Trackside Podcast

Tonight on a 1-hour edition of Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin begin the show remembering Curt’s late father, Mark, who passed away on Sunday. Then, Kevin and Curt jump into Rolex 24 and what Kevin learned while in Florida for a qualifying show over the weekend. The two preview a big weekend that Kevin says “feels like the beginning of the racing season.” Kevin details the challenges of broadcasting the event and how he approaches keeping up with everything.  Then, Kevin and Curt discuss the 27-full time cars in IndyCar for the 2023 season. Takuma Sato will race ovals for Chip Ganassi Racing and Sting Ray Robb will drive with Dale Coyne Racing. Is Robb the front runner for rookie of the year? Why did Robb get a seat over Linus Lundqvist? Kevin and Curt discuss those questions and how young the DCR driver roster is this season. Then, the conversation turns to IndyNXT, the testing being done in that series over the last few days and Kevin’s visit to the Thermal Club. The shortened edition of Trackside concl

Tonight on a 1-hour edition of Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin begin the show with Kyle Larson’s comments after the announcement that he’ll run for Arrow McLaren in the 2024 Indianapolis 500. Takuma Sato has also officially joined Chip Ganassi Racing for this year’s 500 and the rest of the ovals on the IndyCar schedule. Kevin and Curt break down Larson’s joint entry – with Rick Hendrick and Arrow McLaren – into the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. During the press conference, Zak Brown says four cars is perfect for the 500, but what are the chances they could field five in 2024? The first segment wraps with Takuma Sato once again finding himself in a car that is capable of winning the Indy 500 in May and Twitter questions. Then, Kevin and Curt are joined by AJ Foyt Racing president Larry Foyt. Larry, Kevin and Curt discuss the new drivers on the AJ Foyt roster and how he feels about having such a young roster. Foyt discusses the backbone of his race team and how the leadership and support has changed this of

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with the gaining steam of Andretti Autosport’s bid to join Formula 1. Kevin and Curt discuss the response from Formula 1 on the news that Andretti is partnering with Cadillac and General Motors. Why is there pushback? Why does it threaten the F1 hierarchy as it currently stands? Kevin and Curt break it down and extend the conversation to the relationship between IndyCar and Formula 1. Then, the show turns to driver developments, the seeming inevitability of Takuma Sato running ovals for Chip Ganassi Racing and how money impacts development drivers and filled seats.  In the second hour, Kevin is joined by Dillon Welch from the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dillon joins the show as Trackside’s event correspondent and participating driver to discuss what’s going on in Tulsa and what makes the Chili Bowl so unique. Welch breaks down how the preliminary races work and how difficult it is to qualify for the main race at the end of the week. After the con

Tonight on the first Trackside of 2023, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin jump into discussion about the upcoming season with the first race two months away and spring training in just one month. Kevin and Curt discuss some rumors and news from Chip Ganassi Racing and if the team might be preparing for Alex Palou to vacate a seat in 2024. Then, the conversation turns to what full time seats are still open for 2023, as well as the Indianapolis 500. Kevin throws out a handful of names that could be candidates for those job openings. Specifically, Kevin and Curt discuss where Takuma Sato will end up for the 500. For the first quarter of the show, the discussion continues on potential drivers for open seats.  Then, Kevin and Curt remember the late Ken Block, a rally driver and YouTuber, who died at the age of 55 in a snowmobile accident on Monday. Trackside then turns to what’s coming in 2023, specifically what’s going on with the docuseries coming ahead of the Indy 500 and Kevin’s role in the production. The first hour w

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin wrap up a busy year for IndyCar in 2022. Kevin and Curt start the show with what 2022 will be remembered for when we look back on the last 12 months. Scott Dixon’s domination of the Indianapolis 500 until his pit violation and the full capacity crowd in May are both topics of conversation. Then, naturally, the discussion turns to Alex Palou’s roller coaster of a year off the track, as well as Will Power, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. In a nearly impossible task, Kevin and Curt do their best to touch on everything that dictated the 2022 IndyCar season. Then, Stefan Wilson and Don Cusick join the show on the heels of the announcement that Willson will race for Cusick Motorsports and Dreyer and Reinbold Racing in the Indianapolis 500. Wilson discusses his preparation for the 500 and what his experience from the last several seasons provides heading into 2023. Cusick discusses the partnership with Wilson, Dreyer and Reinbold and the belief they have in him as

