2006-2007 IRL Silly Season

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Although there are four races remaining in the 2006 IRL IndyCar Series season, with the seemingly certainty that silly season is a near full-year topic, hence the '06-'07 silly season thread. And, thankfully, there was a major announcement in the IndyCar Series this afternoon that will lead the silly season topics..........

What had been independently reported by two television stations(WXIN-Indianapolis and WMTH-Milwaukee) came to fruition today, as Andretti-Green Racing confirmed that current Rahal-Letterman Racing driver Danica Patrick will join AGR beginning in 2007. Terms of the contract were not released, but Patrick joins Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan on the team for 2007; the team is still undecided on whether Bryan Herta or Dario Franchitti will return in 2007. AGR co-owner Michael Andretti summed up the team's decision in this matter.......

Today is an exciting day for everyone at Andretti-Green Racing. Danica has shown great talent during her first two seasons in the IndyCar Series and has impressed Kim (Green), Kevin (Savoree) and myself with her development as a driver.

Additional details of the team's decision were not released, including whether AGR will pick up any additional sponsors(rumor has it that Argent Mortgage, Patrick's current sponsor, may be unable due to contractual circumstances from leaving RLR and following over to AGR.... ) RLR spokesman/PR offical Brent Maurer released a short statement from RLR's Ohio-headquarters, stating.....

Danica has informed the team that she is leaving in 2007. We wish her the best on all her future endeavors.

In concluding the announcement, AGR co-owner Michael Andretti added.....

Our focus has been and always will be on winning races and winning championships. We certainly believe Danica will do that. She has made it very clear that one of her goals as a driver is to win the Indianapolis 500 and we are looking forward to giving her a great opportunity to do that.

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And now, here goes the first installment of the 2006-2007 IRL Silly Season Driver Lineups..............

~~Andretti-Green Racing(4): Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti(?) and Bryan Herta(?). The question around the IRL paddock is who will drive AGR's fourth IndyCar entry in 2007; reports are that Herta will lead the team's ALMS effort, with the team's other drivers and team co-owner Michael Andretti running in the long ALMS events(12 Hrs. of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans)

~~Dreyer & Reinbold(1): Sarah Fisher(?), Ryan Briscoe(?), Buddy Lazier(?). Depending on the Chicagoland, the IRL could have two female drivers in the series, with Briscoe driving the road/street course races and a second 500 entry

~~A.J. Foyt Racing(1): Jeff Bucknum. Unless anything changes, expect the team's competition director, Larry Foyt, to promote Bucknum to a full-time seat in 2007

~~Aguri-Fernandez Racing(2): Scott Sharp, Kosuke Matsurra. Both are expected to return in 2007

~~Panther Racing(1): Vitor Meira. Depending on whether the team survives the off-season, expect Meira to return in 2007.

~~Rahal-Letterman Racing(2): Jeff Simmons, Buddy Rice. Both Argent Mortgage and Ethanol are expected to return in 2007; however, the team has given Rice permission to look at other teams in the off-season.

~~Target/Ganassi Racing(2): Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon. This driver lineup is set for 2007.

~~Team Penske(2): Sam Hornish, Jr., Helio Castroneves. This team is set for 2007; the assumption in the paddock is that Marlboro will end its' sponsorship run next year, though.

~~Vision Racing(2): Ed Carpenter, Tomas Scheckter. Carpenter will return in 2007; expect Scheckter to do likewise.

There is only one provisional entry of note..............
Prov. 1}Cheever Racing(1): Eddie Cheever, Jr.(?). This team ceased operations in the IndyCar Series in mid-season; a partial season at best is expected in 2007.

