Indy Car: I Think I'm Going To Like It Here!

Throughout the many years of my life where I have been absolutely besotted with the world motorsport, I have tried to watch as many different series as I could. Unfortunately, with so many series and so little time, some found themselves being neglected, and others completely ignored. One that I would pay attention to every once in a blue moon was Indy Car. Now, as someone who spends a good chunk of their time over in the States, it’s kind of surprising that I’m quite ignorant of American motorsport. But, with the infamous month of May just around the corner for the Indy Car series, things might just be changing.

Although Indy Car is nothing new to me; my dad was a fan of the series before he switched to F1, and I regularly tune into the Indy 500 year upon year; I am by no means a genius when it comes to the ins and outs of the American series. Several years ago, let's say when Formula One's Fernando Alonso took part in the Indy 500 for the first time, I tried to be a regular Indy Car viewer, but as someone who also tries to have a life away from their motorsport obsession, I found myself missing race weekends and eventually not tuning in at all. Until the 2024 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, that is. Somewhere, something was telling me that now was the time to become a proper fan of Indy Car.

Since Liberty Media's takeover of the Formula One series in 2017, many fans, including myself, have this perception that modern day F1 is becoming too "Americanised," taking it far away from it's original roots and making it nothing more than a show. Some time ago driver introductions, street circuits like Miami or Vegas, and the emphasis of the show rather than the racing, would be almost unheard of. However, in Indy Car these shenanigans all make sense and represent the American culture, as we know it, down to a tee. And, contradictorily, that's an aspect that I quite like about the world of American motorsport. But, that's the thing. Formula One isn't American, Indy Car is. Apart from racing open single-seaters on a track, they are indeed very different series.

Another interesting aspect that is opening my eyes wider to the series on the other side of the pond is the amount of European-based drivers choosing a career in Indy rather than Formula One, with the former opening more doors to younger drivers such as the likes of Felix Rosenqvist, Jack Harvey, Alex Palou, Tom Blomqvist, Pietro Fittipaldi and, more recently, Theo Pourchaire, just to name a very small few. (I’ve included Rosenqvist, Harvey and Blomqvist in this because they are my generation of young driver!) It really is no secret that Indy Car is giving these drivers what Formula One has failed to do. I mean just look at Palou; before Indy Car he never got anywhere near an F1 car. Not only has he now tested one, he’s also given the series the ultimate middle finger by winning the Indy Car championship, not once but twice, in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

While watching the Grand Prix of Alabama, I was hooked on the amount of on-track battles and overtakes that were taking place. And, some of these drivers didn't hold back, with more aggressive driving styles at the forefront. Although some overtakes failed to come to fruition, Pato O'Ward was especially having a dismal race, I was impressed by the ones which did work out, considering the challenge Barber Motorsports Park presents each racing driver with.

Of course, like with many motorsport series; looking at you F1; Indy Car has found itself familiar with controversies. Take the recent “push to pass cheating scandal” that saw Team Penske disqualified from this year’s season opener in St Petersburg, Florida. I think non-Indy Car watchers even heard about that one. But I guess that’s just a part of motorsport, keeping us fans, drivers, teams on our heels at all times! That’s just motorsport, for you. At the end of the day though, I’m here for the racing, and honestly, watching Indy Car was a like a breath of fresh air. For me, it was having that excitement of the unknown. With plenty of on-track battles, aggressive, yet respectful, driving styles, full course cautions that threw the race on it’s backside and, the now infamous, Georgina that has taken the motorsport world by storm, I was hooked, with the motorsport adrenaline running through my veins once again.

I really do think I have a new found appreciation for Indy Car. It is, in some sense, a whole new kind of motorsport world to the usual Formula racing I am used to. And, with May now upon us, this really is the right time to be a “petrol head.” All I can say is that, one, I hope to keep up with Indy Car and it’s shenanigans, and two, I am so ready for the Indy 500, Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hour. Let’s gooooo!

