1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: This is track Side with Kirk Cavin and Kevin Lee 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: on ninety three to five and one oh seven five 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: the Fan. 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: Tonight we discuss the ends for now at least of 5 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 2: essentially a sixty year run with Andretti's competing in IndyCar 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 2: style racing, with Marco and Dreddi's retirement, and at the 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: same time, the Andretti IndyCar team is solidifying its future 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: by keeping potentially the top free agent off the market 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 2: next year. There's some sports car news involving people IndyCar 10 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: fans know well, and we've crossed off one of our 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: off season markers. NASCAR season is over, but their fan 12 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: anger is in full roar. An Indy five hundred driver, 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,319 Speaker 2: by the way, also won the Cup title. We'll get 14 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: into all that and much more tonight on the program. 15 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: Welcome the track Side ninety three five, one oh seven 16 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: to five. The fan in Indianapolis, landon Coons is there. 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: I'm here, my name is Kevin Lee. Kirk Cavin is somewhere. 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: We welcome you to the program. Your thoughts are welcome 19 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: to Kevin Lee twenty three of the X or Twitter 20 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 2: at kirk Cavin as well a reminder and a note 21 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: to the host in studio appearance, we'll see if the 22 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: key card works. Coming up next week, We're going to 23 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 2: Venture Downtown on Tuesday night at seven o'clock. All right, Kurt. 24 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: A lot to get into, so we will not waste 25 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: any time. I mentioned on the show. I brought this 26 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 2: up just in my random thoughts, Hey, we need to 27 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: hear what Marco Andretti is doing. And I swear it's 28 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: I think. Did the announcement come out the next day? 29 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: It might have, Yeah, so people knew. I did not 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: know this was coming, and clearly all the drivers knew 31 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: because they were asked to do tribute videos to Marco. 32 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: So this isn't just something where he woke up on 33 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: Wednesday morning and said I've had enough. This had been 34 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: in the works for a little while. But that was 35 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: my thought, was just common sense, And I didn't say 36 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: he was retiring. I just said we need to find out. 37 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 2: This seems like a bigger TBD to me. Marco does 38 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: not look like he's been having a whole lot of 39 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 2: fun at the Indianapolis five hundred the last few years. 40 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: And frankly, I don't know if I said this this bluntly, 41 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: but Frankly, the team would probably like to upgrade that 42 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: seat if at all possible, and they might have someone 43 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: part of their family that they would like to continue 44 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: with a foot in the door in Indy car. So 45 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: before we talk about if Colton hurt is going to 46 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: be in that seat, I do want to celebrate Marco. 47 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: While it hasn't been going awesome the last few years, 48 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: and it's always tough when that's your only event in 49 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 2: this type of car for the entire season and life changes, 50 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: but boy, for fifteen years he was about as you 51 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: could say. You could are argue he is on that 52 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: short list of the best to never win the Indy 53 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 2: five hundred. 54 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: Well, his results are his reuals say that, and he was. 55 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: He was just competitive, and you know, the irony is 56 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: the moment that he is going to be most remembered 57 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: for at Indy is really the moment when he was 58 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: least prepared, and I say that least experienced maybe that's 59 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: a better way of saying it. He was you know, 60 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: had he been in that position two or three years 61 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: after that, he probably would have won the race. But 62 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: the first time, you know, the first time to be 63 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: in that position and then have a team, Penske Car 64 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: and Sam Horace Junior, who you know that made his 65 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: you know, kind of cemented his IndyCar career. But you know, 66 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: had Marco been you know, two or three years down 67 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: the road, so to speak, I don't think Sam gets him. 68 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: And that's kind of the unfortunate part. You know, we 69 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: talk a lot about, you know, I don't like Andretti 70 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: curse it just the drow that they had, you know, 71 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: the unfortunate circumstances they had. But top of the list, 72 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: or certainly in that top two or three and Dretti moments, 73 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: is the fact that Marco just didn't have the experience 74 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: maybe to execute what he probably would have in many 75 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: circumstances later on. But as you mentioned, he had such 76 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: a great track record in Indianapolis. I know, Andretti the 77 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: team was good at that track during that era, but 78 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: Marco was. He was outstanding and he handled himself well. 79 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: And you're right, it just hasn't been fun the last 80 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: few years. I really thought when he crashed and turned 81 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 1: one last year at Indy and that was his twentieth start, 82 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: in my mind, I thought he was done. I just thought, 83 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: you know, it's been two years in a row. He's 84 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: had an early accident, and you know this, he reached 85 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: the twenty year mark. He is you know, he drove 86 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: longer at the speedway. Circumstances created this, but he drove 87 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: longer at the speedway than his dad did. And I 88 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: think the twenty years was a big deal to him, 89 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: and the way it ended, and the transition of his 90 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,799 Speaker 1: father out of the team. I just thought it felt 91 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: like that was it, you know, last May. Yeah, that 92 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: makes sense. It's not the same that it was. 93 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: Mario still has an association, Michael still has some association. 