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Chaves Confirmed To '500' Ride With New Team

The worst kept secret in INDYCAR was finally announced...

Napa Returns With Rossi

A.J. Foyt Racing announced...

Carpenter Signs Pigot

Ed Carpenter Racing announced...

Friday, January 30, 2015

CFH Confirms Filippi

The newly formed squad of Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing announced Friday morning the signing of Luca Filippi to run the road and street course events in the No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka Chevrolet. Ed Carpenter will pilot the oval races.

Carpenter completed in 34 races during his 2 full-time seasons under the Ed Carpenter Racing banner in 2012 and 2013. In those 34 events, Carpenter earned four top-4s and eight top-10s. All eight came on ovals, which consisted of just eleven races. Following the 2013 season the strategic move was made to split the No. 20 entry's driver appearances.

Road and street course ace Mike Conway was tapped for the non-oval duties and the move proved to be successful. 2014 was a banner year for the team, whose single-car effort earned three wins. One for Carpenter and two for Conway.

Conway was signed to Toyota's World Endurance Championship program in the off season which left the Brit unavailable for IndyCar opportunities.

Filippi, a 29-year-old Italian, has ran eight Verizon IndyCar Series events split between the Bryan Herta Autosport and Rahal Letterman Lanigan organizations over the last two season. Although the highly touted GP2 driver was quick, the results weren't there as he averaged a seventeenth place finish.

"We have seen the potential that Luca has shown over the past two seasons in his limited races and we feel that he will allow us to continue to compete for wins," said team co-owner Ed Carpenter. "I cannot wait to get the season started so we can work towards our goal of claiming the entrant points championship."

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Brazil Cancelled

Word broke out of Brazil early Thursday afternoon that the season opening race, scheduled for March 8th, had been cancelled. Official word came down Friday night when INDYCAR confirmed the news in a press release.
Today's announcement by BAND that the March 8 INDYCAR race in Brasília was cancelled was both unexpected and disappointing. INDYCAR had received every indication that the race was already a success: Two-thirds of the seats available for the event had already been sold; a title sponsor for the event (ITAIPAVA) was announced yesterday; hospitality was sold out; and track construction was progressing and scheduled to be complete in time for the event. Although we have not received formal confirmation from our partners in Brazil regarding the cancellation, economically INDYCAR is protected and the paddock is protected from such action. 

Barnhart Named Race Director

INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the Verizon IndyarCar Series, announced Wednesday afternoon the reassignment of Brian Barnhart as Race Director. Barnhart previously held the position from 1997 through 2011.

With the introduction of the new chassis in 2012, Barnhart's job was split into two positions. Barnhart became President of Operations, overseeing the operational and logistical areas, while Beaux Barfield was brought in as Race Director. Following the 2014 season finale, Barfield left the series for a position in IMSA.

Last season Barnhart was part of a three-steward Race Control System in which he'll lead in 2015.

"This is a position and a role that I've done for a number of years and I take a great deal of pride in being Race Director of the Verizon IndyCar Series," said Barfield. "One of the things that excites me the most is the steward system we implemented last year. That was a great advancement in how we review and make discretionary decisions, and having that assistance in making calls is a big improvement to the way we officiate INDYCAR events."


"The technological improvements we've made in Race Control have expanded the amount of information available to us," Barnhart said. "The additional cameras, the replay system and assistance from other stewards provide us with additional tools to do our job better. I'm excited about this opportunity and look forward to doing it again."


Per their release:
INDYCAR's Race Control system allows any of the three stewards to call for a review of a potential on-track incident. Upon review the stewards will deliberate on the violation using all available resources - which includes video replays, timing and scoring data and rulebook references - in rendering their decision. Following the review each race steward votes for, or against, the issuance of a penalty and the majority vote then decides if a penalty is issued. Once that determination is made the senior steward, as determined by Walker before each race, dictates the severity of each penalty. 

Friday, January 9, 2015

A Look Back At ROPs

Snow, sleet, rain, wind, ice, and did I mention the temperatures? All signs point to the U.S. being clearly entrenched in another rough winter.

So, what better way to warm your heart and get the blood flowing than a look back at a few recent Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Programs.

Katherine Legge - 2012 Rookie Orientation




A.J. Allmendinger - 2013 Rookie Orientation




Conor Daly - 2013 Rookie Orientation




Kurt Busch - 2014 Refresher Program



Kurt Busch - 2014 Refresher Program

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Fisher To Run Chili Bowl

Four years and two children after retirement, Sarah Fisher will dust off the ol' helmet and gloves for at least one event, the world famous Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire. Fisher's last time in a race cockpit was the 2010 Verizon IndyCar Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"I have raced on dirt in the World Of Outlaws and the All Star Circuit of Champions, but being in a midget on dirt is a new experience for me and I am very excited for the challenge," Fisher said.

The Commercial Point, Ohio native will run the No. 67RW for RW Motorsports in the Oklahoma event. Wink Hartman, co-owner on Sarah's Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing's IndyCar team, will sponsor the midget Hartman Oil branding.

Although not competing since 2010, Fisher found herself behind the wheel just three months ago as she tested a midget in Linton, Indiana. The test was successful, resulting in the Chili Bowl entry.

"Competing in the Chili Bowl has always been a bucket list item for me and with the support of Wink [Hartman], I am able to fulfill another dream," Fisher said. "By attending the event last year to cheer on my brother-in-law Kyle O'Gara, I was able to experience the atmosphere and see how much fun it was. I wanted to be racing in it the next time I came back."

Practice for the 29th annual Chili Bowl begins January 12th, qualifying January 15th and race January 17th.

Marco To Run Formula-E

Andretti Autosport has announced that Verizon IndyCar Series veteran Marco Andretti will make his Formula-E debut in the upcoming Buenos Aires EPrix. In The Argentinian event marks the fourth race in Formula-E's inaugural season and the first of Andretti's career.

"Learning the ins and outs of the @FollowAndretti Formula-E car. Going to be a fun weekend," the 27-year-old said on his Twitter account.

Running alongside wicked-fast teammate Jean-Éric Vergne, you can see Andretti compete at 12 p.m. January 10th on FOX Sports 2.