Are the Days Numbered for Auto Racing on Streets of Toronto?

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

This year’s Honda Indy Toronto closed on a high note. Headlined by the IZOD IndyCar Series’ first doubleheader event on the streets of Toronto, we have seen two action-filled races where Scott Dixon came out on top with a $100,000 bonus for sweeping the weekend. The first standing starts in the IZOD INDYCAR Series on Sunday also provoked an extra tone of excitement for race fans. With the 2013 edition of the July weekend motorsport near-tradition is in the books, the future of the auto racing on the street course could be altered. Last renewed in early 2012 through to the 2014 season, there is a possibility that the same thundering roar of engines may not be produced by the waterfront location.

　

History

Originally called the Molson Indy, the most of North American open wheel racing has catered to established auto racing fans and won over so many others since 1986. Back then, the CNE grounds was a more bustling location for entertaining Canada’s largest city. The Toronto Blue Jays were still playing at a stadium on the land, the Canadian National Exhibition was larger and nearby Ontario Place provided all the reason for the area to be a go-to place for fun. For better or worse, the Blue Jays have long been playing at the Skydome (Rogers Centre) while Ontario Place is currently an unattended island. Despite this, one ongoing event has been held 26 times in 27 years has been a modern mainstay that has both noise to property lining Lake Shore Boulevard. Cancelled in 2008 due to the Champ Car series merging with the Indy Racing League, the race returned in 2009 through the intervention of a seven-time Toronto event winner Michael Andretti. Assuming the title Honda Indy Toronto, shaky Champ Car fields prior to 2009, a one-year absence and an economic downturn led to a less impressive spectator count for the race headlined by the IZOD INDYCAR Series. Crowds have been gradually returning to the race event (although real number to confirm this have not been released by the less-than helpful race promoters. attendees and television viewers of the 2013 Honda Indy observed near full grandstands within a crowded CNE grounds.

　

The Changing City

　

Toronto has been a city undergoing a major metamorphosis. Thanks to high property values, every parcel of land in the city is seen as the next condominium development or big box store location. Until a city council vote put the kibosh on the Toronto casino plan, the CNE grounds was being eyed as a location for a gambling-related resort area. This move would have undoubtedly prompted the immediate end of the Honda Indy Toronto (at least in its current location). Even Scott Dixon noted the high-rise development during the Sunday press conference after the 2013 Honda Indy. It is widely suspected redevelopment of the Ontario Place grounds could involve the addition of new condominiums or other buildings. Part of it is already stated to be reimagined as a giant green space that will still require the movement of heavy equipment in and out of the Ontario Place grounds. Construction that has gripped the city could cause a rethinking of the Honda Indy Toronto’s route.

With a 2017 target date set for Ontario Place refurbishing, part of the land is slated to be used for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Hosting one of the largest, international multi-sport gatherings behind the Olympics, the Pan Am Games will run July 10 through to the 26 (squarely within the Honda Indy Toronto‘s typical dates). Though the two events are significantly different, it could prove difficult to stretch City of Toronto resources for a pair of major sports. It is possible the Honda Indy Toronto and Pan Am Games will divide attention for three days (not including the pre-race activities).

Without an announcement for a contract extension, the Honda Indy Toronto may be faced with cancellation or relocation in 2015.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Where the Honda Indy Could be Held in 2015?

Throughout the running of the racing festival on the streets, closing down a stretch had not been popular for non-race fans. While many Toronto festivals involve street closures, the Honda Indy Toronto has been earning distaste for some since it causes traffic interruptions for multiple days consecutively. If the long-used CNE grounds would be unavailable, the IZOD IndyCar Series and other support series could presented near Toronto with two options involving no street closures.

The first future venue choice could be the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (traditionally known as Mosport). Serving as a venue for the USAC open wheel series four times from 1967 to 1978, recent development of the road course facilities around the 2.46-mile track has been underway. Along with hosting sports car racing and other national racing series, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park will be hosting its first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race late this summer. Would the road course prove as welcoming to IZOD IndyCar fans as the street circuit in the heart of downtown Toronto?

From the oldest-operating track in Canada to what will be the newest, Canadian Motor Speedway under construction right now in Fort Erie is more than a one and a half hour drive from Toronto but have the potential of treating IZOD IndyCar fans to oval track racing on our home turf. The one-mile oval serving as the centerpiece of the project will host a grandstand capacity for 65,000 spectators. A 2.5-mile road course is also part of the Canadian Motor Speedway complex.

　

　

While the Honda Indy could be moved, there could be a strong likelihood the race may stay by the Toronto waterfront. It would be a shame the electric weekend of this year’s event would cease being a part of a Toronto summer.

No 2012 INDYCAR Race in China

Image Credit: INDYCAR

After several sources detected troubling signs that the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series event in Qingdoa, China was in peril, the sanctioning body has announced that the planned August 19th trip has been cancelled. The China race for the IZOD INDYCAR Series was set to be the sole Asian event effectively replacing the tour's former event at the Twin-Ring Motegi in Japan that concluded last season.

According to the INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard, it was the race promoter that pulled the plug on what was going to be the first visit by the North American open wheel racing series to the highly-populated country. "After ongoing discussions regarding alternative dates, as well as doing our due diligence in exploring alternate venues in China, the promoter cancelled the event. A decision had to be made to allow INDYCAR and its participants to plan accordingly for the second half of the season." said Bernard.

INDYCAR is currently eyeing options for replacing the Chinese date with another 2012 event. Rumours indicate Road America had been mentioned as a leading candidate but no decision has been made.

Penske, Power Quickest in IZOD INDYCAR Friday Session at Barber

A cloudy, wet weather greeted the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series drivers and teams for their first day at Barber Motorsports Park for Sunday‘s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Due to rain that intensified over the course of Friday, the fastest session for the 26 race cars around the 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course occurred in the late morning.

