ABC/ESPN will continue to be in the IndyCar television fold. The sports juggernaut announced a new agreement with INDYCAR for the 2013-2018 seasons that will see ABC hang on to the Indianapolis 500 and continue to broadcast four other IZOD IndyCar Series events per season.
In addition, live streaming of onboard cameras for all ABC races will be on ESPN3.com starting next season, providing a sort of panacea — albeit a very late one — for those still affected by the decision to remove all online race broadcasts from IndyCar.com.
“This allows the series long-term growth on the network,” said INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard in an ESPN press release. “This new contract also helps us expand our presence around the world with ESPN representing our international rights. I want to thank ABC for their strong confidence and commitment in our brand and series. This deal will help our series, team owners, sponsors and fans for the long term with a much more solid foundation.”
With that said, the question needs to be asked: How much did NBC really want this? Considering that Versus, IndyCar’s cable partner, is changing to NBC Sports Network in 2012, you’d think that NBC would want some events as well. Did the recent changing of the guard at NBC Sports/Versus wind up cooling down any thoughts of taking over the network side of IndyCar television?
If it did, then INDYCAR may not have had a choice in the matter and the live camera streaming for ABC events is a bonus. Of course, this would probably go down easier with the faithful if ABC/ESPN had previously shown a bigger effort in promoting the series. Now, we’ll have to see if they’ll go about doing that on this go-round. Do you trust them?
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Tomas Scheckter is set to take over for the injured Justin Wilson in the No. 22 Dreyer and Reinbold Racing machine for this weekend’s event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after the latter suffered a fractured fifth thoracic vertebrae during practice for last weekend’s race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Scheckter last competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series at this year’s Indianapolis 500. He also raced for DRR in four of his six events last season at Indy, Texas, Toronto and Edmonton.
As for Wilson, his medical evaluation has yielded an edict to stay out of the car for at least three months. INDYCAR medical director Michael Olinger also said that the Brit will be fitted for a back brace. The DRR team has not yet considered a driver for after New Hampshire.
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Now that we’ve seen the 2012 chassis/engine formula in action — the new Dallara, which was mated with a Honda V-6 turbo, made its on-track debut at Mid-Ohio on Monday and Tuesday — I’ve noticed a lot of complaining online about a particular aspect of the car’s look.
There’s been a lot of teeth-gnashing over the airbox, which carries over from the old Dallara that will be retired after this season. Since we’re going to turbocharged engines, it appears a lot of people were expecting a CART-style roll hoop to go with it.
The airbox is likely still on for the sake of advertising space, but it just annoys me that this aesthetic argument still exists. I personally could care less about whether it has an airbox or a roll hoop. As long as the car has a marked improvement in performance from the old one, I’m fine.
Besides, the car still looks much better than the previous Dallara even with the airbox, don’t you agree? Just be glad that it’s not like this!
