November 2021 News
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IndyCar Silly Season Rookies

Nov 1 - While F1 sticks with recruiting drivers from
their ladder system, IndyCar does not.

One reason may be because the Formula 1 top tier,
Formula 2, has a much larger roster of drivers. That
results in more competition which provides a better
indicator of driver talent.  The 2021 Indy Lights field
contained from 9-13 drivers among 5 teams.  Formula
2 had 27 drivers among 11 teams.

So far into the silly season, two previous Formula 2
drivers are joining IndyCar next year:
22  y/o Swedish racer Linus Lundqvist also competed
in the Formula Regional Americas in 2020, and won
the championship.  Prior to that, he finished 5th in the
Euroformula Open series in 2019.  Lundqvist finished
3rd in Indy Lights this year, capturing 3 wins and 2
pole positions.


While it is curious that DeFrancesco is more likely to
be in IndyCar next year than Lundqvist, who has a
better record, it is shocking that 23 y/o American
Kyle Kirkwood has not been signed.
20 y/o American Malukas won 7 Indy Lights races this
year with 6 pole positions, finishing 2nd in the
championship.  He finished 6th in the 2019 Indy Lights
championship.  Due to the pandemic, there were no
Indy Light races in 2020.  Malukas raced instead in the
Formula Regional Americas series where he finished
2nd in their championship.
22 y/o British racer Callum Ilot finished 2nd in the F2
series in 2020, with 3 wins.  This year he became a
reserve driver for Alfa Romeo F1 and participated in
two F1 practice 1 sessions.  He raced in the last 3
IndyCar races of the season with Juncos Hollinger
Racing and has been hired by them for 2022.
20 y/o Danish racer Christian Lundgaard spent the
last 3 years in Formula 2.  He won 2 races last year
and finished 7th in the championship.  So far this year,
his best finish has been 2nd.  He has been hired by
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to compete in Indy
Car next season.

INDY LIGHTS

Indy Lights had a crop of good drivers this year, but so
far, no formal announcements of contracts have been
announced.  

According to rumor, it is a sure bet that
Devlin
DeFrancesco
will be joining Andretti Autosport next
season and it is very likely that
David Malukas will
drive for Dale Coyne Racing.
DeFrancesco finished 6th in this year's Indy Lights
championship.  His two 3rd place finishes at the
opening rounds at Barber Motorsports Park were his
best.  He finished 2nd in the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 series
with 2 wins and 3 poles.
Not only has Kirkwood won multiple championships
since 2017, he won Indy Lights this year with a
commanding 10 wins and 7 poles.  He finished 2nd in
4 races.  In 19 races, he only finished out of the top
5 twice.  Winning the championship guarantees him 3
IndyCar races next year along with $1.3 million in
sponsorship.

Kirkwood raced part-time in the IMSA sportscar
series last year during the pandemic and won one race.

In 2019, he won the Indy Pro 2000 championship with
another commanding season consisting of 9 wins and 5
pole positions.

In 2018 he not only won the the USF2000 champion-
ship (and is only driver to win each of the three series
that made up the Road To Indy ladder system) but also
won the F3 Americas championship.  He won the F4
US Championship in 2017.

Like DeFrancesco, Kirkwood drove for Andretti
Autosport this year.  It was rumored that the team held
an option on him and that they let it expire last night.

With the Indy Lights Championship, Kirkwood will at
least race in 3 Indycar events next year, including the
Indy 500.  Hopefully he'll find a full-time ride
somewhere.

It's an old story in racing - Money is sometimes better
than a great CV when it comes to getting hired.
Nov 4 - Devlin DeFrancesco has been hired by Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport to race the No. 29
Honda for next season.  He finished 6th in the 2021 Indy Lights championship.
Nov 10 - Reigning Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood will step up to the IndyCar series full time in
2022, driving the famous No. 14 Chevrolet fielded by
AJ Foyt Racing.
Nov 24 - Oliver Askew has been hired to compete in Formula E next season for Andretti Autosport.
Pro Shifter
Master Shifter
SSE/KZ
CLASS
Micro Swift
Mini Swift
X30 Junior
X30 Senior
X30 Master
KA100 Junior
KA100 Senior
IAME X30
IAME KA100
IAME SWIFT
SUB
CLASS
390 lbs
405 lbs
225 lbs
245 lbs
320 lbs
365 lbs
400 lbs
320 lbs
360 lbs
KART
WEIGHT
15+
30+
7-10
9-13
12-15
15+
30+
11-15
14+
AGE
IndyCar Drivers At Karting Nationals

Nov 27 - Josef Newgarden will be joining Will
Power
in competing in the SuperNationals karting
event next weekend (Dec 1-5.)   They will be
competing in the "X30 Senior" class.

The SKUSA SuperNationals, in Las Vegas, is a big
tournament in go-kart racing.  The first one was held
in 1997.

The organizers ran into big trouble with this year's
event when the hosting venue cancelled on them at the
last minute.  Luckily they were able to secure the Las
Vegas Motor Speedway to hold the event, and the
Hilton on Las Vegas Blvd for the teams and guests.
44
44
44
88
44
88
44
44
88
MAX
ENTRIES
2021 Go Kart Nationals Classes
Will Power Aboard His Own Brand Kart
The Pro Tour also visits these
tracks during the year:

Utah Motorsports Campus

NOLA Motorsports Park

New Castle Motorsports Park
near Indianapolis