Race Review: Monaco E-Prix 2024

"You can't overtake in Monaco." This is the common perception some motorsport fans have when it comes to racing around the streets of the principality that lays along the Mediterranean coast. In truth, you can overtake in Moncao, but maybe it's feature dependent on the racing series, as yet again, with just under 200 overtakes during the course of the 2024 race, Formula E has proved that it is in fact a possible feat.

Drama evolved early at this year's Monaco Formula E weekend, with McLaren's Sam Bird coming a cropper in the opening practice session, injuring his hand in the process. Unfortunately for him, it also marked an early end to his weekend and was therefore replaced by McLaren's reserve driver; Taylor Barnard, who, at only 19-years-old, now holds the record for youngest driver to ever start a Formula E race. Despite racing full time in Formula 2, Barnard quickly got to grips with the Formula E race car, and the Monaco circuit which he was yet to drive. He qualified the race in 22nd, before climbing 8 places to finish in 14th and ahead of teammate; Jake Hughes. An impressive debut by the youngster.

Of course, this wouldn't be Monaco without further drama, with plenty of bumps and taps between drivers as they raced around the narrow streets. Nyck de Vries, coming out of the first turn on lap one, was first to receive front wing damage. But, he wasn't the only one. Throughout the race Norman Nato, Jake Hughes, Jake Dennis and Robin Frijns were also some of the other more notable victims.

Safety Cars are also a given during a race in Monaco. Again, this race was no different, with the first being brought out after Edoardo Mortara found himself wedged in the barrier at the Swimming Pool Chicane, a technical issue thought to have a played apart in his one-man crash. A second safety car was brought out late on on Lap 25. This was to recover the stricken Abt of Nico Mueller after a collision with Hughes left him in the wall at Rascasse. Hughes would go onto receive a five second time penalty.

Despite the drama of cars in walls and games of bumper cars, the race was made equally entertaining by the numerous overtakes, strategy masterclasses and intense battles that were ongoing up and down the field. A common theme with Formula E so far in 2024, is the early incentive for drivers to activate their attack modes early. Pascal Wehrlein took the opportunity as soon as he could, activating it twice in the space of a few laps, dropping the Porsche driver to 4th. However, for the DS Penskes of Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne their first attack modes were slightly interrupted by the first Safety Car, enabling the Jaguar team to begin their strategy masterclass that ultimately gifted them with a 1-2 finish come the end of the race.

And, it was a strategy like no other, and one that warrants it's own paragraph. With both Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy passing Vandoorne in little to no time after the first Safety Car restart, it would be Cassidy that would hold the charging pack up, letting Evans speed away, using up his attack modes in the process. The duo would then switch positions, before starting the process all over once again. But, after a dominant drive by both Evans and Cassidy, it would be the former to take the chequered flag, with Cassidy just inches behind. A massive improvement from the Jaguar team who have, so far, shown difficulties in 2024.

Jaguar wasn't the only team to come alive in Monaco. DS Penske, who have been notorious for struggles in recent years started the Monaco weekend with an incredible qualifying. Vandoorne would start 2nd, Vergne 5th. Both drivers would spend the race in the top five, battling "two by two" with Jaguar in 1st and 2nd, DS in 3rd and 4th, Porsche in 5th and 6th and Nissan in 7th and 8th. Although Jaguars positions looked sealed, 3rd down was anyone's. Vandoorne would hold off his charging teammate; Vergne, as well as the Porsches and Nissans to complete the podium positions - his first with DS Penske. Vergne would finish fourth, giving DS Penske their best finish in Formula E to date, as well as proof of their much needed improvements.

Formula E has, once again, provided us with a race that makes you wonder why people speak so negatively of the series. FE seems to be giving us what a certain "pinnacle of motorsport" series is failing to do so. All I can say to the "haters" is to give Formula E a go. It's chaotic, crazy and unpredictable. The Monaco E-Prix is no different.

Next up: Berlin.

Opinion: Is Time Up For Lance Stroll?

