LA Auto Show - Mercedes Benz Presentation

LA Auto Show - Mercedes Benz Presentation

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC//NOVEMBER 20-29, 2015

L.A. Auto Show 2015: Mercedes Benz GLS
By Brian Thevenot - LA Times

What is it?
A full-size, full-luxury, seven-seat people hauler. Mercedes calls it the “S-Class among SUVs.” The automaker hasn’t released pricing, the S-Class reference – the same one applied to its flagship sedan – likely signals the starting price will rise over the GL model it will replace, which starts in the mid-$60,000 range. With options, figure easily six figures. An ultra-luxury Maybach model is also planned.

Why it matters:
Luxury sport utility vehicles are among the hottest and most competitive segments in the auto industry, and the GLS could be among the highest-caliber offerings. If it truly matches the luxury and performance of the S-Class sedan, it will be a formidable competitor.

What’s new:
A full range of powerful gas and diesel engines carry on in similar form, some with decent bumps in power. The top-line performance GLS63 gets a whopping 577 horsepower, 27 more than on the previous model. A lot of extras and details have been upgraded, including Dynamic Select transmission modes; Airmatic air suspension; a 9-speed automatic transmission; a redesigned exterior and lights all around; redesigned center console; and a range of new lightweight alloy wheels.

The competition:
Lexus GX and LX, Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, BMW X5. In Maybach trim, the GLS could rival the ultra-luxury Bentley Bentaga and an expected SUV offering from Rolls Royce.

The details:
Powertrain: 3.0-liter V6 diesel; 3.0-liter V6 Biturbo; 4.7-liter V8 Biturbo; 5.5-liter AMG Biturbo

Transmission: 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic; AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic

Fuel economy: not released; 2015 version gets 13 to 19 mpg city/17 to 26 mpg highway, depending on engine choice.

Horsepower: 255; 362; 449; and 577 for the respective engines

Torque: 455; 369; 516; 561 pound-feet

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L.A. Auto Show 2015: 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster
By Charles Fleming - LA Times

What is it:
Mercedes is refreshing the vaunted SL line, adding a 450 version to the 550 and two AMG models, bringing a slightly more affordable entry-level car to this high-end division.

Why it matters:
In a strengthening economy, the luxury sports car segment is hot again. Porsche is coming out with a revised 911 line. BMW has refreshed its 7-Series. Jaguar is pushing forward with its XE. Mercedes is adding more power, performance and luxury to the SL line. Horsepower figures for the four models range from 362 on the SL450, 449 for the SL550, 577 for the AMG SL63 and a whopping 621 for the AMG SL65.

What's new:
The SL line has a new lower, sleeker face with a more steeply sloped radiator grille. Short A-pillars and a long hood enhance the race car look.

The competition:
Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, Jaguar XE

The details:
Powertrain: BiTurbo engines ranging in size from 3.0 liters on the 450 to 6.0 on the AMG SL65

Transmission: 9-speed automatic in SLs, AMG Speedshift in AMGs

Fuel economy: N/A

Horsepower: 362 to 621

Torque: 369 to 738

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http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/laautoshow/la-fi-hy-la-auto-show-mercedes-benz-gls-html-20151111-htmlstory.html

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/laautoshow/la-fi-hy-la-auto-show-mercedes-benz-sl-roadster-20151117-htmlstory.html

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/events/autoshow#module-5

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... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: L.A. Auto Show, 2015, Mercedes Benz, GLS, SL, Roadster, AMG, The EDJE, LA Times

Global Motorsports Group Signs Madison Snow For First #PWC Season Race

Madison Snow's new Global Motorsports Group Audi R8 LMS ultra Pirelli World Challenge GT Class ride at COTA. It is hoped this #21 car arrangement will become a full season agreement with GMG. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

 Global Motorsports Group Signs Madison Snow For First #PWC Season Race

GMG signs Madison Snow to the first race of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships being held next weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Global Motorsports Group Audi R8 LMS ultra Pirelli World Challenge GT Class livery for James Sofronas sports a deep dark royal blue with white accents for the 2015 season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

They are hoping this leads to a season ride for Snow at GMG but a few things have to worked upon to make this happen.

Global Motorsports Group Driver/Owner James Sofronas (left) has a fun exchange with an attendee to the 2015 GMG open house. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

After interviewing both Fabryce Kutyba and James F. Sofronas, GMG co-owners at the GMG open house in Santa Ana, California this last weekend, Fabrice believed that Madison had driven a race prepared Audi at a closed track and James believed that Madison had not had the chance to fully test the Audi. All are happy at the chance at having Snow drive a first class race prepared Audi which is a big change for Madison Snow for his experience has been almost exclusively with Porsche platforms.

