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Revision as of 13:41, 7 March 2018

2018 IndyCar season
Verizon IndyCar Series
File:2015 Verizon IndyCar Series logo.png
Season
Races17
Start dateMarch 11
End dateSeptember 16
Awards
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series is the 23rd season of the Verizon IndyCar Series and the 97th official championship season of American open wheel racing. The premier event will be the 102nd Indianapolis 500, with Takuma Sato entering as the defending Indianapolis 500 winner. Josef Newgarden will enter the season as the defending drivers' champion.

Series news

  • On October 20, 2017 it was announced that American cellular network giant Verizon will discontinue the IndyCar Series title sponsor after the 2018 season. The Verizon-Team Penske partnership will however continue beyond 2018.[1]
  • American braking company PFC will increase their IndyCar Series involvement by supplying the brake calipers from 2018 season onwards.[2]
  • Kyle Novak was confirmed as Race Director on January 5, replacing Brian Barnhart, who left to become president of Harding Racing. The three-man stewarding panel of Dan Davis, Arie Luyendyk, and Max Papis, introduced when Barnhart was first named Race Director, will remain intact.[3]

Technical changes

  • All IndyCar Series machines will feature an all-new universal bodywork, inspired by CART's 1990s and 2000s bodywork, but still keep the Dallara DW12 chassis base. For the first time since the 1996 IRL and 2007 Champ Car seasons respectively, cars will have a roll hoop without an airbox.[4][5]
  • All IndyCar Series entrants will begin utilizing F1-style LCD steering wheel display dashes, a new Cosworth CCW Mk2 steering wheel with a configurable display unit, and new electronic components.[6] The current Cosworth-Pi Research Sigma Wheel Display dash had been used since the 2000 season will be retired permanently, but several teams will opt to keep the old Cosworth Sigma Wheel Display dash for one more season due to cost reasons.
  • Due to the reduced amount of downforce produced by the 2018 spec aerokits, Firestone introduced new rain tires to improve grip in wet conditions in road/street races.[7]
  • In the next step to increase driver safety through cockpit protection, IndyCar announced that Scott Dixon would test a windscreen, a possible alternative to the 'halo' device used by Formula One, at ISM Raceway on February 8.[8]

Entries

The following teams and drivers are confirmed to compete in the 2018 IndyCar Series season. All teams use a spec Dallara DW12 chassis and Firestone tires.

Team Engine No. Driver(s) Round(s)
A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 4 Brazil Matheus Leist[9]  R  All
14 Brazil Tony Kanaan[10] All
Andretti Autosport Honda[11] 25 United Kingdom Stefan Wilson[12]  R [N 1] 6
26 United States Zach Veach[13]  R  All
27 United States Alexander Rossi[14] All
28 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay[15] All
29 Colombia Carlos Muñoz[16] 6
Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian 98 United States Marco Andretti[14] All
Carlin Chevrolet 23 United States Charlie Kimball[17] All
59 United Kingdom Max Chilton[17] All
Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 9 New Zealand Scott Dixon[18] All
10 United Arab Emirates Ed Jones[19] All
Dale Coyne Racing Honda 19 Canada Zachary Claman DeMelo[20]  R  1, 3–4, 7–8, 10–12, 14–15
Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi[20]  R  2, 5–6, 9, 13, 16–17
63 United Kingdom Pippa Mann[21] 6
Dale Coyne Racing with Thom Burns Racing 17 United States Conor Daly[22] 6
Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan 18 France Sébastien Bourdais[23] All
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet[24] 24 United States Sage Karam[25] 6
TBA TBA[26] 6
Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 20 United Kingdom Jordan King[27]  R  1, 3–5, 7–8, 10, 12–13, 16–17
United States Ed Carpenter 2, 6, 9, 11, 14–15
21 United States Spencer Pigot[28] All
13 United States Danica Patrick[29][30] 6
Harding Racing Chevrolet 88 Colombia Gabby Chaves[31] All
Juncos Racing Chevrolet 32 Austria René Binder[32]  R  1, 4, 12–13
United States Kyle Kaiser[33]  R  2–3, 5–6
Lazier Partners Racing TBA TBA United States Buddy Lazier[34] 6
Michael Shank Racing with Schmidt Peterson[N 2] Honda 60 United Kingdom Jack Harvey[35]  R  1, 3, 6, 13, 16–17
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 15 United States Graham Rahal[36] All
30 Japan Takuma Sato[37] All
TBA TBA[38] 6
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda[39] 5 Canada James Hinchcliffe[40] All
6 Canada Robert Wickens[40]  R  All
7 United Kingdom Jay Howard[41] 6
Team Penske Chevrolet[39] 1 United States Josef Newgarden[42][43] All
3 Brazil Hélio Castroneves[44] 5–6
12 Australia Will Power[42] All
22 France Simon Pagenaud[42] All
R Rookie

