Tatiana Calderón to run IndyCar road & street courses

From AJ Foyt Racing:

ROKiT Group is expanding their marketing partnership with AJ Foyt Racing for 2022 as the team will enter two ROKiT-branded Chevrolets in the NTT INDYCAR Series with Tatiana Calderón hired to drive the No. 11 ROKiT Chevrolet.

The agreement expands AJ Foyt Racing to a three-car team with the previously announced Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 14 ROKiT Chevrolet and veteran Dalton Kellett in the No. 4 K-Line Insulators USA Chevrolet.

Even though Calderón tested for Foyt last summer at Mid-Ohio, I must admit that I’m a little surprised to see her participation in the 2022 IndyCar season confirmed. I figured that once the team confirmed Kyle Kirkwood several months ago, Calderón would be returning to sports car competition for the year.

While it’s exciting to have a woman competing in IndyCar regularly for the first time since Simona de Silvestro ran full-time in 2014, Calderón’s performances in other championships leave questions about how competitive she’ll be in IndyCar. My first recollection of Calderón was her run in the 2010 Star Mazda Championship, in which she was teammate’s with eventual champion Conor Daly. Since then, she’s competed in series such as WEC and Formula 2, amongst others, and aside from those two high-profile divisions, there aren’t a whole lot of results that make me think she’ll be regularly competing for top ten finishes in IndyCar, especially with AJ Foyt Racing equipment.

Regardless, I’m happy to have an additional car on the IndyCar schedule driven by someone who is likely to become a fan favorite. I’m also intrigued by a line in the Foyt press release in which the team notes that no driver has been decided for the #11 car on oval events, implying that this third Foyt entry may run the entire season. I’m partial to Ryan Hunter-Reay returning to Foyt, where he ran most of the 2009 season and the 2011 Indianapolis 500, but I could also see Charlie Kimball or James Hinchcliffe making appearances.

Robert Wickens returns to driving in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

From Bryan Herta Autosport:

Three-time International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) Champions, Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) and Hyundai Motor North America, announced they have signed international racing star, Robert Wickens to co-drive the #33 Elantra N TCR racecar. Wickens will drive with fellow Canadian champion Mark Wilkins in the 2022 IMPC.

“Today is a monumental day for us as a team and as fans of Robert Wickens,” said Bryan Herta, president of BHA. “We have followed along with Robert’s rehabilitation and marveled at his determination and dedication, along with his many, many fans. To now announce that he will be making his professional motorsports return in one of our Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars is truly incredible. We thank Hyundai for their amazing support and helping us build a path for Robert to get back to where he belongs.”

What wonderful and wholesome news to get in a world where we seem to be running short of that type of thing. Wickens had the makings of a perennial championship contender before his accident at Pocono during his 2018 IndyCar season. Since his injury, he hasn’t been shy about showing how difficult his rehabilitation has been, nor has he shown any sign of not wanting to get back into a racecar.

From a competition standpoint, I think that Wickens and co-driver Mark Wilkins will be an instant threat for the TCR class championship. Wilkins is a stead shoe, Wickens—despite his disability—has a healthy amount of experience in touring-style cars after a stint in DTM, and BHA won the TCR championship in 2021 with Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis. With all of these pieces in place, the all-Canadian #33 Hyundai could make some major noise in the title fight.

Kevin Kalkhoven passes away at age 77

From Speedcafe:

Australian former Champ Car kingpin and Indianapolis 500-winning team owner Kevin Kalkhoven has died.

The Adelaide native was a pivotal figure in North American open-wheel racing both during and after the infamous ‘split’ between Champ Car and the Indy Racing League, as well as being a highly successful businessman and philanthropist.

As one of the principals of Champ Car during its final breaths, Kevin Kalkhoven holds an important role in the history of American open wheel racing by being a part of the long-awaited reunification with IndyCar in 2008. Kalkhoven also owned some fast race cars, including that of fellow Aussie Will Power during the 2008 season and the 2013 Indianapolis 500-winning entry of Tony Kanaan.