The defending winner of the 2011 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama with a masterful flag-to-flag victory, Will Power kicked off one day at Barber Motorsports Park with the top time in overall Friday practice. Power’s lap time of 1 minute, 11.2886 seconds was faster than the times from in qualifying for the 2011 race. Power was 21/100ths of a second faster than his Penske Racing teammate and recent St Petersburg victor Helio Castroneves. “The Verizon No. 12 Chevy felt very good this morning before the rain.” said Will Power confident on his ability to repeat at Barber Motosports park. “We have tested here a lot and know the track very well and the set-up very well. We just made minor adjustments to the car because we basically know what we want.” said Power. With two of the three Team Penske Chevrolet entries at the front Friday, the third entry handled by Ryan Briscoe settled for 15^th quickest among the IZOD INDYCAR Series racers.

While the presence of Team Penske at the top of IZOD INDYCAR result sheers is a trend early in the 2012 season, Friday’s remaining top-five fastest lap times threw a surprising curve ball into the year’s second race weekend for the open wheel stars. Recommitting to the IZOD INDYCAR Series schedule for the first time since 2008, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team’s #15 car piloted by Takuma Sato grabbed the third fastest speed for day one. Both cars are powered by Honda engines. In 4^th place in the combined practice results was series rookie of the year Simon contender Josef Newgarden driving for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

Considered to be the teams presenting best chances for challenging the Team Penske juggernaut into the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing both had race cars in the top-10 during Friday practice at Barber Motorsports Park. Andretti Autosports was led by the #26 car of Marco Andretti in 6^th place in the first track session. Planning to mount a stronger race than the season opening effort at St Petersburg, defending IZOD INDYCAR series driver Dario Franchitti logged a 9^th fastest time ahead of an affiliated #38 car driven by Graham Rahal.

Despite rather light track activity at Barber Motorsport Park, several IZOD INDYCAR Series drivers and teams desperate for testing took full advantage of Friday to acquaint themselves with their 2012 Dallaras. Setting the record for Friday laps was the former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello for KV Racing Technology. Logging 34 laps, Barrichello was also fastest around the Barber Motorsports Park course recorded at 5^th fastest amongst the practice times in both practices. “I have only done one test here, but it makes a huge difference compared to last weekend at St. Petersburg.” said Rubens Barrichello. Barrichello’s teammate and fellow Brazilian Tony Kanaan was 7^th quick on Friday in the #11 car. First practice for the IZOD INDYCAR Series ended with Kanaan stopped on track after running out of fuel.

While Tony Kanaan’s event was not severe, the #18 of Justin Wilson did encounter a failure relating to his Honda powerplant driving his Dale Coyne Racing car. The Dale Coyne Racing team has been devoted to replacing a damaged fuel injector in order to preserve their potential grid position earned in Saturday’s qualifying. While Justin Wilson might be saved from loosing starting position, Oriol Servia will suffer the IZOD INDYCAR’s 10-grid spot penalty after the Lotus engine of his #22 car stopped in early in practice.

Simona de Silvestro completed the second-most laps over the course on Friday. In both sessions at Barber Motorsports Park, the #78 Lotus-powered race machine recorded 32 laps with the majority coming in the late morning practice. The Swiss driver’s fastest time was only 20^th on the speed charts leading to desire that the remainder of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama weekend could turn the fortunes of de Silvestro and the HVM Racing team. Of the Lotus-powered Dallaras, Sebastien Bourdais recorded the fastest time around the 2.3-mile road course at 1 minute, 12.4818 seconds for Lotus Dragon Racing. With Bourdais in the #7 car for the Lotus Dragon Racing team, rookie teammate Katherine Legge ended the day at the bottom of the IZOD INDYCAR competitor’s time chart for Friday. Legge’s fastest time in the #6 car was more than five seconds off the speed of Will Power.

2011 IZOD INDYCAR Driver Statistics After First 3 Races

Photo Credit: Dan Helrigel

As the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series completed with the running of the first 3 races, patterns for the new year is beginning to form. Examining some statistics during the rounds at St Petersburg, Barber and Long Beach sheds light on a very interesting IZOD INDYCAR Series season for 2011.

Below, I have collected some key numbers based largely on early calculations. Every driver who has competed so far in the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series.

2011 IZOD INDYCAR Points After 3 Races

122 Franchitti, Dario
115 Power, Will
87 Kanaan, Tony
80 Servia, Oriol
74 Conway, Mike
73 Tagliani, Alex
66 de Silvestro, Simona
66 Dixon, Scott
66 Briscoe, Ryan
64 Meira, Vitor
57 Patrick, Danica
57 Matos, Raphael
56 Sato, Takuma
56 Castroneves, Helio
54 Andretti, Marco
49 Hildebrand, JR
44 Hinchcliffe, James
44 Wilson, Justin
44 Kimball, Charlie
43 Saavedra, Sebastian
42 Rahal, Graham
40 Jakes, James
40 Hunter-Reay, Ryan
34 Bourdais, Sebastien
34 Viso, EJ
28 Beatriz, Ana
24 Pagenaud, Simon
14 Paul Tracy



Drivers Average Qualifying Position

Power, Will 1.00
Dixon, Scott 4.67
Franchitti, Dario 5.33
Wilson, Justin 5.33
Castroneves, Helio 6.33
Briscoe, Ryan 6.33
Conway, Mike 7.67
Servia, Oriol 8.33
Hinchcliffe, James 9.50
Andretti, Marco 10.00
Tagliani, Alex 10.33
Hunter-Reay, Ryan 11.00
Rahal, Graham 12.67
Kanaan, Tony 14.00
Sato, Takuma 14.67
Meira, Vitor 15.00
de Silvestro, Simona 16.00
Matos, Raphael 16.33
Viso, EJ 18.67
Bourdais, Sebastien 19.67
Patrick, Danica 20.33
Saavedra, Sebastian 21.67
Hildebrand, JR 22.33
Kimball, Charlie 22.67
Pagenaud, Simon 23.00
Jakes, James 23.33
Beatriz, Ana 23.50
Paul Tracy 25.00



