WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>This is off track.</v>

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Good morning everybody. Alex . Alex, you look good, pal.

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What, uh, why are you so close to this, to the camera?

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not,</v>
<v Speaker 1>Oh, okay. Welcome.</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Do track. It's a new setting. Yeah.</v>

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<v Speaker 1>With, yeah, it's a plus, plus two or a 0.5, but zoomed in</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Whatever</v>
<v Speaker 1>Dude, you look, I believe him.</v>

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Amped and ready to go. You're in your Java house hat

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and your ECR gear

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and you just look like you're ready to go drive race cars.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, yeah, James, I'm at a racetrack.</v>

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We're doing this, what? We're doing this

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before day two of our Phoenix Open test.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh, so yeah. Okay. Well let's go through, yeah.</v>

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Let's go through day one quick.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay.</v>
<v Speaker 1>Back at Phoenix, we've talked about this.</v>

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We talked about how you tested there for the tire test.

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Um, very different from 2018,

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which does the last time that we ran there.

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Mm-hmm. Which sucked, like

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objectively was just a terrible race for us.

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But the cars are very different.

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There's an arrow screen now, there's a hybrid system.

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Now we have less downforce, we have less power.

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We have gotten better at making the things

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<v Speaker 2>Second lane work, all things, all things</v>

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that you just said prior to the last one.

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Do not make racing better.

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<v Speaker 1>That is true. Well, no, the less power on a short oval,</v>

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I would say can sometimes make racing better.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay. Yeah,</v>
<v Speaker 1>Because it just kind</v>

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of tightens the, the group up.

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Mm-hmm . Anyway, yeah. That all said,

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this is the same formula that we've taken

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to other short tracks that we had crap racing

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and have made good racing.

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Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm . So you've done a two car tire test,

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but now you've been on track with the whole field.

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What do we think after a day at Phoenix? I

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<v Speaker 2>Think what we've learned in front</v>

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of everyone on this show is it's, it's very hard to predict.

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Um, yeah. For a myriad of reasons.

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Uh, 'cause currently I don't think anyone's super

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optimistic, but we've said that many times in the past

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and that hasn't always been the case.

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So I am New Year, new me, new Leaf.

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I'm gonna have an open mind. .

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<v Speaker 1>Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Yeah.</v>

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I don't think this show works if

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you have an open mind. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah.</v>

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I think, yeah, no, just about this. Nothing

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<v Speaker 1>Else.</v>

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Okay. Okay. I was gonna

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<v Speaker 2>Say, would you like me to just be</v>

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really negative about stuff? No. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>We might need you to step out purely. Okay.</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Purely pre-event predictions of race quality.</v>

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I'm gonna have an open mind. Everything else

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<v Speaker 1>Just at Phoenix, or are we talking in Arlington?</v>

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Are we talking Markham? Hmm. DC Let's

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<v Speaker 2>Take it one at a time.</v>

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<v Speaker 1>Okay. , let's start, let's not ask for too much. Let's</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Just start with Phoenix. Yeah, yeah. Got it.</v>

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<v Speaker 1>Okay. Um,</v>
<v Speaker 2>So it's, uh, the,</v>

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the reason why it doesn't feel great right now is

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because, so Firestone did, did a good job.

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Um, and there's a lot of DG in the tire, which is,

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as we've discussed, is good for racing

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and opening up a second lane.

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But the DG unfortunately at the moment,

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after one four hour session, is only coming

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in extreme forms from the right front.

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So the, the under steer level

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and the dig drop off is

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the dig drop-off is coming from a exponential under steer

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level, which doesn't really lend itself

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to opening up a second lane, right?

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Because right.

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You're, you're, you're just under steering in the second

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lane too, and doing more distance

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and more exposed to marbles.

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So really the dag needs to be like the whole car,

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like the whole car sliding around and Right.

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And that's when people you see in Milwaukee

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or Old Iowa, they're searching high and low for grip

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because like the whole thing is like on ice, right?

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When it's just one axle that's struggling.

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It's not, it's, it's half of the equation sort of thing.

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But people are gonna tune their cars.

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People are gonna get more aggressive

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with the mechanical setup and the arrow setup

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and everything to, to rectify that.

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So, um, it's really good. We're testing here.

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'cause ultimately yesterday was a very

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short four hour session.

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Today's a full day. Um,

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so I think people are gonna be a lot more

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in the window by the end of today.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah. I'd like imagine we were</v>

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rocking up to the race weekend.

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You'd have one hour of practice and then

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<v Speaker 2>You'd call designer</v>
<v Speaker 1>A race and it would be bad.</v>

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<v Speaker 2>So, so IndyCar is, is doing all of the right things.</v>

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Obviously they spend, um, a lot of time

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with Firestone on having two different tire tests here

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with four cars total.

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Um, and then having this two day test here.

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So the, the, the effort is there to make this as good

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of a show as possible, which quite frankly, it needs to be.

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Um, because yeah, we have the opportunity

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to introduce our sport to a whole new audience

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with it being the double header weekend with Cup.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah. I mean, we're, we're going quicker.</v>

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It's about 40 mile an hour quicker. Uh mm-hmm .

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An average speed than a cup car,

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so it's gonna look spectacular.

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<v Speaker 2>Much less track usage than Cup. Yes.</v>

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, um, you know, they're, they're down,

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they're down on the apron

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and, which is just crazy, uh, to me.

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We certainly can't do that. Um, does it,

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<v Speaker 1>Does it feel like, sorry.</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I was just gonna say, I, I missed,</v>

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I missed driving here over a lap.

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Like Yes, you say the race in 18 was pretty below average,

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which I agree with.

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Um, but this is one of my favorite short ovals to like do a,

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a Q sim on, it's nowhere near the level of commitment,

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unfortunately that it used to be.

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Mm-hmm . Um, especially in the Arrow Kit days when turns

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old, turns one and two, which is now turns three

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and four we're like borderline flat.

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Um, but it's still a, a super rewarding,

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it's probably my favorite at this point.

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It's my favorite short oval behind Milwaukee.

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It goes to Milwaukee. Phoenix, and that's it.

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<v Speaker 1>Gateway, Iowa. Mm-hmm.</v>

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, I guess that's the order it has to, to go,</v>

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but I certainly don't like Iowa or Gateway.

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So,
<v Speaker 1>, that's weird</v>

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because like on paper, I know that Phoenix is unique

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'cause it's got the dog leg, right?

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But like, when you look at what one and two and three

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and four look like, you could kind of say that it's closest

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to Phoenix, or sorry, closest to Gateway. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>A hundred percent.</v>

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And, and in a lot of ways it is.

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Um, there's just some really annoying elements of Gateway

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I think, that are hard to get right.

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Like the bump going into turn three and Right.

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It's, as much as this is the same as Gateway in,

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in the sense that, you know, turns, let's just call it

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one end of the track is almost flat in a, in a fairly,

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um, non banked corner.

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And the other end of the track is, you know,

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you're on the brakes and it's super banked

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and you're going down three years at times, um,

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they do drive super different.

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Uh, because, you know, in, in Gateway you have kind

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of two balances end to end.

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Whereas Phoenix, I think it's, it's more enjoyable

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because the balance across the lap is the same.

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Um, you know, interesting problems that you suffer in, in,

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in one end are, are echoed in the other.

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So

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<v Speaker 1>Interesting.</v>

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That's that. Yes.

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And it's, I know they changed like the layout in the sense

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of where start finish was and which one was one

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and two, but like, super

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<v Speaker 2>Weird.</v>

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<v Speaker 1>The track's the same though, right? Otherwise, like the</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Track's the same. Okay.</v>

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah. It's just, it has moved it.</v>

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So was it confusing the first

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couple runs where you're like, it's,

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<v Speaker 2>Dude, it's still confusing.</v>

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It's still confusing. It makes no sense. That's so funny.

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And to have, and to have the timeline, like at the e like

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at a corner exit is also super weird. Oh, really? Um,

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<v Speaker 1>Where's it at?</v>

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<v Speaker 2>Start finish line is like basically in the</v>

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middle of old two.

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It's like way before the dog leg.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, weird.</v>
<v Speaker 2>No,</v>

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it's like literally in the middle of the corner.

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Weird. I mean, just

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outside the middle of the corner. Yeah. But, yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Huh.</v>
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.</v>

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So like, you're not even, you're not even fully tracked out

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on the exit of one old, one and two

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before you're at the timeline.

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<v Speaker 1>Right.</v>
<v Speaker 2>There you go.</v>

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Um, but anyways, so the track's the same.

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It looks, you're gonna be blown away.

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It looks very different.

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All the grandstands are moved

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and it's, it,

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it feels like a different track, but obviously yeah.

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It, it is not. So yeah, on the, on the 20 car side,

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um, was a good day.

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Uh, good, good day for the team.

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You know, we're, we've got, um, on my side, you know, it's,

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it's a new engineer on the car.

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Um, some, some new structure changes in the organization

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with Matt being promoted to technical director.

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Um, ed is gonna be on my car.

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He was obviously on my car for the last couple races

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of the last year, but he's full-time calling my races this

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year, except for obviously, um, the 500.

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Um, but yeah, very, a very positive

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and productive day for, for us,

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which is good. Good start to the year.

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<v Speaker 1>So, sorry, who eng who's Eng who's your engineer this year</v>

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now with moving up?

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<v Speaker 2>Uh, his name is Quentin Mon Montague</v>

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<v Speaker 1>On.</v>

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So was Quentin running your car at Seabring?

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't run Seabring.</v>
<v Speaker 1>Oh, that's right.</v>

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You guys, you guys just had Hunter there

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so that, so this was, okay.

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So this was a first, uh, pay attention,

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<v Speaker 3>James.</v>

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I do, sometimes I do in the</v>

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moment. I just don't have a memory. It's funny,

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<v Speaker 2>It's funny the amount of times that I have over the past</v>

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three months had to tell James that I haven't,

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I'm not doing Sebring, haven't been to Seabring,

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wasn't participating and

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<v Speaker 1>Then didn't go to Seabring and yet mm-hmm.</v>

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I still ask. Yeah. Um,

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<v Speaker 2>Because we're setting a new trend, man, you don't have</v>

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to just go to cbr 'cause everyone else goes to cbr. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>No, look, I, look, we talked about this.</v>

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I, I like that strategy.

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I like that call. That's an interesting one.

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<v Speaker 3>It kinda reminds me of the, like, you know,</v>

239
00:09:27.725 --> 00:09:30.085
the phrase like, if, if all your friends jumped off a

240
00:09:30.085 --> 00:09:31.125
bridge, would you do it?

