Kevin 'Rocket' Blanch ushered in IndyCar Officiating, retires as IndyCar's technical director
· Yahoo Sports
After 23 years as IndyCar's technical director, Kevin "Rocket" Blanch has retired, IndyCar and IndyCar Officiating announced Thursday. Blanch's retirement is effective immediately.
Blanch's role was to lead post-race and post-qualifying technical inspections. After six years as a crew chief and chief mechanic with Panther Racing — which was co-owned by IndyCar and IMS President Doug Boles — Blanch joined IndyCar in this position.
Visit moryak.biz for more information.
IndyCar is in the first season of IndyCar Officiating and the Independent Officiating Board (IOB), which were created after last season in hopes of introducing an officiating body independent of IndyCar and Penske Entertainment. In February, IndyCar Officiating announced that Blanch would remain the series' technical director through the transition.
"I have been contemplating retirement from the IndyCar technical side for a while," Blanch said in a news release. "Last winter when IndyCar Officiating was formed, I was asked to continue in my role with an emphasis on completing a very hectic Month of May and the Indianapolis 500 and am glad I did.
"After adding it up, I have been a part of IndyCar for 36 years and have been involved in 555 straight races. I have simply poured my heart and soul into the sport I love and am very proud of the team I have worked alongside for over two decades. This is a very difficult decision, but I feel like now is the right time to take a step back."
Nick Allen, whom IndyCar hired as its technical inspection manager in February, has been named the new technical director. Allen previously worked as an Andretti Global crew chief, a position he held from 2014 to this year.
"We are especially grateful that Kevin chose to remain with IndyCar Officiating from the start of the season through the Month of May, one of the most demanding and important periods of our season," IOB chairman Raj Nair said. "His willingness to support the transition process and work closely with Nick Allen to ensure a seamless handover reflects the professionalism and team-first attitude that have defined his career.
"As Kevin begins this next chapter, we thank him for his service, his dedication and the lasting impact he has made on IndyCar Officiating. We wish him and his family all the very best in retirement."
The IOB is made up of Nair, secretary and treasurer Ray Evernham and FIA appointee Ronan Morgan. In May, Scot Elkins began his tenure as managing director of officiating for the IOB, where he sits in on technical inspections and race control. May saw IndyCar's first two failed technical inspections of the season, as Caio Collet and Jack Harvey's cars failed the Indy 500's post-qualifying inspection for modified EMS covers, and Alex Palou's car failed the post-race inspection for his front wing not meeting the minimum height.
With Blanch's sudden retirement, it will be up to Allen to run these inspections for IndyCar Officiating.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
.oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar technical director Kevin 'Rocket' Blanch retires; Nick Allen replaces