94 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: We might see him a time or two. He might 95 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: bring the boat down to Saint Pete, he might come 96 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: to the Indy five hundred. But yeah, it's clearly not 97 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: the same. And it's one thing to keep doing it 98 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: if there is a chance. It's not going to be 99 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: a great chance most of the time when you're a 100 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: one off, when you have a part time crew, but 101 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: if you can tell yourself, I've got a chance. Others 102 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,119 Speaker 2: have said the same thing, you know, Townsend Bell has said, 103 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: and Townsend didn't have the record that Marco did. But 104 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: Townshend was really good at Indy and when he got 105 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: to the point and decided I can't win. I'm not 106 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: going to do it just to do it. I've done 107 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: it enough. And I think that's the way Marco would 108 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 2: feel in that circumstance. And that's why a lot of 109 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: drivers feel I've been there, I've done that. It's what 110 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 2: Tony Stewart always said, I'm not interested in coming back 111 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 2: just to run the thing. I've been there, done that. 112 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: If I felt like I could win, I would keep 113 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 2: doing it. And it's just really hard in that circumstance. 114 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: Marco was not just good at Indy. He was brave. 115 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 2: He was good at all the mile and a halfs 116 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: and back in the day he was pretty solid. He 117 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 2: won a road course race. Okay, maybe a caution helped 118 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: him out there, but you're still in position to win. 119 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 2: He finished I think fifth in a championship at one point. 120 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: He was legit for a decade or so, and it 121 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 2: had to be challenging being not just the son, but 122 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: the grandson, the nephew, everything else that comes along with that. 123 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 2: Marco took a lot of flack over the years, and 124 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 2: you'd like that helps. You don't get to where you're 125 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 2: at without having that name. But there's a lot of 126 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 2: baggage that comes with that, and it can be challenging 127 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 2: at times. 128 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: You know, it also was challenging because you know, while 129 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: he was you know, the bright, you know, shiny, new 130 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: new contribution to the sport, he was really had a 131 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: personality more like his to some degree, more like his 132 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: dad publicly than his grandfather. You know, people assume that 133 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: that everybody's is as jovial and and and just you know, 134 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: outgoing as his grandfather became after he retired. You know, 135 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: Mario wasn't wasn't that kind of personality even when he 136 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: was driving. Just a little different, That's all I guess, 137 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: is what I'm saying. Marco's personality, you know, wasn't look 138 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: at me, I'm in the spotlight. You know, he didn't 139 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: didn't really care for that, So it was sometimes difficult 140 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: to embrace him and him to embrace the spotlight. But 141 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: you're right, for a decade he was as good as 142 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: any bunny. And he won a road course race and 143 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: he you know, he won an oval, and you know 144 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: he's you know, he he just his his record, he 145 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: earned on his own merit, and we should celebrate that. 146 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, you and I do, and 147 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: I think the race fans that have been following the 148 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: sport for twenty plus years understand how good Marco was. 149 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: But you know, it's hard to compare him when you're 150 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: looking at Michael Andretti and Mario Andretti and even John 151 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: Andretti for all his success and and so forth. 152 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: So it could have should have won several other races. 153 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: He was in the mix. Every driver can probably say 154 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: that as well and as popular with the other drivers. 155 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: While he may have been quiet publicly and reluctance to 156 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 2: really be outgoing, he obviously had something behind the scenes 157 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: that most of us didn't really see. And yeah, I 158 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 2: think everybody there was a concerted effort to let's celebrate 159 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 2: Marco and everybody make a video. But I also suspect 160 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: they were all happy to do it because they all 161 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: genuinely like Marco, and Marco has helped other drivers. You know, 162 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 2: Marco's from a very He's very successful in business beyond 163 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: just being a race car driver. He's done well, he 164 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 2: hasn't needed to work for a while, and he's helped 165 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: out other people with little things along the way. So 166 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: it's gonna be odd not having Marco there, and this 167 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 2: will not be the first time that we've not had 168 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 2: an Andretti in the five hundred. You know, when Mario 169 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 2: started in sixty five, we had the split. I don't 170 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: think there was anybody there from what like ninety six 171 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: to two thousand or so until Michael came back, because 172 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 2: I don't think John was doing it at the time. 173 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: There were a couple of years between when Michael retired 174 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: the first time before Marco started in six. But I 175 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 2: mentioned at the top, I think it's the first time 176 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 2: though since probably nineteen well in the early sixties. Whenever 177 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 2: you want to say Mario got into IndyCar racing, I 178 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: think he'd say sixty four when he was in the 179 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 2: top level of USAK, because Michael was still driving during 180 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: the split and Marco. When Michael retired, Marco was driving 181 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: in junior Formula cars that looked like Indy cars in 182 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: two thousand and four and two thousand and five Star 183 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 2: Mazda Indy Lights. So really, this will be the first 184 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:31,599 Speaker 2: time since nineteen sixty three there hasn't been an Andretti 185 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 2: that's been involved. Maybe we can get Jared over in 186 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 2: the Road to Indy. Jared still drives. There's some other 187 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 2: Andrettes to drive, but nobody in Indie style racing at 188 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 2: this point. And I think Marco's too smart to allow 189 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: his kids to get into it. Yeah, it could be. 190 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, look, whether it's Indy five hundred or 191 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: the season or you know, the championship or just a 192 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: sport in Jen, you know, it's been my whole my 193 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: whole life, your whole life where the Andretti's, the answers 194 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: and the Foights have been relevant and and for all 195 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: practical purposes, I know we have a Foight team, but 196 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: for all practical purposes from an on track standpoint, it's 197 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: it's a it's a strange time in my in my 198 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: coverage of the sport, so. 199 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 2: And we have an Andretti team. Someone wondering how long 200 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 2: that's going to last. I don't think I got to 201 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: this question, but noticed who was it that tested at 202 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 2: Indie I forget which which driver tested? Was it? Kirkwood? 203 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: Whoever it was had a TWG Motorsport livery and I'm 204 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 2: not willing to put a whole lot in that. I thought. 