Author: thepitwindow

I'm a retired educator and lifelong racing fan. I hope to return to fostering greyhounds in the near future. Living mainly in Indy and wintering in Florida. I attend about 10 Indycar races a year as well as some sports car events

Fast Facts-Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

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Fast Facts from Indycar. My preview will be up tomorrow. Entry list will be posted on The Pit Window on Facebook.

Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 5 – Sunday, Aug. 7
Track: Streets of Nashville, an 11-turn, a 2.1-mile temporary street course in Nashville, Tennessee
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 80 laps / 168 miles | Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires: 35 laps / 73.5 miles / 55 minutes
Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. | Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation
.Firestone tire allotment: Six sets primary, four sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. One additional set of primary tires may be used by teams fielding a rookie driver. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race.
Twitter: @MusicCityGP, @IndyCar, #MusicCityGP, #INDYCAREvent website: www.musiccitygp.com/
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2021 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIESMarcus Ericsson (No. 8 Bryant Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper TiresInaugural event
2021 NTT P1 Award winner: Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), 1:13.6835, 102.601 mph
Qualifying lap record:NTT INDYCAR SERIESColton Herta, 1:13.6835, 102.601 mph, Aug. 7, 2021Indy Lights Presented by Cooper TiresInaugural event
NBC Sports race telecast: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 7, NBC (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.
Peacock Premium Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while NBC’s race telecast of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will be simulcast on the streaming service. Peacock Premium’s exclusive post-race show – featuring driver interviews, podium ceremonies and post-race analysis – will be streamed following the race. The Indy Lights Music City Grand Prix will be streamed on Peacock Premium with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR Live!
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Ryan Myrehn and Joel Sebastianelli are the pit reporters. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race (3 p.m. ET Sunday), Indy Lights Music City Grand Prix (1 p.m. ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):

FRIDAY, AUG. 5
2-2:50 p.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Practice, INDYCAR Live!
3:15-4:30 p .m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (75 minutes), Peacock Premium

SATURDAY, AUG. 6
10:15-10:55 a.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Practice, INDYCAR Live!
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (45 minutes limited guarantee), Peacock Premium
2:40-3 p.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Qualifying, INDYCAR Live!
3:30 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), Peacock Premium

