The Definitive 2006 IRL Preview

The IRL IndyCar series is facing testing times.

At this point two years ago, it looked to have won the North American open-wheel racing battle. CART went bust and the IRL was in line to purchase the assets.

But that didn't happen and in those two years, Champ Car has managed a remarkable resurgence.

After years of Lola and Reynards, Champ Car has a smart new chassis deal in place. The IRL does not.

After years of falling grids, Champ Car is back on the increase. The IRL is on the slide.

What has damaged the IRL's credibility heavily in recent times is the withdrawal of two of their three engine suppliers.

Chevrolet left at the end of last year, and Toyota followed this winter by pulling the plug on the series a year earlier than expected, in order to focus on NASCAR.

The series' over-reliance on Danica Patrick as a marketing tool cheapens the sport, and yet again we head to the start of the season not really knowing whether the full field of 33 cars for the Indianapolis 500 will actually be reached. Honda have arranged special leasing programmes for their engines, however few know who is in the background ready to purchase them.

And the Indy 500 aside, race-day attendance isn't exactly amazing.

Yet, through all this media doom and gloom, 2006 could be a stellar year for IRL.

All the major names, driver wise, are still there, and the side effect of Honda being the last engine maker standing is that the racing should vastly improve and become closer. On oval courses, the less mechanical differences there are between the cars, the better, because it will ultimately provide the spectator with something more substantial and tighter to watch.

The nail-biting finishes that the IRL was getting used to at the turn of the century could return.

Despite there only being one engine make, stability has been ensured with Honda committing to the series until 2009.

Reigning champion Dan Wheldon could have gone to Formula One or NASCAR, but stayed in the IRL and switched teams to Ganassi giving the series a major confidence boost.

In Andretti Green, Penske and Chip Ganassi, the IRL has three championship-calibre teams back on an equal footing, and the return of Eddie Cheever Jr and Michael Andretti will add some colour and column inches to the series when it needs it most.

The squashed schedule will provide a tougher logistical operation for the teams, but a more focused schedule may lead to an increased viewer presence on a regular basis.

Make no mistake, NASCAR is still king, but both the Champ Car and IRL are keeping their heads above water to register on the radar.

There have been recent reports of Champ Car boss Kevin Kalkhoven and IRL founder Tony George getting together for informal chats about a merger. Many fans are excited. But don't bank on a peace breaking out just yet.

Whatever you think of the IRL/Champ Car situation - they will both be around for a while yet.

Which is fine, for the moment at least; having IRL gives the fans more races to watch.

Marco Andretti
#26 Andretti Green Racing

AGR team boss Michael Andretti has taken the brave move by replacing outgoing IRL champion Dan Wheldon with his own 17-year-old son. He insists it isn't purely nepotism, and that the next generation in the long line of Andrettis does have the potential to be a front-runner. This will be a learning year for Marco, who has three Infiniti Pro Series victories to his name (all on road courses). Rookie of the year is within his grasp.

Ed Carpenter
#20 Vision Racing

Carpenter will have a superb teammate in Tomas Scheckter to learn from in his second season with Vision Racing, something that he needs, having failed to finish a race higher than eighth in either of his first two IRL seasons. Last year was a learning year for the team, but testing form has so far been positive, including the eighth fastest time at the official test at Phoenix.

Helio Castroneves
#3 Marlboro Team Penske

Castroneves has won a mere two races in the last two seasons, but the enforced switch to Honda power has already improved the team's pace in testing. It looks as if both Penske drivers will again be vying with AGR and Ganassi for the titles this season, and Castroneves is desperate to add a series championship to his two Indy 500 victories. The IRL is missing Helio's regular fence-climbing antics...

Eddie Cheever Jr.
#51 Cheever Racing

Cheever - who took part in the Grand Prix Masters race at Kyalami last November, don't forget - has come out of retirement to drive for his own team for at least four rounds, including May's Indy 500. He hasn't raced since 2002 but believes the fire is still burning inside his 48-year-old body. Unlikely to be anything other than an also-ran, but he will be a welcome returnee.

P.J. Chesson

#91 Hemelgarn Racing

Former sprint car and World of Outlaws star Chesson signed a late deal to contest the entire series with former series champions Hemelgarn, with help from Basketball star Carmelo Anthony. They haven't tested together so it will be steep learning curve from this weekend's opening Homestead Miami Speedway round and big things shouldn't exactly be expected.

