Ferrucci has extra incentive to not wreck his #14 this weekend. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
Santino Ferrucci is having to be more careful than usual while compering in the double-header IndyCar event at Iowa this weekend, as he does not have a backup car at the track.
Drivers are already more conscious of damaging their cars when the schedule dictates a short turnaround between sessions for their crews to fix any broken parts.
The Hy-Vee double-header weekend, in which there is a full race on Saturday and again on Sunday, provides extra risk when a single crash can disrupt two events at once.
Ferrucci’s predicament compounds that even further, and is due to his fantastically fast chassis from the Indy 500 last May being protected by his AJ Foyt Racing crew.
“I have to be very careful,” Ferrucci told MotorsportWeek.com, referencing the first race on Saturday. “I do not have a backup car.
“Everything that I do is incredibly meticulous, has to be super calculated, and I have to think multiple steps ahead. Because my backup car is sitting back in Indy with a cover on it for next year.”
Ferrucci was fast throughout the Month of May on the Indianapolis oval, and drove his fast car to a podium finish after starting in fourth.
The performance gave a jolt of enthusiasm to the entire AJ Foyt team, and it is no surprise that the team is not allowing it to be races elsewhere for fear of damage.
Even though he has extra pressure to stay out of trouble this weekend, the 25-year-old still enjoys the action-packed nature the schedule brings.
“I do, actually,” said Ferrucci when asked if he likes having two races in two days. “I think it’s awesome. But it should be a Friday night, Saturday night race. My forehead’s already burnt from the sun and it’s 11:45!”
Keyword: Ferrucci having to tiptoe in Iowa with no backup car on site