Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe and Guest Michelle Garmon (2.324.1)

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The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe and Guest Michelle Garmon (2.324.1) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

• 0:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: You are listening to the Indie Car Report with Elijah Poe, every week on the Central Indiana Sports Report, and about halfway through Elijah and I were joined by Tipton Tribune, and Elwood Colleaders, Sports Editor, Michelle Garmin, as we made our predictions for the race in Portland this weekend.
• 0:30
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, just a reminder, Elijah, there is an Indie Car season still going on.
• 0:34
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it feels so long.
• 0:36
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's a long, almost forgot.
• 0:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it feels like this all week is, or I should say, off weeks, part of this little summer break here has been so, so long, but I'm sure we'll be kicking ourselves when we have five races here to close out the month of August.
• 0:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's just going to be, I've absolutely awesome, the stretch we have here and have some news actually came out yesterday that Indie cars headed back to Phoenix again to do a double header with NASCAR.
• 1:01
  [SPEAKER_02]: So we've got a little bit left to go in this season already looking ahead the next year.
• 1:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: But there is a lot to talk about besides just the racing lots and news this week.
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_02]: So much going on Elijah, what's number one to you?
• 1:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think No.
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: 1 has to be just how impressed Alexander Rossi and Alex Plow were by the little test session they had for the new IR 28th of new indie car that's coming in 2028.
• 1:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: We had lap times our pretty similar to what these cars are running now and these cars were not pushing very fast at all.
• 1:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: They're being very careful with the tires and obviously being very careful with the car in general and I just got to say that thing looks like a beast on track.
• 1:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: You probably don't want to put the prototype into the wall, right?
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's probably why they picked Rossi in that flow.
• 1:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: Probably.
• 1:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: They look bigger, is it?
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: Is it me or do they just look bigger on the track?
• 1:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: so they are a little bit wider and that's actually for safety.
• 2:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: Rossi was going on saying how there is more room within the cockpit so teams can put more added padding and there's also going to be extra pads down by the feet which will eliminate some of those injuries that Rossi and New Garden had this year where they're having lower leg injuries to do the contact so it's really just for more padding you can also fit bigger drivers as well
• 2:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: So he'll have a little bit more room, a little bit more cushion and overall I think though the whiteness of it is just because of all the safety abilities.
• 2:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think below I went on record saying somebody from any car told him it was around 10 times safer, which is almost unfathomable think of because these cars are really, really safe as they are.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah and then the cars, the legs of all is really been exposed and that's not something that you can really do much about any safety there.
• 2:53
  [SPEAKER_02]: is obviously welcome.
• 2:55
  [SPEAKER_02]: Also going along with it looking bigger.
• 2:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think the wings look bigger as well.
• 3:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, they do look pretty bulky and wide and I'll be interested to see just how all of that changes.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: We've got another couple of years before this car actually gets thrown into some competition and I think as these tests kind of evolve after the next rounds and obviously the next years of testing, I think this car could change a lot.
• 3:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I will say both Polo and Rossi said for a first time car there were really no mechanical issues.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: There were no real major issues, you know, this thing is brand spanking new out of the box and I think both of them were pretty really high on this car and What a great starting point to have the last thing you want is a brand new car come out and it looks like just a bag of nothing But I'm pretty impressed by what indie car in Delara has delivered and can't wait to see what it ends up looking like here in a couple of years on track and competition It's a good looking machine.
• 3:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm I'm looking forward to seeing all the different deliveries on it and all of that
• 3:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and I think it's going to do, uh, I think it isn't going to perform how they want to by setting those track track records.
• 4:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think, especially Indianapolis.
• 4:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: I know they're on the road course, but for them to be running.
• 4:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: just maybe a few tenths off race pace of this year and it just there's being the shake down for the car and really kind of just setting it up.
• 4:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think it's so promising.
• 4:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: The running fire zone tires that weren't really built for this car as well, you know, fire zone has put a lot of work into creating these tires for the certain indie car, Delar chassis that they're running now.
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think when a fire zone's also able to kind of look at these tires and design them for that car, I think you're just going to see even better
• 4:35
  [SPEAKER_02]: my one worry of course as I've been saying all along is what it does to the competition and we'll see it's just that the competition with this chassis the last what's been 14 years has been really good and i hate to see that go way yeah it's going to be it's going to be a big question market really is i think the technology's definitely needed but man from an entertainment uh... standpoint indica really has it down right now
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: Then I kind of talked about the beginning here, but it's been confirmed that NASCAR and ECHAR going to share a Phoenix weekend yet again here in 2027, which I think is just great for ECHAR.