Paul Dana
#17 Rahal Letterman Racing

The former mechanic and motorsport journalist has moved to the crack Rahal Letterman squad with his Ethanol backing (that's greener fuel, don't you know). He is eligible for the Rookie of the Year title because he only got three starts in last season before breaking his back in an Indianapolis practice crash. Will probably be beaten by Marco Andretti for the rookie honours, but it will be interesting to see how he can perform with a race wining team.

Scott Dixon

#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing

Dixon will now be joined by Dan Wheldon at Ganassi to rival AGR as the pitlane's most formidable driver line-up. Should benefit from Toyota's withdrawal, and the new Honda powerplant combined with the Dallara chassis should help return the team to their former glories. Won at Watkins Glen in '05 and should be again be a major threat on the road courses this year.

Dario Franchitti
#27 Andretti Green Racing

Many are predicting this could be Franchitti's best shot at the IRL title - and it's not hard to see why. He's coming in off a strong end to the 2005 season, and has shown pace in pre-season testing. Wheldon has left for Ganassi so the Scot gets the Brit's Jim Beam paint scheme and John Anderson, his former race strategist. Doubled his IRL win count last year with two wins, and could take a bunch more this year.

Felipe Giaffone

#14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises

Giaffone was out shopping when he got a late call from AJ Foyt to see if he was available to try and qualify for last year's Indy 500 on bump day. He was and he did. Finished a steady 15th, but the former IRL race winner has received a better call for a season-long deal this year. The team isn't exactly up to AGR's or Penske's standard but Giaffone should be knocking on the door of some top-five finishes this year.

Bryan Herta
#7 Andretti Green Racing

Herta underperformed in the USA entry of the A1 Grand Prix during the off-season, but should be back to his winning ways in the IRL this year. Was mighty at Michigan last year, which is proof enough of the American being unbeatable on his day. Hasn't yet put up a championship challenge, but you would expect more victories this year.

Sam Hornish Jr.

#6 Marlboro Team Penske

The double champion's road course pace has come on leaps and bounds since last year, recently finishing second and third in the road course test days at Homestead Miami Speedway. That allied with Penske's expected resurgence with Honda power should mean that the ever-consistent Hornish should be at the sharp end regularly this season. Also a good bet for Indy 500 victory.

Tony Kanaan
#11 Andretti Green Racing

The 2004 champion had measured defence of his title last season with pole for the Indy 500 and two victories, but was always one of Dan Wheldon's biggest threats. Reminded everyone he can be a road course king with his mighty performance at Infineon Raceway Sears Point, and will be hoping that Wheldon's defection to Ganassi will leave the door open to take his second crown. Teammate Franchitti will give him a run for his money though.

Buddy Lazier

#5 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

The 2000 series champion has not had a fulltime drive in the IRL since 2002, but will complete the season with Dreyer and Reinbold racing this year. Lazier apparently impressed the team with his 2004 Indy 500 performance, where he started 28th and finished 23rd, which led to the call up after. With Cheever Jr back too, it means that five former IRL champions will be on the grid this year.

Kosuke Matsuura
#55 Super Aguri Fernandez Racing

Matsuura is now the sport's only Asian driver with Roger Yasukawa being dropped for Buddy Lazier at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Matsuura faired best of all the road courses, taking a brace of sixth-placed finishes at Infineon Raceway Sears Point and Watkins Glen. Will do well to trouble the front-runners in the unpopular Panoz chassis, especially with everyone else now being powered by a Honda too.

Vitor Meira

#4 Panther Racing

At one point former champions Panther Racing looked like they would struggle to make the grid this season, taking the unorthodox step of issuing a press release to seek sponsorship for 2006. Vitor Meira's superb second at Indy last season was forgotten about in the Wheldon/Danica hype that surrounded the race's fallout, and he is perfectly capable of taking a victory or two this year with the restructured team.

Danica Patrick
#16 Rahal Letterman Racing

This season is the year Danica Patrick has to justify the hype she created after coming - not as close as some people think - to Indy 500 victory last season. Despite dozens of magazine covers, product endorsements and television commercials she didn't stand on the podium once last year. She did at least have three poles to show for her rookie season but she needs to start racking up some consistent top three finishes soon.

