WEBVTT
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This is, is off track.
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Hello everybody and welcome to Off Track with Hinch
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and Rossi on a another rare Tuesday
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episode where both are here.
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And as I say that, Alex is currently not actually here.
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He's coming, he'll be here in a second.
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He's tending to some household Lee duties, uh,
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but very excited to have a special guest on the show today.
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Mr. Lockie Hughes is joining us. Welcome to the show, bud.
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Yeah, thanks for having me. I, um,
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I heard that James, I'm here.
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I well, I know I wasn't, I was, I was saying
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that you're here, you just
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weren't there, you know what I mean?
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Anyway. Mm-hmm . Um, lock. Yeah. Welcome to the show.
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Thanks for, uh, thanks for coming on.
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Um, we have a lot of, uh, IndyCar fans that, listen.
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We have a lot of fans that aren't necessarily racing fans,
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which is weird that listen,
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'cause we talk about travel and soup a lot.
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Yeah. . Um, but for, for the fans, look, we,
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I think we can both agree Indy Next doesn't get quite
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as much attention as it probably deserves given the,
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the quality of racing and caliber driver.
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So for those that don't know Lhe Hughes, uh, talk,
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obviously not from around these parts, as we say,
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uh, in North America.
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So why don't you, uh, walk people
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through a little bit about your kind of racing journey,
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how you got into it, and ultimately
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what led you onto the, the road to Indy? Yeah,
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So I have, uh, you know, kind of a
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interesting racing background, I guess, you know,
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don't come from a racing family or anything like that.
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So kind of, um, fell into it somehow just, you know,
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driving rental cars as a kid, uh, on some holiday. So, um,
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So it wasn't like no one in your family raced anything,
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it was literally just you are at the Yeah.
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At the fair or whatever,
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jumped in a rental car and like, this is fun.
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Yeah, pretty much. Pretty much.
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Um, and yeah, probably, you know,
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worst decision my parents ever made .
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Um, so, uh, yeah, you know,
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after that just sounded my parents to get in something,
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anything with four wheels, uh, you know, started go-karting,
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mainly in Australia and raced in Europe.
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Uh, actually came over here to the States, uh,
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quite a bit as a kid as well.
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Um, and then, you know, made the, the step
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to cars, uh, in Australia.
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Um, what you started wanted to kind of, I started in F four.
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Yeah. So I started F four, had a scholarship, um,
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from Motorsport Australia to start racing back home.
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So, uh, that kind of, you know, kickstarted the,
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the, you know, car racing.
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Um, and, uh, yeah, always wanted to go to Europe, was trying
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to, you know, get the funds together.
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And then, uh, that little thing called, uh, COVID happened,
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uh, ah, so, uh, once that happened, that kind of, you know,
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that kind of put an end to my racing for a bit, you know,
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didn't race for two years, had to get a job.
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Um, so, uh, no
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Way.
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I don't think I knew that part, so, so what,
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what the job did you get? Yeah,
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Yeah, so I was actually working
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for an older race team of mine.
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Um, selling, selling parts, packing boxes, um,
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was basically in their warehouse, you know, shipping off,
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um, you know, vortex parts, all these, you know, kind of,
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you know, parts for go-kart racing.
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Um, which, uh, you know, sucked probably, you know,
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some of the worst years of my life in a way.
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Uh, but was good because it kind of, you know,
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gave me a better, a better perspective of life.
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And, um, you know, when I came over here,
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when we got the budget together to get over here,
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it was kind of like, you know,
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every year was your last year.
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Um, but it kind of, you know, made,
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it made everything a bit more important, um,
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'cause I'd seen the other side of, of life
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and I, I never want to go back to that, so, uh, .
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So, yeah, no, it's been a good journey over here, you know,
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came over, uh, did USF four with, uh, Jay Howard.
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He, I actually raced for him in carding as a kid,
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so it was kind of, he was always
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trying to get me to come over here.
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Okay. Um, yeah, ended up, yeah, getting the budget,
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winning the F four championship, uh, then, you know,
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did the road to Indie, uh, did U Ussf 2000
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and, uh, pro 2000 won that championship.
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Um, and yeah, then this year in Indie Lights,
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or Indie Next, sorry. Um,
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It's okay.
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We call it Indy Lights on this show.
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, I just, I said next off the top, just
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to be politically correct, but I will now be referring
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you to, to it as indie.