241
00:09:31.885 --> 00:09:32.975
Because honestly,

242
00:09:33.005 --> 00:09:35.755
I've thought about this like probably would

243
00:09:35.755 --> 00:09:36.755
<v Speaker 1>You would Yeah, yeah.</v>

244
00:09:36.755 --> 00:09:37.555
Or would a hundred percent just because

245
00:09:38.015 --> 00:09:39.195
<v Speaker 2>You is ridiculous.</v>

246
00:09:39.385 --> 00:09:41.315
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. If there's one guy that I know</v>

247
00:09:41.385 --> 00:09:43.235
that would in fact jump off the, the bridge,

248
00:09:43.235 --> 00:09:44.595
<v Speaker 3>I just don't think you guys would do it</v>

249
00:09:44.595 --> 00:09:45.795
without doing your research.

250
00:09:46.235 --> 00:09:48.155
<v Speaker 1>I also just think that even if we did</v>

251
00:09:48.535 --> 00:09:51.395
and it was the exact outcome that you would've expected,

252
00:09:52.055 --> 00:09:53.235
you were like, well now do it.

253
00:09:53.235 --> 00:09:55.235
All my friends are like, I might as well. Yeah.

254
00:09:55.295 --> 00:09:58.195
I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna be the guy that didn't do that.

255
00:09:58.425 --> 00:10:02.155
<v Speaker 3>Yeah.</v>
<v Speaker 1>You know, um, so</v>

256
00:10:02.975 --> 00:10:06.595
it was a Penske one, two, Andretti, three, four, uh,

257
00:10:06.855 --> 00:10:07.915
ma Lucas led the way.

258
00:10:08.495 --> 00:10:10.115
But this is day one.

259
00:10:10.175 --> 00:10:12.275
By the time you hear this, we will have done day two

260
00:10:12.495 --> 00:10:14.315
and day one matters, even less than day two,

261
00:10:14.315 --> 00:10:15.275
which doesn't even matter that

262
00:10:15.275 --> 00:10:16.235
much 'cause it's just testing.

263
00:10:16.695 --> 00:10:18.235
But just figured I'd throw that out there.

264
00:10:18.535 --> 00:10:21.555
Uh, a little over 2000 laps run by the whole field.

265
00:10:21.815 --> 00:10:23.475
So yeah, everybody out there getting

266
00:10:23.475 --> 00:10:24.595
some, getting some miles in.

267
00:10:25.075 --> 00:10:28.035
I did read that, um, Kyle Collette, one of the rookies

268
00:10:28.035 --> 00:10:29.315
of the year had an incident.

269
00:10:29.505 --> 00:10:30.955
What happened there, Alex? I haven't.

270
00:10:31.495 --> 00:10:33.435
<v Speaker 2>It was really James. Um, you know, we, uh,</v>

271
00:10:34.215 --> 00:10:37.595
we ruled out a pit lane on a, on our second

272
00:10:37.655 --> 00:10:40.755
and only set of, uh, new tires, new tires

273
00:10:41.015 --> 00:10:42.035
<v Speaker 1>For a nice little, and,</v>

274
00:10:42.035 --> 00:10:44.435
<v Speaker 2>Uh, he jumped, he jumped me, uh, leaving pit lane.</v>

275
00:10:45.025 --> 00:10:48.835
Good. So I, I had a gap off of him and try and find a space.

276
00:10:49.295 --> 00:10:51.595
Um, and then, uh, was halfway

277
00:10:51.615 --> 00:10:54.155
around completing my first slab of the qim

278
00:10:54.215 --> 00:10:55.635
and he crashed in front of me.

279
00:10:55.775 --> 00:10:58.155
So that was, um, that was that very small,

280
00:10:58.465 --> 00:11:02.075
just spun in three, four, um, light contact.

281
00:11:02.455 --> 00:11:04.515
So Okay. Really no harm, no foul.

282
00:11:04.635 --> 00:11:09.015
I think bent one of the rear corners, but like, not,

283
00:11:09.555 --> 00:11:10.575
<v Speaker 1>But he'll be back out.</v>

284
00:11:11.095 --> 00:11:12.095
<v Speaker 2>Dramatic.</v>
<v Speaker 3>Yeah. Yeah.</v>

285
00:11:12.235 --> 00:11:14.015
It sounds like one of those unnecessary parts

286
00:11:14.015 --> 00:11:16.295
of a race car that they put on. Um,

287
00:11:16.975 --> 00:11:19.695
<v Speaker 2>I mean, you have 75% of the rest of them, so</v>

288
00:11:21.075 --> 00:11:22.775
<v Speaker 1>Not bad numbers when you think about it.</v>

289
00:11:23.075 --> 00:11:27.335
So some IndyCar news that's happened since we last spoke.

290
00:11:27.545 --> 00:11:29.015
Again, we may have talked about this.

291
00:11:29.035 --> 00:11:30.295
So remind me 'cause I don't remember

292
00:11:30.295 --> 00:11:31.495
what conversations we have in person

293
00:11:31.555 --> 00:11:32.655
and which ones we have on the show.

294
00:11:32.655 --> 00:11:35.455
Sometimes Han's officially been announced back, like I know

295
00:11:35.455 --> 00:11:38.135
that we saw him at Sebring. Um,

296
00:11:38.195 --> 00:11:39.935
<v Speaker 2>Did you listen to the Tuesday episode? James</v>

297
00:11:40.035 --> 00:11:41.055
<v Speaker 3>And on off track? Yeah.</v>

298
00:11:41.315 --> 00:11:42.335
<v Speaker 1>Oh yeah, that's right. No, I didn't.</v>

299
00:11:42.395 --> 00:11:44.575
But I know that you did that. Um, .

300
00:11:46.155 --> 00:11:47.175
So, but, and,

301
00:11:47.275 --> 00:11:49.855
but that's, that's less of the thing 'cause we've already covered that.

302
00:11:50.035 --> 00:11:54.125
But the point I was gonna make was that his engineer, uh,

303
00:11:54.505 --> 00:11:56.765
is gonna be a guy called Bill Pappas this year,

304
00:11:56.985 --> 00:12:00.095
and Bill for the last 10 years,

305
00:12:00.695 --> 00:12:02.055
I think something like that.

306
00:12:02.235 --> 00:12:03.535
<v Speaker 2>10 plus. Yeah, maybe,</v>

307
00:12:03.535 --> 00:12:06.695
<v Speaker 1>Maybe more has been, uh, working for IndyCar.</v>

308
00:12:06.695 --> 00:12:08.055
He, he was on the race team side

309
00:12:08.075 --> 00:12:10.575
and then went to go work for IndyCar, one of the lead, uh,

310
00:12:11.035 --> 00:12:14.335
you know, engineers, tech guys, developers of all things new

311
00:12:14.335 --> 00:12:15.495
that have happened in IndyCar.

312
00:12:16.635 --> 00:12:18.975
And then we've also heard about some team people

313
00:12:18.975 --> 00:12:20.895
that have been hired to go work

314
00:12:20.915 --> 00:12:23.495
for IndyCar in tech and things like that.

315
00:12:23.955 --> 00:12:25.655
You know, prominent crew chief of one

316
00:12:25.655 --> 00:12:28.335
of the teams was I guess, poached or I don't know the story,

317
00:12:28.335 --> 00:12:31.335
but has, is now working for tech, for tech.

318
00:12:31.335 --> 00:12:32.455
And it sort of made me, it sort

319
00:12:32.455 --> 00:12:35.265
of made me think a little bit, how do we feel, Alex,

320
00:12:35.365 --> 00:12:39.865
do you have an opinion on people from the series immediately

321
00:12:39.865 --> 00:12:42.865
going to work for a team when they might have some

322
00:12:42.865 --> 00:12:46.625
information or might know about some things of what's coming

323
00:12:46.685 --> 00:12:49.105
or how things are done that could be advantageous.

324
00:12:49.325 --> 00:12:50.665
And on the other side,

325
00:12:51.445 --> 00:12:54.025
how do you feel about the series being able

326
00:12:54.025 --> 00:12:56.225
to hire someone right off one of the top teams

327
00:12:56.405 --> 00:12:58.985
to go start leading tech, like immediately?

328
00:12:59.125 --> 00:13:00.585
I'm not saying you shouldn't be able to do it,

329
00:13:01.005 --> 00:13:02.745
but do you think maybe there should be something like a

330
00:13:02.745 --> 00:13:05.145
gardening leave in these situations? You mean like

331
00:13:05.355 --> 00:13:07.305
<v Speaker 2>Every other role in motor sports</v>

332
00:13:07.555 --> 00:13:09.265
<v Speaker 1>Seems like it's a popular thing,</v>

333
00:13:09.285 --> 00:13:12.025
but like I, I'm pretty sure I've heard of this type

334
00:13:12.025 --> 00:13:14.105
of thing happening in F1 when it's going from like

335
00:13:14.105 --> 00:13:15.305
the FIA to the team.

336
00:13:15.305 --> 00:13:19.625
<v Speaker 2>Yeah. So he probably, I don't know</v>

337
00:13:19.625 --> 00:13:23.945
that there's really much, at least in my time in IndyCar,

338
00:13:23.945 --> 00:13:25.585
which is getting to be a lot at this point.

339
00:13:26.055 --> 00:13:27.225
Yeah, you're getting old, bro.

340
00:13:27.765 --> 00:13:29.705
Uh, here's the thing about time though,

341
00:13:29.885 --> 00:13:31.105
I'm still not catching up to you.

342
00:13:31.525 --> 00:13:32.525
So

343
00:13:32.785 --> 00:13:34.585
<v Speaker 1>A percentage wise, that's actually not true.</v>

344
00:13:35.945 --> 00:13:38.325
But in absolute terms, that is accurate. I

345
00:13:38.325 --> 00:13:39.845
<v Speaker 2>Don't know that's that's true. Because</v>

346
00:13:40.145 --> 00:13:41.245
<v Speaker 1>Now that's, that's Matt though.</v>

347
00:13:41.245 --> 00:13:45.005
As we both get older, the percentage of our age

348
00:13:45.075 --> 00:13:46.725
that is different shrinks,

349
00:13:47.065 --> 00:13:51.365
but the absolute the relative, uh, between us will stay the

350
00:13:51.365 --> 00:13:52.365
<v Speaker 2>Same.</v>

351
00:13:52.365 --> 00:13:54.205
Yeah. But if I die today mm-hmm .

352
00:13:54.305 --> 00:13:56.405
And you live another 40 years, then

353
00:13:56.405 --> 00:13:58.005
that percentage obviously drops.

354
00:13:58.515 --> 00:13:59.725
<v Speaker 1>Well, yeah, no, I was sorry.</v>

355
00:13:59.765 --> 00:14:02.005
I was not anticipating your impending demise.

356
00:14:02.755 --> 00:14:04.605
<v Speaker 2>Well, we all know I'm gonna die before you .</v>

357
00:14:05.085 --> 00:14:07.045
It's gonna be really dark if I do die today, guys.