SUNDAY, AUG. 7
9:15-9:45 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock Premium
12:05 p.m. – Indy Lights Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
12:10 p.m. – Indy Lights Music City Grand Prix (35 laps/73.5 miles/55 minutes), Peacock Premium2
2 p.m. – NBC on air
2:23 p.m. – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
2:30 p.m. – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (80 laps/160.8 miles), NBC (Live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship facts:· Will Power leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with four races to go for the second time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Power also led the championship with four races to go in 2010 but did not win the title. Power has led the point standings after three of the 13 races this season.· Since 2008 when INDYCAR SERIES racing unified under the NTT INDYCAR SERIES banner, the eventual series champion has won the 14th race of the season four times. The most recent occurrence was 2021 when Alex Palou won at Portland. Other drivers to win the 14th race of their championship season were Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Dario Franchitti (2009 and 2010) and Scott Dixon (2008).
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the largest deficit overcome by the eventual champion was 59 points by Dario Franchitti in 2010, while Scott Dixon overcame Juan Pablo Montoya’s 54-point lead in 2015. The top six drivers in the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings are separated by 52 points.
Point differential: The nine points that separate Will Power and Marcus Ericsson is the third-closest point margin since 2008. Before this season, the average lead with four races to go since 2008 was 37.6 points.
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 4 TO GO
YEARLEADERSECOND LEADCHAMPION2008Scott DixonHelio Castroneves65Scott Dixon2009Scott DixonRyan Briscoe3Dario Franchitti (-20)2010Will PowerDario Franchitti59Dario Franchitti2011Dario FranchittiWill Power47Dario Franchitti2012Ryan Hunter-ReayHelio Castroneves23Ryan Hunter-Reay2013Helio CastronevesScott Dixon39Scott Dixon2014Helio CastronevesWill Power13Will Power2015Juan Pablo MontoyaScott Dixon54Scott Dixon2016Simon PagenaudWill Power58Simon Pagenaud2017Josef NewgardenHelio Castroneves7Josef Newgarden2018Scott DixonAlexander Rossi46Scott Dixon2019Josef NewgardenAlexander Rossi16Josef Newgarden2020Scott DixonJosef Newgarden76Scott Dixon2021Alex PalouPato O’Ward21Alex Palou2022Will PowerMarcus Ericsson9?   
 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes: There have been eight different winners in 13 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2022 season. Scott McLaughlin (Streets of St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course), Josef Newgarden (Texas Motor Speedway, Streets of Long Beach, Road America, Iowa Speedway-1), Pato O’Ward (Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway-2), Colton Herta (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course-1), Marcus Ericsson (Indianapolis 500), Will Power (Raceway at Belle Isle Park), Scott Dixon (Streets of Toronto) and Alexander Rossi (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course-2) have all won in 2022.
The record for most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.
The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will be 14th race of the 2022 season and the fifth and final temporary street circuit race of the 17-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Team Penske has won three of the previous four events with Scott McLaughlin winning St. Petersburg on Feb. 27, Josef Newgarden winning at Long Beach April 10 and Will Power winning at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park on June 5.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon won at Toronto on July 17.
Firestone will use the racetrack as a proving ground to demonstrate the performance of a new sustainable natural rubber derived from guayule, a desert shrub grown in the American Southwest. Firestone Firehawk race tires made with guayule-derived natural rubber were introduced at the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge in May and will make their competition debut as the alternate race tire at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville. The guayule natural rubber is located within the Firestone Firehawk’s sidewall. Bridgestone race tire engineers decided to use the guayule rubber in the entire sidewall because that area is made up of the most natural rubber. This allows Firestone to maintain the same quality and performance as the existing race tire. Bridgestone plans to incorporate guayule natural rubber into more of its race tires starting in 2023. For B-Roll of the tire, click HERE.Milestones: 
Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 302nd consecutive start, the second-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history … With his next win, Dixon will break a tie with Mario Andretti and give him sole possession of second on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time victory list with 53 wins … With his next pole position, Will Power will tie Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for most career poles with 67 … With his next win, Power will tie Michael Andretti for fourth on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time victory list with 42.
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Notes:The Indy Lights Music City Grand Prix will be the series’ debut in Nashville. Linus Lundqvist of HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing is in the midst of a dominant season, leading the series in wins (4), poles (5) and top-five finishes (9) through nine races. Lundqvist, a native of Sweden, owns a commanding 77-point lead over second-place Hunter McElrea of Andretti Autosport.While the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires is new to Nashville, two drivers have experience on 2.1-mile street circuit in other cars. Matthew Brabham and Jacob Abel raced in Nashville in 2021 in the Stadium Super Trucks doubleheader. Brabham recorded two podium finishes in the event.Danial Frost, Christian Rasmussen and Hunter McElrea have all scored their first Indy Lights win in 2022. Will another talented prospect like Sting Ray Robb, Benjamin Pedersen, Kyffin Simpson or Ernie Francis Jr. score a first series win on the streets of Nashville?
Push-to-pass could play a key strategic role at Nashville as Indy Lights drivers will have a bank of 150 seconds to use an added 50 horsepower to assist in overtaking, similar to the drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The maximum amount of time for each press of the overtake system is 15 seconds.

Rossi, Team Penalized After Win

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The NTT Indycar Series announced this afternoon penalties for Alexander Rossi and the team of the number 27 car for a post race infraction. The cxar did not meet minimum weight.