Al Unser passes away at age 82

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Alfred “Al” Unser, the second member of the Unser auto racing dynasty to win the Indianapolis 500 and the second INDYCAR SERIES driver in history to win four times at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, died Dec. 9 at his home in Chama, New Mexico, after a 17-year battle with cancer. He was 82.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 29, 1939, Unser followed his three older brothers and the generation of Unser brothers before them into auto racing. He was known as a quiet sponge, absorbing the lessons learned by his family members.

What a crushing loss to to the motorsports community to cap a year that included the death of broadcaster Bob Jenkins, journalist Robin Miller, and Unser’s brother and three-time Indy 500 winner in his own right, Bobby,, amongst too many others.

I had the good fortune of meeting Al at an event at the Speedway, IN Kroger on the day before the 2019 Indy 500. Accompanied by his wife, he was kind and friendly to the gargantuan line of fans that wrapped around the store and into the parking lot. When his son Al Unser, Jr. won his first Indianapolis 500 in 1992, the younger Unser said through tears to the reporter in victory lane, “You just don’t know what Indy means.” By all accounts, Al Unser, Sr. knew what Indy meant.

Perhaps the silver lining of this is Al being able to participate in the photoshoot of all four-time Indianapolis 500 winner after Helio Castroneves won his fourth in 2021. While that picture was iconic before, it’ll mean a lot more now that Al is gone.

Kyle Kirkwood confirmed for AJ Foyt Racing drive

From AJ Foyt Racing:

There is a buzz around the No. 14 Chevrolet fielded by A.J. Foyt — and it is not killer bees. AJ Foyt Racing has hired 2021 Indy Lights Champion Kyle Kirkwood to drive the No. 14 Chevrolet in the NTT INDYCAR Series next year.

Fantastic Foyt reference in the first paragraph of the press release introducing Kyle Kirkwood as a driver for AJ Foyt Racing, but what’s even more fantastic is the fact Kirkwood will be on the IndyCar grid in 2022.

I must admit, when this rumor started making the rounds, I didn’t feel good about the prospect of AJ Foyt Racing stewarding a potentially generational talent like Kirkwood through his IndyCar growing pains. As the situation became more clear, however, this is Kirkwood’s best option for his 2021 season at this point. While replacing Colton Herta if Herta made the move to Formula 1 would have been the best option, AJ Foyt Racing is better than the other options, namely a sports car seat where he wouldn’t have the opportunity to be regularly visible to IndyCar team owners.

The iOS App Icon Book

From Michael Flarup:

The iOS App Icon Book features hundreds of works of art from individuals and teams around the world. It serves as an inspiration and as a historical collection covering more than a decade of design on the iOS platform. The icons in this book have been carefully curated to showcase conceptual and executional excellence in icon design and covers a broad range of applications, topics, and styles.

This sort of thing is practically catnip for someone with my interests. I’ve supported the Kickstarter, and I suggest that you do, too.

Robin Miller passes away at age 71

From RACER:

IndyCar journalist, broadcaster and advocate, and RACER senior writer and friend Robin Miller has died at the age of 71.

The Indiana native, who passed after a long fight against multiple myeloma and leukemia, carved himself a reputation as one of American racing’s most authoritative voices during his five-decade career as a writer. He told stories from inside the paddock with an unfiltered honesty that got him into trouble with more or less every person involved in the sport at some point, but which also earned him a fundamental level of respect from drivers and teams that set him apart from his media peers.

With Robin’s health deteriorating over the past few months, word of his passing didn’t come as a surprise, though it still hit like a punch to the gut. Robin was a lot of things, but most of all, he was his own man.

From watching his Sunday night appearances on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain to making time between classes on Wednesdays to read his mailbag during college, I’ve been following Robin since I became an IndyCar fan. As a road course type of guy, I didn’t always agree with Robin’s opinions about ovals and dirt track racing, but I’ve always appreciated his unquestionable passion for IndyCar racing.

I’m so thankful that Robin was able to make one last appearance at IMS for the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader weekend. A lot of people knew it would be their farewell to Robin, but to see him so happy and in his element one last time was joyful thing to see.

IndyCar announces return to Iowa Speedway

From IndyCar:

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Hy-Vee, a grocery chain based in the Midwest, have announced a new multiyear agreement, which returns the excitement of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the Iowa Speedway. Hy-Vee will provide broad support for next year’s doubleheader event set for July 23-24, 2022, through a wide-ranging partnership that will bring INDYCAR racing back to the 0.875 mile oval after a one-year hiatus.

