Overheard in Chicagoland

UPDATE We forgot to mention that Dale Coyne told AR1.com Saturday that it is very likely he will have the same driver lineup in 2009 (Junqueira and Moraes) as he does this year. The team, like most ex-Champ Car teams, lacks the money to go Wind Tunnel testing to improve their car aerodynamically like Penske, Ganassi and AGR have to be competitive on the ovals. If the car won't go through the air fast enough, there isn't much the driver can do when the car is 100% throttle and completely trimmed out and it's still not fast enough. You could try to make the track shorter like Helio Castroneves tried to do in qualifying for the Chicagoland race

Dario Franchitti talks to reporters in Chicago Saturday

yesterday by driving below the white line and hope Brian Barnhart doesn't see you (he will of course)…….Also forgot to mention that Dario Franchitti said in his press conference yesterday at the track there is a possibility he will drive for Ganassi in the non-points event at Australia in October. "I think there's a definite possibility of that," Franchitti said. "I think Dan's [Wheldon] going to do the race with Panther (Racing), so I don't see any roadblock to doing that. I think if I could get a couple days testing in first just to get used to things again, that would definitely be helpful."

09/06/08 We hear that the Australia race was given the option of running in early spring by the IRL, which they probably should do if they ever want the race to be a points paying event. September does not work for the promoter because of Australian football playoffs, and the IRL has no intention of ending their season outside the USA, especially in late October, well into the American football season……..We hear another reason the IRL will switch to a turbo engine, besides all the reasons we have given previously, is that the turbo helps an Ethanol powered engine perform more on par with a gasoline engine. Remember that ethanol generates less power per gallon than gasoline, hence why if you put ethanol in your fuel tank your fuel mileage drops noticeably. We hear the engine manufacturers who are talking

Tony George lets nepotism get in the way of his team winning races

to the IRL about the new engine are ok with staying with ethanol…..Look for Vision Racing to keep the same driver lineup of Carpenter and Foyt IV as this year. Tony George doesn't have the heart to fire his stepson and his godson even though they are not performing adequately on the road courses, which will soon comprise 50% of the schedule. Meanwhile, Paul Tracy who destroyed both of them in Edmonton (his only race) sits on the sidelines. Blood is thicker than common sense. ……..Not sure how many cars will be on the IndyCar grid in 2009 but it could be over 30 if everything falls into place we hear. In this economy, however, that is doubtful. Mark C. reporting from Chicagoland