IndyCar CEO “concerned about our whole ecosystem” but believes teams are “resilient”

What they say

I think we’re concerned about our whole ecosystem. [On Friday] we had a call with all of our team owners. Everybody is taking stock in the situation. Everybody will sort and grind through it. I didn’t hear anybody thinking they weren’t going to be in business.

We will be in very regular touch with them. I think if there’s anything about IndyCar teams, it’s they’ve shown their resilience. They know how to manage. They care about their people. Right now I think even more than thinking about their businesses, they’re thinking about their employees, keeping them safe, keeping them employed.

We have real admiration for the team owners. I’m sure they’ll get through it.

Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

The Automobile Club de Monaco, promoter of the Monaco Grand Prix, announced it is "closing its doors to members and the general public", but "the Grands Prix de Monaco Historique and Formula 1 are currently expected to take place as originally planned." #F1 #MonacoGP #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/vzvJk1gzKx

— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) March 17, 2020

Not the first to say it but… if a whole bunch of Motorsport engineers are about to be pent-up inside for a little while, how can we help in this fight against coronavirus / help our communities? Macron says this is a war – so how do we join the fight?

— Gavin Ward 🇨🇦 (@GDubRacer) March 17, 2020

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• Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory

Links

More motor racing links of interest:

The Agnelli Family and its Companies respond to the Covid-19 Emergency (Ferrari)

"The Agnelli Family has made a €10 million donation to the Italian Civil Protection Department, as it manages the emergency at national level; and to Specchio dei Tempi /La Stampa (a social assistance organization which operates in the Region of Piedmont), to respond to the local health and social needs in the city of Turin and Piedmont."

Volpe replaces Carcamo as Nissan motorsport boss (e-racing365)

"Tommaso Volpe has been appointed Nissan’s new global motorsports director, replacing Michael Carcamo as the man in charge of the company’s Formula E program among other responsibilities."

Motorsport UK Covid-19 Update (Motorsport UK)

"It is with regret that Motorsport UK is suspending all organising permits and Certificates of Exemption until at least 30th April 2020. This suspension follows the latest guidance issued by HM UK Government in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. This position will be constantly reviewed given prevailing information."

Igor Fraga joins the Red Bull Junior Team (Red Bull)

"Fresh from his superb TRS victory in New Zealand, Igor Fraga is joining the Red Bull Junior Team for 2020. The 21-year-old Brazilian will contest the FIA F3 series with Charouz Racing System."

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Comment of the day

Why did Mercedes decide not to continue pressing the FIA to reveal details of its investigation into Ferrari’s power unit?

Of course money talks and in a major motor sales recession even before these immensely economically damaging responses to the Covid-19 virus, the problem for the car manufacturers is only going to get worse. So of course money talks between those manufacturers who have a partnership to develop the ‘next big thing’ in cars, bigger even than electric or hydrogen engines.

Only speculation, but I wonder if Elkann gave Mercedes the full story of the FIA statement while continuing the partnership in autonomous driving. After all there is a need for trust and transparency between the partnership of Fiat Mercedes and BMW.

If Mercedes has got the full story on a confidential basis it would make sense that they no longer need to pursue the issue and it’s dog eat dog in Formula One as we are all well know. I’m alright Jack I’ll pull up the ladder. Does anybody think Red Bull, Renault, Williams would not have done the same in the same circumstances.

Not nice but then Formula One politics is not nice and never will be and never can be. Just look at the nasty politics in any sporting club even when money is not involved.
Witan

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On this day in F1

• Born today in 1982: Timo Glock