The 2015 GMG open house was held with great success with at least 1,000 well-wishers lining the streets around and through the headquarters property and garages (30,000 sq. ft.) with at least 100 exotic marks (McLaren, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW M Series, and etc.)  parked along the curb. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

Does this point towards a bit of a drawing away from Porsche toward Audi in a GT competitive series? The question is somewhat valid since longtime Porsche race team Flying Lizard (TUSCC) having also made the jump to Audi cars.

WATCH RACE LIVE >>>

WATCH RACE LIVE >>>

 WATCH RACE LIVE >>>

... notes from The EDJE

Gabby Chaves Joins Bryan Herta Autosport's 2015 VICS Season

Gabby Chaves is surfin' on up to the Verizon IndyCar Series for 2015 - here Gabby accepts his 2nd place trophy for the 2014 IndyLights Lefty's Kids Club 100 at Auto Club Speedway. Image Credit: Chris Jones via Mazda Road To Indy

Gabby Chaves Joins Bryan Herta Autosport's 2015 VICS Season

Yesterday, the Verizon IndyCar Series held a joint teleconference call interview with Bryan Herta, owner of  Bryan Herta Autosport IndyCar race team and race car driver Gabby Chaves.

Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) is keen on bringing along talented and accomplished drivers who are working their way up through Mazda supported IndyCar Ladder series when looking for the most talented driver to drive their car for the season.

Last year, BHA tapped 2012 Star Mazda series champion and IndyLights standout Jack Hawksworth with some success, especially at the series' premiere venue, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the Speedway's road course, series rookie Jack Hawksworth, who had earned his first front-row start, led a field-high 31 laps and finished seventh. British born Hawksworth finished in the points ahead of such recognizably named drivers as Takuma Sato and Graham Rahal.

This year, BHA decided to go to this well again with its signing of 2014 IndyLights champion and past Star Mazda series standout, Colombian born Gabby Chaves to a full season in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

One of Bryan Herta's immortal moments as a driver came in 1996 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca when Alex Zanardi decided, on the last lap, that the only way he was going to win a race the two drivers were contesting was to cut the driving line through the last half of the infamous "Corkscrew" chicane turn. No one on the conference call was willing to bring this up in light of the announcement that Brian Barnhart was once again named Director of Race Control which would have changed the very nature of the conversation. Brian Barnhart believes that judgements on what a proper driving line is should be made, and penalties enforced, on a road or street course ... but this is another discussion having nothing to do with a season driver announcement.

What should be noted though, Bryan Herta Autosport won the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with driver Dan Wheldon. It is with this background the following teleconference call was held by the Verizon IndyCar Series, with several media writers including The EDJE on the line, with Bryan Herta, owner of  Bryan Herta Autosport IndyCar race team and 2015 team race car driver Gabby Chaves.

<<< Audio podcast of conference call with Bryan Herta and Gabby Chaves >>>

 

Current IndyLights champion, 21 year-old Gabby Chaves, relaxes between sessions. Image Credit: IndyCar

 TRANSCRIPT

THE MODERATOR:  Welcome, everyone, to today's IndyCar conference call.

Yesterday morning Bryan Herta Autosport announced that 2014 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires champion Gabby Chavez will pilot its No. 98 Honda for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season. 

We're pleased to be joined today by Bryan Herta and his new driver Gabby Chavez. 
Bryan, give us a little insight on how this agreement came about and what sort of impression you have of Gabby and your experience with him thus far. 

BRYAN HERTA:  I mean, obviously the impression was good.  It really started with some conversations a few months back and evolved to agreeing to go do a test at Sebring in December to get to know each other.  I'd say that went really well on and off the track.  Gabby was highly recommended.  Obviously his credentials in Indy Lights speak for themselves. 

For us, we've seen from recent past that the guys who have been coming out of Indy Lights into IndyCar have been doing a great job.  We had a good experience with Jack Hawksworth coming out of Indy Lights.  Gabby was obviously right from day one a very competitive driver.  It was just a case of how can we put a deal together. 

We worked very hard to get everything together and we're pleased to go racing together this season. 

THE MODERATOR:  You mentioned last year you ran another Indy Lights graduate Jack Hawksworth.  As a former driver, is it becoming more and more important for you to support the up-and-coming talent in the series? 