• 5:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: You look at the fan that had a Phoenix this year and I bet it's going to be even bigger than it was.
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_02]: So that means right now, Elijah, we know we have same Peter's Berg Phoenix, Arlington, the two Indie races.
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: We assume almost every race will be back next year.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_02]: So any additions would be, well, DC will not be back next year as far as we know, but the schedule starting to take some shape and Phoenix being part of it is a big deal.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: yeah i think it's a must i think we know we've said so many times how any car really needs to be going to these short ovals and you know phoenix is honestly one of the best one of the best ones that any car can go to and we know we saw this race this year and i think it was pretty entertaining and
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll be interested to see how they can pull off the NASCAR and any card double header again, because I know now that X-Findity is going to be there as well, or should I say a Riley auto parts series or whatever it is now, but I know it's, so it's saying that they're going to be a triple header or so I'm pretty excited to see how they play that out.
• 6:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think any card is probably going to race on that Saturday again, but maybe move to Sunday.
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_02]: And that Phoenix is really vital, not just because it's a great race all the tradition, but also because you can run it anytime a year and that is a big deal and you get races like homestead backs because of that kind of thing to anytime you can get an oval in a warm weather climate, you gotta take it and Phoenix is perfect for that.
• 6:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm glad they're continuing to go there and not just kind of dropping in after a couple of years
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, any car needs to be on more ovals, and I think this calendar for this next upcoming year has more opportunities to stand out, maybe in Latin America, maybe go down to Brazil, they better be going to Mexico, so I think the schedule overall for next season is going to be super, super interesting.
• 7:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: Mexico, Mexico, Mexico.
• 7:11
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, exactly.
• 7:15
  [SPEAKER_02]: They should have two races in Mexico.
• 7:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's so far apart from each other, it would be like having one in Dallas and Los Angeles.
• 7:23
  [SPEAKER_02]: And back to back weekends, you could just do two races.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: And it's not like you're gonna be attracting the same crowd.
• 7:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it needs to be a really cool leg early in the season to do that.
• 7:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Any car needs to figure that out.
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think all signs are points that are happening.
• 7:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's just a kind of matter of wind.
• 7:44
  [SPEAKER_02]: the popularity of the sports at right now it kind of needs to happen now yeah mix goes big market we know going all the way back to the eighties that they love in the car what it's in front of them and with uh... patto being the star that he is it's just a must that Mexico becomes part of the overall picture of in the car
• 8:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: I know I brought it up before the podcast.
• 8:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: I've got some interesting response out of you, but talking about interesting people coming back to IndyCar might see cool and heard of back into IndyCar as reports have come out today that Cadillac is looking for possibly a new driver instead of cool and for their form in the one program, which would mean cool and heard of might return to that 28 seat at Andrade Racing.
• 8:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: That is very interesting.
• 8:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: want to have in your series.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_02]: I thought it was kind of cool that he was going to chance enough one if he's back in Indie Carve.
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_02]: As long as that's where his attention is now going forward, he's obviously a welcome addition to the series.
• 8:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I honestly think he needs to be back in Indie Carve.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I get he wanted to go over and form you the one and try it out, but you know, he looked how great this series is and I think
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think he's in any car name, that should have stayed in any car.
• 9:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: I can't hate on him for going to trace his dream and informing the one, but, you know, any car is gonna be very lucky to have him back.
• 9:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think that makes it pretty interesting for Marcus Ayrickson, who's currently in Dready right now.
• 9:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: We're gonna see kind of how this plays out in the next coming months, but, you know, silly season, I'm sure is gonna ramp up here.
• 9:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: Pretty soon, as the season winds down here in the last month and a half of the season.
• 9:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: Can I just, I probably shouldn't say this because I like to keep the indie car report positive.
• 9:46
  [SPEAKER_02]: Marcus Shericks and is a clearly one of the ten most talented drivers in the series.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: You know how I feel about these Scandinavians, they're my favorites.
• 9:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: But that guy just has no personality.
• 9:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: He just is not.
• 10:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: He's an ND500 winner and I forget about him on certain weekends.
• 10:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: I just
• 10:07
  [SPEAKER_02]: I have a hard time loving Marcus Aertion being out front and I'm really, I shouldn't have said that a lot of you.
• 10:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: No, I don't think you're really wrong.
• 10:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think people, I think it's easy to forget that he isn't an Indianapolis 500 winner just because he's just had a weird career.