358
00:14:07.065 --> 00:14:08.645
So you should still push this podcast out.

359
00:14:08.645 --> 00:14:09.925
<v Speaker 1>That's gonna be, could you just not test today?</v>

360
00:14:09.925 --> 00:14:10.925
Now I don't really like this

361
00:14:10.925 --> 00:14:11.925
<v Speaker 2>Anymore.</v>

362
00:14:11.925 --> 00:14:12.645
You should definitely put it out there.

363
00:14:12.905 --> 00:14:16.565
Um, anyways, uh, so I, I don't know the Indy car

364
00:14:16.785 --> 00:14:20.605
or teams, uh, there has been a, a precedent for this.

365
00:14:21.215 --> 00:14:22.725
Right. Um, so,

366
00:14:23.105 --> 00:14:26.645
but yes, I think that there is certainly the possibility

367
00:14:26.825 --> 00:14:30.045
of a pretty severe conflict of interest.

368
00:14:30.545 --> 00:14:35.485
Um, because you would be naive to say that Bill coming from

369
00:14:36.235 --> 00:14:37.885
IndyCar and,

370
00:14:38.025 --> 00:14:40.245
and let's, I don't even wanna talk about him potentially

371
00:14:40.245 --> 00:14:41.725
knowing what's coming or not coming.

372
00:14:42.065 --> 00:14:44.565
He certainly has seen everything

373
00:14:44.565 --> 00:14:47.285
that every team does from a, um,

374
00:14:47.285 --> 00:14:49.565
pushing the limit here on the rule book

375
00:14:49.625 --> 00:14:54.125
or developing this as a solution to this problem and,

376
00:14:54.125 --> 00:14:56.125
and creating this blah, blah, blah.

377
00:14:57.425 --> 00:15:01.125
So I think that yeah, there, there is a potential for

378
00:15:01.355 --> 00:15:02.405
that argument there.

379
00:15:02.595 --> 00:15:06.885
What I will say is, on that same note, this car has been an,

380
00:15:06.955 --> 00:15:10.565
this isn't an insult to anyone or a dig at IndyCar.

381
00:15:10.565 --> 00:15:11.725
This car's been around for

382
00:15:11.785 --> 00:15:13.565
so long and there's so much, theres

383
00:15:13.565 --> 00:15:14.725
<v Speaker 1>So much Yeah. Movement</v>

384
00:15:15.165 --> 00:15:16.165
<v Speaker 2>Transfer</v>
<v Speaker 1>Of information</v>

385
00:15:16.165 --> 00:15:17.065
<v Speaker 2>And yeah.</v>

386
00:15:17.065 --> 00:15:18.965
Everyone kind of knows everything anyways. Mm-hmm .

387
00:15:19.105 --> 00:15:23.525
So that, that one is, you could argue it both ways.

388
00:15:24.125 --> 00:15:28.215
I think the, the bigger, I don't wanna say issue,

389
00:15:28.315 --> 00:15:32.135
but concern, and this would only be a concern, Forti

390
00:15:33.155 --> 00:15:36.795
is one of your highest ranking

391
00:15:37.305 --> 00:15:40.955
crew chiefs at that organization for the past decade.

392
00:15:42.055 --> 00:15:44.395
Who knows the ins and outs of every single thing

393
00:15:44.395 --> 00:15:45.835
that you do on that race car,

394
00:15:45.885 --> 00:15:48.955
which operates in the gray area on a lot of things

395
00:15:49.975 --> 00:15:53.675
is immediately tech is in 10 days.

396
00:15:54.385 --> 00:15:57.315
Like he's got a duty to

397
00:15:58.645 --> 00:16:00.215
make sure all the cars are equal

398
00:16:01.035 --> 00:16:03.055
and he knows exactly the areas

399
00:16:03.105 --> 00:16:05.175
where those cars might be different.

400
00:16:06.035 --> 00:16:09.255
So I think if you're andretti, you're a little bit annoyed

401
00:16:09.255 --> 00:16:12.435
because they don't even have time

402
00:16:12.815 --> 00:16:14.995
to potentially pull things outta the gray.

403
00:16:15.015 --> 00:16:17.155
Not saying they're illegal, but pull things out

404
00:16:17.155 --> 00:16:20.395
of the gray area, you know, make sure their i's are dotted,

405
00:16:20.395 --> 00:16:22.115
their T's are crossed, blah, blah, blah.

406
00:16:22.115 --> 00:16:24.035
Because this person is gonna know

407
00:16:24.035 --> 00:16:25.915
exactly what he is looking for.

408
00:16:26.325 --> 00:16:30.035
Right. Um, so that one I think is a little bit more of a,

409
00:16:30.855 --> 00:16:32.635
uh, situation than,

410
00:16:32.785 --> 00:16:35.515
than the IndyCar person going to a race team.

411
00:16:35.995 --> 00:16:38.075
<v Speaker 1>Interesting.</v>
<v Speaker 2>Does that make sense? Because</v>

412
00:16:38.075 --> 00:16:39.035
<v Speaker 1>Like that makes perfect sense. That's no</v>

413
00:16:39.035 --> 00:16:41.635
<v Speaker 2>Different than than a top level engineer Penn Ski</v>

414
00:16:41.635 --> 00:16:44.355
or McLaren going to Andretti or Ray Ball.

415
00:16:44.355 --> 00:16:45.395
Right. Or Carpenter. Right.

416
00:16:45.395 --> 00:16:48.675
<v Speaker 1>And and the, the thing about the inner team stuff though</v>

417
00:16:48.855 --> 00:16:52.355
is I feel like, I feel like it's always just kind of in,

418
00:16:52.415 --> 00:16:55.075
in terms of like ratting anybody out, it's a little bit

419
00:16:55.075 --> 00:16:56.555
of mutually assured destruction.

420
00:16:57.055 --> 00:16:59.795
So you rarely hear of a,

421
00:16:59.795 --> 00:17:02.355
of a team member going from one team to another,

422
00:17:02.975 --> 00:17:05.835
and then immediately the team that they've come from gets,

423
00:17:05.985 --> 00:17:07.915
gets dinged in tech for something

424
00:17:08.025 --> 00:17:11.195
because all that happens if, if it works, they just take it

425
00:17:11.215 --> 00:17:12.955
and keep it over at that team too.

426
00:17:13.045 --> 00:17:15.195
Right? Right. They want that extra advantage.

427
00:17:15.295 --> 00:17:18.275
So like, there's not a lot of like naing going on No.

428
00:17:18.275 --> 00:17:19.555
When it's not at all that thing.

429
00:17:19.975 --> 00:17:23.315
But in this, this dynamic, it can be a lot different. Right.

430
00:17:23.705 --> 00:17:25.595
Yeah. So yeah, it's, I I I don't know.

431
00:17:25.595 --> 00:17:27.875
I just thought about, again, this is nothing against Bill,

432
00:17:27.875 --> 00:17:29.035
this is nothing against Nick.

433
00:17:29.035 --> 00:17:30.435
This is nothing against any of the people that are,

434
00:17:30.435 --> 00:17:31.915
you know, there are no worlds about this.

435
00:17:32.315 --> 00:17:34.555
I just wanted to start a conversation about should there be,

436
00:17:34.555 --> 00:17:36.075
because it does seem like a little bit of a,

437
00:17:36.735 --> 00:17:38.915
an interesting dilemma. Um,

438
00:17:39.035 --> 00:17:40.035
<v Speaker 2>I guess we'll see.</v>

439
00:17:40.035 --> 00:17:42.235
Fortunately, fortunately, I don't drive

440
00:17:42.235 --> 00:17:43.875
for Jetti. So Not my problem.

441
00:17:44.135 --> 00:17:45.355
<v Speaker 1>Not your problem.</v>
<v Speaker 2>Not my</v>

442
00:17:45.355 --> 00:17:46.355
<v Speaker 1>Problem.</v>

443
00:17:46.355 --> 00:17:48.315
Honda and Chevy have both officially returned.

444
00:17:48.575 --> 00:17:51.085
<v Speaker 2>We need to talk about that because to the series.</v>

445
00:17:51.425 --> 00:17:53.925
<v Speaker 1>Yep. Have thoughts, you have feelings. I, I</v>

446
00:17:53.925 --> 00:17:58.685
<v Speaker 2>Don't think that people, as fans know</v>

447
00:17:59.265 --> 00:18:01.845
the extent of how big of a deal that is.

448
00:18:02.285 --> 00:18:03.805
Everyone knows, like on paper

449
00:18:04.785 --> 00:18:07.795
and optically how bad it would be for this

450
00:18:07.795 --> 00:18:10.115
to be a single manufacturer championship.

451
00:18:10.165 --> 00:18:11.475
Right. But

452
00:18:11.475 --> 00:18:15.235
what I don't think people necessarily think about is if you

453
00:18:15.265 --> 00:18:17.635
lose, if you lose one of the manufacturers

454
00:18:17.695 --> 00:18:20.995
and it's, you're now down to one, you lose

455
00:18:21.855 --> 00:18:24.195
the development and the spending

456
00:18:24.535 --> 00:18:28.875
and the resources that a manufacturer championship has

457
00:18:29.625 --> 00:18:34.275
because ultimately whatever remaining manufacturer is left,

458
00:18:34.905 --> 00:18:37.195
they're not incentivized to

459
00:18:38.145 --> 00:18:41.155
back teams push push limits of engines.

460
00:18:41.735 --> 00:18:45.635
It you're at Indianapolis and let's say it happens, right?

461
00:18:45.695 --> 00:18:48.355
You have a, a bad engine or a bad hybrid

462
00:18:48.535 --> 00:18:49.715
or a bad something, right?

463
00:18:49.985 --> 00:18:53.315
There's not the same level of urgency to rectify that

464
00:18:53.315 --> 00:18:55.715
because ultimately they're gonna win.

465
00:18:56.215 --> 00:19:00.235
Yep. Right? So you lose simulator support

466
00:19:00.625 --> 00:19:04.915
because now everyone is on the same manufacturer.