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin check in from all over the country. Curt and producer Josh are in Indianapolis while Kevin is in sunny Florida at Sebring Raceway. Then, Kevin and Curt discuss the upcoming docuseries leading up to the Indianapolis 500 in partnership with the CW and VICE Media. We discuss the six-part series called “100 Days to Indy” and what kind of audience and reach the series is trying to have. Which drivers should the series focus on? The conversation goes deep into the potential content, could it push controversy and how it will impact teams. Then, Kevin and Curt discuss the marketing budget and strategy of IndyCar and the series being more aggressive in its approach moving forward. That leads to a conversation about the reports that a group of drivers sent letters to the highest ranking management at IndyCar in a push for more marketing. To round out the first hour, Kevin and Curt answer Twitter questions and get into news and notes of the day. In the second hour, the lege

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss Marcus Armstrong in the No. 11 car for Chip Ganassi Racing on road and street courses and what that means for Takuma Sato’s chances of winning another Indianapolis 500. Kevin and Curt also discuss some other news tidbits around motorsports.and more conversations about seats for next season. Then, the conversation turns to a discussion about engine type and the future of sustainability, power and manufacturers in the sport. Kevin and Curt discuss the reaction to the news and yet another delay in the process.    Andretti Autosport broke ground on a new world headquarters north of Indianapolis on Tuesday and Kevin and Curt discuss the world class race shops in Central Indiana. Then, the conversation turns to Rolex 24 coming up soon. To round out the first hour of the show, Kevin and Curt touch on ticket prices and SJ Luedtke leaving IndyCar. In a guest-heavy second hour, Kevin is joined by new Chip Ganassi Racing driver Marcus Armstrong to discuss his racing

Tonight on a shortened edition of Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss using the racing platform to push different initiatives and raising money for important causes. Kevin and Curt touch on how racing teams are participating in Giving Tuesday the week following Thanksgiving. Then, the conversation turns to Indy 500 seats and Stefan Wilson getting a ride with Dreyer & Reinbold and Cusick Motorsports. That leads to a discussion about Sage Karam’s time with Dreyer & Reinbold and if there’s a spot for him in the field in May. Naturally, Kevin and Curt then continue to talk about possible drivers rounding out the Indy 500 field and the road to 34 cars. In the back half of an abbreviated show, Kevin and Curt address a collection of Twitter questions around TV contracts (along with digital content) and ticket prices. Then, we discuss the possibility of Felipe Drugovich driving in IndyCar in 2023 and other season-long seat possibilities next season. To round out the show, Kevin and Curt talk about exp

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show by setting the schedule for the rest of the year before getting to the news of the day. We first discuss Ed Carpenter’s announcement that 16-year-old Josh Pierson will be a development driver for the team with eyes set on a 2025 IndyCar campaign. Kevin and Curt talk about why the partnership is good for both sides. Then, the conversation continues with more Silly Season news for 2023, specifically Takuma Sato. To round out the first segment, Kevin and Curt discuss the current state of the Indy 500 field.  Then, there are rumblings of “what has Roger Penske brought to IndyCar”. Kevin and Curt discuss that topic as the honeymoon phase of the Penske ownership comes to a close. We touch on what Penske has done and how he operates the business of IndyCar. How much stability has Penske brought to the sport? In the second hour, Kevin and Curt discuss Colton Herta’s extension with Andretti Autosport and reports that suggest he’s the highest paid driver on t

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee quickly touches on a wild last 48 hours for the Indianapolis Colts before diving into the motorsports news of the day. Then, Kevin and Curt Cavin discuss the weekend’s NASCAR Cup Championship and Joey Lagano walking away with his second series title. Then, the conversation turns to the Indianapolis 500 field and the now slim opportunities for a driver to run in both races the last weekend in May. We continue to discuss NASCAR drivers trying to find their way onto the 500 grid.  Kevin and Curt dive into driver updates in IndyCar. Sage Karam will not return to Dreyer and Reinbold Racing next season. Is there a spot for Simona de Silvestro in the Indy 500? We continue to talk about full time seats in 2023 and what part time seats might look like. Then, Kevin and Curt talk about Marcus Ericsson getting to take the Borg Warner Trophy back home to Sweden. Kevin rounds out the first hour with your Twitter questions. In the second hour, Kevin discusses seats with Dale Coyne Racing and