• 10:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: not really having any loud seasons where he's out in front or winning races, obviously we know he was super close, obviously ran really well and St. Louis, but you know, just hasn't had the results to kind of speak for the name he is.
• 10:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I have to agree with you.
• 10:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think he is an incredible talent and when he wins, it's kind of boring.
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
• 11:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: Sorry, but he is, yeah, without question, especially in the, just such a factor every year.
• 11:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: And every year you look up and hey, there's a, there's that guy that's we just got to keep forgetting about.
• 11:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and I think for that reason, he'll be somewhere in Indicore.
• 11:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: If it's at Indraity, if it's somewhere else,
• 11:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, I actually just kept my mouth shut like was my instinct.
• 11:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: We just heard from Michelle Garmin, she'll be joining us here in a minute to make her prediction for Portland this weekend.
• 11:36
  [SPEAKER_02]: Before we do, we have a little bit more news including the DC race going to 250 miles.
• 11:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: I saw that again, me interested to see how that race plays out because it's not a very long track, so that is going to be a lot of laps.
• 11:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be a lot of turns.
• 11:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: A lot of turns.
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: Better hope there's some good entertaining racing because if not, that could be quite the long watch, honestly.
• 12:01
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, with the way they made it where the strategies are different.
• 12:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: the tire strategy, the fuel strategy.
• 12:10
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting stuff going on, but that's right.
• 12:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: And we're now joined by Tipton Tribunal and Collider Sports Editor Michelle Garmin, her thoughts on what's going to be a very long DC race with a lot of terms.
• 12:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: When I saw that they increased it, I thought that makes it that race even more intriguing and exciting especially since it's going to be a brand new course and a street course through DC.
• 12:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: But we're interesting to see how it goes.
• 12:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would think that experience teams might have a slight edge just because I'm sure they'll find certain similarities to some of the terms.
• 12:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: of other courses they've run in the past, whether it's been currently or an old course or something that somebody has had to plan strategy for.
• 13:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, I think Genacity and Pinsky and Dreddy, those guys that have been around for a long time might do better, making adjusting for that length as opposed to the smaller race teams.
• 13:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: No matter what, I have the race plays out, I think it's going to be a such a cool event, and I think we obviously have a pretty good race lead in here with Portland here this weekend, and then we really hit the stride and augusts going to a brand new race in Markham and then heading to Milwaukee as well, so it's going to be such a pivotal time for any card.
• 13:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: It just absolutely nailed these races and make sure you always want to make sure they're entertaining, but even more so with this crucial stretch.
• 13:59
  [SPEAKER_02]: All right, guys, let's make our predictions for this weekend at Portland.
• 14:02
  [SPEAKER_02]: Again, it's been three weeks since the last race and obviously Alex blows on his way to his fourth consecutive indie car championship, just incredible, but we're going to talk about Portland this weekend.
• 14:16
  [SPEAKER_02]: The defending champion will power his last win with Penske last year.
• 14:22
  [SPEAKER_02]: And the, he beat Christian Lungard and Alex Blow.
• 14:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: And it seems to me that the favorites going into this weekend, Elijah are going to be Gnassian arrow McLaren with Andretti and Pinsky a level below.
• 14:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think it's all the, the usual is I wouldn't be surprised at seeing Lungar and Victory Lane honestly.
• 14:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: We know how good he is on these road courses and he was really competitive with chasing down Willpower last year.
• 14:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: I honestly think Willpower, you know, knowing this is a track he's won at before obviously winning this last year, he needs a defining race with Androidy this year.
• 15:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: uh... he doesn't maybe have to have a couple wins but i would argue to say that he needs at least one win before this season closes out for at least me to the terminate as a successful season and i think this could be an opportunity for him and i'm never going to discredit Alex polo because he's for sure a contender
• 15:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I believe if Paolo wins this weekend, I already think he's won his fourth, but I think if he wins this way, he's kind of puts the final, this stamp on this fourth strike championship.
• 15:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't be surprised to see Lungard when either.
• 15:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's been very good on some of these course, you know, he's got two road wins.
• 15:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's had a good season that way.
• 15:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I wouldn't be surprised at all.
• 15:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Who do you think?
• 15:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Elijah, do you think it's going to be the best pensky out there?
• 15:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I was just thinking about that.
• 15:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I think the Penskees are kind of a question mark going into this.
• 15:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: If I were to bet, I would put David Malukas, but then again, I feel like this is a course that almost favors Scott McLaughlin the way he drives.