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Yes, yes. Um,
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and yeah, no, it's been a, it was a great year with Reti.
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Uh, it was a big step up in terms of, you know, the car
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just a lot faster, a lot heavier, a lot, um, just,
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you know, a bigger car.
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So, uh, so yeah. Now, uh, ready for 2026.
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So walk us through, you know, obviously, um, coming,
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coming to this side of the Motorsport world in,
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in North America, was that a, a really big adjustment
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for you, or, or more
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of an adjustment than you thought it would be, um,
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when you first made that step and,
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and like, how long did it take you to
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really feel like you found your feet
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and were comfortable, you know, living in the states and,
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and being a part of that, you know,
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open wheel racing network and,
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and the road to Indy, um, that we so often talk about that,
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that seemed to have worked really well for you so far?
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Yeah, I honestly felt really comfortable straight away.
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I think, uh, some of that was helped by the fact that,
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you know, racing go-karts over here, the Florida Winter tour
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and, um, you know, the super Nats in Vegas, um, you know,
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doing, doing all those races, you know, I, you know,
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in carting I raced against, you know, guys like, you know,
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David Lucas, um, and a few of the, you know, American guys.
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Um, so it, you know, it felt very, it felt, uh,
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you know, very easy adjusting over here in terms of
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that obviously, like the little stuff,
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like you watch American movies as a kid
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and shows and all that stuff.
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Yeah. So, um, some of the stuff was a bit different, um,
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than I saw on TV and stuff when it came to living here.
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Um, so, uh, yeah,
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but it, it felt very, very easy to adjust.
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It's just, uh, it's very different,
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like once you start living here, especially in the,
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the Midwest, um, you know, I'm not used to snow.
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I'm not used to , you know, some of the stuff
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that you guys get here.
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Um, but I, I honestly, I love it here now, you know, I,
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at first, you know, just even stuff like American
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sports took a while to get into.
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Now, you know, I'm rooting
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for the cults every Sunday. Of course,
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Of course.
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That sounds right on, man. James is the same,
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and he was only six hours north, so Yeah,
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I learned that lesson too.
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When you first moved here. Um, where, sorry,
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Lockie, where in Australia are you from?
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So Gold Coast service. Paradise, actually. Nice.
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So, um, beauty. Yeah, I, I wish, I think we need
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to push hard and get IndyCar back there.
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There was nobody in the
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paddock that would argue that point
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At James my come outta retirement if you make
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That happen.
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Yeah. It would absolutely come outta
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retirement just for that race.
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Yeah. Um, so, so that,
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that actually, that's an interesting point then.
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So you obviously went to that race as a kid.
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You saw the Indy cars racing at surfers when, when,
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you know, COVID ended
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and, you know, you said you did some carting in the States,
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but you did some carting in Europe, COVID ended,
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you got budget to go racing,
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you ended up back in the States.
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Why did you come US Route rather than Europe?
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Was, was F1 ever that kind of the dream
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or what kind of tipped you to come this way? Yeah,
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I mean, I think as a young bloke, you know,
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growing up you always have, you know, your, I think it's
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so hard not to look at Formula One, right?
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Um, and that's kind of what everyone dreams of.
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But I always, you know, watched Indica.
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I think some of that, you know, stems from, you know,
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having, you know, the race in, you know,
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essentially my backyard.
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And, um, also having guys like Willpower
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Ryan Briscoe over here.
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Um, so, you know, had, would hear a lot
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of stuff about IndyCar and I would tune in whenever I could,
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and the races were always really exciting.
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Um, so I always, I always loved it,
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just a big fan of racing in general.
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Um, but it's, uh, yeah, Europe's just, I wanted to,
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but, uh, I think the, you know, it was the road to indie
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and the prize money that really, you know, right.
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Sealed the deal to coming here
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because I knew if I get the results, you know,
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I could, uh, get here.
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So, uh, yeah, like I wouldn't be racing Indy next at the
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moment if it wasn't for the scholarship.
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Um, so, you know, no other, you know, racing series
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and Pathway in the World really offers that.
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So that was the most important decision.
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Yeah, it's, um, we, we hear that time
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and time again, you know, about, about people,
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kids in Europe, right, trying to make
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that decision what they're gonna do.
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And, and so many of them are drawn to it, um, just
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as you said, because there is not
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anything else like it in the world.
