On Monday, we learned that the number of available seats in the NTT IndyCar Series has been whittled down to one. Jacob Abel was confirmed for the full season in the No. 51 car at Dale Coyne Racing. This is good for both parties. Jacob Abel has proven he is worthy of an opportunity, and this also brings stability to a team that I think had ten different drivers in their two cars over the past season. It’s hard to build any continuity with that type of arrangement. Hopefully Dale Coyne can find a fulltime driver for the No 18 – the last remaining open seat.
Where Did This Term Come From?
Posted in IndyCar on January 17, 2025 by OilpressureThis Could be Fun to Watch
Posted in IndyCar on January 15, 2025 by Oilpressure
Last Friday we got our first look at what PREMA will look like on the NTT IndyCar Series grid, when the season starts in less than seven weeks at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. We saw the cars, the No. 83 and the No. 90; which will be driven by rookie Robert Shwartzman and veteran Callum Ilott respectively.
The Phrase “Golden Years” is a Relative Term
Posted in IndyCar on January 13, 2025 by Oilpressure
Over the holidays, I was perusing through Facebook while sitting by the fire. I belong to a Facebook group devoted strictly to Road America, where readers post photos from present-day, as well as the past; and written posts about their personal memories of the track that has been operating since 1955. Unlike other groups, this is a very civilized, well-mannered and knowledgeable group.
The Musical Chairs of the Broadcast Booth
Posted in IndyCar on January 10, 2025 by Oilpressure
Earlier this week, we learned that FOX is eyeing Will Buxton from F1 broadcasts for their IndyCar broadcast team. Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal reported in an article on Monday that Buxton was among several names being discussed as FOX tries to assemble their broadcast team less than two months before the season-opener at St. Petersburg.
The Takeover is Now Complete
Posted in IndyCar on January 8, 2025 by Oilpressure
On the last day of the calendar year in 2024, Arrow McLaren completed their takeover of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) that started in August of 2019. This was initiated when McLaren decided to enter the NTT IndyCar Series full time. Rather than start a team from scratch, like Carlin, Juncos or PREMA – they decided to partner with an existing team.
Not the Way to Start the New Year
Posted in IndyCar on January 6, 2025 by Oilpressure
Welcome to 2025! We are now at that point in the NTT IndyCar Series offseason where we stop referring to the 2024 season as “this past season”, and now call it last season. Conversely, the 2025 season will no longer be called “next season”. Instead it will be “this coming season” until it begins in less than two months. From there it will simply be “this season”.
Merry Christmas From Mr. & Mrs. Oilpressure
Posted in IndyCar on December 18, 2024 by Oilpressure
Once again we have reached that point in the year, where practically all activity stops for a couple of weeks or so – that is, unless you are in retail sales. That inactivity especially applies to the racing world. This is the one time of year that most teams and drivers go into hibernation. They know that shortly after the calendar flips to the new year, things get real again. The off-season becomes the pre-season, and this past season becomes last season.
Oilpressure 