Several teams are expected to field entries in the 91st Indianapolis 500 only...........
A}Beck Motorsports w/Stephan Gregoire and/or P.J. Jones
B}Hemelgarn Racing; drivers unknown
C}Luyendyk Racing w/Arie Luyendyk, Jr.
D}Matt Young Mtrspts. w/Thiago Medieros
E}PDM Racing w/Thiago Medieros
F}Playa del Racing w/Jaques Lazier and/or Roger Yasukawa
G}Roth Racing w/Marty Roth(unless they can field a full season's time in 2007)
H}Sam Schmidt Mtrspts. w/Airton Dare
I}Vision Racing(third entry besides series regulars) w/Townsend Bell

Number of Confirmed Seats: 8
Number of Open Seats: 9-12
Number of Potential Seats: 1
Number of Indy 500-only entries: 9-11
Expected Car Count: 17-21

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The IndyCar paddock this weekend in Sonoma was abuzz with rumors as to where a couple of drivers are possibly headed in 2007....here how it all boils down at the moment:

~~while Andretti-Green Racing has three of their four drivers signed for 2007, the questions surrounding them is who the fourth driver will be; neither Dario Franchitti or Bryan Herta is signed for 2007 and both could be headed elsewhere. Herta supposedly is headed for AGR's American LeMans Series LMP-2 effort, and Franchitti has been talking to former CART competitor Jimmy Vasser, who is currently a co-owner of PKV Racing over in Champ Car

~~at about the same time that current Rahal-Letterman Racing driver Danica Patrick was confirmed at Andretti-Green Racing for 2007, the team also gave fellow driver Buddy Rice "permission" to talk to other teams in both the IRL and ChampCar

~~while Aguri-Fernandez Racing has enough sponsors to fully fund a two-car effort in 2007, veteran Scott Sharp is, according to the rumor mill, looking at possibly starting his own team, with either Crown Royal or Patron Spirits as sponsors; there's also talk that he may join Panther Racing in 2007 in a second ride for the team, partnering current Panther driver Vitor Meira

~~finally, after adapting to a new change of scenery at Vision Racing, Tomas Scheckter is supposedly looking at other teams for 2007 in either series


So.....as you can see, it is going to be a very, very, very long silly-season; I just hope I've got enough Motrin to make it through to March 2007.

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1}Andretti-Green Racing(4): Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Bryan Herta(?), Dario Franchitti(?), Jaime Camara(?). No changes at present.

2}Dreyer & Reinbold(1): Sarah Fisher(?), Buddy Lazier(?), Ryan Briscoe(?). No changes at present.

3}A.J. Foyt Racing(1): Jeff Bucknum(?). No changes at present.

4}Aguri-Fernandez Racing(2): Scott Sharp, Kosuke Matsurra. Both are expected to return in 2007.

5}Panther Racing(1): Vitor Meira. No changes at present.

6}Rahal-Letterman Racing(2): Jeff Simmons, Buddy Rice. No changes at present.

7}Target-Ganassi Racing(2): Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon. No changes at present.

8}Team Penske(2): Sam Hornish, Jr., Helio Castroneves. No changes at present.

9}Vision Racing(2): Ed Carpenter, Tomas Scheckter. No changes at present.

No changes at present in regards to provisional and/or Indy 500-only teams......

No. of confirmed seats: 8
No. of open seats: 9-12
Expected car count: 17-21

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Here are the latest batch of IndyCar silly season projections, courtesy of the North American desk(located somewhere in a quiet patch of the ALMS paddock.... ......)

1}Andretti-Green Racing(4): Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti(?), Bryan Herta(?), Jaime Camera(?). No changes at present.

2}Dreyer & Reinbold(1): Sarah Fisher(?), Buddy Lazier(?), Ryan Briscoe(?). No changes at present.

3}A.J. Foyt Racing(1): Jeff Bucknum(?). No changes at present.

4}Aguri-Fernandez Racing(2): Scott Sharp(?), Kosuke Matsurra(?). If the rumor mill's correct, reports are that Scott Sharp may bolt from AFR and become a driver/owner w/his own team; no other changes at present.