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Um, let's talk a little bit about your year
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in Indie Lights this year.
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Um, first year you finished third in the championship,
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you had a couple wins, I think, um, yeah.
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So like, as a first year, that must have met
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and exceeded a lot
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of your expectations. Is that correct? Yeah,
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Yeah.
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Yeah. I mean, kind of,
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um,
, Such a driver, ,
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Yeah.
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I mean, you know, I was in the, the fight for a while there,
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um, throughout the season
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and the second half I honestly thought were
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a very good chance there.
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Um, and the second half just kind of fell away a little bit.
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Uh, but, you know, if I could take, you know,
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top three going into the championship, uh,
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to begin with, I probably would've.
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Um, but, uh,
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I think you still, you still should,
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Like, that's, yes,
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it's not an easy championship, like that's a very good
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Result in the first year.
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It's very result . Yeah.
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Yes. Yeah. And just like you look back at, you know, some
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of the like, indie lights the last few years, you know,
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whether it was Leanness, Raz, um, Louis, you know, kind of
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everyone, you know, it's kind of become a two year program.
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Um, so, you know,
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unless you come from Europe with, you know,
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a a lot more experience or something,
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but coming from, you know, the road to indie, um,
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that's kind of how it's been.
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So, uh, yeah, no, a lot of positives to take from it.
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Um, a lot of highs, a couple lows, you know,
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as, as the season goes.
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Um, but no, learned a lot
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and, uh, you know, can build into a big 2026 program.
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You, you sort of alluded to it, I think there a bit,
246
00:10:07.065 --> 00:10:11.765
you know, year teammate Dennis Hagger, also a rookie
247
00:10:12.345 --> 00:10:13.365
in indie lights.
248
00:10:13.745 --> 00:10:16.285
Um, and it's, you know, obviously he went on to,
249
00:10:16.305 --> 00:10:17.405
to win the championship,
250
00:10:17.505 --> 00:10:21.125
but to say that he was coming in with the same level
251
00:10:21.125 --> 00:10:22.925
of experience as you would be, you know,
252
00:10:22.925 --> 00:10:24.405
doing you a huge disservice.
253
00:10:24.625 --> 00:10:27.805
So I, I think, you know, again, Alex, and I'll sit here
254
00:10:27.805 --> 00:10:31.485
and tell you objectively zooming out from not the guy
255
00:10:31.545 --> 00:10:34.645
behind the wheel, incredibly impressive performance.
256
00:10:35.065 --> 00:10:36.165
Um, yes. But,
257
00:10:36.165 --> 00:10:38.325
but like, let's, from, from the driver's seat, I mean,
258
00:10:38.325 --> 00:10:39.805
I think this is an interesting topic, right?
259
00:10:40.155 --> 00:10:42.525
I've had years, you know, in the junior categories
260
00:10:42.525 --> 00:10:45.645
and in the big series where I got absolutely
261
00:10:45.815 --> 00:10:47.045
waxed by my teammate.
262
00:10:47.275 --> 00:10:48.805
Yeah. And I'm not saying that's what happened to you.
263
00:10:48.825 --> 00:10:50.005
I'm not gonna, I, I'm not putting,
264
00:10:50.145 --> 00:10:51.285
I'm not, I'm putting this on me.
265
00:10:51.285 --> 00:10:53.445
This, I got wide either year where I had no wins.
266
00:10:53.945 --> 00:10:56.325
My teammate won five races in the championship,
267
00:10:56.745 --> 00:10:58.085
and it was one of the toughest,
268
00:10:58.235 --> 00:11:00.005
most frustrating years of my career.
269
00:11:00.505 --> 00:11:02.765
But it's also one where I learnt an awful lot.
270
00:11:03.385 --> 00:11:06.525
And I wonder if you kind of feel the same way that having,
271
00:11:06.625 --> 00:11:09.205
you know, a driver with Dennis's experience come in and,
272
00:11:09.205 --> 00:11:10.525
and instantly find that pace,
273
00:11:10.625 --> 00:11:12.565
but being able to learn off him.
274
00:11:13.465 --> 00:11:15.925
Do you kind of look back on 2025 now and,
275
00:11:15.985 --> 00:11:18.525
and now that the emotion of the season is done, you kind
276
00:11:18.525 --> 00:11:20.765
of think, actually, I, okay, here's what I can learn, here's
277
00:11:20.765 --> 00:11:23.965
what I can take away and make myself a better driver having
278
00:11:24.185 --> 00:11:25.325
had that experience?