Team changes

Chip Ganassi Racing announced that the team will scale down to a two-car team for the first time since 2010, with Scott Dixon remaining at the No. 9 car.[45] CGR announced on October 25, 2017 that 2017 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Ed Jones would drive the No. 10 car in 2018, replacing Tony Kanaan.[46]

Team Penske will downsize to three cars, due to Hélio Castroneves moving to Team Penske's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team from the 2018 season onwards. However, Castroneves will return for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 with Team Penske for a one-off appearance.[47]

Michael Shank Racing will compete in at least six races in the 2018 season with driver Jack Harvey, with a technical partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports[48]

Carlin will enter the series with two full-time Chevrolet-powered entries for the 2018 season, running ex-Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball.[17]

Harding Racing confirmed a full-time schedule with Gabby Chaves after running part-time in 2017.[31] Brian Barnhart was named President of the team on November 29, leaving his post as President of Race Operations and Race Director of IndyCar.[49]

Driver changes

After winning the 2017 Indy Lights championship, Kyle Kaiser will participate in at least four IndyCar events in 2018 with Juncos Racing, including the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Grand Prix.[50][51] On January 5, 2018, Juncos announced Formula V8 3.5 driver René Binder would contest the races in St. Petersburg, Barber, Mid-Ohio, and Toronto.

After competing at Barber for Ed Carpenter Racing as a replacement for J. R. Hildebrand and at the Indianapolis 500 for A. J. Foyt Enterprises in 2017, Zach Veach will make his full-season début with Andretti Autosport, replacing Takuma Sato.[13]

After competing in road and street courses only for Ed Carpenter Racing in 2017, Spencer Pigot will make his full-season début with the team, replacing J. R. Hildebrand in the No. 21 car.[28] Former Formula 2 driver Jordan King will drive the No. 20 on road and street courses.

2017 Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato left Andretti Autosport after only one season with the team, and will return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2018 season.[37]

Stefan Wilson joins Andretti Autosport to return to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time since 2016.

After spending four seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing, Tony Kanaan will switch to A. J. Foyt Enterprises for the 2018 season.[10]

After six seasons in the German Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Robert Wickens will make the switch to IndyCar to drive the No. 6 for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, replacing Mikhail Aleshin. Wickens previously replaced Aleshin in the first practice session at Road America in 2017, but did not get to compete in the race.[40]

On November 16, 2017, A. J. Foyt Enterprises announced that Brazilian Indy Lights driver Matheus Leist would drive the No. 4 car in 2018, replacing Conor Daly. Leist will become the youngest IndyCar Series rookie since Marco Andretti in 2006.

After six seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR, Danica Patrick announced intentions to return to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time since 2011.[52] The 2018 Indianapolis 500 will be the last race of Patrick's professional career.[53] She will run a third entry for Ed Carpenter Racing[29], carrying sponsorship from former long-time partner GoDaddy.[54]

After spending one season with A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Carlos Muñoz rejoins Andretti Autosport for the Indianapolis 500.[16]

On February 6, 2018, 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 champion Pietro Fittipaldi was announced to drive the #19 for Dale Coyne Racing in 7 races, including the 2018 Indianapolis 500. The #19 will be driven by Zachary Claman DeMelo, who partook in the 2017 Indy Lights season with Carlin and the 2017 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, in the other 10 events.

On March 1, 2018 it was confirmed that Nazareth, Pennsylvania native Sage Karam would be returning to race in the 101st Indianapolis 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. This will be the 3rd straight and 4th total Indianapolis 500 between them. The primary sponsor for Karam’s car will be WIX Filters

On March 6, 2018 it was announced Conor Daly would be driving in the 102nd Indianapolis 500. He would be racing for Thom Burns Racing with Air Force as the primary sponsor.