5}Panther Racing(1): Vitor Meira(?). No changes at present; Meira has signed w/Highcroft Racing to compete in this weekend's 1000-mile/10-hr. Petit Le Mans(I thought I recognized him earlier Thursday.... )

6}Rahal-Letterman Racing(2): Buddy Rice, Jeff Simmons. The only question at present for the Hilliard, Ohio-based squad is whether both cars will have Ethanol backing(Bobby was wrong in saying the Argent sponsorship was his; Argent's stance ever since Patrick headed over to AGR has been[correctly so] that the sponsorship was her's, not Rahal's..... ), or will Pioneer(associate sponsor for RLR the past two yrs.) be Rice's primary sponsor in 2007.

7}Target/Ganassi Racing(2): Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon. No changes at present; both are expected to defend their overall victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, this year teaming up w/former F1(and now NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya..... ) for the event.

8}Team Penske(2): Sam Hornish, Jr., Helio Castroneves. No changes at present.

9}Vision Racing(2): Ed Carpenter, Tomas Scheckter. No changes at present.

No changes elsewhere................

No. of confirmed seats: 8
No. of open seats: 9-12
Expected car count: 17-21

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Latest silly season projections as of 22 October 2006.......

1}Andretti-Green Racing(4): Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti. According to autoracingsport.com, the team is in the process of re-signing Franchitti for yet another one-year contract.

2}Dreyer & Reinbold(1): Sarah Fisher(?), Ryan Briscoe(?), Buddy Lazier(?). No changes at present.

3}A.J. Foyt Racing(1): Jeff Bucknum(?). No changes at present.

4}Aguri-Fernandez Racing(2): Scott Sharp(?), Kosuke Matsurra(?). According to the same news item in autoracingsport.com, Sharp may bolt for Rahal-Letterman Racing in 2007; no other changes at present

5}Panther Racing(1): Vitor Meira. According to the rumormill at paddocktalk.com, Panther Racing may be in the process of possibly adding a second car for 2007.

6}Rahal-Letterman Racing(2): Buddy Rice(?), Scott Sharp(?), Jeff Simmons. According to the autoracingsport.com article, Sharp will likely land at RLR next year w/sponsorship, while Simmons is most likely set to return w/Ethanol backing.

7}Target/Ganassi Racing(2): Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon. No changes at present.

8}Team Penske(2): Sam Hornish, Jr., Helio Castroneves. No changes at present.

9}Vision Racing(2). Ed Carpenter, Tomas Scheckter, Nick Bussell(?). According to various sources, the team tested Bussell at Sebring and he beat Scheckter's fastest time there, so they may bring Bussell onboard alongside Carpenter and Scheckter.

No other changes at present......

No. of confirmed seats: 8
No. of open seats: 9-13
Expected car count: 17-20

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According to mulitple sources(autoracing1.com and speedtv.com), Aguri-Fernandez Racing may be gone the way of past IRL IndyCar teams such as Kelley Racing and Hemelgarn Racing. The team recently let go its' entire IRL staff and is currently looking for new sponsors, as neither Futaba or Delphi looks likely to return in 2007(in fact, Delphi is facing both a civil lawsuit by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission AND a criminal investigation by the U.S. Dept. of Justice......). As to their drivers' from 2006, it appears Scott Sharp will likely be driving for Rahal-Letterman Racing while Kosuke Matsurra appears to be headed over to Panther Racing to partner current Panther Racing driver Vitor Meira.

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Here are the latest batch of piping hot driver projections, straight from the grizzled brain of this heah' moderator......

Andretti-Green Racing(4): Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti. AGR officials confirmed to the Indianapolis Star's Curt Cavin that Franchitti will indeed return for 2007. In addition, Franchitti will alternate w/brother Marino Franchitti in driving the team's ALMS entry alongside Bryan Herta.

Dreyer & Reinbold(1): Sarah Fisher(?), Ryan Briscoe(?), Buddy Lazier(?). No changes at present.

