Ganassi announces NTT Data extension and Rosenqvist as driver for No. 10 in ’19 – “Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today that 26-year-old Swede Felix Rosenqvist will join the team’s IndyCar Series program in the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda beginning in 2019. He will team up with five-time and reigning IndyCar Series Champion, Indianapolis 500 and 44-time race winner Scott Dixon. Longtime partner NTT DATA has also renewed with CGR as part of a new multi-year deal to carry on as primary partner of the No. 10 Honda.” Full release at the link. – CGR – (9/28/2018)

—

INDYCAR announces testing regulations and open test dates for ’19 – “Circuit of the Americas, the popular permanent road course added to the 2019 schedule as the second race of the season on March 24, will play host to the only official gathering of all IndyCar Series full-season entries before the season starts. The track in Austin, Texas, will be the site of a two-day open test on Feb. 12-13 as teams prepare for the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, less than four weeks later. Teams are scheduled to test on the iconic 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on April 24, ahead of on-track activities in May leading to the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, returns to the Indy car schedule in 2019 for the first time in 15 years, serving as the season finale on Sept. 22. An open test day is set for Sept. 19, just ahead of the official race weekend.” Full release at the link. – INDYCAR – (9/28/2018)

—

Trackside podcast 9/27/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 9/27/18 is a great listen as always. Robin Miller is a guest on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (9/28/2018)

—

INDYCAR distributes awards at Victory Lap celebration – INDYCAR hosted its annual Victory Lap celebration on Tuesday evening as it handed out awards from the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Full story at the link. See highlights from the event here. – INDYCAR – (9/27/2018)

—

Miller’s Mailbag 9/26/18 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (9/26/2018)

—

Hinch writes piece on potential need for a drivers association – James Hinchcliffe has posted a piece on RACER on the potential need and reasons for a drivers association in INDYCAR. It’s an interesting idea. Full piece at the link. – RACER – (9/26/2018)

—

2019 Indy Lights schedule is revealed – “Andersen Promotions today announced the 2019 Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires schedule which will feature 12 events in support of the Verizon IndyCar Series including a new venue with the addition of Circuit of The Americas and a return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the season finale of all three levels of the globally recognized driver development platform.” Full release at the link. – Indy Lights – (9/25/2018)

—

Indianapolis proclaims 9/24/18 Scott Dixon Day – “Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has declared today, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, “Scott Dixon Day” in the city to honor the INDYCAR driver’s great accomplishments. According to the proclamation, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m., Dixon, an Indianapolis resident, is being honored for his legendary racing career, which includes winning the 92nd Indianapolis 500 in 2008 and five Verizon IndyCar Series championships. Dixon won his fifth championship on Sept. 16 at Sonoma Raceway in California. With that fifth title, the 38-year-old New Zealand native is second in total number of Indy car championships behind only A.J. Foyt.” Full release at the link. – INDYCAR – (9/24/2018)

—

Honda still an IndyCar option for McLaren – RACER’s Marshall Pruett and Stephen Kilbey report Honda Performance Development is still an option for McLaren if they decide to enter the IndyCar Series in 2019. “We’re close to a decision, we’re close to a decision,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told RACER. “We’d be happy to work with Honda, yes.” Full story at the link. – RACER – (9/24/2018)

—

Norman fastest in two days of Lights testing at IMS – Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Norman was fastest in two days of testing at the Eighth Annual Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Open Test over the weekend with a lap of 1:14.9283. Full rest results here. – Indy Lights – (9/24/2018)

—

Wickens shares video of cycling as part of rehab – Robert Wickens has posted a video of himself on a stationary bike as part of his rehab. Check it out at the link. – Robert Wickens – (9/21/2018)

—

Carlin aiming for 3 IndyCar entries and Lights return for ’19 – Motorsport.com’s David Malsher reports Carlin is hoping to a third car for their IndyCar Series program and return to Indy Lights in 2019. “Max and Charlie are staying on, or that’s the plan at least,” Trevor Carlin told Motorsport.com. “We’re just in that contract stage of getting everything buttoned up. And so I’ve asked Chevrolet about an extra engine lease and they say there’s no reason why they couldn’t cover us for a third car.” Full story at the link. – Motorsport.com – (9/21/2018)

—

News From Last Week