Drivers Average Finishes After 3 Races

Franchitti, Dario 2.33
Power, Will 4.33
Kanaan, Tony 5.67
Servia, Oriol 6.67
Pagenaud, Simon 8
Tagliani, Alex 8.67
Meira, Vitor 9.67
de Silvestro, Simona 11
Patrick, Danica 12
Dixon, Scott 12
Matos, Raphael 12.67
Castroneves, Helio 13
Hildebrand, JR 13.67
Briscoe, Ryan 13.67
Sato, Takuma 14
Hinchcliffe, James 14
Conway, Mike 15.33
Paul Tracy 16
Rahal, Graham 16
Beatriz, Ana 16.5
Wilson, Justin 17
Saavedra, Sebastian 17.67
Andretti, Marco 18
Jakes, James 18.33
Kimball, Charlie 18.67
Hunter-Reay, Ryan 19.33
Bourdais, Sebastien 21
Viso, EJ 22.33



Drivers Percentage of Laps Completed in 2011
(Reflects only the percentage of races a driver has run.)
Tagliani, Alex 100.00
Servia, Oriol 100.00
Power, Will 100.00
Paul Tracy 100.00
Pagenaud, Simon 100.00
Meira, Vitor 100.00
Kanaan, Tony 100.00
Hildebrand, JR 100.00
Franchitti, Dario 100.00
Patrick, Danica 99.64
de Silvestro, Simona 98.91
Sato, Takuma 98.55
Dixon, Scott 98.18
Beatriz, Ana 97.84
Rahal, Graham 97.82
Castroneves, Helio 94.55
Matos, Raphael 89.82
Wilson, Justin 87.27
Briscoe, Ryan 86.18
Hunter-Reay, Ryan 80.00
Jakes, James 77.09
Saavedra, Sebastian 76.36
Hinchcliffe, James 71.43
Kimball, Charlie 70.55
Viso, EJ 70.18
Conway, Mike 47.64
Andretti, Marco 46.18
Bourdais, Sebastien 42.55

Hinchcliffe Joins 2011 IZOD INDYCAR for Barber, North American Races



Photo Credit: Dan Helrigel


A moment for Canadian auto racing fans to rejoice, an announcement Tuesday affirms as of the second IZOD INDYCAR round at Barber Motorsports Park a third Canadian driver (in addition to full-time Alex Tagiani and part-time entrant Paul Tracy) will compete in the 2011 North America's top open wheel series. 2010 Firestone Indy Lights title contender and open wheel standout James Hinchcliffe will wheel Newman/Haas Racing's second race car.

Since the December and January tests, the young Toronto driver impressed Newman/Haas Racing. So promising of a 2011 season together, Newman/Haas Racing and James Hinchcliffe were present at the IZOD INDYCAR open test at Barber Motorsports Park. Clocking the whirling 2.3 mile road course within the top-10 fastest cars throughout the two-day preparation session, the potential INDYCAR rookie and veteran team meshed.

Speed was definitely in the Newman/Haas Racing machine wheeled by Hinchcliffe. However, as is the case in professional auto racing, what or who is in a race car is as important as what is on the side pods. As the opening St Petersburg round for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series approached, Newman/Haas Racing arrived with only one race entry for veteran Brazilian driver Oriol Servia. As Servia's sponsorship came together just in time for the streets of St Petersburg race, James Hinchcliffe was unable to obtain the financial backing to be involved in the open wheel racing series' season premiere.

Sponsoring James Hinchcliffe for all the North American races on the IZOD INDYCAR Series tour is Sprott Inc., an asset management company based in Toronto. “As a Canadian-based company it’s naturally exciting to support one of Canada’s next generation motorsport talents,” company Chairman Eric Sprott declared in the Newman/Haas Racing release on the sponsorship announcement. A publicly traded advising over 2,000 clients and 1.2 billion dollars, Sprott Inc. pairs them with a hometown 24-year old professional racer known for representing his sponsors on as well as off track with enthusiasm.

Prepared to make his first career IZOD INDYCAR start at Barber Motorsports Park, Hinchcliffe's move up through the auto racing ranks from go-karts into 2 years of the Firestone Indy Lights has reached an ultimate goal. “Finally making my IndyCar debut really is a dream come true and the end of a 15-year journey getting me to this point,”. Hinchcliffe 2011 plans includes the 2011 Indianapolis 500 and the Canadian IZOD INDYCAR races in Edmonton as well as his prized Honda Indy of Toronto.

James Hinchcliffe's IZOD INDYCAR career will officially start this weekend at the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama when the Canadian takes the green flag Sunday.

2011 IZOD INDYCAR TV Schedule for US and Canada

Photo source: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Confirming the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR schedule by announcing a poorly-kept secret of Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosting the finale event, the open wheel racing series' television partners in the United States and Canada will continue broadcasting action and sounds.

For the United States, ABC will cover 5 races (including the 2011 series opener, the Indianapolis 500 and the Las Vegas finale) while VERSUS is slated to cover the remaining 12 events. Both television broadcasters provided coverage to the 2010 IZOD INDYCAR season. Just like last season, all rounds of the open wheel racing series will be shown live through the American networks.

In Canada, TSN is continue to simulcast the United States network's broadcasts. Feeding 11 race coverage to their digital channel TSN2, the cable and satellite sports network in Canada have been criticized by the sizable open wheel racing fan base for not meeting the races as accessible as other sports including NASCAR. Last season, the Iowa Speedway round for the IZOD INDYCAR Series (regarded in hindsight as one of the better competitions of the 2010 season) ran on a nearly 10-hour tape-delay on the TSN2 digital channel. In my personal opinion, its bad enough to run an auto racing event on a time delay but if they want to run it late night, shift it to the base TSN channel. For 2011, Iowa Speedway round is made into a night race and therefore TSN2 intends to carry the race live.

TSN, in conjunction with TSN2, again appears to not be siding entirely with open wheel fans for 2011. Notable on the Canadian television schedule is the broadcasts of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Kentucky Indy 300 and the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix starting later than the US live broadcast times. While sometimes TSN enters into live coverage following a 30 minute to 1-hour prerace show, the air time gaps on the mentioned to those races is substantial. While an one and half hour difference exists with the IZOD INDYCAR round in Long Beach between US and Canadian tv carriers, the second-to-last round of the 2011 season at Kentucky sees a four and a half hour gap. The Baltimore Grand Prix is set for a tape delay as deep as the Iowa race last season. While an afternoon event in September, the IZOD INDYCAR's Baltimore Grand Prix will not air until 11pm at night on TSN2.

