| January 2020 News |
01-30 - John Andretti Passed Away
01-30 - IndyCar Silly Season - Kanaan to Race Ovals in 2020
01-23 - IndyCar Silly Season - Ferucci Contract Renewed
01-22 - IndyCar Silly Season - Kimball Joins Foyt
01-16 - IndyCar Silly Season - Hinchcliffe Sponsorship
01-15 - New Plans for Brickyard 400 Weekend
01-14 - DragonSpeed Racing to Compete in IndyCar
01-10 - F1 team Toro Rosso Changes Name
01-10 - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Expand Participation in IndyCar
01-30 - IndyCar Silly Season - Kanaan to Race Ovals in 2020
01-23 - IndyCar Silly Season - Ferucci Contract Renewed
01-22 - IndyCar Silly Season - Kimball Joins Foyt
01-16 - IndyCar Silly Season - Hinchcliffe Sponsorship
01-15 - New Plans for Brickyard 400 Weekend
01-14 - DragonSpeed Racing to Compete in IndyCar
01-10 - F1 team Toro Rosso Changes Name
01-10 - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Expand Participation in IndyCar
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| News Index |
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2020
Jan 10 - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing began its Indy Racing
League team in 2000. After losing their main sponsor in
2013, they have since only competed in the Indy 500.
Dennis Reinbold announced that with sponsor WIX
Filters, they will compete at St. Pete, the road course at
Indy and in Toronto in addition to the Indy 500 this year.
Sage Karam will be their driver. Karam has competed in
five of the past six 500s for the team.
The team plan to field two cars at this year's Indy 500.
Jan 10 - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing began its Indy Racing
League team in 2000. After losing their main sponsor in
2013, they have since only competed in the Indy 500.
Dennis Reinbold announced that with sponsor WIX
Filters, they will compete at St. Pete, the road course at
Indy and in Toronto in addition to the Indy 500 this year.
Sage Karam will be their driver. Karam has competed in
five of the past six 500s for the team.
The team plan to field two cars at this year's Indy 500.
Toro Rosso Name Change
Jan 10 - The Toro Rosso name will disappear for 2020,
with the Red Bull junior team changing their name to
‘Alpha Tauri’.
Alpha Tauri is a clothing brand owned by Red Bull. The
name change is in an effort to boost the visibility of their
fledgling offshoot.
Toro Rosso has been in Formula 1 since 2006, serving as
a junior/B-team for the Red Bull team. Owned by the Red
Bull company but technically a separate entity to the Red
Bull Racing squad, Toro Rosso took over the Minardi team
and factory at the end of 2005. Maintaining their Italian
links, Toro Rosso is Italian for ‘Red Bull’.
The name is likely to cause some confusion due to the
presence of the Alfa Romeo team on the grid – also a
recent rename as they were known as Sauber until 2019.
Jan 10 - The Toro Rosso name will disappear for 2020,
with the Red Bull junior team changing their name to
‘Alpha Tauri’.
Alpha Tauri is a clothing brand owned by Red Bull. The
name change is in an effort to boost the visibility of their
fledgling offshoot.
Toro Rosso has been in Formula 1 since 2006, serving as
a junior/B-team for the Red Bull team. Owned by the Red
Bull company but technically a separate entity to the Red
Bull Racing squad, Toro Rosso took over the Minardi team
and factory at the end of 2005. Maintaining their Italian
links, Toro Rosso is Italian for ‘Red Bull’.
The name is likely to cause some confusion due to the
presence of the Alfa Romeo team on the grid – also a
recent rename as they were known as Sauber until 2019.
DragonSpeed Back for 2020
Jan 14 - DragonSpeed Racing entered IndyCar last year
with plans to compete in five races. They competed in
three with their English endurance driver Ben Hanley
behind the wheel.
DragonSpeed plans to race in six IndyCar events in 2020
that will include St. Petersburg, Long Beach, the
Indianapolis 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Mid-Ohio and
the season-finale at Laguna Seca.
Ben Hanley, who turns 35 next week, will be driving their
car at the first race this year. It is not known at this point
who will be driving in the other races.
Jan 14 - DragonSpeed Racing entered IndyCar last year
with plans to compete in five races. They competed in
three with their English endurance driver Ben Hanley
behind the wheel.
DragonSpeed plans to race in six IndyCar events in 2020
that will include St. Petersburg, Long Beach, the
Indianapolis 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Mid-Ohio and
the season-finale at Laguna Seca.