Buddy Rice

#15 Rahal Letterman Racing

Before his Indy 500 crash last year, Rice looked like he's have a strong season, with a two points finishes including a podium at Motegi. After the Indy 500 practice crash where he injured his back, he finished on the podium only once more, and looked a shadow of his former Indy 500-winning self. Will be looking to return to some kind of championship challenge this season, but the unpopular Panoz chassis could prove the difference on some of the ovals.

Tomas Scheckter
#2 Vision Racing

Scheckter is the best thing to happen to Vision Racing, who are about to start their second season in the IRL. The South African is one of the sport's fastest drivers, proved last year by three pole positions despite being powered by Panther Racing's aging Chevrolet. If he can mould with the team well enough, there is a chance he could add to his two career victories this year.

Scott Sharp

#8 Delphi Fernandez Racing

After standing in the pitlane helping fellow IRL racer Bryan Herta compete in the US entry for A1 Grand Prix series this winter, Sharp returns to the cockpit. One of the IRL's biggest supporters, Sharp was in Victory Lane last season and should be an occasional podium finisher this year.

Dan Wheldon
#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing

Wheldon swept all before him last year, taking the crown with ease and a superb Indy 500 victory to boot. Will have a tougher job this year trying to rebuild former champions Ganassi, who are switching to Wheldon's favoured Dallara chassis and Honda engines. The Briton will have to get used to a Panoz on the road course, but is he eyeing up a NASCAR programme with the team?

The FAQ

What's new then for 2006?

The main change this season is everyone will have a Honda engine. Chevrolet, who supplied Panther Racing last year, always said that 2005 would be the end of its time in the category, but Toyota pulled out a year ahead of schedule to put resources into its NASCAR programme.

This left top Toyota teams Ganassi and Penske out in the cold, but Honda has stepped up its engine programme and will provide their units to anyone who wants them.

Won't that make things a bit dull if everybody uses the same engine?

Probably not. The Chevrolet and Toyota engine were widely perceived not to be a match for Honda. So with everyone on the same power plant there is hope that the field will now close up a bit and make for closer racing. What could also help is Andretti Green Racing losing their status as the favoured Honda team. Expect more tight finishes in 2006 than in '05.

But how are they going to stop some Honda engines being, ahem, 'more equal' than others?

Ah, they have thought of that too. The engines will be shipped together to the racetrack by Honda but will be randomly distributed to the teams thanks to random serial number draw by IRL officials.

If Honda is supplying the whole field, surely it's going to be a stretch to supply 33 cars at Indianapolis this year?

Honda reckon it won't be. They have come up with some leasing programmes to allow people to afford to run just the Month of May and there are certainly plenty of chassis available.

The real question is whether there will be enough takers. IRL officials insist the situation behind the scenes is infact better than in previous years, where they did manage to scramble together a full field.

However, with only 18 regular IRL runners this season there is still some shortfall to be made up in the next month and a bit.

But then there are the old timers coming back, aren't there?

Yes there are. Both team owners Michael Andretti and Eddie Cheever Jr will come out of retirement for this year's Indy 500. Cheever of course has won it before and will also do some of the races before hand to build up to it. Andretti has famously never won the race as a driver, and only won it as a team owner last year. With Marco racing too, the Andrettis will provide much of the column inches in the build up to this year's race.

Has everyone switched to Dallara this season?

Not quite. Ganassi have led the way and will use their new driver Dan Wheldon's favoured Dallara chassis for the oval races, but are more used to their trusty Panoz for the road courses and will force the reigning champion to adapt.

The only regular runners in a Panoz will be Rahal Letterman Racing's Danica Patrick, Buddy Rice and Paul Dana, plus Delphi Fernandez Racing's Scott Sharp. But the rest will be Dallara battlefield.

Will be interesting to see if the Panoz has the edge anywhere.

What's this about Ethanol fuel, then?

Greener ethanol fuel will be introduced this season, with teams running a 10 percent ethanol to 90 per cent methanol mix this season. Then, 100 per cent ethanol fuel will be used from 2007.

Ethanol is clean burning and a renewable source of fuel because it is produced from crops. Paul Dana is being sponsored by the fuel this year.

Contrast this with NASCAR, which won't even go unleaded until 2008.

Doesn't the calendar looks shorter this season?

Not only are there less events this year (14 instead of 17), they are squashed into a much shorter timeframe. The plan is to have more back-to-back races, which the IRL believe will help keep the momentum of the series up and have fans turning in week after week, NASCAR style.

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- The Autosport.com Team

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