Schedule

Rd. Date Race Name Track City
1 March 11 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg  R  Streets of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida
2 April 7 Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix  O  ISM Raceway Avondale, Arizona
3 April 15 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach  R  Streets of Long Beach Long Beach, California
4 April 22 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama  R  Barber Motorsports Park Leeds, Alabama
5 May 12 IndyCar Grand Prix  R  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Speedway, Indiana
6 May 27 102nd Indianapolis 500 Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil  O  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
7 June 2 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear Corporation  R  Belle Isle Park Detroit, Michigan
8 June 3
9 June 9 DXC Technology 600  O  Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
10 June 24 Kohler Grand Prix  R  Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
11 July 8 Iowa Corn 300  O  Iowa Speedway Newton, Iowa
12 July 15 Honda Indy Toronto  R  Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario
13 July 29 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio  R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
14 August 19 ABC Supply 500  O  Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
15 August 25 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Presented by Valvoline  O  Gateway Motorsports Park Madison, Illinois
16 September 2 Grand Prix of Portland  R  Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon
17 September 16 Grand Prix of Sonoma  R  Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, California
O Oval/Speedway
R Road Course/Street Circuit

Schedule changes and notes

  • On September 26, 2017, Phoenix International Raceway's name was changed to ISM Raceway after a $100 million sponsorship deal with Ingenuity Sun Media, or ISM.
  • Watkins Glen was dropped from the calendar, after only two races since its return in 2016. The round was replaced with a race at Portland International Raceway, after an 11-year absence since Portland's last Champ Car event.
  • The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City was explored as a possible host of a race in August, but the deal was not put together and the race was not put on the calendar.[55]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Stefan Wilson is considered a rookie in the IndyCar Series; however, he will not be a rookie in the 2018 Indianapolis 500 as he participated in the 2016 Indianapolis 500.
  2. ^ Team to get technical support from Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