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin begin with Arrow McLaren SP confirming Tony Kanaan for the 2023 Indianapolis 500 and the position he is in to try and capture another 500 victory in a car capable of winning the race. Kevin and Curt also discuss NTT Data’s partnership with AMSP next season. Then, the conversation turns to NASCAR drivers in May’s race and why Arrow McLaren SP went with Kanaan over a driver from a different series. To round out the first segment, Kevin and Curt touch on Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing confirming they intend on running a fourth car in the Indy 500. That leads to a discussion about who is most likely to fill that seat. Kevin and Curt dissect open seats left for May and what looks like the only place that either NASCAR Kyle could go in order to run in the 500. Will Ed Carpenter put another car in the race or focus on the drivers already on his roster, including himself? The conversation expands into a larger one about total cars in the 500, teams, engines and drivers.

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin – from all over the country – jump into a busy docket of offseason news around IndyCar. Kevin and Curt chat about Kevin’s freelance gig in Florida around crazy expensive boats before getting into the news that Tony Kanaan is likely to be the fourth Indy 500 driver for Arrow McLaren SP. This leads to a larger discussion on the drivers trying to get into the 500 and which teams might or might not add an extra car. We also discuss other open seats and available drivers for next season, including Nicholas Latifi.Then, Kevin and Curt discuss Alex Palou’s weekend in Formula 1 testing and the ever-evolving status of his situation. The first segment concludes with a check-in on Tony Stewart.  Kevin is joined by NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey to discuss his weekend at Formula 1’s US Grand Prix. Kevin and Leigh discuss the popularity of F1 in the United States and the passion for the sport after years of trying to grow the audience in North America. How does motorsport popularit

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin welcome Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles into the studio to recap a busy year at the speedway in 2022. Kevin, Curt and Doug discuss a relative return to normalcy and tease the 107th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Boles discusses NASCAR drivers in the 500, the road course vs. the oval and endurance races at IMS. The conversation turns to lights at the speedway, running races on the road course the opposite direction and any other racing that might come to Indianapolis. To finish the conversation, Kevin, Curt and Doug discuss improvements during the offseason and hospitality venues.  Hopping back into the news of today in IndyCar, Kevin and Curt discuss Marco Andretti’s inclusion in the Andretti Autosport Indy 500 roster, Jimmie Johnson and Chip Ganassi Racing and Twitter questions to finish the first hour. To kick off the second hour, Kevin and Curt discuss lung cancer with a special in-studio guest, Dr. Nasser Hanna - visit endlungca

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with Tony Kanaan’s participation in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii over the weekend before getting into the news of the day starting with AJ Foyt Racing. Kevin and Curt discuss Benjamin Pederson and Santino Ferrucci making up the roster for AJ Foyt in 2023. We also discuss the possibility of additional seats being added to teams over the next couple of years and other seats still empty for next season. Kevin and Curt also discuss what’s going on with Juncos Hollinger Racing and McLaren refusing to not put Menard’s colors on a car. Then, we discuss how quickly seats are filling for the Indianapolis 500 and Team Penske’s point of view when it comes to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Kevin and Curt discuss Kyle Larsen in the Indy 500 and who the candidates might be to employ him. Ultimately, how many cars will we see in the field? To round out the first hour, Kevin and Curt try to dissect engine totals in the field next May and why there’s

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. They discuss a crash between two Chip Ganassi Racing drivers and the drama coming down the stretch of the 10-hour endurance race. Then, Kevin and Curt discuss Colton Herta recommitting his future to Andretti Autosport. Herta also supplies the team with a lead driver in F1 if the team is granted entry into the sport. We also discuss Racer.com’s report that Alex Palou will join Arrow McLaren SP in 2024. That leads into a further conversation about the future of Arrow McLaren SP as a whole. Kevin and Curt discuss Juncos Hollinger Racing planning to partake in a racing exhibition in Argentina in early November. Argentinian Agustin Canapino will drive the No. 77 car.on multiple tracks as the sport returns to the country for the first time in over 50 years. That leads to a further discussion around Juncos Hollinger drivers. Benjamin Pederson joins AJ Foyt Racing’s IndyCar roster. Kevin and Curt discuss who might join Pe

