Lots of news, some you may already know about...

- Former CCWS and IndyCar driver Franck Perera has returned to GP2 for the 2009 season.
- The Atlantics C2 class has quietly been mothballed after only one car was entered in consecutive races.
- Jonathon Summerton has moved from Atlantics' Genoa Racing (with whom he has won) to Newman Wachs for the remainder of the season.
- Matt Lee ran a one-off deal with Conquest Racing at the Atlantic's Lime Rock race. The end result was unfortunately not desirable as Lee's car finished in last place after only completing one lap.
- Firestone Indy Lights Chief Steward Tony Cotman declined to allow teams to pit under a "competition yellow" or "red flag" at Toronto when the weather changed. The result was the first green flag pit stops for the entire field in Indy Lights history which was widely applauded by fans despite the fact some teams quietly frowned upon the measure while other owners praised it.

thebatsignal - 18 July 2009 07:02 PM

- Firestone Indy Lights Chief Steward Tony Cotman declined to allow teams to pit under a "competition yellow" or "red flag" at Toronto when the weather changed. The result was the first green flag pit stops for the entire field in Indy Lights history which was widely applauded by fans despite the fact some teams quietly frowned upon the measure while other owners praised it.

I've got to disagree with you there regarding it being "widely applauded by fans". Aside from your post on this forum, I've yet to hear a positive view on the decision.

It'd be fine if everyone did a green flag stop each race, but most of these teams don't invest money in efficient pit stops, since the only time they need to make one is for problems that will usually cost you a lap even in the big cars. Saavedra deserved to win anyway, but Hildebrand wouldn't have finished second if the situation had not occurred.

thecrookedcap - 19 July 2009 01:01 AM

thebatsignal - 18 July 2009 07:02 PM

- Firestone Indy Lights Chief Steward Tony Cotman declined to allow teams to pit under a "competition yellow" or "red flag" at Toronto when the weather changed. The result was the first green flag pit stops for the entire field in Indy Lights history which was widely applauded by fans despite the fact some teams quietly frowned upon the measure while other owners praised it.

I've got to disagree with you there regarding it being "widely applauded by fans". Aside from your post on this forum, I've yet to hear a positive view on the decision.

You were obviously not at the race or were too busy as a team/crew member to notice fan response. The fans [at the race] loved it. Although there are obviously no metrics available, the response was clearly positive.

We know forums of any ilk are not the only source nor the primary source of information. I would encourage you to talk to other people at the race to get a vibe (which may be different for all I know). Unfortunately, the open-wheel developmental ladder remains highly partisan and fractured despite the unification of CCWS/IndyCar... thus many seem to overtly avoid watching OW developmental racing altogether these days. Thus it is the same hardcore people posting updates on this board (Placid, gnome, bmw, Hitokiri, etc) with the IndyCar boards getting as many replies in a single day as this board does in an entire year.

Anyway, welcome.

thebatsignal - 18 July 2009 07:02 PM

- Jonathon Summerton has moved from Atlantics' Genoa Racing (with whom he has won) to Newman Wachs for the remainder of the season.
-

I know Jon was having trouble finding money to fund his Indy Lights ride but I wonder how much of a difference in sponsorship money needed between the Atlantics and Indy Lights. I also wonder how much this decision has on his name being rumored for the US F1 seat (Atlantics I believe run all road courses which could be argued a better ground for F1 then Indy Lights). Maybe Jon feels he can dominate the Atlantic field?

Hitokiri2 - 19 July 2009 09:37 PM

thebatsignal - 18 July 2009 07:02 PM

- Jonathon Summerton has moved from Atlantics' Genoa Racing (with whom he has won) to Newman Wachs for the remainder of the season.
-

I know Jon was having trouble finding money to fund his Indy Lights ride but I wonder how much of a difference in sponsorship money needed between the Atlantics and Indy Lights. I also wonder how much this decision has on his name being rumored for the US F1 seat (Atlantics I believe run all road courses which could be argued a better ground for F1 then Indy Lights). Maybe Jon feels he can dominate the Atlantic field?

Good questions. A number of variables influence why a driver/team/sponsor will run one series over another. Here are some of the specifics...