BRYAN HERTA:  I think it's important for the series.  As a team owner, I have to take a narrower view.  Frankly, it just comes down to getting the very best guy in our car that we can get. 

I'm very pleased with where we ended up this year.  I believe Gabby is going to do some great things this year in the car and I believe he's a guy that we want to try and hang on to and keep on the team for several years to come. 

I think we can build together and we can grow together. 

THE MODERATOR:  As I mentioned earlier, Gabby Chavez is the 2014 Indy Lights champion which he won with four victories. 

Gabby, congratulations to you.  I know you were working hard to secure a ride for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season.  How much of a relief is it for you to have that deal come together with a team like Bryan Herta Autosport? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  The relief is only temporary because as soon as the deal is done you have to get your head down and start focusing on what's next. 

As soon as the deal was announced, I was very happy.  It's been a long journey to get to where I am.

We've had a lot of sacrifice, a lot of hard times.  This is only just the first victory we can get out of it. 

Now it's time to get back to work and really looking forward to enjoying a great season. 

THE MODERATOR:  Gabby, I know you haven't been on track all too much, but from the experience you've had so far, how much of what you learned in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system have you been able to apply and what adjustments have you had to make? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  Oh, everything that I've learned so far in the last three years in the Mazda Road to Indy and the last two years in Indy Lights I've been able to apply to the IndyCar Series.  Especially when it comes down to the first race on the ovals, the whole oval schedule that we have, I think that's where it's going to make a bigger difference. 

I'm really happy.  I think the ladder series is how it should be and it's preparing the drivers, as Bryan said, not only Jack Hawksworth showing some amazing speed, but Carlos Muñoz having demonstrated the quality of drivers that we're feeding into IndyCar is very high. 

THE MODERATOR:  We'll open it up for questions. 

Q.    Bryan, not only have you signed Gabby but you made an engineering addition with John Dick coming onboard.  What do you hope to achieve with him and how do you think he and Gabby will have the chance to work together?

BRYAN HERTA:  John was with us at the Sebring test.  He and Gabby worked together there.  I've known him for many years.  I never worked physically with John when I was driving.  He's a guy I have a lot of respect for. 

When we were looking for that right combination for Gabby, we had kind of an opportunity signing the driver first and making sure that we're building a group of people around him that fits. 

Gabby had a good experience working with John.  Frankly for me, we wanted to pair a lot of experience around Gabby, and John certainly fits the bill for that.  He's been around a long time.  He's been in IndyCar for a long time.  His experience will definitely be a great benefit to Gabby as he's learning this year. 

Q.    Gabby, you're going to be a rookie in a year where aero kits are coming into the season.  What do you make of the opportunity to help develop the car with something that is going to be new for everybody throughout the year? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  Yeah, I think it's a great opportunity.  I mean, not only for that, but for myself as a driver to really develop and enhance my skills at developing the car. 

I think it's going to be a great challenge.  Like I said before, it's going to be harder than ever before.

Like I said, I'm just ready for the challenge and I'm excited to get going. 

Q (The EDJE).    Gabby, you've been part of a class of upcoming drivers that have had flashes of brilliance along the way.

Reviewing your history with Star Pro Mazda, a couple that come to mind is Sage Karam and Zach Veach.  How does it feel to come up with a full season Verizon IndyCar Series ride before Sage and Zach? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  I mean, I don't ever try to take anything away from anyone.  But I guess before Zach, you'd like to see Sage have a ride as well.  He's a deserving champion, as I am.  But essentially we want to have all these guys get a ride, not only Zach, not only Sage, we want to have all the young drivers that are eventually going to be the future stars of the sport get a ride.

It's a difficult question to answer.  Mainly I like to be happy for what I have accomplished.  I have a great team behind me working very hard to make this happen as well as working with Bryan's team. 
I think we're just happy that we made it happen on our side. 

Q (The EDJE).    How did you enjoy driving in the Rolex 24? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  I mean, it's a great experience.

It was my second year driving for the same team.  It's always a great experience.  It's something very different that I'm not used to driver changes, long three-hour stints.  It is a very unique experience that definitely broadens I guess my professional career. 

Q (The EDJE).    After coming from Indy Lights, are you looking forward to competing again in 20-plus car fields? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  Yeah, absolutely.  I mean, it's definitely a big challenge stepping up.  Obviously every time you step up, drivers just get better and better.  It's going to be a big challenge. 

