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”.
Should IndyCar Continue to Fish or Cut Bait?
Posted in IndyCar on March 27, 2023 by OilpressureThe 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.
A Team on the Rise
Posted in IndyCar on March 15, 2023 by Oilpressure
We have a lot of time to dissect from the season-opening IndyCar race at St. Petersburg, since we still have two and a half weeks until Race Two at Texas Motor Speedway. It will probably be more scrutinized than any non-Indianapolis 500 race in quite a while. When you only have a one-race sample size to analyze for four weeks – that’s what happens.
Make Every Point More Valuable
Posted in IndyCar on March 13, 2023 by Oilpressure
This weekend, Susan and I wrapped up viewing the last few episodes of Formula One: Drive to Survive Season Five. As they focused on the second tier teams and drivers, there was a great deal of importance of finishing “in the points”. In F1, there are only a handful of teams that are realistically capable of actually winning. Yes, it’s possible that a car from Haas or AlphaTauri might somehow pull off a win – but it’s not likely. That’s a stratosphere reserved for Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. The others are left to be satisfied with points.
Oilpressure 