* Atlantics 12 race primary sponsorship for one car = $750,000 (12 races at 10 locations). Average per race = $62,500
* Indy Lights 15 race primary sponsorship for one car = $1,000,000 (15 races at 14 locations). Average per race = $66,667.00 (Note: does not reflect increased propensity for crash damage on both concrete-walled street circuits and ovals.)

* Atlantics has 12 races at 10 different circuits:
- 1 street circuit
- 11 road races

* Indy Lights has 15 races at 14 different circuits:
- 5 street circuits
- 3 road races
- 7 ovals (flat and banked)

horsepower/chassis:
* Atlantics = 300 bhp/Swift
* Indy Lights = 425 bhp/Dallara

purse (total, high and guaranteed low):
* Atlantics = $3,000,000 with $1,000,000 to championship winner and $500,000 to runner-up. Minimum undisclosed.
* Indy Lights = total is $4,100,000 with some given out as performance bonuses (ROY, championship winner, pole positions, etc). Minimum (assuming you finish dead last in every race without any performance bonuses) is $265,300.

Media coverage:
- Atlantics = HDNet (web-based)
- Indy Lights = Versus (TV) and IMS Productions (web-based)

In summation, the highly talented Summerton was originally only slated to run Atlantics for 2009... but did sign a last second short-fused deal for a concurrent limited schedule in Indy Lights. I honestly believe Summerton would have continued to run both if he could have... but sustained funding became an issue with his only guaranteed seat being from a source rooted in Atlantics.

The real question is will USF1 give a seat to an American if he finishes second on a split developmental grid? Summerton and Hildebrand (both of whom have also raced in A1GP) need to win their respective championships [Atlantics/Indy Lights] to have a realistic chance. Otherwise look for USF1 to go elsewhere.

John Edwards has recently won 1 half of a double-header
weekend at Autobahn at Joliet this past Saturday after
Newman-Wachs went 1-2 with Jonathan Summerton and Simona
DeSilvestro taking the 3rd podium spot.

The lead between the 3 podium finishes are within a
14 point gap.

Report:
http://www.eformulacarnews.com/news_info.php?n=5839

Your comment as to minimum winnings in the Indy Lights Series seems incorrect. It depends on the # of cars, but at St. Pete several drivers won nothing, and at the biggest payout of the year at Indy, Plowman got $4,000. After Toronto, the lowest total of anyone that had run all 9 races at that point was Pippa at $74,000.

Just in from yesterday. Edwards sweeps Joliet.
He is now within 5 points of Simona.

Report:
http://www.eformulacarnews.com/news_info.php?n=5845&sid=e080fd648b74cce80649c9b79a40b88d

I have no doubt that Summerton is 1 of the front-runners for
the 2nd F1 seat after USGPE announced an interest with Alex
Wurz. But why shun away Hildebrand? He is doing an amazing
job. And he should be considered for a seat. If Peter and
Ken can negotiate some deals with GP2 teams, and even F2
teams, maybe JR can work his way up towards Formula 1.

Edwards should be considered a USF1 role as a tester.

thebatsignal - 24 July 2009 06:37 PM

The real question is will USF1 give a seat to an American if he finishes second on a split developmental grid? Summerton and Hildebrand (both of whom have also raced in A1GP) need to win their respective championships [Atlantics/Indy Lights] to have a realistic chance. Otherwise look for USF1 to go elsewhere.

Thanks for the facts and also thank you for reminding me of the million dollar/$500K rewards for the 1st and 2nd place finishers of the Atlantic Series. I think that probably pays a big role into it mostly if Jon believes he can get the USF1 seat and use the earned money as a bargaining chip with any potential sponsorship.

I also agree that JR and Jon Summerton (or even Edwards who is currently second in the Atlantic Series) wants a direct shot at the US F1 seat they need to win the championships. Jon came close last year but faltered at the end ending up 3rd and is having a strong season but is also 3rd thus far this season. There's no doubt he one of the great US open wheel talents out there but he has to win a championship to show his true worth.

Placid - 27 July 2009 12:54 PM

I hBut why shun away Hildebrand? He is doing an amazing
job. And he should be considered for a seat.

The weakness of JR is his inconsistent pass. Summerton has won in nearly any open wheel car he has touched and son of those wins came in mediocre teams but JR hasn't proven as much.

If JR can win the Indy Light championship he can at least hold that to his record.