• 16:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I think you see the between Scotty Mac or David Malukas.
• 16:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: I just don't think New Garden is still fully healed.
• 16:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll be interesting to see those reports as they
• 16:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: kind of have practice here on Friday and Saturday.
• 16:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: If he is fully here healed, I could think New Garden could make maybe just a late season push with a couple of ovals left on the circuit.
• 16:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be interesting to see the Penske's in general just because I don't think this is a really attract that is super strong suited to them even though Will Power did win here last year.
• 16:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think this blows weekend.
• 16:39
  [SPEAKER_02]: I don't think there I think this is
• 16:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think we might finally get to see what we've been waiting for for a long time, and that's an Alex Polo Pado Award battle for a win that would be cool.
• 16:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's, but we just said a lot, and it's been a long time since we've seen one of those.
• 16:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: uh... that's going to be my prediction hello patto and as far as dark horses it's really kind of hard to find one this weekend it just seems it just feels like it's going to be a weekend of favorites but i got to say i don't think at all the time we've done this Elijah i've ever picked renaissance vk and he's just proved me wrong over and over and over so i'm going to say renaissance vk is going to have another top seven finish he would be one of my dark horses
• 17:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Although I know it's a Chevy and I'm not so sure, but I would also say Alexander Rossi has been improving and if he hit his foot is close to healthy.
• 17:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he would be he's another guy to just keep your eye on just because he's contended in some he's just had he's had some bad luck this this year.
• 17:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: And although I personally don't really care for the driver who knows what Santino is going to do.
• 17:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think for my top three, I'm probably going to go loongard first, below second, and I do like Paddo at third.
• 18:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: I kind of agree with Greg.
• 18:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think it could be Paddo's week if he's able to kind of capitalize, but man, I think loongard is probably coming out here pretty pissed, knowing that he's probably at least at McClaren.
• 18:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: And for my dark horse, I'm going to go with Mick Schumacher.
• 18:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, obviously coming off of the top 10, three weeks ago,
• 18:20
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think it would be awesome to see him back in the top 10.
• 18:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I think if he's able to stack a couple of top 10s, maybe a top five to close out this season, we could probably say it the season was a success if he's able to do that in these last five races.
• 18:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's true except shoe mockers, best performances are really surprisingly kind of come on ovals, you know, are not really on the, not really the street or road courses this year.
• 18:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: which is why I'm hoping he can turn it around.
• 18:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be interesting to see what RLL brings.
• 18:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: I feel like it's kind of a crap shoot anytime you get them really at any track any car goes to, but I think it would be good for him to just maybe get a dark horse top tin.
• 19:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, I'll give you one more dark horse.
• 19:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: Scott Nixon.
• 19:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, I know he's changing teams and everything, but the guy seems to win at least one race every year.
• 19:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I don't know if he was not in the mouth, especially because he's got going to ask the cars.
• 19:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: So he would be one of my dark horses.
• 19:24
  [SPEAKER_02]: That's a great one.
• 19:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I think it's a big close to the season for Louie Foster and Kio Colette to see what they can do because they've shown a lot of promise.
• 19:33
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I'll be keep my eyes on those guys too.
• 19:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, the first practice at Portland is going to be Friday, August 7th at 5.30 p.m. qualifying is going to be on Saturday, August 8th at 7 p.m. Eastern.
• 19:48
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's a late qualifying for Indie car and the race we have the green flag around 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, August 9th should be an absolute great weekend of Indie car racing Portland's one of a, I would say the few really interesting tracks they go to and can't wait, can't wait to see how it plays out.
• 20:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: Portland is going to be interesting to see how that plays up.
• 20:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is going to be interesting to see how the ones after that play out, because now you start traveling.
• 20:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're going across country to get out there, but you've had enough, you're not coming off a race last weekend, so you've been able to take your time to get out there.
• 20:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now these guys are going to have to get through equipment, packed, cars, you know, try it, whatever, and then they got to book it back across the country.
• 20:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: And in summertime, that's terrible with all the road construction.
• 20:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thanks everybody, Elijah, Indiana misses you.
• 20:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: You need to get back as soon as possible.
• 20:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's for sure.
• 20:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll be back eventually.
• 20:50
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thanks everyone for listening.
• 20:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: We will be back on Sunday with a recap of the race in Portland.
• 20:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: And next week again with the Indie Car Report every week with Elijah Poe and sometimes other guests.
• 21:49
  [SPEAKER_02]: Central Indiana Sports Sports is a product of ITG media, and I love music.