In the notebook this week, teams get the bill for the Texas Motor Speedway carnage. Esteban Gutierrez tests—at a street circuit. Injured Dale Coyne Racing driver Sebastien Bourdais gives his thoughts on not racing at TMS. And more.
Teams get Texas crash bill
RACER estimates that the Rainguard 600 hosted at Texas Motor Speedway has cost teams roughly $1.8 million. The Rainguard 600 saw 12 of 22 cars crash and retire. The most expensive repair bill goes to Dale Coyne Racing. Both DCR machines crashed out in Fort Worth and owner Dale Coyne says he “doesn’t even want to add it up”.
Gutierrez tested Road America
After missing the Rainguard 600 due to inadequate oval clearance, Gutierrez was back on track Wednesday. The 25-year-old tested the #18 DCR-Honda alongside Indy Lights drivers testing Indycars. How this helps Gutierrez get ready for ovals went unanswered by team and IndyCar Series officials. The former Formula 1 driver drove Detroit—a street circuit—prior to missing out on the Rainguard 600 at TMS, an oval. The next oval on the IndyCar Series calendar is Iowa Speedway.
Twitter: Can confirm: Esteban Gutierrez was in the Coyne 18 car all day. Name is declared on the side and everything. https://t.co/dvKAV5s4WD (@Maluhaka)
Bourdais unhappy about Texas
In an interview with Motorsport.com, the injured Frenchman lamented the racing at TMS. The 38-year-old said he wasn’t sorry for missing Texas that it was ‘bull****’. “No. It was wrong, it was bull****, and I think we should know better than that,” commenting on the stock car-style “bump and go” driving witnessed at TMS. Later in the interview the Frenchman was still unapologetic about being one of the more outspoken in the paddock. Full interview can be found by clicking the link above.
Scott Dixon wishes more testing at TMS before race
As late as Wednesday, the Rainguard 600 and the resulting damage was still fresh on some drivers minds. Particularly Dixon, who survived a horrendous crash with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield wall during the Indianapolis 500; only to be involved in crash with Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato, with five to go last Saturday night.
The New Zealander, commented that additional testing would have made a difference prior to the race. The four-time IndyCar champion also noted that nobody ‘except maybe the spectators’ would want to see that kind of racing in IndyCar. Dixon says that with the aero kits, coming in 2018, teams will have more control with downforce settings and that should improve and possibly remove pack racing—an oval track racing phenomenon of drivers in close quarters continually throughout the race at high speed.