I think with Indy Lights, you can't take too much into consideration the car count, even though it is slow and it's growing thankfully, because when you look at how guys like Jack Hawksworth impressed everyone, and everybody thought he would be a nobody last season, he impressed everyone, as well as Carlos Muñoz in his rookie Indy 500 and his rookie year.  You can't look too much into the car count when you have to look at the quality of the drivers. 

Q (The EDJE).    Bryan, do you have plans to be adding any more drivers this season?  Seems a lot of teams have a strategy to have many drivers because that allows to have more testing time with the aerodynamic kits. 

BRYAN HERTA:  Well, we are going to run a second car at the Speedway this year, which will be a first for us, running two cars.

I think as long as that goes well, we want to make sure we keep the focus on Gabby and his program this year, that we're doing everything we need to do for him. 

But we do want to grow the program.  We would like to be a two-car team sooner than later.  I think we're open to the idea of doing more races later in the year as we work towards hopefully a full two-car program next year. 

Q (The EDJE).    How is the change with finding out about Brazil in such a sudden fashion, how has that affected your plans going forward?

BRYAN HERTA:  It really hasn't affected us too much.

If anything, frankly, it helps us a little bit from the planning standpoint just because you'd like to have your deals done a little earlier than January, but this is the timing we had to deal with.  We got everything done.  We've got a little more time to get prepared, do a little more testing prior to the first race at St. Pete. 

Logistically it's great for us.  Competitively obviously we're racers and we want to do as many races as we can.  But we understand the reasons for the change. 

Q (The EDJE).    Being a car owner, I assume it's always better to maybe have the same set schedule in terms of numbers of races.  If they were to add another race, where would you most likely like to have it?  Long Beach, Detroit? 

BRYAN HERTA:  I mean, if it were up to me, I'd love to see us go to new markets.

As a racer, Road America is such a great track.  Love to be there.  I always enjoyed racing in Portland.  There's certainly places that we can do a lot of good. 

Circuit of America, I was there for the F1 race.  Beautiful, beautiful facility.  Would love to see us go there as well. 

Q (The EDJE).    I saw the PR release saying the March 8th date that would make sense going with the PWC, coinciding with that, since so many of the other races have that as a complementary series, that's not going to happen, sadly.

What else are you looking forward to this season? 

BRYAN HERTA:  In terms of other races, adding races, we're trying to keep our heads down, keep focused on building our team.

What I'm excited about is a little bit of a fresh start for us this year, having Gabby in.  He's very enthusiastic.  He's been in the shop almost every single day since we signed the contract, which is great.  Really just focus on building our program and continue to evolve and achieve more and more results on the track. 

Q.    Gabby, Carlos Muñoz has admitted that Juan Pablo Montoya is his role model.  Who do you consider to be your racing role model? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  That's a difficult question.  I mean, I've had various role models throughout different stages of my life, even before I was racing.  I loved watching racing.  Especially at those times, when I was eight, nine, ten years old, I would get up every morning at 4 or 5 in the morning to watch the Formula One races where Juan Pablo Montoya was racing.  I followed his career closely.

As I started building my career, you started almost picking role models for who you wanted to be almost at that time. 

As I started racing in Europe, I would take a few guys there that I'd like to follow kind of their footsteps.  Then I came back to the States.  I really enjoyed my time here and realized this is where I want to be.  I started out in the Pro Mazda Series, then two seasons in Indy Lights. 

At that time it's almost like you're getting so close to the guys, the IndyCar guys, that you almost want to pick a role model, but you don't want to get too involved with that admiration because sooner or later if you achieve your goals, you're going to have to go head-to-head against them. 

Q.    As a rookie this year, you're about to embark on some new races, courses.  What race or track are you looking most forward to in this 2015 season? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  I guess I could break it down into two categories.  I really look forward every year to racing at Long Beach.  It's one of my favorite street courses.  So that's definitely my favorite there.  I really want to experience that in an IndyCar. 

Then also you can never leave behind or forget about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  It's incredible.  To experience that first in Indy Lights, getting close to 200 miles an hour, then to make a jump to being over 240 miles an hour, to me that's what I'm looking most forward to this year. 

Q.    Bryan, with the cancellation in Brazil, is there any indication from IndyCar that they're going to try to speed up the delivery of aero kits to the teams?

BRYAN HERTA:  Frankly, even though it happened suddenly, I think IndyCar has done a really good job internally of communicating with the teams what they're doing, what they're trying to do.

Obviously it's all a little bit fluid still in a lot of areas. 

But I don't believe that aero kits are going to become available any sooner, frankly because everybody's production is based on that March 1st date, and I don't think there's an ability to make any additional parts sooner. 

