Team Penske - New Color Scheme

Team Penske will support a new color scheme for the 2010 season. This is the first time Penske has ran three full time cars since 1994, when Al Unser Jr, Emerson Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy composed Team Penske driver lineup.

Barber Motorsports Park Testing on the Horizon - Five Questions

The IZOD IndyCar Series and the Firestone Indy Lights teams will take to the track for the only preseason test of the 2010 season from February 24th to February 26th. IndyCar Garage asks five questions heading into the upcoming test.

1. Who is going to show?

The 2010 lineup for the IZOD IndyCar series is starting to take shape as is Firestone Indy Lights, but there are still several unknowns going into Brazil on March 14th. The Barber test should give the fans an idea of who is going to be on the grid this season and what team will they will be driving for. Look for J.R. Hildebrand to testing with Dale Coyne Racing, and Milka Duno in the second DCR car. Takuma Sato, a former F1 driver will be on the grid with KV Racing and there second driver is still unannounced. Will Power will give Penske his first three car lineup since the mid 1990’s. Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti will be looking to continuing the Ganassi Dominance. Hopefully we’ll have more answers for the car/driver lineups at the end of the week. Scary thing about 2010, as of right now, TWO American’s have full time rides in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

2. How will the teams take to Barber?

The park, which opened in 2003, features a 16-turn 2.3-mile (3.7 km) road course designed by Alan Wilson, viewable from several naturally wooded or grass-covered banks. The IRL tested at Barber last year and that test gave them enough backing to sign a three year contract with the facility. It will be interesting to see what teams post fast times and how they take to a new track. Birmingham , Alabama is located in the heart of NASCAR country and just down the road from Talladega Speedway. Capturing a market in the Deep South would be a big benefit for the IRL, or a huge mistake.

3. Graham Rahal's Status?

The IZOD IndyCar Series youngest and most marketable driver is currently ride less heading into the 2010 Season. Graham Rahall’s former team, Newman/Haas/Langin is currently reducing its program to just one car this year, possibly two if Alex Lloyd’s sponsorship gets resolved. Rahal ultimately lost his ride when Paul Newman lost his life and in turn lost the sponsorship package through the salad dressing he helped create for McDonald’s. Bottom line with Rahal, the IRL needs to find him a ride and he can’t be lost to NASCAR. The latest rumor anyone is hearing is a one off with Ganassi for the Indy 500 and a full time ride in 2011.

4. How will Randy land?

Randy Bernard the new CEO of the Indy Racing League officially starts on Monday March 1st. Look for Randy to come in swinging, his background is marketing and everyone knows what he did with the Professional Bull Riding circuit. Randy’s real challenge is to active the IZOD IndyCar Series to a level that is outside the bubble of 16th street and Georgetown.

5. 2012 Car Drama

Until a decision is made on the four current proposals for the 2012 car, the topic will be the hotbed for discussion among fans. The IndyCar nation needs a jolt to recapture fans they lost in the split years, as the wounds are just now starting to heal. The car owners have proposed a radical concept in the Delta Wing Project, they claim it’s the only road left to go down before IndyCar dies a slow death. However the 2012 car decision plays out, lets hope it’s made with the best intentions for everyone involved!

IndyCar Garage Weekly - Tonight at 8 p.m. live on IndyCarGarage.com

IndyCar Garage Weekly returns for its 4th show of 2010 with IndyCarGarage.com moderator Tyler Carmichael. Tyler will discuss more of the 2012 possible car concepts including the Delta Wing Project and the newly released Lola pictures. Tyler will also talk about the driver lineups for the upcoming Barber Motorsports Test.

Tune in at http://www.indycargarage.com/ and click on the IndyCarGarage Weekly tab. The show starts at 8 p.m. tonight.

If you would like to call in and ask a question or make a comment regarding IndyCar, the

number is : 1-347-826-9019

The fourth and final 2012 IndyCar Concept - Lola

The fourth design for the 2012 IndyCar is finally here, as Lola present the first images of the proposed Lola B12/00 and B12/01 IndyCars for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series.

From their website:
The ‘total solution’ package will deliver two attractive and aero performance balanced racecars that will deliver a return to close and gladiatorial racing. Safety, efficiency, styling and affordability have been at the forefront of the Lola special projects team that have been working on this project throughout 2009 to date.

