RTI Insider Live - 2021 Preview Interviews

[Rob Howden]

Hey guys -

I hope you're as fired up about the 2021 Road To Indy program as I am. As we sit here on February 8, I'm predicting 12-13 cars for Indy Lights at Barber, 14-16 in Indy Pro 2000, and 22-25 in USF2000. With over two months still go before we launch the 2021 season at Barber, I'm going to interview as many drivers and team owners as I can on my YouTube page. I hope you enjoy the interviews, and if you have anyone in particular you want me to have on the show, let me know.

Here the links to the completed interviews this far:

USF2000:
Josh Green - Turn 3 Motorsport - February 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYer1YJhfu8
Ely Navarro - DEForce Racing - February 8 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNwo5bEW8aQ
Spike Kohlbecker & Evan Stamer - Ignite Autosport with Cape Motorsports - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e98Y4h2qVrk

Indy Pro 2000:
Hunter Yeany - Velocity Racing Development - February 11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFPGNlxwipM
Jacob Abel - Abel Motorsports - February 15 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfObajBXatk

Indy Lights:
Alex Peroni - Carlin Racing - February 22 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCRUJYF3Yg

GUEST UPDATE: James Roe from Turn 3 Autosport is scheduled to join me on Monday (March 1), and I also have USF2000 Trey Burke from Joe Dooling Autosport lined up for next Friday

YOUTUBE CHANNEL LINK: You can watch all of my interviews at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDd...tZSJ1MuHp9y62A

[Turn13]

I know I'm fired up

Thanks, Rob!!

[Glass Half Full]

Love those car counts, Rob, particularly the significant increase in Lights.

My RTI interview request is Charles Finelli. In a series targeting up-and-comers who have their sights set on the Big Show, Charles is a welcomed outlier to the typical demographic. I’d love to hear what he has to say about his goals, expectations, and outlook on his upcoming season.

[Rob Howden]

Love those car counts, Rob, particularly the significant increase in Lights.

My RTI interview request is Charles Finelli. In a series targeting up-and-comers who have their sights set on the Big Show, Charles is a welcomed outlier to the typical demographic. I’d love to hear what he has to say about his goals, expectations, and outlook on his upcoming season.

Charles is definitely a character and great to have in the paddock, but sadly, he won't be back in the Road To Indy this year. I believe they sold their PM-18 and I recall hearing that they were looking at Prototype Challenge or something in sports cars.

[RHR Fan Always]

thanks for the heads up Rob, genuinely appreciate the work you do to give some spotlight to the lower series. Some of the best racing in America, is the RTI ladder, particularly Indy Pro and USF2000.

Question I have Rob is, do you know how/where we'll be able to watch races from the RTI for this year? Will it continue on the Road to Indy app like last year?

[Glass Half Full]

Charles is definitely a character and great to have in the paddock, but sadly, he won't be back in the Road To Indy this year. I believe they sold their PM-18 and I recall hearing that they were looking at Prototype Challenge or something in sports cars.

Thanks for your response, Rob; that’s too bad to hear about Charles moving away from RTI.

[Rob Howden]

I interviewed Indy Pro 2000 rookie Hunter Yeany from Velocity Racing Development on Thursday afternoon. Here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFPGNlxwipM

[Rob Howden]

I have two more interviews lined up for Thursday and Monday.

USF2000 rookie Trey Burke will join me on Thursday. He'll run with a new team, Joe Dooling Motorsports, for the 2021 season.

On Monday, I'll talk with new Carlin driver Alex Peroni, who comes to Indy Lights after finished 10th in FIA F3 in 2020.

I have my guest for next Thursday confirmed, but I cannot announce the driver yet.

[Sybil D. Sobydianz]

Thanks, Rob. Looking forward to it

[brundle]

I interviewed Indy Pro 2000 rookie Hunter Yeany from Velocity Racing Development on Thursday afternoon. Here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFPGNlxwipM

Man, that kid was fast in F4! Looking forward to see him move up the ladder.

[Rob Howden]

Man, that kid was fast in F4! Looking forward to see him move up the ladder.

I think Hunter is certainly a darkhorse for 2021 in Indy Pro 2000. The drivers we've seen come from F4 have all moved into USF2000 for there first year in the Road To Indy, such as Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Rasmussen, Christian Brooks, and Kiko Porto, so this will be a larger leap for Yeany to move right into IP2K. He's never run St. Pete, Toronto, Road America, or or been on an oval (especially Gateway), so there will be hurdles. Hunter will definitely be a fun story to follow throughout the season.

[Rob Howden]

I spoke with Alex Peroni from Carlin Racing today, and this is definitely an interview to check out. I'm really excited to see Alex pivot from his F1 target to re-focus on IndyCar through the Road To Indy. I think Alex will be a threat once he gets settled in with Carlin and the American tracks and style of racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCRUJYF3Yg

[Rob Howden]

I had three different guests on the show today - the trio from Ignite Autosport with Cape Motorsports - include drivers Spike Kohlbecker and Evan Stamer and Team Manager Keith Freber. It's an exciting program that connects grassroots karting to the Road to Indy.

Here's the link to the interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e98Y4h2qVrk

I'll have the podcast prepped early next week.