Silly Season--IRL, 2006
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:19 pm
With only two races to go this season, now begins the silly season report for the 2006 IndyCar Series season. As with the rival series, I'll update this thread every so often as the teams prepare for next season. Here's the current status for all the teams, as of 19 Sept. 2005.
1}Andretti-Green Racing. Probably the most dominant team in AOWR since Penske's 1-2-3 sweep in the 1994 CART season, this team has the same look that Ferrari had in F1 last year....unstoppable. Right now, all four drivers, Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, and Bryan Herta, appear to be returning for 2006.
2}Marlboro/Team Penske. For a Toyota-powered squad, they're the only ones who've challenged AGR all year. Both seats, occupied by 2-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, and 2-time series champion Sam Hornish, Jr, are safe.
3}Panther Racing. While drivers Tomas Scheckter and Tomas Enge's rides appear safe for the time being, their team's in flux. 2 reasons:1--their current powerplant, Chevy, leaves after 2005, and 2--their sponsors, Pennzoil and Rockstar Energy Drink, haven't renewed their contracts for the '06 season.
4}Rahal-Letterman Racing. Last year, RLR's Buddy Rice finished 3rd in the standings; this year he's 14th in the standings. It's been that kind of year for the team. At least this much is sure; barring anything unforseen, drivers Buddy Rice, Danica Patrick and Vitor Meira will be in their cars for 2006.
5}Fernandez Racing. No major changes expected. Veteran Scott Sharp should be back for 2006. So should Kosuke Matsuura, and if sponsorship money can be found, so will current owner Adrian Fernandez, who won three races back in 2004.
6}Vision Racing. Tony George's team(yes, he's now a team owner) hasn't fared well, but as team managed John Curry pointed out earlier in the year, "it's a year of building for us. Next year, we'll have to put the lessons learned now to good use." Driver Ed Carpenter should be back for 2006.
7}Target/Ganassi Racing. Everything that could go wrong for Chip Ganassi's team has gone wrong. The question for the Chipster seems to be...should I run three cars or two cars? Going with that is, who'll drive those cars? For now, none of his drivers, Scott Dixon, Jaques Lazier, Giorgio Pantano or Ryan Briscoe, should consider their seats safe for 2006.
8}Dreyer & Reinbold. No changes expected for 2006, unless the team decides to drop Roger Yasukawa and find someone else to pilot their current one-car ride.
9}A.J. Foyt Racing. No major changes expected, unless current driver A.J. Foyt IV decides to head over to NASCAR next year.
10}Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing. No changes expected, unless the team decides to bring back Paul Dana for 2006. Otherwise, this seat's wide open.
11}Team Cheever. With Red Bull all but gone after this year, this team's in serious need of a sponsor. However, unless the teams folds or shrinks to a 1-car team, drivers Patrick Carpentier and Alex Barron should be back for 2006.
1}Andretti-Green Racing. Probably the most dominant team in AOWR since Penske's 1-2-3 sweep in the 1994 CART season, this team has the same look that Ferrari had in F1 last year....unstoppable. Right now, all four drivers, Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, and Bryan Herta, appear to be returning for 2006.
2}Marlboro/Team Penske. For a Toyota-powered squad, they're the only ones who've challenged AGR all year. Both seats, occupied by 2-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, and 2-time series champion Sam Hornish, Jr, are safe.
3}Panther Racing. While drivers Tomas Scheckter and Tomas Enge's rides appear safe for the time being, their team's in flux. 2 reasons:1--their current powerplant, Chevy, leaves after 2005, and 2--their sponsors, Pennzoil and Rockstar Energy Drink, haven't renewed their contracts for the '06 season.
4}Rahal-Letterman Racing. Last year, RLR's Buddy Rice finished 3rd in the standings; this year he's 14th in the standings. It's been that kind of year for the team. At least this much is sure; barring anything unforseen, drivers Buddy Rice, Danica Patrick and Vitor Meira will be in their cars for 2006.
5}Fernandez Racing. No major changes expected. Veteran Scott Sharp should be back for 2006. So should Kosuke Matsuura, and if sponsorship money can be found, so will current owner Adrian Fernandez, who won three races back in 2004.
6}Vision Racing. Tony George's team(yes, he's now a team owner) hasn't fared well, but as team managed John Curry pointed out earlier in the year, "it's a year of building for us. Next year, we'll have to put the lessons learned now to good use." Driver Ed Carpenter should be back for 2006.
7}Target/Ganassi Racing. Everything that could go wrong for Chip Ganassi's team has gone wrong. The question for the Chipster seems to be...should I run three cars or two cars? Going with that is, who'll drive those cars? For now, none of his drivers, Scott Dixon, Jaques Lazier, Giorgio Pantano or Ryan Briscoe, should consider their seats safe for 2006.
8}Dreyer & Reinbold. No changes expected for 2006, unless the team decides to drop Roger Yasukawa and find someone else to pilot their current one-car ride.
9}A.J. Foyt Racing. No major changes expected, unless current driver A.J. Foyt IV decides to head over to NASCAR next year.
10}Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing. No changes expected, unless the team decides to bring back Paul Dana for 2006. Otherwise, this seat's wide open.
11}Team Cheever. With Red Bull all but gone after this year, this team's in serious need of a sponsor. However, unless the teams folds or shrinks to a 1-car team, drivers Patrick Carpentier and Alex Barron should be back for 2006.
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