtually unlimited resources, apposed to teams like Conquest,Foyt,Dale Coyne,Roth,SFR,PCM or HVM where such an incident would not only threaten the end of the season but possibly the end of a team.

*WARNING* Robin Miller News

According to the not always accurate Robin Miller, the Indycar series will adopt the “optional” tires on the road/street circuits for the 2009 schedule.  If true, this could be one of the best moves the ICS has made since unification.  Not only does it lead to more passing and just plain better racing it also leads to more strategy, thus giving the smaller teams a better chance of a podium finish, and parity is key to successful series.

Danica vs. Kimmel

Wow, This is a pretty funny video!! Not to mention a little publicity, good or bad. Thanks to Jeff over at My Name Is IRL for making me aware!!

North Carolina Dreaming Of Indycar’s

According to a North Carolina paper, the City of High Point is apparently persuing the idea of an Indycar race through there streets come 2010.  Still in the Early stages of planning, during a recent news conference, Rich Brenner, retired TV sportscaster and Furniture City Motorsports board member, said “There’s a lot of work to be done, but if you have a vision and you have a goal, you can seize that moment”.

2009 Indy Lights Schedule Released

The 2009 Indy Lights Schedule consists of 14 venues, with a split of 7 ovals and 8 road/street courses.  More non-ovals than ovals?  Could this be a sign of the future for Indycar?  I sure hope not.  The 09′ season will also be the first time that the Lights will race outside of the U.S. with two races in Canada, Edmonton and Toronto.

The Schedule Breakdown:

• April 4                   Streets of St. Pete
• April 5                   Streets of St. Pete
• April 18 or 19        Streets of Long Beach
• April 25 or 26        Kansas Speedway
• May 22                   Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• May 30 or 31          Milwaukee Mile
• June 20 or 21         Iowa Speedway
• July 4 or 5              Watkins Glen International
• July 11 or 12          Streets of Toronto
• July 25 or 26          Edmonton City Centre Airport 
• August 1                Kentucky Speedway
• August 8 or 9         Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
• August 22 or 23     Infineon Raceway
• August 29               Chicagoland Speedway
• October 10 or 11    Homestead-Miami Speedway

Kentucky Photos

For more photos that I took at Kentucky Motor Speedway over the weekend, you can click the “Kentucky Photos” button on the right side of the page.