2013 IndyCar Series / Mazda Road to Indy discussion

JPM looks to have dropped some weight, that gym time must be paying off :p Hope he goes well in Indy, he's a huge character to have back in the series :)
 
Guerrilla said:
JPM looks to have dropped some weight, that gym time must be paying off :p Hope he goes well in Indy, he's a huge character to have back in the series :)
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Judging by how Barrichello did, it's more challenging than some people think. :) I think Montoya will be more competitive on ovals than road courses to start with.
 
More signings in the Mazda Road to Indy have commenced, ahead of open tests on December 9-10.

Jake Eidson, the 2013 F1600 series champion who also made an impression at the Formula Ford Festival, will drive in USF2000 full-time next season. (http://eformulacarnews.com/news_info.php?n=13193&sid=e81faf595a90f8938f2cda4bed7c3a94)

Neil Alberico, runner-up in the USF2000 championship this year, moves up to Pro Mazda. He will remain with Cape Motorsports who are expanding their operations from USF2000. (http://eformulacarnews.com/news_info.php?n=13196&sid=e81faf595a90f8938f2cda4bed7c3a94)

In other news, Indycar, WEC and ALMS race winner Mike Conway has signed with Toyota's WEC team following his success in the LMP2 category this year (4 class victories). (http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/198693/1/conway_expands_sportscar_role.html)
 
A two-day open test for the Mazda Road to Indy series (USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights) commenced earlier today at Barber Motorsports Park. (http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/09/mazda-road-to-indy-two-day-test-underway-at-barber/)

Notable drivers present at the test include Jack Harvey (2012 British F3 champion, 5th in GP3 this season); Matthew Brabham (current Pro Mazda champion); Scott Hargrove (current USF2000 champion); Jake Eidson (current F1600 champion) and Alexandre Baron (2012 French F4 champion). Over 40 drivers in total will be testing, with some teams choosing not to attend due to inclement weather conditions.
 
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The Mazda Road to Indy test at Barber Motorsports Park has concluded, with Alexandre Baron topping the Indy Lights timesheets; Skip Barber scholarship winner Aaron Telitz fastest in USF2000; and Alfonso Celis led the way in the Pro Mazda cars. Further details on the test are available on the series' websites at www.indylights2014.com , www.starmazda.com and www.usf2000.com

Juan Pablo Montoya continued his testing program with Penske, moving to Phoenix International Raceway. Another oval test is also planned at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-10-Montoya-completes-round-2-of-testing)
 
Off-season Indycar testing continues, with the most notable being Juan Pablo Montoya spending a day at Fontana to work on superspeedway setups and driving techniques. His program continues next week with a trip to Sonoma Raceway, while several other teams will be running at Sebring. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-12-Montoya-stretches-legs-at-Auto-Club-Speedway)

Ryan Briscoe has been signed by Ganassi to complete their four-car lineup. He previously drove for the team in the 2013 Indy 500 and the 2005 IRL season, after being a Friday driver for Toyota F1 in 2004. Briscoe scored a total of 8 Indycar wins for Team Penske between 2008-2012. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-13-Briscoe-returns-to-Ganassi-Racing)

Chevrolet and Honda have announced they will begin chassis development for their Indycar teams, focusing on aerodynamic modifications. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-12-Chevrolet-and-Honda-commit-to-2015-aero-kits)

Jack Harvey will join Schmidt Motorsports' Indy Lights team in 2014, following multiple test outings. He placed 5th in his first GP3 season this year with 2 race victories, and won the 2012 British Formula 3 championship. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-13-Harvey-signs-with-Schmidt-for-Indy-Lights)

Rising Star Racing, a new young driver program that shares similarities with its British-based counterpart Racing Steps Foundation, has been established for 2014 onwards. Neil Alberico and Spencer Pigot have been selected as the program's initial drivers. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-12-Rising-Star-program-aims-to-assist-advancement-of-drivers)

“It’s a great opportunity for me and helps with aspects I’ve struggled with in my career,” Spencer Pigot said. “The Mazda Road to Indy is a fantastic program. If you win the championship, you’re set. But as I’ve learned the last two seasons anything can happen in racing and one little thing could ruin your chances to win. To have constant support from a group like Rising Star is amazing for a young driver. I think it’s a really good program and I’m really excited to be part of it.”

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Rising Star Racing is the idea of Indianapolis businessman Art Wilmes, a lifelong fan of Indy car racing who wanted to help talented racers advance.

“We are looking for drivers who are long on talent but short on resources,” Wilmes said. “Our goal is to provide talented young open-wheel drivers with the support they need and allow their talent to win out. We want to help them get to IndyCar, the highest level for American open-wheel racing. Our goal is to bootstrap a few hand-picked candidates, develop their business and professional image and allow them to reach their potential. We will market our drivers as a package to attract funding from both B2C and B2B sponsors to make this a sustainable program that will continue to look for new drivers and growth in the future."
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The final Indycar off-season test of 2013 concluded this week, with Honda teams taking part in a two-day manufacturer test at Sebring. (http://indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-18-Sebring-test-recap)

Dario Franchitti held a press conference in Indianapolis to discuss his retirement, having recently released his book "Romance of Racing". The full Q&A session is available on the Indycar youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIfoKph8n5k

Takuma Sato has been confirmed with AJ Foyt Enterprises for a second season. (http://indycar.com/News/2013/12/12-17-Foyt-team-confirms-Sato-for-2014)
 
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