Fortunately, VERSUS broadcasts of the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series Canadian rounds (the Honda Indy of Toronto and the reinstated Edmonton Indy) will air live on the more widely-viewed base TSN channel.

The following television schedule for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series is mentioned as tentative and could change due to weather or other issues.

Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Streets of St. Petersburg
Sunday, March 27

U.S. Carrier: ABC 12:30pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 12:30pm et



Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Barber Motorsports Park
Sunday, April 10

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 3:00 pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN 3:00pm et



Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Streets of Long Beach
Sunday, April 17

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 3:30pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 5:00pm et



Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle
Street of Sao Paulo
Sunday, May 1

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS Noon et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 Noon et



Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sunday, May 29

U.S. Carrier: ABC Noon et
Canadian Carrier: TSN Noon et



Firestone Twin 275s
Texas Motor Speedway
Saturday, June 11

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 8:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN 8:00pm et



The Milwaukee 225
The Milwaukee Mile
Sunday, June 19

U.S. Carrier: ABC 3:30pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 4:30pm et



Iowa Corn Indy 250
Iowa Speedway
Saturday, June 25

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 8:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 8:00pm et



Honda Indy of Toronto
Streets of Toronto
Sunday, July 10

U.S. Carrier: Versus 2:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN 2:00pm et



Edmonton Indy
Edmonton City Centre Airport
Sunday, July 24

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 2:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN 2:00pm et



Honda Indy 200
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Sunday, August 7

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 2:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 2:00pm et



IZOD INDYCAR 225
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sunday, August 14

U.S. Carrier: ABC 3:30pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 4:00pm et



Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Infineon Raceway
Sunday, August 28

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 4:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN 4:00pm et



Baltimore Grand Prix
Streets of Baltimore
Sunday, September 4

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 2:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 11:00pm et



Indy Japan 300
Twin-Ring Motegi
Sunday, September 18

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 11:00pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 11:00pm et



Kentucky Indy 300
Kentucky Speedway
Sunday, October 2

U.S. Carrier: VERSUS 2pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 6:30pm et



IZOD INDYCAR World Championships at Las Vegas
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, October 16

U.S. Carrier: ABC 3:30pm et
Canadian Carrier: TSN2 4:00pm et

15 Years Later: The Event that Changed the Course of Indy Car Racing



Photo Credit: INDYCAR SERIES/ Unknown photographer


Optimism surrounds the INDYCAR Series heading into their 2011 season with 17 venues playing host to the sanctioning body's best open wheel racing drivers. Personalities such as Dario Franchitti, will Power, Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves are a few notable drivers to be competing in the upcoming 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series. For the first-time in almost two decades, anticipation of auto racing fans await the start of North America's top open wheel racing series as a collected, just sport. A pleasant scene presented into this year, the current series is a reformulation from what was a world that almost completely engulfed the continent's open wheel racing spectacle.

15 years ago today, the war for change in North American open wheel racing commenced on the little-known Walt Disney World Speedway as the first battlefield. A new organization called the Indy Racing League (IRL) formulated by Indianapolis Motor Speed president Tony George rose against the than-singular Indy-style race sanctioning body CART(Championship Auto Racing Teams). Proposing an all-oval schedule, the IRL mandate was to provide a more American-style form of open wheel auto racing where more drivers from the United States would flourish. On January 27th of 1996, the green flag dropped at the 1-mile oval. sent 20 CART-style race cars loose for 200 laps leading the inaugural event to occur outside of the previous CART regime.

Leading the field to first green flag of the IRL, Buddy Lazier took the series' first pole as well as the initial 28 laps of the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway. While there were 6 lead changes through the first 75 laps, Indy Lights series graduate Buzz Calkins led comfortably for the final 125 laps. In a race where less than household names such as Lazier and Calkins were competing, the IRL would have a difficult name establishing notoriety against CART where names like Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr and Paul Tracy prominently sparked open wheel racing fans. While some recognized names did populate the 1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway (Eddie Cheever, Lyn St James and Scott Sharp), the race largely consisted of lesser known drivers. At the early stages of the IRL, this was not a problem since it was complying with their series mandate of showcasing American racers. In fact, 16 of the 20 starters wore the United States Stars and Stripes flag.

Notable members comprised in that first IRL field were many drivers who found success outside of the open wheel series. Future American Le Mans Series Corvette Racing driver Johnny O'Connell finished 5 laps down in 7th place. Finishing 4th in the Indy 200 at the Walt Disney World Speedway was the late Italian driver Michele Alboreto who went on to become an early pilot of the legendary Audi R8 prototype sports car. However, perhaps the most significantly future name to arise from that first IRL competition was Tony Stewart. Having just set the USAC tour on fire in 1995 by taking a triple-crown championship, the young Stewart was promoted to the ranks by team owner John Menard. Tony Stewart and team finished 2nd in the Indy 200 in 1996. In 1997, Stewart became champion of the Indy Racing League just before he was lured to the more active, more fruitful fields of NASCAR. To date, Tony Stewart is a 2-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and 39-time race winner in the top stock car series.

Photo Credit: INDYCAR SERIES/ Unknown photographer

Following the first race of the IRL, battles ignited between the new series and the CART tour where allegiances changed. Though there was a brief time that two open wheel racing series appeared to have hopes of successful operation, drivers, sponsors and eventually engine manufacturers slowly sided with the more financially-secured IRL which held North American auto racing's biggest crown jewel (the Indianapolis 500). As drivers and support began to be lost in CART, the sanctioning body would fold after the 2002 season.

A chance to reunite open wheel Indy-style car racing presented itself during the 2002-2003 off-season as the CART property went up for auction in liquidation. The IRL and Tony George made a bid to take over the CART series planning to defeat the organization they rebelled against almost 7 years before. However, a group consisting of three former CART team owners were granted victory forming the Champ Car series keeping the open wheel racing war alive between two. Though Champ Car struggled through much of its existence, the IRL(transitioning to the use of IndyCar Series in 2003 as the premier tour) did not greatly prosper despite their deeper pockets as well as more renowned drivers.

