IndyCar News and Notes
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| Sebastien Bourdais will be the lone full-time KVRT/KVSH entry in 2016 |
It’s a slow time for the world of major auto racing. Sure, you had the Roar Before the Rolex 24 this past weekend, with practice for this upcoming weekend’s Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire having started. However, generally speaking, this is a slow period for racing.
That said, there has been some news of late in the Verizon IndyCar Series. And although the news has been nothing you would call earth shattering, there are some tidbits worthy of our discussion. We’ll tackle of few of those now.
KV Racing Technology
From the perspective of the overall health of the IndyCar Series, last week’s announcement KV Racing Technology will downsize to one full-time 2016 entry under the KVSH Racing banner is certainly a disappointment. For one, a team that has long fielded multiple full-season efforts not being able to secure the funding for a second effort, is merely another of the concerning indications of the struggles facing the sport. Further, a team contracting inevitably means layoffs for crewmen and other team personnel.
That said, I can’t help but think this move while not necessarily good for Indy Car racing, will be a good one for KV Racing Technology.
Formed as PK Racing in 2003 from the remains of the old Pac West Racing, what we now familiarly refer to as KV rebranded as PKV Racing in 2004. It became KV Racing Technology in 2008 with Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven as owners. in 2016, the team will field the #11 entry in a partnership of Kalkhoven, Vasser and James Sullivan as it has the last three seasons under the KVSH Racing banner.
While numerous alphabet-soup branding acronyms have long been one distinguishing feature of the organization, another has been a revolving door of less-than-accomplished drivers. For numerous years, Patrick Lemarie, Mario Moraes, E.J. Viso, Roberto Gonzalez and others produced a litany of crash damage with less than stellar results. In 2010, when the team fielded Moraes, Viso and current IndyCar driver Takuma Sato, the three drivers had their days ended by accidents 16 times. And it was from here we got the ‘overtime at the Dallara factory courtesy of KV’ jokes.
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| Tony Kanaan celebrates his 2013 Indianapolis 500 win driving for KV |
Now, to be fair, KV has taken steps towards shedding its accident-prone reputation in recent seasons. From 2011-2013, Tony Kanaan scored 10 podium finishes for the team and scored a surprising win at the 2013 Indianapolis 500. As the team’s lead driver the last two seasons, Sebastien Bourdais has won three races and finished 10th in the championship standings both seasons.
In short, with the efforts of Kanaan and Bourdais the lead car at KV/KVSH has shown a clear surge in form in recent seasons, being a regular contender towards the front end of the field.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the second car. Over the last four seasons the second KV car has had four drivers, a best finish of 12th in the series standings (Rubens Barrichello, 2012), and one podium finish (Simona de Silvestro at Houston Race 1, 2013). The last two seasons have been particularly tough as Sebastian Saavedra and Stefano Coletti combined for exactly two top-ten finishes in 34 races and their fair share of crash damage.
In short, the first KV car has represented a significant step forward for the team in recent seasons. Conversely, the second KV car has well, resembled the KV of old.
Now, I imagine the team could have probably found a funded driver with the budget to field a second car in 2016. However, for whatever reason, the second KV entry hasn’t been doing the KV operation much good in recent seasons. With still more to find in the form of the lead car, it probably makes more than a lot of sense for the team to consolidate and focus its energies solely on moving Bourdais’ improving program forward.
Schedule
We’ve known for a few months the dates and venues of the 2016 IndyCar schedule. What hadn’t been finalized until late last month were the starting times for the different races, which of course, was a matter of finalizing television slots.
To be clear, what follows are not criticisms as I know constructing a schedule takes into account numerous variables. However, these are a few things that jump out. few things jump out:
- Iowa at 5:50 p.m. ET, 4:50 p.m. local time. If you’ve ever been to Iowa for both a day and night race there’s no debate: a night race is preferred. For one, with many locals involved in farming, a night event is a better draw. Second, the heat and humidity that time of year can be quite oppressive during the day. Of course, due to the NASCAR Kentucky race occupying the Saturday evening slot, we knew the Iowa race was moving to Sunday afternoon. The day race is one thing, but I can’t see a nearly-5 p.m. local time green flag helping the gate. We all know Des Moines is not a heavily-populated area and how many people will drive more than two-plus hours before work on a Monday?
