Assuming you are reading this on Friday morning or afternoon, I am on my way to Texas Motor Speedway. I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a while, because this is a track I’ve never been to. I hope that Texas doesn’t suffer the same fate as new tracks we visit. Fontana, NOLA, Sonoma and Pocono are all tracks that I’ve visited in the past decade that dropped off of the scheduled shortly after we visited.
Archive for March, 2023
Texas Preview
Posted in IndyCar on March 31, 2023 by OilpressureIt’s a Bigger Deal Than Some Think
Posted in IndyCar on March 29, 2023 by Oilpressure
There was a fairly significant announcement on Monday that some fans chose to ignore and while a handful of others criticized it. The announcement was that NTT was extending the title sponsorship of what has been known as the NTT IndyCar Series since 2019. The original five-year deal is set to expire after the end of the 2024 season. The multi-year extension goes into effect after that date.
Should IndyCar Continue to Fish or Cut Bait?
Posted in IndyCar on March 27, 2023 by Oilpressure
Before we get to today’s post, I would like to acknowledge the loss of someone known to almost everyone in every IndyCar Media Center. Susan and I first met Eric Schwarzkopf ten or twelve years ago, when we were staying at the same hotel near Barber Motorsports Park. He just started talking to us in the parking lot, as if we had known each other for years. Eric was passionate about many things; photography, IndyCar, power-boat racing, food of all types, the Colts, the Purdue Boilermakers, his pets and his son Matt. He had a larger than life personality, a tremendously sharp wit, and always referred to people like Paul Dalbey and myself as “Damned Bloggers”.
The Dreaded Silent T
Posted in IndyCar on March 24, 2023 by Oilpressure
For the past few years, I have written a sort-of annual offseason post regarding trendy buzzwords and corporate jargon that I find very irritating. It’s not really racing related, but sometimes I use this platform just for venting. I had every intention of doing so this past February, but I never really compiled a list or jotted it down whenever I heard a new phrase that made me cringe.
In Need of a Quick Turnaround
Posted in IndyCar on March 22, 2023 by Oilpressure
One of the bigger sources of irritation for many fans of the NTT IndyCar Series, is the fact that Linus Lundqvist does not have an IndyCar ride for 2023. Lundqvist won the 2022 Indy Lights championship, but has been on the sidelines while drivers he beat last year obtained seats for 2023.
Who Cares What They Think?
Posted in IndyCar on March 20, 2023 by Oilpressure
I’ve been reading a version of the Racer Mailbag for the past twenty-five years or so, back when the late Robin Miller still worked for The Indianapolis Star. After he moved on, we were blessed to have two mailbags. Curt Cavin took over the mailbag at The Star, while Miller started another at his next destination – ESPN.com. When Miller joined SpeedTV.com, he carried the mailbag concept with him. When Racer.com took over the Speed website, they incorporated the mailbag into their regular lineup. It has been a Wednesday morning staple ever since.
The Field Grows to Thirty-Three
Posted in IndyCar on March 17, 2023 by Oilpressure
On Wednesday, we got confirmation for the thirty-third car and driver combination for this year’s Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay has been announced in the No. 23 car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR), teaming up with former Andretti Autosport teammate Stefan Wilson.
Oilpressure 