INDYCAR Gearing Up For St. Petersburg Opener

Column By: JOHN DOUGLAS / RPW – ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The 2017 Indycar series kicks off this weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg Florida. The track, which has lent itself to good competition in the past remains unchanged, but the same can not be said for the teams and competitors that will show up in just a couple days time.

With the recent news of Chip Ganassi’s switch to Honda power plants for the foreseeable future, fans will see the team reunite with their long-time partner, Target, from years past. Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball and Max Chilton will all be sporting the red “H” logo instead of Chevrolet’s Bow-Tie.

Not enough change? Well wait, there’s more.

Not to be out-done by his main rival in the open wheel ranks, Roger Penske signed Josef Newgarden to a driving deal this off season. With three wins in the Verizon INDYCAR Series, he is in prime position to make a big mark on the 2017 season. Three-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Helio Castroneves, Will Power, and last year’s INDYCAR Champion Simon Pagenaud will all return to Team Penske in 2017.

Still left wanting more? I give you Takuma Sato. The near winner of the 2012 Indianapolis 500 will be in new surroundings as he logs laps in 2017. Andretti Autosport has taken on the former Formula One racer from Japan. He hopes to add to the single win he has in the series, which he got at the 2013 running of the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Now for some of what will be familiar to all the die-hard open wheel fans in 2017.

The aerodynamic kits, which fans were excited for upon debut, have been frozen for this season. That means what you saw last year you will see again.

The teams now have one full season of experience with this package…for both Honda and Chevrolet teams alike. The real question is how will Chip Ganassi’s switch hinder their team’s performance versus competition like Penske which will not have as much learning to do.

The 2017 Verizon INDYCAR Series kicks off with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this Sunday. Television coverage beginning at 12 P.M. eastern time on ABC.