In the IndyCar Notebook this week, track news with Gateway Motorsports Park in Illinois repaving; and a potential new track in Nashville for 2019. Indy Lights ramping up safety because of Formula 4’s Billy Monger. The 2017 IndyCar Series reaches its midpoint. Enjoy this week’s Notebook. IndyCar returns this weekend at Road America on June 25.
Gateway Motorsports Park repave on schedule
Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois will repave its entire 1.25-mile oval surface before Aug 26, according to RACER. GMP is scheduled to host Round 15 of the 17-race season on Aug 26. The race, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 is the last oval on the calendar. The resurfacing is necessary, however after the chaos at Texas Motor Speedway due to new TMS surface, the Firestone tyres, and aero packages, organisers may want to rethink a quick repave.
IndyCar in Nashville proposed
A race in Nashville is still conceptual according to Mark Miles CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent company the IndyCar Series. The proposed Grand Prix of Nashville if it happen will be slated for 2019. The layout is a street circuit around Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans football team. While Miles is excited about a potential race in the Music City, the layout seems a bit too Formula E-like. The electric series, has raced around stadiums before, notably Beijing National Stadium in its inaugural year. If the objective is to host a Nashville race, IndyCar could potentially return to the Nashville Superspeedway, after leaving in 2008. Until a solid plan is made, it is all conjecture.
Indy Lights rethink Dallara IL15-Mazda chassis
After Billy Monger’s horrific Formula 4 accident, where the teen had to have a double leg amputation; Indy Lights is rethinking the safety of its car, the Dallara IL15-Mazda. Indy Lights, the junior series of IndyCar was first highlighted the need to rethink its car after Trevor Carlin—a Indy Lights and Formula 4 team owner—brought up the issue with Indy Lights race director Tony Cotman. Cotman says they will redesign the quick-lift brackets for front-to-rear accidents similar to Monger’s. Indy Lights hopes to implement this and other modifications so that an accident similar to Monger’s doesn’t happen in Indy Lights. Partly for the redesign is the similarity between F4 and Indy Lights cars. No timetable has been set for the modifications to be implemented.
2017 IndyCar midterms
Motorsport.com have released a team-by-team recap of the first half of the IndyCar Series season. Winners include Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Penske, and Andretti Autosport. Losers include A.J. Foyt Racing, and Ed Carpenter Racing, with an honorable mention to Fernando Alonso for AlonsoMania at the 101st Indianapolis 500. In truth, the Motorsport grades are on the button, with some exceptions. What exceptions, quick judgment of Esteban Gutierrez filling in for Sebastien Bourdais. Other than that the next nine races should be a blast, especially if the run of different winners continues.
