The View From The Hairpin - 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series

[fastmaster26]

My views for the 2010 IndyCar Series sponsored by Off-The-Wall Dreams from Fastmaster26:

Prior to the 2010 season, several team mergers have taken place. Andretti Green Racing, having lost its two cash cows in Danica Patrick and Hideki Mutoh, merges with the incoming De Ferran Motorsports to form a four-car effort packing a lot of firepower. Likewise, Panther Racing, after a successful showing with Patron and Scott Sharp at Indianapolis, have merged to add some firepower to their lineup. Danica Patrick, after much speculation, and much to the relief of Series PR execs, has signed with Chip Ganassi Racing. Ryan Hunter-Reay replaces the outgoing Danica Patrick at Andretti-Green-De Ferran, and Takuma Sato fills the final vacancy.

25-27 fulltime cars. Possibilities of 29 outside of Indy.

A guy can dream can't he?

Solid Lineups
Penske - 3 (Castroneves, Briscoe, Power)
Ganassi - 3 (Franchitti, Dixon, Patrick)
Andretti-Green/Deferran - 4 (Kanaan, Andretti, Hunter-Reay, Sato*)
NHL - 3 (Rahal, Doornbos, Bourdais)
Vision - 2 (Carpenter, Davison*)
LDR - 2 (Matos, Scheckter)
Conquest - 2 (Moraes, Junquiera)
Panther/Highcroft - 2 (Wheldon, Sharp)
Foyt - 1 (Meira)
KV - 1 (Tagliani)
RLR - 1 (Servia)
D & R - 1 (Conway)
Coyne - 1 (Wilson)
HVM - 1 (Viso)

Part-Time
Fisher - 1 ( Fisher)
D&R - 1 (Duno)
Foyt - 1 (?)
Fernandez - 1 (Fernandez)

[Gasoline Alley]

Just for fun, I will give this a try as well!

26 full time rides

Penske (3) - 3-Castroneves, 6-Briscoe, 12-Power
Ganassi (2) - 9-Patrick, 10-Francitti
AGR (4) - 7-Hildebrand(r), 11-Kanaan, 26-Andretti, 27-Sato(r)
D&R (2) - 23-Scheckter, 24-Bell
DeFerran (1) - 15-Dixon
Panther (2) - 4-Wheldon, 16-Sharp
KV (2) - 5-Tracy, 8-Moraes
RLR (1) - 17-Servia
NHL (2) - 02-Rahal, 06-Junquira
Vision (1) - 20-Carpenter
Foyt (2) - 14-Miera, 41-Hunter-Reay
Fernandez (1) - 31-Diaz(r)
Conquest (1) - 34-Tagliani
Coyne (1) - 18-Wilson
LDR (1) - Matos

[Doyouloveit?]

Why not Wheldon back to AGR and Ryan Hunter-Reay to Panther to take over the National Guard Sponsorship. Perfect fit.

[thehairpin]

First iteration of actual list now in first post.

[The Stickman]

That is certainly an interesting list. Most all seems pretty possible. Only one I would definately go against is Power.

[Corvette Jack]

Why aren't these drivers contracts binding? Jamal Tinsleys Pacers contract was, these drivers should get his attorney....

[Fro]

Miller says Walker still wants in in 2010 if he finds $$
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-power-of-one/

Bobby Rahal is looking for money to bring RLR back full-time in 2010 as well
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77425

Can't rule out either of them yet.

[Fro]

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...907310336/1217

DeFerran expects 2-car team for 2010, on the verge of signing a big sponsor

He wants to sign Graham Rahal or Scott Dixon

[red5champ]

Wow this great news! certainly interesting!

[infoxicated]

Does he want fries with that, too?!

I think Conquest can safely be moved to the part-time category now that they're going to miss a couple of races, and possibly the rest of the season.

[Fro]

Does he want fries with that, too?!

I think Conquest can safely be moved to the part-time category now that they're going to miss a couple of races, and possibly the rest of the season.

Well, it's 2010, not 2009 and there will be a substantial amount of sponsorship money from various APEX-Brasil businesses floating around, so I don't think you can rule anything out at this point. Keep in mind Brazil isn't in a recession and is growing economically.

I would assume that nearly all these teams would like to run full-time with 2 cars if they could get the funding.

[infoxicated]

Yep, sorry - good point.

[MillerFresh4]

I still think deFarren is going to end up being Mutoh and Bia. I bet Sato is going to be back in F1 next year and between Apex Brasil and her connections with Clark, Bia will get a seat.

[thehairpin]

Does he want fries with that, too?!

I think Conquest can safely be moved to the part-time category now that they're going to miss a couple of races, and possibly the rest of the season.

If you noticed, I have them listed as "Phillipe/Conquest." I see the Phillipes getting into team ownership by buying into Conquest and running Nelson full-time.

[thehairpin]

list updated

[Fro]

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...s-departs-nhl/

Bobby D leaves NHL, so he's not going to be back with them in 2010.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090803/ALMS/908039995

Looking good for the ALMS teams to move over

http://www.versus.com/nw/article/vie...uce_martin.tpl

George hopes to return with a two-car team next season because, now that the IndyCar Series has shifted to more road races than ovals, it’s important to have a proficient driver with road racing skills to go along with oval specialist Carpenter.

“I’m working to put a two-car program together right now and hopeful to be able to do that,” George said. “I’d like to build it around Ryan as a second driver but I’m sure he is talking to other people to see what opportunities are out there. Ed and Ryan get along well and he fits in well and everyone likes him. It’s a goal of ours’ to have a second car but we might not be able to put a deal together any way.

Big Tony wants to run Hunter-Reay in the 2nd Vision Car next year

[GreenFlag]

I still think deFarren is going to end up being Mutoh and Bia. I bet Sato is going to be back in F1 next year and between Apex Brasil and her connections with Clark, Bia will get a seat.

I don't think De Ferran would go with those two drivers. As far as I know, Gil is very interested in building a strong team and there is no way he can build a team arond Mutoh and Beatriz. Mutoh has been average in his Indy car career so far, not much of a team leader. Batriz is average in Indy Lights, she is barely in the top 10 in points. There are a number of drivers in Lights who deserve an Indy car drive much more than Bia. If De Ferran's team does come to Indy car racing, I think they need at least one veteran team leader in the driver lineup.

[debris on the track]

You're very optimistic. Now take your final tally, divide it by $$$ and the final number should be what we have this year. DeFerran should make up for AGR dropping at least one car and one small team throwing in the towel.

[Tara]

I still think Tony may get his CEO position back at IMS. Interesting to read that two of the George sisters and their mom were at Kentucky. And giving brother a hug is a good sign.

[Gasoline Alley]

I don't think De Ferran would go with those two drivers. As far as I know, Gil is very interested in building a strong team and there is no way he can build a team arond Mutoh and Beatriz. Mutoh has been average in his Indy car career so far, not much of a team leader. Batriz is average in Indy Lights, she is barely in the top 10 in points. There are a number of drivers in Lights who deserve an Indy car drive much more than Bia. If De Ferran's team does come to Indy car racing, I think they need at least one veteran team leader in the driver lineup.

I would not be shocked at all to see Alex Lloyd land here next year.