Some observers and even auto racing legend Mario Andretti voiced concern about the series ever sustaining the all-oval schedule. While oval races tracks such as Texas Motor Speedway brought favorable crowds, less than half-full grandstands were a typical sight at IRL races. The IRL would hold true to the all-oval race format until 2005 when 3 races were added to their open wheel schedule desiring to make a final stand against the Champ Car series. Last season, the IZOD INDYCAR Series ran the first schedule where oval races were in the minority (consisting 8 of the 17 races).

With American driver making up 80% of the IRL's first starting grid in 1996, that percentage dripped to 55% for the 2006 season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the 2010 IZOD INDYCAR Series, there were only 3 full-time drivers originating from the United States in a field of 24 competitors. While the number is expanding to at least 5 drivers in 2011 (Graham Rahal and Firestone Indy Lights front runner Charlie Kimball added through a new Chip Ganassi Racing team), some United States open wheel fans still suggest that there should be more native drivers for a series that competes all but 2 races inside North America.

By 2008, the fight had taken the biggest toll on the Champ Car series as the reunification talks officially rejoined open wheel racing in North America under the IRL's IndyCar banner. It the end, as both side were worn to exhaustion, Champ Car and the IRL IndyCar Series realize their was a reason why the open wheel war could never result in a one-way victory. Each entity contained the pieces to a stable and successful auto racing series which could only be replaced when hands were shaken to end the open wheel conflict.

Perhaps as a form of disarmament, the IRL name has been officially retired by CEO Randy Bernard early this year. Entering into the fourth season of reunification, the commitment of one series has now sparked substantiated optimism.

Quarterly Evaluation: First 4 Races of 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Season

Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney/IndyCar

With the first four races of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series completed, drivers, teams, and race fans are beginning to realize the major players to North America's open wheel racing tour. At the front of the field we have already seen the three-car team of Roger Penske winning three events. Recognizing Penske Racing as part of a 25 car make up of this season's grid, there is 25 different stories playing out through the 2010 season.

Placing a quarter of the season in the books (there is actually 17 races on the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule but this is close enough to quarter distance) XSL Speed Reporter has compiled an evaluation to help establish the drivers' current performance after four races in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar circuit. While the finishing results have played an integral part in establishing gradings, considerations were made to acknowledge the individual drivers and teams whom have just entered the series for 2010 more favourably. Conversely, this quarterly evaluation has also shown the under-peroformance of some veteran drivers so far this season.

Will Power- A+

Without a doubt, the Australian driver Will Power has found his transition back to a full season for IZOD IndyCar Series to be a dream. Finishing on the podium for all four events so far including two victories, Power's performance on road and street courses has been stunning. It will be worth seeing if Power's luck will hold as the IZOD IndyCar Series takes on the first ovals of 2010. Will Power has yet to score a major open wheel race on an oval.


Ryan Hunter-Reay- A

Showing great potential as a devoted American open wheel driver, the off-season announcement naming Ryan Hunter-Reay to the fourth car for Andretti Autosport was welcomed sentimentally as the driver shuffled through three IndyCar teams in the previous two race seasons. Starting off the year with a strong 2nd place in the opening race at Sao Paulo. A feel good story moment resulted as Ryan Hunter-Reay brought his #37 Andretti Autosport machine to the winner's circle at Long Beach. In a recent conference, Ryan Hunter-Reay shed light on the situation saying "When everything kind of goes right like that, to get a win out of it, to be the fastest car on the track, it was a very cool weekend. Long Beach was great. But there's no sense of fulfillment on the team. Come Tuesday we were done with it. We need to go on and win some more races, that's for sure."



Photo Credit: Richard Dowdy


Justin Wilson- A-

Moving from Dale Coyne Racing to the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing organization, the team has dedicated itself to improving their game with the entrance of last year's Waltkins Glen race winner. Finishing in runner-up positions at both St Petersburg and Long Beach, Wilson and the #22 Z-Line Designs car has been knocking on the door for victory in 2010. In describing the young season, Justin Wilson responded favourably on the 2010 start with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. "It's been a great start to the season and exactly what I was hoping for. The Z-Line Designs 22 car has been pretty quick."


Helio Castroneves- B+

Breaking the two-race winning streak set by his teammate, Castroneves delivered his #3 Penske Racing car into victory at Barber Motorsports Park with the Brazilian's typical enthusiasm. Along with Will Power as drivers finishing in the top-10 for the first 4 events, Helio Castroneves is seated 42 points behind Power in the driver's point standings. Eluded from the IndyCar championship with three runner-up points finishes to show for his hard work, expect Castroneves to take any opportunity to close the points gap. Helio Castroneves will also be vying for a record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory in a little more than one month's time.



Photo Credit: Den Helrigel


Scott Dixon- B

With a season best second-place earned at Barber Motorsports Park, Scott Dixon and the Target/Chip Ganassi team has remained muted by their Penske Racing rivals from last year. The two-time IndyCar champion posted three finishes in the top-six broken only at St Petersburg. Fifth in the driver championship standings, do not count the New Zealand driver out contention to take it all in 2010. In 2009, Dixon recorded a 16th and 18th finish in the first two events to come only 11 points short of the championship to teammate Dario Franchitti. Four of Dixon's five wins for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing came on ovals.


Alex Tagliani- B

Starting on the front row for the Sao Paulo season opener, the newly-formed FAZZT Race Team built around Canadian Alex Tagliani made an early announcement that the race organization's #77 car was not going to be a field-filler. While the Sao Paulo IndyCar debut didn't end as strong as it began for Alex Tagliani, St Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park races ended with top-10 finishes respectable for a new team. Tagliani and the FAZZT Race Team should remain an interesting story for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series.


Mike Conway- B

The sophomore year for Conway has been a productive outing in the #24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car. Placing in the top 10 for all races but St Petersburg, the British driver's qualifying speed at Barber Motorsports Park nested him a front row starting position alongside Will Power. Joined by fellow Brit Justin Wilson on the team for 2010, Conway's new teammate has been very satisfied with grouping. "..Mike's a good guy. It's a good, fun, relaxed atmosphere. There's no edge on the team. There's no ego, so we're able to concentrate on making cars go quicker."