205 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: My first thought was, well, I think they do want 206 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: to start to establish that brand a little bit more, 207 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: because even those of us in the industry might struggle 208 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: remembering what that is, and it matters. You know, this 209 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 2: part of the company owns the LA Dodgers. They own 210 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 2: the LA Lakers, not the motorsport brand, but TWG and 211 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: Googenheim and everything else, so that might have been just 212 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 2: part of it. We don't have a sponsor. It's a test, 213 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 2: so let's just put that on there. And I think 214 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: I saw it on one of the Indie Next cars 215 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 2: as well. And then you had the Michael rumors, which 216 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 2: have been debunked by Michael, but I do think there 217 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 2: was something to it. I think someone was pitching Michael, 218 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 2: can we use your name? And maybe he's not allowed 219 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 2: to or maybe he's not interested. But one of the 220 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: many questions we don't know is how long does TWG 221 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: Motorsport have the rights to use the Andready name. Is 222 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 2: that in perpetuity or is there any end date to that? 223 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 2: And then it may come down to if there's an 224 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 2: end date, there's going to be another check written. If 225 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,719 Speaker 2: I'm the owner of the andre Ready name, I might 226 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 2: say that. So don't have any answers there, but it's 227 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 2: just something to watch on that front. Kyle Kirkwood is 228 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 2: an Andretti or a TWG motorsport driver or however you 229 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 2: want to phrase it, and he ain't going anywhere. Let's 230 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 2: be proactive. This is what will Power wanted to happen 231 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: last year. It's the offseason. Let's talk. Let's work out 232 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: an extension. Plenty of motivation for Andretti Global to get 233 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: this done right now. 234 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: Because there's big jobs available in twenty to twenty seven 235 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: at least we expect that to be the case, or 236 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: potentially could be the case. You could have, you know, 237 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: you could have an Aero McClaren seat, You could have 238 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: a Chip Ganassi Racing seat. Quite frankly, you could have 239 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: a Team Penske seat. So any of those seats, if 240 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: there was competition for services, you would think that the 241 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: price would go up that Andretti would have to pay. 242 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: And you know Kyle Kirkwood has you know, he won 243 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: three races in a season where Alex Polow was was dominant. 244 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: You're not ready to say that Kyle Kirkwood is, you 245 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: know that the next big championship level driver in this sport, 246 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: because you know, we saw Colton Herd to get right 247 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,079 Speaker 1: to the doorstep of the championship, didn't win it and 248 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: had trouble coming back. So you know, you athletes often 249 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: say this, and teams often say this, You just don't 250 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: know how many second next chances you're going to get. 251 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: And you know Kyle had a great year. What do 252 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: you have a great year next year? You know, you 253 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: just don't know, So it'll be. It certainly changes the 254 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: landscape of drivers available for twenty twenty seven because Kirkwood 255 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: is out of the mix, and you know, good for him, 256 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: good for TWG, good for the Andretti Global organization to 257 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: kind of get this the stability. You know, he's always 258 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: wanted to be there, but you certainly would ask the 259 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: question if you're him, is it the right move to 260 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: go to a Team Penske, Chip, Ganassi, Racing, Aero McLaren, 261 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: you know, if those seats are available. But now that 262 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: that part of the discussion and Kyle Kirkwood don't fit. 263 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 2: I think this makes perfect sense for Kyle Kirkwood. Most 264 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: drivers dream of being a Team Penske driver. But right now, 265 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 2: would you leave Andretti or Ganassi or McLaren for Team 266 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 2: Penske right now? You know, I think it's the answer 267 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 2: is no. The answer is no right now that may 268 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 2: change in a few months, but they were midpackers last year. 269 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 2: So if I'm Kyle Kirkwood and my team wants me, 270 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 2: and by the way, I feel very confident he's going 271 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: to make more money where he's at than he is 272 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 2: going to Team Penske. Team Penske has never had to 273 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 2: pay massive salaries for drivers because that's where everyone wants 274 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 2: to be. Now they may have to readjust that. If 275 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 2: they don't find a rebound this year, if they're not 276 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 2: back to where they're used to being with two drivers 277 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: in the top five in the championship or more, then 278 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: you know they may have to match what McLaren and 279 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 2: Andretti and Ganassi pay if they feel like a driver 280 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 2: is what they're missing, But it's not driver, it's losing 281 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: three main decision makers. So I think it's an easy call. 282 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: I don't think you'd feel comfortable going to Team Penske 283 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 2: until we got past Indy next year, but I think 284 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: you want to have that sorted. Kirkwood seems like an 285 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: Andretti guy. Even if Team Penske were what was what 286 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: Team Penske had always been, I don't know that he 287 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: would feel like, yeah, I got to get to Team Penske. 288 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: There's a lot asked of you at Team Penske. There's 289 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 2: a lot asked of you at McLaren as well. And 290 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 2: we don't know that Ganassi is going to have an opening. 291 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: I think that's unlikely. You know, when you're forty five. 292 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 2: We always have to say a Dixon is year to year, 293 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 2: but I think he's probably going to do a couple 294 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 2: of more years. Hello has one more year in his contract, 295 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 2: but unless he goes to Formula one, and that's highly unlikely, 296 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 2: he's not going anywhere. So this works out best for both. 297 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: I agree with with everything he said. At the decision 298 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: opportunity right now, I would take I would I would 299 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: stay where I'm at. If I'm Kyle Kirkwood. The resources 300 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: at TWG are certainly unmatched. You know, you have the 301 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: opportunity to really do some great things there, and funding 302 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: shouldn't be an issue. Having said all that, you know, 303 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: if he waited till next spring, maybe you know a 304 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: little bit more information, Maybe Tim Pinsk is the way 305 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 1: to go, Maybe we know more about Polo and Dixon. 