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The IndyCar Report with Elijah Poe: Silly Season Twist & Turns (2.61.2) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'll go back to the Central Indiana Sports Report IndyCar fans for the IndyCar Report.
• 0:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: With Elijah Pope, Elijah's been really busy covering Ball State football and Ball State Athletes for the Ball State Daily News.
• 0:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: But news has broken and here he is, the talk some IndyCar racing with.
• 0:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: The silly season got pretty silly, Elijah, the last couple days.
• 0:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, it did.
• 0:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: We had another big development in the 2026 driver-c situation when it was announced that Reena's VK would be going to whom goes hauling the racing as they're, uh, I think they quoted as their lead driver.
• 0:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: So very interesting.
• 0:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know a lot of us expected them, him to maybe end up at that number four C that AJ Foie, but it really seems like whom goes hauling her and Reena's VK are committed to each other here in this partnership, and we'll have to
• 1:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, um, yeah, I think it seemed pretty obvious that it was the, the dephoid seat was for him.
• 1:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And this is kind of taking us aside, and of course, that fills AC that we thought was going to be filled by our favorite, Connor Day League.
• 1:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it could be though not, Connor has said that he's not sure what's going to hunt as well.
• 1:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Um, and I'm not sure who goes all in just quite sure yet what they're doing.
• 1:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: What's the latest on that?
• 1:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is going to be interesting to see what Hunko's hiring a racing does.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, with Reena's being signed on through 2026, it's actually interesting enough.
• 1:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how I skim this, but Stingray Rob is signed on for Hunko's hiring group through 2026.
• 1:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Right.
• 1:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: So he is technically still going to be in that number 77 car, but that team has not made any announcements and maybe they are
• 2:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: waiting for the announcement because they don't want to take away from the moment for Rina's BK, which is totally plausible.
• 2:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: But on the other side, it does bring some questions that we're getting this far to the off season and it hasn't been solidified that Stinger Rob is going to be back for that team.
• 2:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I'm sure it's a may be a funding thing, but I think it would be interesting to see some comparisons between Stingeray Rob and Connor and Daley.
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know obviously Stingeray's younger, but if you're talking about performance on the track, I don't think it's particularly close.
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Unfortunately, Elijah in Indicard, that's not usually the most important thing when it comes to these decisions.
• 2:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: It is with the top teams, but with the bottom teams, they have to make decisions that are best for their programs long term.
• 2:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: And often the guy who doesn't come with a lot of funding kind of gets left behind.
• 2:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that is a that is a real unfortunate part of the sport, but, you know, like you said, you know, committing two people with the best for each other, I really do think that this one goes calling her team and reeness VK can can really build this organization.
• 3:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's had a few one-off races where they've been really competitive.
• 3:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're usually always pretty decent on oval and they're oval trim.
• 3:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, seeing an Indie car, a veteran for lack of term, even though VK hasn't been in the sport that long, you know, he's been
• 3:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm seeing him go to Hunko's Hollinger, I'm going to be really excited to see where that partnership can go because no matter what you say about Rene's Vika, he is very quick.
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: And depending on some other potential movement that's coming, the best open seat has to be the number four for it.
• 3:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: We assumed it was going to be VK for so long, do we have any idea what's going to happen with it now?
• 3:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Um, actually, I'm fairly confident that it's going to be Kyle Calet, who tested for fight just a couple of days ago at the for IMS road test and that is his second test for fight.
• 3:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: So it kind of seems like that might be the writing on the wall.
• 3:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: He bring up an indie next runner up who's been fairly proven in that series.
• 4:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that'd be a great spot to develop somebody right alongside Santino.
• 4:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you still have that partnership with
• 4:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it would be shocking for AJ Foyt to give somebody too rookie test and then maybe not sign him.
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think it's trending in that direction right now and I think that's a good signing for Foyt as well.
• 4:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: The other big news of the week is with Ray Hall Letterman Lannigan.
• 4:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: the test with mixed shoe marker.
• 4:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I want to, I do want to talk about that Elijah.
• 4:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: It looks like it might be something that's kind of real.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: To me, it looked like it was something where they just, kind of wanted to set it up, get a test, get people talk in, and it goes back and those things in Europe.
• 4:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: But this seems like it might have a potential of something real.
• 4:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the big thing with RLL is that Dev one,
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: The rumor is they would like to move in a different direction, but we haven't heard anything there either.
• 5:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: with Schumacher testing for a couple of days ago.
• 5:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he was pretty much towards the top all day and testing time.
• 5:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: And like you said, I wasn't for sure that this was something that was actually going to be pursued by RL, you know.
• 5:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Any card teams have brought in tons of people to test their cars and drive them.
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: What Mick said, and the way RL kind of gave him the red carpet showcase, you know, I would honestly be pretty shocked at not seeing him in the car.
• 5:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Even though Devlin does have a long-term contract and he does bring backing, if you've got a chance to put it's the biggest name in racing outside of the states.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: It just is.