467
00:19:05.015 --> 00:19:06.355
So every, like, there's no,

468
00:19:06.735 --> 00:19:09.035
<v Speaker 1>You lose the competition like you lose, there's an element</v>

469
00:19:09.095 --> 00:19:11.315
of competition that you lose and it

470
00:19:11.315 --> 00:19:12.995
<v Speaker 2>Affects not an element, you lose it all.</v>

471
00:19:13.365 --> 00:19:15.155
Right? And well, so that trick team

472
00:19:15.155 --> 00:19:16.315
<v Speaker 1>To team, but that's right.</v>

473
00:19:16.315 --> 00:19:18.435
So it's got nothing to do with the manufacturer. It would be

474
00:19:18.435 --> 00:19:21.635
<v Speaker 2>A huge exit of resources, both financially</v>

475
00:19:22.255 --> 00:19:24.595
and, um, intellectually

476
00:19:25.495 --> 00:19:29.115
and from a competition support standpoint, uh,

477
00:19:29.315 --> 00:19:31.315
a software development standpoint, all

478
00:19:31.315 --> 00:19:33.675
of the offline sim tools, all of the,

479
00:19:34.335 --> 00:19:36.075
the workbooks e everything

480
00:19:36.075 --> 00:19:38.515
that each manufacturer's doing every year to try

481
00:19:38.515 --> 00:19:40.715
and level up the other one, the strategy tools

482
00:19:40.735 --> 00:19:41.755
and software, the driver

483
00:19:42.055 --> 00:19:43.995
<v Speaker 1>Sim</v>
<v Speaker 2>That just evaporates, right?</v>

484
00:19:43.995 --> 00:19:48.595
Yeah. And so that is a, a big, a big hit

485
00:19:48.615 --> 00:19:51.075
to the teams financially

486
00:19:51.265 --> 00:19:53.755
because now not only are they getting some sort

487
00:19:53.755 --> 00:19:58.225
of support from that manufacturer, now they have to replace

488
00:19:58.225 --> 00:19:59.865
that support and spend their own money

489
00:19:59.865 --> 00:20:02.425
and hire their own people to continue that development.

490
00:20:03.005 --> 00:20:05.745
And it just puts a huge stress on the system.

491
00:20:06.405 --> 00:20:11.225
And so the fact that Honda State Chevy's obviously staying

492
00:20:11.955 --> 00:20:15.235
shows not only the, the promise

493
00:20:15.535 --> 00:20:17.915
and the belief that both manufacturer have in the series,

494
00:20:18.575 --> 00:20:22.155
but in my term or in my, in my opinion,

495
00:20:22.795 --> 00:20:25.435
I think it saved the series from going down a

496
00:20:25.465 --> 00:20:27.075
very dangerous path.

497
00:20:27.575 --> 00:20:30.635
<v Speaker 1>Yep. Of,</v>
<v Speaker 2>Of non existing quite</v>

498
00:20:30.635 --> 00:20:31.915
frankly. So a hundred percent.

499
00:20:31.975 --> 00:20:34.075
<v Speaker 1>Um, so thank goodness basically credit</v>

500
00:20:34.175 --> 00:20:38.315
to everybody at all three entities, whether it's Chevy,

501
00:20:38.365 --> 00:20:40.955
Honda or the people in any car, Doug

502
00:20:40.955 --> 00:20:42.675
and the team that kind of led the charge

503
00:20:42.735 --> 00:20:44.555
to keep this all going in the right direction.

504
00:20:44.555 --> 00:20:46.075
Because you said it, man,

505
00:20:46.075 --> 00:20:47.460
it hurts the teams, it hurts drivers.

506
00:20:47.925 --> 00:20:50.645
'cause there are teams that help fund certain drivers.

507
00:20:50.925 --> 00:20:53.245
'cause they want that guy in their engine.

508
00:20:53.945 --> 00:20:56.365
You would have less driver in loop simulator time.

509
00:20:56.425 --> 00:20:58.605
So development as a driver would suffer.

510
00:20:58.635 --> 00:21:00.805
Like everybody loses, everybody loses.

511
00:21:00.805 --> 00:21:02.605
There's less advertising dollars spent.

512
00:21:02.925 --> 00:21:04.605
'cause both of those companies spend a lot of money

513
00:21:05.285 --> 00:21:08.445
advertising individual races on television, whatever it is.

514
00:21:08.585 --> 00:21:09.645
And it's competition, man.

515
00:21:09.645 --> 00:21:12.525
Like it's, this is what racing is like in IndyCar.

516
00:21:12.665 --> 00:21:15.845
It is a mostly spec car anyway, team to teams, the big, like

517
00:21:16.385 --> 00:21:18.845
the big development races in the, in the dampers, right?

518
00:21:19.305 --> 00:21:21.485
But then from the engine engine manufacturer standpoint,

519
00:21:21.485 --> 00:21:23.205
there's a lot of cool development stuff that happens.

520
00:21:23.265 --> 00:21:25.725
And it's fun when, you know, you'd get to the track

521
00:21:26.065 --> 00:21:27.605
or start of a year, you'd have your meeting

522
00:21:27.605 --> 00:21:28.445
with your manufacturer

523
00:21:28.505 --> 00:21:29.725
be like, Hey, here's what we've been working on.

524
00:21:29.725 --> 00:21:31.445
And as a driver you're like, oh, this is cool.

525
00:21:31.445 --> 00:21:33.965
Like we can now tune this. They adjusted this.

526
00:21:33.965 --> 00:21:35.365
They listened to our feedback on that.

527
00:21:35.435 --> 00:21:38.405
Like that's part of what fuels people, you know, wanting

528
00:21:38.405 --> 00:21:39.805
to be in this sport and in

529
00:21:39.805 --> 00:21:40.845
the competition side of the sport.

530
00:21:40.985 --> 00:21:42.645
So very excited about it.

531
00:21:46.265 --> 00:21:50.285
One of the elements that, uh, was included in this deal was

532
00:21:50.285 --> 00:21:54.205
that each manufacturer was given one of the charters.

533
00:21:55.065 --> 00:21:58.365
So you know, obviously the charter system was new last year.

534
00:21:58.595 --> 00:22:01.445
Last year, two years ago. Last year. Last year. Last year.

535
00:22:01.635 --> 00:22:05.165
Last year. Um, so does this mean that we're now up

536
00:22:05.165 --> 00:22:07.165
to 27 if they choose to employ them?

537
00:22:07.365 --> 00:22:08.725
'cause like they're not taking any way, right?

538
00:22:08.725 --> 00:22:10.325
There's 25 that exist, correct. Yep.

539
00:22:10.385 --> 00:22:12.285
So there'll be 27 charters, which now makes

540
00:22:12.305 --> 00:22:13.925
so much more sense because you're allowed

541
00:22:13.925 --> 00:22:15.445
to start 27 cars in a race.

542
00:22:15.445 --> 00:22:17.685
Mm-hmm. So there's no more of this when they decide

543
00:22:17.685 --> 00:22:18.885
to, I almost wonder

544
00:22:18.885 --> 00:22:21.205
<v Speaker 2>If this was always in the back of their mind is like</v>

545
00:22:21.845 --> 00:22:23.525
a wild card in their pocket it

546
00:22:24.145 --> 00:22:25.145
<v Speaker 1>To pull out.</v>

547
00:22:25.145 --> 00:22:26.365
It's a good point. Yeah. It's a good point Alex.

548
00:22:26.565 --> 00:22:28.525
'cause it makes no sense the way it was done before.

549
00:22:28.545 --> 00:22:31.405
No, it really doesn't. And so I, which I if

550
00:22:31.405 --> 00:22:33.165
<v Speaker 2>That's true, IndyCar forward thinking.</v>

551
00:22:33.675 --> 00:22:34.925
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, yeah.</v>

552
00:22:35.545 --> 00:22:37.645
Or if it was one of the manufacturers that was like, Hey,

553
00:22:37.645 --> 00:22:39.525
if we're gonna keep doing this, keep this in mind.

554
00:22:39.555 --> 00:22:42.365
Yeah. And whatever it was, whatever combination.

555
00:22:42.945 --> 00:22:45.005
Um, so, you know, one of the things

556
00:22:45.005 --> 00:22:46.285
that's already been reported,

557
00:22:46.565 --> 00:22:47.645
'cause I first started, I'm like, what is,

558
00:22:47.685 --> 00:22:50.125
I don't understand how this, how do you start a chart?

559
00:22:50.125 --> 00:22:52.085
Like how does an engine manufacturer have a charter mm-hmm .

560
00:22:52.165 --> 00:22:54.325
And essentially it would be to add a car

561
00:22:54.385 --> 00:22:57.685
to an existing customer team, right? So for example,

562
00:22:57.685 --> 00:22:59.525
<v Speaker 2>Non three car,</v>
<v Speaker 1>Customer team, non three car,</v>

563
00:22:59.525 --> 00:23:01.765
because you can only have a maximum of three uh,

564
00:23:01.875 --> 00:23:05.325
cars per uh, team with charters.

565
00:23:05.825 --> 00:23:08.205
Can you run a fourth car if it's not a charter car? Yes.

566
00:23:08.735 --> 00:23:10.805
Right. So you only have three charters per team.

567
00:23:11.065 --> 00:23:12.605
So Honda for example, is talking

568
00:23:12.605 --> 00:23:16.125
to Myers Shank about potentially running a third car.

569
00:23:16.445 --> 00:23:19.685
Nessi, uh, Nessie has three technically. So this is my, so

570
00:23:19.685 --> 00:23:20.685
<v Speaker 2>They'll have six</v>
<v Speaker 1>.</v>

571
00:23:23.185 --> 00:23:24.845
Oh, okay. I see some of the Chevy teams

572
00:23:24.845 --> 00:23:26.845
that are upset about this potential conversation.

573
00:23:27.545 --> 00:23:29.565
Um, but no, but so, so, so that's what you're gonna do.

574
00:23:29.565 --> 00:23:30.565
That's what you're gonna potentially see.

575
00:23:30.665 --> 00:23:33.685
So then you could see Chevrolet doing the same thing at say,

576
00:23:34.545 --> 00:23:37.645
oh gosh, I don't know who's a two car team that could maybe,

577
00:23:38.105 --> 00:23:41.645
oh, ECR for example, could potentially run a third car

578
00:23:42.265 --> 00:23:43.845
if Chevy's. So I'm

579
00:23:43.845 --> 00:23:44.845
<v Speaker 2>Available.</v>

580
00:23:44.845 --> 00:23:48.045
True. Or hopefully not Foyt and have six Penskes.

581
00:23:48.155 --> 00:23:51.325
<v Speaker 1>Also that also that I am curious though, what that level</v>

582
00:23:51.345 --> 00:23:53.045
of connection is still gonna be this year.

583
00:23:53.565 --> 00:23:55.645
<v Speaker 2>Apparently it is renewed through 2027.</v>

584
00:23:55.715 --> 00:23:57.605
What that level is, I don't know,

585
00:23:57.625 --> 00:23:59.645
but at least the racer article said

586
00:23:59.645 --> 00:24:01.285
that is continuing through 2027.

587
00:24:01.915 --> 00:24:04.205
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. So that mentioning discussions</v>

588
00:24:05.015 --> 00:24:06.885
where certain people seem

589
00:24:06.885 --> 00:24:09.045
to think it's operating at a different level than other

590
00:24:09.045 --> 00:24:12.995
people and the ones you would think would want it

591
00:24:12.995 --> 00:24:15.035
to be operating at a higher level, or the ones you think

592
00:24:15.055 --> 00:24:17.035
and the ones that are like, well we're still working

593
00:24:17.035 --> 00:24:18.315
through the details or the ones that you think.

