IndyCar Drivers Can’t Wait For New Season To Start

Scott Dixon and teammate Tony Kanaan sign autographs ahead of Rolex24.   [Joe Jennings Photo]

 

Daytona Beach, Fla. – The Verizon IndyCar Series drivers have experienced a longer off-season than normal, so they are eager for the series opener in in Brazil on March 8. Even though it has been five months since the season finale in California, the drivers have stayed busy with sponsor events, go-karting, fitness training, travel and family activities.

With the Rolex24 at Daytona this weekend, many of them, including 14 that raced in the 2014 Indianapolis 500, joined sports-car teams for the 53^rd running of the Rolex24 at Daytona.

            Indianapolis 500 champions Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon were joined by Charlie Kimball, Sebastien Bourdais, James Hinchcliffe, Jack Hawksworth, Martin Plowman, Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Briscoe, Graham Rahal, Townsend Bell, Sage Karam and James Davison.

“We only needed a couple of weeks off,” said 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Hunter-Reay. “It has been a busy off-season with only a little of it off. We have been developing the new IndyCar with the aero kit and lot of testing has gone on there. And then there was testing before the Rolex24 and all the sponsor and team-related functions following our 500 win have made for a busy off-season.”

The highlight of Hunter-Reay’s off-season was the unveiling of his likeness on the Borg-Warner trophy. “There’s no feeling quite like it in the world; it is amazing and a lot of hard work from a lot of people. Hopefully, we can have another shot at it. I have the Baby Borg (trophy) in my office, and I will cherish it forever.”

Regarding the new aero kit, he stated, “It is tough to say what we will have because the regulations are shifting. I think we will be going faster, how much faster I don’t know. The Chevy and Honda aero kits will make the cars very unique.”
“It has been a long off-season even though we did a bit of testing here and there,” Dixon said. “In some ways it is frustrating, but I did run in the Petit LeMans and sporadically had some IndyCar tests, which made it nice to get back in the car. There was a 6 or 8 week period with no driving at all, but I haven’t forgotten how to do it.

“2015 will be an interesting start when we begin with one package before switching to the new aero package for the St. Petersburg race. It is a pretty big unknown for how the manufacturers competitive they are and how close they are. We should know more after the open test at Barber, which takes place before St. Petersburg.”

Even though Rahal didn’t have a stellar 2014 outcome, he’s raring to go in 2015. “That’s racing,” the self-effacing driver said of the past season. “We had a lot of potential, but we let a lot of good races slip away from us whether it be my fault or on the mechanical side.”

Looking ahead, he commented, “I am looking forward to 2015 more than ever, and I am more excited about racing in IndyCar than I have been in a long time. My team has energized me, and with our engineering staff, we have a better fit than ever before.   But we are all up in air about these new aero kits and what that’s going to mean, and it seems like the IndyCar changes the rules by the day. Regardless, we are ready to go.”

With the unexpected departure of the National Guard sponsorship, the Rahal team is searching for backing, and they are guardedly optimistic that recent discussions will lead to a positive outcome. “We just have to get the pieces to the puzzle to fall together.”

For Hinchcliffe, he will be adapting to his new ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.       “The team has done a good job the last few seasons, and we are hoping to build on that, although the new body kits are throwing a wrench into things,” the outgoing driver said. “However, the new aero package sort of levels the playing field, and I am anxious to test the new package.”

The Canadian did test at Sebring in December, but the car had the old package. Another test will take place next week, adding to the learning experience with his new team. “Adapting to a new team can be quick or take a little bit of time,” he indicated, believing his transition will go quickly since he raced with the Sam Schmidt IndyLights team five years ago.

Karam is a development driver for Chip Ganassi Racing and the young driver waits patiently for a full-time deal. “I did an IndyCar test at Sebring and before that my last race was in a sports car at Indianapolis (in July),” the young Pennsylvania driver said. “Every time you get in a car you are trying to prove who you are and even though the team said the Sebring test was not an audition, I kind of took it that way and tried to do the best I could.”

To pass the time, Karam added, “I hit the gym a lot and keep the weight under control and as long as you are working out, you don’t forget how to drive. It is boring sitting on the couch, so I try to find things to do, such as go-karting.”

The youngster has nothing on his schedule after the Rolex24, but many believe he is destined for the fourth seat with the Ganassi IndyCar team.

Bourdais dabbles in sports car racing as often as he can, and he often finds his way to victory lane, to include the Rolex24 in 2014. Once again, he will co-drive the Action Express Corvette DP with defending series champions Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa.

For the 2015 IndyCar season, Bourdais returns to the KV Racing Technology fold. A year ago, they ended up 10^th in points with one win and a pair of pole positions. “It has been a long off-season, and it is still not over,” he commented. “The guys have been working very hard, doing some shaker and other things, but still haven’t tested properly. They are preparing for the new aero kits, getting the proper tools ready when it shows up. I think there will be at least one test before the first race with the new kit.

“Our team hasn’t had many changes, so it should be pretty stable, which is a good thing. I am looking forward to Brazil; all the Brazilians tell me it should be a pretty cool track.”

While Bourdais and the others here in Daytona are looking forward to the upcoming season, their near-term focus is on the Rolex24, hoping to be part of a winning effort as has happened in recent years.   And it is always impressive to wear the coveted Rolex24 winning watch.

 

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