[VRR][B-SPEC] 2016 Straight Talk IndyCar Series Season

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How should the driver names be?

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Harsk100
Ridiculous? What do you mean? What is the difference between a 2016 livery and a 2017 livery?
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catamount39
Different mapping and model I assume?
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It's what's allowed and what isn't. The 2017 livery regs are tighter and more precise, and there are a lot of things not required in 2016 that will be in 2017. Car is the same, mod is the same. The requirements are expanded.
 
My reactions to the posts:

BRRT_Angel
As in, very different. A 2016 livery in 2017 will look ridiculous.
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BRRT_Angel
It's what's allowed and what isn't. The 2017 livery regs are tighter and more precise, and there are a lot of things not required in 2016 that will be in 2017. Car is the same, mod is the same. The requirements are expanded.
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Commentary should be recorded next weekend for the Michigan test. Should be uploaded by October 18th. In the meantime, I will be running the Ruapuna test sometime this week. After that, the Monster Shootout! The start of the season is upon us, people!
 
Excited to be involved in my first YouTube commentary for this race. Great strides forward by @BRRT_Angel and everyone for making an idea a reality. Can't wait for this to get underway.
 
NAZARETH, PERU--Jesus Cristobal, driver of the #24 Team Kate Upton Chevrolet, will not be at the Michigan test or the Ruapuna test this month. Media sources in Peru have reported that Cristobal's sponsor, Lotus Cars, had not paid it's due sponsorship funds, and thus he was being held from competition. Matheus Michelin, the team's Indy 500 driver, will fill in for Cristobal during the Ruapuna test. The team have stated that he will be back in action by the 2015 Indianapolis 500, if not sooner.
 
The theme for the 2016 VRR Straight Talk IndyCar Series will be unveiled on October 31st at 12:00 a.m. HINT: It's first major appearance came in a NASCAR game.
 
The Audi Sport fans have something to be hopeful for, as Audi Sport has confirmed that the experimental engine has passed the test requirements at Michigan and will now be equipped for all Audi cars in Ruapuna. "We wanted our first priority to be speed, then get the reliability down. We feel we have that and we are going to make that the de facto engine for Ruapuna and the rest of 2015 at least."
 
Ruapuna test being run on Tuesday...Still needing cars from the following:
@AJHG1000 -- Full Time
@Gerarghini -- Full Time
@rcb929 -- Indy 500
@RACECAR any word on any of these three?

Michigan test aimed at being uploaded on October 25th, with Ruapuna being uploaded on November 1st.

Deadline for all paint schemes is October 31st. The sooner, the better for everyone, so please get them in. Going to leave this post with a bit of intriguing news...
FONTANA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES--Representatives at the Auto Club Speedway have confirmed that the season finale in 2016 and 2017 will have 33 cars, in relation to the Indianapolis 500. Unlike the Indy 500, there will be provisionals for any championship contenders going into the race. Indianapolis remains one of the few races in the world with no provisionals. With 36 drivers entered, it is very possible that one of the 28 full time drivers in 2016 could be bumped from the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Auto Club has ensured that it will not be the case. "We want the finale to be worth every penny for us, the fans, the teams, and the series itself. For those limited to the Indy 500, they need to get their money's worth as well, and giving the opportunity to have another race and battle amongst each other for points at the same time as everyone else is important in that philosophy. We look forward to hosting some of the best racing in the world next year when the VRR Straight Talk IndyCar Series and the GTPlanet Fantasy Series roll through."
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES--Audi and Cherokee Motorsports have sent a final notice to fellow Audi teams that the engine test at Charlotte will be the weekend of October 16th through 18th. Several Audi teams, including Swift Autosport and Ecurie Ecosse, have already signaled their intentions on being present at the test. This will be their first chance at getting a hands on look at the engines they will be able to use starting at Ruapuna at the end of the month.
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES--Long Beach city officials have stated their intentions of keeping the Grand Prix of Long Beach as a non points event on the VRR Straight Talk IndyCar Series calendar until at least 2018. "VRR has been transparent with us in what they are doing with their calendars for the next three seasons. They've been committed to having us on the calendar however they can without stretching everyone thin. We are aiding them with that by being an exhibition until they've brought the calendar down to their targets. We're looking at becoming a points event in 2019, but having the tradition live before then as being one of the most prestigious street races in North America."