594
00:24:18.415 --> 00:24:20.955
So it's kinda like, ah, seems to be a little bit

595
00:24:20.955 --> 00:24:23.195
of a disconnect and the messaging across this program.

596
00:24:24.295 --> 00:24:26.155
Um, but yeah, so that's cool that,

597
00:24:26.155 --> 00:24:27.475
that it's gonna be soon to see. It's

598
00:24:27.475 --> 00:24:30.915
<v Speaker 2>Super cool and, and, and forget like my snarkiness about</v>

599
00:24:30.975 --> 00:24:32.755
who runs it, regardless of who runs it.

600
00:24:33.185 --> 00:24:36.395
Like you are now having a manufacturer supported car.

601
00:24:36.535 --> 00:24:39.475
So if Honda has a development guy that they want

602
00:24:39.475 --> 00:24:42.315
to test out, if, if Chevy Connors iage, right,

603
00:24:42.865 --> 00:24:44.315
they wanna throw him in an Indy car,

604
00:24:44.315 --> 00:24:45.835
like this is their, they can do that.

605
00:24:45.835 --> 00:24:49.715
They don't have to convince a, an ED or a Michael Andretti

606
00:24:49.715 --> 00:24:53.475
or, or sorry, a Dan Towers or a chip to run this person.

607
00:24:53.505 --> 00:24:54.555
Like it is their decision.

608
00:24:55.095 --> 00:24:57.795
Um, if they wanna throw Yuki Sonota in a

609
00:24:57.795 --> 00:24:58.835
car, they can do that.

610
00:24:59.055 --> 00:25:00.435
So it, it opens

611
00:25:00.545 --> 00:25:03.035
<v Speaker 1>Also throw Yuki sonota in a car that would be Yes.</v>

612
00:25:03.035 --> 00:25:04.155
Throw Connor in a car,

613
00:25:04.155 --> 00:25:05.595
let's do these things. Yes, that would be amazing.

614
00:25:05.595 --> 00:25:07.995
<v Speaker 2>Hundred percent. It, it's kind of like the,</v>

615
00:25:08.415 --> 00:25:10.835
the the star car that Track House did.

616
00:25:10.835 --> 00:25:12.315
Right, right. And, and look at the result

617
00:25:12.315 --> 00:25:13.395
that we got from that.

618
00:25:13.395 --> 00:25:15.475
Like some amazing names drove it,

619
00:25:15.935 --> 00:25:19.985
but then you also got Shane, um, as a, as a find

620
00:25:20.215 --> 00:25:22.665
that is now full-time and, and doing an incredible job.

621
00:25:22.805 --> 00:25:25.665
So I think it's, it's great for the pipeline of,

622
00:25:25.725 --> 00:25:27.265
of getting guys into the series.

623
00:25:27.845 --> 00:25:31.185
Um, and it's also, it means a lot to the manufacturers

624
00:25:31.185 --> 00:25:33.465
because now they have skin in the game

625
00:25:33.605 --> 00:25:36.505
and the opportunity to develop their people,

626
00:25:36.725 --> 00:25:38.025
not only from a driver's standpoint,

627
00:25:38.085 --> 00:25:41.305
but engineers, mechanics, yada, yada, yada.

628
00:25:41.445 --> 00:25:43.825
So it's, it's good for everyone all around.

629
00:25:43.825 --> 00:25:46.385
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. 'cause it would, it would run, it would be run</v>

630
00:25:46.525 --> 00:25:49.385
by a team, but it would be controlled

631
00:25:49.385 --> 00:25:50.665
essentially by the manufacturer.

632
00:25:50.665 --> 00:25:53.385
Correct. Like, it could be just a fully HRC

633
00:25:53.485 --> 00:25:55.585
or a fully Chevy branded car, right?

634
00:25:55.585 --> 00:25:57.025
Mm-hmm . It's not because it's run

635
00:25:57.025 --> 00:25:59.825
by a a Meyer Shanker EC doesn't mean have any commercial

636
00:25:59.825 --> 00:26:00.865
connection or whatever.

637
00:26:01.485 --> 00:26:02.485
<v Speaker 2>So yeah.</v>
<v Speaker 1>They could</v>

638
00:26:02.485 --> 00:26:02.985
<v Speaker 2>Do that kind of stuff.</v>

639
00:26:02.985 --> 00:26:03.505
It's so, it's so that GM

640
00:26:03.565 --> 00:26:07.145
and Honda don't have to go buy pit equipment and

641
00:26:07.235 --> 00:26:08.235
<v Speaker 1>Right, right.</v>

642
00:26:08.235 --> 00:26:10.145
<v Speaker 2>And, and source the people.</v>

643
00:26:10.505 --> 00:26:12.905
I mean, they might wanna plug two people in, but it's, yeah.

644
00:26:12.905 --> 00:26:15.225
It's, it's hard to run a, an IndyCar.

645
00:26:15.925 --> 00:26:17.065
It takes a lot, a lot of

646
00:26:17.065 --> 00:26:18.065
<v Speaker 1>Different, it's a lot.</v>

647
00:26:18.065 --> 00:26:19.145
It's a lot of effort. It's a lot of effort.

648
00:26:19.145 --> 00:26:20.265
They're already doing a lot of things.

649
00:26:20.475 --> 00:26:22.465
We're in this kind of, in the, in the throes

650
00:26:22.465 --> 00:26:25.825
of this five weeks in a row on track for

651
00:26:26.455 --> 00:26:28.105
IndyCar Sebring last week.

652
00:26:28.245 --> 00:26:31.785
Not for you. As I have been reminded. Uh, wow.

653
00:26:31.785 --> 00:26:34.305
<v Speaker 2>You finally got it right</v>
<v Speaker 1>Into St. Pete.</v>

654
00:26:34.325 --> 00:26:37.225
Ask me tomorrow. Forget, give it five minutes. Yeah. No.

655
00:26:37.225 --> 00:26:39.465
He'll forget into, into St.

656
00:26:39.465 --> 00:26:41.465
Pete, into Phoenix, into Arlington.

657
00:26:42.085 --> 00:26:45.625
Um, but one of the, one of the big things about IndyCar,

658
00:26:45.685 --> 00:26:47.025
and I mean motorsports in general,

659
00:26:47.025 --> 00:26:49.865
like all top series are this way now, is that, you know,

660
00:26:49.975 --> 00:26:51.745
testing is so limited, right?

661
00:26:52.445 --> 00:26:54.905
And getting mileage in the off season,

662
00:26:54.905 --> 00:26:57.225
especially when you're off season, is as lengthy

663
00:26:57.285 --> 00:26:59.425
as Indy cars is tough.

664
00:27:00.765 --> 00:27:05.065
And there is this amazing new thing

665
00:27:05.065 --> 00:27:09.145
that is happening whereby a group of people,

666
00:27:10.325 --> 00:27:13.305
uh, has, has gone out

667
00:27:13.525 --> 00:27:16.425
and purchased six chassis

668
00:27:16.805 --> 00:27:21.535
and like 50 a pool of 50 something motors, uh,

669
00:27:21.795 --> 00:27:24.215
of the old, the last generation Champ car,

670
00:27:24.275 --> 00:27:27.735
the Panos DPO one, which if you talk to the guy that was,

671
00:27:27.735 --> 00:27:29.575
that was pre my era, if you can believe it.

672
00:27:30.075 --> 00:27:32.655
Um, and that was like, like that was it.

673
00:27:32.655 --> 00:27:34.135
That was, well it was like post Hunter Ray,

674
00:27:34.135 --> 00:27:36.255
but you talk to the guys like Power

675
00:27:36.755 --> 00:27:40.415
or, uh, Graham, the guys that got to race that car,

676
00:27:40.725 --> 00:27:43.055
they will tell you Sebastian Bode, they're like,

677
00:27:43.055 --> 00:27:45.295
this was one of the best race cars I've ever driven.

678
00:27:45.475 --> 00:27:47.735
And it only got one year and it's too bad.

679
00:27:47.795 --> 00:27:51.655
But it, it ran off this bitching engine like Twin Turbo,

680
00:27:51.815 --> 00:27:53.935
V eight Cosworth, tons of power, whatever.

681
00:27:54.915 --> 00:27:59.385
And this company now has bought these cars

682
00:27:59.665 --> 00:28:02.545
'cause they see this demand for track time

683
00:28:02.565 --> 00:28:03.945
and a high powered, high down

684
00:28:03.945 --> 00:28:06.265
for single seater when you can't

685
00:28:06.925 --> 00:28:08.335
just go testing your IndyCar.

686
00:28:08.835 --> 00:28:12.175
And so they are now renting out essentially this operation

687
00:28:12.355 --> 00:28:15.255
to, and like we've now heard certain current IndyCar

688
00:28:15.255 --> 00:28:16.295
drivers are doing it.

689
00:28:16.595 --> 00:28:18.295
But there, it's also a great tool

690
00:28:18.395 --> 00:28:19.895
for evaluating young drivers.

691
00:28:20.355 --> 00:28:22.095
You do get rookie tests in IndyCar,

692
00:28:22.095 --> 00:28:23.575
but you don't get an unlimited amount.

693
00:28:24.275 --> 00:28:26.295
And let's say you've done a rookie test

694
00:28:26.395 --> 00:28:28.335
and there's a guy that's got some promise, like, okay,

695
00:28:28.335 --> 00:28:29.615
well let's, we need to do more with them.

696
00:28:29.615 --> 00:28:30.815
Let's go do a little bit more here

697
00:28:31.075 --> 00:28:34.015
and you can go pound around with, uh, with this program.

698
00:28:34.555 --> 00:28:37.405
So I think this is phenomenal.

699
00:28:38.145 --> 00:28:41.405
And Alex, I really hope that this is something

700
00:28:41.405 --> 00:28:43.765
that ECR R'S got in store for you next winter.

701
00:28:43.905 --> 00:28:46.325
And you know what, I might just tag along and bring a helmet

702
00:28:46.705 --> 00:28:48.565
and, uh, throw the guy at 20

703
00:28:48.625 --> 00:28:50.325
to see if it'll fire one up for a run.

704
00:28:50.325 --> 00:28:53.125
Because I heard that car is just like a incredible,

705
00:28:53.665 --> 00:28:56.845
<v Speaker 2>I'm just annoyed, James, that you</v>

706
00:28:56.845 --> 00:28:58.605
and I didn't just do this and think of

707
00:28:58.605 --> 00:28:59.605
<v Speaker 1>It.</v>

708
00:28:59.605 --> 00:29:00.365
Dude, it's, when I, when I started reading

709
00:29:00.365 --> 00:29:01.485
it, I'm like, this is insane.