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with the release of the 2023 IndyCar schedule and the small differences compared to this year’s schedule. The two discuss the broadcast puzzle for next season and where most of the races will be broadcasted next season. Kevin and Curt discuss Twitter questions about avoiding the NFL and an earlier Indy 500 start time.  Jimmie Johnson will not race full time in IndyCar in 2023. But what exactly will he be doing next season? Kevin and Curt discuss just that and the trickle down effect of Johnson’s decision. The two speculate about what his schedule might actually look like next year and how extensive and diverse his schedule might be. The first hour finishes with racing action this weekend. In the second hour, Kevin and Curt discuss the puzzles that Johnson’s part time nature presents. What kind of driver might be ok with being a fill in, part-time driver along with Johnson? We break down the side effects and discussions that must be had after Johnson

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show with Alex Palou and Felix Rosenqvist remaining with Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren SP. The two discuss how the decisions ultimately came full circle and who had the upper hand and leverage in the discussions. Is this a good thing for Felix Rosenqvist? Kevin and Curt discuss his situation over the next year.  Then, Kevin and Curt discuss super license points and how the ladder system doesn’t give much weight to IndyCar. Colton Herta’s lack of super license points effectively ended the American driver’s bid to drive in Formula 1 next season. We discuss whether or not an American driver is more valuable to F1 now or in two or three years. To round out the first hour, Kevin and Curt discuss Arrow McLaren SP president Taylor Kiel stepping down after 15 years. In the second hour, Kevin and Curt discuss Team Penske’s domination of the 2022 IndyCar season finishing first, second and fourth in the championship standings. Then, we return to Twitter que

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin discuss what happened in the final race at Laguna Seca. Will Power is the 2022 champion, Kevin and Curt discuss his victory and what it might mean for a new contract extension with Team Penske. The two discuss just how complete Team Penske is from top to bottom. To wrap up the Laguna Seca conversation, Kevin and Curt discuss Alex Palou’s victory as a silver lining on a wild and, according to him, disappointing season. They discuss the CGR driver’s engine charge and grid penalty and whether or not we might see that strategy come about more frequently.  Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is that Kyle Busch is joining Richard Childress Racing for 2023 and part of his conditions were getting the chance to run in the Indianapolis 500. Kevin and Curt discuss the idea of the NASCAR driver on the Indy 500 grid and which teams might be interested in his services in that situation. Then, the conversation turns to the

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show talking about possible scenarios next weekend at Laguna Seca and where Portland left the championship standings. They discuss Scott McLaughlin’s performance and his quick rise into contention in IndyCar. Kevin and Curt also discuss the level of driving and how it led to a clean race at a place that usually sees a lot of cars off the track. To round out the Portland conversation, they discuss the rest of the grid including Scott Dixon’s third place finish. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is a Road to Indy recap from this weekend’s action in USF2000, Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights. In the second hour, Kevin starts the second half of the show with Twitter questions from the audience. Then, Silly Season is the topic of conversation headlined by Colton Herta and the possibility of him having a seat in the Formula 1 grid in 2023. Kevin goes deeper into why American drivers are valuable in F1 and wh

Tonight on Trackside, Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin open the show discussing the IndyCar championship standings heading into the penultimate race on the schedule in Portland. The two discuss testing at Portland and Laguna Seca and who has been quickest on track this week. Then, Kevin and Curt go to Twitter to answer questions about the race in St. Louis and the future of Texas Motor Speedway in the IndyCar Schedule. Kevin and Curt also discuss more open testing next season and a “preseason” game of sorts. Our News of the Day, brought to you by the Indianapolis Speedrome and Circle City Raceway, is that this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Jeff Gordon will be racing in the IMSA-sanctioned Porsche Carrera Cup.  To start the second hour, Kevin and Curt play the weekly game of “Which drivers did McLaren sign this week?” on the heels of the announcement that Daniel Ricciardo is leaving the team at the end of 2022. They also dive into more Silly Season conversations as the season comes to an end. To round out