Ben Hanley, who turns 35 next week, will be driving their
car at the first race this year. It is not known at this point
who will be driving in the other races.
At St Pete, Hanley qualified 12th and finished 18th - the last place for cars still running at the end.
In Birmingham, Hanley qualified 24th (last) and finished in 21st position.
Then in the Indy 500, Hanley put the car on the 9th row and dropped out on lap 54 with mechanical problems.
In Birmingham, Hanley qualified 24th (last) and finished in 21st position.
Then in the Indy 500, Hanley put the car on the 9th row and dropped out on lap 54 with mechanical problems.
| 2019 DragonSpeed RESULTS |
New Plans for Brickyard 400 Weekend
Jan 15 - IMS announced last year that the date for the
Brickyard 400 was being moved from September to the
Fourth of July weekend in 2020.
Some changes to the Brickyard 400 weekend were
announced today at IMS:
The Nascar Xfinity Series will race on the IMS road course
instead of the oval.
A fireworks show will be held on Saturday night July 4th.
It will be one of the largest shows in Indiana. The timing
will not conflict with the big fireworks show by the city of
Indianapolis, so folks can attend both.
There will be Turn 3 infield camping allowed during the
weekend.
A lineup of gourmet barbecue vendors will be added to
concessions at the track.
Schedule details will be forthcoming.
Jan 15 - IMS announced last year that the date for the
Brickyard 400 was being moved from September to the
Fourth of July weekend in 2020.
Some changes to the Brickyard 400 weekend were
announced today at IMS:
The Nascar Xfinity Series will race on the IMS road course
instead of the oval.
A fireworks show will be held on Saturday night July 4th.
It will be one of the largest shows in Indiana. The timing
will not conflict with the big fireworks show by the city of
Indianapolis, so folks can attend both.
There will be Turn 3 infield camping allowed during the
weekend.
A lineup of gourmet barbecue vendors will be added to
concessions at the track.
Schedule details will be forthcoming.
| Monster Energy's sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series has ended. |
Hinchcliffe Gathering Steam
Jan 16 - James Hinchcliffe received some good news in
the way of more sponsorship which will pay for him to race
in the GMR Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. That
sponsor is Genesys.
Now, he just has to find a team! Hinch's support from
Canadian Honda presents a problem as the two teams who
have not announced their driver lineup for 2020 (Foyt and
Carlin) both use Chevy power.
However, the Indianapolis Star reports that Dale Coyne
(who uses Honda engines) has a seat available.
Jan 16 - James Hinchcliffe received some good news in
the way of more sponsorship which will pay for him to race
in the GMR Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. That
sponsor is Genesys.
Now, he just has to find a team! Hinch's support from
Canadian Honda presents a problem as the two teams who
have not announced their driver lineup for 2020 (Foyt and
Carlin) both use Chevy power.
However, the Indianapolis Star reports that Dale Coyne
(who uses Honda engines) has a seat available.
Dale Coyne Racing announced in November that they
were cutting Sebastien Bourdais. In December they
hired rookie driver Alex Palou. No mention was made
of their other driver, Santino Ferrucci.
Back in October, Motorsports.com reported that Ferrucci's
race engineer had moved to Ganassi and at that time, Dale
Coyne was talking like he'd keep both Ferrucci and
Bourdais. Well that has not worked out exactly. But one
important thing he said at the time was that he'd run a 3rd
car at Indy.
So, even if Dale Coyne Racing hires a different full-time
driver for their second car, it's possible Hinch could be
driving for them at Indy in a 3rd car.
were cutting Sebastien Bourdais. In December they
hired rookie driver Alex Palou. No mention was made
of their other driver, Santino Ferrucci.
Back in October, Motorsports.com reported that Ferrucci's
race engineer had moved to Ganassi and at that time, Dale
Coyne was talking like he'd keep both Ferrucci and
Bourdais. Well that has not worked out exactly. But one
important thing he said at the time was that he'd run a 3rd
car at Indy.
So, even if Dale Coyne Racing hires a different full-time
driver for their second car, it's possible Hinch could be
driving for them at Indy in a 3rd car.
Charlie Kimball Lands Full-time Ride
Jan 22 - AJ Foyt Racing announced they have hired Charlie
Kimball to drive their #4 car in the 2020 IndyCar season.
