IndyCar

[Matt]

Alonso's not coming. But let's focus on good (great) news: Wickens is beginning to be able to move his legs. https://streamable.com/i78iq

[Penfold]

That really is great to see.

[Matt]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpYJKb-HmBj/?taken-by=robertwickens

This is the first time that Wickens has really shown everything and described himself as a paraplegic. But, as the last post and the end of this post show, there is still hope that he will be back to walking again.

[Matt]

Swedish media reporting that Ericsson will replace Wickens next season.

[Chrill]

Yes. Yes they are. We're likely to get two Swedes in IndyCar then. Spectacular. May just have to start watching it. I hope our F1 broadcaster picks up the rights to IndyCar.

[Chrill]

And it hath been confirmeth:

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/139764/ericsson-secures-indycar-seat-with-schmidt

Ericsson to IndyCar. Decent team even though not a front runner, yes? In theory he should be able to fight for regular top ten finishes, and the occasional visit to the podium. Sort of like the Force India of IndyCar.

[Matt]

Wickens was still 7th in the points after Pocono and like two additional races and finished 11th despite missing four races (double point finale). Hinchcliffe missed Indy (double points) and still finished 10th.

So SPM is not Penske, Ganassi, or Andretti, but they are close.

[Chrill]

Yes, so they are, but then again Ericsson enters as a rookie and with absolutely zero experience of any circuit except COTA. Wickens had some experience of American open-wheel racing, obviously only in junior categories, but still. I don't see Ericsson being as strong a rookie as Wickens. Rosenqvist is the one I'm looking out for, he could be the new Wickens in 2019 and should fight for wins on occasion.

[Matt]

https://racer.com/2018/11/30/ericsson-eager-for-first-indycar-test/

Ericsson and Felix living in the same apartment building and everything.

[Chrill]

Very cute. I read that in a Swedish newspaper (Marcus' local newspaper for Orebro where he's from). They don't really know each other that well because Marcus climbed the junior ladder 2-3 years before Felix, so they've never raced each other. I hope to see a healthy rivalry develop, but Felix is driving for Ganassi and simply should do better.

[Matt]

https://twitter.com/a_s12/status/1086295927198023681?s=21

The unveiling of the cars for Hinchcliffe and Ericsson. Identical black and gold Arrow cars. They also have Wickens?s #6 on stage, accompanied by Wickens himself, to remind everyone that he still has a car when he can return (more of an if than a when, but we can stay positive about it.)

[Chrill]

That's a fairly handsome livery.

[Penfold]

Funky.  Really looking forward to the new season... only another seven weeks to go.

[Chrill]

Ericsson thinks it realistic he can win races in 2019:
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/ericsson-winning-indycar-race-realistic/4327085/

That is a brave statement for a rookie in a team that did not win last year.

For Matty, our resident American, is Ericsson considered a big signing for IndyCar or "just another washed up European who thinks he's somebody"?

[Matt]

SPM won a race last year with Hinchcliffe. And Wickens won St. Petersburg, other than getting wrecked by Rossi.

I think the fanbase is mostly optimistic about Ericsson joining, but there are definitely people saying he was never good in F1 anyway. There are a lot of strategy options in IndyCar and the full-course caution lottery can totally change races, so a win is always possible for any competent driver. But I would not pick Ericsson to win a race this year otherwise.