306 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: But at this point, I think it's the decision. You 307 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: have to make. 308 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 2: Pretty good options. Oh yeah, great, and by the way, 309 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 2: we never know what the money is and they're more 310 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 2: likely to pay the money post in this circumstance. So 311 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 2: this it was likely a pretty quick decision for Kyle Kirkwood. 312 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 2: Let's circle back. Who's driving the fourth Andretti car at 313 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 2: the end five hundred next year? 314 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: I just have I think you have to say Colton 315 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: herd it. 316 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 2: But there are just high percentage in my mind how 317 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 2: it is high percentage. 318 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: The question is, though I know he has the calendar 319 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: space to do this, but if he's focused on that, 320 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: doesn't it just a little bit of you say, why 321 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: would you break from what you're doing and the routine 322 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: you're in to come do this? 323 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 2: So that's part of the debate. The other side of 324 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 2: that is this was a major risk, major change most 325 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: you know, Potter Ward talked about this recently. You know, 326 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 2: I wouldn't be willing to go be enough to driver 327 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 2: unless I had a one guarantee I was going to 328 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: be in Formula one the next year, and he might 329 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: have that, but I doubt he does. So one way 330 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 2: to make this more palatable is you can still stay 331 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 2: relevant while you and I and the people listening to 332 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 2: this show think that every IndyCar race is relevant worldwide. 333 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: They're paying attention to one race. You can still do 334 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 2: that one race. And one of the regrets for Michael Andretti, 335 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 2: and I'm sure he feels like one of the reasons 336 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 2: I never won the Indy five hundred is I gave 337 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 2: up six chances in the prime of my career during 338 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: the split. Does Colton Hurda want to give up one, two, three? 339 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: And by the way, if he gets to Formula one, 340 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 2: he's not going to be back. I think he knows 341 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 2: he's coming back at some point. Formula one doesn't last 342 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 2: that long. Even if it goes well, it's going to 343 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,479 Speaker 2: be a three five eight year span and he's going 344 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 2: to come back and finish off. So do I want 345 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 2: to I'm an Indy car driver, I'm an American race 346 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 2: car driver. What is an American race car driver? Asked? 347 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 2: Or what cements your career winning the Indy five hundred? 348 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 2: And if Andretti had a good package next year like 349 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 2: they likely will, if Honda was the engine to beat, 350 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 2: and he's sitting in Europe watching the race on television 351 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: wondering why am I not there, He's going to go 352 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 2: kicking himself. So as much as yes, you want to 353 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 2: stay focused. You're an F two and you've already decided 354 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,360 Speaker 2: once they became willing to put him in three sports 355 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 2: car races. How does that help the cause? I know 356 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 2: it's a Cadillac, but that's clear that you don't have 357 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 2: to spend and there's only so much you can do. 358 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 2: These guys are smart enough to be able to venture 359 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 2: off and do something for three weeks and stay relevant, 360 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 2: save the company money that they don't have to go 361 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 2: hire a driver. He is under salary at an exorbitant 362 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 2: fee as I'm in last week. It's normally going the 363 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 2: other way. We learned through the McLaren case that drivers 364 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 2: will pay three and a half million dollars per free 365 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 2: practice one. That's thirteen or fourteen million dollars that they're 366 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: giving up for the four free practice ones. Plus. Normally 367 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 2: someone is paying three million dollars to do F two. 368 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 2: Colden Hurda has that paid for him and is still 369 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 2: likely receiving the same six and a half ish million 370 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 2: dollars salary that he's getting. But beyond all that, he's 371 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 2: the best driver available and if this doesn't work out, 372 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: he's coming right back over here in twenty twenty seven, 373 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 2: if Checko and Botas have great seasons and Colden is 374 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 2: eleventh and f two or maybe even seventh and f two, 375 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 2: and just say this isn't for me. It's going great. 376 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: He's coming back over in an Andretti car in twenty 377 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 2: twenty seven, and there will have been one less year 378 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 2: A one. He will be quicker up to speed. I 379 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 2: cannot guarantee this is going to happen, but it makes 380 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 2: too much sense. I've got some other names, but I 381 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 2: think this is what it's going to be. I think 382 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 2: so too. 383 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: And I don't mean to be combative in the discussion 384 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: because I honestly believe it's he. 385 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 2: I want to hear other sides. 386 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I do think. I do think there's there's 387 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: something to it. The other thing, the biggest thing that 388 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: I think factors into it. I'm glad you mentioned it. 389 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: Maybe not the biggest thing, but a strong piece of 390 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: this is they're already committed to paying and this kind 391 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: of saves the team. They don't have to go out 392 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: and try to pay somebody else or and he is 393 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: probably the best driver available, So I mean, he doesn't 394 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,439 Speaker 1: have the NY five hundred results that you would you 395 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: would like to think for that for that seat? But 396 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: but I think he'll be in the car. I will 397 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 1: offer reasons now to combat my own argument. So you 398 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: mentioned they and I did too. They don't have to 399 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: pay him. Well, you could just simply take a driver 400 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: who pays you, and one might be available who's pretty good. 401 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: Connor Daily can bring budget, so that there is you 402 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: could sell that seat for two million dollars million and 403 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: a half minimum. But two million dollars, I think is 404 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: what the asking price would be for an Andretti or 405 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 1: a McLaren or a Ganassi seat for the ND five hundred, 406 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 1: or a Penske seat. They've not done that in the past, 407 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: but a million and a half is someone is that 408 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,239 Speaker 1: that's the bottom level at this point for the ND 409 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: five hundred. And there are some drivers that could find that. 410 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 1: Connor Daily stands out as someone who's and they're not 411 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: just going to take anyone, but Connor is good has 412 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: had a relationship with that team before. 413 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 2: I think this is all unlikely, but I'm just throwing 414 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 2: out the other scenarios. 415 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: So let me ask you real quick, real quick, would 416 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: you take if you're the team and you want this 417 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: fourth card to have a chance to win the Indy 418 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: five hundred. Is Colton Hurda or Connor Daily a better option. 419 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 2: I'm doing Colton Hurda because of the stability with the team. 420 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 2: He has been in the program. You have continuity, he 421 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 2: is a part of your family. You have invested in 422 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 2: Colton Hurda. And by the. 423 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 1: Ways, but it's close. 424 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 2: It's close. Yeah, No, I think you can make the 425 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 2: argument who is better at Indy. Connor is arguably is good. 426 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 2: He's not qualified well, but he's raced really well, and 427 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 2: you'll wonder what he might do in a top line 428 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 2: situation like that. So that's why I bring it up. 429 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 2: By the way, also, if he were to win the 430 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 2: Indy five hundred and then move on to be the 431 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 2: Cadillac F one driver, how much does that help that program, 432 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 2: the Cadillac F one program, That's immense. It just helps 433 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 2: him stay relevant. It is part of Colton's job next 434 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: year is going to be doing meet and greets in 435 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 2: the garage at Formula one races. He's there as the 436 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 2: reserve driver and and he is the show pony the 437 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 2: rest of the weekend, and it's what are you doing well? 438 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 2: By the way, I've finished fourth in the Indy five 439 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 2: hundred this year. Oh yeah right, you're still yeah, you 440 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 2: should play good. So that's one scenario. By the way, 441 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 2: before I forget one other potential obstacle GM versus Honda. 442 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 2: So we do have to keep that in mind. And 443 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 2: I know a lot of people have mentioned that. I 444 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 2: think that could probably be worked through because he's not 445 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 2: the F one driver. I don't and I think Dan 446 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 2: Towers could massage that is. Hey, Cadillac, this is not 447 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 2: all on your dime. I've invested an awful lot of 448 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: my money and my company's money into this effort to 449 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 2: help you get to Formula one. I'd like you to 450 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,479 Speaker 2: loan me this driver for the Indy five hundred. And 451 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 2: by the way, if Cadillac is not paying Colt and 452 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 2: heard it and it's Dan Towers, they may not even 453 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 2: have a say. So I highly doubt that is an obstacle, 454 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 2: but I can't guarantee that, So it's something to keep 455 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 2: an eye on in that front. What if Ta Kumasado 456 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 2: has not signed with Ray Hall Letterman Lanigan yet and 457 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 2: Honda would like him to run with Andretti, or that's 458 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 2: just simply the better deal. They're involved. My guess is 459 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 2: that's pretty far down the road. But if it's not 460 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,679 Speaker 2: one hundred percent signed, and if they have decided that 461 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 2: they don't want Colton Hrda in this, and or they'd 462 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 2: like a good driver who, by the way, has won 463 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 2: the race twice and could have two more times, who 464 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 2: brings some some financial help, then to Kumasato is the 465 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 2: no brainer. And then other names out there. Ryan hunter 466 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 2: Ray does not bring the budget, but has been a 467 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 2: part of the family. Dan Towers was not in the 468 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,679 Speaker 2: family at that time. But you know what I'm saying, 469 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 2: best driver available. I think I was almost talked out 470 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 2: of it, but I still think hunter Ray is going 471 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 2: to be at Aera McLaren next year. And James Hinchcliffe, 472 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 2: James Hinchcliffe has been a part of the family. I 473 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 2: purposely have not asked hinch if he would do this. 474 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 2: I don't even know if he's contractually allowed to do this. 475 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: And it's you know, each year it gets a little 476 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 2: bit less likely in that circumstance. But if you're looking 477 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 2: for visibility, Fox might say, oh, we'd like to have 478 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,719 Speaker 2: our one of our active in the booth analysts staying 479 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,959 Speaker 2: relevant for another year. Having a chance in a competitive car, 480 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 2: So I think that is a long shot, and I'm 481 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 2: not going to ask him because I don't want to know, 482 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 2: because it's more fun to talk about. But COLDENHURTA makes 483 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 2: the most sense, and I'm going to go ninety two 484 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 2: percent that he's driving that car. Yeah, I'm all for. 485 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 1: I'm all for eighty five ninety percent as well, so 486 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: I can't really put much argument. So there you go. 487 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 2: Okay, Silly Season is in a full gear for non drivers, 488 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 2: and we'll update the latest and get some Twitter questions 489 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 2: and more coming up. It's Trackside ninety three five one 490 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 2: oh seven five. Hi, this is Kyle Kirkwood and you're 491 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 2: listening to track Side. Okay, we start segment two with 492 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 2: a question from Storm and Soda. I've seen a lot 493 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 2: of behind the scenes personnel moves announced in the last 494 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 2: week or two. Anything significant expected from those changes, So 495 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 2: let's highlight some of the moves. And I think these 496 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 2: are all simply reports oftentimes there are not press releases involved. 497 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 2: But Marshall Prude at racer dot Com has reported that 498 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 2: Brian Barnhardt he is moving to Ray Hall Letterman Lanigan Racing. 499 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 2: He has been the president of IndyCar. He has been 500 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 2: at Andretti he was running the harding operation and most 501 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 2: recently he has been at Eryl McLaren as their general 502 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 2: manager and they have a lot of managers, so he's 503 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 2: moved on. He will become Grammary Hall Strategist and his 504 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 2: title is Senior VP of Operations. Also of note Kyle Sagan. 