Full Time Entries=28​
Bauer RTi Team NZ-Honda
#67: Jamie Ngaire-Jardine/NZL/Bauer Hockey/1-24 @RedDragon
Cat Devil Racing-Honda
#19: Camyron Jackson/USA/PlayStation/1-24 @RACECAR
#91: Kunimitsu Kino****a/JPN/Sony/1-24 @KuniKino****a
#99: Steven Gnash/CAN/Pepsi/1-24 @DCybertron
Cherokee Motorsports-Audi
#95: Behrris Windross/USA/Pennzoil/1-24 @NearCptNitro
#96: Clayton Hardy/CHK/McDonald's/1-24 @Clayton Hardy
#97: Jett Raven/USA/ALS Association/1-24 @raven214
Coca-Cola Black Rose Racing Team-Chevrolet
#7: Evangeline Porter/USA/Coca-Cola Vanilla/1-24 @BRRT_Angel
#14: Jacob Birmingham/USA/Sprite/1-24 @vetteman24
#22: Jacob Descoteau/USA/Dasani/1-24 @GTRacer22
#80: Sebastian Devereux/FRA/Princess Luna/1-24 @nascarfan1400
Ecurie Ecosse-Audi
#10: Gary Slater/GBR/Johnnie Walker/1-24 @AudiMan2011
Harsk World Motorsport-Audi
#78: Pedro Harsk/POR/Audi Sport/1-24 @Harsk100
Legacy Racing-Chevrolet
#92: Treven Robie/USA/YouTube/1-24 @trobes29
Martini Racing-Honda
#51: Alan Herrera/MEX/Martini & Rossi/1-24 @AJHG1000
Mugen Motorsports-Honda
#27: Aaron van der Linden/CAN/Mugen/1-24 @aarror
#38: Gizmo Fonseca-Vargas/MEX/Hot Wheels/1-24 @Gerarghini
NCTX Motorsports-Audi
#79: B.K. Glover/USA/None/1-24 @BKGlover
Perl Speed GP-Chevrolet
#55: Ryan Perlstein/USA/GE Innovation/1-24 @catamount39
Polaris Motorsports-Honda
#84: Stephanie Porter-Kelley/BIH/Alienware/1-24 @amaterasu
Scuderia Rabia Furiosa-Chevrolet
#11: Alex Rivera/LUX/7-Eleven/1-24 @DcrRaikkonen
Standard Motorsports-Honda
#43: Cliff Lagueux/CAN/Molson Canadian/1-24 @GTracerEHTeam
Swift Autosport-Audi
#2: Thomas Rogers/USA/Speed Energy Drinks/1-24 @tbwhhs
#5: Mohammad Ahmed/PAK/Rarity/1-24 @Smurfybug
#50: Matthew Evans/USA/Logan's Roadhouse/1-24 @swiftsmith
Team Kate Upton-Chevrolet
#20: Hugo Del Prete/USA/Red Bull/1-24 @DurWinning
#24: Jesus Cristobal/PER/Lotus Cars/1-24 @Jahgee1124
#76: Nico Costa-Monteiro/POR/Burger King/1-24 @Niku Driver HC
Indianapolis 500 Entries=8​
Agaton Team-Audi
#6: Diomedes Nikolaidou/GRE/Texaco-Havoline/9 @Earth
Cat Devil Racing-Honda
#87: Henna Venalainen/FIN/Victoria's Secret/9 @quietgirl
Coca-Cola Black Rose Racing-Chevrolet
#77: Andrew Draco/USA/Sonic Drive Thru/9 @Kingofweasles
Inferno Racing-Honda
#12: Brian Blauman/USA/Benson & Hedges/9 @rcb929
NCTX Motorsports-Audi
#9: Michael White/USA/Bambi/9 @Whitetail
Polaris Motorsports-Honda
#48: Lucas Larese/USA/Alienware/9 @ScuderiaLucas
Scuderia Rabia Furiosa-Chevrolet
#25: Stefan Montana/USA/7-Eleven/9 @Luis Torres
Team Kate Upton-Chevrolet
#30: Matheus Michelin/BRA/SuperChips/9
*In the instance that a spot becomes available in the full time roster, the first people offered that spot, based on shared engine maker, will be from this Indy 500 list.

