2016 Indy Car
The 2016 Indy Car season is already being planned out. If all goes as expected it will be a month longer then it has been in the last several years. The Phoenix Raceway is back on the schedule, as well as the Elkhart Lake Road America road course. The street course in Boston on Sept, 4 is going to create some excitement. No trips to any foreign countries. The Fontana Speedway, Milwaukee Mile, and the NOLA motor sports park were not on the 2016 schedule. Next year will mark the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The 2015 Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya will be testing a Porsche 919 Hybrid with an eye to competing in the 24 hours of LeMans next year.
A.J. Foyt Racing has hired George Klotz as it’s new team manager. Mr. Klotz was formerly the team manager for Andretti Autosports. Team president Larry Foyt said Klotz will direct the racing operations and he can concentrate on the business end of the team. Klotz is one of the more experienced managers in Indy Car racing. Andretti Autosports has announced that Klotz will be replaced by someone from within the organization.
There was much speculation about Josef Newgarden possibly leaving CFH Racing after his most successful season in 2015, but he signed a new contract and will remain with his old team. Series Rookie of the Year Gabby Chavez will return to Bryan Herta Autosport for a second season. No word on Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth returning to A.J. Foyt. There’s a rumor that Foyt is looking to clean house after a disappointing 2015 season. James Hinchcliffe will return to Schmidt Peterson after recovering from his life-threatening injury suffered at the IMS last May. James Jakes may not return to S/P. Indy Lights Champ Spencer Pigot will get to drive at least three races as a rookie for Rahal -Letterman racing, including the Indy 500 and maybe the whole series if he can find sponsorship. At age 22, Pigot is considered one of the rising stars in open-wheel racing. It’s a ways off but it’s never to early to get ready for Indy.
NBA
It’s time for pro basketball to take the stage as the NBA season starts this week. The Oklahoma City Thunder will start the season as number one in the power rankings. Defending champs Golden State is ranked second, although that could quickly change. The Cavaliers are third ranked. These kinds of numbers are just media BS. Remember going into the in NFL season in September, the Cowboys were ranked third and the Colts were ranked fourth.
Our Pacers are ranked fifteenth. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, is anxiously awaiting the return of Paul George to the court. George seems to be fully recovered from that catastrophic injury he suffered and for the Pacers to have any chance at that playoffs at all, he has got to be at full strength.
The Charlotte Hornets are ranked thirtieth. It’s a long season and things really don’t get going until the second half anyway!
American Pharoah’s Final Race
American Pharoah will be racing for one last time in the final Breeder’s Cup Event at the Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky this Sunday, October 31. Winning is worth $5 million. A win here would seal Pharaoh’s place in racing history. American Pharoah gets my vote as the 2015 Athlete of the Year. After this he retires to a life of …..well…you know — making baby race horses. Which is a whole lot better than winding up as an ingredient in a can of dog food or as muscle meat for some lion in a zoo, which is the fate of some of his peers who haven’t been as successful as him. But to the victor go the spoils. American Pharoah is a noble creature and I wish him all the best.
snicewanger@yahoo.com