505 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 2: Most of you don't know Kyle very well. Regarded a 506 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 2: little bit surprised that he's splitting with Tony Kaan. They 507 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 2: have been together for many, many years. Kyle's a long 508 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 2: time outside rear tire changer and was hired by McLaren. 509 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 2: Has worked for multiple teams, but is sort of a 510 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 2: pitstop guru and a coach and still goes over the wall. 511 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 2: So that's two really good gets in that sense. Olivia 512 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 2: Boson has moved to aera McLaren. We've talked about him before, 513 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 2: very successful engineer, has a relationship with Cannon from his 514 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 2: Indy five hundred winning year in twenty thirteen, and this 515 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 2: shows the depth that McLaren has and what money will do. 516 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 2: They have a head of damper engineering. He's not responsible 517 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 2: and this is a race winning engineer, lead engineer. He 518 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 2: is going to be a support engineer overlooking dampers. Eric 519 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 2: Calden worked with Bosson as a lead engineer for Cannon's Indie. 520 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 2: Long time Penske Ganassi virtually every other team, Cowden has 521 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: come over as the director of engineering, so they keep 522 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 2: adding depth and depth. And then the other big one 523 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 2: that happened a while back is Ron Razuski, longtime engineer 524 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,880 Speaker 2: and technical director at Penske, was really running the IndyCar 525 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 2: operation at Penske. He was the most significant, and they 526 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 2: were all significant, but you could argue he might have 527 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 2: been the most significance departure of that team. He is 528 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 2: now the team principal at Andretty. So impact, which one 529 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 2: has the biggest impact got my pick. 530 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: I think what I think is is what you were 531 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: talking about, the continued edition of depth at Aero McLaren. 532 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: That's going to pay dividends at some point. I mean 533 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: that's when you talk about Team Penske, when you talk 534 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: about you know, the top four teams. The strengthening of 535 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: the Andretti and the Aerol McLaren organizations is significant. I've 536 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: always been a huge fan of Brian Barnhardt. I think 537 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: he's as good a strategists as there is. I think 538 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: he knows the game as well as anybody in the sport. Certainly, 539 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: there are many a few, I guess maybe is a 540 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: better word. There are a few at his level, but 541 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: there's not very many. And I think that's a huge 542 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 1: get by Ray Hall. I do think it's interesting that 543 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: he goes and joins Jay fry At given that, you know, 544 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: they both worked at IndyCar together and Brian worked under j. 545 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: But you know, the Aerol mcclanan. You can't ignore how 546 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: much stronger Aeron McLaren has gotten in the last what 547 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 1: eighteen months. It's really impressive. 548 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 2: So the question was anything significant from those changes? I 549 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 2: think all are hugely significant. 550 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 1: They are. 551 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 2: I might say Razuski to Andreddy is a big one 552 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 2: because when they lost Michael, you know, you lose some 553 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 2: leadership involved in that, and it was a lot for 554 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 2: Rob Edwards to do. And they keep adding mother or 555 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 2: sports entities and Rob was asked to somewhat be involved 556 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 2: in all those programs and you know, lead strategy and 557 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 2: lead the IndyCar program. That's too much for one person 558 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 2: to do. And Ron will take over IndyCar. Rob will 559 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 2: be there for support and he'll do a lot of 560 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 2: other things as well, but I think all these are impactful. 561 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 2: Brian Barnhardt is a really good get, really good get 562 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 2: because now Jay Fry has a little bit less than 563 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 2: he has to do, and Jay's not a mechanic. You know, 564 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 2: Jay is not able to see and recommend who the 565 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 2: best mechanics are when you're interviewing them. He can judge people, 566 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 2: and he's a competitor and understands that competition aspect. But 567 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 2: Brian's when you've been working for the series and all 568 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 2: the teams he's been when it comes to we have 569 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,240 Speaker 2: an opening, here are our candidates, and I think he's 570 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 2: very well respected in the paddock. And that's a lot 571 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 2: of it too. Do I want I'm choosing between this 572 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 2: team and that team. Oh, I trust Brian Barnhart. I'm 573 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,080 Speaker 2: going to go there and I'm going to work for him, 574 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 2: big deal on that part. And the same for Kyle Sagan. 575 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 2: And if you really want to know who the best 576 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 2: mechanics are, you get someone who's been a mechanic and 577 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 2: doing pit stops and want to improve your game there. 578 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 2: And I think that's an area where Ray Hall has 579 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 2: been lacking pit stops in recent years. Everybody has their bobbles. 580 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 2: That may be unfair, you know, I'd have to look 581 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 2: at the pitstop performance results, so it may just be 582 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 2: it seems, but I think that's a big deal and 583 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 2: all are very significant. We need to get to NASCAR 584 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 2: for just a moment here in Indianapolis because an Indy 585 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 2: five hundred winner has won the NASCAR Cup Championship. Kyle 586 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 2: Larson wins, and there was much hang ringing. By the way, 587 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 2: here's the list of NASCAR champions that have run the 588 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 2: ND five hundred. Kelly Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Tony Stewart, Kurt 589 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 2: Busch all made Indy five hundred starts, but never in 590 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 2: the year they won the title, and Kyle did it 591 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 2: the year he won the title. There's anger at the 592 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,279 Speaker 2: playoffs and the winner take all, but really it's it's 593 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 2: just in this case, it's the bad luck for Denny 594 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 2: after dominating the race. Playoff or no playoff, that wasn't 595 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,240 Speaker 2: going to change. Luck still comes into things. 596 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, but what Kyle did in a shootout, 597 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,400 Speaker 1: good for him. Kyle's It's not like Kyle's is not deserving. 