279
00:11:25.595 --> 00:11:27.005
Yeah, for sure. 100%.
280
00:11:27.365 --> 00:11:30.085
I mean, um, you know, I look,
281
00:11:30.235 --> 00:11:32.485
when I look at the bigger picture, I think it was actually,
282
00:11:32.505 --> 00:11:34.605
you know, quite important having him as a teammate
283
00:11:34.605 --> 00:11:37.285
because it's, you know, someone with a lot of, a lot
284
00:11:37.285 --> 00:11:38.565
of experience that you can learn from.
285
00:11:39.225 --> 00:11:42.725
Um, and you know, when you, when you go to indica,
286
00:11:42.745 --> 00:11:45.685
you only really have one, one chance, you know,
287
00:11:45.785 --> 00:11:50.725
so you can't, you don't wanna go, you know, um, yeah.
288
00:11:50.795 --> 00:11:53.805
With, you know, with not enough experience
289
00:11:53.805 --> 00:11:54.885
or something because you don't wanna
290
00:11:54.885 --> 00:11:56.325
Be, you don't wanna be under prepared for it.
291
00:11:56.325 --> 00:11:59.405
Yeah. Yes. You can be kicked out just as quickly as,
292
00:11:59.585 --> 00:12:01.965
you know, you had a chance to get, get there.
293
00:12:02.105 --> 00:12:05.965
So, um, no, looking back at the big, big picture, it was,
294
00:12:05.965 --> 00:12:07.965
uh, you know, quite important thing for me to,
295
00:12:08.625 --> 00:12:09.805
uh, be able to learn from him.
296
00:12:09.825 --> 00:12:11.885
And, uh, it's just gonna help me for next year.
297
00:12:12.265 --> 00:12:16.085
Um, I mean, it is, it is tough when you, you know,
298
00:12:16.305 --> 00:12:18.485
on the other side of it, 'cause it's like, ah, you know,
299
00:12:19.755 --> 00:12:21.615
it wasn't there, you know, maybe, you know,
300
00:12:21.615 --> 00:12:23.255
we would've, you know, won the thing.
301
00:12:23.315 --> 00:12:26.215
But, um, you know, it's kind of like, I think, you know,
302
00:12:27.515 --> 00:12:32.055
ba like Alex, you basically went from F two to IndyCar
303
00:12:32.075 --> 00:12:33.295
as well, apart from, you know,
304
00:12:33.295 --> 00:12:35.775
the few races in F1 and that season. So, um,
305
00:12:36.635 --> 00:12:37.635
No.
306
00:12:37.635 --> 00:12:39.375
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's, that's, uh, yeah,
307
00:12:39.435 --> 00:12:40.655
you bring up a great point and,
308
00:12:40.675 --> 00:12:42.975
and what James said, it's, it's an unfair comparison.
309
00:12:43.355 --> 00:12:46.735
Um, and I think it's okay for you to have that.
310
00:12:47.715 --> 00:12:51.295
Um, I, racing drivers are known
311
00:12:51.755 --> 00:12:52.935
and I'm, I'm one of them.
312
00:12:52.985 --> 00:12:55.455
James is one of them. Tim would like to be one of 'em,
313
00:12:55.455 --> 00:12:57.975
but racing drivers are known for making excuses.
314
00:12:58.325 --> 00:12:59.815
This isn't one of those excuses.
315
00:12:59.815 --> 00:13:01.895
Like, I think it's, it's very acceptable to be like, Hey,
316
00:13:02.655 --> 00:13:06.295
I came from USF 2000, whatever the hell it's called now,
317
00:13:06.975 --> 00:13:08.695
thousand one, a couple races,
318
00:13:09.735 --> 00:13:10.855
whatever, I'm coming back next year.
319
00:13:10.855 --> 00:13:12.895
Obviously, you know, Andretti Global,
320
00:13:14.285 --> 00:13:16.175
knowing those people at that organization,
321
00:13:16.485 --> 00:13:18.215
they don't have patience for a lot of things.
