If you live in the Midwest, you know the sun becomes a rumor by mid-December. It goes without saying that you also crave warm weather and to see Indy cars on a racetrack. Thus, it was my thrill to be part of the live stream commentary for the Phoenix open test on Feb. 9-10 at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
After two days of watching four three-hours test sessions, here are eight things I learned:
1. Pietro Fittipaldi will be a rookie to watch: The maximum banking at Phoenix is 11 degrees, but the learning curve didn’t seem so steep for the newcomer with the famous name. Pietro’s grandfather Emerson is a racing legend and two-time Indy 500 winner, while his mother’s cousin Christian was a runner-up in his lone Indy 500. Pietro’s maternal aunt is married to INDYCAR steward Max Papis. Throw in the poise the youngster showed in the sessions – he was 15th quickest for the weekend – and a veteran teammate in Sebastian Bourdais from which to learn, and Pietro’s part-time schedule with Dale Coyne Racing may someday land him a full-time ride.
2. Marco Andretti looks ready to put 2017 behind him: Off the track, 2017 was a memorable year for Marco, who was married shortly after the season’s conclusion. “Not a huge change,” he told me during a chat in Phoenix, “we’ve been together for years.”
On the track, change is what Andretti will be seeking. After a season with just one top-five finish, Marco will look to capitalize on the aero kit change that will be uniform for all drivers in the series. The overwhelming sentiment was that the 2018 car is a lot more “free driving” than its predecessor, creating a sensation that more than a few drivers seemed to think benefitted Marco’s preferred setup. Armed with a new No. 98 on the sidepod and the familiarity of Bryan Herta on his radio, Marco looked poised to right his ship in 2018.
3. Tony Kannan may not be Joe Namath: I heard it, too, when TK signed with AJ Foyt Racing. The whispers that one of the sport’s best of his generation was going to spend the twilight of his career with a team that has struggled to find results. A weekend test does not a season make, but Kanaan showed why he has become a fan favorite. He was fast from the get-go and looked comfortable in his new role with his new team.
The night before the test, Kanaan wore his ABC Supply firesuit behind the “curtain of distraction” at the Arizona State University men’s basketball game. At the test, combined with the continued growth of team president Larry Foyt, Kanaan showed that he may well still be a distraction for those trying to pass him toward the front of the field.
4. Ed Jones may get his first win in 2018: He was the dark-horse winner to land the coveted No. 10 Honda seat for Chip Ganassi Racing, but Jones does not slide in without credentials. He scored five top-10s in his rookie campaign, including his massively impressive third-place finish in his first Indianapolis 500. Jones looked comfortable and familiar with his new team. Combine that with Ganassi downsizing to a two-car effort, and the resources should be vast to make his transition a fruitful one.
5. Carlin has some cool storylines: Speaking of the two cars cut from the 2017 Ganassi lineup, Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball landed with Verizon IndyCar Series newcomer Carlin. Carlin is no stranger to racing; both drivers ran for the team earlier in their European careers and Chilton flew the Carlin colors when the team joined Indy Lights as part of the Mazda Road to Indy.
I love the team’s humility in taking the conservative approach. Chilton will pilot No. 59 Gallagher Chevrolet because his parents are both 59 years old, both born in 1959 and Chilton recently bought his wife a 1959 Mercedes. For what it’s worth, Kimball moves to the No. 23 Tresiba Chevrolet from his familiar No. 83. He’s never bought me anything, but my first car was an ‘83 Mitsubishi Tredia. So, there’s that.
6. It’s weird to not say, “Hello, Helio”: Three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will be a major force in May during his pursuit of win No. 4. Now full time with Roger Penske’s sports car team, it will admittedly take some adjusting to not seeing the No. 3 car on pit lane at all INDYCAR events. We’ll see Helio to start the season – he’ll be grand marshal of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – and his team will provide plenty of thrills with former series champions Will Power, Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden. Yet, Helio was always a pleasure to see smiling and racing, week in and week out.
7. The new cars look fantastic: Open disclaimer: I am not a car expert. I’ve never claimed to be. I know who drives what car, what cars have won important races, the history of automotive innovation within racing, and how to describe their breathtaking moves while at maximum speed. Yet, when it comes to basic maintenance of my own vehicle, I know little. I do know enough to know this: The 2018 car with its universal aero kit looks sleek, sexy and fast. To the eye, it appears smaller than last year’s car, notably due to the absence of the rear wheel protectors. It looked great on the track. I think fans will enjoy it.
8. You never know what or who a racetrack will bring you: I was standing close to AJ Foyt Racing’s pit box on Saturday evening when I was alerted to a nearby guest. World War II fighter pilot, two-time Indy 500 pace car driver and the first man in flight to break the sound barrier. He was two days shy of his 95th birthday, but there before me sat Gen. Chuck Yeager, an American hero sitting next to an American racing legend, A.J. Foyt.
Some things you just sit and soak in. You realize, no matter what else took place, you’re witnessing something that made your trip forever memorable. Granted, the weather helped.