INDYCAR News for the Month of December 2020
Miller’s Mailbag 12/30/20 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (12/30/2020)
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HMD Motorsports confirms Malukas for No. 79 Lights entry – “HMD Motorsports is excited to officially announce that David Malukas will be making a return to the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires field for the upcoming 2021 season. With no surprise of his confirmation, Malukas will join the already confirmed Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports entry of Benjamin Pedersen…Malukas will return to his #79 HMD Motorsports entry for the 2021 season. With two drivers confirmed, HMD Motorsports and Global Racing Group will make their two remaining driver announcements after the New Year.” Full release at the link. – HMD Motorsports – (12/29/2020)
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Miller’s Mailbag 12/23/20 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (12/23/2020)
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Trackside podcast 12/22/20 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 12/22/2020 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (12/23/2020)
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Andretti confirms Megennis for Lights No. 27 – “Andretti Autosport announced today that Robert Megennis will return for the 2021 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season. Megennis will step back into his No. 27 Dallara, completing the team’s four-car lineup…Megennis completes Andretti’s 2021 Indy Lights roster, joining rookie teammates Devlin DeFrancesco [No. 17 Dallara], Kyle Kirkwood [No. 28 Dallara] and Danial Frost [No. 68 Dallara] on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, as the 2021 Indy Lights season kicks off on March 5-7, 2021.” Full release at the link. – Andretti Autosport – (12/22/2020)
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Carlin to return to Lights with F3 driver Peroni – “2016 Indy Lights Champions Carlin will re-join the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Series for the 2021 season with former FIA F3 driver Alex Peroni. The Anglo-American team are joining forces with the Australian born racer as he makes his debut in US racing. 21-year-old Peroni comes to the US having raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.” Full release at the link. – Carlin – (12/21/2020)
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Howden named Road to Indy Series Development Director – “As the leading driver development program and the only platform to guarantee its champions advancement to the next step on the ladder system, the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires today announced expanded roles for Rob Howden, the Official Voice of the Road to Indy, and Road to Indy TV, its broadcast production arm, in preparation for the 2021 racing season. Howden will see his position grow as Series Development Director, a multifaceted role with the primary focus as a liaison with teams and drivers in addition to assisting with the recruitment of prospective competitors and as an advisor on key areas for continued growth of the Road to Indy. He replaces Jonny Baker who, after three years, departs due to the time demands of his highly successful CoForce consulting, marketing and digital agency, founded in partnership with Anders Krohn in 2011.” Full release at the link. – Indy Lights – (12/18/2020)
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ECR confirms Daly and USAF for Indy 500 and No. 20 road/street courses – “Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that the U.S. Air Force and Conor Daly will remain with the team for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Daly will continue to drive ECR’s No. 20 Chevrolet for the road and street course events, 10 of which will carry the colors of the U.S. Air Force. Additionally, Daly will again race a U.S. Air Force Chevrolet for ECR in the Indianapolis 500. Daly and ECR continue to work alongside the U.S. Air Force to use the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to inspire young adults, communicate the service’s mission and build awareness about career opportunities.” Full release at the link. – ECR – (12/18/2020)
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INDYCAR confirms Long Beach moving to September – “The 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 26 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials from INDYCAR announced today. Long Beach is one of the foundational events on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule and one of the longest running. Additionally, the move creates a thrilling three-race, three-weekend west coast swing to complete the championship. Beginning at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 12, the homestretch continues at, what would be the finale under normal conditions, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, Sept. 19, before finishing on the historic streets of Long Beach.” Full release at the link. – INDYCAR – (12/17/2020)
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Report: Long Beach moves to September as season finale – RACER’s Marshall Pruett reports the 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be moved to late September 2021 and become the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale. Full story at the link. – RACER – (12/17/2020)
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Griffis test set for October 2021 – “Andersen Promotions today announced that the Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test will return to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2021. A fixture on the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires calendar, the 10th annual event is scheduled for October 30-31 on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn IMS road course.” Full release at the link. – Indy Lights – (12/16/2020)
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Miller’s Mailbag 12/16/20 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (12/16/2020)
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Trackside podcast 12/15/20 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 12/15/2020 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (12/16/2020)
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Foyt announces Kellett as full-time driver for No. 4 entry – “Canadian Dalton Kellett will drive A.J. Foyt’s No. 4 Chevrolet full-time in the 2021 NTT INDYCAR Series. K-Line Insulators USA returns as the primary sponsor, moving from the No. 14 to the No. 4 for the upcoming season. The 27-year-old rookie drove for Foyt in eight races this year as driving duties behind the wheel of the No. 14 Chevrolet were shared throughout the 14-race season by three drivers: Kellett, Tony Kanaan and Sebastien Bourdais. Bourdais returns to drive the No. 14 Chevrolet full-time as announced earlier this year.” Full release at the link. – AJ Foyt Racing – (12/15/2020)
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GRG with HMD Motorsports names Pedersen to ’21 Lights program – “After announcing their newly formed partnership a few weeks ago, Global Racing Group is excited to announce their first driver for the upcoming 2021 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship season. Racing under the Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports banner, Benjamin Pedersen will enter the 2021 season in North America by making his Road to Indy debut on the Streets of St. Petersburg.” Full release at the link. – Global Racing Group – (12/15/2020)
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Arrow McLaren SP names Montoya to Indy 500 lineup – “Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya will join Arrow McLaren SP to contest the 105th Running of the greatest spectacle in racing…Montoya will pilot the third Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet to team up with Arrow McLaren SP full-time drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. This will be Montoya’s first attempt at the Indianapolis 500 since 2017, when he finished sixth.” Full release at the link. – Arrow McLaren SP – (12/9/2020)
