Podcast #3: The Double Finger

http://briancarroccio.podbean.com/mf/web/sxk6xb/MySong612.m4a


bricarr2@aol.com
@thechromehorn33

TCH Podcast #2

24 Hours of Daytona, IndyCar Silly Season, and standing starts amongst the subjects discussed.  Link below......

http://briancarroccio.podbean.com/mf/web/h4d6xt/MySong572.m4a

Contact Brian at bricarr2@aol.com.

IndyCar Podcast #1

http://briancarroccio.podbean.com/2013/01/22/brian-carroccio-pc-1/

Check out Brian's IndyCar podcast.  Topics discussed include Ryan Hunter-Reay, Silly Season, Sebastien Bourdais, The Captain, and why A.J. Foyt and Takuma Sato are a disastrous pairing.

Brian
bricarr2@aol.com

IndyCar Notebook

By Brian Carroccio
bricarr2@aol.com
@thechromehorn33

Its been a rather slow few weeks in the IndyCar world.  Sure, if you're like me and you get excited over A.J. Foyt announcing his Indy Lights plans for 2014 then you might feel different.  Still, there's been little news as IndyCar's seemingly interminable off-season has three months remaining.

Nevertheless, we can talk. Below, in a statement/answer format, I will address a few of the noteworthy subjects in the world of IndyCar.  Enjoy!

1. Sam Schmidt is quietly putting together a formidable racing organization:

Schmidt, of course, has built the premier team in Firestone Indy Lights, winning 6 series titles since 2004, including the last three.  Schmidt branched out with a full time IndyCar effort beginning in 2011.  Last season, the team ran under the Schmidt/Hamilton Motorsports banner with rookie driver Simon Pagenaud piloting the #77 to fifth in the series championship.

Also, Schmidt has continued to add partners.  Ric Peterson, founder and CEO of Oculus Transport joined the team as an equity partner Wednesday, after Lucas Oil announced it was joining as a sponsor last week.

Reportedly, the organization looks primed to add a second IndyCar entry.  Tristan Vautier, who won the Star Mazda title in 2011 before capturing the 2012 Indy Lights title for Schmidt, appears to have the inside line to join the team.  The combination of Vautier and Pagenaud would make for a very formidable one.  While Schmidt's team is not yet in the Penske, Andretti, Ganassi, category, the foundation to contend for championships is taking shape.

Of course, the news of Vautier being in line for the Schmidt ride brought with it the news Ruben Barrichello would not be returning to IndyCar in 2013, opting for Brazilian stock cars instead.

2. Speaking of Barrichello.......

The 11-time Grand Prix winner had been in negotiation with Schmidt for an IndyCar ride, but apparently the funding was not there to satisfy both sides.  Many in the IndyCar community have expressed disappointment regarding Barrichello not returning for a second IndyCar season.

I will concede that Rubens not running IndyCar next season is a disappointment.  However, it is far from the cataclysmic disappointment believe it to be.  Barrichello will be 41 next May, and his IndyCar career was going to last 2-3 more years tops.

Further, with few prime seats remaining, I doubt he would have made the leap into regular contender for race wins.  And I doubt Rubens would have enjoyed another season running in the middle of the field.

3. On the other hand, I will be disappointed if Conor Daly is unable to land an IndyCar ride.

As you probably know, the 20-year old Brownsburg, Indiana native and son of former Indy car driver Derek Daly is an A-plus kid in just about every way.   Whether its talent, charisma, charm, intelligence, the kid has it all in spades.  Thursday, the young Daly turned his first laps in an IndyCar for A.J. Foyt racing at Sebring.

Of course, Daly has long had aspirations to race Formula One.  He ran GP3 this past season, scoring a win at Barcelona and finishing sixth in the standings.  However, reports indicate his funding for 2013 has run out, and Daly is possibly turning his 2013 focus to IndyCar.

While Foyt's team is by no means an ideal landing spot, Daly running IndyCar would be a coup for the series.  The only thing with a move to IndyCar is.....

4. Running IndyCar may forever close the door to F1.  

A decade ago this would not have been the case.  However, since Sebastian Bourdais moved to F1 from Champ Car in 2008, no Indy car driver has even been given a whiff of interest by the notoriously haughty F1 establishment.  

Now, F1 seemingly having more serious designs on the American market may increase the interest in Daly.  Further, unlike other American drivers, young Daly has shown he can more than hold his own in the cutthroat junior European formulae.

Still, IndyCar is not well-regarded overseas these days.  Daly would likely have to dominate IndyCar as   Bourdais dominated Champ Car for an F1 team to seriously consider him.

What does it all mean?  Young Daly, who turns 21 this Saturday, may have one big decision to make in the coming weeks.