The internet is a cruel, cruel place, with the Formula One online community no exception. Several drivers have found themselves going through the wrath of cancel culture, death threats and the harsh words of keyboard warriors protected by a screen. And, once again, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll is in the firing line, after a disastrous Chinese Grand Prix that saw him crash into the back of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo during a Safety Car period. Although a large percentage of people’s comments are uncalled for, are their perceptions right in that Stroll just isn’t good enough for Formula One?

Unfortunately for Lance he is shrouded by the fact that he is hired by his own father, with some under the opinion that “Daddy Stroll” bought the team to keep his son in the sport rather than him earning his place on merit. While this is likely the case, Stroll’s on-track antics have done nothing but keep him constantly under scrutiny and under the watchful eyes of fans and pundits alike. What happened during the Chinese Grand Prix isn’t the first time that Stroll has found himself being criticised and, if anything, has opened a can of worms, with Aston Martin coming under increased pressure to drop the Canadian to benefit themselves in the long run.

But, what actually happened in China that caused Stroll’s rapidly declining reputation to decline even further?

Simply put, it was a standard end to the Safety Car period, with cars bunching up as they entered into the hairpin. But, where everyone else braked, Stroll then accelerated, crashing into Ricciardo’s RB and causing a chain reaction in which saw Ricciardo retire from the race and Oscar Piastri’s McLaren gain performance effected damage. Although a mistake on Stroll’s behalf, it was one mistake drivers racing at this calibre shouldn’t be making.

For Lance, it’s not just the accident which has rubbed people up the wrong way, but his refusal to accept blame for the incident, as well as branding his ten second time penalty “a joke” and even going as far as calling Ricciardo and those ahead “idiots” for bunching up like they did. After the race he said:

“The concertina effect – someone braked at the front of the pack, I don’t know who, and then everyone stopped. The car in front of me stopped from 60 to zero, and boom. A really stupid incident.”

As easy as that is to believe, on board replays have proven that the Aston Martin driver wasn’t exactly concentrating, looking in a different direction to the slow moving RB ahead of him.

“As soon as we start braking, you can see his helmet turn right and he’s looking at the apex at Turn 14. He’s not even watching me and then, when he looks back, he’s in the back of me. So I don’t know what he’s doing, where his head is, but all you have to do is worry about me in that situation – and he clearly wasn’t.” - Daniel Ricciardo

This is just one of several incidents to plague Stroll in his struggling motor racing career. Yes, career. It hasn’t just been in Formula One in which incidents have troubled the young driver. Take European Formula 3 in 2015, where several avoidable incidents led to a race ban for the third race of the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

Nevertheless, despite his issues and constant speed deficit to teammate Fernando Alonso, Stroll has, at times, shown speed and potential. To date, he has scored three well earned podiums - a 3rd place at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, another 3rd at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, and a final 3rd at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. And, not to forget, his stunning pole position, in the damp conditions, at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix. When his head is in the right place, he can do it. He can do it well.

There is no saying as to why Stroll struggles like he does. And, what seems relatively evident is that his passion for racing is slowly fading. Is it mentally becoming too much for the Aston Martin driver? Is the harsh criticism to blame? With Formula One’s constant growth in popularity and online resources constantly evolving, there seems to be no hiding from scrutiny. Motorsport is a notorious world after all, and mental health isn’t the number one priority.

In no disrespect to Lance, if Aston Martin are serious about moving forward as a team they either need to sort out their driver or get a new one. As always, things are easier said than done. And, until Lance is ready to move on, rumours have circulated that he’d consider a career in tennis, I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

I can’t defend Lance for his incident in China. I can’t defend his reaction to it either. But, I do feel for the kid. As established, his whole career has never been easy and the comments he gets on social media can be hard to read. However, right now, his performance doesn’t warrant being an F1 driver and his chances of being champion, ever, are pretty much nada. For his sake, and the sport's sake, I hope he starts to turn things around.