Category: Auto Racing

Gateway Marathon Ends

thepitwindowLeave a comment

I will have a mote in depth report later, But just a fe wquick notes.

Josef Newgarden won another race at WWTR, his sixth at this track.

Marcus Ericsson and Christian Rasmussen earned podiums, a much needed result for both.

Palou and the 10 crew are human after all. Palou ran out of fuel before he got to his pit on the final stop, and he lost two laps getting the car restarted.

Caio Collet is tonight’s tough luck story. Collet was in contention for a podium when he lost an engine just before the final yellow for rain.

Rasmussen backed up his performance at Phoenix. He said he felt he had a “third place car. We just didn’t have the pace to hang with the two guys.”

Ericsson said this result is “very important. We’ve worked to get the car more to my liking.”

That will do it for me for tonight. Look for a wrapup later this morning. Thanks for following along the last two days.

Bommarito 500 Race Day (Night)!

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Today’s schedule Times Central

Be alert for time changes due to weather. The Silver Crown schedule has already moved practice, and that race has benn bumped up to 2:30 pm Central.

The most recent from @Indycar_Wxman:

Overall, the weather looks promising to get the entire race e in on time and without interruption.

I am sticking with my pick of David Malukas to win tonight’s race, which I hope is as good as last year’s event. We ned to wait and see what effect a different aero and engine package has on the racing. I’m not sure why IndyCar would change a formula that worked so well last year. The oval races have been by far the best races this season. Let’s not spoil that record.

I will post any weather updates on X @PitWindowToo, and on Threads thepitwindow.

I’ll be back here with a report on any news later this afternoon.

Deja Vu- Palou on Pole

thepitwindowLeave a comment

It was his worst track. Until today. Alex Palou turned a blistering average of 174.35 to beat David Malukas for the top spot in tomorrow’ night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500. The margin was more one mile an hour.

In an ominous statement to the rest of the field, Palou said after practice that he was'”…happier than I’ve ever been at this track.”

Malukas was not too upset with the result, in fact, he was happy his team found something for qualifying after finishing sixth in the morning practice.

Today’s pole is Palou’s fourth in a row, tying a record set by Scott Dixon. The four time series champion has been on pole at Long Beach, the Sonsio Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and now at WWTR. Long Beach is the only race he converted to a win.

The last winner from the pole at Gateway was in 2003 when Helio Castroneves won from the first grid position.

Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist spent time at the top of the scoring pylon, as did Marcus Armstrong.

The final three drivers, Palou, Kirkwood, and Malukas- were all too strong for the rest of the field.

Notes

Mick Schumacher had a respectable qualifying in 18th.

Will Power will start a disappointing 21st.

The difference in speed between Palou and 25th place Sting Ray Robb is 6.2 mph.

Next up is highline practice at 8 pm Eastern. Today’s high line practice is different tan at most tracks. Each group will have two 10-minute sessions, alternating between groups. A full 60 minute practice follows at 9 pm Eastern.

Results

Welcome to Gateway

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Sultry summer days have come to the St. Louis area early as the temperature is already 86 degrees with a discomfort index of 91 degrees. A chance of rain still exists for around qualifying time this afternoon.

The schedule: Central time

Cars are firing up forpractice 1. The rest of the day will go with whatever the weather dictates. If you are coming to the track, hydrate and use sunscreen.

I’ll be back after practice with results and to set the qualifying order.

Race Preview- Bommarito 500

thepitwindowLeave a comment

And just like that, the IndyCar season reaches the halfway mark. Sunday’s 10th edition of the Bommarito 500 is the ninth race of the 18-race calendar for 2026, It just seems wrong to be halfway done with the year before mid to late June.

The good news is the series takes a short but welcome break after this weekend. The next race is June 21 at Road America. Teams and drivers have been going for five consecutive weeks. After Road America, the July schedule lightens up before a packed August.

Your intrepid reporter, however, has a very busy June ahead, covering this race and Road America on site, then taking a short trip to Ireland for a real vacation..

The focus for World Wide Technology is on the drivers, mainly Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, and David Malukas. This track is one of Palou’s worst tracks statistically. The two drivers with any reasonable chance at catching the four-time champion, Malukas and Kyle Kirkwwood, hope his record here continues. Kirkwood won this race last year, while Malukas seeks his first series win. Many expect him to get that victory Sunday.

The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 is the only night race in 2026. Night racing on an oval is IndyCar’s best product. the series needs to add at least one more in the future. After sundown the track cools, and cars that were quick in the afternoon slow down while others come into their comfort zone. The green flag is schedule right at sundown. The first 30 minutes will be run during twilight.

Playing with Pain

Josef Newgarden has won this race five times, and he was well on his way to victory in 2025 before a wild crash ended his night. He comes into the 2026 race still nursing a foot injury suffered in the Indianapolis 500. Newgarden finished 10th at Detroit aft6er starting 21st. I still think he should be a contender at Gateway.