Brian

Brian Carroccio is the founder of The Chrome Horn, and IndyCar columnist for AutoRacing1.com.  He is a lifelong fan of Indy car racing, who despises moronic NASCAR phrases like "its checkers or wreckers."  He is also a diehard fan of the Washington Redskins and passionate supporter of Manchester United.    

You can contact Brian at bricarr2@aol.com and follow him on Twitter @BrianC_AR1.  

F1 Title Scenarios

With Fernando Alonso finishing third and Sebatian Vettel second in yesterday's United States Grand Prix, the 2012 World Driver's Championship remains unsettled heading to this weekend's finale at Interlagos.  Below, is a look at the scenarios by which Vettel and Alonso can win the world tittle.  

1. Because Vettel has 5 wins compared to 3 for Alonso, the Spaniard must beat Vettel outright on points.  Alonso is 13 points behind, and therefore must make up 14 points on Vettel to win the title. Thus..... 

2. If Vettel finishes fourth or better, he wins the world championship. 

*****Of Note: If Alonso wins and Vettel finishes fourth they will be tied on points, however Vettel takes the title with five wins compared to Alonso's four.

3. Alonso must finish on the podium to have any chance at the world championship.  Below are scenarios for Alonso to win title.  

--If Alonso finishes third, Vettel must finish tenth or worse for Alonso to win the title

--If Alonso finishes second, Vettel must finish 8th or worse for Alonso to win the tile.  

--If Alonso finishes first, Vettel must finish fifth or worse for Alonso to won the title.

The Rah-Rah Chorus

by Brian Carroccio

bricarr2@aol.com

@thechromehorn33

Let's reveal people's lack of intelligence by allowing them to speak for themselves.

To those of us sticks-in-the-mud, who are making such a fuss about Jeff Gordon's intentional wrecking of Clint Bowyer in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix, Dale Jarrett of ESPN would like to remind us that racing car drivers are "human beings."  Ricky Craven, Jarrett's colleague, points out that while Gordon acted out of anger, he was at least, "authentic."  Jenna Fryer of the AP makes sure to remind us that NASCAR grown tired of "the complaints from fans that drivers had become too corporate."  Ed Hinton, talking in an ESPN online forum with other pro-NASCAR mouthpieces such as Marty Smith, and Ryan McGee, thinks "NASCAR should let 'em rip," whatever that means, this weekend at Homestead.

So, if I'm hearing this correct, to show everyone I am an authentic human being, and not some  corporate sell out, I should let a 750 horsepower projectile rip into someone else?

Yes, that's the sort of analysis you'll get from the NASCAR media, and the worldwide leader's panel of NASCAR experts.  They'll go on to tell you Gordon's wrecking of Bowyer is all part of NASCAR's "boys have at it," policy. They'll go on about stock car's unwritten ancient rules of retribution, telling you that ignoramuses such as myself, who don't believe race cars should be turned into weapons, don't get it.

And while that may be so, I do get this.  In all their debates of whether Gordon should be suspended, fined, docked points, or allowed to let it rip this weekend, at Homestead, the cheerleaders in the NASCAR media are missing something very critical; something I argued in an article published on AutoRacing1.com (http://www.autoracing1.com/article.asp?id=3859) last evening.

While I won't go into detail here, Gordon action's did not simply warrant a lengthy suspension; it was arguably criminal.  With malicious intent, he turned a race car into a weapon.  That is by definition criminal, and while the cheer leading NASCAR media won't tell you that, numerous people with juris doctorates will.

And if you want to say I'm sensationalizing the matter, go ahead.  However, just think if Bowyer's car had gotten airborne, as Brad Keselowski's did in 2010 at Atlanta, when he was wrecked by Carl Edwards?  Worse, think if the car had gone into the stands?

Of course, the NASCAR media hacks, the very people who are suppose to be professionals covering the sport, and relaying worthy news, won't talk about this.  They won't talk about a marshal, crewman, or spectator, who could be endangered by NASCAR's archaic policy.  They're too busy proselytizing to the masses about the sport's unwritten rules, cheer leading over the attention garnered from Sunday's despicable showing.

Sadly, however, a rationale analysis will reveal a completely different truth.  They're the ones that don't get it.  They're the ones failing to fulfill their professional duty to report on the sport.  And in doing so, they, without realizing it, are very much part of the problem.

--Brian

Brian Carroccio is the founder of The Chrome Horn, and a regular contributor to AutoRacing1.com. He lives in Rockville, Maryland, and is a diehard fan of the Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals and Manchester United.

Simona to KV

By Brian Carroccio
bricarr2@aol.com
@thechromehorn33

Simona, happy to be headed to KV

After a month of complete and total nonsense, the IndyCar world has once again been given reason to smile.  Earlier today, it was announced that Simona de Silvestro, the likable, talented, 24 year-old Swiss driver, would be joining KV Racing Technology for the 2013 Izod IndyCar Series season.  The news wasn't shocking as de Silvestro tested for KV yesterday at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.  However, the news was very well received given the off-track nonsense over the past month, and the fact the popular de Silvestro, who endured a disastrous 2012 season, has found herself in a better situation. 

