Post by Zytes on Aug 2, 2018 15:10:35 GMT -8
"Despite having some terrific on-track racing this season, the seven cars participating in most Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires events this season is not a sustainable model for the long-term health of that series and the Verizon IndyCar Series. Something needs to be done to improve the health of the series, and the announcement of a five-year plan by INDYCAR and Andersen Promotions will play a significant role in shoring up the series that helped train 27 of the 39 drivers that have made appearances in the Verizon IndyCar Series this season.
“The announcement that just came out today is something I’ve been working on with Jason Penix (Director of Development Series) and Jay Frye ( INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations) for more than three months to address some of the concerns I’ve had,” explained Andersen Promotions Owner and CEO Dan Andersen to TSO Ladder. “I worked on all of the cost-cutting ideas on my own, and got Dallara, AER, Cooper and all of the other partners to ante up and drop the costs significantly, especially for new teams coming in.
“IndyCar’s part was to do the licensing and testing changes that would encourage drivers to come to Indy Lights and IndyCar teams to also join Indy Lights.”
The plan has been well received among current Indy Lights competitors with JF Thorman, President, Andretti Autosport telling us:
“We have been competing in Indy Lights and the Road to Indy for many years and truly feel it is one of the best driver development system in motorsport, and vital to the future success of the IndyCar Series. We’re very encouraged by the five-year planned rolled out by Andersen Promotions and INDYCAR, and applaud all involved for their efforts and commitment to the see the program once again grow. The Road to Indy has helped develop some of the top drivers in the IndyCar Series, and we’re happy to see a renewed focus on a program that, we believe, will continue to bring diverse talent to American open-wheel racing.”
Backing up a little before getting into yesterday’s announcement, the first thing done to strengthen the top step of the American open-wheel ladder was to ensure that some issues with the Mazda MZR-R turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder power plant have been rectified.
With zero loss of track time to any engine-related technical matter and zero “down-on-power” reports filed in 2018, the constant off-the-record complaints from participants have entirely disappeared through the first 14 races of the 2018 season...." More
“The announcement that just came out today is something I’ve been working on with Jason Penix (Director of Development Series) and Jay Frye ( INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations) for more than three months to address some of the concerns I’ve had,” explained Andersen Promotions Owner and CEO Dan Andersen to TSO Ladder. “I worked on all of the cost-cutting ideas on my own, and got Dallara, AER, Cooper and all of the other partners to ante up and drop the costs significantly, especially for new teams coming in.
“IndyCar’s part was to do the licensing and testing changes that would encourage drivers to come to Indy Lights and IndyCar teams to also join Indy Lights.”
The plan has been well received among current Indy Lights competitors with JF Thorman, President, Andretti Autosport telling us:
“We have been competing in Indy Lights and the Road to Indy for many years and truly feel it is one of the best driver development system in motorsport, and vital to the future success of the IndyCar Series. We’re very encouraged by the five-year planned rolled out by Andersen Promotions and INDYCAR, and applaud all involved for their efforts and commitment to the see the program once again grow. The Road to Indy has helped develop some of the top drivers in the IndyCar Series, and we’re happy to see a renewed focus on a program that, we believe, will continue to bring diverse talent to American open-wheel racing.”
Backing up a little before getting into yesterday’s announcement, the first thing done to strengthen the top step of the American open-wheel ladder was to ensure that some issues with the Mazda MZR-R turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder power plant have been rectified.
With zero loss of track time to any engine-related technical matter and zero “down-on-power” reports filed in 2018, the constant off-the-record complaints from participants have entirely disappeared through the first 14 races of the 2018 season...." More