A.J. Foyt Racing(1): Jeff Bucknum(?). No changes at present.

Panther Racing(2): Vitor Meira, Kosuke Matsurra(?). According to ar1.com and speedtv.com, Matsurra may sign with Panther, bringing along Panasonic as a sponsor.

Rahal-Letterman Racing(2): Jeff Simmons, Scott Sharp(?). According to both ar1.com and speedtv.com, Sharp will sign w/the Ohio-based team, bringing along either Crown Royal or Patron Spirits as a sponsor for 2007.

Target/Ganassi Racing(2): Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon. No changes at present.

Team Penske(2): Sam Hornish, Jr., Helio Castroneves. No changes at present.

Vision Racing(2+): Ed Carpenter, Tomas Scheckter, Nick Bussell(?), Townsend Bell(?). No changes at present.

No. of confirmed seats: 9
No. of open seats: 8-12
Expected car count: 18-20

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According to the Indianapolis Star's Curt Cavin(as reported on ar1.com), officials w/A.J. Foyt Racing are looking at a group of drivers for their single-car operation in 2007; the drivers being looked at include Darren Manning, Jeff Bucknum, Tomas Enge and Townsend Bell.

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Panther Racing announced earlier today that they have signed former Aguri-Fernandez Racing driver Kosuke Matsuura(note to self.....it's Matsuura WITH two u's, not two r's...... .........), thus expanding the team formerly known as Panther Racing into Aguri-Panther Racing. Orignially from Aichi, Japan, Matsuura previously competed in the German F3 series and Formula Renault Eurocup Series. Here are some quotes from thos involved...............

John Barnes, Co-Owner, Aguri-Panther Racing:

We are absolutely thrilled to be partnered with Super Aguri and the opportunity to run Kosuke Matsuura in the IndyCar Series next year. Kosuke is a great talent and we feel like we have the people to teach him how to finish what he does in the races. I'm excited to get him into the Panther way of life and watch him grow into the great racecar driver we know he is going to become. This is a great time; everybody knows Super Aguri, Panasonic and Kosuke just made Panther a much better team.

Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing:

I am very happy to have an opportunity to race in my fourth season in (the) IndyCar Series and realize that is a big responsibility. Panther Racing has won series championships in 2001 and 2002, so I am thrilled to be able to join the champion team in this new partnership. I will do the very best and I aim to win.

With this agreement, the team, as stated, becomes Aguri-Panther Racing(or to be official, Super Aguri Panther Racing...... ). Joining Panther Racing as a co-owner is former Formula 1 driver Aguri Suzuki(yes, the same Aguri Suzuki who helped start Super Aguri F1 Racing in Formula 1 this year...... ). Here's what Aguri Suzuki had to say concerning the above.........

Aguri Suzuki, Co-Owner, Aguri-Panther Racing:

I am very excited and happy to be able to make a new entry in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series with Panther Racing as Super Aguri Panther Racing. Although it will be the fourth season for Kosuke Matsuura, he has so much to learn from Panther Racing, which has won two championships in the past. I believe Matsurra will show positive and dramatic change next year.

In coming to Aguri-Panther Racing, Matsuura joins returning Panther Racing driver Vitor Meira for the 2007 IndyCar Series campaign. In its' history in the IRL(dating back to 1996), Panther has won series championships in 2001 and 2002 with Sam Hornish, Jr; the team has wins from not just Hornish's period w/the team, but also from former IndyCar driver Scott Goodyear and 04-05' Panther alum Tomas Scheckter.

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With Thanksgiving approaching, here are the latest driver projections..........


Andretti-Green Racing(4): Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti. No changes at present; this team is set for 2007.

Aguri-Panther Racing(2): Vitor Meira, Kosuke Matsuura. This week saw Panther Racing join forces with former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki to create Aguri-Panther Racing for 2007; this team is set for 2007.

