It will be over a month between IndyCar series races when action resumes next weekend in Houston with the final double-header event of the season. But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been plenty of news within the series.
Former champion Juan Pablo Montoya will return to the series in a full-time ride with Team Penske next year. It had been well known Montoya was looking for a way back in and had discussions with Michael Andretti, but the move to Penske caught everyone by surprise.
Montoya wanted a car he knew was capable of winning. He’s got one. The question now is whether he’s capable of winning. The 38-year-old Colombian hasn’t been in an IndyCar since 2000, spending the past seven seasons in NASCAR, which is a concern. He’ll need to get reacquainted with hope-wheel cars in short order. He has upped his fitness routine and dropped a few pounds, but he’ll need to continue to do so.
A.J. Allmendinger was competitive in a Penske car at the Indy 500, but Montoya is the more talented driver. It may take a few races depending on the amount of testing the team can schedule, but he’ll make his presence felt.
Regarding the series race schedule for 2014, the big news is that IndyCar has indicated it wants to compress the schedule calendar. A Labour Day finish would avoid competing with the NFL for audiences. Personally I don’t believe football season has a significant impact on the IndyCar audience, but obviously it’s a point of discussion
The Baltimore GP has been put on hiatus for the next two years due to other events scheduled in the city during the Labour Day weekend the next two years and I’ll be surprised if it returns at all. There have been several different promoters and none have been able to make it a financial success.
There is a good chance the series runs a road course event to kick off the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Some find the idea of a road race at the famed speedway sacrilege. However, it’s a cost-effective option and the series needs to be financially conscious. The event in Brazil may also have to be replaced.
The Toronto Indy weekend will be July 18-20. No official word yet on whether the double header format returns for next season.
Word from Andretti Autosport is that GoDaddy will not be returning as a primary sponsor for the team next season, complicating the re-signing of soon-to-be free agent James Hinchcliffe. Whether it’s with Andretti or another team, expect Hinch to be back in IndyCar next season. It would be an enormous mistake for that not to happen.