IndyCar

Foyt has confirmed Kanaan will join them from Ganassi next year. Not a great shock to see Ganassi let him go – he had a poor season, I think his best result was in Texas but what sticks in the mind was the huge crash he caused there. That and him spinning before the race began at Gateway.

It’s an all-Canadian line-up for Schmidt Peterson next year as Robert Wickens will start his first full season of IndyCar alongside James Hinchcliffe. Wickens is leaving Mercedes’ DTM squad, which will pull out of that championship at the end of 2018:

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports announced today its lineup for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Oakville, Ontario native James Hinchcliffe has renewed his contract with the Indianapolis-based team in a multi-year extension, and the 2011 IndyCar Rookie of the Year’s teammate will be countryman and friend Robert Wickens, a native of Guelph. The duo marks the first all-Canadian lineup in North American open-wheel racing since 2004 (Champ Car; Forsythe Racing: Paul Tracy, Patrick Carpentier).

“Not only am I really excited to be able to say I’ll be back with SPM for next year and beyond, but I am also really looking forward to being teammates with one of my oldest friends,” the 30-year-old Hinchcliffe commented. “Robbie and I grew up racing against one another, eventually took different paths, me staying in North America in open-wheel cars and him going off to Europe in sports cars, but it’s pretty neat that we both ended up here and we get to live our dream of being professional racing drivers, together on the same team. I think 2018 is going to be a great year for the SPM organization, from having Robbie here to the team’s new partnership with Honda and the 2018 aero kit; I just can’t wait to get back on track and bring some good results home for the Arrow Electronics crew.”

The Season 23 Dancing with the Stars runner-up has thus far captured five wins (St. Pete, Sao Paulo, Iowa 2013; New Orleans 2015; Long Beach 2017), 14 podium finishes and one pole position (Indianapolis 500, 2016) in his six full seasons of IndyCar competition. Hinchcliffe has led 691 laps to date.

With two Formula Championships under his belt (Formula BMW USA, 2006; Formula Renault 3.5, 2011) as well as a season as a Formula One test driver (Marussia Virgin Racing), Wickens will make his return to open-wheel racing following six seasons of competing in Europe for Mercedes Benz in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). During his time in sports cars, the 28-year-old clinched six wins, five pole positions and 15 podium finishes.

“This is an entirely new chapter to add to my racing career, and I am really excited for this opportunity that Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has given me,” Wickens noted. “I think everyone knows the story by now that James and I grew up racing against one another in go karts, and to make it to the largest open-wheel racing series in North America together as teammates, it’s crazy to think about. I am very thankful for the six years I had with everyone at Mercedes and DTM; those are memories I will cherish forever. I can’t wait to truly see what the Verizon IndyCar Series is all about!”

“We’re all very pleased to have Robert on board, and not just because he’s another Canadian,” added SPM co-owner and fellow Canadian, Ric Peterson. “He’s obviously someone who has been on our radar for some time now, and we’re excited about this new chapter in the SPM organization. We’ve been building a lot of momentum within the team and hope this latest addition will be a great next step as we move forward. I’m also really proud that we’ll be able to represent ‘Team Canada’ and be able to showcase two great Canadian athletes.”

#TeamCanada will be available to media tomorrow, October 19 at Goodwood Kartways (5200 Concession 2 Road, Whitchurch-Stouffville) from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a media vs. drivers karting race immediately following. (Please RSVP your attendance to SPM Press Officer Veronica Knowlton.) A free, public meet and greet with the IndyCar drivers will then take place from 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

You can keep up with the latest news from SPM and its 2018 lineup via Twitter/Facebook/Instagram at @SPMindycar, @Hinchtown and @RobertWickens.

SPM Announces 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series Driver Lineup

Having dropped one British driver Ganassi has picked up another: UAE-born Ed Jones, whose best result this year was third at the Indianapolis 500:

Chip Ganassi Racing Signs Ed Jones for its Verizon IndyCar Series Program

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today that 22-year-old British driver Ed Jones has joined the team’s Verizon IndyCar Series program in the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda beginning in 2018, teaming up with four-time INDYCAR Champion, Indianapolis 500 Winner and 41-time race winner Scott Dixon.