Marco Andretti- B-

Spending five seasons in the team now wholly-owned by his father Michael, Marco Andretti has been facing greeter pressure to perform than even his teammates. Leading two of the four races starting the 2010 season, a near win resulted at Barber Motorsports Park when Andretti led the most laps before forced to pit late for fuel. Finishing 5th in the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Andretti is in high spirits throughout the 2010 IZOD IndyCar schedule. "There’s so much for to focus on it really keeps you on your toes. But the ovals have a speed and intensity all their own so I do think it’s important for the series to stay balanced." Marco Andretti commented the XSL Speed Reporter interview.


Vitor Meira- B-

Rejoining the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2010 after suffering injuries in last year's Indy 500, Vitor Meira's return was marked with a strong finish for the once powerful AJ Foyt Enterprise's racing team. Meira's season highlight (and likely career highlight) was a 3rd place finish in the season-opening IndyCar race in his home country. Apart from that race, the rest of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season has seen the #14 of Vitor Meira hovering around mid-pack. Out for much of the 2009 campaign, Meira missed most of the oval tracks last season but has a long-standing history which should elevate the AJ Foyt Enterprise's car.


Dan Wheldon- B-

Returning to his Panther Racing #4 car, Wheldon 2010 season has started admirably with a 5th in San Paulo and a 9th at Long Beach. While the Brit has soon to be a force on both road courses and ovals, his first year with Panther Racing last season saw the Panther Racing car preferring the oval tracks in 2009. Dan Wheldon is continuing to pose a top-5 threat on almost any course on the IZOD IndyCar circuit.


Mario Moraes- C+

Named to drive a 3rd KV Racing Technology car within only a week to the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series starting, Mario Moraes came into this year proving himself a worthy driver in the latter stages of 2009. Regretfully, a first lap accident at Sao Paulo and a poor finish at St Petersburg kinked the driver's momentum. Moraes' potential did reemerge at the Grand Prix of Long Beach moving up 9th spots to take 6th place in the event. Excelling on the ovals last season, Mario Moraes might be an outside shot for a first career victory in 2010.


Simona De Silvestro- C+

One of many new drivers who were given their seats within a month before the season started, Simona de Silvestro is starting to challenge Danica Patrick as the leading lady of IndyCar racing (at least on track so far). Among the rookie drivers, de Silvestro is demonstrating herself to be very pivotal candidate for the 2010 IndyCar Rookie of the Year award. However, with the ovals coming up, de Silvestro is facing a massive career milestone as starts the Kansas race. With road courses making up the final seasons of the Cooper Tire Atlantic Series, the 21 year old Swiss driver's approaches her first circle track experience with the same attitude with the road races, simply wanting to finish the event.


Tony Kanaan- C+

Exhibiting speed which practice for at least one session at every event this season, Tony Kanaan and the #11 Andretti Autosports team has yet be able to impress in 2010 races. With the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series starting on four straight road-type courses, Kanaan's lackluster results so far can be reasoned with through reviewing the Brazilian's career stats. His aptitude like many long-time IRL drivers is presented on oval tracks over road courses. In fact, Tony Kanaan's last win came at Richmond International Raceway in 2008.



Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney


Raphael Matos- C+

Though the year started with a career best 4th place run at Sao Paulo, the 2009 IndyCar Rookie of the year's race finishes in the de Ferran Luczo-Dragon Racing have been getting steadily worse. Despite the recent difficulties, Raphael Matos has caught alive a 13-race streak of running at the end of IndyCar races. Matos sits 9th in the points standings and will be eager to return to top-10 contention heading deeper into the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule.

Dario Franchitti- C

For a reigning two-time IndyCar champion, Dario Franchitti title defense is proving tough. Franchitti's season highlight so far includes a pole on the streets of Sao Paulo and a 3rd place at the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. In an article inside the latest issue of PRN Magazine, Franchitti expected the season to feature strong efforts from old and new faces in the IZOD IndyCar series. Including Dario Franchitti, the Target/Chip Ganassi Racing is looking at the return to ovals as being a 2010 turning point mounting a challenge to Penske.


Hideki Mutoh- C

Having spent two seasons with Andretti Autosport, Hideki Mutoh moved to Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing sharing a mutual goal to find a place in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Since joining the series in 2008, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing went from the prime operation in Champ Car to being another mid-mark team in IndyCar. Finishing 20th in the first event, Mutoh has improved steadily with a 13th place at Long Beach. As the Japanese driver treks to the ovals with N/H/L Racing, expect Mutoh's experience in circle track racing improve the team's previously lackluster game off road courses.


Mario Romancini- C

Migrating from the Firestone Indy Lights Series with a respectable 2009 effort which included two victories, the Brazilian Romancini was promoted to the big show in 2010 by Conquest Racing. Failing to finish two races, Mario Romancini best finish in the rookie campaign is a 13th at St Petersburg. Just one point ahead of Simona de Silvestro as the highest-placed newcomer in the IZOD IndyCar Series for 2010, Romancini's season in Indy Lights offers him a conceivable advantage having some experience on oval tracks.


Danica Patrick- C-

Posting her only top-10 finish with a 7th on the streets of St Petersburg race, Patrick's 2010 IndyCar campaign has been less noisy than her stock car debut earlier this season. Before citing Danica Patrick's diversification in motorsports as contributing to the slow start for the #7 Andretti Autosport team, Patrick's performance on road courses have remained a weakness since the tracks were introduced to IndyCar. Returning to the ovals, Patrick has the right to be optimistic heading into the month of May.



Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney/IndyCar


EJ Viso- C-

Following a rookie season in 2008 which saw Viso hitting everything but the pace car, the Venezuelan driver earned a major career milestone in 2010 by finishing all of the first four events. EJ Viso has shown himself to be an incredibly fast driver, he's raked up 2 top-10 qualifying runs so far this season, but him and his KV Racing Technology team have to find more race pace into the rest of the year.


Ryan Briscoe- C-

Since the costly championship-losing miscue on the Twin-Ring Motegi race late last season, the Penske Racing driver continues to appear haunted by the incident into the new season. Having a chance to win the Sao Paulo Indy 300, Ryan Briscoe #6 car was leading in the late laps before mistiming his braking through turn five. Unable to break through for a top result until a 5th place at Long Beach, Ryan Briscoe can build his 2010 season if he can reestablish his podium-finishing capabilities.