And certainly the move to KV will improve de Silvestro's chances of showcasing her talent. De Silvestro will have the championship winning Chevrolet engine powering her efforts, in lieu of the slug Lotus she endured in 2012.  Also, for the first time in her three year IndyCar career, de Silvestro will have a teammate, and not just any teammate but the well liked, and talented 2004 series champion, Tony Kanaan.  Yes, today was a good day for the Swiss Miss.

However, I'm not sure this euphoria should be reserved for de Silvestro.  No, this move is not only going to be good for Simona, but for Kanaan, KV co-owner Jimmy Vasser's sanity, and the whole KV team.  Yes, I believe de Silvestro's move to KV, will be as much a benefit to KV as it will, Simona.

KK and Jimmy Vasser figuring out their 2013 lineup

See, for many years now, KV has undoubtedly been the most disappointing team in the paddock.  They are, from all indications, very well-funded, with Silicon Valley tycoon Kevin Kalkhoven serving as the "K" in KV.  Further, Vasser, a former CART champion, provides the team with a talented mind, on the racing side.

Still, despite the resources, despite talent both in the cockpit and on the pit stand, KV has long disappointed on track.  If anything, KV has developed something of a reputation as a laughingstock within the paddock, more synonymous with wrecked race cars, and team dysfunction than success on track.   While the arrival of Kanaan in 2011, has given the team a clear leader, and more professional profile, KV's results have remained disappointing.  Overall, the team's lack of form has long been a complete and total mystery.

And while speculating on what exactly is, or is not right, with the team, is often done, KV's most glaring on track weakness the past few years is very clear: they can't qualify on road and street courses. 

While I have a mountain of data illustrating this, let's start with this past season.  Kanaan, the team leader, and owner of 14 career IndyCar poles, did not post one top-5 qualifying effort on a road or street course in 2012.  In fact, Kanaan has not scored a top-5 qualifying effort on a road or street since joining KV.  As we know, it is quite difficult to win at places like Sonoma, Mid-Ohio and St. Petersburg from outside the top-10.

Brazilian soulmates during a frustrating 2012

Also, as you might expect, Kanaan's teammates didn't fare much better.  Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello who joined the team in 2012, had four top-10 qualifying efforts, but only one on a road or street course.  Further, that 7th place start at Edmonton was partially the result of engine change penalties that moved the Brazilian up the grid.

E.J. Viso, the least heralded member of the team, actually turned in the best road or street course qualifying effort for KV with a 5th at Detroit.  However, that performance turned out to be something of a needle in a haystack, as the Venezuelan, qualified no better than 16th in any subsequent road or street course race. 

Yes, KV's qualifying on road and street circuits, was a disaster in 2012, and has been poor for quite a while.  Of course, Kanaan overcame the poor qualifying efforts on numerous occasions, for example, going from 19th starting position to fourth at Long Beach.  However, by and large, KV's lackluster road and street course qualifying form, put them behind the eight ball on race days all season.

And this is where Simona comes in.  Remember, de Silvestro has always been fast on road and street circuits.  In Atlantics, she won four poles and three races during the 2009 season.  While her IndyCar record is not necessarily indicative of that, de Silvestro has scored all of her career top-10 finishes on road and street courses.  Also, this will be the first time de Silvestro has a teammate as a reference for her performance

Additionally, de Silvestro will provide Kanaan with a reference he has not had during his time at KV.  While no one will question Barrichello's resume, the 11-time F1 winner, was by his own admission,  finding his way in IndyCar.  Ditto for Viso, and Takuma Sato, who teamed with Kanaan at KV in 2011. 

That will not be the case with De Silvestro.  She will not be learning new tracks, managing tires, or learning to save fuel for the first time.  No, next season will be de Silvestro's fourth in IndyCar, and she showed long ago, she can more than hold her own at the top level.  Simona will provide Kanaan with an experienced, talented teammate, he has yet to have at KV.

Overall, there is no doubt, we should be happy for the talented Swiss Miss.  Her indentured servitude in the Lotus has come to an end, and she gets to team with one of the better drivers in the paddock.  Finally, a proper opportunity to showcase her talents, has arrived.

However, Simona is not the entire story here.  Rather, de Silvestro may be exactly what KV needs to take the step forward we've waited so long for. 

--Brian



Brian Carroccio is the founder of The Chrome Horn, and also a regular contributor to AutoRacing1.com.  He lives in Rockville, Maryland, and is a diehard fan of the Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals and Manchester United.