The 2017 INDYCAR Rookie of the Year scored a best finish of third at the Indianapolis 500 this season after taking the Indy Lights Championship in 2016 on the strength of two wins and nine podium finishes.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

About Ed Jones: In 2016 Jones captured the Indy Lights title and the Mazda scholarship with two wins, eight podium finishes and eight pole positions. In 2015, he made the move across the Atlantic with Carlin Racing and into Indy Lights. Jones served notice of his title aspirations right out of the box, earning the first three race victories of the season – the first rookie driver to do so. He went on to finish third in the title chases. Prior to that, Jones earned several karting titles in his native Dubai before making his race car debut in the 2011 European Intersteps Championship. In 2013, Jones became the youngest European F3 Open Champion in history with six wins, 10 podium finishes and four pole positions.

CGR QUOTEBOARD:

Ed Jones, Driver, No. 10 NTT DATA Honda: “This is truly an honor to have the opportunity to drive for Chip, his organization and to represent NTT DATA. Chip runs one of the biggest and best motor racing teams in the world, and equally as important, is a proven winner across each series he competes in from Le Mans to Indianapolis and beyond. I want to get up to speed quickly and learn as much as I can. Scott is a legend in the sport, and to get the chance to team with him is an amazing opportunity. I think I’m joining the team at a perfect time when the playing field is being reset with common aero kits, and everyone is adjusting to a new formula. I’m really looking forward to getting in the car and getting underway with our 2018 campaign.”
Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing: “We’ve been following Ed’s career for quite some time now and are pleased we are able to add him to strengthen our Indy car lineup. He has a year of Indy car racing under his belt now and is the type of young talent that we were looking for. We can’t wait to get him on the race track.”

Press release now from Carlin. Chilton’s team mate will be fellow Ganassi refugee Charlie Kimball:

Carlin is proud to announce their move into the Verizon IndyCar Series in a full-time capacity for the 2018 season. Joining the first season INDYCAR effort at Carlin will be drivers Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball along with primary partners, international insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, Gallagher and global healthcare company, Novo Nordisk. Both Chilton and Kimball drove for the championship winning team earlier in their racing careers. The Carlin entries will be powered by the Chevrolet twin turbocharged direct injected V6 engine.

“We’re delighted to finally be able to announce our entry into the Verizon IndyCar Series, the result of a long-term ambition of the team,” Team Principal Trevor Carlin said about the announcement. “To be joined on that journey in our debut season by brands such as Gallagher and Novo Nordisk and with drivers we already have a race winning history with in Max and Charlie, is beyond what we could have expected. By no means do we underestimate the challenge and competition that lies ahead, but I have great faith in the young and passionate team that our Team Manager Colin [Hale] and I have put together.”

Chilton will return for his third season in the Verizon IndyCar Series with partner Gallagher. Chilton and Gallagher made their INDYCAR debut together in 2016 and have since recorded 33 starts, eight top-10 finishes, 66 laps led, and an impressive fourth-place finish at the 2017 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500.

“We are proud to partner with Carlin in the Verizon IndyCar Series for 2018 and look forward to the thrilling prospect of driver Max Chilton winning with our Gallagher brand prominently featured on his Chevrolet. Millions of fans around the world enjoy this sport, as do our clients and employees. It is our intent to leverage this sponsorship to showcase Gallagher’s extensive brokerage services and risk management expertise and to celebrate the values of innovation and collaboration our brokers and sales consultants deploy in creating solutions for their clients around the globe,” said Christopher E. Mead, Chief Marketing Officer for Gallagher.

Kimball, who will be returning for his eighth season in the Verizon IndyCar Series, will team with Chilton in Carlin’s two-car effort. Joining him for their 10th year of partnership will be longtime sponsor Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk joined Kimball’s career in Indy Lights in 2009 and has been with the American driver throughout his INDYCAR career. The duo has recorded 117 starts, one win, one pole, 13 top-five finishes, and 162 laps led in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“As we begin the 10th year of our partnership with Charlie Kimball, we are excited to continue the legacy of the Race with Insulin program to inspire people with diabetes to pursue their dreams and support them in their disease management journey,” said David Moore, senior vice president, Commercial, Novo Nordisk. “We are encouraged by our new relationship with Carlin, who has a proven reputation for winning in a variety of motorsports series. We are looking forward to being part of a strong season in 2018 for Charlie, Race with Insulin and for the entire Carlin family.”