Q.    Have you been able to see any sketches of Honda's kit compared to Chevy's as far as the differences in how the cars are going to look?

BRYAN HERTA:  I've seen some sketches, but we haven't seen any of the actual production parts.  I haven't seen any drawings of the Chevy aero kit.  I only saw the spy photos of Penske's car when they ran at Circuit of the Americas.  I am sure they have evolved a lot since then. 

It's a real point of entry.  I think we're all very curious and looking forward to seeing the cars turn up at Barber for spring training and see what we got. 

Q.    Gabby, could you comment on the importance of the scholarship prize that you were awarded with your championship last year with Indy Lights, and also the just the preparation that your years in the Road to Indy has provided you to make this step up to the IndyCar Series. 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  I think the scholarship prize, it almost makes the deal happen sometimes.  I mean, I think it's great that they're giving the champion sort of a head start into their IndyCar career.

Without the scholarship, it would have been very hard to make a deal happen anywhere.  So I'm very happy.  I'm very grateful that that program exists. 

I think it's not only in Indy Lights but the whole Mazda Road to Indy is coming along very strong.

Ever since my first year in Pro Mazda in 2012, you know, just started building on that, getting myself familiarized with the tracks, with the people, the whole atmosphere.  Everything is different. 
So just to be able to work from those years of experience just makes my transition to IndyCar that much easier. 

Q.    As the reigning Indy Lights champion, talk about your optimism of the direction of the Indy Lights Series.  And Bryan, do you plan to be involved again at any point? 

GABBY CHAVEZ:  I'm very happy with what's happening right now with Indy Lights and the new car.  I think that's something that the series needed, and definitely is attracting a lot of attention, even new teams from overseas, new drivers, drivers that have competed in Formula One before, now coming over to Indy Lights.  I think that's great for the series.  I think it's great for IndyCar as well because it's going to expand that feeder system.  I'm very pleased that's going in a positive direction. 

BRYAN HERTA:  From a team standpoint, I think we're very open to coming back.  We started our team in the Indy Lights Series.  We wouldn't even exist without it as a team.  I believe in the importance of it, what it does for the development of drivers.  I really think that the new car is a huge plus for the series. 

From our standpoint, we feel like we needed to take a step back from it so we could really focus on making a step forward in the IndyCar program this year.  But I would love to see us come back into Indy Lights again at some point in the future. 

THE MODERATOR:  Seeing we have no further questions, we'll thank our guests for their time and wrap up today's IndyCar conference call. 
(ht: FastScripts by ASAP Sports)

... notes from The EDJE

IndyCar Off To A Shaky Start For 2015

Philip Lane ‏@Re1axinmood - According to reports Brazil is cancelled - @IndyCar could at least update the website. Do they know something we don't?

IndyCar Off To A Shaky Start For 2015

This last full week of January 2015 saw more damaging action in American Open Wheel Racing off the track in two days than most can remember here in the 2010's ... maybe longer.

On Wednesday, January 28, it was announced that the committee approach that was implemented last year, which effectively diluted the strong influence of Race Director Beaux Barfirld and prompted the aforementioned Mr. Barfield to resign before the end of the 2014 season and accept a Race Director position at IMSA's Tudor United Sports Car Championship, will remain in place with the once replaced Tony George confidant Brian Barnhart as Race Director.

On Thursday, January 29, a shorter season designed to avoid, at all costs, at having IndyCar races being run during American professional football games was made a little shorter with the announcement of the first race of the season set to be run March 8th, 2015, was being cancelled by the race promoter due to track improvement delays and a change of government in Sao Paulo Brazil.

In order of actual damage to the sport of American Open Wheel Racing at the highest professional levels, the second announcement was the greater threat, but the image of IndyCar and its professional stability has taken a perceivable step backwards.

Races scheduled and cancelled at the last minute tends to speak for itself as it relates to the decision-making powers of upper-management. Stable venues are everywhere and having races run on a consistent basis year-in-year-out helps to build an audience and tradition.

Sadly, losing Brazil is just another in a long line of situations that have trashed the year-in-year-out paradigm momentum that has proven to work but is shunned by IndyCar management throughout the years.

Further, the re-appointment of, the once replaced, Brian Barnhart as Director of Race Control, when this country has about 330,000,000 (that's 330 million, or 1/3 of a billion) additional human beings living here, shows a complete lack of evolution that would be critical to building and sustaining a sport at its highest professional standards.

