The new F1 season continues apace in Saudi Arabia. The NASCAR Cup Series hits the Phoenix Raceway for the ‘Shriners Children’s 500’. If that’s still not enough, and you’re hungry for more motorsport action, then it’s worth checking out IndyCar. The brand spanking new 2024 NTT IndyCar Series bursts into life in Florida with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this Sunday.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Future Is Bright for IndyCar
Not excited about the 2024 IndyCar Series? You will be after listening to Mark Miles (Penske Entertainment, President & CEO) and Jay Frye (IndyCar President). “This is an era of tangible growth and tremendous opportunity for the NTT IndyCar SERIES. Rising attendance and viewership, combined with incredible fan engagement are all signs of significant momentum. We look forward to continuing this rising tide, on and off the track”, said Miles.
Fyre continued pumping out the positives, ““The last few seasons have been unprecedented in terms of records and milestones. 2024 is expected to be even more competitive and one of the most unique seasons and championships we’ve ever had. We cannot wait to get started in St. Petersburg.”
A Truly Global Sport
Global accessibility remains a top priority for IndyCar. A list of international broadcast and media partnerships ensures fans in more than 140 countries can follow the stars of the NTT IndyCar SERIES. For a third consecutive season, IndyCar LIVE, IndyCar’s direct streaming service, provides fans with access to practice, qualifying and races in territories not covered by international broadcasters. With drivers in the 2024 season hailing from 12 different countries, IndyCar has a huge global pull and attraction.
Embed from Getty ImagesTech Enhancements Will Push The Limits
Hybrid technological enhancements are expected post Indy 500 (after May), but until then, the teams and drivers are expected to the push the limits. There’s a good chance track records will be broken, as lighter chassis components are being used ahead of the hybrid addition later this year. These lighter components include a 3D-printed titanium aeroscreen top frame. Additionally, a switch to a magnesium gearbox casing and bellhousing will provide further weight savings.
The 2024 IndyCar Series Schedule
The 2024 IndyCar Championship season kicks off with four road/street circuits. There’s also the non-championship megabucks ‘Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge’ event later this month, which again is raced on a road/street track. We don’t hit the first of this season’s five oval circuits til the prestigious Indy 500, which is raced as always, on Memorial Day weekend in late May.
Embed from Getty ImagesCan Palou Pull It Off Again?
Alex Palou is favourite to defend his crown and claim a 3rd IndyCar title in total. It’s a worry for his rivals just how much improvement the Spanish speedster showed last year. His consistency throughout 2023 and on all track variations couldn’t be faulted and he cruised to a cosy 78pt championship victory. He may not have finished 1st or 2nd on any oval tracks during 2023, but he didn’t place worse than 8th at any of last year’s 17 races. The Chip Ganassi Racing star’s raw pace is simply scintillating. He’s become a more rounded driver and the biggest worry for the other IndyCar competitors is that he’s still not the finished article yet.
Fellow Chip Ganassi driver, Scott Dixon, ended up finishing ‘closest’ to Palou last year. The six-time IndyCar champ starts his 22nd campaign and he’ll be hoping to pick up where he left off in 2023. The New Zealand legend was victorious in three of the last four races last season, though Palou was pretty much in feet-up mode by that stage of the championship. There’s another Kiwi at Team Chip Ganassi, who’ll be dreaming of emulating Dixon’s fantastic IndyCar feats. Marcus Armstrong, who claimed the 2023 ‘Rookie Of The Year’ award, will be hoping to push for his first podium finish during 2024 (his first full IndyCar season).
Are Team Penske Feeling The Pressure?
Over at Chip Ganassi main rival’s Team Penske, there was much head-scratching at the end of the 2023 season. Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden finished 3rd and 5th respectively in the Championship title race, but neither really challenged. Newgarden was the bigger disappointment of the two, despite claiming Indy 500 honours. He started 2023 with a blown engine at St Petersburg and misfortunes and mistakes were commonplace all season-long. It was his worst finish for 5 seasons and the pressure will be on in 2024.
A positive omen for Newgarden fans is the last time he finished 5th in the Championship (2018), he would go on to be champion the following year. Many are expecting his Penske teammate, Scott McLaughlin, to challenge for the crown this time around. The third and final Kiwi participant in the 2024 IndyCar Series, finished 14th in his rookie year (2021), 4th in 2022 and 3rd last year.
Embed from Getty ImagesFirestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Preview
Andretti Autosport impressed during the 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Their drivers, Romain Grosjean and Colton Herta, would claim first and second spots on the grid. The team’s third and final member, Kyle Kirkwood, also started in a good slot (sixth).
Grosjean would lead for 31 laps during the race, before crashing out after a collision with Scott McLaughlin. Despite a sterling effort from Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, it would be Marcus Ericsson who would last the distance to claim race honours. Ericsson has jumped ship from Chip Ganassi to Andretti this season and will have his backers this weekend. Not only as a result of Andretti typically having fast cars at the Florida track recently, but also because the Swede has four straight top-10 finishes at St Petersburg.
Repeating at St. Pete
Previous St Petersburg winners have a good record of repeating their success at the track. Montoya won in 2015 & 2016, Bourdais in 2017 & 2018 and Newgarden in 2019 & 2020. Scott McLaughlin who won in 2022, led for the most laps last year and was looking good before the Grosjean incident threw a spanner in his works. He will be fired up in Florida and is definitely one for the 2024 shortlist, along with Ericsson.
Sky Sports F1 are broadcasting Live coverage of the IndyCar Grand Prix Of St Petersburg from 16:00 this Sunday.
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Image Credit: Deposit Photos