322
00:13:18.275 --> 00:13:20.455
So the fact that you're coming back for year number two,
323
00:13:20.795 --> 00:13:23.335
you are, you are announced as the IndyCar Reserve driver,
324
00:13:24.115 --> 00:13:27.935
um, and you are in an IndyCar as early as yesterday.
325
00:13:28.335 --> 00:13:30.655
I think is a testament to, to what you've accomplished.
326
00:13:30.755 --> 00:13:35.495
So walk us through a little bit, um, about kind
327
00:13:35.495 --> 00:13:38.455
of your IndyCar experience that you had.
328
00:13:38.755 --> 00:13:41.815
Um, did it meet expectations? Did it fall short in some way?
329
00:13:41.835 --> 00:13:44.535
And, and just overall, how was, how was the day for you?
330
00:13:44.845 --> 00:13:46.455
Yeah, I can tell you, I feel like I've been
331
00:13:46.455 --> 00:13:47.575
hit by a bus right now. .
332
00:13:48.215 --> 00:13:50.055
I was gonna ask, how's the neck feeling today? Yeah.
333
00:13:50.315 --> 00:13:52.615
Oh, the neck, the neck's, the neck's quite sore.
334
00:13:52.835 --> 00:13:55.455
Um, , I don't know if you've ever seen that video of
335
00:13:55.455 --> 00:13:58.495
that guy going around the two seater F1 car,
336
00:13:58.575 --> 00:13:59.575
I think in Abu Dhabi.
337
00:13:59.685 --> 00:14:01.735
Yeah. And his, his head's still in that, that's
338
00:14:01.735 --> 00:14:03.175
how I felt at the end of the day.
339
00:14:03.795 --> 00:14:06.495
Um, but, uh, yeah, pretty like the,
340
00:14:06.595 --> 00:14:09.055
and that, just like the breaks were the biggest mind
341
00:14:09.055 --> 00:14:10.255
blowing thing I found.
342
00:14:10.515 --> 00:14:12.775
Um, it was, you know, unbelievable
343
00:14:12.795 --> 00:14:14.895
how quickly those things, those things stopped.
344
00:14:15.155 --> 00:14:17.495
Uh, I never, never driven with carbon breaks before.
345
00:14:18.035 --> 00:14:21.215
Um, so, you know, that was, that was definitely,
346
00:14:21.355 --> 00:14:22.495
you know, an eye opener.
347
00:14:22.555 --> 00:14:25.255
But the, you know, the top speed didn't feel too
348
00:14:25.255 --> 00:14:26.775
crazy compared to the next car.
349
00:14:26.915 --> 00:14:28.335
Um, I think some of that, unfortunately,
350
00:14:28.335 --> 00:14:30.975
it's not due to the Yeah. . Yeah. There's
351
00:14:30.975 --> 00:14:32.495
A reason for that. Yeah. Yeah.
352
00:14:32.855 --> 00:14:36.055
I, I think the, uh, yeah, I think the windscreen kind
353
00:14:36.055 --> 00:14:37.295
of made it feel a bit weird
354
00:14:37.495 --> 00:14:39.215
'cause you, your helmet wasn't trying to rip,
355
00:14:39.715 --> 00:14:40.855
rip off the whole time.
356
00:14:41.595 --> 00:14:43.215
Um, but just,
357
00:14:43.555 --> 00:14:47.895
and then just the weight of the thing is just, um, kind of,
358
00:14:48.035 --> 00:14:52.735
uh, you know, just not quite as enjoyable, just, uh,
359
00:14:52.735 --> 00:14:54.815
trying to get it to, you know, change direction
360
00:14:54.955 --> 00:14:58.175
and turn, um, that was a bit different.
361
00:14:58.875 --> 00:15:01.585
Um, yeah, it just, that sucks.
362
00:15:01.645 --> 00:15:03.985
It didn't, it didn't quite feel, you know, as lively
363
00:15:03.985 --> 00:15:06.625
as the next car, you know, like you can kind of hang
364
00:15:06.625 --> 00:15:07.625
that thing out a bit more
365
00:15:07.805 --> 00:15:11.575
and it just feels, it just like more comfortable, you know,
366
00:15:11.575 --> 00:15:12.655
sliding around and stuff.
367
00:15:12.655 --> 00:15:14.375
Just didn't really want to do that so much.
368
00:15:14.595 --> 00:15:17.975
So, uh, yeah, it was definitely, you know, different
369
00:15:17.975 --> 00:15:19.535
to drive, but it was, I mean, so cool.