710
00:29:01.805 --> 00:29:04.405
I like, makes perfect sense. Why did we not? Yeah,

711
00:29:04.405 --> 00:29:05.005
<v Speaker 2>Yeah. This is,</v>

712
00:29:05.795 --> 00:29:07.485
<v Speaker 1>It's makes so much sense. It's</v>

713
00:29:07.485 --> 00:29:09.565
<v Speaker 2>Just, it, they're just gonna print money, which is cool.</v>

714
00:29:09.875 --> 00:29:13.685
Very smart, very smart to take advantage of it.

715
00:29:13.835 --> 00:29:17.685
Obviously there's some pretty significant differences,

716
00:29:18.175 --> 00:29:20.365
especially in the tire, right?

717
00:29:20.385 --> 00:29:21.925
The only tire that can really be

718
00:29:22.205 --> 00:29:24.365
provided, um, for this car as a hand cook.

719
00:29:25.065 --> 00:29:28.165
Um, so it's a pretty far departure from a Firestone,

720
00:29:28.225 --> 00:29:33.205
but in terms of not only evaluating drivers, right,

721
00:29:33.465 --> 00:29:38.125
but evaluating components, um, and,

722
00:29:38.185 --> 00:29:41.525
and just getting time on the track for durability testing,

723
00:29:41.675 --> 00:29:42.685
reliability testing.

724
00:29:43.305 --> 00:29:46.925
Oh, we have this grand idea for X, right?

725
00:29:47.155 --> 00:29:50.125
That we can only try if a car is running.

726
00:29:50.985 --> 00:29:54.165
Um, it's a really good, uh, solution

727
00:29:54.545 --> 00:29:56.285
for proving out those theories.

728
00:29:56.385 --> 00:29:58.685
So I think everyone is going to take advantage

729
00:29:58.685 --> 00:30:01.405
of it in some way, shape, or form.

730
00:30:02.025 --> 00:30:06.645
Um, I know that will kind of was one of the pioneers

731
00:30:06.645 --> 00:30:08.365
of this last off season.

732
00:30:08.865 --> 00:30:12.045
Um, you know, he, he rented one, it was a different group.

733
00:30:12.305 --> 00:30:13.685
Mm-hmm . Um, it was just an individual

734
00:30:13.685 --> 00:30:14.765
that had one out in Houston

735
00:30:15.625 --> 00:30:19.845
and he just did it purely for the, the fitness and Yeah.

736
00:30:19.845 --> 00:30:22.405
And just to stay sharp in a single seater sort of thing.

737
00:30:22.505 --> 00:30:25.525
Um, not really. He obviously doesn't need development time

738
00:30:25.525 --> 00:30:27.565
or anything like that, but you are out of the car for

739
00:30:27.565 --> 00:30:30.565
so long, it's just good to get, you know, your body

740
00:30:30.565 --> 00:30:33.205
and brain firing again, be before you do it for real.

741
00:30:33.205 --> 00:30:36.005
And St. Pete. So, um, that's, that's awesome.

742
00:30:36.205 --> 00:30:39.725
I know that another team with three drivers, uh,

743
00:30:39.725 --> 00:30:42.165
were out here in Phoenix a couple weeks ago,

744
00:30:42.945 --> 00:30:44.125
um, ripping around.

745
00:30:44.345 --> 00:30:46.205
So it is, uh, it's something

746
00:30:46.205 --> 00:30:48.365
that you're gonna see pretty much everyone doing in,

747
00:30:48.425 --> 00:30:49.445
in some capacity.

748
00:30:49.445 --> 00:30:51.205
And I'm pumped because that means I don't have

749
00:30:51.205 --> 00:30:53.405
to sit outta a race car for six months.

750
00:30:53.665 --> 00:30:55.085
Not that I did this off season, but

751
00:30:55.565 --> 00:30:56.565
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.</v>

752
00:30:56.565 --> 00:30:56.845
You got, you got, you had a pretty good

753
00:30:56.845 --> 00:30:57.925
run this this winter.

754
00:30:57.925 --> 00:30:58.925
Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

755
00:30:59.805 --> 00:31:01.205
Speaking of winter, it is now spring,

756
00:31:01.725 --> 00:31:03.725
I think objectively spring is the worst season.

757
00:31:03.905 --> 00:31:05.125
<v Speaker 2>You say that a lot.</v>
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.</v>

758
00:31:05.425 --> 00:31:07.565
And it's, it's, I'm gonna say it every year about this time.

759
00:31:08.105 --> 00:31:11.045
<v Speaker 2>So, so just like, so you don't like flowers blooming,</v>

760
00:31:11.045 --> 00:31:14.085
you don't like children being happy, you don't like candy?

761
00:31:14.585 --> 00:31:15.605
You don't like, hang on.

762
00:31:16.485 --> 00:31:19.385
<v Speaker 3>Why is it spring? I the groundhog saw</v>

763
00:31:19.525 --> 00:31:20.525
<v Speaker 2>His shadow.</v>

764
00:31:20.525 --> 00:31:22.425
<v Speaker 1>Oh, it's like, it's, sorry. Yes. I I take that back.</v>

765
00:31:22.485 --> 00:31:24.705
It is, it's only whatever it is. February something.

766
00:31:25.225 --> 00:31:27.945
I know that it's, so everything saw in I not stand for this.

767
00:31:28.365 --> 00:31:30.745
It is warm and for like, is this erasure of

768
00:31:31.165 --> 00:31:32.165
<v Speaker 3>Pci, Tony, Phil.</v>

769
00:31:32.165 --> 00:31:34.065
<v Speaker 1>So it's</v>
<v Speaker 2>Gonna, it's gonna snow on</v>

770
00:31:34.065 --> 00:31:35.585
indie Indie next week's

771
00:31:35.585 --> 00:31:37.145
<v Speaker 1>Gonna, yeah, it's gonna do that thing.</v>

772
00:31:37.465 --> 00:31:40.145
I guess we've got that every year we get this like week

773
00:31:40.145 --> 00:31:42.705
or two where you get like, we call it fall, spring, right?

774
00:31:42.705 --> 00:31:45.625
Yeah. And like, so, so you just get a little,

775
00:31:45.745 --> 00:31:46.945
a little preview of what spring's

776
00:31:46.945 --> 00:31:48.025
gonna be like in a month or two.

777
00:31:48.445 --> 00:31:51.505
And I already am pissed that spring's coming

778
00:31:51.695 --> 00:31:54.665
because it just, it just sucks.

779
00:31:55.595 --> 00:31:57.445
There's like two weeks in spring

780
00:31:57.445 --> 00:31:59.285
that are nice when those flowers start

781
00:31:59.285 --> 00:32:00.405
doing the thing you're talking about.

782
00:32:00.425 --> 00:32:03.885
But for the rest of it, everything's just wet and brown.

783
00:32:04.505 --> 00:32:06.365
And it's like, look,

784
00:32:06.585 --> 00:32:10.805
no day should have a temperature delta greater than

785
00:32:12.025 --> 00:32:14.365
six to seven degrees Celsius that should,

786
00:32:14.425 --> 00:32:17.805
so fif call it 15 degrees, 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

787
00:32:18.195 --> 00:32:20.565
That should kind of be any day

788
00:32:20.565 --> 00:32:23.085
that it's like if you wake up, if the high is gonna be 75,

789
00:32:23.185 --> 00:32:24.165
it should be no colder than

790
00:32:24.165 --> 00:32:25.365
60 when you leave the house in the morning.

791
00:32:25.715 --> 00:32:29.845
<v Speaker 2>Okay. Whatever. Um, so Formula One was back on track, uh,</v>

792
00:32:30.225 --> 00:32:33.205
in &lt;inaudible&gt; in some,

793
00:32:33.515 --> 00:32:37.285
some much more serious testing than, uh, Barcelona.

794
00:32:37.585 --> 00:32:41.365
Mm-hmm . And there was some, some opinions

795
00:32:41.715 --> 00:32:45.775
that came out of the three days of testing.

796
00:32:45.955 --> 00:32:47.135
Two days testing, yes. Whatever.

797
00:32:47.675 --> 00:32:52.415
Um, James, I assume you followed from afar.

798
00:32:52.715 --> 00:32:57.295
Um, I did. And, and you know about said comments. Um, I do.

799
00:32:57.475 --> 00:32:59.615
And have you watched any of the onboards?

800
00:33:00.295 --> 00:33:01.295
<v Speaker 1>I have.</v>
<v Speaker 2>Mm.</v>

801
00:33:02.115 --> 00:33:05.135
So remember when, when car launches were happening

802
00:33:05.195 --> 00:33:08.655
and we were like, mm, these look kind of lame mm-hmm .

803
00:33:08.835 --> 00:33:10.535
And you were like, whoa, whoa, whoa.

804
00:33:10.775 --> 00:33:13.095
I mean we just, that's just probably their liberty

805
00:33:13.115 --> 00:33:15.015
and we haven't seen the car, blah, blah, blah.

806
00:33:15.015 --> 00:33:16.215
Again, just solid James impression.

807
00:33:16.445 --> 00:33:18.455
Well, I'll give you that.

808
00:33:18.455 --> 00:33:19.975
The cars certainly look better

809
00:33:20.645 --> 00:33:23.055
than they did on delivery unveils.

810
00:33:23.235 --> 00:33:26.045
Mm-hmm . Their performances

811
00:33:27.035 --> 00:33:31.445
performance on track, um, is leaving some to be desired

812
00:33:31.445 --> 00:33:34.085
because I watched an onboard from, um,

813
00:33:35.465 --> 00:33:36.605
George mm-hmm .

814
00:33:36.725 --> 00:33:39.165
Who was quickest on day two, I think.

815
00:33:39.745 --> 00:33:42.085
Um, or maybe day three. I don't really know.

816
00:33:42.145 --> 00:33:46.645
It doesn't matter. And dude, the thing looked and sounded

817
00:33:46.665 --> 00:33:47.665
broken
<v Speaker 1>.</v>

818
00:33:50.665 --> 00:33:52.245
It is, it is funny

819
00:33:52.245 --> 00:33:55.005
because they've got so much less downforce

820
00:33:55.185 --> 00:33:57.165
and that is so apparent.

821
00:33:57.825 --> 00:34:00.205
<v Speaker 2>Yes.</v>
<v Speaker 1>Right? When you compare like the change</v>

822
00:34:00.205 --> 00:34:02.245
of direction and he, uh, he

823
00:34:02.245 --> 00:34:06.325
<v Speaker 2>Was breaking like 3,740 meters earlier. Well</v>

824
00:34:06.325 --> 00:34:08.845
<v Speaker 1>That's, that's probably more power unit related than</v>

825
00:34:09.075 --> 00:34:10.205
downforce related.

826
00:34:10.705 --> 00:34:12.085
So here, okay, here's the thing.

