Where's this at? Hadn't seen oval karting in awhile

That was Central Texas Speedway in Kyle, (formerly Thunder Hill Raceway). I do believe all the Birel's got sold off to a different oval after 2017, (Cactus Speedway, I think?). I-20 Speedway, Cactus, and 201 Go-Kart Speedway all still do hold oval karting events.

That's sweet. It's sad what happened to that track but sounds like it's becoming a recurring thing especially in Texas. https://jalopnik.com/how-money-and-lawsuit-fears-doomed-one-of-texas-last-as-1796022595

I can't find much on those tracks after a quick search but will look deeper into it. I want to get into oval karting eventually but don't know if this is the area for it.

It's a lot of fun. There's definitely a bunch of quality road course offerings, but few oval choices to pick from.

That track was a big part of my teenage years. After we moved to Texas, I made friends with a few midget and Allison Legacy racers and helped them pit crew. I went to many races at San Antonio Speedway and Thunder Hill. Self has a bit of a bad reputation, but his family did a lot to save that track and had to make a choice to sell or risk not getting their son to the majors. All of us would have done the same and I don't hate them for it. They still provided an incredible opportunity with that series to arrive and drive against future NASCAR talent like Self and Dillon, past NASCAR drivers like Aramendia, and other series talent. Otherwise, I could really only afford to race dirt bikes back then, which is still good fun too.

Austin has been heading that way down 35, and it was only a matter of time. I do wish somebody would build a oval kart track like it nearby B/CS. Gonna have to make a bit of a drive to race in any one of those, unfortunately.

I'm not sure if MSR Houston or CotA are closer, for karting.

Another engine would be interesting. Can they qualify though?

Schmidt is so inconsistent that they could very well win a race before the 500 and then fail to qualify.

I might suggest a few conversion charts though.

Herta and Nasr seems like an interesting pairing.

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The McLaren Racing team will make its full-time return to IndyCar competition next season in a partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports under the Arrow McLaren Racing SP banner.

The two-car program, utilizing the current Arrow SPM staff and a new group of McLaren personnel assembled specifically for the IndyCar project, will debut in 2020 using Chevrolet engines. Drivers have not been announced, leaving the future of James Hinchcliffe and Marcus Ericsson at Arrow McLaren SP in question.

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McLaren's partnership with Arrow SPM co-owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson does not involve purchasing the team outright or acquiring the individual ownership stakes held by Schmidt or Peterson.

Source

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Quote:

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Arrow McLaren SP will be open to entering a third car next year if Fernando Alonso expresses an interesting in racing the full IndyCar season.

McLaren has announced a partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsport that will see the team rebranded and all of McLaren's existing IndyCar hardware added to the SPM project, but at this stage continuing as a two-car effort. While Alonso failed to qualify for this year's Indianapolis 500 and has previously talked down the prospect of running the full season, RACER understands that McLaren believes running a car for Alonso would be financially viable, and that the team has the capacity to do so.

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"He's obviously well aware of what we're doing here, and I'll be seeing him later in the year and we'll be discussing our plans and his plans, and see if those converge at any point."

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Should Alonso not be interested in the full campaign, RACER understands another attempt at the Indy 500 remains on the table should he wish to suit up with McLaren again. The team is expected to expand to three cars for the Month of May.

Source

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Quote:

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With Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' upcoming union with McLaren Racing and a transition from Honda to Chevy engines, Meyer Shank Racing's ties to Arrow SPM could be severed at the end of 2019. Under the existing agreement, Arrow SPM provides technical and engineering support for MSR's No. 60 Honda driven by Jack Harvey.

Owing to MSR's close affiliation with Honda in the NTT IndyCar Series, and its representation of Honda's luxury brand Acura in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where it leads the GT Daytona class with the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3, the Mike Shank- and Jim Meyer-owned operation is facing an upcoming manufacturer conflict at Arrow McLaren Racing SP that will force a change of teams or engine suppliers.

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"We are getting closer to finalizing our plans and expect to be making agreements for a multi-year program in IndyCar," Shank told RACER. "Our discussions with AutoNation and SiriusXM continue to be very positive. I feel really good about how things are coming together, but we've just got to get everything final before making any announcement. But hopefully that will be coming soon once we've finalized all the details for our schedule, technical program, and partners for 2020 and beyond."

Source

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Honestly didn't know Ferrucci had a 2 year deal.

Daly to drive the #25 Andretti car at Laguna Seca.

