A look at IndyCar’s 4 new teams for 2018 (Update)
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| Trevor Carlin (R) |
01/01/18 The IndyCar Series will see with four new teams to shore up the grid in 2018.
Their names are Trevor Carlin, Ricardo Juncos, Mike Harding and Michael Shank, all of whom own their own teams. These are successful motorsports team owners who have gradually moved up the ranks to the pinnacle of open wheel racing.
Carlin to IndyCar in 2018
For the first two teams, Carlin and Juncos, open wheel racing was already their domain. Despite this, they have never ran a car in the IndyCar Series. Trevor Carlin has forged his reputation in European disciplines with drivers like Takuma Sato, Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Jack Harvey, Mikhail Aleshin and Lando Norris.
Present in Indy Light since the 2015 season, Carlin will make the leap in 2018 with their involvement in IndyCar . The British team has signed drivers Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball for the 2018 season.
"We are thrilled to finally be able to announce our entry into the Verizon IndyCar series as a result of the team's long-term ambition," said team owner Trevor Carlin. "We do not underestimate the challenge and competition that lie ahead, but I have great confidence in the young and passionate team that Team Manager Colin (Hale) and I have put in place."
Juncos Racing made in Argentina
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| Ricardo Juncos |
Ricardo Juncos immigrated to the United States in 2002 from Argentina. Juncos started with a karting team then graduated to Pro Mazda, winning the title in 2010 with Conor Daly. He repeated those titles in 2014 and 2017 with Spencer Pigot and Victor Franzoni. Juncos Racing also won the 2015 and 2017 Indy Lights championships with Spencer Pigot and Kyle Kaiser.
In 2016, the team announced its participation in the 101st edition of the 500 Miles Indianapolis for 2017. The drivers Spencer Pigot and Sebastian Saavedra, finished 15 th and 18 th in the 2017 Indy 500. In 2018 the team will commit to at least 4 races with Kyle Kaiser.
"We have the opportunity to do some shopping with Kyle Kaiser for 2018. We are still looking for a sponsor to have a more complete program," said Ricardo Juncos on his new adventure in 2018.
Michael Shank Racing, busy program
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| Mike Shank (L) |
Michael Shank is a former driver who started in SCCA before moving up into Toyota Atlantic's and winning the C2 cup in 1996. After having a go in CART in 1997, Michael Shank Racing was born . He ran drivers Sam Hornish Jr. and Ryan Dalziel before moving on to endurance racing in IMSA. He had some real success there, including the victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2012 with AJ Allmendinger, Justin Wilson, Oswaldo Negri and John Pew.
In May 2017, Michael Shank returned to IndyCar as team boss with the help of Andretti Autosport. Jack Harvey started the 2017 Indianapolis 500, but made contact with the wall on the 65th lap and his day was done.
In 2018, Michael Shank Racing will is lined up for at least 6 races with the support of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports . For Michael Shank, "it's a ton of work coming up, but we're excited to be working with Jack (Harvey) again."
Harding Racing
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| Brian Barnhart is now President of Harding Racing |
Mike Harding is the owner of the Harding Group, a construction company in the Indianapolis area. They became one of the team sponsors in 2016. Passionate about the Indy 500, Mike Harding did not want to stop there and set up a single-seater team in 2017. Colombian Gabby Chaves was behind the wheel in the 2017 Indy 500 and finished at an impressive 9 th place. Harding Racing ran two more races in 2017 – both ovals.
Although the goal of the team is a full season in 2018 with Gabby Chaves, no announcement has been made to date. However, Brian Barnhart has left the IndyCar front office and joined the organisation to become president and he would not have done that if the team didn't intend to enter IndyCar full-time in 2018. He joins partner in crime Larry Curry who is team manager and competition director.