Lastly, the elephant that still sits in the room (because very little allowable on-track testing has taken place) - the addition of add-on aerodynamic body parts (aero-kits) to the tested and appreciated Dallara DW12 platform which has proven itself to be the only durable element in American Open Wheel Racing.

Presentation given during the the season 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series finale held at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California by engineers at Honda Racing HPD transport. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

This was to be the year of differentiation through the addition of aero-kits but the actual process has this competitive factor potentially diluted and equalized. All parts have to be manufactured exclusively by Dallara with the majority of the parts already deemed as standard. If the parts are standard to all cars, and manufactured by a single source, secrecy and variance are placed at a minimum. The jury has not even been formed on this season element.

On Brian Barnhart:

Second-year steward system to support race director Brian Barnhart. Image & Caption Credit: IndyCar via Twitter

This excerpted and edited from Oilpressure - 

Brian’s Song: The Return & Other Tidbits
By: George Phillips

Since the news broke less than forty-eight hours ago that Brian Barnhart would be named as Race Director for the Verizon IndyCar Series, there has been nothing but hand-wringing on social media for the past two days.

Wednesday morning – John Oreovicz, of ESPN, tweeted out a tease that Wednesday afternoon, IndyCar fans would be told news that would make us think it was either April Fool’s Day or Groundhog Day. I had no idea what it was. I surmised that either the aero kits were going to be delayed or else the opening race at Brasilia had been cancelled.
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An hour or so after the teasing tweet, Curt Cavin broke the news about Barnhart. I’ve been on Twitter since 2009, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a (bleep)-storm as I saw that day. The Legions of the Miserable were out in force. One thing was apparent – IndyCar fans are still very passionate; even in January.

I will admit, my initial reaction was not much different from those I was reading – it just wasn’t as strong. I wasn’t horrified like some, but I wasn’t particularly overjoyed either. Like everyone, I’ve taken my share of shots at Barnhart – some cheaper than others. Let’s face it – he’s a very easy target.

Most people associate Barnhart with a quick trigger for penalties and a very rigid and inflexible stance. He’s been given nicknames like The Iron Hand of Justice and TGBB (The Great Brian Barnhart). Those detractors are not incorrect in that association, but my bad taste comes from a slightly different direction.

Lately, I’ve referred to this current administration as returning to the “bunker mentality” of the Tony George administration. That is what I most associate Barnhart with – that bunker mentality. In the Tony George regime, my perception was that Barnhart was Tony George’s right-hand man and that he really enjoyed being that close to the throne. The two of them pretty much made all decisions, and if no one liked it – tough! To me, it seemed that their viewpoint was “this would be a great series, if we didn’t have all these fans we had to deal with”.
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When Tony George was ousted in 2009 and subsequently replaced by Randy Bernard in 2010, Brian Barnhart was operating alone without his main supporter. I am not a psychologist, so I don’t know if George’s absence exacerbated Barnhart’s behavior – but it sure seemed that Barnhart’s race officiating became a lot more visible…and more horrendous.

To make things worse, the more Barnhart was criticized – the more he dug in. His word was final, and he knew it. If anyone questioned his calls, his resolve strengthened and he turned a deaf ear to the criticism. Fans, owners and even drivers were scoffed at. They knew nothing and should not even be listened to – at least that was my perception.

After the debacle at New Hampshire in 2011, it was reported that Randy Bernard had fired Barnhart during the offseason. As it turned out, that wasn’t quite true. He was removed as Director of Race Control, but was still head of Racing Operations. Last year, he was in the rotation to serve as one of three stewards at IndyCar races.
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[Barnhart's] new title effectively makes him Chief Steward of the total three stewards at any given race. It’s unclear to me if he is one vote of three or the deciding vote. Whatever the case, he no longer has the last word. That now belongs to Derrick Walker, his boss.
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Once the penalty has been enforced, they can’t really give the positions lost back to the driver. I suppose that remains to be seen.
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I believe in second chances and all, but I also think that it’s pretty tough to change your core personality. To quote coach Bill Parcells – “You are what you are”.
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The other night on Trackside, Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee made it a point to mention that even though this is not popular with fans, no one in the paddock is complaining. Barnhart is well-respected there – which is where it counts. I always questioned the integrity of a Chief Steward that had a Twitter account and wanted to be popular.
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So while I think it’s tough to change your core personality, it can be controlled with hard work and discipline. People do learn from their mistakes. Over time, it becomes easier to control your emotions and resist your natural instinct.
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Now that Barnhart has returned and we lost the Brazil race, I’m hoping the aero kits are still on deck for St. Petersburg. Stay tuned.
[Reference Here]

Beaux Barfield steps aside as he sends off Justin Wilson for his MAVTV qualifying run during the season 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series finale held at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

And this excerpted and edited from Racer - 

PRUETT: Holding judgment on Brian Barnhart
For Racer - Viewpoints: Marshall Pruett

I was hoping for Unicorn Jesus. Instead, according to the Internet, we got Osama bin Hitler.