A.J. Foyt Racing(1): Jeff Bucknum(?), Darren Manning(?), Tomas Enge(?), Townsend Bell(?). No changes at present.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing(1): Sarah Fisher(?), Ryan Briscoe(?), Buddy Lazier(?). No changes at present.

Rahal-Letterman Racing(2): Scott Sharp, Jeff Simmons. As reported earlier in the week, the team confirmed their driver lineup for the upcoming year; this team is set for 2007.

Target-Ganassi Racing(2): Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon. No changes at present; this team is set for 2007.

Team Penske(2): Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish, Jr.. No changes at present; this team is set for 2007.

Vision Racing(2): Ed Carpenter, Tomas Scheckter, Townsend Bell(?), Nick Bussell(?). No changes at present.

No. of confirmed seats: 13
No. of open seats: 4-7
Expected car count: 17-20

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According to speedtv.com, A.J. Foyt Racing has signed former CART, IndyCar and A1GP driver Darren Manning to drive for the Texas-based team in 2007; terms of the deal were not reached. Manning last competed in the IndyCar Series back in mid-2005 for Target/Ganassi Racing before being released by them; before that he competed for Walker Racing in the 2003 ChampCar season and has also competed in a couple of A1GP races for Great Britain.

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2007 IRL IndyCar Series Driver Lineup

Note........not all the drivers with confirmed seats have sponsors confirmed yet(drivers listed by car no.; all drivers with Dallara/Honda)

#2 Tomas Scheckter, Vision Racing---Rock & Republic
#3 Helio Castroneves, Team Penske--sponsor tba
#4 Vitor Meira, Aguri-Panther Racing--Revive USA/Lincoln Tech
#6 Sam Hornish, Jr., Team Penske--sponsor tba
#7 Danica Patrick, Andretti-Green Racing--Motorola/Argent
#8 Scott Sharp, Rahal-Letterman Racing--Patron Spirits
#9 Scott Dixon, Target/Ganassi Racing--Target
#10 Dan Wheldon, Target/Ganassi Racing--Target
#11 Tony Kanaan, Andretti-Green Racing--Bryant Heating & Cooling
#14 Darren Manning, A.J. Foyt Racing--sponsor tba
#17 Jeff Simmons, Rahal-Letterman Racing--Ethanol
#20 Ed Carpenter, Vision Racing--Rock & Republic
#26 Marco Andretti, Andretti-Green Racing--NYSE Group
#27 Dario Franchitti, Andretti-Green Racing--Canadian Club/Vonage
#55 Kosuke Matsuura, Aguri-Panther Racing--Panasonic/ARTA
(#tba) A.J. Foyt, IV, Vision Racing--Rock & Republic
(#tba) Milka Duno, Cahill Racing--sponsor tba
(#tba) Jeff Mitrisin, Cahill Racing--sponsor tba
(#tba) Sarah Fisher, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing--RollCoater/EurUp Energy Drink
(#tba) Buddy Rice, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing--RollCoater/Bitburger


note......list subject to change during off-season

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According to multiple sources, Fernandez Racing, after losing both co-owner Aguri Suzuki and driver Scott Sharp so far in the 06-07 off-season, may be on the rebound. Both ar1.com and speedtv.com are reporting that the team is close to signing former Hemelgarn Racing driver P.J. Chesson for the 2007 season.

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With the new year finally upon us and the first major test of the off-season a few weeks ahead, two bits of IRL-related news have crossed the wires............

1} Franchitti re-signs with AGR......Officials with Andretti-Green Racing finally confirmed that they have re-signed veteran driver Dario Franchitti for the 2007 campaign

2} Foyt, IV. to drive for Vision Racing.........From the are they thinking category, Vision Racing announced that they have signed former Foyt Racing driver A.J. Foyt, IV. for 2007; Foyt, IV joins current Vision Racing drivers Tomas Scheckter and Ed Carpenter for the upcoming season