The 1.5-mile superspeedway has played host to North America's premier open-wheel championship every year since 1997, including two events per year from 1998-2004 that also featured season finales. A visit in June was traditionally held for the majority of the tenure, including when TMS was called upon to help jump-start the IndyCar season in 2020. In 2021, the date shifted to a double-header in May. Then, the target moved 20 March in 2022 before settling on April 2 earlier this season. Read Also: IndyCar reveals 2024 schedule as Milwaukee Mile returns Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber provided a statement on not hosting an IndyCar Series race next season. "Despite the best efforts by both Texas Motor Speedway and IndyCar, we have been unable to reach agreement on a date that works for both parties for 2024," Faber said. "We know this is as disappointing to our open-wheel race fans as it is to us, but we have a great … [Read more...] about Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule
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Askew hopeful ECR test leads to IndyCar return
The 26-year-old Florida-born American Swede hasn’t competed in North America’s premier open wheel championship since 2021 but could be poised for a return to the grid in 2024. Askew , along with newly crowned Indy NXT champion Christian Rasmussen, are both testing with ECR at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn natural terrain road course. And the aim is to use the opportunity to springboard into the team’s No. 20 Chevrolet entry alongside Rinus VeeKay for next year. “There's nothing that would make me happier than a redo at what meant the world to me -- and what still does -- in IndyCar,” Askew told Motorsport.com. “I really want to go back and cause some mischief.” The outing for Askew comes 729 days since his last IndyCar start, which came in the season finale on the Streets of Long Beach Sept. 26, 2021. Oliver Askew, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda Photo by: Barry Cantrell / Motorsport Images A potential pairing alongside VeeKay would provide ECR with one … [Read more...] about Askew hopeful ECR test leads to IndyCar return
More opportunity for women racers in IndyCar – Calderon
Newly announced IndyCar driver Tatiana Calderon says there are more opportunities available to female racing drivers in American racing series than elsewhere in the motorsport world. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The former Formula 2 and World Endurance Championship racer was confirmed yesterday in a third Foyt-run car for the upcoming IndyCar season. “IndyCar has always been on my radar,” said Calderon. “I’ve always been very competitive and I want to be where the best drivers are at and I think IndyCar is pretty high up there on the single seater ladder. I’ve always enjoyed single seaters quite a lot as well, so it’s a honour to be racing in IndyCar.” Having spent much of the past 10 years racing in European-focused series, Calderon believes there are more opportunities available to drivers who are women in the US than in Europe. “Here in America, in IndyCar, there have been many female drivers coming through. So I think there is more opportunity at … [Read more...] about More opportunity for women racers in IndyCar – Calderon
Has IndyCar’s Texas loss come at the right time?
The writing had been on the wall for several years, but the inevitable separation of the IndyCar Series and Texas Motor Speedway finally came with the arrival of the 2024 schedule. A relationship that began in 1997, the two transitioned through nearly every phase possible in the best and worst ways. The reality, though, is that things have been turbulent for an extended amount of time and both parties are at fault for its failure. In many ways, it’s fitting how everything started – with four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Texas native AJ Foyt backhanding Arie Luyendyk in Victory Lane after the inaugural event in 1997. Factor in timing and scoring issues that delayed final results until the next day and it also signaled the end of the United States Auto Club’s involvement in the championship. When the series needed to bolster its schedule in the early days and an ideal market to crown a champion, the 1.5-mile superspeedway stepped up and hosted races in summer and fall from … [Read more...] about Has IndyCar’s Texas loss come at the right time?
Indy NXT grad Simpson’s path to CGR seat aided by sports car experience
The Barbados-born Caymanian was signed as a development driver with CGR in May 2022, only two races into his Indy NXT career that already featured a fifth-place finish (Barber Motorsports Park). He ended up finishing his rookie campaign ninth in the overall standings despite switching teams – TJ Speed Motorsports to HMD Motorsports – mid-season. There were already some flashes of potential shown the year prior as Simpson rolled to seven wins, 13 podiums and two poles en route to winning the 2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship. Fast forward to the conclusion of the 2023 Indy NXT season, the 18-year-old’s record included a career-best runner-up result (Mid-Ohio), an additional podium and a pole to finish 10th in the championship standings after competing in 13 of 14 events. The lone event missed, the 1.25-mile oval formerly known as Gateway, was a result of a schedule conflict with his full-time commitment to the European Le Mans Series. He currently sits second in the … [Read more...] about Indy NXT grad Simpson’s path to CGR seat aided by sports car experience
De Vries vs Piastri vs Sargeant: Which rookie is best prepared for their F1 debut?