Kirkwood is the defending winner. he was in contention at Phoenix and should be strong this weekend. He needs to gain as many point as he can on Palou Sunday.

Malukas has performed well at This venue. He has two second place finishes, and he challenged Team Penske in a Dale Coyne car a couple of years ago. Is this race his breakthrough win?

Weather could throw a wrench into what looks to be another outstanding race in front of a packed grandstand. While Saturday’s forecast has improved to the point that only the final practices may be iffy, Sunday is still Monday morning, the dynamics will be drastically different. Fingers crossed.

If everything is on schedule, I think David Malukas gets his first IndyCar win, and it may not be his last in 2026.

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, ECR REACH MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From ECR:

ECR’s No. 21 Chevrolet Will Be Piloted by INDYCAR Race Winner in 2027 and Beyond
(INDIANAPOLIS) June 4, 2026 – ECR announced today that Christian Rasmussen will remain the driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season and beyond as part of a multi-year agreement. The 25-year-old joined ECR in 2024 and has spent the entirety of his Indy car career with the Indianapolis-based team. Rasmussen and ECR earned their first NTT INDYCAR SERIES win together at the Milwaukee Mile in 2025 and will continue to work toward more victories in the years to come.
“I’m excited to extend my partnership with ECR for 2027 and beyond. I’ve enjoyed my time with the team so far and believe in the future of ECR,” said Rasmussen. “We have undergone a lot of changes over the last couple years, and it has been a privilege to witness them firsthand, and to play a part in them. I’m confident that together we will continue to take ECR to its fullest potential.”
Rasmussen began racing at just five years old and claimed his first karting championship in his home country of Denmark. He arrived in the United States in 2018 and joined the Road to Indy the following year. He is only the second driver in history to earn a championship in each division that currently feeds the NTT INDYCAR SERIES — USF2000 (2020), USF Pro 2000 (2021), and INDY NXT (2023). Rasmussen’s first role with ECR in 2024 was road and street course driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet and the driver of the team’s third entry in the Indianapolis 500. He was the highest-finishing rookie in the 500-mile race and later competed in the No. 20 for the final three oval races of the season. His impressive rookie campaign led to him being named the full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet beginning in 2025 as part of a multi-year agreement. Following a new contract extension, Rasmussen will now remain with ECR through 2027 and beyond.
ECR Owner and Chairman Ted Gelov joined the team prior to the 2025 season and continues to guide the organization through a rejuvenated era, highlighted by Rasmussen’s Milwaukee victory. “Christian has shown incredible talent, dedication, and adaptability since joining ECR. Nothing has changed our minds in that regard. Seeing Christian and the entire ECR organization battle adversity and emerge strong has strengthened our belief in him and this team,” commented Gelov. “Extending our partnership with Christian ensures that we continue building momentum with a driver who understands our team’s vision and culture. The best is yet to come for Christian and ECR.”
Ed Carpenter, ECR co-owner and CEO, is well-known for having an eye for talent developed in the ladder series and continues to be impressed with Rasmussen’s progression as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver. “We are very excited to finalize this extension with Christian. Maintaining continuity with our driver lineup is something we feel that is an important element for ECR to reach its full potential. We have watched Christian develop over the past two seasons and firmly believe that the future is bright for Christian and ECR,” stated Carpenter.
He continued, “There are plenty of opportunities to make our mark in 2026 and we are confident that strong results are right in front of us. Christian really made a breakthrough last season at WWT Raceway before getting his first win at the Milwaukee Mile, so this weekend is a great opportunity to get back to victory lane.”
Rasmussen is midway through his third season as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver and is poised to build on a strong sophomore campaign. Last season, Rasmussen established himself as a formidable opponent on ovals.
After recording a sixth-place finish in his second Indianapolis 500, he earned his first career podium at WWT Raceway, driving through the entire field twice and finishing 3rd. One year after making his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start on a short oval at the Milwaukee Mile, he earned his first career victory. Rasmussen picked up right where he left off on ovals to begin the 2026 season as he was the class of the field at Phoenix Raceway. He charged from 21st to the front of the field and led 69 laps. Late-race contact with another competitor pushed his car into the wall and caused heavy suspension damage, but Rasmussen skillfully held the lead until eight laps to go.
“It is great to know that Christian will continue to be part of the ECR family for 2027 and beyond. Maintaining a cohesive driver lineup is an integral element of our future success,” said ECR Team President Tim Broyles. “We look forward to Christian having a strong second half of the season and continuing to build on the progress he has made. We believe his best days in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are still ahead of him, and we are excited to continue that journey together.”
Rasmussen will become one of the longest-tenured drivers in ECR’s 15-year history. The team has demonstrated its versatility by earning nine victories across each style of track the NTT INDYCAR SERIES competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and superspeedways. ECR has recorded 45 Top 5 results to date, 26 of which have been podium finishes. In this year’s Indianapolis 500, Alexander Rossi’s 2nd starting position marked the team’s 10th front row start in the past 14 years. ECR competed exclusively in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES through 2025; in 2026, the team joined with Cape Motorsports in INDY NXT and Jay Howard Driver Development in the USF Pro Championships to create a direct pathway to INDYCAR.
Sunday night’s race at WWT Raceway caps a stretch of five weekends of on-track activity for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including three races in a row. An action-packed two days includes practice and qualifying on Saturday, June 6, followed by a 260-lap race under the lights on Sunday, June 7. Coverage of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 begins at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. local) on Sunday.
About ECR
ECR (Ed Carpenter Racing) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team is led by owners Ted Gelov and Ed Carpenter and has proven its versatility by collecting wins across every type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals, and speedways. For the 2026 season, Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi will return as driver of the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, while new NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner Christian Rasmussen remains in the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet. Carpenter, a three-time pole winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014, and 2018), will round out ECR’s three-car lineup for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. More information on ECR can be found at www.ecrindy.com.