The statement from Indycar:

Gallagher Grand Prix Post-Event Infraction

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022) – INDYCAR is announcing a post-event infraction from the conclusion of the Gallagher Grand Prix, which was completed Saturday, July 30 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
INDYCAR has fined Andretti Autosport $25,000 and penalized the team 20 entrant/driver points after the No. 27 entry of Alexander Rossi was found in violation of the following in post-race inspection:

Rule 14.4.1.1. The minimum weight shall include the car in ready-to-compete condition excluding Driver, Driver Equivalency Weight, fuel and drink bottle content.

Rule 14.4.1.1.1. Minimum weight for Road/Street Events – will be 1700 pounds.

“From a sporting perspective, the car met minimum requirements,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “From a technical perspective, the way they achieved the weight is not allowed. To meet minimum weight, the drink bottle and its contents were used as car ballast, which is not permitted and why the team is being fined and penalized.”
Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rulebook.
 

Big Field Full of Stars Ready To Racefor BC39 Victory This Week at IMS

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From IMS

 
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022) – A field of 89 drivers – one of the largest in USAC National Midget Series history – is set to compete Wednesday, Aug. 3 and Thursday, Aug. 4 at the Driven2SaveLives BC39 Presented by WeatherTech at The Dirt Track at IMS.
This is the second-largest field ever for the event on the quarter-mile dirt oval located inside Turn 3 of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, topped only by the record 110 entries for the inaugural event in 2018.
But there’s more to this prestigious event than car count. The star power is very, very bright.
Headlining the drivers who will compete are a pair of BC39 winners, including 2021 winner and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and four-time USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Champion Brady Bacon, who won the inaugural in 2018.
The entry list also consists of three of the seven USAC Triple Crown champions to have won the Silver Crown, National Sprint Car and National Midget titles in their careers – J.J. Yeley, Jerry Coons Jr. and Chris Windom.
Other USAC national champions are sprinkled throughout the field, including defending USAC National Midget champion Buddy Kofoid, Justin Grant, Tyler Courtney of Indianapolis, C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Indiana, Logan Seavey and Russ Gamester of Peru, Indiana.
The field also includes a handful of stars making a rare start in a midget, including Brickyard 400 and Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman of South Bend, Indiana, and NASCAR Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe of Mitchell, Indiana and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Three notable drivers will make their BC39 debuts this week: 10-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion Donny Schatz, four-time Indianapolis 500 starter Zach Veach and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series champion Sheldon Creed.Seven women also are entered, trying to become the first woman to win a USAC National Midget feature: Shannon McQueen, Michelle Decker, Taylor Reimer, Maria Cofer, Kaylee Bryson, Mariah Ede and Jade Avedisian.
Three countries (United States, Australia and New Zealand) are represented, along with 18 states (Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin).
Public gates open at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, with hot lap sessions starting at 6 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. Heat races and the exciting Stoops Pursuit feature race will conclude the night’s racing action. 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan will turn exhibition laps in the Driven2SaveLives Clauson Marshall Racing midget between the heat laps and the Stoops Pursuit.
Gates open again at 3 p.m. Thursday, with practice at 4 p.m. Qualifying races start at 5 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., immediately followed by the main feature events, the semi-feature and the 39-lap main event.
This event seeks to honor the memory of USAC champion Bryan Clauson, who died after a racing accident in August 2016, by promoting organ donation through the Indiana Donor Network. Clauson saved multiple lives as an organ donor.
Tickets are available at IMS.com.
ENTRY LIST FOR THE DRIVEN2SAVELIVES BC39 PRESENTED BY WEATHERTECH:(89 Entries)
0G J.J. YELEY/Phoenix, AZ (Glenn Styres Racing)
01 BRYANT WIEDEMAN/Colby, KS (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
06 RYLAN GRAY/Greenfield, IN (Gray Racing)