370
00:15:19.535 --> 00:15:22.255
It was just, you know, driving IndyCar just insane.
371
00:15:22.415 --> 00:15:25.575
I, uh, yeah, it just, the first step for me was just not
372
00:15:25.575 --> 00:15:27.015
to stall it coming out the pits .
373
00:15:27.495 --> 00:15:29.535
And I didn't, I didn't, I didn't install it all day,
374
00:15:29.715 --> 00:15:31.335
so I was pretty happy with that.
375
00:15:31.835 --> 00:15:33.375
Um, but yeah,
376
00:15:34.235 --> 00:15:36.735
It, uh, it, it breaks my heart, man.
377
00:15:36.765 --> 00:15:39.215
Hearing you, hearing you describe the car
378
00:15:39.215 --> 00:15:40.335
like that, it really does.
379
00:15:40.735 --> 00:15:44.455
'cause y young drivers coming up from next should
380
00:15:44.455 --> 00:15:45.455
Not, so you used should be so cool.
381
00:15:45.725 --> 00:15:47.375
Yeah. You should not have that.
382
00:15:47.675 --> 00:15:51.375
You should say everything about, it was 10 per,
383
00:15:51.375 --> 00:15:52.615
like 10% better,
384
00:15:52.615 --> 00:15:55.215
20 times better than I thought it was gonna be.
385
00:15:55.565 --> 00:15:57.975
This thing is awesome and it's just,
386
00:15:57.975 --> 00:15:59.295
and it used to feel like that.
387
00:15:59.315 --> 00:16:00.695
And it doesn't feel like that anymore.
388
00:16:00.795 --> 00:16:02.375
And it sucks and it sucked.
389
00:16:02.495 --> 00:16:04.735
I thought we were, I thought I was just old and jaded
390
00:16:05.175 --> 00:16:06.695
'cause I'd been through it all.
391
00:16:07.195 --> 00:16:09.375
And having you say that first time in the car,
392
00:16:09.375 --> 00:16:11.175
it really breaks my heart for you, man.
393
00:16:11.235 --> 00:16:15.575
But, um, the good news is there's a new car coming in 2028,
394
00:16:15.675 --> 00:16:18.615
and you will most definitely, Alex, I'm just, I'm,
395
00:16:18.715 --> 00:16:20.215
I'm pinning my hopes of the fact
396
00:16:20.215 --> 00:16:22.335
that this thing will be lighter and more nimble
397
00:16:22.635 --> 00:16:24.095
and faster and cooler.
398
00:16:24.425 --> 00:16:25.975
Don't ruin this for me yet. No,
399
00:16:25.975 --> 00:16:26.975
No, no.
400
00:16:26.975 --> 00:16:29.015
I think, I think for sure a new car will be lighter,
401
00:16:29.015 --> 00:16:30.055
faster, and more nimble.
402
00:16:30.255 --> 00:16:32.695
I just don't believe 2028, but you know, oh
403
00:16:32.695 --> 00:16:33.735
God, I think no ,
404
00:16:34.695 --> 00:16:36.175
I saw, I saw something today
405
00:16:36.175 --> 00:16:39.815
that said when the current car debuted the iPhone
406
00:16:40.005 --> 00:16:41.175
four was new.
407
00:16:42.385 --> 00:16:43.535
Let's not Yeah.
408
00:16:43.535 --> 00:16:45.935
I, I started racing the year, this car, this, yeah.
409
00:16:45.935 --> 00:16:48.215
Lockey was probably like eight. This, yeah.
410
00:16:48.325 --> 00:16:50.495
This car has been racing as long as Locke has.
411
00:16:50.795 --> 00:16:53.575
Oh, no, that is, is not a good stat.
412
00:16:53.985 --> 00:16:57.015
Which, which is, which is, yeah, it's crazy.
413
00:16:57.275 --> 00:17:00.935
But like, that's why like, um, uh, like
414
00:17:01.935 --> 00:17:04.455
I didn't quite have like the steering position,
415
00:17:05.055 --> 00:17:07.575
steering wheel in the kind of position I needed,
416
00:17:07.635 --> 00:17:09.495
and I was used to, so yeah.