Before we fall into familiar, time-honored roles of painting Brian Barnhart as evil incarnate—the fire-breathing hellspawn sent to earth to destroy IndyCar from high atop the Race Control tower, let’s steer the conversation in a direction that involves fewer pentagrams and scribblings of 666.

The lows from Barnhart’s tenure as IndyCar’s Race director are well known. From holding an oval race in the rain at Loudon to assigning penalties based on his ability to read minds and judge the intent of the offending driver, Barnhart’s mistakes—and limitations—have been the source of countless columns.

In the three years since Barnhart was taken off the frontline, he was retooled as a steward serving the Race Director, and by all accounts, his experience and attention to detail impressed everyone involved. Call it a private, internal career and image makeover, and with those inside IndyCar experiencing the best side of Barnhart, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see him elevated to his former position.
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Do I believe, on a personal level, that he has been unfairly targeted and blamed for many things that weren’t his fault? Absolutely.
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If the best referee is one who acts in the best interest of the game and rules fairly once all the facts are known, you’re left with two more examples of how not to referee. You have the guy who swallows the whistle and calls nothing or, in the case of Barnhart through 2011, the ref who carries a few extra whistles in his pocket because they explode from over-use.

That’s Barnhart’s reputation as Race Director. Penalties, penalties, and more penalties, no matter how small the crime, and to compound the problem, his past body of work involved attempts to judge the mindset of the drivers who ran afoul of his sensibilities.

The classic case was at Long Beach in 2011 when numerous drivers spun cars from behind in the hairpin leading onto the front straight, but only some were penalized due to the Race Director’s amazing ability to divine intent from genuine error.
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This little walk down memory lane wasn’t to rehash Barnhart’s checkered past in Race Control, but rather, to illustrate the clear and easily defined pros and cons associated with IndyCar’s new chief steward. Applauded for his body of work from 2012-2014, and worrisome in the latter stages of his first go-round in the position through 2011.

It leads me to one conclusion: IndyCar knows exactly who and what they are getting, and if Barnhart is at the center of more controversy due to his trigger-happy shortcomings, blame the series.
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Simply put: This dog has a history of biting, yet its owners are confident he’s been rehabilitated and no longer needs a muzzle. If they’re wrong and the paddock ends up with more puncture wounds, don’t get mad at the dog for the owner’s bad judgment.
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IndyCar president of competition Derrick Walker knows Barnhart, spent time on the receiving end of Good Brian and Bad Brian as an entrant, and will play an active part in making sure Race Control is a more balanced officiating environment than the one Barnhart previously led.

If I’m wrong, and IndyCar’s officiating safeguards aren’t properly implemented, stockpile all the holy water and crosses you can find.
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Until we get to the point where Barnhart has done something new to warrant a digital lynching, it might be worth putting your faith in Walker to place his new Race Director in a position to succeed.​
[Reference Here]

What is the definition of … INSANITY?

We all will be treated to MORE WILLFUL EGO from Race Control as opposed to less.

So, so stupid this IndyCar Series decision is:

A definite step backwards!

Lack of evolution and competitive maturity of the IndyCar sport – I contend, the only real aerodynamic effect that will matter in this 2015 season will be the HOT AIR of penalties emanating from the Race Control tower … not the monolithic nature found in the DW12 aero-kits manufactured exclusively by Dallara, the requested kits by Chevy and Honda (also manufactured exclusively by Dallara), and lastly, the team modified suggestions that are then fed and discussed with Chevy and Honda (also manufactured exclusively by Dallara)!

The Utah Data Center is one of the U.S. Defense Department’s largest ongoing construction projects in the continental United States. This Intelligence Community facility will host the power, space, cooling, and communications needed to support specialized computing. The center sits on approximately 247 acres, includes 1.2 million square feet of enclosed space, and is completing acceptance testing. Image Credit: TechCrunch via popularresistance.org

Anyone have an “in” at the NSA?