Finally, today, I will be starting team conversations with all the teams to share roleplay information, news updates, and such with all of the registered 2016 teams. Keep your eyes peeled on that. Have a good weekend everyone!
 
Beginning to work on the pre-season report for this. Angel, I need you to gather everyone's hometown and team history, please and thank you.
 
Clayton Hardy
Beginning to work on the pre-season report for this. Angel, I need you to gather everyone's hometown and team history, please and thank you.
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Getting around to it.
 
CINCINNATI, OHIO, UNITED STATES--VRR has made a large move in the thick of things as the Monster Shootout grows closer. Pikes Peak International Raceway acknowledged publicly Monday afternoon that it has withdrawn its planned event in 2016, citing failure to confirm title sponsor in time for deadline for the series and for the track itself. It has been rumored that VRR has been aware of the situation, and as PPIR made its announcement, VRR announced a penciled in deal to move that race to the Circuit of the Americas. A title sponsor has not been found yet, as the event is only hours old, but the prospect of VRR IndyCar and IRG Formula One being directly comparable for the first time in almost a decade is a very appealing prospect to fans and businesses alike.
 
Most of the 2016 venues have been locked solidly in place, but as we've seen, things can turn in a hurry. In a recent interview with driver/owner Evangeline Porter, some venues may not make it to the line in 2016. "There are a couple of places in serious danger of being axed. Watkins Glen, according to higher ups, has began to renege on track improvements, and if they back out of the contract, then it's possible that a place like New Hampshire or even Barber make it in it's place. NJMP has no interest in joining the 2016 calendar, so it limits what they (series officials) can do schedule wise." Porter confirmed. "Sonoma doesn't want to host the winter test, since it isn't a race they can make money on. Sebring's already offered to do it, and we possibly could go to Barcelona or Phillip Island. We have more flexibility there. I think VRR will gather team principals together on that before making a decision. I personally would be okay with splitting the testing up between Sebring and be in Australia for an extended time between Phillip Island and Surfer's, but there's 18 teams that have to talk this over, so you never know." When asked about her team's standing between 2016 and 2017, she had a clear idea of what was going to happen. "We'll have to shrink for 2017 unless massive sponsorship comes in. I'm not sure who's going where. I want to make sure all of the Black Rose Racing drivers have a seat in 2017 regardless of where it is, but not all five will be on the team in 2017 at the moment." She was also clear on what she was aiming for. "Having another female driver on board would be incredibly good both from a diversity standpoint and a marketability standpoint. There's five currently, and in 2017 all five will be on different teams and full time. We need to capitalize on that. The tilt is already in full swing, and we need to stay in control of that. We have factory Ferrari support, which means access to Fiorano and an already good outlook. We have the tools, and we need to use them fully. We plan on heavily doing so."
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA--The city council in Toronto has declined the offer of a VRR Straight Talk IndyCar Series event in the near future. The city votes near unanimously against the event proposal, that would have seen the event run from 2017 to 2022. The event would have occupied the Exhibition Place which has hosted events annually for over two decades. "Right now, we need to focus on the infrastructure of that particular area, and with races there as it is, it's difficult to do. Adding another race weekend would be impossible." A council member said after the vote had taken place. Not all is lost, however. This places Edmonton in the best position to grab a spot on the 2017 calendar, as well as the newer Circuit ICAR.
CHRISTCHURCH, CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND--Rumors are persisting that Mike Pero Motorsports Park, commonly known as Ruapuna Park, has made a preliminary agreement with VRR in hosting a Straight Talk IndyCar Series race beginning in 2017. Both VRR and Ruapuna have denied that an agreement has taken place as of yet, but have confirmed that talks have been ongoing. The rumors persist as the venue prepares to host the biggest series to ever visit the track. The New Zealand government has welcomed the notion of the race, saying the race "could help display to the world that New Zealand is as motorsports-welcoming as any other country on the VRR IndyCar calendar." The government later added that the tourism the series would bring and the crowds the race would bring would rival that of other fly away races like Surfer's Paradise, and that the country would see that the venue be at the highest possible standards.
 