So there you have it, we now have the 2012 concepts for Dallara, Swift, Delta Wing and Lola. IndyCar Garage Weekly will talk more about the four concepts and what they mean for the IRL on IndyCar Garage Weekly this Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Below is more from Lola’s website:

At the heart of Lola’s proposal is the dual body style concept developed extensively by Lola engineers. This work has already received very positive comments from the IndyCar fan fraternity. This concept will give exciting visual variety to the IZOD IndyCar grid and stimulate teams, drivers and fans alike.

The two styles highlighted in the image (right) will be performance matched but use the same common chassis. Parity in aero performance will be maintained across the ride height range to ensure that no advantage is gained by either kit. Both styles of cars can be raced without technical advantage and with different engines. Common parts throughout will enable teams to switch upper surface styles should they choose to do so.

Work continues within Lola on futuristic designs to continue to challenge thinking and for sure to become more acceptable in better economic times

The Delta Wing Project - Revealed

Delta Wing Racing revealed its possible 2012 car today at the Chicago auto show. The car is pictured above. Talk about it http://www.indycargarage.com/ and tune in tonight at 6:30 EST for IndyCarGarage Weekly for more on the Delta Wing.

The 2012 IndyCar designs continue to rollout - Swift

The 2012 IndyCar designs continue to rollout, American race car company Swift Engineering released their concept today. The press release is below and the picture is above.

San Clemente, Calif.-based Swift Engineering provided this news release:

American race car company Swift Engineering, Inc. is proud to announce key motorsport partnerships with industry-leading companies to further its bid to design and build the next generation race car chassis for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series.

"Given Swift is the leading U.S. race car design and manufacturing company and our 27‐year history was founded in motorsport, it is only natural that we aspire to partner with the nations' premier open‐wheel formula, the IZOD IndyCar Series," Jan Wesley Refsdal, Swift's president, said.

Key business alliances have been cemented between Swift and Cray Inc. (The Supercomputer Company), Indianapolis‐based Mark One Composites, Inc. and Cruden America, world leaders in motion racing simulators.

"Individually, each one of these partnerships is critical to Swift's continuing commitment to motorsport; however, collectively and in conjunction with one another they will help us set new industry standards in innovative design, manufacturing and support," Refsdal stated.
Swift's strategic industry partnerships were carefully selected and cultivated through a focused effort to realize the challenge the IZOD IndyCar Series has set for its next generation car.
Cray supercomputers will be used at Swift's facility to further enhance its capabilities in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), an important tool in the design and development of aerodynamic concepts. In conjunction with Swift's existing on‐site wind tunnel designs will be tested in accurate virtual models allowing for valuable driver feedback and performance data collection on Cruden's state‐of‐the‐art 3Ctr 6‐DOF motion racing simulator which is soon to be operational at Swift.

"Speed‐to‐market is critical in any business, but probably more so in racing as the green flag doesn't wait for anyone," Refsdal said. "Rapid development is just as much about the speed and quality of the design process as it is manufacturing. We are evolving our four‐year exclusive certified composite repair relationship with Mark One Composites, Inc. to provide further manufacturing and inventory support directly to teams from its Indianapolis‐based facility."
Swift is currently developing a detailed value proposition with finalized performance data and conceptual designs for IndyCar's consideration.

The 2012 IndyCar?

Dallara, the manufacture that has supplied Indy Racing League cars for the last 12 years, revealed their 2012 car. The 2012 Dallara is expected to have competition from the Delta Wing Project, which will be unveiled next Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show. Add your thoughts on the car!

The Indianapolis Colts IndyCar

The Indianapolis Colts are playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday and the IZOD IndyCar Series is right the middle of all the action. The blue and white car that is pictured was shown off at a recent golf outing that was presented by Van Heusen and featured former NFL Players, Ryan Hunter-Reay was in attendance. Jim Irasy needs to sponsor this car fulltime for his new son-in-law.

IndyCarGarage talks with Pippa Mann

Firestone Indy Lights driver Pippa Man recently signed with Sam Schmidt Motorsports to drive in the 2010 Lights season. Pippa took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for IndyCarGarage. (Pippa is pictured from her recent test Firebird circuit in Arizona, Phoenix)

1. Pippa, tell us a little about your background and how you got into racing.

Well I'd always loved watching Formula One races on TV back home in England, but I never thought about driving until I went indoor go-karting quite by chance. I was immediately hooked, and it was then that I had my first proper outdoor kart for my 13th birthday. We turned up to about one race per month - just me and my father with almost no tools – and everything kind of progressed from there.

