RTI Driver announcement thread

[Rob Howden]

One update to your USF2000 list:

Kent Vaccaro has been announced with Miller Vinatieri Motorsports.

https://www.usf2000.com/news/vaccaro...ports-for-2021

[thehairpin]

One update to your USF2000 list:

Kent Vaccaro has been announced with Miller Vinatieri Motorsports.

https://www.usf2000.com/news/vaccaro...ports-for-2021

Thanks!

[thehairpin]

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY LIGHTS

Andretti - 4 (Megennis, Kirkwood, Frost, DeFrancesco)
HMD - 4 (Pedersen, Malukas, ?, ?) - includes GRG cars
Carlin - 2 (Peroni, ?)
Exclusive - 2 (?, ?)
Juncos - 2 (?, ?)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY PRO 2000

Exclusive - 1 (Eves)
Juncos - 1 (Gold)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Miller)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 USF2000

Cape - 1 (Nepveu)
Turn 3 - 1 (Green)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Vaccaro)

[Mr. Muffins]

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY LIGHTS

Andretti - 4 (Megennis, Kirkwood, Frost, DeFrancesco)
HMD - 4 (Pedersen, Malukas, ?, ?) - includes GRG cars
Carlin - 2 (Peroni, ?)
Exclusive - 2 (?, ?)
Juncos - 2 (?, ?)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY PRO 2000

Exclusive - 1 (Eves)
Juncos - 1 (Gold)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Miller)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 USF2000

Cape - 1 (Nepveu)
Turn 3 - 1 (Green)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Vaccaro)

Thanks for the list. I thought AA was running 5 not 4 and didn't know Carlin/ Jay Howard had 2 cars in the works.

[nospheratez]

Juncos tested Sting Ray Robb and Nate Aranda at Homestead. I'm not sure about Nate, but Robb's signing for 2021 seems like a sure thing.

[Rob Howden]

Thanks for the list. I thought AA was running 5 not 4 and didn't know Carlin/ Jay Howard had 2 cars in the works.

Andretti is confirmed at four drivers right now, and I expect to see four at HMG-GRG. Carlin will have two cars in 2021, and I hope to see four at Juncos as well.

As I mentioned to Kevin Lee on Trackside last night, Exclusive sold their cars to HMD and will aim to return to Lights in 2022 or 2023. Michael Duncalfe was offered a great opportunity on the cars and, at the time, they had a one-car program with Nikita Lastochkin, which is tough. Duncalfe and EA will focus on the USF2000 and IP2K championships with Christian Brooks and Braden Eves. They'll be in the hunt for both. Veteran engineer Tim Neff bought the Belardi cars and they will likely be leased by Juncos this year, with Tim working with the team as an engineer. Tim plans a two-car team in 2022 under the 'TJ Steed' team banner. With the interest that is coming into the series, a fifth car at Andretti or HMD-GRG wouldn't surprise me at all. I don't know that its likely, but its a possibility. There's more in the works as well, but we'll see if it all comes to play.

[nospheratez]

Andretti is confirmed at four drivers right now, and I expect to see four at HMG-GRG. Carlin will have two cars in 2021, and I hope to see four at Juncos as well.

As I mentioned to Kevin Lee on Trackside last night, Exclusive sold their cars to HMD and will aim to return to Lights in 2022 or 2023. Michael Duncalfe was offered a great opportunity on the cars and, at the time, they had a one-car program with Nikita Lastochkin, which is tough. Duncalfe and EA will focus on the USF2000 and IP2K championships with Christian Brooks and Braden Eves. They'll be in the hunt for both. Veteran engineer Tim Neff bought the Belardi cars and they will likely be leased by Juncos this year, with Tim working with the team as an engineer. Tim plans a two-car team in 2022 under the 'TJ Steed' team banner. With the interest that is coming into the series, a fifth car at Andretti or HMD-GRG wouldn't surprise me at all. I don't no that its likely, but its a possibility. There's more in the works as well, but we'll see if it all comes to play.