08 CANNON McINTOSH/Bixby, OK (Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports)
08s RICKY STENHOUSE JR./Olive Branch, MS (Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports)
08x TREY GROPP/Lincoln, NE (Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports)
1 RYAN THOMAS/Indianapolis, IN (Wingo Brothers Racing)
2J JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (RMS Racing)
3G KYLE CUMMINS/Princeton, IN (Glenn Styres Racing)
5 CHASE BRISCOE/Mitchell, IN (Chase Briscoe Racing)
5J JOSH HODGE/Brownsburg, IN (Bill Rose Racing)
5LK JORDAN KINSER/Bedford, IN (Chase Briscoe Racing)
6 BILL ROSE/Plainfield, IN (Bill Rose Racing)
6K KYLE KEATON/Wheelersburg, OH (Kyle Keaton)6x ISAAC CHAPPLE/Willow Branch, IN (Doug & Wanda Hall)
7 SHANNON McQUEEN/Tehachapi, CA (McQueen Racing)
7BC TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Clauson Marshall Racing)
7D MICHELLE DECKER/Guthrie, OK (Michelle Decker)
7m JADON ROGERS/Worthington, IN (RAMCO Speed Group)
7MR CASEY BURKHAM/Combine, TX (RAMCO Speed Group)
7NZ TRAVIS BUCKLEY/Auckland, NZ (BSL Racing)
7R A.J. HOPKINS/Brownsburg, IN (RAMCO Speed Group)
7T ADAM TAYLOR/Channahon, IL (Adam Taylor Motorsports)
7x THOMAS MESERAULL/San Jose, CA (RMS Racing)
7u KYLE JONES/Kennedale, TX (Trifecta Motorsports)
8x JEFF SCHINDLER/Evansville, IN (Jeff Schindler)
9m ZACH DAUM/Pocahontas, IL (Bundy Built Motorsports)
11 CLINTON BOYLES/Greenwood, MO (Big Dog Racing)
11T ALEX WATSON/Columbus, OH (Team Taylor)
15 DONNY SCHATZ/Fargo, ND (Mark Cooper)
15F MICHAEL FACCINTO/Hanford, CA (Mounce-Stout Motorsports)
17 MICHAEL PICKENS/Auckland, NZ (Shophouse Racing)
17B AUSTIN BARNHILL/Wilmington, NC (Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports)
17v BEN VARNER/Harbor Springs, MI (Ben Varner)
17x KURT STELLHORN/Red Bud, IL (Kurt Stellhorn)
18N ALEX NALON/Pittsboro, IN (Mike Dickerson)
19 LOGAN SEAVEY/Sutter, CA (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)
19AZ HAYDEN REINBOLD/Gilbert, AZ (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)
19K RILEY KREISEL/Warsaw, MO (Ron Cox)
19m ETHAN MITCHELL/Mooresville, NC (Bundy Built Motorsports)
21 ZACH VEACH/Stockdale, OH (Team Ripper)
21D JUSTIN DICKERSON/Pittsboro, IN (Mike Dickerson)
21H BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK (TKH Motorsports)
21K KARTER SARFF/Mason City, IL (Karter Sarff Racing)
22 JOHN HEYDENREICH/Bloomsburg, PA (John Heydenreich)
Q23 BARRIE VALENTINO/Brisbane, QLD (Barrie Valentino)
25 BRADEN CHIARAMONTE/El Cajon, CA (Tom Malloy)
25 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Petry Motorsports)
25B STEVE BUCKWALTER/Royersford, PA (Brian Buckwalter)
25K TAYLOR REIMER/Bixby, OK (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
25m COLBY COPELAND/Roseville, CA (Tom Malloy)
26 CHANCE CRUM/Snohomish, WA (Rudeen Racing)
29 TIMMY BUCKWALTER/Douglassville, PA (Matt Seymour Racing)
Q32 PETER PAULSON/Woodland, CA (Barrie Valentino)
36 CHRIS BAUE/Indianapolis, IN (Baue Racing)
36c IAN CREAGER/Covington, OH (Tod Creager)
37 JIMI QUIN/Brisbane, QLD (A.J. Felker Racing)
37x TBA (A.J. Felker Racing)
39BC EMERSON AXSOM/Franklin, IN (Clauson Marshall Racing)
39N RYAN NEWMAN/South Bend, IN (Clauson Marshall Racing
)40 CHASE McDERMAND/Springfield, IL (Mounce-Stout Motorsports)
40B BLAKE BRANNON/Morgan Hill, CA (Western Speed Racing)
41 OLIVER AKARD/Fort Myers, FL (OMR Motorsports)
46 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)
51 ZACH BODEN/Cambridge, WI (Boden Racing)
55 NICK DRAKE/Mooresville, NC (Troy Cline)
57 MARIA COFER/Macdoel, CA (Abacus Racing)
57K KEVIN STUDLEY/Plainfield, IN (Kevin Studley)
61 JACOB DENNEY/Galloway, OH (Mounce-Stout Motorsports)
67 BUDDY KOFOID/Penngrove, CA (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
68 JASON McDOUGAL/Broken Arrow, OK (Six8 Motorsports)
71 KAYLEE BRYSON/Muskogee, OK (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
71E MARIAH EDE/Fresno, CA (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
71K DOMINIC GORDEN/Clovis, CA (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
71m CADE LEWIS/Bakersfield, CA (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
71w DILLON WELCH/Carmel, IN (Paul May Motorsports)
74 SHELDON CREED/Alpine, CA (Abacus Racing)
75AU BRYAN STANFILL/Bakersfield, CA (Griffiths Motorsport)
81 GREYSON SPRINGER/Lafayette, IN (Gray Racing)
84 JADE AVEDISIAN/Clovis, CA (CB Industries)
85 JERRY COONS JR./Tucson, AZ (Central Motorsports)86 KYLE LARSON/Elk Grove, CA (CB Industries)
87 JACE PARK/Overland Park, KS (CB Industries)88 SCOTT ORR/Columbia City, IN (Scott Orr)
89 MITCHEL MOLES/Raisin City, CA (CB Industries)
89x CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (CB Industries)
97 BRENHAM CROUCH/Lubbock, TX (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
97J JIM JONES/Ventura, CA (Jim Jones Motorsports)
97K RYAN TIMMS/Oklahoma City, OK (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports)
 