2. You raced a variety of series in Europe, how did that help you coming into the Indy Lights series?

I only raced in two single-seater series back home in Europe. I came into Firestone Indy Lights from the World Series by Renault, which is all about high down-force, fast cars with carbon brakes and electronic paddle shifts. As a result, that series didn't really prepare me for Indy Lights at all. I’ve had to learn how to drive on the harder tires, how to "lift to shift", breathe the throttle when going up through the gearbox, time my footwork coming down through the box again almost from scratch, and actually just a different driving style altogether. To be honest with you it would have been much easier coming from one of the middle formulae in Europe (like Formula 3) that I skipped when I made the big step up to WSR, because every time I get into the FIL car - I'm still learning.

3. Sam Schmidt Motorsports has excelled a great deal in Indy Lights, talk about what it means to be able to drive for one of the premier teams in Lights.

When I received the phone call from Sam after the last race of last year, asking me to come and test one of their cars at Kentucky, it was a great feeling. I had experienced a tough first year in Firestone Indy Lights, and wasn't sure what the future was going to hold for me. Doing the tests with SSM, and then signing for them, has given me such a positive vibe going into the coming season. I really enjoyed working with the guys at the tests, and while I still have a lot to learn from them before the season really gets underway, I am so happy to be with this team, and be in a position where I am able to learn.

4. Tell the fans what a typical race day schedule experience is for you, start when the alarm clock wakes you up and end when you’re leaving the track.

In the Firestone Indy Lights series, we don't really have a ‘typical’ race day schedule. It depends on whether we're on a street course, road course or oval; how many other classes are running with us; whether we're a one day event, two day event, or even three day event. Often race day is actually the least busy day, as often we are a two or three day event, meaning the only thing which happens on race day is the race itself, with qualifying and the testing having taken place the previous day.

However one thing is generally consistent - the alarm call is going to be early. This seems to be without fail - never mind what time we're actually racing, and when we have a morning warm-up on race day, the alarm goes off even earlier… I am not a fan of mornings!

Normally race day just involves turning up at the track, making sure you're eating the right foods to give you energy without weighing you down or making you feel tired, getting hydrated and staying hydrated so that whatever the heat conditions you won't get tired through dehydration in the car.

We check our race kit, check our helmets, get the tear-offs on, meet with the engineers to discuss what the changes made to car overnight are - there isn't really a specific routine.

5. What is your favorite track to race and why?

In Europe I was a big fan of racing at Estoril (in Portugal) and Monza (in Italy). Here in the States, I really enjoyed driving at Watkins Glen last year, and I loved just about every oval we went to. My favorite of those however being Homestead and Indianapolis - I love those two places!

6. What are your goals and expectations for 2010?

I'm really not one to try and hypothesize about the future. I don't really like making predictions, and making goals public, because it's very easy to make a rod for your own back. I also am very insistent on any goals that we set should be realistic and achievable ones. Inside the privacy of the team, we have already set these goals of where we want to be, and where we want to aim to finish the year, and we're already working hard towards them.
However, all that being said - I think it's safe to say I want to do better where I struggled last year on the street circuits, improve again on the road circuits, and - well, look out for my car on the circuits where we turn left a lot...!

7. Anything else that you would like to tell the fans and members of IndyCarGarage?

I guess I just want to say ‘hello’ to everyone, and thanks to everyone who is already a member of my website Fan Club, or who follow me around on Twitter, or Facebook. I think the internet provides a great way for people to get in touch via these forums, so if you haven't looked me up yet, and you want to say ‘hello’ back, just search for my name in one of these forums, and you should find me!

IndyCarGarage would like to thank Pippa and wish her the best of luck in the upcoming season!

IndyCarGarage Weekly returns this Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. (eastern)

IndyCarGarage Weekly returns for its second episode of the 2010 season. Tyler Carmichael, moderator of IndyCarGarage hosts and will discuss news around the IZOD IndyCar Series. All fans and members of IndyCarGarage can tune into IndyCarGarage weekly by going to http://www.indycargarage.com/ and clicking on the IndyCarGarage weekly tab. Then just hit the play button and the audio will stream through your speakers.

You can also find IndyCarGarage Weekly on Blog Talk Radio, by going to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ and searching IndyCarGarage Weekly.

If you have a question or comment for IndyCarGarage Weekly, please send them to IndyCarGarage@gmail.com or just send IndyCarGarage a message on the site.