• 5:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think putting him in that 30 car in replacing Devlin would be a no-brainer for all because man we've been talking about it all season and all off season, it just really feels like a different chess goes kind of going nowhere.
• 6:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's too bad.
• 6:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: You get those rides and produce almost nothing.
• 6:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: And sooner or later, you're just not worthy anymore and he's not even know he he does bring backing.
• 6:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'd be very shocked to hear that Schumacher can't bring more backing.
• 6:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: It just the name alone holds that much way.
• 6:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you know, I think it'd be so great for the sport to get a name like Schumacher and because I really do think it could open the door for maybe some
• 6:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: European fans to notice IndyCar because it sure mockery is a great driver, but if he's in that number 30 car for our LL next year being realistic, I don't know if he's in the top 10 points.
• 6:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just don't see it and he is a great driver.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that's going to open the doors for European fans to say, Oh IndyCar, that product is just as stiff as it is in F1, if not better.
• 6:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: Alright, let's talk a little bit more about Connor daily.
• 6:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: As we mentioned earlier, we didn't elaborate, but we mentioned it.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: Connor has been open.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: in the media talking about a situation that he feels like he is part of the team for next year.
• 7:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: He doesn't know anything differently.
• 7:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And as far as he knows, he's part of their plan, but he is also scratching his head at what's going on.
• 7:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: It really is a shame.
• 7:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's a shame in general that Connor Daily has been put in this situation.
• 7:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: It feels like a countless amount of times because every Indie Carfan sees his raw talent, and especially around Indie,
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the see him kind of go through these contractual woes every couple of years is honestly it's just sad.
• 7:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's sad to see because he does have the pace and unfortunately, Indie cars at this point apart right now where he's not, he's never going to be in line for those bigger teams.
• 7:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: But he could bring funding for a smaller team and be just as successful.
• 7:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I wouldn't be surprised maybe if AJ Foit does end up signing collect, why not do if he's not ready for ovals yet?
• 7:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure why a team wouldn't want to take a shot on a rookie and have Connor run the ovals and then have that rookie run street in road course races because he's preaches proven as anybody is on that grid.
• 8:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: No doubt about it.
• 8:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: The worst case scenario for Connor let's point out is that
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: he gets a really good ride for the in the 500 has a chance to win it.
• 8:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's the worst case scenario.
• 8:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I don't think we should feel too bad for him yet.
• 8:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: You did hit it on the nail there.
• 8:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Even though he might not be in a seat full year, I would be genuinely shocked.
• 8:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not to see him at the 500.
• 8:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm pretty sure that that's a right in betting on him.
• 8:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
• 8:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, they should be.
• 8:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I even saw Marco and Dreddy get behind.
• 8:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: He reposted a fan account that was trying to bring up support for Connor Daley and he even retweeted that and posted it himself like I could even see them maybe trying and Dreddy.
• 8:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: If Marco's not going to get in that car, which he probably will, you know, why not give that seat to Connor Daley?
• 8:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that maybe
• 8:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know that the team loves Connor, and I know Connor likes the Andretis.
• 9:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know that they're really good friends, especially Marco and Connor.
• 9:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think there's any doubt, but if that was a possibility, they would jump at it.
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I just think that would be.
• 9:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just be a great opportunity for him because if we be honest, other than maybe now Alex, Pillow, Paddo Ward and Joseph Newgarden, when you think of people who are consistently up there and can contend for a 500, I'm kind of daily's got to be in that breath, even though he maybe hasn't been up in within the top three and been in a position to win it, but if you watch the races, he's always there.
• 9:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how much more you would have to see to be exactly and that's why it is frustrating seeing him go through these contract situations because even this year he had some great races at Iowa.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was pretty good at Nashville.
• 9:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was a great at Portland until he got crushed out.
• 9:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Very oldful.
• 9:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was a factor of some kind.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: He did and even on a few street and road courses he was a solid top 10 top 15 finish.
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you're expecting high results from him on street
• 10:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: exactly what we'll honest, but he's not completely lost.
• 10:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: And if teams want to get a driver that is going to for sure get them in the later circle, which is, I think, the top 22 or 23 in point standings, you know, you'd be, you'd be dumb not to sign Conner Daily because he's going to be, he's going to be able to put you in that point circle pretty much every time.
• 10:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: We saw last year with Tukos Hollinger, he mean he
• 10:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I could even see Connor ending up in at that open sea at Dale coin racing.
• 10:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know he, he brings some budget with him.
• 10:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure it's probably not what Dale coin racing may be once, you know, totally financially wise, but that team is always going to need drivers to kind of boost up that organization.
• 10:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think you'd be a great fit.
• 10:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: He gives you a chance to win the 500.
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's something worth taking a shot at probably.
• 11:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I think so.
• 11:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: And even if he's not able to get a full seat, we really saw dry and rainbow that I feel like take a little bit of a step up and there's strategic calls this year at the 500 with Ryan Hunter rate.
