2025 Indycar series - News/rumours/hijinx

[John]

I have presented my limp weiner at the corkscrew. Which means it's time for a new thread.

Prema has announced Ilott for 2025.

[Everso Biggyballies]

RIP 2024

[Everso Biggyballies]

Well we need some scandal and it seems we might have a bit.....

FBI agents carry out operation at RLL headquarters



It would appear that allegations of an (ex) Andretti staff member who left to join RLL in "a senior engineering role" has shared Andretti IP with RLL..... SO far it seems a few 'no comments' have been uttered, along with 'we are co-operating etc. and 'ongoing investigation we cant talk right now but we intend to provide more info asap, I daresay more info forthcoming. Watch this space as they say.

Nothing yet on the Indycar site, not even a mention, and same with other sites I have checked (Autosport)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation dispatched agents to the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing shop in Zionsville, Indiana on Wednesday morning.

The FBI is alleged to have instructed employees within RLL to leave their computers and related electronic devices in place, gather their belongings, and depart the building as agents began an investigation.

The source of the investigation is alleged to involve a former employee of the Andretti Global IndyCar team, who left the team to join RLL in a senior engineering role, and the alleged transfer of intellectual property from their former team to their current team.

“We are cooperating fully with investigators,” said the team in a statement issued on Wednesday evening. “Given that this is an ongoing investigation, we are limited in what information we can share right now, but we intend to provide additional information as soon as we can.”

The FBI is also alleged to have visited the Andretti shop in August to look for proof of possible IP-related improprieties.

A call to Andretti COO Rob Edwards on Wednesday to inquire about the alleged FBI visit to the team’s shop, and whether that visit was possibly linked to today’s FBI appearance at RLL, was met with a “No comment.”

https://racer.com/2024/09/18/fbi-agents ... dquarters/

Found a mention on Fox news but no details

A bit more here, but no real juice.: https://www.on3.com/pro/news/rahal-lett ... ed-by-fbi/

[John]

In the midst of the FBI raid, MSR has announced Armstrong as the driver of the #66 for 2025, replacing Malukas, who replaced Blomqvist, who replaced Lundqvist, to partner Rosenqvist.

On the flipside, I guess that means that Linus is one and done in Indycar - or you know anything I don't @Cheeveer ?

[Cheeveer]

In the midst of the FBI raid, MSR has announced Armstrong as the driver of the #66 for 2025, replacing Malukas, who replaced Blomqvist, who replaced Lundqvist, to partner Rosenqvist.

On the flipside, I guess that means that Linus is one and done in Indycar - or you know anything I don't @Cheeveer ?

In terms of Ganassi Racing, I think so, yes.

[John]

In the midst of the FBI raid, MSR has announced Armstrong as the driver of the #66 for 2025, replacing Malukas, who replaced Blomqvist, who replaced Lundqvist, to partner Rosenqvist.

On the flipside, I guess that means that Linus is one and done in Indycar - or you know anything I don't @Cheeveer ?

In terms of Ganassi Racing, I think so, yes.

Can’t really see him ending up anywhere for next season- the 66 was the only one on the rumour mill.

[MonteCristo]

Ed Carpenter Racing has informed Rinus VeeKay it will end their relationship after five seasons and replace the rapid Dutchman with a new driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet in 2025.

https://racer.com/2024/09/20/veekay-dep ... er-racing/

His future?

Showed potential at times in the now distant past. But inconsistent.

[John]

Sacking Veekay this late is shady at best. I don't think he'll ever be a champion but at the same time he's been very consistent in poor machinery and deserves a better ride. Obviously that's not available - RLL perhaps but with their speed on the ovals I doubt it's super interesting. I'm afraid Veekay may be out of the series as well and replaced by Robb or deFranscesco or some other ride buyer (ECR needs cash it seems).

[Cheeveer]

In the midst of the FBI raid, MSR has announced Armstrong as the driver of the #66 for 2025, replacing Malukas, who replaced Blomqvist, who replaced Lundqvist, to partner Rosenqvist.

On the flipside, I guess that means that Linus is one and done in Indycar - or you know anything I don't @Cheeveer ?

In terms of Ganassi Racing, I think so, yes.

Can’t really see him ending up anywhere for next season- the 66 was the only one on the rumour mill.

Only hope I see is that CGR has realised that Simpson is hopeless, and they go for Linus instead. But in Linus own words: "Simpson will be in Indycar for a very long time".

[John]

In the midst of the FBI raid, MSR has announced Armstrong as the driver of the #66 for 2025, replacing Malukas, who replaced Blomqvist, who replaced Lundqvist, to partner Rosenqvist.

On the flipside, I guess that means that Linus is one and done in Indycar - or you know anything I don't @Cheeveer ?

In terms of Ganassi Racing, I think so, yes.

Can’t really see him ending up anywhere for next season- the 66 was the only one on the rumour mill.

Only hope I see is that CGR has realised that Simpson is hopeless, and they go for Linus instead. But in Linus own words: "Simpson will be in Indycar for a very long time".

Yeah and Pruett said Simpson is all but confirmed.

[MonteCristo]

Loges testing with Shank.

https://racer.com/2024/09/23/sargeant-t ... yer-shank/

All hail Rossi 2.0!

[John]

https://racer.com/2024/09/24/food-magna ... er-racing/

ECR gets massive investment, days after they let Veekay go for not having sponsorship. Shady indeed.

[Everso Biggyballies]

All hail Rossi 2.0!

Rossi 1 had his Birthday today so Happy Birthday. He got nice present though, from Ed Carpenter.

Rossi, Rasmussen To Drive Full Season for ECR in 2025

As was I think thought likely he has been confirmed at ECR.
Whilst talking ECR they also confirmed Christian Rasmussen. Both in as full-time drivers in the 2025 season.

Rossi will drive the No. 20 Chevrolet, with 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Rasmussen – who just finished his rookie season with ECR – elevated to full-time status in the No. 21 Chevrolet. Both drivers signed multiyear deals.

Rossi comes to ECR after spending the last two seasons at Arrow McLaren. He replaces Rinus VeeKay, who drove for ECR since his rookie season in 2020.

Rossi will drive the No. 20 Chevrolet, with 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Rasmussen – who just finished his rookie season with ECR – elevated to full-time status in the No. 21 Chevrolet. Both drivers signed multiyear deals.

Rasmussen’s (performance in his rookie season earned him the opportunity to continue with ECR in a full-time role. Rasmussen joined ECR in 2024 after winning three championships in four years, including the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone title. In his debut Indianapolis 500, he drove from 24th to 12th and was the highest-finishing rookie in the field.

While Carpenter was scheduled to drive the No. 20 in the final three oval races of 2024, he provided the seat to Rasmussen to continue his development. Though Rasmussen had not driven a previous lap at the Milwaukee Mile, he finished just outside of the Top 10. At the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, Rasmussen drove from 25th to 14th and secured a Leader’s Circle position for the No. 20.

Team owner Ed Carpenter will round out the team’s three-car lineup for the Indianapolis 500.


Full story https://www.indycar.com/news/2024/09/09 ... 025-lineup

[MonteCristo]

I wonder how much Rossi is getting with Special Ed. He's been underwhelming. Not like Harvey outside of Shank levels of terribad, but absolutely meh.

[John]

What