Article from Robin Miller on Silly Season.

• Herta has a three year deal with Andretti, loaned to Harding, but Harding is on shaky ground.
• James Hinchcliffe had a souring relationship with Arrow SPM prior to the McLaren announcement. Does McLaren want to retain him?
• Marcus Ericsson wants to remain at Arrow McLaren SP, but that's seemingly a one-way street. He's got sponsorship and is looking at options.
• Conor Daly has USAF money, but not enough for a full season. Does he stick with Andretti, take a chance at Carlin, or does AJ give him a call again?
• Santino Ferrucci has a one-year driver's option at Coyne, but has been said to exploring Arrow McLaren SP and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
• Pato O'Ward is a heavy target by Arrow McLaren SP, and fits their goals. Depends on his options within Red Bull's driver program.
• Spencer Pigot's future is unclear.
• Ed Jones probably doesn't have the cash to continue at ECR next season.
• Tony Kanaan has been awful at Foyt this year. Does AJ ask him to stick around?
• Matheus Leist has been awful at Foyt. Will almost certainly look elsewhere.
• Oliver Askew can win the Road to Indy scholarship, good for at least three races, and has tested with Ganassi. Ganssi is rumored to want to go to three cars. Is Askew the plan?
• Rinus Veekay seems to be lined up to take over the non-oval races for Ed Carpenter, currently Ed Jones' seat.
• Felipe Nasr has tested for Arrow SPM and clearly is on the shortlist for the Arrow McLaren SP drive, testing recently for the team.
• Nicholas Latifi's dad is an investor at McLaren and Nicholas is the current Williams test driver.
• Finally, does Fernando Alonso run just Indy or the full season or some level in between?

Quote:

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IndyCar race winner Colton Herta looks set to leave the Harding Steinbrenner team for the 2020 season, with Andretti Autosport and Arrow McLaren SP eager to sign the rookie.

Herta scored a pole position at Road America and won at the Circuit of the Americas earlier in the season, and is considered one of the championship's hottest prospects after his impressive rookie year.

Herta declined to comment on talks for next season but said a return to his current team "doesn't seem like that's going to happen", with the outfit believed to be needing additional funding for next season.

"There's a lot of talks about what I'm going to do next year, none of which I really want to say yet," said Herta, son of IndyCar and CART race winner Bryan Herta, who now manages Colton's career.

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/145427/star-rookie-herta-set-to-part-with-harding-team

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^ Pretty cool video someone took with a Super 8 and spliced with audio from an old clip.

Sato needs a lengthy suspension.

That was...unwise.

https://instagr.am/p/B1UUqljA35B

No reason to be this stupid on lap one.

The F was he thinking? And on his twitter he has pics where he's almost implying it was rossi's fault

This is literally Sato

'03ag said:

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The F was he thinking? And on his twitter he has pics where he's almost implying it was rossi's fault

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It's hard to argue against those pictures he posted. I know Sato gets the wrap that he's way too aggressive but Hunter-Reay was going to have no room going into the tunnel turn so his teammate Rossi is definitely thinking about drifting up to give him space. I think lots of people are on Rossi's side because of his popularity and the points implication but it's hard for me to put all the blame on Sato.

Need Newgarden's Chevy engine to explode...

We'll see if his car is still the same as the track changes.

WOW that finish

Well managed race by Sato. Nice save by Newgarden too.

https://instagr.am/p/B1kk71OBWej

I really don't like this move, but I understand it.

We need more ovals, not less (or a push in this case)

Rahal and Hunter-Reay looking like rank amateurs.

Glad Power won but it looks like Rossi is going to be the championship bridesmaid for the second year in a row. Add that to his second place finish at Indy...tough

• Hinch to Rahal, Maybe Stay with McLaren?
• Alonso to do 500 + 3 or 4 races?
• What does McLaren Do for Stop-gap after Whiffing on Herta?
• Reenus Veekay to replace Ed Jones at Carpenter?
• Ganassi to form partnership with smaller team?
• Pagenaud only 1-year extension; reunite with de Ferran at McLaren in 2021?
• Shank to announce partnership soon?
• Foyt not decided on drivers; Honda may help TK get a better ride for his farewell tour.
• Coyne wants to try to keep Ferrucci, but it's up in the air for the 19. Bourdais has one year left on his contract.
• Colin Braun, Aaron Telitz, Felipe Nasr all in the frame for some type of seat.

Rossi had two craptastic practices today