Chilton’s partnership with Carlin renews a successful relationship that goes back throughout the British racer’s career. Chilton won races with Carlin in Formula 3 and Formula 2 (formerly GP2 Series) before racing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship from 2013 – 2014. In 2015 Chilton explored racing in the U.S for the first time with a season of Indy Lights with Carlin, along with a run with a manufacturer LMP1 program at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Today’s announcement brings so much joy to everyone involved in making this a reality. Carlin being the first British team to enter the Verizon IndyCar Series in the modern era is a result of a lot of hard work and ambition following the team’s move into American racing a few years ago,” Chilton said speaking about the Carlin announcement. “I am super excited for 2018 as Carlin is like family to me. Having raced with them on and off since 2009 and having had my most competitive years with the team, I know we can work toward great things in INDYCAR. The Verizon IndyCar Series is exceptionally competitive, but the introduction of the new aero package will help level the playing field slightly. I know that finding the maximum in a spec series like this is where Carlin really excels. I want to say a massive thank you to Gallagher for continuing their support of me in INDYCAR. To have the opportunity to represent the more than 26,000 employees of Gallagher and a brand that focuses so heavily on teamwork and innovation has even greater relevance this year. I’m very thankful to be part of this package for 2018.”

Kimball returns to Carlin after a 10-year period, following race winning success with the team in British F3 and later in the Carlin-run Victory Engineering Team in the World Series by Renault. It was in the latter series that Kimball’s season with the British team was cut short when the California native was suddenly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007.

“I’m so excited to join Carlin for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. They were a big part of launching my career when I raced in Europe and we had a lot of success together back in 2005 in the British Formula Three Championship,” said Kimball on returning to Carlin. “It seems like everything fell into place at the right time to have this opportunity to work with Trevor and the whole Carlin team again. I’ve already got two years of experience working with Max as a teammate and I think our strengths and weaknesses will really complement each other as we begin this new adventure. The Verizon IndyCar Series is not just gaining a new race team, which is of course exciting, but really gaining a capable and competitive group of people that make up this team. Bringing Novo Nordisk into the fold, for our 10th consecutive year together, means a lot to me personally. They’re more than a sponsor—Novo Nordisk is a true partner, and I can’t thank them enough for their support.”

About Carlin

Carlin has been a fixture in the motorsports industry for nearly 20 years and has been a major factor in developing some of today’s most accomplished drivers in the world. The team currently competes in the Verizon IndyCar Series, FIA Formula 2 Championship, Indy Lights Series, FIA Formula Three European Championship, EuroFormula Open, and the BRDC British F3 Championship. Overall Carlin has 24 championship titles and more than 380 victories, including wins in series as diverse as Formula 3, GP2 Series, Porsche Supercup and championship victories in Formula 4, FIA Formula 3, Indy Lights and Formula 3.5 World Series by Renault. Carlin’s UK race shop facility is located in Farnham, Surrey along with a dedicated U.S. race shop facility located in Delray Beach, Florida that serves as a base for the team’s INDYCAR and Indy Lights programs. For more information on Carlin, please visit http://www.carlin.co.uk.

About Gallagher

Gallagher is an international insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 34 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants

About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious chronic conditions: hemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. With U.S. headquarters in Plainsboro, N.J., Novo Nordisk Inc. has nearly 5,000 employees in the United States. For more information, visit novonordisk.us or follow us on Twitter: @novonordiskus

A new name on the grid this year has just been announced: Jordan King will do the non-oval races for Ed Carpenter. As in recent years Carpenter himself will do the oval rounds:

Press release:

Ed Carpenter Racing completed the lineup of the team’s No. 20 Chevrolet today with the addition of British driver Jordan King. The native of Warwickshire, England will compete in the 11 road and street course events for Ed Carpenter Racing in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet. The only owner/driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series, Ed Carpenter, will continue to pilot the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet at all oval races.