This is fantastic news for the IndyCar series. IndyCar is in need of additional oval tracks, and Iowa fits that bill perfectly. It’s also nice to see a new sponsor like Hy-Vee give full-throated support to the series between the Iowa race and sponsorship of the third Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry.

My only complaint is that these races will be on Saturday and Sunday, presumably as day races. The 2020 Iowa doubleheader was on Friday and Saturday under the lights, which makes racing during the day look mundane.

Corey LaJoie to miss Michigan NASCAR race due to COVID protocols

From NASCAR.com:

Corey LaJoie will miss this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway due to COVID-19 protocols, Spire Motorsports announced Thursday afternoon.

“Due to COVID-19 protocols, Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, will be unavailable to participate in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Firekeepers Casino 400 and will not travel to Michigan International Speedway,” the team said in a statement.

Corey LaJoie may not be the first NASCAR driver to miss a race due to COVID-19, but even though seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson missed the Brickyard 400 due to a positive test, LaJoie’s situation might be the most significant.

The complication comes from NASCAR policy detailed in a tweet by Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass:

NASCAR policy for close contact and not vaccinated is quarantine at least 7 days and then can come back if negative test and no symptoms. If vaccinated, no quarantine but must get tested 3-5 days after exposure. Same as CDC guidelines.

By virtue of LaJoie needing to miss this weekend’s race due to his COVID exposure, this means that he is unvaccinated. LaJoie more or less confirmed this in an interview with Sirius XM NASCAR:

I’m not going to tell anyone else what their risk aversion should be. I feel plenty healthy, my immune system is capable of fighting off anything. I work out as hard as anybody. I eat healthy. That’s kind of where I stand.

I don’t want to be the guinea pig or the example by no means, but I do think people could probably learn from this particular circumstance and be a little more cautious.”

The world of NASCAR social media erupted after this news. While some supported LaJoie, there’s a sense of frustration with his attitude around COVID and vaccines. By all signs, LaJoie isn’t the only NASCAR driver to hold scientifically debunked opinions about COVID quietly or otherwise. He does, however, hold this distinction of being an openly unvaccinated driver, which may pose a problem with the most influential thing in NASCAR: sponsorship.

LaJoie is going to miss the Michigan race because he is unvaccinated. Sponsors won’t take kindly to the idea of their driver missing a race because though they tested negative for COVID after an exposure, they are still required by policy to stay away because of their vaccination status. Some sponsors may balk at being associated with someone they view as in opposition to mainstream science.

Going beyond the issue of sponsorship, drivers should want to get vaccinated simply so they don’t miss any races unless it’s truly needed. In a deleted tweet archived in an article by The Frontstretch’s Daniel McFadin, spotter Brett Griffin expressed his opinions when sharing a picture of Kyle Larson surround by fans.

Some of Y’all aren’t gonna like this but if ima playoff driver in any series I’m not doing this a week before the playoffs start and so long as I’m playoff eligible. It’s just not worth it.

Imagine a driver on the verge of making the championship four missing their chance to race into title contention because they refused a COVID vaccine and were in the same situation as LaJoie. Even among NASCAR’s vaccine-hesitant fanbase, the driver would become a symbol of throwing away an incredible opportunity out of arrogance.

Maybe LaJoie’s predicament won’t sway the opinion of his competitors, but as NASCAR gets closer to the playoffs, it’s time they think about it.

Bob Jenkins passes away at age 73

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Veteran radio and television broadcaster Bob Jenkins, a former “Voice of the 500” inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2019, died Aug. 9 at age 73 after a valiant fight with cancer.

The voice of the Liberty, Indiana, native was heard globally over five decades on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, serving several positions, including chief announcer from 1990 through 1998. Jenkins was one of only four people to serve as television play-by-play announcer in ABC’s 54-year history of broadcasting the Indianapolis 500.

Today is a sad day for auto racing. Bob Jenkins is a motorsports institution, and he will be missed immeasurably. It’s fitting that Bob’s passing precedes NASCAR and IndyCar holding a companion event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as his voice is an enduring symbol of all three.

Thank you for everything, Bob. Godspeed.