Post by montybriscoe on Jun 2, 2019 16:40:40 GMT -8
I know it is June 2 and it is completely messed up that Indy Car hits the mid-season point in Texas next Saturday night. However, there has been some good talk and speculation the past month over the futures of Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi. Both are in contract years. Pagenaud was thought to be under some pressure after a sub-par 2018 and a less than great start to this season. Rossi is thought to be in demand and Penske's signing of Rossi to his Acura IMSA DPi team for the endurance races this season, added more gas to the fires.
So, what do we know today? After sweeping the Month of May at Indy, Pagenaud is not getting fired by Penske. In fact, Penske should return all three of this year's drivers plus one for Indy. That fourth car at Indy, though, is not set in stone to be campaigned by Helio, who is not having a great season with Penske. Maybe JPM gets the call since he is having a very good year on the IMSA side. Let the Alonso to Penske rumors begin! However, I don't think that Alonso fits the mold of a Penske driver, to be honest.
Now, Rossi appears to be off the table with Penske on Indy Car but his IMSA ties means he will be connected to them for awhile. Although, next season seems completely improbable for Rossi, I do see him racing for Penske down the road in Indy Car. What will be interesting is, if and when he re-signs with Honda, how long will the deal be? I doubt it will be a one-year deal but if it is no longer than two-year deal, that opens the door for him to sign with Penske in 2022, replacing Power or Pagenaud. Now, which Honda team he will drive for is another question. I would say Andretti Autosport is the frontrunner though I would not count out Ganassi since Cheap has to be thinking that Dixon is not going to race forever and a serious assessment of Rosenqvist needs to be made in light of all the crash damage he has incurred lately. So, I think that Rosenqvist could be on the hot seat, right now.
What if Ganassi pulls off the coup and lures Rossi away from Andretti? Who replaces him at Andretti? I would say that Colton Herta, hands down is the favorite to land at Andretti, probably bringing George Michael Steinbrenner IV along with him. That would mean the end of Harding in Indy Car. Though, no one likes to see an Indy Car team shutdown, I don't thing anyone would mind seeing Harding go away.
Now what if Rossi stays with Andretti? Does that close the door to Herta winding up at Andretti next season? It depends. It depends on Marco Andretti. Let's face it. He is the weakest link on that team and has been for awhile. Now, it seems that Marco now has an ownership stake in the 98. Bryan Herta got Wheldon to victory lane in a one-off in 2011 and called the shots in Rossi's improbable win in 2016. Let's face it, this is season two with Marco and Bryan and they don't look like they are close to winning. What I think could happen is Herta goes to the 98 next season with Marco doing a one off at Indy in the fifth Andretti entry. However, Marco has always had this sense of entitlement so I don't know if that will drag things down or deep six Herta's chances of going there or not. However, if Andretti fails to secure Colton Herta, then watch out for Ganassi. Pretty sure Andretti does not want to see that happen!
More later!
So, what do we know today? After sweeping the Month of May at Indy, Pagenaud is not getting fired by Penske. In fact, Penske should return all three of this year's drivers plus one for Indy. That fourth car at Indy, though, is not set in stone to be campaigned by Helio, who is not having a great season with Penske. Maybe JPM gets the call since he is having a very good year on the IMSA side. Let the Alonso to Penske rumors begin! However, I don't think that Alonso fits the mold of a Penske driver, to be honest.
Now, Rossi appears to be off the table with Penske on Indy Car but his IMSA ties means he will be connected to them for awhile. Although, next season seems completely improbable for Rossi, I do see him racing for Penske down the road in Indy Car. What will be interesting is, if and when he re-signs with Honda, how long will the deal be? I doubt it will be a one-year deal but if it is no longer than two-year deal, that opens the door for him to sign with Penske in 2022, replacing Power or Pagenaud. Now, which Honda team he will drive for is another question. I would say Andretti Autosport is the frontrunner though I would not count out Ganassi since Cheap has to be thinking that Dixon is not going to race forever and a serious assessment of Rosenqvist needs to be made in light of all the crash damage he has incurred lately. So, I think that Rosenqvist could be on the hot seat, right now.
What if Ganassi pulls off the coup and lures Rossi away from Andretti? Who replaces him at Andretti? I would say that Colton Herta, hands down is the favorite to land at Andretti, probably bringing George Michael Steinbrenner IV along with him. That would mean the end of Harding in Indy Car. Though, no one likes to see an Indy Car team shutdown, I don't thing anyone would mind seeing Harding go away.
Now what if Rossi stays with Andretti? Does that close the door to Herta winding up at Andretti next season? It depends. It depends on Marco Andretti. Let's face it. He is the weakest link on that team and has been for awhile. Now, it seems that Marco now has an ownership stake in the 98. Bryan Herta got Wheldon to victory lane in a one-off in 2011 and called the shots in Rossi's improbable win in 2016. Let's face it, this is season two with Marco and Bryan and they don't look like they are close to winning. What I think could happen is Herta goes to the 98 next season with Marco doing a one off at Indy in the fifth Andretti entry. However, Marco has always had this sense of entitlement so I don't know if that will drag things down or deep six Herta's chances of going there or not. However, if Andretti fails to secure Colton Herta, then watch out for Ganassi. Pretty sure Andretti does not want to see that happen!
More later!