598 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: There wasn't a kind of a fluke, kind of deal. 599 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: In this case, Hamlin just unfortunate on his behalf led 600 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,359 Speaker 1: two hundred and eight laps, just couldn't make the four 601 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 1: tire decision work, and it would have in many races, 602 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 1: it just didn't in this one. 603 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 2: So it looks like you're recording. I've got some things 604 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:51,439 Speaker 2: I'm still going to say on this, but it looks 605 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 2: like your time has expired on us. So I'm just 606 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 2: going to go ahead and continue this conversation because it 607 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 2: says we've got a minute and a half left, So 608 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 2: we're just going to end here and I will continue 609 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 2: with some thoughts on this and how the Infinity Championship 610 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 2: has impacted Connor Zilich and more, and we'll get to 611 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 2: some of your tweets coming up in a moment on 612 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 2: trackside how this is Scott McLachlin and you're listening to 613 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:16,880 Speaker 2: track side on ninety three five and one. I seven 614 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 2: five the fan. Okay, a little time to chat in 615 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:25,000 Speaker 2: this segment, and we were talking about the the NASCAR season, 616 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:28,319 Speaker 2: and it kind of reminds me this past weekend. I 617 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 2: watched a lot of television and none of it was ESPN. 618 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 2: So my final work assignment, I think of the year 619 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:39,320 Speaker 2: was the boat show in Fort Lauderdale, which is always fun. 620 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,200 Speaker 2: It's good to be a producer when your quote talent 621 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:44,759 Speaker 2: is someone like Jamie Little makes the job a lot 622 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,680 Speaker 2: easier because she gets things done on one to take 623 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 2: something like that. So we had a nice time of it. 624 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 2: So I came home and decided I'm actually going to 625 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,480 Speaker 2: just take a couple of days off, and I consumed 626 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,879 Speaker 2: everything strategically through DVR. I don't like watching two things 627 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 2: at once because I like to hear the announcers, so 628 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 2: I'd watch you know, football for a while until I 629 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 2: catch up, then switch backck over to the Cup Race. 630 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:11,320 Speaker 2: Did that on Saturday night as well, with different things 631 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 2: in some basketball, I think as well. So I saw 632 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 2: Truck Race, Infinity Race, Cup Race, and we touched on 633 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 2: the Cup Race and the drama over whether it should 634 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:22,879 Speaker 2: be a playoff or not. And you know, we've had 635 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:26,959 Speaker 2: this debate and Indy Car as well, and generally I 636 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 2: am against it. I also think the conversation can be 637 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:38,399 Speaker 2: worthy of consideration, and we do like fair especially if 638 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 2: you're really in it and you're close to people. But 639 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:46,200 Speaker 2: I think maybe Hinch mentioned this in a Twitter poll 640 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 2: as well. Do we worry so much about fair or 641 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:56,160 Speaker 2: what's best for business. Remember it is show business and 642 00:36:56,960 --> 00:37:00,920 Speaker 2: we shouldn't always look inward into what we all think 643 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 2: is most important competitors, hardcore fans and so forth. But 644 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:08,360 Speaker 2: that is a major part of the discussion. And I 645 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 2: don't envy NASCAR and figuring this out. It is a 646 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 2: combination of things. Why their ratings are down at this point. 647 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 2: You lack of really interesting star power. The new TV 648 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:23,040 Speaker 2: package with seven or eight different outlets make it a 649 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 2: little bit confusing, not getting built in promotion with practicing 650 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 2: qualifying on the same network. The race is going to 651 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 2: air on and all the streaming channels and head to 652 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:39,440 Speaker 2: head with football. It's not easy at all. Would the 653 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:43,080 Speaker 2: old system work. What they probably are doing is going 654 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 2: through all types of simulations to see how that plays 655 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,080 Speaker 2: out and how often the championship would be wrapped up 656 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:52,280 Speaker 2: if they went to the old points system. It's clear 657 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:57,000 Speaker 2: that this one done is going to go away, but 658 00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 2: is it going to be a ten race playoff? And 659 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,960 Speaker 2: you still run the risk of it being wrapped up. 660 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:06,839 Speaker 2: But it's not easy at this point. The infinity thing, 661 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:11,400 Speaker 2: I find that that would be much easier to just 662 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:16,719 Speaker 2: do full season points. I don't know that the playoff 663 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 2: system matters as much there. That's for hardcrees and seeing 664 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 2: up and comers, and back to the Cup situation. Do 665 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 2: they get rid of stages? Some want that, but remember 666 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 2: that helps you miss less action because it's a built 667 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:35,839 Speaker 2: in spot for commercials. The commercials are still going to go, 668 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:37,839 Speaker 2: so it's just a matter of whether it's over green 669 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,759 Speaker 2: flag racing or not. And this guarantees you can get 670 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:44,040 Speaker 2: some in during yellow flags, and I think it honestly 671 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 2: kind of breaks up the monotony of sometimes three and 672 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:50,400 Speaker 2: four hour races and gives you a reason for a 673 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 2: stage point or something else in the middle. The overall 674 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 2: point system it is too confusing even for people sort 675 00:38:57,080 --> 00:39:00,359 Speaker 2: of paying attention. So that's going to be interesting to 676 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:05,040 Speaker 2: see how they figure that out. And many Infinity series 677 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:07,720 Speaker 2: so well, one they got lucky in the truck series 678 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:10,719 Speaker 2: Corey him and dominated that went from like tenth to 679 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:15,239 Speaker 2: first in the last restart to win that championship. He 680 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:17,960 Speaker 2: won eleven of twenty four. Connor Zilich was in a 681 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:21,920 Speaker 2: similar situation. He had won ten races but did not 682 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 2: win the championship. Jesse Love, who only won Daytona, the 683 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:28,359 Speaker 2: first race and the very last race he wins it. 684 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:32,040 Speaker 2: And we learned today that Connor Zilich was going to 685 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:36,200 Speaker 2: get to test for Cadillac in the Hypercar, which is 686 00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:39,320 Speaker 2: the top level sports car, at their end of season 687 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 2: rookie test. However, he's now, like Colton Hurda, a couple 688 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:46,359 Speaker 2: of points shy of being eligible. And this is one 689 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:49,120 Speaker 2: of the greatest race car drivers on the planet. Some 690 00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:52,879 Speaker 2: of it is still upside, but anybody paying attention knows 691 00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:55,920 Speaker 2: that this guy is the real deal. He really could 692 00:39:56,960 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 2: be considered to get to F one if he wanted 693 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:03,560 Speaker 2: to do it, but his lot is set in NASCAR, 694 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 2: but he wants to do road racing and he's not 695 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 2: going to get to do that at this point, so 696 