Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:
1. If You Missed It: Chip Ganassi conference call
2. Conway to drive road/street courses for Ed Carpenter Racing
3. Luyendyk to test for Coyne team
1. If You Missed It: Chip Ganassi conference call: Earlier today, Target Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the MAVTV 500.
Selected quotes from the call are below.
MODERATOR: Everybody knows by now that yesterday we had some unfortunate news that Dario Franchitti is going to be unable to continue his driving career. We have Chip Ganassi on the line, owner of Target Chip Ganassi Racing. We’ll let what Dario said in his statement yesterday speak for the medical piece of this. Hopefully at some point in the near future we’ll have the opportunity to get Dario on a conference call with everybody when the time is right. With that, I’m going to turn it over to Chip and ask you, what is it going to be like in 2014 to have the No. 10 Target car without Dario in it?
CHIP GANASSI: One thing I want to say. I don’t want anybody to read into comments that Dario is not going to make a full recovery. Medically, he has been told he’ll make a 100 percent recovery. We’ve been told that from day one. It’s not like he has any injuries that he won’t recover from. These are all injuries that are recoverable. I don’t want anybody thinking he’s maimed for life or anything like that. I think it’s unfortunate. He’s been told by his doctors to not race again basically. Obviously, having Dario part of our family for so many years, enjoying so much together, it’s unfortunate. I think we all feel on the team that nobody wants to go out of the sport. They like to leave any sport or any avocation on their own terms. To be told that you can’t continue is pretty disheartening, to say the least. I think we’re all dealing with that initially. I don’t think there’s any reason to read anything more into that. I mean, I think Dario is a professional. He loves the sport. He understands the sport. He wants to stay involved. His involvement, like I said, like you’ve read, will probably continue with the team in some capacity.
I know he’s very interested in the series, where it’s going. Obviously, you know, his name, when you look at it, I hate to say these kind of things when you’re active in a career, I’ve always shied away from saying this, but because he won’t be driving again, I guess, I think it’s safe to say that his name is up there with all the greats, like Foyt, Andretti, Unser. We’ve all seen the statistics. I was reminded yesterday of him winning the Daytona 24 Hours, the Indianapolis 500, the Sebring 12 Hours, all within a year period. These are things that no one has ever done in consecutive races. Again, you look at 31 career wins, tied for eighth all time. Only driver in history to win three titles consecutively. Those are no small feats. We kind of take them for granted sometimes in our team because we’re so focused on next week’s race, you never really turn around and look back at things.
Like we said in the release, I think this is just the turning of a page of sorts and the beginning of a new chapter in his career. I think he’ll make a great ambassador to the sport. I can’t think of anybody who would be better, as somebody that has worldwide recognition and a true interest in the sport of Indy car racing. We want to help him with that. We have a common interest in the sport, in furthering the sport, and we’ll do it together I’m sure.
2. Conway to drive road/street courses for Ed Carpenter Racing: Mike Conway, who has recorded IndyCar Series on the streets of Long Beach and Belle Isle, will drive the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka car for Ed Carpenter Racing in the 12 road and street course events in the 2014 season.
Carpenter, who has won two IndyCar Series oval races, will compete in the six oval races, beginning with the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in May.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Mike Conway to the Ed Carpenter Racing family,” said Carpenter, the only owner/driver in the IndyCar Series. “My partners, (team manager) Tim Broyles and I are committed to building an organization based on culture, sustainability, and performance. We are very proud of the group of people we have assembled and bringing Mike into the fold creates an opportunity for us to show even more value to our partners and strengthen our team by competing for victories at every single event in the 2014 IndyCar Series.”
Carpenter, who qualified on the pole for the Indianapolis 500 in May, recorded five top-10 finishes (high of second at Auto Club Speedway in the Oct. 19 finale) at the six ovals this season. He had a best finish of 13th (Toronto1) and best qualifying effort of 14th (Sao Paulo) on road/street circuits. The team has scheduled its first preseason test for Dec. 18 at Sebring International Raceway.
“Ed has invested his heart and soul in his organization and is willing to put the team, his employees, and his partners first,” said Eric Timmerman, CEO of Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka. “His commitment to excellence and willingness to invest in the team positions the entire organization, ourselves and other partners included, for long-term success.”
Conway, 30, of England, won the first race at Belle Isle in the IndyCar Series’ inaugural doubleheader and started from the pole and finished third in the second race in a Dale Coyne Racing car. He recorded consecutive seventh-place finishes in the doubleheader races in Toronto, scored a top 10 in the second of the Houston doubleheader and also competed at Long Beach in a Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing car.
Overall, Conway has made 60 IndyCar Series starts, and made his debut in 2009 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
“It is great news to be back in IndyCar next year for all the road and street courses,” said Conway, who also has competed this year in the FIA World Endurance Challenge. “I had a lot of fun this year in the select races that I could do and I hope that I can continue my success with Ed Carpenter Racing next year.”
3. Luyendyk to test for Coyne team: Arie Luyendyk Jr. will return to the wheel of an IndyCar Series car with Dale Coyne Racing during a private test on Nov. 18 at Sebring International Raceway.
“This is a huge opportunity and I am very grateful Dale Coyne Racing has given me this test,” Luyendyk said. “I think it’s very important that the IndyCar community, as well as the fans, know I am 100 percent committed to returning to the IndyCar Series. My goal for the test is to get acquainted with the DW12 chassis and, hopefully, surprise some people with my pace. I’m sure I will be smiling ear-to-ear in the car on Monday, and I can’t wait to see how the IndyCar performs.”
Luyendyk, the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Arie Luyendyk, will drive an open-wheel car for the first time since 2010.
The 32-year-old has competed in various racing series from Formula Ford to USF2000 and the A1GP. From 2003 to 2006, Luyendyk was voted “Most Popular Driver” in Indy Lights while finishing second, third and fourth in the point’s Championship. He also qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 in 2006.