Veteran INDYCAR, INDYCAR Officiating Technical Director Kevin Blanch Retires 

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar and IndyCar Officiating Board:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, June 4, 2026) – Kevin Blanch, a longtime and respected member of the INDYCAR technical team and the technical director of INDYCAR Officiating, has announced his retirement.
Nick Allen, who has served as the technical inspection manager for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, has been named technical director for INDYCAR Officiating. Allen was hired in January after 20 years of experience as an INDYCAR race team mechanic and chief mechanic.
Blanch joined INDYCAR in 2003 after serving six-plus seasons with Panther Racing, where he served as the team’s crew chief. During his tenure there, the team won two INDYCAR SERIES championships and earned 11 victories and five pole positions.
With INDYCAR, Blanch – nicknamed “Rocket” – added his experience and expertise as he oversaw the technical inspection process and provided technical oversight and ensured compliance of safety, aerodynamic and chassis regulations
.“I have been contemplating retirement from the INDYCAR technical side for a while,” Blanch said. “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.”
The respect for Blanch and his work was universal in the INDYCAR paddock. One of his legacies in the garage will be the annual mechanics’ party he organized and hosted after each Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Challenge. Race team crew members’ names were put into a hat and drawn to win their selection of gifted items from teams, drivers, manufacturers, vendors, suppliers and more. It’s estimated that over the last seven years, over $600,000 of merchandise was donated to hard-working mechanics
.WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
“I’ve known Kevin for nearly 30 years, dating back to the very first days at Panther Racing in 1997. His passion for INDYCAR and his work ethic are two of his highest qualities. He knows our cars inside and out and has been instrumental in the implementation of many safety and performance measures over the last 20 years.“His willingness to help INDYCAR Officiating transition through the first half of the 2026 season is another example of his heart for the best for our sport. We are grateful for his leadership, and I’m proud to call him a friend.” – J. Douglas Boles, INDYCAR president
“On behalf of the INDYCAR Officiating Board, I want to thank Kevin ‘Rocket’ Blanch for his many years of dedicated service to INDYCAR and the competitors, teams and fans who make this sport so special.
“Kevin’s professionalism, technical expertise and unwavering commitment to fair and consistent competition have earned the respect of everyone throughout the paddock. His contributions have played an important role in maintaining the integrity of our sport and supporting countless events over the years.“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. 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.” – INDYCAR Officiating’s Independent Officiating Board Chairman Raj Nair 

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Treadway Dies at 56 

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, June 1, 2026) – Rick Treadway, who started the 2002 Indianapolis 500, died May 30 in a motorcycle accident. He was 56
.Indiana native Treadway, the son of 1997 Indianapolis 500-winning team owner Fred Treadway, started 17th and placed 29th in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the No. 5 Sprint/Kyocera Wireless/Airlink Enterprises G Force/Chevrolet fielded by his father’s team and as a teammate to two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. Treadway and Tony Kanaan were eliminated from the race in an accident in Turn 3 on Lap 90.
The Indy 500 start was the highlight of Treadway’s INDYCAR SERIES career, which consisted of 11 races in the 2001 and 2002 seasons for his father’s teams Treadway-Hubbard Racing and Treadway Racing.
He made his INDYCAR SERIES debut in 2001 at Kentucky Speedway and his final start in 2002 at the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway. His best finish was fifth at the 2001 season finale at Texas.
Before joining the INDYCAR SERIES, Treadway competed in Formula 2000 junior formula racing and in various short-track open-wheel series, including the USAC Silver Crown and National Midget Series. He also raced in SCCA competition.
Treadway, a graduate of Indiana State University, worked in business development and as a commercial pilot for his charter air service. He also served as an Federal Aviation Administration-certified flight instructor.