827
00:34:12.835 --> 00:34:15.805
Here are the things, um, yes,

828
00:34:15.865 --> 00:34:19.305
it vis it visibly looks slower like by a good chunk

829
00:34:19.305 --> 00:34:21.065
because it is, it's like five seconds off

830
00:34:21.065 --> 00:34:22.185
what they were doing last year.

831
00:34:23.285 --> 00:34:24.305
Few caveats to that.

832
00:34:24.815 --> 00:34:26.625
It's still 10 seconds quicker than an F two car.

833
00:34:28.005 --> 00:34:30.055
<v Speaker 2>It</v>
<v Speaker 1>Is the first performance test.</v>

834
00:34:30.055 --> 00:34:31.695
They're gonna claw back some of that time.

835
00:34:33.035 --> 00:34:35.895
So let's say, let's say it nets out,

836
00:34:36.505 --> 00:34:39.535
let's say they find two seconds over the next year.

837
00:34:39.805 --> 00:34:42.695
It's only three seconds off the fastest F1 cars

838
00:34:42.695 --> 00:34:45.215
that they're, that have basically ever existed, right?

839
00:34:45.215 --> 00:34:46.775
From, at least from a downforce standpoint.

840
00:34:47.525 --> 00:34:49.535
They definitely look harder to drive,

841
00:34:49.955 --> 00:34:51.735
but more fun to drive in the sense of like,

842
00:34:51.735 --> 00:34:52.815
they move around a lot more.

843
00:34:52.835 --> 00:34:56.775
And one of the comments that I think has been fairly common

844
00:34:57.115 --> 00:34:59.895
and maybe a bit on the more positive side than some

845
00:34:59.895 --> 00:35:02.335
of the other ones are like, yeah, you can get it sideways

846
00:35:02.435 --> 00:35:04.815
and catch it where like with the ground effects car, when

847
00:35:04.815 --> 00:35:06.615
as soon as you got sideways and the floor broke,

848
00:35:06.615 --> 00:35:08.455
like you lost everything, you were gone.

849
00:35:08.955 --> 00:35:10.775
So there's more moments, which is good.

850
00:35:11.595 --> 00:35:15.095
Um, unfortunately some of those moments are being caused

851
00:35:15.235 --> 00:35:16.615
by way.

852
00:35:16.615 --> 00:35:19.495
You have to drive these things and gear choices

853
00:35:19.835 --> 00:35:21.775
and things that you have to do in order

854
00:35:21.915 --> 00:35:23.935
to satisfy the requirements

855
00:35:24.555 --> 00:35:26.855
of getting ultimate performance outta the power unit.

856
00:35:28.325 --> 00:35:29.975
It's um, it's weird.

857
00:35:30.325 --> 00:35:33.415
It's super weird listening to guys, like listening

858
00:35:33.415 --> 00:35:37.230
to the engines just run out of energy halfway down the stray

859
00:35:37.230 --> 00:35:40.005
and just starts like the revs just start dropping from start

860
00:35:40.005 --> 00:35:42.205
finish down to turn one. I I wonder

861
00:35:42.425 --> 00:35:46.125
<v Speaker 2>If the FIA and Formula one watched a bunch of need</v>

862
00:35:46.125 --> 00:35:47.485
for speed and they were like,

863
00:35:47.695 --> 00:35:50.925
these were super popular movies, so we need

864
00:35:50.925 --> 00:35:55.045
to like implement that strategy into Formula one.

865
00:35:55.045 --> 00:35:57.125
<v Speaker 1>They've got nitrous in Formula one now. Well,</v>

866
00:35:57.685 --> 00:35:58.685
<v Speaker 2>A, they might as well.</v>

867
00:35:58.905 --> 00:36:02.405
Um, b they just change gears for the sake of changing gears.

868
00:36:02.405 --> 00:36:03.765
<v Speaker 3>They absolutely should. They</v>

869
00:36:03.765 --> 00:36:04.965
definitely should have nitrous

870
00:36:05.245 --> 00:36:06.925
<v Speaker 2>A like the, the amount of shifting</v>

871
00:36:06.955 --> 00:36:09.925
that is happening is absolutely astonishing

872
00:36:10.235 --> 00:36:11.245
because they're trying

873
00:36:11.245 --> 00:36:13.605
to keep engine revs in a certain range

874
00:36:13.825 --> 00:36:15.845
and high to regen the battery

875
00:36:16.025 --> 00:36:17.965
and do all this sort of sort of thing.

876
00:36:17.985 --> 00:36:20.405
So they are just slamming up

877
00:36:20.405 --> 00:36:23.445
and down gears, which as we know, need for speed.

878
00:36:23.705 --> 00:36:26.445
You downshift to accelerate and to pass people.

879
00:36:26.555 --> 00:36:28.485
<v Speaker 1>It's, it's driven. It's the movie driven</v>

880
00:36:28.555 --> 00:36:29.685
come to life. I mean,

881
00:36:30.155 --> 00:36:31.765
<v Speaker 2>Dude, they might as well be nitrous</v>

882
00:36:31.765 --> 00:36:34.525
because when you have energy versus when you don't have

883
00:36:34.525 --> 00:36:36.405
energy, it's 500 horsepower.

884
00:36:37.225 --> 00:36:40.405
Um, and everything is just a race in a straight line

885
00:36:40.595 --> 00:36:44.365
because everyone is doing everything through the corners,

886
00:36:45.045 --> 00:36:47.805
approaching the corners, exiting the corners to

887
00:36:48.325 --> 00:36:49.765
maximize straight line performance.

888
00:36:50.265 --> 00:36:52.445
So it is need for speed.

889
00:36:52.625 --> 00:36:54.565
<v Speaker 1>The the one comment I think this from,</v>

890
00:36:55.145 --> 00:36:57.445
it was from Fernando that upset me.

891
00:36:57.445 --> 00:36:58.885
Like, you watch this stuff, you're like, okay,

892
00:36:58.885 --> 00:37:00.645
this is very counterintuitive, right?

893
00:37:00.795 --> 00:37:02.605
It's not natural, it's not like

894
00:37:02.675 --> 00:37:04.965
what you would normally think how you drive a race car,

895
00:37:06.065 --> 00:37:07.405
but it's a new challenge, right?

896
00:37:07.465 --> 00:37:08.765
And drivers love new challenges

897
00:37:08.765 --> 00:37:10.645
and engineers love new challenges and,

898
00:37:10.645 --> 00:37:12.605
and trying to figure that stuff out the first,

899
00:37:12.985 --> 00:37:14.005
um, and the best.

900
00:37:14.345 --> 00:37:16.405
Not the first figure it out first and the best.

901
00:37:17.025 --> 00:37:18.805
But the thing that Fernando said, kind of

902
00:37:18.805 --> 00:37:20.125
to your point is there's just

903
00:37:20.145 --> 00:37:23.005
so much focus on maximizing your straight

904
00:37:23.005 --> 00:37:24.325
line deployment, right?

905
00:37:25.275 --> 00:37:27.965
That corners that were previously flat out,

906
00:37:28.505 --> 00:37:30.605
you might be voluntarily lifting now.

907
00:37:30.605 --> 00:37:31.725
Mm-hmm . Because

908
00:37:31.835 --> 00:37:33.765
that little lift gives you a little bit more

909
00:37:33.765 --> 00:37:35.045
charge and mm-hmm .

910
00:37:35.125 --> 00:37:36.965
The charge boost

911
00:37:36.965 --> 00:37:39.525
that you get on the straight is more time than if

912
00:37:39.525 --> 00:37:40.605
you were to keep it flat.

913
00:37:40.825 --> 00:37:43.405
Mm-hmm . Stuff like that I don't love at all. Mm-hmm .

914
00:37:43.485 --> 00:37:44.845
That's, that's not fun.

915
00:37:45.545 --> 00:37:49.045
But again, those are the first three days here. Okay?

916
00:37:49.145 --> 00:37:52.245
So in the same way that we talk about all these tracks

917
00:37:52.245 --> 00:37:53.445
and all these races that we thought were

918
00:37:53.445 --> 00:37:54.485
gonna be terrible and Mr.

919
00:37:54.485 --> 00:37:56.325
Open-minded over here was going into

920
00:37:56.325 --> 00:37:57.525
Phoenix saying it's gonna be great.

921
00:37:57.585 --> 00:38:00.965
That's it. It's the same kind of thing with this right's

922
00:38:00.965 --> 00:38:02.165
<v Speaker 2>And formal was gonna die. He</v>

923
00:38:02.165 --> 00:38:03.645
<v Speaker 3>Was very clear that he was only being</v>

924
00:38:03.645 --> 00:38:05.165
optimistic about Phoenix.

925
00:38:05.705 --> 00:38:06.705
I'm saying still being as much,

926
00:38:07.715 --> 00:38:09.325
<v Speaker 2>Just honestly enjoy it. 'cause this is the last year</v>

927
00:38:09.565 --> 00:38:14.205
I
<v Speaker 1>, Hey James, I'm not saying Alice silver</v>

928
00:38:14.405 --> 00:38:15.405
<v Speaker 3>Lining.</v>

929
00:38:15.405 --> 00:38:15.685
You don't have to travel as much. .

930
00:38:16.275 --> 00:38:19.885
Well, you know, next year your little like flight passport

931
00:38:19.885 --> 00:38:22.045
thing that you post and Bragg about is gonna be

932
00:38:22.325 --> 00:38:23.365
a lot less impressive

933
00:38:24.025 --> 00:38:25.205
<v Speaker 1>Of instead of all, instead</v>

934
00:38:25.205 --> 00:38:26.885
<v Speaker 2>Of on the Roman Empire,</v>

935
00:38:26.885 --> 00:38:28.765
it's gonna be the doesn't follow the FIA

936
00:38:28.765 --> 00:38:30.005
Formula one World Championship.

937
00:38:30.555 --> 00:38:34.315
<v Speaker 1>Hold on. First of all, I enjoy my jobs. Okay, .</v>

938
00:38:35.265 --> 00:38:38.645
Second of all, I don't post that to brag. Alright?

939
00:38:38.645 --> 00:38:40.805
That's not a, that's not a flex, dude.

940
00:38:41.235 --> 00:38:42.235
<v Speaker 2>That is</v>
<v Speaker 1>Simple.</v>

941
00:38:42.235 --> 00:38:42.805
<v Speaker 3>How are we feeling about that?</v>

942
00:38:42.985 --> 00:38:43.885
How are we feeling about life?

943
00:38:44.015 --> 00:38:45.445
<v Speaker 2>Super</v>
<v Speaker 1>Flexy, super</v>

944
00:38:45.655 --> 00:38:46.655
<v Speaker 2>Flexy rising.</v>

945
00:38:46.655 --> 00:38:49.205
Flexy super flex. Oh, look at me. I'm so well traveled.