• 11:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: If I was another team, I would not want to see Connor daily in a dry and rainbow car for the moment.
• 11:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: If I'm another team and I have an extra seat, I'm an idiot if I don't.
• 11:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: higher cognitive daily and I'm talking about you arrow McClayer and I'm talking about you and Dreddy and I'm talking about you Penske and Ganesi.
• 11:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you have an extra car for the 500 and he's not a full-time driver, if you're not all bidding on his services, you don't want to win the 500.
• 11:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's a great point.
• 11:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: And even ROL brings an extra car to India, although that's usually been set aside for it's Kumasato.
• 11:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, how long is to Kumasato going to do the 500.
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know we like to say he's the
• 12:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well he does because his dad runs the team.
• 12:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Last year was the first year where he looked like he didn't belong.
• 12:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And as long as that's not a consistent theme, I think, give Marco a shot.
• 12:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's always been good at indie.
• 12:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, exactly.
• 12:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been competitive there.
• 12:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, like you said, he did kind of feel a little bit like an odd man now and he did have some of some problems last year in the month of May.
• 12:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: They weren't really a rat.
• 12:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: They weren't really as predominant as we, we would expect them to, but, you know, we also got collected on on the lap one crash and stuff.
• 12:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he, in general, it really feels like Marco has struggled in indie specifically last year and the year before he wasn't good, but every year before that he was.
• 12:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: if not a top nine qualifier somewhere in the mix of cars that were he's not been a factor in the race for six seven years, but good enough to continue to get a ride I would think.
• 13:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's true.
• 13:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would think him and in Connor could work something out.
• 13:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would love to see Connor be, especially be able to get that shot at Andrew Eddie, but you know, regardless of his contract situations, I think we're both pretty sure he's going to be in a seat in May.
• 13:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's no doubt about that.
• 13:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: and less they're all more on's.
• 13:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, I can't just say, I know, era of a clarinet as touted, maybe there's some secret driver that they're going to bring out for the month of May who's been testing, that they've been keeping under wraps for some time now and I'll be guessing that's a huge, huge name.
• 13:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I hope it is.
• 13:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's what I'm saying.
• 13:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, you know, a couple of those people it might be over in Europe.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, well, I know it's it's not going to be Larson, which is, which I honestly think is better for indie cars a whole lot.
• 13:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: I feel like the Larson storyline that first year was pretty fun and pretty cool, but I think it would be awesome.
• 13:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would love for it to be, well, it can be an F1 driver because it will not at least not an F1 driver that's active because they're actually racing that day in Canada.
• 14:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would love for it to be Sebastian Metal, who I think it is probably going to be if I were to take a swing on it.
• 14:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's so interesting options out there, anyway, that's a podcast for another time.
• 14:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think the takeaway from this podcast is that we like VK, who goes Hollinger, probably seems like a good fit, and that we hope, Conner Daily, can find a ride, and that
• 14:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: you actually believe makes you mockers going to be an indie car next year.
• 14:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think I do, um, you know, not only that his times were pretty solid yesterday, but just the way he was speaking to the media, I really felt like, you know, he wanted to be there and R.L.L.
• 14:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: obviously wanted to have him out and, you know, I think R.L.L.
• 14:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: would kind of shoot themselves in the foot.
• 15:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: just from a standpoint of just looking at the seasons as a whole that he's been in any car it just hasn't worked out and you know credit to him for for giving it another shot and credit to RL for signing them again because he did have a couple okay showings but when you've got an opportunity to put a shoe marker in the car it just feel it just would be stupid not to put him in.
• 15:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: And by the way he is not his father nobody ever would confuse him with his father as a
• 15:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he is and he's got a lot of accolades in the endurance side as well as obviously being in the formula one side there for handful of years, but he's he is a claims, he is not his dad, nobody is his dad, and formula one wise, he is a great racer and he would be great for the series.
• 15:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that's it.
• 15:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: I know we should get here in the next couple of weeks.
• 15:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe a verdict on the Alex Paloma Claren-Drama that's happening right now in London.
• 16:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Kind of going back and forth in the courts with the Zach Brown and Alex Palo.
• 16:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's been pretty spicy so far, but no official release has been set.
• 16:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And when we know anything, Elijah and I will be there to talk about it here on the Central Indiana Sports Report.
• 16:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks, Elijah.
• 16:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, Greg.
• 16:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Appreciate it.
• 16:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Elijah and I will be back as Indie Car News breaks during the off season with a random Indie Car report here and there.
• 16:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: Then when the season begins, we'll be back every single week like we were last season.
• 16:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: And during May of course every single day.
• 16:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: We also have IU Purdue Colts, fever, high school football, and basketball lots and lots of stuff.
• 16:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: So please go subscribe.
• 16:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Central and AS Sports Report is a product of ITG Media, and I love Susan.