Takuma Sato- C-

Playing in the big league of open wheel auto racing since 2002, Sato left Formula 1 for IndyCar officially in February. Despite his experience in the fast-running, hard-braking Formula 1 cars, Takuma Sato his found the KV Racing Technology car to be an entirely different challenge. Retiring from the first two events, Sato bad luck continued at the Barber Motorsport Park race where a throttle cable broke costing him 22 laps to the leader which was was unable to recover. The last round at Long Beach would result in an uneventful 18th place finish for Takuma Sato offering him a building block after four races in 2010.


Alex Lloyd- D

Dale Coyne Racing added two drivers late in the off-season signing Milka Duno and Alex Lloyd. Driving the #19 Boy Scouts of America car, the British driver has found it difficult to earn merit badges in the first races of his inaugural IndyCar season. Alex Lloyd's most dramatic appearance in 2010 has come at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach for devious reasons. With Lloyd being lapped by leaders Ryan Hunter-Reay and Justin Wilson, the #19 car collided with #22 Dallara causing Wilson to pit for replacement front wing.


Graham Rahal- D

The second-generation driver was batted all over the place in the off-season prior to the Streets of Sao Paulo premiere for the 2010 IndyCar Series. Unfortunately, when the green fell on the first race of the season, the Rahal name was nowhere in the running order. Thanks to a deal with Sarah Fisher Racing to drive the #67 car, Graham Rahal returned for the St Peterburg round. Placing 9th in his debut with the team, the limited road racing experience for Sarah Fisher Racing contributed to tough outings for Rahal at Barber Motorsports Park and Long Beach. Grateful for his opportunity with Sarah Fisher Racing, Graham Rahal is once again searching for a ride. Expect his name to return for Indy 500 qualifying potentially with Sarah Fisher Racing or another team.


Bertrand Baguette- Incomplete

Having not started the start two races with Conquest Racing, the Belgium driver Baguette immediately faced an uphill battle. Having only 20th and 25th place results for 2010, it is unsure where Bertrand Baguette and the Conquest Racing team will sit in deeper into the season.


Milka Duno- Incomplete

Starting into her first full season campaign, Milka Duno is venturing to some race courses for the first time in her open wheel career. However, Duno's early showing in the Dale Coyne Racing team through the first four races have been dismal. At Barber Motorsport Park, she spent much of the race as a moving chicane contributing to some IndyCar fans questioning the Venezuelan's driving talent. Duno will return to the more familiar ovals seeking some confidence-building runs for 2010.

Ryan Hunter-Reay Tops Tight Friday Practice for Long Beach IndyCar Race

Photo Credit: Jim Haines

For the 3rd time in 4 races to kick off the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season, the open wheel racers will be let loose on a temporary street circuit. A tight but competitive street course, the 1.968 mile Long Beach track hosts some tight, heavy-braking zones that allow daring drivers to attempt gains in position. Following the unfortunately lethargic running of the inaugural Barber Motorsports Park for the IZOD IndyCar Series, drivers will probably be taking stake in knowing the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is a more familiar open wheel stumping ground.

On Friday, two practice sessions allowed the IZOD IndyCar drivers to let loose. In the late morning first practice, Will Power asserted himself in the Verizon-sponsored #12 Penske Racing car. Though Will Power's 2010 winning streak was broken at Barber Motorsports Park last week, the Australian driver possesses a positive opportunity to restart a streak at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Competing on the California streets in both Champ Car and the IRL/IndyCar Series, Will Power claimed the distinction of being the last race winner in the Champ Car series by winning the 2008 Long Beach farewall. In last year's race under IRL/IndyCar sanction, Power took pole but would finish 2nd for Dario Franchitti. Posting fast laps behind Power within the first practice session, lap times for Indy Grand Prix of Alabama winner Helio Castroneves and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon were less than 0.14 seconds slower.

With fastest laps in the Friday morning session residing above the 1 minute, 11.4 second range, a warmer track surface combined with race crews fine-tuning their Indy cars allowed for a much quicker session of lapping. With 8 drivers clocked at completing laps under 1 minute, 11 seconds, Ryan Hunter-Reay driving the IZOD #37 for Andretti Autosport was almost 8/10th of a second faster than Power's morning mark. Ryan Briscoe rose to the occasion of this second practice also by posting his #6 Penske Racing car in the runner-up spot on the time charts. Second fastest, Briscoe's teammates Will Power as well as Helio Castroneves encountered a slight backslide in their time chart positions settling into 5th and 9th after the session. "We're really pushing each other a lot. There's a really good vibe within." Briscoe responded on the Penske website about the shared comradeship of the 3-car Penske Racing team.

As drivers reduced their lap times in discovering their pinnacle for the weekend, the mid-afternoon practice also saw the field close together. While the top-15 cars were within a 1 second margin to the leader, inside this congested time sheet saw the top-5 runners within less than 1/4 seconds. One driver inside the top-5 for the second practice was the FAZZT Race Team's and their driver Alex Tagliani. Placing seventh fastest in the morning with the session including Tagliani's making minor collision with a turn 5 tire barrier, the Canadian driver mounted an improved 4th place run with his #77 La Capsule Sportive/Adonis Products/Honda Indy Edmonton car.



Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney

Using some artful pit decisions at Barber Motorsport Park to move them from 21st to 10th place by the end of the race, the young team to the IZOD IndyCar Series tour is looking at Long Beach to improve as their season best 6th place at St Petersburg. "Obviously finishing the first day in position four is a great achievement for us. We kind of knew that Long Beach was going to be a more suitable track for our car. We are still in the learning process and I think today we learned a lot and made very good changes to the car." Tagliani commented on the FAZZT Race Team website.

Qualifying for the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is scheduled for the IZOD IndyCar Series for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Simona De Silvestro Driven with HVM Racing in IZOD IndyCar for 2010

Photo Credit: IndyCar Media


Thanks to HVM Racing, a stand-out driver from the now suspended Atlantic Championship will bolster the female driver contingent to four at the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series opening race on the Streets of Sao Paulo. Announced officially after the major Barber Motorsports Park test for the series, Swiss driver Simona De Silvestro joins the IZOD IndyCar tour for 2010.