BC39 Driven to Save lives Returns to IMS

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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022) – Information about Driven2SaveLives BC39 Presented by WeatherTech track activity Wednesday, Aug. 3 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

(All times local):

3 p.m.: Drivers’ Meeting (RSVP to Suzi Elliott, selliott@brickyard.com)

4-10 p.m.: Public gates open

6 p.m.: Hot lap sessions (12 groups)

7 p.m.: Opening ceremonies

7:10 p.m.: Heat races (12 races)

9 p.m.: Stoops Pursuit

TICKETS: General Admission seating is $35 for Driven2SaveLives BC39 Presented by WeatherTech practice and the Stoops Pursuit, which includes first-come, first-served access to the Shaw Grandstand (Infield Turn 3) at The Dirt Track at IMS. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult. Pit Pass upgrades are available for $25 as an optional add-on for General Admission ticketholders.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN (4-10 p.m.): Gate 2, Gate 9, Gate 10, Gate 10A

PARKING: Paid parking is $10 in Lot 7 (North 40) through Gate 10. Two-day infield parking (pre-paid) is located at N Lot for $40 through Gate 2 or Gate 10.

KANAAN EXHIBITION LAPS: 2004 INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan will turn exhibition laps in the Clauson Marshall Racing Driven2SaveLives midget car between the heat races and Stoops Pursuit Wednesday evening.

Tony Kanaan

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY MUSEUM HOURS (9 a.m.-5 p.m.): The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, located inside Gate 2 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for guests over the age of 62 and $8 for guests ages 6-15. Children 5 and under and Museum members are free. Museum guests must possess an event ticket or credential to the event days and purchase a Museum admission ticket at the Museum to visit.