The three rookie drivers who will take their places on the grid for the 2023 F1 season arrive with differing expectations heaped upon them. Not only due to the different paths they’ve taken to reach F1, but also because of the teams they are joining. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The most experienced of the trio is AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries , who has one F1 start to his name courtesy of a last-minute call-up to replace the ill Alex Albon at Williams for last year’s Italian Grand Prix. His performance that weekend made him a target of multiple teams for 2023, and Red Bull’s interest won out over Williams’, so de Vries signed for its secondary AlphaTauri team for his long-awaited rookie F1 season. De Vries qualified 13th at Monza but started eighth due to others being penalised. He scored two points by finishing ninth in a car he had only driven in two practice sessions before his first run in qualifying. Team mate Nicholas Latifi came in 15th. … [Read more...] about De Vries vs Piastri vs Sargeant: Which rookie is best prepared for their F1 debut?
Rising IndyCar star Kirkwood signs contract extension with Andretti
Kyle Kirkwood has secured his place on the IndyCar grid for 2024 and beyond after signing a new multi-year contract with Andretti. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The team fielded four full-time cars this season but have trimmed their entry to three for 2024. Colton Herta and Kirkwood go into their fifth and second seasons with Andretti respectively, while Marcus Ericsson joins from Chip Ganassi Racing. Kirkwood first raced for Andretti in 2021, when he won the Indy Nxt title with the team. That provided him with a scholarship to step up to IndyCar and he made the move with AJ Foyt Racing. Tenth place in Long Beach was the best result of his rookie season, and just six races into his IndyCar career he was announced as joining Andretti for 2023. The team switch worked well for Kirkwood, as he scored almost twice as many points as he had the year before and won from pole in Long Beach just three races into the campaign. Later in the year he picked up … [Read more...] about Rising IndyCar star Kirkwood signs contract extension with Andretti
The driver dubbed ‘best in the world’ and ‘more complete than Max Verstappen’
Formula 1 may come to regret Alex Palou’s decision to cut ties with McLaren as the sport may never see the driver, dubbed “more complete than Max Verstappen”, line up on the grid. Although Palou was expected to race for McLaren in the IndyCar series next season, dovetailing that with Formula 1 reserve driver commitments, that relationship broke down after the Spaniard opted to stay with Chip Ganassi Racing. Instead of winning races with Palou, and potentially fielding him in Formula 1 in the years to come, McLaren are suing the driver for a reported $20-30 million in damages stemming from him reneging on his deal. Alex Palou v Max Verstappen for the best ‘alien’ award That, McLaren CEO Zak Brown says, is probably it for Palou’s Formula 1 story . “I think in Formula 1, there’s so much you have to do as a driver to be a complete race car driver,” said the American. “He certainly has demonstrated in IndyCar and his time with us that he is a racing driver, but I’m not sure … [Read more...] about The driver dubbed ‘best in the world’ and ‘more complete than Max Verstappen’
Ferrari can be quick in cool conditions too – Raikkonen
In the round-up: Kimi Raikkonen believes Ferrari’s performance in the Malaysian Grand Prix wasn’t just down to the very hot weather. Links Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more. Kimi Raikkonen: Malaysia pace not just down to heat (ESPN) "It might be the conditions (in Malaysia), very hot and good for us but I think even in Melbourne if we got behind them at the beginning I don't think they would have pulled away a lot." Could Ferrari have won without the Safety Car? Bottas says back will be '100 per cent' (Autosport) "It was much better than Sunday in Melbourne which is good and the new driving position I had felt good." Tweets All packed and ready to go. First time to China and first time driving in an official F1 session, exciting week ahead! #ChineseGP — Jolyon Palmer (@JolyonPalmer) April 6, 2015 @f1fanatic_co_uk French Documentary w/ English subs about Bianchi. https://t.co/Vjt8fmQLeO Round-Up material? — Oli … [Read more...] about Ferrari can be quick in cool conditions too – Raikkonen