As the new year unfolds there will be more news, but right now the headline is the arrival of the first aeroscreens. These are basically windshields that will enclose the cockpit. They will relieve some of the wind from the driver’s heads and hopefully give drivers another protective barrier against flying debris and hard landings when cars flip during crashes. The aeroscreens will hopefully prevent tragedies like the deaths of Justin Wilson and Dan Wheldon. This is a big breakthrough.
On December 19, Dale Coyne Racing, in partnership with Team Goh, announced that rookie Alex Palou will drive the full 2020 series in their Dallara Honda. The 22-year-old Spaniard drove in Japan in 2019 in both the Super CT-GT 300 Series and Super Formula Series. He tested for Dale Coyne at the Mid-Ohio track last July.
IndyCar will abandon most of the complicated and time consuming restart procedures for a simpler plan that uses the running order from the previous lap scoring. Cars that need repairs in the pit will be moved to the back of the field.
The red flag rule will be adjusted so that if a race is stopped for any reason such as rain, crash etc., cars needing repairs in the pit will have to wait until the flag goes green before starting work on the damage.
Sebastien Bourdais finally commented on his dismissal from Dale Coyne Racing and by proxy the Indy Car series. Obviously the 40-year-old Frenchman was not happy about it, particularly how it was done. He heard about it on a sports radio program before he was notified by Coyne. The situation could have been handled with a great deal more class and professionalism than it was. That being said, however, Bourdain’s performance has deteriorated a significantly since his 2017 class during the Indy 500. Since that time Bourdais has but two wins and two more podium finishes. His career at IMS for the Indy 500 was equally disappointing. In nine starts in the Indy 500 his best finish was a seventh in 2014 and he only had one other top ten finish.
So his on track production didn’t match his contract. There are still five full time seats to fill with various teams before the season starts. Carlin Racing has two. A J Foyt Enterprises has two, although Tony Kanaan insists he will be driving the #14 again, but it isn’t yet official. Dale Coyne with Vassar Sullivan has a full series seat still open. Dragon Seed has a ride for six races including the Indy 500 open. Ed Carpenter has a seat for five racing events that includes Indy. Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Santino Ferrucci has yet to sign but the word is that Coyne Vassar Sullivan has him all but locked up. While James Hinchcliffe has a personal services contract with Arrow-McLaren they have announced that if a better deal comes along for the Canadian he is free to take it. Twenty-one- year-old Brazilian driver Sergio Sette Camara will more than likely be in a car, possibly Foyt Enterprises. And of course Fernando Alonso will be at Indianapolis in May driving the third Arrow Mclaren car. He might drive in some other series races but that remains to be seen.
There will be a lot of movement between now and March 16 when the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is run and we will try to keep you posted.
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Other News This Week
- Author Talk with Juana Martinez-Neal on Nov. 19
- This Week’s Issue: Nov. 15-21
- 100 Years Ago: Nov. 15-21
- Yuletide Celebration is Back Dec. 6-23
- City Prepares for Winter
- Applause!: Nov. 15-21
- A Swift Connection
- FORgiving Tuesday at the Harrison Center Dec. 3
- Indianapolis Brass Choir Concert Nov. 24
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