All the latest news from the racing world!
It is an IndyCar focused week this time, as no other series really had any major news!
IndyCar
In the wake of his first IndyCar title, Newgarden has called Palou, ‘Dixon-esque’, which is probably the biggest compliment he could give him. This is because, Dixon was always able to assess situations very well, keep himself out of trouble, and stay calm. Dixon has in some ways agreed with this, as he said that Alex has raised the bar for him.
McLaughlin, who secured the Rookie of the Year title, is aiming to win the Indy 500 next year. Given his prowess on ovals this year, it wouldn’t be out of the question, as he qualified best Penske for the 500, and was 2nd at Texas. I do think that Year 2 could be a breakthrough year for him.
After long speculation, Pagenaud has announced he will be moving to Meyer Shank Racing for next year. It is unclear whether he was pushed out of Penske, or if he just wanted to move to new pastures. This could be a chance for him to bring himself back to the forefront of the series, after a few years where he underperformed. Alongside Castroneves, they could be a team to fear for the 500!
The Detroit Grand Prix could well move from Belle Isle to downtown Detroit, to try and build a stronger connection with the city. This could bring more energy to the event, and may have been inspired by the success of the race at Nashville. With Penske owning the Belle Isle track, it could be interesting to see how this plays out.
Bourdais looks to be going to a part time season with Foyt for next year, due to him becoming a full time driver in IMSA. It is reported that he will race the Chip Ganassi run Cadillac, for all the races, which will cause some clashes with IndyCar. This move could well mean that it will be his last season in IndyCar next year, for a legend of the sport.
Other News
Due to the current situation in Australia, McLaughlin will probably call off his attempt to return for the Bathurst 1000. DJR had been open to him coming back for a seat at the enduro event, but with the two week quarantine period, and IndyCar testing, it could be a step too far.
-M
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