417
00:17:09.595 --> 00:17:11.655
You know, at the, at the end of the day, there I was,
418
00:17:12.215 --> 00:17:13.895
I was holding an on for dear life. Um,
419
00:17:14.125 --> 00:17:16.095
Well, I mean, here, here's something that, that,
420
00:17:16.155 --> 00:17:17.495
uh, will make you feel better.
421
00:17:17.905 --> 00:17:19.215
Indie GP is low key.
422
00:17:19.315 --> 00:17:21.815
One of the, the more physical tracks that,
423
00:17:21.815 --> 00:17:23.415
that's on the counter, like, it doesn't get credit.
424
00:17:23.775 --> 00:17:26.895
Everyone focuses on Arbor, Ohio,
425
00:17:27.075 --> 00:17:29.015
but like Indie G is is pretty hard.
426
00:17:29.075 --> 00:17:33.055
So it, it doesn't get much worse, um, than that for you.
427
00:17:33.195 --> 00:17:34.815
So I wouldn't stress too much about it.
428
00:17:34.955 --> 00:17:37.055
Um, walk us through a little bit,
429
00:17:37.115 --> 00:17:38.295
we don't have much time left,
430
00:17:38.435 --> 00:17:40.615
but Willpower has said some,
431
00:17:40.645 --> 00:17:43.175
some great things about you obviously both being from
432
00:17:43.175 --> 00:17:45.135
Australia and now in,
433
00:17:45.155 --> 00:17:46.895
in a way kind of pseudo teammates, right?
434
00:17:47.035 --> 00:17:49.565
You know? Yeah. Both being under the, the Andretti banner.
435
00:17:50.035 --> 00:17:51.525
Have you had a chance to talk to him?
436
00:17:51.705 --> 00:17:54.045
Has he, has he, what's the,
437
00:17:54.385 --> 00:17:55.685
the things that he's telling you, put his arm
438
00:17:55.685 --> 00:17:56.845
Around you,
He giving
439
00:17:57.265 --> 00:17:59.805
and, um, you know, he's obviously one of the best out there
440
00:17:59.905 --> 00:18:01.445
and and that's a good guy to have in your corner.
441
00:18:01.795 --> 00:18:03.205
Yeah, for sure. No, I, uh,
442
00:18:03.345 --> 00:18:04.765
he actually called me this morning.
443
00:18:05.305 --> 00:18:08.005
Um, I didn't really get to chat to him long
444
00:18:08.005 --> 00:18:10.205
because he was on the way to the airport.
445
00:18:10.285 --> 00:18:12.565
I think he's racing here this weekend, actually.
446
00:18:13.025 --> 00:18:16.885
Uh, but, uh, yeah, no Will's been, Will's been amazing to,
447
00:18:16.885 --> 00:18:18.805
you know, to have in my corner just someone, you know,
448
00:18:19.545 --> 00:18:20.965
for advice and who's been there
449
00:18:20.965 --> 00:18:22.445
and done it the hard way, you know?
450
00:18:22.545 --> 00:18:25.405
And, um, yeah, kind of, you know, been
451
00:18:25.405 --> 00:18:27.405
through all the same feelings, you know, I've been through.
452
00:18:27.505 --> 00:18:30.005
So to have him, um, you know, is great
453
00:18:30.025 --> 00:18:32.845
and just, you know, having someone who understands,
454
00:18:33.785 --> 00:18:35.205
you know, just Australian culture
455
00:18:35.505 --> 00:18:38.845
and everything, the little stuff like that, um, you know,
456
00:18:38.875 --> 00:18:41.285
it's, it's, it's been great and can introduce me to people
457
00:18:41.385 --> 00:18:42.845
and, you know, all that sort of stuff.
458
00:18:42.865 --> 00:18:45.445
So it's gonna be great, especially next year, you know,
459
00:18:45.505 --> 00:18:48.285
to be under the same roof, uh, to be able to, you know,
460
00:18:48.455 --> 00:18:50.205
throw the headset on
461
00:18:50.205 --> 00:18:53.165
and be able to listen, um, you know, listen to how he talks
462
00:18:53.165 --> 00:18:55.325
to his engineer, have a look at, you know, some of
463
00:18:55.465 --> 00:18:57.165
how he drives a race car, you know?
464
00:18:57.165 --> 00:18:59.845
Yeah. So it's all, it's all stuff that's just gonna help,
465
00:19:00.185 --> 00:19:03.445
um, you know, my development and progression for the future.
