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We are now entering what is one of my two favorite times of the year. The Month of May and the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s rival each other for which is my favorite. In my opinion, they are both equal – mainly because I have such happy childhood and adulthood memories of both. I do not have any personal miserable memories of either.

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We had been hearing rumbles for a while that the US Air Force sponsorship will not return to Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR). That confirmation came last Wednesday, from ECR as well as Conor Daly. Daly admitted that he had learned of the decision “…a little while ago”. I’m not sure if that means it was last week, last month or last quarter; but it is further proof that in IndyCar circles…where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

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Back in the old days, when there was a ton of IndyCar bloggers and we all knew each other – one thing that was never, ever discussed was how much web traffic we all got on our respective sites. There is not a ton of etiquette between bloggers; but to ask a blogger how many daily hits they got was akin to asking them how much money they made or quizzing about the bedroom activities between them and their spouse. You just didn’t do it.

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We learned last week what had been rumored for a while – Kyle Kirkwood will run the entire 2022 IndyCar season with AJ Foyt Enterprises in the famous No. 14. I stated my reservations about this move when it was first rumored, but now that it’s done – I don’t blame Kirkwood a bit.

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I am about to contradict myself…sort of. This is my site, so I reserve the right to be inconsistent every now and then. For years, I have felt free to comment on various drivers skills, or lack thereof. Over a decade ago, I wrote a scathing commentary on driver Dennis Vitolo – calling him the worst Indianapolis 500 driver over the previous twenty years.

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Update: Before we get into an IndyCar discussion, I have an update on my wife, Susan. Most of you know she was diagnosed with Stage-3 pancreatic cancer in July of 2020. After six months of grueling chemo, then surgery, then oral chemo and radiation; she is to undergo scans every three months for two years. Her first post-treatment scans were in August, just a few days before the Music City Grand Prix. Those scans were clear, allowing us to enjoy our hometown race weekend. It has now been three months, and Susan had her second round of scans this past Monday.

I am thrilled to announce that her Monday scans were completely clear again. Now we can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her next scans will be in early February. Only 20% of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer make it a year, and Susan did that this past July. Only 8% survive beyond the five-year mark. We still have a ways to go on that, but having clear scans sixteen months past the original diagnosis is a great start. Thanks to everyone that have held Susan in their prayers the past year and a half. – GP

We are still a couple of weeks from Thanksgiving and we still have almost four months to go in the offseason, but is that too soon to start talking about the NTT IndyCar Series for next season? More specifically – will Alex Palou compete for the 2022 IndyCar championship, or was his 2021 campaign simply a fluke?

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Over the weekend, I was reading through the Racer Mailbag, and I was perplexed by what Marshall Pruett said about IndyCar’s reluctance to pursue a show like the ultra-successful “Drive to Survive” series on Netflix. In case you’re unfamiliar with the show; “Drive to Survive” is a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of Formula One. Not only does it have fantastic racing footage, but it gives viewers insights into the lives of the drivers, owners and team principals. Most importantly, the show has been given unparalleled access to the politics and cutthroat business practices that have been a part of the sport for years.

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