After audience share and investments were split between F1RICS and the IndyCar Series in 2015 and 2016, both series hit financial troubles and ticket sales fell through the floor. F1RICS could not survive thanks to its highly-expensive formula and hit the wall in the winter of 2016. IndyCar was able to stay alive due to the promise of backing, but needed further investment to bring it out of hibernation. The Velocity Group were unable to raise the cash required for 2017, but over 2018 a number of tech companies were able to breathe new life into the series.
What does that all mean? INDYCAR IS BACK.
TEAMS
Nine former IndyCar teams return, and are joined by a former F1RICS outfit. The Dallara DW12 will be dusted off, given a small makeover and returned to its natural habitat: the track.
TEAM PENSKE
Roger Penske's world-famous outfit are back with a vengeance. The team will run four cars, as is customary, and will be expecting championship fights.
CHIP GANASSI RACING
Losing their long-term Target backing in 2016, Chip and his marketing department will be searching for a new iconic partnership. Oh, and titles. Ganassi also run four cars.
ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
Although Michael Andretti’s team have diversified in recent years, home is where the heart is with Indycar. The team continue their relationship with Bryan Herta Autosport, who adds a fourth car to the team’s portfolio.
A.J. FOYT ENTERPRISES
Run by Larry Foyt these days, the team haven’t been particularly successful since the 90s. Can they return to the glory days? AJ Foyt have two cars.
DALE COYNE RACING
Dale Coyne thrive on the underdog perception, and have been known to field a rotating host of young drivers in their #19 car. Can they continue to surprise once again?
ED CARPENTER RACING
Ed Carpenter’s team are at home on the oval tracks, but have rapidly improved in the road course department too. Can they take a famous Indy 500 win?
RAHAL LETTERMAN LANIGAN
The Bobby Rahal-David Letterman-Mike Lanigan triumvirate continues, and add a regular second car alongside the #15.
KVSH RACING
After turning their focus to their #11 car in 2016, the #4 makes a return to the garage. Timo Glock managed occasional wins for the team; can they repeat this in 2019?
SCHMIDT PETERSON MOTORSPORTS
Sam Schmidt’s team have found a solid midfield niche in the past few years, and will again run two cars to try to move up through the field.
CASSIDY RACING
The former F1RICS team make the step across to Indycar with a two-car team. What kind of impact will they make on the established field?
CALENDAR
The 2019 calendar is a combination of recent favourites, returning circuits and new additions, spanning six road courses, five street circuits and six ovals including the Indianapolis 500.
1. Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida - March 10
2. Books-A-Million Grand Prix of Alabama, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama - March 24
3. 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California - April 7
4. Qualcomm 500, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California [oval] - April 14
5. Tecate Grand Prix of Monterrey presented by Banamex, Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Mexico - April 28
6. HHGregg Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Indiana - May 11
7. 101st Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana [oval] - May 26
8. Direct Supply Milwaukee 225 presented by Kopp's Frozen Custard, Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin [oval] - June 9
9. Iowa Corn 300, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa [oval] - June 23
10. Smucker's Indy 200, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio - July 7
11. Honda Indy Toronto, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Canada - July 21
12. Molson Canadian 67 Indy Montreal, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada - July 28
13. Chevrolet Grand Prix at the Glen, Watkins Glen International, New York - August 18
14. Firestone 600, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas [oval] - August 25
15. ABC Supply 500, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania - September 8
16. Gallo Family Vineyards Grand Prix of Sonoma, Sonoma Raceway, California - September 15
17. Mazda SKYACTIV Grand Prix of Monterey, Laguna Seca, California - September 22
There will be two Young Driver tests after Alabama and Mid-Ohio.
SPONSORS & BUDGET
A number of large sponsors are looking for the stars of IndyCar to return home. I will provide a big spreadsheet of sponsors, each offering different sums of money, terms and conditions. Each sponsor is signed PER CAR, and therefore only that car's achievements will go towards any bonus criteria.
The sponsorship signing process will form your season budget. Teams will be declared bankrupt if they fail to pay the $200k entry bond at the end of the season.
ENGINES
Chevrolet and Honda return to fight it out on American shores. However, a third contender has joined in the form of Mazda. Each engine has a different upgrade path, and you may purchase upgrades sequentially.
DRIVER SIGNING
Once sponsors have been selected and allocated, you may sign drivers who fit the profile of the sponsors' criteria in order to claim their money. Paydrivers are also available and don't require a wage, but may offer reduced performance levels.
TEAM UPGRADES
Teams can purchase engine upgrades, as discussed, but can also use their money to focus on their infrastructure. You can spend money on...
- Improving your mechanics, which can improve reliability
- Improving your marketing team, which improves your chances during an RNG event (sponsor/driver signing).
POINT SYSTEM
Base rate:
1st: 50, 2nd: 40, 3rd: 35, 4th: 32, 5th: 30, 6th: 28, 7th: 26, 8th: 24, 9th: 22, 10th: 20, 11th: 19
12th: 18, 13th: 17, 14th: 16, 15th: 15, 16th: 14, 17th: 13, 18th: 12, 19th: 11, 20th: 10,
21st: 9, 22nd: 8, 23rd: 7, 24th: 6, 25th-33: 5
Pole: 2, FL: 1 (except Indy 500)
Indy 500 & season finale offer double-points.
Indy 500 qualifying points: 1st: 33, 2nd: 32, 3rd: 31 [...] 31st: 3, 32nd: 2, 33rd: 1.
MISCELLANEOUS
The series will be run using GP2, except the Indy 500 weekend which will be done using rFactor. This is so that I can implement realistic qualifying for the event (ie. the Fast Nine).
There will be 26 cars at each round except the Indy 500, where extra one-off entries will be tendered. The process for these entries will begin after the sponsor and driver signing is complete, and will be closed after Round 4, the Qualcomm 500 at Fontana. These will be awarded to the more realistic entries.
LINKS
Past seasons: http://formularejects.com/wiki/Alternate_IndyCar_Series
2019 season: http://formularejects.com/wiki/2019_Air ... Car_Series