466
00:19:03.865 --> 00:19:06.205
So, is, is that kind of part of the program, you know,
467
00:19:06.205 --> 00:19:09.045
being on the, the Andretti Lights team is you get to,
468
00:19:09.625 --> 00:19:12.165
you know, be part of as many of the sessions as you can
469
00:19:12.275 --> 00:19:15.085
outside of your duties, stand on the stand during the races,
470
00:19:15.145 --> 00:19:17.845
and kind of really start to absorb what it's like being,
471
00:19:17.945 --> 00:19:19.645
you know, in the main show? Yeah,
472
00:19:19.665 --> 00:19:20.665
For sure, for sure.
473
00:19:20.725 --> 00:19:24.885
I mean, I, uh, I think I stood, I came to some of the races
474
00:19:24.885 --> 00:19:26.205
that I wasn't racing at this year,
475
00:19:26.205 --> 00:19:27.365
like Long Beach and Toronto.
476
00:19:27.685 --> 00:19:31.285
I came and just wanted to, you know, be there and see it all
477
00:19:31.285 --> 00:19:33.085
and learn a bit more, uh, and ob
478
00:19:33.105 --> 00:19:34.965
and next year's gonna give me, you know,
479
00:19:34.965 --> 00:19:37.685
an even an even closer insight to all that kind of stuff.
480
00:19:37.865 --> 00:19:39.925
So, um, no, I'm excited now
481
00:19:39.925 --> 00:19:41.325
that I've driven the car as well.
482
00:19:41.485 --> 00:19:43.845
I have, you know, I understand what it's like
483
00:19:43.845 --> 00:19:44.885
to be in one of those things.
484
00:19:45.105 --> 00:19:50.045
So, um, yeah, it's gonna be, it's gonna be cool, um,
485
00:19:50.505 --> 00:19:52.645
and, you know, a lot to learn for the future. Very
486
00:19:52.645 --> 00:19:53.645
Cool, buddy.
487
00:19:53.645 --> 00:19:56.885
Very cool. Well look again, incredible season in Indie
488
00:19:57.395 --> 00:20:00.925
Next slash Lights, uh, for your rookie campaign back
489
00:20:00.925 --> 00:20:04.485
with Andretti for 26 Reserve Driver on the IndyCar program.
490
00:20:04.635 --> 00:20:07.525
He's been on the IndyCar in the IndyCar now on track.
491
00:20:07.985 --> 00:20:09.485
Uh, really looking forward to seeing
492
00:20:09.485 --> 00:20:10.565
what you can do next year, man.
493
00:20:10.565 --> 00:20:11.965
I think it's gonna be a really exciting year
494
00:20:11.965 --> 00:20:13.205
for you, and it's gonna be fun to watch.
495
00:20:13.385 --> 00:20:16.165
So, um, yeah, thanks for coming on
496
00:20:16.185 --> 00:20:17.645
and everybody keep, uh,
497
00:20:17.675 --> 00:20:20.605
keep your eye on Lockie Hughes in 26.
498
00:20:20.795 --> 00:20:21.805
Yeah, no, I appreciate it.
499
00:20:21.805 --> 00:20:23.925
Thanks for having ha have having me. Thanks,
500
00:20:23.925 --> 00:20:24.925
Bro.
501
00:20:24.925 --> 00:20:25.125
Appreciate you.
502
00:20:26.115 --> 00:20:28.005
This has been off track with Hinch and Rossi.
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00:20:28.085 --> 00:20:31.325
Offtrack is part of the Sirius XM Sports Podcast Network.
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00:20:31.705 --> 00:20:32.725
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00:20:32.725 --> 00:20:35.005
and wanna hear more, please give a five star
506
00:20:35.005 --> 00:20:36.205
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00:20:36.845 --> 00:20:39.005
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00:20:39.185 --> 00:20:41.965
We are at Ask Offtrack on Twitter and Instagram.
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00:20:42.185 --> 00:20:44.845
And if you wanna follow us on Twitter, we're at Hinch Town
510
00:20:44.845 --> 00:20:46.165
and at Alexander Rossi.
511
00:20:46.385 --> 00:20:47.925
If you wanna follow them, though,
512
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513
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00:20:52.875 --> 00:20:54.845
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Off Track is produced by Tim Durham, and by that we mean fi.