IndyCar Season Preview: A.J. Foyt Racing

With the IndyCar season under a week away, Hoosier Speedsource will begin previewing each team's season over that time.

A.J. Foyt Racing

Foyt comes into 2017 as basically an entirely new program, with a switch from Honda to Chevrolet power/aero kits, and a healthy amount of changes in the staffing area of the team.  Additionally, the team has two new drivers, with Carlos Munoz and Conor Daly replacing Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth, respectively.  

2017

#4 - Conor Daly - 18th in Points in 2016, One Podium at Detroit - ABC Supply

#14 Carlos Munoz - 10th in Points in 2016, Two Podiums (Indianapolis 500 & Mid-Ohio) - ABC Supply

Foyt, like Coyne could have flashes of brilliance this season.  Having switched to Chevy, they now have the superior car package for the vast majority of the schedule.  Additionally, with the new engineering manpower on the team, there exists a possibility that the seemingly blind squirrel could find a nut.  For Munoz, the possibility of him winning at Indy may be over, as it is quite clear the Honda teams have the superior package there, but he can now be a force at pretty much every other track on the schedule, which he has not been in previous years, mostly due to Andretti's woes on the road/street courses.  It's quite possible that Munoz could be on the podium several times this year.  As for Daly, he needs to use this year as a learning year.  With guys like Super Tex and Munoz at his disposal, Daly has a large amount of resources available to help him improve his oval racecraft, which is still rather raw.  However, I expect Daly to be competitive the majority of the time on the road & street courses, and he may challenge for a win more than once this year.

Indy

In the past few years, Foyt has run three cars at Indy.  However, with the switch to Chevy, Larry Foyt said that he wasn't comfortable running three cars at Indy while trying to learn a new aero kit.  Because of this, expect two Foyt cars at Indy unless if the field absolutely needs a third.

Predictions

Daly - 17th in Points

Munoz - 13th in Points

Images from IndyCar.com and Motorsport.com

IndyCar Season Preview: Dale Coyne Racing

With the IndyCar season just over a week away, Hoosier Speedsource will begin previewing each team's season over that time.

Dale Coyne Racing

DCR comes into 2017 on the heels of one of their most successful seasons in 2016.  Conor Daly was at the front of the field several times in 2016, including a podium at Detroit.  The 19 car did not have the same level of success, but R.C. Enerson gave the car several good rides in his short time in the car.

2017

#18 - Sebastien Bourdais - 14th in Points in 2016, 1 Win (Detroit), 2004-2007 Champ Car Champion - Unsponsored

#19 - Ed Jones (R) - 2016 Indy Lights Champion - Boy Scouts of America

DCR may be a force this season, as Bourdais returns to the team, and the team has vastly improved their engineering group.  Craig Hampson, who was the man behind much of Bourdais' success in Champ Car, is back with him this year, and Michael Cannon's veteran expertise can be expected to help Jones on his maiden season in IndyCar.  Many have argued, including myself, that Jones did not deserve the MRTI scholarship that he got, in special thanks to his teammate, at the finale at Laguna Seca last year.  However, I very much hope he proves his worth this year, but to do that he needs to lead at some point this year, much as Conor did last year.  Both drivers were quick at the Phoenix open test, so DCR could be the little team that could this year.  Expect to see Seabass be competitive on the twistys, but unless the engineering change does anything, he may struggle, along with Jones, on the ovals.  

Indy

It would be expected that DCR will run four cars at Indy this year once again, especially now with the net loss of at least one car, if not two, from the demise of KV.  Pippa Mann should be a favorite to return with the team for the 500, as long as she has sponsorship support.  The Jonathan Byrd entry is not likely to return, as the Byrds were very close to Bryan Clauson.  It has been rumored that Stefan Wilson has money for the race through the Indiana Donor Network again, and he may be the person that ends up in the fourth car.

Predictions

Bourdais - 14th in Points, One Win on Strategy

Jones - 20th in Points, Rookie of the Year

Images From IndyCar.com, Motorsport.com, TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk