First off, let’s congratulate Josef Newgarden, the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series champion. Here is a driver that was given The Captain’s blessing, owner Roger Penske’s hand-picked choice to drive the #2 Team Penske-Chevrolet. Newgarden started the year with three career IndyCar victories in 83 races; he ended it with four wins in 17 races and the Astor Cup. Not too shabby for a kid from Tennessee.
In this week’s Notebook, we look at the young drivers who are looking to replicate Newgarden’s rise. Notably Spencer Pigot and Zach Veach. Both have secured full-time drives in 2018, with a few full-time and part-time drives still available. Onto the Notebook.
Pigot gets 2018 ECR drive
JR Hildebrand’s full-time ride in the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevrolet is over. It was announced prior to the season finale in Sonoma that Pigot, the 23-year-old from California will be in Hildebrand’s seat in 2018. Pigot has been a part-time driver for ECR, splitting time in the #20 ECR-Chevy with owner-driver Ed Carpenter.
Whether Pigot can replicate Newgarden’s rookie Penske success with ECR is doubtful, however IndyCar fans and experts must remember that Newgarden came from ECR prior to his domination in the #2 Team Penske car. While Pigot might not be challenging for titles with ECR, a strong 2018 campaign could vault him into a stronger car in 2019; possibly with Penske, given Helio Castroneves’ unstable status at the moment. Time will tell.
Veach gets multi-year Andretti drive
Owner Michael Andretti will head into the IndyCar offseason with all drivers and supply contracts finished for 2018. Despite rumours of downsizing to a three-car operation in 2018, Andretti has signed Veach to drive the #26 Andretti Autosport-Honda. The seat was occupied this year by Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato, who will return to RLL Racing in 2018. The deal is for “multiple years” according to reports.
The reason that this deal is significant is Andretti’s driver line-up for 2018 will feature all Americans for the first time in team history. In addition, in IndyCar it is rare for a rookie part-time driver to secure a long-term deal immediately. The last young driver to secure a long-term deal was Newgarden in 2012 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. It appears that Andretti are prepared to work with Veach; but the 22-year-old will not be a complete unknown to Andretti personnel, having raced for them in Indy Lights. It will be interesting to see Veach develop at Andretti and whether he can pull a Newgarden—either at Andretti or elsewhere.
Can Pigot or Veach be the next to drape the American flag around them, while adding ‘IndyCar champion’ to their CVs? We’ll find out.