Music City Grand Prix Schedule

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All Times Central Daylight Time

FRIDAY AUGUST 5TH

9:30 AM GATES OPEN

9:30 AM-5:00 PM PRO WATERCROSS ON THE CUMBERLAND

10:15 AM TRANS AM SERIES PRACTICE 1

11:55 AM GT AMERICA TEST SESSION

12:30 PM GT AMERICA PRACTICE 1

1:15 PM TRANS AM SERIES PRACTICE 2

2:00 PM INDY LIGHTS SERIES PRACTICE 1

3:15 PM INDYCAR PRACTICE 1 Peacock

4:45 PM STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS QUALIFYING

5:20 PM FREEDOM FRIDAY MILITARY DEMONSTRATION

6:15 PM GT AMERICA PRACTICE 2

7:00 PM

FREEDOM FRIDAY TRIBUTE CONCERT FEATURING AARON LEWIS

SATURDAY AUGUST 6TH

8:00 AM MUSIC CITY MILES & MEMORIES BIKE/WALK/RUN/RUCK

9:00 AM GATES OPEN

9:00 AM-5:00 PM PRO WATERCROSS ON THE CUMBERLAND

9:30 AM TRANS AM SERIES QUALIFYING

10:15 AM INDY LIGHTS PRACTICE 2

11:15 AM INDYCAR PRACTICE 2 Peacock

12:30 PM TRANS AM RACE

1:55 PM GT AMERICA QUALIFYING

2:30 PM INDY LIGHTS QUALIFYING

3:30 PM INDYCAR QUALIFYING Peacock

5:45 PM VINTAGE INDY SESSION

6:15 PM STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS RACE 1

7:25 PM GT AMERICA RACE 1

8:30 PM HEADLINE CONCERT – TIM MCGRAW

10:00PM FIREWORKS SHOW

SUNDAY AUGUST 7TH

8:00 AM GATES OPEN

9:15 AM INDYCAR WARMUPS Peacock

10:00 AM VINTAGE INDY SESSION

10:55 AM GT AMERICA RACE 2

12:10 PM INDY LIGHTS RACE Peacock

1:20 PM INDYCAR PRE RACE CEREMONIES

2:30 PM INDYCAR BIG MACHINE MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX NBC; Peacock

4:45 PM INDYCAR VICTORY LANE CELEBRATION

5:05 PM STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS RACE 2

5:45 PM POST RACE CONCERT – BRANTLEY GILBERT & CARLY PEARCE

**ALL TIMES TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Gallagher GP Wrap Up

thepitwindow2 Comments

While it was not the most exciting race of the year, Indycar’s Gallagher Grand Prix at IMS on Saturday did have some drama. Would Alexander Rossi get his first win in three years? How far might Marcus Ericsson drop in the standings starting last? How would Josef Newgarden fare after his accident in Iowa?

Yes, Rossi did hold on to win. It is the seventh time in 2022 that the driver starting second has won. Newgarden has done it four of those times.

Will Power is the new points leader

Ericsson is just nine points behind Will Power as the series heads to the track where Ericsson won in 2021.

Newgarden drove a steady race to fifth place. He pretty much stayed there the entire day.

A couple thoughts I did not get to yesterday.

The Disappearing Yellow

When Simon Pagenaud coasted to a stop on lap 34 after his car ran out of fuel, his car sat at the edge of the track. No yellow flag came out even thought the car was in a dangerous position. Indycar justified the decision by saying they wanted to give everyone a chance to pit before throwing a yellow.

I disagree with this decision. What if someone came up to Pagenaud’s car at speed and lost control, plowing into the motionless racecar? How would Indycar explain that?

I don’t like withholding a yellow just so everyone can pit. The series can’t control when yellows happen. in this case Race Control was trying to manipulate the race. If someone’s race is affected by a caution while they are pitting, it’s just the breaks of the game. sometimes being fair can be carried to an extreme.

The Colton Herta situation I thought also called for a caution flag. His car is sitting still just inside pit in. yes there was room to get by, but we have seen cars spin entering the pits. The location of Herta’s car should have been an immediate yellow flag.