The depth of the point being made centers around the minor variances in the nature of the aero-kits (the vast majority of the aero-kits will be standard and dictated by Dallara as per Honda engineers during the VICS finale at ACS). More races will be decided by Race Control with this latest appointment (based upon a well known history) than will be decided by the potential and perceived advantages provided through variances of the added aero-kits.

As seen on Facebook - a short dialog between one fan to another:

Laura Malone‎ to Beaux Barfield
· Des Moines, IA ·
As IndyCar goes absolutely nuts over the new race director AND has its first race for 2015 canceled, I can only imagine that you are smoking a cigar and laughing and laughing and laughing (you will be missed!)

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Beaux Barfield to Laura Malone
· Houston, TX ·
I love IndyCar. And I have a lot of friends there whom I wish all the best. But none of what's happening is dire - sad and frustrating - but not dire. I am comfortable with the decisions I have made. And yes, I am smoking a cigar

    ** Erin Campbell - Said perfectly, babe.
 
... notes from The EDJE

Ed Carpenter Talks MAVTv500, ECR Team Performance, & CFH Racing 2015

Ed Carpenter - Driver, Team Owner, Oval Track Specialist. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Ed Carpenter Talks MAVTv500, ECR Team Performance, & CFH Racing 2015

Ed Carpenter has been racing since he was 8 years old and balanced racing and education throughout much of his career. Carpenter graduated from Butler University with a degree in Marketing in 2003, a few weeks before he won the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Carpenter always has been interested in things with engines.

Carpenter started Ed Carpenter Racing for the 2012 season and is the lone team owner/driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series. He is driving in the oval races for 2014, while Mike Conway is driving the street and road courses. In their second event together, Conway won the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

This past weekend in Milwaukee Ed Carpenter finished in the top 10. Carpenter is successful at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. He won ACS's 2012 MAVTV 500 INDYCAR Race. Last year, he came in 2nd for ACS's 2013 MAVTV 500 INDYCAR race (lost to Will Power). He also won the pole position for back-to-back INDY 500 races - May 2013 & 2014. As an INDYCAR driver and team owner ... over last weekend, he announced that that his team (Ed Carpenter Racing) is merging with Sarah Fisher Hartman racing for the 2015 season.

As we go into the final two races of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series (VICS) championship season, Ed Carpenter answers a few questions and expresses his hope that Ed Carpenter Racing team ends the VICS season in the Top 5 in points accumulated.

One and a half weeks before the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season finale MAVTv500 race at the AutoClub Speedway, Ed Carpenter attends a USC Football practice and attempts a Field Goal. Image Credit: Albert Wong (2014)

Interview Questions:

AUDIO  FILE  OF  INTERVIEW  >>>

(1) This year has been a pretty good year for Ed Carpenter Racing if one looks at the points the Fuzzy's Vodka DW12 has been able to post up with only 2 races left - Mike Conway's road course at Sonoma and Your Auto Club Speedway's super oval. The two of you are ranked right next to each other - Mike Conway is sitting at P22 and you are at P23 ... but the car's total points have the effort ahead of 3 out of 4 drivers on the two 4 car teams - Ganassi and Andretti - at P7 with 1 Pole and 3 wins.

A) Has this unusual team mix of specialists delivered the results that you expected? B) Has this mix of fielding a car with specialists for a season been done before?

(2) How do you see the team/car finishing the season with these two races that are left? - First, Mike Conway's road course at Sonoma and Second, Your Auto Club Speedway's super oval performance.

Last weekend, before the race was held in Milwaukee, the announcement came out that Sarah Fisher Racing, a team you use to race for and Ed Carpenter Racing were going to merge to compete in the 2015 season and form a 2-car team.

(3) With announced merger forming CFH Racing, what do you see as the advantage in a multiple car team over your present one car/two driver efforts which are impressive on their own? (4) Did the use of the new aerodynamic kit packages for 2015 enter into your decision to merge and grow the team? (answered in context of previous question - skipped)

(5) Does this merger forming CFH Racing allow your current sponsor Fuzzy´s Vodka to gain more exposure?

(6) Do you see the multi-car teams having an advantage in this area of sponsorship and racing platform changes?

(7) Sarah Fisher's driver, Joesef Newgarden seems to be becoming a hot commodity right now in the paddock. Do you intend to try and retain Joesef Newgarden as a driver on this new 2-car team?

(8) Will you continue with the 2-driver line up in one DW12 with Mike Conway taking up duty on the road courses as part of this 2-car team? ... or will you eventually join Sarah in a team management role?
ENDS

MAVTv500 Tickets >>>

... notes from The EDJE