Thank you, Rob!

This great amount of insider's info is stunning. I didn't know a thing about Exclusive Autosport's status and never saw Juncos's 4 cars coming. That's brings additional intrigue of who'll be those drivers to fill remaining seats. I think ex-Belardi drivers Sowery and Lindh are still not signed. Urrutia, Lastochkin and Seravalle from 2020 are free agents as well. Have no idea of any european/asian drivers who intend to go to US to compete in IndyLights if there is any.

[thehairpin]

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY LIGHTS

Andretti - 4- 5 (Megennis, Kirkwood, Frost, DeFrancesco, ?)
HMD - 4 (Pedersen, Malukas, ?, ?) - includes GRG cars
Juncos - 2-4 (Robb, Aranda?, ?, ?)
Carlin - 2 (Peroni, ?)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY PRO 2000

Exclusive - 1 (Eves)
Juncos - 1 (Gold)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Miller)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 USF2000

Cape - 1 (Nepveu)
Turn 3 - 1 (Green)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Vaccaro)
Exclusive - 1 (Brooks)

[thehairpin]

Can anyone provide information on expected team sizes in the "2000" series? All I have at the moment is official driver announcements.

[Rob Howden]

Can anyone provide information on expected team sizes in the "2000" series? All I have at the moment is official driver announcements.

I think USF2000 is still very much wide-open right now, but I believe you can expect four cars at Cape and DE Force, and 2-3 at Pabst, Exclusive and JHDD. I predict two cars for Legacy and Turn 3, and maybe the new Millenium Motorsports operation. We have a few single car teams, like Force Indy, but I'll wait for the rest of them to make official announcements.

[dalz]

Just heard from Bob...Colin Kaminsky will make the first 4 Indy Pro dates with Pabst, then assess the future. Dad's NOT paying for Lights. But he insists on supporting the grassroots, so him and Colin will be at the Indy Runoffs in Spec Racers.

[thehairpin]

I think USF2000 is still very much wide-open right now, but I believe you can expect four cars at Cape and DE Force, and 2-3 at Pabst, Exclusive and JHDD. I predict two cars for Legacy and Turn 3, and maybe the new Millenium Motorsports operation. We have a few single car teams, like Force Indy, but I'll wait for the rest of them to make official announcements.

Thanks, any Idea on Indy Pro?

[thehairpin]

Just heard from Bob...Colin Kaminsky will make the first 4 Indy Pro dates with Pabst, then assess the future. Dad's NOT paying for Lights. But he insists on supporting the grassroots, so him and Colin will be at the Indy Runoffs in Spec Racers.

Four races or four race weekends?

[thehairpin]

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY LIGHTS

Andretti - 4- 5 (Megennis, Kirkwood, Frost, DeFrancesco, ?)
HMD - 4 (Pedersen, Malukas, ?, ?) - includes GRG cars
Juncos - 2-4 (Robb, Aranda?, ?, ?)
Carlin - 2 (Peroni, ?)

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 INDY PRO 2000

Exclusive - 1 (Eves)
Juncos - 1 (Gold)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Miller)
Pabst - 1 (Kaminsky) - first four races at least

THE VIEW FROM THE HAIRPIN - 2021 USF2000

Cape - 4 (Nepveu, ?, ?, ?)
DE Force - 4 (?, ?, ?, ?)
Exclusive - 2-3 (Brooks , ?, ?)
Howard - 2-3 (?, ?, ?)
Pabst - 2-3 (?, ?, ?)
Leagacy - 2 (?, ?)
Turn 3 - 2 (Green, ?)
Miller Vinatieri - 1 (Vaccaro)
Force Indy - 1 (?)

[senorsoupe]

Malukas Confirmed at HMD for next season
https://www.indylights.com/news/malu...md-motorsports