De Silvestro is one of only two women to claim victory in the Atlantic Championship by winning the 2008 Atlantic Championship race on the street of Long Beach. Looking to improves from the previous year results, Simona De Silvestro switched from Newman Wachs Racing to Team Stargate Worlds where she was teamed with actor-turned professional race car driver Frankie Muniz. In 2009, De Silvestro not only won four races on the tour (making the than 20 year old the winningest female in a single major open wheel racing series in the United States) but served as a serious title threat for the Atlantic Championship. Late season race day misfortunes at Mosport International Raceway and Mazda Raceway of Laguna Seca derailed De Silvestro's best efforts. Finishing third overall to the season's victor John Edwards, Simona De Silvestro efforts destined the young driver for brighter skies beyond the darkening clouds that eventually collapsed the Atlantic Championship.

Besides Simona De Silvestro's presence on the race track, she has a part in the long-delayed but upcoming multi-player video game Stargate Worlds. While race drivers have been appearing in the multitude titles of sports-related games, De Silvestro role with Stargate Worlds become a rarity being a professional racer in a non-racing game.

Created through a partnership agreement with De Silvestro's 2009 Atlantic team Team Stargate Worlds, the Switzerland-born driver describes her opportunity ride with the #78 HVM Racing car as "a true honor".

de Ferran Motorsports IndyCar Team Names Raphael Matos as Driver

With less than a month before the start of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series, the long-awaited announcement for whom would be driving in the proposed two-car team with de Ferran Motorsports has tabbed third-year IndyCar racer Raphael Matos.

Instead of continuing to build de Ferran Motorsports from stratch, team owner Gil de Ferran entered into a partnership with Matos' tam from last season Luczo Dragon Racing. Jay Penske (who is the youngest son of superteam owner Roger Penske) commented about the new alliance as a work in progress through the off-season. "Over the last four months Steve, Gil and I came to the realization that in order to put together an effort that could really face the challenges of the current establishment and have a better chance to deliver the successful results we all want we would be best served combining our resources. The more we talked about it the more it made sense."

Winning the Atlantic and Indy Lights in consecutive years between 2007 and 2008, Raphael Matos was an extremely fast rookie of the year in the IndyCar series through last season. Through his first year of competition in the top open wheel series, Matos' best finish was 6th at the Milwaukee Mile.

With a fellow Brazilian, Gil de Ferran had provided very little information or even rumours on whether the team was even ready for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series tour. In fact, when team manager John Anderson jumped to the US F1 Team before the new year, many media members had reason to speculate that the De ferran Motorsports IndyCar team plans were scrapped. Committing with one-team so far, Gill de Ferran the team does indicate a desire to add a second car. Luczo Dragon Racing's co-founded Steve Luczo asserted "We have a clear view that technology and science will give us the competitive edge we need to be successful on track."

IZOD IndyCar: Justin Wilson has a new ride for 2010

Photo Credit: IndyCar Series


Coming as a surprise to IndyCar racing observers, Justin Wilson left the #18 Dale Coyne Racing car for a second-car with the Dreyer & Reinbold team for 2010. Set to drive the #22 car, Wilson will be joined by office furniture company Z-Line Design which sponsored the British driver through the 2009 schedule. With fellow Brit Mike Conway remaining in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing organization after his 2009 rookie campaign, team co-owner Dennis Reinhold expressed optimism about the team's 2010 efforts. "We're excited to have Justin and Mike join us, Mike back for his second year, and obviously Justin has been in the league with a high degree of success for a long time." Reinhold said also adding that a third team could be brought to life with the right funding and driver.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has been in the IndyCar Series ( through earlier years known as the Indy Racing League) since 1999 and has sported driving talents such as Robbie Buhl, Sarah Fisher, and Al Unser Jr. The race team also played a part in Ryan Briscoe's career before he joined Penske Racing IndyCar operation in 2008.


Last season's IndyCar series schedule was dominated by the collective efforts of Target/Chip Ganassi and Penske Racing. Justin Wilson and the Dale Coyne Racing team were the only team succeeded in breaking the superteam stranglehold on the series winning in an upset at the Watkins Glen road course. Finishing 9th overall in the 2009 IndyCar standings, it appeared that the pairing was set to remain the same in 2010

In a teleconference, Wilson shared his thoughts on leaving his 2009 team. "It was a pretty tough call to leave Dale and move on with my career. That's not an easy decision. I just got to thank Dale and Gail (Coyne) for everything they've done. It was a great year. I have really fond memories."

With the departure of Justin Wilson and Z-Line Designs, Dale Coyne Racing is still in prime position for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. In early January, Dale Coyne Racing announced securing sponsorship from the Boy Scouts of America for 2010 for what was believed to have been a second car for the team. Graham Rahal, who has been teetering on resigning with Newman/Haas/Lanigan or entertaining other interested teams, is Dale Coyne's personal pick to fill his team's vacancy for a driver.

With the 2010 IZOD IndyCar series set to start on March 14th in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this late season game of musical chairs is occurring against a rapidly approaching green flag.

IndyCar: Vision Racing Loses Sight of 2010 Season

Photo Credit: Shawn Payne


In a letter to fans on their website, Vision Racing expresses "..Profound regret and heavy hearts.." as the team fell due to lack of sponsorship for the upcoming 2010. The shuttering of Vision Racing leads to a further fall from grace of Tony George, a man who started and ended the 13 year old conflict resulting in two open wheel series vying for acceptance in North America. The closure of the team also risks removing George's stepson and driver Ed Carpenter from the series' full-time roster for the first time since 2003.


Photo Credit: Ron McQueeney

Founded on the assets of Kelly Racing, the Tony George-owned IndyCar team never found victory lane in his own series. However, 2009 saw Vision Racing drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay score a 2nd place finish on season opening street course round in St Petersburg. Long time team driver Ed Carpenter was able to match the team's best finish at Kentucky, a career-best run for the 6 seasons in competition.