This confirms that Matheus Leist is without a ride now.
Kimball brings his Novo Nordisk sponsorship with him.
He drove for Carlin last year.
AJ Foyt Racing lost their long-time primary sponsor at the
end of last season. They have not announced yet whether
they will retain Tony Kanaan in their second car this
season.
Jan 22 - AJ Foyt Racing announced they have hired Charlie
Kimball to drive their #4 car in the 2020 IndyCar season.
This confirms that Matheus Leist is without a ride now.
Kimball brings his Novo Nordisk sponsorship with him.
He drove for Carlin last year.
AJ Foyt Racing lost their long-time primary sponsor at the
end of last season. They have not announced yet whether
they will retain Tony Kanaan in their second car this
season.
Santino Ferucci Contract Renewed
Jan 23 - After being in limbo for the past couple of months,
Santino Ferrucci learned he will again race for Dale
Coyne Racing in 2020.
He will move into the #18 SealMaster car that Sebastien
Bourdais drove - with a similar partnership with Vasser-
Sullivan Racing.
Ferrucci was the 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, finishing
almost every race and avoiding trouble with what looked
like a sixth sense.
He will be partnering with rookie driver Alex Palou.
Jan 23 - After being in limbo for the past couple of months,
Santino Ferrucci learned he will again race for Dale
Coyne Racing in 2020.
He will move into the #18 SealMaster car that Sebastien
Bourdais drove - with a similar partnership with Vasser-
Sullivan Racing.
Ferrucci was the 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, finishing
almost every race and avoiding trouble with what looked
like a sixth sense.
He will be partnering with rookie driver Alex Palou.
| SILLY SEASON |
Kanaan to Race Ovals in 2020
Jan 30 - After 21 years racing in IndyCar, it looks like 2020
will be Tony Kanaan's last.
He will continue to race for AJ Foyt Racing, but only on the
five oval races on the IndyCar schedule:
May 24 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
June 6 - Texas Motor Speedway
June 27 - Richmond Raceway
July 18 - Iowa Speedway
Aug 22 - Gateway in St. Louis.
Kanaan feels he can continue to race at the highest level of
motorsports for years to come, but understands the business
dynamics in the sport. He is thankful that he has been able
to accomplish all his goals in the sport, including winning
the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Championship.
Jan 30 - After 21 years racing in IndyCar, it looks like 2020
will be Tony Kanaan's last.
He will continue to race for AJ Foyt Racing, but only on the
five oval races on the IndyCar schedule:
May 24 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
June 6 - Texas Motor Speedway
June 27 - Richmond Raceway
July 18 - Iowa Speedway
Aug 22 - Gateway in St. Louis.
Kanaan feels he can continue to race at the highest level of
motorsports for years to come, but understands the business
dynamics in the sport. He is thankful that he has been able
to accomplish all his goals in the sport, including winning
the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Championship.
RIP John Andretti
Jan 30 - John Andretti discovered in 2017 that he had
colon cancer and began a campaign to urge people to get
tested, for if the doctors catch it soon enough, they can
probably fix it.
Alas John didn't discover it soon enough and has died at age
56.
I took his advice and got tested last year. My biggest fear
about it was that I had to go 24 hours without food or
water. Anyway, this turned out not to be true, as you can
fill up on Gatorade and Jello so that hunger isn't a problem.
Jan 30 - John Andretti discovered in 2017 that he had
colon cancer and began a campaign to urge people to get
tested, for if the doctors catch it soon enough, they can
probably fix it.
Alas John didn't discover it soon enough and has died at age
56.
I took his advice and got tested last year. My biggest fear
about it was that I had to go 24 hours without food or
water. Anyway, this turned out not to be true, as you can
fill up on Gatorade and Jello so that hunger isn't a problem.
John co-founded the "Race for Riley", an annual go-kart
race in Central Indiana that has raised nearly $4 million for
the Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis since its
inception in 1997.
The son of Aldo Andretti, John raced in all the top level
American racing series as well as in the Indy 500 and the
Brickyard 400. He was the first driver to attempt "The
Double".
He is survived by his wife and three children.
race in Central Indiana that has raised nearly $4 million for
the Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis since its
inception in 1997.
The son of Aldo Andretti, John raced in all the top level
American racing series as well as in the Indy 500 and the
Brickyard 400. He was the first driver to attempt "The
Double".
He is survived by his wife and three children.