946
00:38:49.425 --> 00:38:51.045
I'm traverse the world. No one cares.

947
00:38:51.675 --> 00:38:53.445
<v Speaker 1>Well traveled. I went to Charlotte.</v>

948
00:38:53.905 --> 00:38:56.845
<v Speaker 2>Ooh, I I did so many business class flights</v>

949
00:38:56.865 --> 00:38:58.405
and sat in lounges and you

950
00:38:58.505 --> 00:38:59.645
<v Speaker 1>No idea how many</v>

951
00:38:59.645 --> 00:39:01.965
of those are business class. How many of those are called?

952
00:39:02.865 --> 00:39:04.605
<v Speaker 3>I'd be like, like a lot. I'd feel like a lot of them</v>

953
00:39:04.665 --> 00:39:06.165
<v Speaker 1>Are, I flew a, I flew economy</v>

954
00:39:06.265 --> 00:39:08.045
to Charlotte yesterday or whatever day that was. Oh,

955
00:39:08.055 --> 00:39:09.525
<v Speaker 2>India, Charlotte was economy.</v>

956
00:39:09.535 --> 00:39:10.845
Let's talk about your international one.

957
00:39:11.555 --> 00:39:14.285
Doha was first class royal sweet

958
00:39:14.315 --> 00:39:16.205
with a shower and a masseuse.

959
00:39:16.375 --> 00:39:18.845
<v Speaker 1>Don't forget the, the personal chef. Anyway, that's</v>

960
00:39:18.845 --> 00:39:19.765
<v Speaker 2>Not the point. That's not the point.</v>

961
00:39:20.425 --> 00:39:22.445
<v Speaker 1>You're</v>
<v Speaker 2>Missing the point. A full economy from Indy</v>

962
00:39:22.445 --> 00:39:23.805
to Chicago, hang on.

963
00:39:23.805 --> 00:39:25.925
<v Speaker 1>It's amazing. They actually, they include now a cobbler</v>

964
00:39:25.925 --> 00:39:27.125
and he makes you a custom pair

965
00:39:27.125 --> 00:39:28.125
of shoes on the plane

966
00:39:28.425 --> 00:39:29.405
for when you get there. It's incredible.

967
00:39:29.515 --> 00:39:32.285
<v Speaker 2>That</v>
<v Speaker 3>Has, that is what's been missing from your travel.</v>

968
00:39:32.385 --> 00:39:34.085
<v Speaker 2>Yes.</v>
<v Speaker 1>Yes. Not enough travelers.</v>

969
00:39:34.285 --> 00:39:37.965
<v Speaker 3>Speaking on James. I have a qualm,</v>
<v Speaker 2>, I can't wait.</v>

970
00:39:39.005 --> 00:39:42.365
<v Speaker 3>I was tasked with, uh, setting up a live show for St.</v>

971
00:39:42.365 --> 00:39:46.795
Pete. Mm-hmm . Got us a venue. Mm-hmm . All set.

972
00:39:47.295 --> 00:39:49.435
Mm-hmm . And what happened guys?

973
00:39:51.105 --> 00:39:52.255
<v Speaker 1>James got another job.</v>

974
00:39:52.485 --> 00:39:54.935
<v Speaker 3>It's James's fault. We are not doing a show</v>

975
00:39:54.935 --> 00:39:56.055
in St. Pete. What's

976
00:39:56.055 --> 00:39:57.055
<v Speaker 2>He supposed to do?</v>

977
00:39:57.055 --> 00:39:59.255
Say no to driving a, a truck at St. Pete? Yeah.

978
00:39:59.315 --> 00:40:00.855
So that we can talk to seven people.

979
00:40:01.075 --> 00:40:02.855
I'm driving at a stupid bar in St. Pete.

980
00:40:03.075 --> 00:40:04.175
<v Speaker 3>I'm not driving a truck at St.</v>

981
00:40:04.175 --> 00:40:08.695
Pete because I'm dedicated to this show and no one asked.

982
00:40:09.505 --> 00:40:11.855
Right.
<v Speaker 1>. But those two things, those two things,</v>

983
00:40:11.855 --> 00:40:12.855
those two reasons, there's no other

984
00:40:12.855 --> 00:40:13.855
<v Speaker 2>Reasons.</v>

985
00:40:13.855 --> 00:40:16.375
Okay. Alright. We have exactly one minute left. Yes.

986
00:40:16.375 --> 00:40:19.055
So James, speed round. Yes. We didn't talk about it. Yes.

987
00:40:19.435 --> 00:40:21.855
How A, congrats.

988
00:40:22.135 --> 00:40:24.535
B how excited are you and C had it happen? Go.

989
00:40:25.515 --> 00:40:29.855
<v Speaker 1>Um, reverse order C it happened, uh, via tweet,</v>

990
00:40:30.185 --> 00:40:31.495
which is the funniest way

991
00:40:31.495 --> 00:40:33.295
I've ever gotten a ride in my life. Um, sorry.

992
00:40:33.565 --> 00:40:34.775
<v Speaker 2>It's very Connor daily of you.</v>

993
00:40:35.205 --> 00:40:37.455
<v Speaker 1>Very Connor, daily of me. And I'm excited about that.</v>

994
00:40:37.555 --> 00:40:41.375
So b very excited. Uh, it's so different.

995
00:40:41.605 --> 00:40:44.935
It's going to be so different. It, it's an 80 lap race,

996
00:40:45.885 --> 00:40:47.755
<v Speaker 2>Which only 10 will be under green,</v>

997
00:40:48.515 --> 00:40:49.515
<v Speaker 1>I was gonna say.</v>

998
00:40:49.515 --> 00:40:50.395
But the IndyCar race is a hundred

999
00:40:50.495 --> 00:40:52.315
and that's regularly one of the longest

1000
00:40:52.915 --> 00:40:54.155
duration races of the year.

1001
00:40:54.615 --> 00:40:56.155
Um, and these guys are running trucks

1002
00:40:56.615 --> 00:40:58.195
for the first time on a street circuit.

1003
00:40:58.655 --> 00:41:02.395
So yes, over, over under is about 10.5 on the,

1004
00:41:02.415 --> 00:41:03.515
on the green flag laps.

1005
00:41:03.775 --> 00:41:06.355
And what was the first one? It was, how excited are you?

1006
00:41:06.855 --> 00:41:09.235
How congrats it gonna be. Congrats. Oh yeah. Thank you.

1007
00:41:09.285 --> 00:41:10.915
Thank you. It's exciting, it's fun.

1008
00:41:11.295 --> 00:41:14.395
Um, Spire stepped up in a big way to, uh,

1009
00:41:14.975 --> 00:41:16.275
to make this all come together

1010
00:41:16.415 --> 00:41:19.595
and I am very excited to giddy up, man.

1011
00:41:20.055 --> 00:41:22.635
Here's funny quick story. I'll leave you guys. We have

1012
00:41:22.715 --> 00:41:24.555
<v Speaker 2>A lot of time to talk about that next</v>

1013
00:41:24.555 --> 00:41:25.955
week, but go quick story. Okay.

1014
00:41:25.955 --> 00:41:28.435
<v Speaker 1>Really quick story. Go. So when I was getting my racing</v>

1015
00:41:28.435 --> 00:41:29.955
license when I was like 15,

1016
00:41:29.955 --> 00:41:32.955
16 years old at the Bridgestone Racing Academy, in most part

1017
00:41:33.465 --> 00:41:35.245
the chief mechanic was this guy named Don.

1018
00:41:36.475 --> 00:41:37.695
And, uh, and Don

1019
00:41:37.695 --> 00:41:39.575
and I were joking around one day and he was sitting there.

1020
00:41:39.575 --> 00:41:41.015
He goes, what? He said, what do you wanna do?

1021
00:41:41.015 --> 00:41:42.015
Like, what, what do you wanna

1022
00:41:42.015 --> 00:41:43.015
race when you, when you get older?

1023
00:41:43.095 --> 00:41:44.175
I was like, well, I wanna race in IndyCar.

1024
00:41:44.175 --> 00:41:46.015
He goes, yeah, that makes sense. I'm like, what do you mean?

1025
00:41:46.315 --> 00:41:48.735
He goes, well, I knew you. You can't go to nascar.

1026
00:41:49.175 --> 00:41:50.575
I said, why not? And he goes,

1027
00:41:50.705 --> 00:41:54.335
James Hinchcliffe like way too formal a name to be a nascar.

1028
00:41:54.335 --> 00:41:56.055
He goes, if you went NASCAR racing, you'd have

1029
00:41:56.055 --> 00:41:58.175
to be like Jimmy Hinch or something like that.

1030
00:41:58.675 --> 00:42:01.855
So above my door on my truck it says Jimmy Hinch,

1031
00:42:01.995 --> 00:42:03.775
he go on NASCAR racing. Incredible,

1032
00:42:03.945 --> 00:42:04.945
<v Speaker 2>Incredible.</v>

1033
00:42:04.945 --> 00:42:07.255
Well fun. Today here we can hear about the prep.

1034
00:42:07.875 --> 00:42:09.615
We can hear about your goals

1035
00:42:10.915 --> 00:42:13.895
and ambitions, hopefully alive. Have a good today.

1036
00:42:14.405 --> 00:42:15.615
<v Speaker 1>Have a good one today. Don't die.</v>

1037
00:42:16.125 --> 00:42:17.965
<v Speaker 2>What about me? No, never.</v>

1038
00:42:19.635 --> 00:42:21.525
<v Speaker 1>This has been off track with Hinch and Rossi.</v>

1039
00:42:21.745 --> 00:42:24.765
Off Track is part of the Sirius XM Sports Podcast Network.

1040
00:42:25.145 --> 00:42:26.245
If you enjoyed this episode

1041
00:42:26.245 --> 00:42:28.565
and want to hear more, please give a five star

1042
00:42:28.725 --> 00:42:29.765
rating and leave a review.

1043
00:42:30.365 --> 00:42:32.565
Subscribe today, wherever you stream your podcasts.

1044
00:42:32.745 --> 00:42:35.525
We are at Ask Off Track on Twitter and Instagram.

1045
00:42:35.705 --> 00:42:38.365
And if you wanna follow us on Twitter, we're at Hinch Town

1046
00:42:38.365 --> 00:42:39.725
and at Alexander Rossi.

1047
00:42:39.945 --> 00:42:41.445
If you wanna follow them though,

1048
00:42:41.445 --> 00:42:42.885
we have no idea why you would.

1049
00:42:43.195 --> 00:42:45.765
He's at the Tim Durham on Twitter.

1050
00:42:46.395 --> 00:42:48.405
Find us on YouTube and subscribe to our channel

1051
00:42:48.425 --> 00:42:49.645
for exclusive video content.

1052
00:42:50.145 --> 00:42:53.165
Off Track is produced by Tim Durham, and by that we mean f.