Monaco - 2017

[cosworth151]

I seriously doubt that IndyCar would be interested in becoming a "junior" series to anyone. It would be suicide to any hope of expanding their American fan base.

[Dare]

I thought Indy had a jr series,wasn't it called Indy Lights? Don't know if it's still around

[Alianora La Canta]

I'm not too sure about that. The States are a big market for Mercedes. Merc has a history with Indy (and Penske). IndyCar is actively looking for a third engine manufacturer.

Indy should take a serious look at partnering with F1.  Scrap the Formula-Dallara and use F1 spec cars/engines.  It would give more customers to F1 suppliers to keep down F1 costs.  The IndyCar season could be run as a sort of American feeder series to F1, but the 500 would remain open to all.

One reason Indycars partners with Dallara is because they are cheap. Granted, Dallara doesn't do F1 cars very well (and not for lack of trying), but Indycars don't need to be as super-advanced as F1. They just need to excel in the conditions they are given, which are quite different to F1.

Frankly, there'd be (slightly) more mileage in adapted Indycars being made available to F1 teams that don't care much about performance and simply wish to survive on the grid than there is in the other way round.

I thought Indy had a jr series,wasn't it called Indy Lights? Don't know if it's still around

Yes, it does and that is what it is called. It's around, but not as noisily as in previous years from a European perspective as no famous Europeans have joined it this year.

[Andy B]

I'm not too sure about that. The States are a big market for Mercedes. Merc has a history with Indy (and Penske). IndyCar is actively looking for a third engine manufacturer.

Indy should take a serious look at partnering with F1.  Scrap the Formula-Dallara and use F1 spec cars/engines.  It would give more customers to F1 suppliers to keep down F1 costs.  The IndyCar season could be run as a sort of American feeder series to F1, but the 500 would remain open to all.

One reason Indycars partners with Dallara is because they are cheap. Granted, Dallara doesn't do F1 cars very well (and not for lack of trying), but Indycars don't need to be as super-advanced as F1. They just need to excel in the conditions they are given, which are quite different to F1.

Frankly, there'd be (slightly) more mileage in adapted Indycars being made available to F1 teams that don't care much about performance and simply wish to survive on the grid than there is in the other way round.

I thought Indy had a jr series,wasn't it called Indy Lights? Don't know if it's still around

Yes, it does and that is what it is called. It's around, but not as noisily as in previous years from a European perspective as no famous Europeans have joined it this year.

Ali are Indy cars all the same chassis?

[John S]

Ali are Indy cars all the same chassis?

That's an easy one Andy, yes they all use the same Dallara chassis, although there are two versions of the chassis.
Currently with differing aero kits for each engine supplier they need two chassis; one for road tracks and a different one for ovals. The chassis are at the same fixed cost for every team who wishes to enter cars.

From next year there will be only one universal aero kit so one chassis, again by Dallara, will be needed for all races. It's a further cost cutting measure, apparently, to make Indycar accessible for all teams.   

[J.Clark]

A lot of curious ideas are being discussed.  Some may be good for Indy Car, some may be good for Formula 1, and most not particularly good for both.

I like the idea of an American feeder series in concept; however, with all of the major organs of Formula 1 in Europe, any driver hoping to get into F1, would have to relocate to Europe eventually, and that is a stumbling block.

As for the Indy Car series and Formula 1 sort of sharing/melding technologies, NO - please.  One of the things Indy Car does that is incredibly intelligent in my opinion is the simplicity and consistency of the rules regulating chassis, aeros, and engines.  My fear would be that it would eventually ruin Indy Car, which in its own rite is an excellent series.

I would like to see Monaco be a weekend before or after the 500.  Many young fans do not realize it, but the Indy 500 has always been a Memorial Day (US) thing, and Monaco was not always that weekend.  In fact, another thing many of the young generations may not know is that several drivers from F1 have raced in the Indy 500 and collected WDC points for it.  I would therefore like to see that return - points for competing in the Classic - a couple if they qualify and use the same points system as F1 for finishing in the top ten.

[cosworth151]

Indy Lights are now the top level of the "Mazda Road to Indy" feeder system. The middle level is Pro Mazda. The entry level is USF2000. Starting next season, USF2000 & Pro Mazda will use the same basic tub. That will make it easier & more economical to advance from one series to the other.

[John S]

Here is a vid talking through the main differences, and similarities, between Indycar and F1.

[Jericoke]

I seriously doubt that IndyCar would be interested in becoming a "junior" series to anyone. It would be suicide to any hope of expanding their American fan base.

IndyCar is mostly an excuse to run the Indy500 with professional drivers, and for teams to have something to do between Memorial Days.  For a very long time Indy was 100% independent of USAC and CART, running a unique formula that allowed 'IndyCars' to run there. 

There's no reason why Indy can't become a single event again, running F1 spec cars.

IndyCar would fall apart without Indy, of course, hence my suggestion for it to be a 'feeder' series.  Perhaps 'feeder' series is the wrong word.  Maybe look at it like baseball.  The American League and National League are equal, yet different.  Let IndyCar and F1 operate independently, but with the same formula to share costs.  Drivers and teams could move between series easily. The 500 could be a crown jewel for both series.

[cosworth151]

One thing happened because of Alonso going to Indy. The Indy 500 pulled better TV ratings than the Grand Prix of Monaco. Spanish TV ratings, that is.

According to FormulaTV, live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 in Spain averaged 443,000 viewers (3.6%) via the #0 Movistar subscription TV service. That beat the live coverage of Monaco on Movistar's dedicated Formula 1 channel, which averaged 212,000 (2.0%). FormulaTV reports last year's Monaco race averaged 302k (2.8%) in Spain, meaning F1 lost nearly a third of those viewers with local hero Alonso literally out of the picture.

[Jericoke]

One thing happened because of Alonso going to Indy. The Indy 500 pulled better TV ratings than the Grand Prix of Monaco. Spanish TV ratings, that is.

According to FormulaTV, live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 in Spain averaged 443,000 viewers (3.6%) via the #0 Movistar subscription TV service. That beat the live coverage of Monaco on Movistar's dedicated Formula 1 channel, which averaged 212,000 (2.0%). FormulaTV reports last year's Monaco race averaged 302k (2.8%) in Spain, meaning F1 lost nearly a third of those viewers with local hero Alonso literally out of the picture.

The Canadian and Brazillian Grand Prix are amongst the highest rated TV events in Europe, due to them being on during prime time.  Certainly  following Alonso would make a difference in Spain, though a better viewing schedule would have helped.

Liberty should schedule more American F1 races just for the TV ratings.