References

  1. ^ Malsher, David (October 20, 2017). "Verizon to quit as IndyCar title sponsor, remain with Penske". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  2. ^ Malsher, David (October 20, 2017). "How PFC stepped up braking performance for 2018 IndyCar". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  3. ^ "IndyCar Confirms Novak as Race Director". Racer.com. Racer Media and Marketing, Inc. January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  4. ^ Malsher, David (January 12, 2017). "2018 IndyCar aerokit concepts unveiled". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  5. ^ "2018 IndyCar aerokit concepts unveiled". IndyCar.com. IndyCar.com. July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  6. ^ Pruett, Marshall (June 22, 2017). "New electronics coming with 2018 bodywork". Racer.com. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Malsher, David (January 9, 2018). "Firestone to introduce new rain tire for 2018 IndyCar". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "INDYCAR to conduct first on-track test of windscreen on Feb. 8". Indycar.com. February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  9. ^ http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/11/16/matheus-leist-confirmed-for-indycar-graduation-with-foyt/
  10. ^ a b Ayello, Jim (October 5, 2017). "2 of the biggest names in IndyCar team up as Tony Kanaan joins A.J. Foyt Racing". indystar.com. The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  11. ^ Miller, Robin; Pruett, Marshall (August 28, 2017). "Andretti, Rossi staying with Honda". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  12. ^ Ayello, Jim (October 4, 2017). "Stefan Wilson officially joins Andretti Autosport for 2018 Indy 500". indystar.com. The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Malsher, David (September 11, 2017). "Zach Veach signs with Andretti Autosport through 2020". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Smith, Luke (December 6, 2017). "Marco Andretti Confirmed in No. 98 Andretti-Herta IndyCar Entry". motorsports.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  15. ^ Malsher, David (September 18, 2016). "Andretti Autosport re-signs Ryan Hunter-Reay, DHL". Motorsport.com. Sonoma, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  16. ^ a b https://www.andrettiautosport.com/news/carlos-munoz-completes-andretti-autosport-indy-500-lineup
  17. ^ a b c Errington, Tom (December 12, 2017). "Carlin enters IndyCar with two-car team for Kimball, Chilton". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  18. ^ Miller, Robin (July 18, 2017). "MILLER: 2018's most wanted". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  19. ^ "Chip Ganassi Racing Signs Ed Jones for its Verizon IndyCar Series Program". chipganassiracing.com. October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Fittipaldi confirms seven-race deal with Dale Coyne Racing". Motorsport. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  21. ^ "Dale Coyne poised to announce Claman DeMelo, Fittipaldi co-drivers of No. 19 car". IndyStar. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  22. ^ Malsher, David (March 6, 2018). "Daly rejoins Coyne for Indy 500 with Thom Burns Racing and USAF". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  23. ^ Weaver, Matt (June 28, 2017). "Dale Coyne, Sébastien Bourdais already planning 2018 championship run". Autoweek. Crain Communications. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  24. ^ WIX Filters [@WIXFilters] (1 March 2018). "We're excited to support @DRRIndyCar driver, @SageKaram at the 102nd #Indy500! The young racer will drive the No. 24 DRR @TeamChevy Dallara. Looking forward to a great year. #WIXIndy 🔥" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Malsher, David (February 28, 2018). "Karam confirmed at Dreyer & Reinbold for Indy 500". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  26. ^ Martin, Bruce. "Speculation grows on who Patrick will drive for at 2018 Indy 500".
  27. ^ Smith, Luke (January 4, 2018). ""Jordan King joins Ed Carpenter Racing for part-season IndyCar campaign"". Crash.net. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  28. ^ a b Rentz, Brie (September 13, 2017). "Ed Carpenter Racing elevates Spencer Pigot to full-time for 2018 IndyCar season". edcarpenterracing.com. Ed Carpenter Racing. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  29. ^ a b "Danica Patrick to race final Indy 500 with Ed Carpenter Racing". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  30. ^ https://racing.ap.org/article/patrick-shifting-gears-return-indianapolis-500
  31. ^ a b Pruett, Marshall (12 January 2018). "Harding confirms full 2018 IndyCar season with Chaves". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Austrian Rene Binder joins Juncos Racing for partial Verizon IndyCar season". juncosracing.com. January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  33. ^ "KAISER, JUNCOS RACING REVEAL FOUR-RACE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES PLAN FOR 2018". IndyCar.com. October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  34. ^ Lazier, Flinn (June 12, 2017). "Lazier Racing – Across the Bricks, One More Time [Racing Journal]". AutoWerkzTVblog.com. Lazier Partners Racing. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  35. ^ http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/12/12-08-Harvey-Shank-Schmidt-announcement/
  36. ^ Malsher, David (June 29, 2017). "Graham Rahal on why his season has been both brilliant and brutal". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  37. ^ a b Mihai, Marian (September 20, 2017). "2017 Indy 500 Champion Takuma Sato Returns to RLL". rahal.com. Rahal. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  38. ^ "Is the 2018 Indy 500 field already full?". racer.com. RACER. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  39. ^ a b Pruett, Marshall (July 13, 2017). "Penske, SPM to lead 2018 bodykit development". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  40. ^ a b c Malsher, David (October 18, 2017). "Schmidt Peterson confirms Wickens to partner Hinchcliffe in IndyCar". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  41. ^ Ayello, Jim. "Jay Howard tabbed to pilot Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' third entry at Indy 500".
  42. ^ a b c Pruett, Marshall (July 8, 2017). "New chapter likely for Castroneves with Honda DPi". Racer.com. Newton, Iowa: Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  43. ^ http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/11/01/josef-newgarden-to-run-champions-no-1-in-2018/
  44. ^ "Motor racing: Castroneves moves to sports cars, Indy 500 still in plans". reuters.com. Reuters. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  45. ^ Pruett, Marshall (September 20, 2017). "Ganassi confirms IndyCar reduction to two cars". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  46. ^ Pryson, Mike. "Chip Ganassi Racing signs IndyCar Rookie of the Year Ed Jones". Autoweek.com. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  47. ^ "Hélio Castroneves Joins Team Penske's IMSA Lineup". teampenske.com. Team Penske. October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  48. ^ http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/12/12-08-Harvey-Shank-Schmidt-announcement
  49. ^ Miller, Robin (November 29, 2017). "Barnhart Joins Harding Racing". Racer.com. Racer Media and Marketing, Inc. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  50. ^ "Telitz wins Indy Lights race, Kaiser crowned champion". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  51. ^ http://www.juncosracing.com/kyle-kaiser-advances-to-the-2018-verizon-indycar-series-with-juncos-racing/
  52. ^ Long, Dustin (November 17, 2017). "Danica Patrick says this will be last full-time season as a driver". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  53. ^ Pockrass, Bob (November 17, 2017). "Danica Patrick to end racing career at next year's Indy 500". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  54. ^ "APNewsBreak: GoDaddy to sponsor Patrick in 'Danica Double'". Auto Racing. 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  55. ^ Malsher, David (May 8, 2017). "China, Mexico, among four possible new IndyCar races". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
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