DcrRaikkonen
We can't all age like fine wine.
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It's called a coma, and believe it or not it makes you younger...mental capacity wise at least. Anyways, some more news from the VRR Miss Santa that is yours truly, and this little bit will be intriguing to those with teams in 2017, as well as those who might be fans of a race at a place like...say...Daytona. You might want to pick your eyebrows out of your hairline before you continue reading.
CINCINNATI, OHIO, UNITED STATES--VRR has announced that for the series calendar, the views of the team principals and the fans that watch the events will be taken into consideration starting in 2017 and especially in 2018 and beyond. Details have been pressed confirming that beginning in June 2016, all of the team principals for 2017 will be gathered and will converse over the schedule, including new venues, race distances, and possibly race purse dividends. "For 2017, our hands are kinda tied as far as changes go. All of the 2016 venues are in 2017 by contract, and with the move from 24 to 30 points events in 2017, only a max of 6 new races can be done. We plan on opening up with the team principals who are in this for the long term to help set the bar on exactly what the calendar will look like going forward." VRR Vice President Scott Porter discussed.
A point of review for VRR is the engine manufacturers. In 2016, there are three engines available; Audi, Chevrolet, and Honda. But for 2017, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Nissan join the fold. "For 2017, we are requiring at least 4 of each engine to be full time entries. This more evenly diversifies the field, but ensures better parity." Porter explained. "However, the engine manufacturers want to be successful and profitable, which is why we lifted the cap limit for the Triple Crown races in 2017. There will be a maximum of 33 at Indy, but up to 42 can race at Auto Club and Homestead in 2017. We want to be in the mix and we want to remain appealing. Giving those one-off drivers more seat time would benefit everyone financially."
A deadline for 2017 team applications has been set for May 24th, 2016. Driver deadlines are November 1st of 2016.
The VRR Straight Talk IndyCar Series is renowned for being able to bring fast, intense racing to any paved surface in any form. But one type of track has always been refrained from due to safety measures; high banked super-speedways. Daytona is one of the most known venues in the world, often for it's Daytona 500 Mile Race in February. But VRR has said it has a couple of solutions it wants to test before saying no to Daytona for the Straight Talk IndyCar Series. Firestone and Dallara have helped to R&D ideas for the idea, with Firestone preparing harder, less grip retaining tires, while Dallara have developed a special version of their aero kits to increase drag and slow the cars down. The effects, if the test proves successful, could amount to the fastest race in Daytona International Speedway history as early as 2018. But, there are road blocks in the way. "The biggest problem is finding drivers willing to do the test. Coca-Cola Black Rose Racing, Cherokee Motorsports, and Cat Devil Racing are inclined to do the test as factory teams. But the issue will be appealing to the other 25 drivers to join this monumental test." At least 11 drivers will be at the Daytona test in December. Audi, Chevrolet, and Honda will also be on call at the test for their own R&D. There are currently no plans on televising the test.
 
I'm not as in the loop as some others are but I can say that we will file for 2017 entry as soon as the paperwork is made available so we can retain what we have. That said, the team is flexible as always, we work from year to year on contracts to maintain such, so if competition dictates we would change as needed. As for the more pressing matter of possible testing at Daytona/Talladega/any other superspeedway, we have let the VRR brass know that our cars and team are ready to roll out if they need us.
 
A difficult pre-season continues for Mugen Motorsports, as parts delays and financial issues have prevented a proper reveal of both the #27 and #38 Honda powered machines. As a result the team is unlikely to attend the Daytona test with either car, although the #27 has taken part in testing already this year.

Sooo @Gerarghini any progress on that livery...
 
Ecurie Ecosse will not be sending equipment to the Daytona feasibility test in December due to safety concerns in regards to racing on such a high-banked oval.

Statement from team principal Steven McTavish: "We understand the dangers involved when it comes to high speed oval racing, but there comes a point where the line must be drawn, and we fear that Daytona might be that step too far. We understand it will only be a feasibility test but we have concerns about the potential of a catastrophic accident. During that time, we will be flying to Sebring to conduct 3 days of testing there before heading to Sonoma for the official Open test.

We will remain in contact with VRR officials in regards to super-speedways like Daytona, but we want to be positive that safety on these tracks is up to the job of this series."

Statement from driver Gary Slater: "Daytona is already a fast track when NASCAR stock cars are racing there, but raising the bar with the DW12 is a huge risk. Places like Fontana and Pocono are already pushing the envelope but at a place like Daytona, the risk is simply too great. I'm sure VRR and Dallara will come up with a workable solution, but I don't want to be behind the wheel when a bad crash happens and a driver ends up being seriously injured. It just shakes me to the core."
 
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