IndyCar Category

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Age: 29 Years in IndyCar: 2 Podiums: 2 Laps led: 124 2016-17 Team: Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Now that Mikhail Aleshin is officially returning to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, there is much to be hopeful for. The likable Russian returned to the cockpit of the No. 7 SMP Racing Honda last year after a year hiatus. He ended the year 15th in the standings, just two spots behind teammates James Hinchcliffe. Good for a guy that was out for a year, but it could have been just thatRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter INDYCAR officials announced a few procedure changes to their weekend schedules and rules ahead of the upcoming 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Season. Here is a list of what will be changing: Phoenix and Gateway qualifying – Qualifying for the pair of short oval races will be held in the afternoon before the race. Friday will feature two practice sessions with one scheduled the same time slot of the race. Extra set of Firestone red tires – Each entry will now receive four sets of the optional FirestoneRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Age: 29 Years in IndyCar: 12 Wins: 2 Podiums: 20 Laps led: 990 2017 Team: Andretti Autosport If any driver is ready for a career resurgence in 2016, it is Marco Andretti. The third generation driver finished 16th in the standings, his lowest championship finish. Andretti frequently struggled to find speed throughout the year while the rest of the Honda-powered Andretti Autosport squad had their share of ups and downs. The 29-year-old admitted during IndyCar’s media day that much of his frustration stemmed from a frustrating finish in the 100th RunningRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Age: 40 Years in IndyCar: 8 Wins: 1 Podiums: 5 Laps led: 436 2016 Team: AJ Foyt Racing 2017 Team: Andretti Autosport Takuma Sato is hitting the reset button for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Although Sato has performances of greatness in years prior, the 40-year-old from Tokyo, Japan ended last season 17th in the standings. He never reached the podium and scored two fifth place finishes at Long Beach and Toronto street circuits. Other highlights were a ninth at Mid-Ohio after starting 20th as well as good qualifying performances at theRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Sage Karam will return to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for another go at the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. The Nazareth, Pennsylvania native will be making his fourth start in the 500 and his third for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the team’s No. 24 entry. A gap in Karam’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship commitments with 3GT Racing allows for him to compete in the entire month of May. The 2013 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tire champion finished ninth after starting 31stRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Age: 25 Years in IndyCar: 1 Podiums: 1 Laps led: 68 2016 Team: Dale Coyne Racing 2017 Team: AJ Foyt Racing While Conor Daly ended his freshman season 18th in the standings, the results do not match the talent. The Noblesville, Indiana native managed to punch above his own weight several times throughout the year, highlighted by a second-place finish in the first Detroit race. Another promising run came at the IndyCar Grand Prix at Indianapolis where he finished sixth after leading a good chunkRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Mikhail Aleshin will return for a third year at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the Verizon IndyCar Series. The 29-year-old from Moscow, Russia will return to the No. 7 SMP Racing Honda alongside James Hinchcliffe for the 2017 season. “Thanks to both the SMP Racing program and our American team, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, I am to keep fighting for even better results this season in IndyCar,” Aleshin said. “With the Russian flag on my car, and with James and the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports crew, I willRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Age: 25 Years in IndyCar: 1 Podiums: 0 Laps led: 2 2016-17 Team: Chip Ganassi Racing A driver that will undoubtedly be looking for an improvement in the upcoming Verizon IndyCar Series season is Max Chilton. A veteran of 35 Formula 1 starts, Chilton ended his maiden season in IndyCar a disappointing 19th in the standings, the lowest of both the Chip Ganassi Racing squad and of the full-time competitors in the series. He also finished last in the rookie of the year standings, while Alexander Rossi took SunocoRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter 7-Eleven announced their return as an associate sponsor to Tony Kanaan in four Verizon IndyCar Series races this season. The convenience store giant will be featured on the Brazillian’s No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in four races – St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Indianapolis and Texas. NTT Data will still serve as the primary sponsor for the duration of the season. “It’s definitely special to have them with me to celebrate my 20th INDYCAR season and I’m looking forward to getting them to victory circleRead More

By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter Seven months removed from their historic win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller and Sebastien Bourdais claimed the win in the GT Le Mans class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Mueller took the lead for good from James Calado in the Risi Competizione Ferrari on the race’s final restart with 30 minutes remaining and held off a few charges by Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet to take the win. Bourdais admitted and he was onRead More