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:12,040 Speaker 2: that's a little bit annoying for him. I think he's 697 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:17,280 Speaker 2: still going to test the Cadillac Cadillac top level GTP 698 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:20,120 Speaker 2: car and running the Rolex twenty four in the top 699 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:24,600 Speaker 2: class in January, so that's really cool. And we've talked 700 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:26,440 Speaker 2: a lot about Connor Zilich, when will he do The 701 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:29,680 Speaker 2: Indy five hundred. Sports Business Journal posted something a few 702 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:33,440 Speaker 2: days ago that justin marks we know, I know everyone 703 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:36,080 Speaker 2: has talked to Justin. He's been very open he wants 704 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:38,359 Speaker 2: to come to the Indy five hundred, and he did 705 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:42,759 Speaker 2: say Justin, the team owner the track house is interested 706 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:46,160 Speaker 2: in bringing Zilich to a future Indy five hundred, but 707 00:40:46,280 --> 00:40:49,160 Speaker 2: next year is likely off the table to give him 708 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:52,239 Speaker 2: time to get adjusted to his full time job in 709 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:57,560 Speaker 2: the Cup Series. So there is that aj Almadinger is 710 00:40:57,640 --> 00:41:01,800 Speaker 2: coming back to that same GTP with Meyer Shank Racing. 711 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 2: They tease something yesterday that there was a big announcement 712 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:07,200 Speaker 2: and it said something about all so that kind of 713 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 2: told me that was Dinger. I'm honestly a little bit 714 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:14,839 Speaker 2: surprised he's driving the GTP car. Those are difficult. It's 715 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 2: more difficult from what I understand, than the DPI car, 716 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:21,399 Speaker 2: which was the last prototype he drove in twenty twenty one. 717 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:24,400 Speaker 2: He did the GTD car a couple of years later. 718 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,480 Speaker 2: He won a Rolex, the first Rolex in twelve with 719 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 2: Meyer Shank. Justin Wilson was one of his teammates and 720 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,799 Speaker 2: we know how good he is, so I'm excited about that. 721 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:36,480 Speaker 2: I like Dinger. I think it's good for the event 722 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:41,960 Speaker 2: as well, and I wonder if Elliot was a consideration. 723 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:45,920 Speaker 2: Was it either or in that circumstance, is there someone 724 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,840 Speaker 2: financially connected to Dinger that wanted him in this race? 725 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:52,560 Speaker 2: Probably not. It's probably just Mike, Shank and Aj are 726 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,319 Speaker 2: good friends and they wanted to work together again. And 727 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:57,960 Speaker 2: there's limited time where he can still do that, and 728 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 2: he'll be fine. And he's and have Scott Dixon as 729 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:04,359 Speaker 2: a teammate. He's in the sixty car, so Colin Brown 730 00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:07,839 Speaker 2: and Tom Blunquist are the others. Alex Polo is going 731 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:09,640 Speaker 2: to be in the other car with the Ranger Vanderzena 732 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:12,919 Speaker 2: and Nick nick Yelli, and they announced Honda back driver 733 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:16,680 Speaker 2: Kaku Oda is the fourth driver for that. We learned 734 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:18,800 Speaker 2: that the Fittipaldi brothers. There was a lot of sports 735 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:21,480 Speaker 2: car news today. The Fittipaldi brothers are going to be 736 00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:25,120 Speaker 2: teammates in l M P two. Pietro is a full 737 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,960 Speaker 2: season driver. Enzo, who has been confirmed now in Indie 738 00:42:28,960 --> 00:42:32,520 Speaker 2: next with HMD next year, is going to be there 739 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:37,719 Speaker 2: endurance driver in that lineup. A couple of Twitter questions 740 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 2: while we have time at Camsoop's fl asked this a 741 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:43,160 Speaker 2: couple of weeks ago, and I don't think I got 742 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,400 Speaker 2: to it he asks, Is Honda just going to let 743 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:50,840 Speaker 2: their contract expire and just walk away? Well, their contract 744 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:53,320 Speaker 2: expires after next year, and no, I don't think it's 745 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:56,440 Speaker 2: just going to be silenced. I this is one of 746 00:42:56,440 --> 00:42:59,880 Speaker 2: those where I wouldn't be surprised and I know nothing, 747 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:02,279 Speaker 2: but I wouldn't be surprised to wake up tomorrow. It's 748 00:43:02,320 --> 00:43:04,280 Speaker 2: kind of one of these. We're just for the next 749 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,600 Speaker 2: few weeks, we're going to be hitting refresh. It is 750 00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:11,759 Speaker 2: coming soon. It has to be. And I think they 751 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:15,360 Speaker 2: are deciding between whether they're going to enter NASCAR or 752 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:18,400 Speaker 2: stay in IndyCar. I feel better about the chances of 753 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:23,240 Speaker 2: than staying. I think it makes more sense dollars and cents. 754 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:28,160 Speaker 2: But is that a fifty five or sixty percent confidence level? 755 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:30,960 Speaker 2: That's probably about all it is. I suspect that's the 756 00:43:31,040 --> 00:43:33,719 Speaker 2: decision that they are weighing, and I think they will 757 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:36,520 Speaker 2: do right by IndyCar and give them lots of notice. 758 00:43:36,760 --> 00:43:38,959 Speaker 2: Andrew Dawson asked a couple of weeks ago, it didn't 759 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:41,120 Speaker 2: have an answer, so didn't bother. Well, now we do, 760 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:44,960 Speaker 2: he says. Any update on the ECR and Todd Alt lawsuit. Yes. 761 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:48,200 Speaker 2: Racer dot Com posted this last week that it has 762 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:52,760 Speaker 2: been dismissed, so todd Alt essentially wins that Ed Carpenter 763 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:56,319 Speaker 2: Racing was trying to get something close between eight and 764 00:43:56,360 --> 00:44:01,200 Speaker 2: ten million dollars back in sponsorship money. Apparently though the 765 00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:03,520 Speaker 2: contracts were never signed. They may have been agreed to, 766 00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:06,799 Speaker 2: and there may be emails, but there was nothing as 767 00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:14,000 Speaker 2: far as a signature. Last questions that we have time 768 00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:17,520 Speaker 2: for the Cincy Buckey asks, I'm not sure which one 769 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:19,320 Speaker 2: of us. Have you put a bid yet on Michael 770 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:22,360 Speaker 2: Andretti's house and Fisher's. Oh if only Kurt were the 771 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:24,960 Speaker 2: realtor for that, he says. My real question though, is 772 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:26,880 Speaker 2: if will Power does not talk to Dan Towers at 773 00:44:26,920 --> 00:44:29,560 Speaker 2: Road American stay with Team Penske. Is Colden hurd n 774 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:31,480 Speaker 2: F two for next year or is he in the 775 00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:34,400 Speaker 2: twenty six basically, which was the action that created the 776 00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:38,319 Speaker 2: second reaction. That's a great question. I think it's a 777 00:44:38,320 --> 00:44:41,560 Speaker 2: bit of a combination. If will Power were not available, 778 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:44,480 Speaker 2: if he had re signed with Team Penske, I think 779 00:44:44,520 --> 00:44:47,279 Speaker 2: there is a very strong chance that Colden hurda is 780 00:44:47,360 --> 00:44:51,520 Speaker 2: driving the twenty six. But when Power became available, and 781 00:44:51,560 --> 00:44:53,360 Speaker 2: I think that they wanted to shake up to the 782 00:44:53,400 --> 00:44:56,719 Speaker 2: IndyCar program and to do some different things. I think 783 00:44:56,719 --> 00:44:59,440 Speaker 2: it made a lot easier to pull the trigger on 784 00:44:59,560 --> 00:45:04,200 Speaker 2: this DA. So yeah, I think he'd still be here 785 00:45:04,239 --> 00:45:07,400 Speaker 2: if will power was not available to take over that 786 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:10,600 Speaker 2: seat at Andretti. We'll see you next Tuesday night in studio. 787 00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:12,080 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us on track side.