King’s transition to Indy car racing is the next step in a young career which has seen him ascend the European motorsport ranks. The Verizon IndyCar Series competes primarily in the United States, with only one international event over the course of a 17 race season. Though the 23-year-old has not yet competed in a US-based racing series, he joins the Indy car field with numerous accolades, including the FIA Institute’s 2015 Driver of the Year and the 2013 British Formula 3 championship.

“I am beyond excited to get started in the Verizon IndyCar Series,” stated King. “After winning at Silverstone in 2016 and being able to drive in F1 practice, 2017 was not what I was hoping for. Going into the new season, I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity with ECR to work towards our collective goals. I believe that together, both of us have the capability to do well!”

After beginning in karts in 2005, King progressed to single-seaters in 2010. After two years in Formula Renault, King claimed the 2013 British Formula 3 championship in his debut season with three wins and eight podium finishes. He has spent the last three seasons honing his craft in Formula 2, previously known as GP2. While serving as a development driver for Manor F1 in 2015 and 2016, he participated in several tests and drove in practice sessions at the 2016 United States Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Most recently, King competed for MP Motorsport in the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship, collecting Top 10 finishes in over half of the races.

“We are very excited to welcome Jordan to the ECR family and to have him in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet for the 2018 road and street course races,” proclaimed team owner Ed Carpenter. “I first met Jordan at Sonoma Raceway in 2016 as he was exploring opportunities in INDYCAR. He is a very motivated, intelligent and hungry driver, which is exactly what we are looking for at ECR. Jordan has had a lot of success and experience in Europe and I can’t wait to see what he is capable of with ECR in the Verizon IndyCar Series.”

Since 2014, the No. 20 has been split between Carpenter on the ovals a second driver at the remaining events. Spencer Pigot became the first driver to retain the No. 20’s road and street course seat for a second season when he drove the car in both 2016 and 2017. The 24-year-old from Orlando, Fla. was promoted to the full-time driver of ECR’s No. 21 entry for the 2018 season, providing King with the opportunity to become the road and street course driver for the No. 20. Indianapolis native Carpenter, 36, will remain the oval driver of the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet in his 16th year of Indy car competition.

King, who will be a true Indy car rookie, is excited for the opportunity to partner with Carpenter, one of the most veteran drivers in the field. “Sharing the No. 20 seat with Ed gives me a great opportunity to learn from him and the team, while racing at the road and street courses will let me put into practice what I have learnt,” said King.

King is represented by UK-based MB Partners. CEO Mark Blundell commented, “The focus for Jordan was to give him a platform to build from in Indy car and the opportunity with Ed and ECR is the perfect fit. Ed will be a great mentor.” Blundell continued, “Having a full road and street course program alongside some oval testing will allow Jordan to show his racecraft and ability in some of the most competitive open wheel racing in the world today.”

Though the 2017 season ended in mid-September, Ed Carpenter Racing has been involved in an extensive off-season testing program to prepare for 2018’s universal aero kit. King is currently scheduled to climb into the No. 20 on February 5 at Sonoma Raceway, ECR’s first test of the new year. The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season will open March 11 in the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

After ascending the European motorsport ranks, Jordan King comes to Ed Carpenter Racing prepared for the next step in his career – Indy car racing. The 23-year-old joins the Verizon IndyCar Series field with numerous accolades, including the FIA Institute’s 2015 Driver of the Year and the 2013 British Formula 3 championship.

King will compete in a US-based racing series for the first time as he joins ECR in 2018 as driver of the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet for the road and street course events. Though he will be competing as a true Verizon IndyCar Series rookie, he brings with him years of experience from some of the most famous grand prix circuits in the world.

Good to see another new full-time entrant: Harding will run Gabby Chaves –

http://www.indycar.com/News/2018/01/01-12-Harding-Racing-fulltime-in-2018

While at Dale Coyne, Bourdais’ car will have a very different look at half of this year’s races:

And 'Welcome' to @SealMasterNet as the co-primary sponsor of the #18 car of @BourdaisOnTrack. What do you all think of the new look on the 18 car? #IndyCar #DCRVS @vsindycar pic.twitter.com/vVLHUrSWNX

— Dale Coyne Racing (@DaleCoyneRacing) February 5, 2018