Indycar is playing with fire with deciding the moment to wave the caution flag. They are going to get burned someday.

Is Three Races at IMS too Many?

You know how much I love being at IMS, and how much i love watching Indycar there. But should any single venue comprise nearly 20% of the series schedule? I understand that more races at he Speedway were necessary during the pandemic, but since we are past that horror for now, this spot on the calendar needs to move to another track.

On Saturday I did not feel any kind of buzz or anticipation for the Indycar race. The event was truly the opening act for the weekend. Indycar should not accept this kind of treatment, especially in their own house.

My understanding is that this same format is planned for 2023. for 2024 there is talk of NASCAR returning to the oval. If they do return to the oval, Indycar would probably not run the road course that same weekend.

Let Indycar stick to May. NASCAR can have August, and starting in 2023, IMSA can have September. I will have some thoughts on the sports cars tomorrow.

Rossi Returns to Victory Lane; Thoughts on the Gallagher Grand Prix

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Indycar photo by Joe Skibinski

It took 49 races and more than 1,100 days for Alexander Rossi to once again see the checkered flag first. It happened to be in the same venue where he won his first race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track layout was different than when he won the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, but a win is a win.

It’s not that Rossi forgot how to drive. He endured a telephone book’s worth of issues n the pits, bad luck, and untimely mechanical failures. How did he keep going through all of the frustration?

He told the media,

“It’s human nature to start to question things when it continually doesn’t kind of fall your way. You just have to remember that you’ve done it before, you can do it again.”

Rossi tried to take the lead on lap 2 with a bold move on Felix Rosenqvist going into turn one, but ended up off course and fell back to third. He later passed Rosenqvist and set off after teammate Colton Herta, who had charged from ninth to take the lead.

It appeared to be Herta’s race, but he slowed on lap 42 and barely coasted into the pit entrance. Rossi inherited the lead and never looked back.

Rossi’s eighth career win comes as his time with Andretti Autosport nears its end. He was happy that he could win for his crew. Rossi spoke about what winning at IMS means/
“…it’s a hard one to put into words. Every time I come here, I just appreciate it more and more, whether it’s for an event — I mean,
obviously the 500, but whether it’s this event, a
sponsorship thing, a media thing, giving laps around the
track. Like it’s just such an amazing place for us.
For me, being my seventh season in the series and
knowing what it means to the NTT INDYCAR Series, as
well, yeah.

I kind of was hoping on the Road America
weekend for it to kind of start and end this drought or
whatever there, but it actually ended here was actually kind
of a cooler story. To be able to go up on the lift with the
guys and let them experience that because that didn’t exist
in 2016, there’s a lot of special things about this place. The
fan turnout here for us as INDYCAR drivers is always
amazing, and seeing everyone with the merch and the
autograph session, it’s just a very special thing today for
sure.”

I have a feeling the gap to his next win will not be as long. Arrow McLaren SP will be very happy to have Rossi driving for them.

Great day for RLL

Overshadowed by Rossi’s win was Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s best day of the season. The team has struggled for results all season, but today rookie Christian Lundgaard finished a career best second, and Graham Rahal came home in seventh. It would be great to see this team become a factor over the last four races of the year.

Christian Lundgaard

Lundgaard extended his lead in the rookie standings to 27 points over David Malukas.

Power Leads- For Now

Will Power retook the points lead over Marcus Ericsson. The difference between them is just nine points. Ericsson won at Nashville, the next race on the schedule.

The top five in points are separated by just 46 points. This race is still wide open.

Notes

Colton Herta may not want to race on Saturday anymore. Last Saturday in Iowa he made a great run through the field from his 17th starting spot only to have a mechanical issue and finish 24th. Today he took the lead from ninth and was in control at the halfway point when another issue put him out of the race.

I will have a race wrapup post tomorrow where I will discuss the call to stay green with a car stalled on track, whether three Indycar races at IMS is too many, and if this current shared weekend format should continue.

Thanks for following along. I appreciate you.