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Per Google Earth, this will be the view of the drivers approaching the pedestrian bridge at 6:20 p.m. PST during this year's Sonoma race Sonoma at 7:37 p.m. ET, 4:37 local. The Sonoma race has historically run over 2 hours and by our calculations the drivers will be looking right into the sun during much of the race on the climb up the hill. Also, much of the track will be in shadows due to the elevation changes and the sun setting below the mountains. The late start in wine country could be an issue of visibility for the season-finale.
- Both Toronto and Mid-Ohio on CNBC. Another effect of NASCAR coming to NBCSN.
100th Indy 500
Before Christmas, INDYCAR announced the qualifying format for next year’s 100th Indianapolis 500. The 33-car field will be determined the Saturday of qualifying weekend with starting positions determined by Sunday times. Like last year and in contrast to the traditional sequence of events, ‘Bump Day’ will be followed by Pole Day.
As you might imagine, the format has not been entirely well received. Yes, I suppose a big-name driver could wall it early Saturday, and scramble to have to find their way into the show (unless of course the rules are changed that day). However, the only drama likely to play out will consist of the Buddy Lazier and Bryan Clauson types battling to not be the one or two drivers to go home, while the drivers at the sharp end of the grid put in cursory times ahead of Sunday.
Sorry, but that doesn’t exactly call to mind the romantic images we have of drivers hanging it out on the edge of adhesion for four laps to make the field for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Of course, the reasoning behind the format is simple: television. As they have the past two years, ABC will broadcast for qualifying on Saturday and Sunday for a two-hour window. And in what is surely a case of the tail wagging the dog, ABC and IMS understandably want some assurance there will be cars on track during these two precious network television windows.
They’ll get that. Although, given the rather uninspiring format, I’m not really sure what else.
Another thing…
I keep hearing that the 100th Indy 500 will inevitably draw more entries, resulting in possibly 36 qualifiers. Really?
Here are the confirmations, I have at this point by manufacturer…
Chevy (11)
Penske – Montoya, Castroneves, Power, Pagenaud
Ganassi – Dixon, Kanaan, Kimball
CFH – Carpenter, Newgarden
KVSH – Bourdais
KV/Pirtek – Brabham
Honda (12)
Foyt – Sato, Hawksworth
RLL – Rahal, Pigot
Coyne – Daly, Clauson, Mann (likely), TBA (DCR has confirmed 4 entries)
Andretti – Munoz, Andretti, Hunter-Reay
Herta – Chaves (likely)
Dreyer and Reinbold normally fields a car and Lazier is expected too as well. Drivers Townsend Bell, J.R. Hildebrand, Sage Karam, Oriol Servia and James Davison are candidates to have programs. Also, teams such as Andretti, Ganassi, CFH, Rahal and Foyt typically add programs for May.
But will there be enough seats and drivers with programs to have legitimate competition for 33 spots? Likely, but my math tells me it’s going to be a stretch.
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| Ken Block will take his trademark livery to the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2016 |
A non-IndyCar item
Ken Block’s move to FIA World Rallycross will put the well-known stuntman in front of a broader audience and in turn further promote his ever-growing brand. It will also be something of a blow to Red Bull Global Rallycross.
I’ve stated on numerous occasions that the American division of Rallycross has numerous things going for it many traditional racing series lack. A strong over-the-air television package, road-relevant cars, and a millennial-friendly presentation are but a few of these items, which over the last few years included, the popular Block.
Last season, I covered the Washington, D.C. GRC event, and went by Block’s elaborate Hoonigan Racing Division area after the race. About a half hour before the self-proclaimed Head Hoonigan was scheduled to sign autographs, there was already a line of about 100 people already waiting.
In short, Block gave GRC a true star, a recognizable name, someone who with legitimate cache at the box office. While I believe the series has a good future, Block’s personality and recognizable name will undoubtedly be missed.
Brian Carroccio is a senior columnist for AutoRacing1. He can be contacted at BrianC@AutoRacing1.com