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Miller’s Mailbag 12/9/20 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (12/9/2020)
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Trackside podcast 12/8/20 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 12/8/20 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (12/9/2020)
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Andretti moves Herta to No. 26 – “After finishing third in the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, Colton Herta will transition within the team to pilot Andretti Autosport’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda entry for the 2021 season. The 2021 championship will mark Herta’s third year competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and mark a return to using the No. 26, which was utilized by Herta early in his karting career.” Full release at the link. – Andretti Autosport – (12/8/2020)
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IMS announces Davidson to retire on 12/31 – “Donald Davidson, beloved by race fans worldwide for nearly six decades for his encyclopedic knowledge of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500, is retiring Dec. 31 as IMS historian. Davidson has amazed, entertained and delighted millions since he first crossed the Atlantic to visit IMS in May 1964, fulfilling a dream and his fascination with “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” since his teenage years growing up in Salisbury, England. Since then, Davidson has become known and respected around the globe for his preservation and promotion of the history of IMS and the Indianapolis 500. His unique blend of passion, knowledge and a genial personality is immediately apparent to all, whether through interaction with fans at the IMS Museum or the track, answering historical queries from fans and car collectors, countless public speaking engagements and his popular television and radio appearances.” Full release at the link. – IMS – (12/7/2020)
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African-American owned Force Indy to compete in USF2000 with Team Penske support – “African American business leader and former team manager Rod Reid has announced the formation of Force Indy, a race team set to compete in the 2021 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship…Force Indy Team Principal Reid brings years of karting and auto racing experience and a recently expanded relationship with NXG Youth Motorsports Inc., which has introduced more than 2,300 students from under-represented communities, ages 11 to 15, to the educational benefits of the sport. Force Indy’s race team will focus on hiring and developing Black American men and women mechanics, engineers, staffers and drivers…The Force Indy announcement includes a mentorship from the legendary Team Penske, winners of a record 18 Indianapolis 500’s and 16 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships. During its first season, Force Indy will be based in Concord, North Carolina, as it receives guidance from Team Penske’s key personnel.” Full release at the link. – IMS – (12/3/2020)
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McLaren announces extension of Arrow Electronics F1 partnership – “McLaren Racing has today announced a multi-year extension of its Formula 1 partnership with Arrow Electronics, the global technology and innovation business. The partnership, which started in 2019, continues to combine two organizations with a shared belief in technology and innovation enabling progress and improvement in everyday life. Working together, McLaren and Arrow will strive to bring services and solutions to the team and their respective networks.” Full release at the link. – McLaren – (12/3/2020)
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Miller’s Mailbag 12/2/20 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (12/2/2020)
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Trackside podcast 12/1/20 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 12/1/20 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (12/2/2020)
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Andretti adds DeFrancesco to ’21 Lights program – “Taking the next step up in the Road to Indy ladder, Devlin DeFrancesco will join the 2021 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires field, as Steinbrenner Racing makes a return to Indy Lights competition with Andretti Autosport. Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport, who last fielded Colton Herta in the 2018 Indy Lights season, will return to Indy Lights competition with DeFrancesco behind the wheel of the No. 17 machine.” Full release at the link. – Andretti Autosport – (12/1/2020)
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Ganassi announces partnership with American Legion for their No. 48 – “Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today a multi-year agreement with the nation’s largest veterans service organization, The American Legion, as a sponsor of the No. 48 Honda in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES represented by a combination of Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson (street and road courses) and former Indianapolis 500 Winner and Series Champion Tony Kanaan (ovals)…The organization will also be the primary paint scheme for two races in 2021, including, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend. Kanaan, winner of the 2013 Indianapolis 500, will be behind the wheel for those races.” Full release at the link. – Chip Ganassi Racing – (12/1/2020)
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Miller’s Mailbag 11/25/20 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (11/25/2020)
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Trackside podcast 11/24/20 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 11/24/20 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (11/25/2020)
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Andretti announces return of Frost in Lights No. 68 – “Andretti Autosport confirmed today that Danial Frost returns to the team’s Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires effort for the 2021 season. The Singaporean is slated to step into the No. 68 Dallara for the 18-race schedule.” Full release at the link. – Andretti Autosport – (11/23/2020)
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NTT DATA extends partnership with Ganassi – “NTT DATA Services, a global digital business and IT services leader, announced a multi-year extension of its partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing that will expand to ranging sponsorship levels across the NTT INDYCAR Series entries of Scott Dixon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Kanaan and Alex Palou beginning in 2021. Building on its longstanding partnership with one of INDYCAR’s iconic organizations, NTT DATA will have a range of engagements that incorporate: two of the most heralded drivers in all of motorsports, a fan favorite who has won a series championship and Indianapolis 500, and an upcoming talent in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. NTT DATA returns as the primary sponsor on the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda at multiple events for the 17-race season in 2021.” Full release at the link. – NTT DATA – (11/23/2020)
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Ganassi announces TK as oval driver for No. 48 – “Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today an agreement with Indianapolis 500 Winner, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and 17-time race winner Tony Kanaan to a multi-year deal to pilot the No. 48 Honda entry for the four ovals on the calendar, complementing the 13 road and street course events being contested by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson.” Full release at the link. – Chip Ganassi Racing – (11/23/2020)
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