Category: Auto Racing

O’Ward Sees Elements of Other Tracks in Detroit

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Pato O’Ward lwed tody’s opening practice for the Detroit Grand Prix this afternoon. The track proved a challenge for the entire grid as they learned the circuit.

“It’s definitely a unique track, I think it has a lot of characteristics from all the other street courses that we go to in terms of pavements, certain type of corners. Yeah, we rolled off strong,” O’Ward said.

Red flags stopped gthe session six times, including the final one for O’Ward. Many drivers found the runoff areas but were able to keep going.

Arrow McLaren placde all three cars in the top 10 with Felix Rosenqvisy fifth and Alexander Rossi sixth.

Callum Ilott rebounded from a difficult May to finish today ninth.

Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was 15th today, trailing eammates Will Power, who was seventh, and Scott McLaughlin in 10th.

Results

Detroit First Practice- Seeing Red

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The opening practice for the Detroit Grand Prix saw several stoppages for cars stalled in runoff areas. Drivers are learning the byumpy narrow track with tight turns.

Pato O’Ward led the session with a lap of 1:03.0773. Scott Dixon was second and Alexander Rossi third. The top 10 cars are within a second of the leader. I will have a report later tonight with full results.

I arrived later than I anticipated, and I had trouble finding my designated parking garage. I ended upparking in another garage farther away. As a result, i have not had time to explore the track.

The media center, however, is one of the nicest I have seen. Maybe this track doesn’t need to be explored.

The split pit lane is wider than I thought and should not cause manyn issues within the pits itself. Blending back onto the track could be tricky. it is a blind exit. If a driver crosses the three foot wide strip separating the righ and left pits, they must drive through and reenter afetr another lap.

Pit assignments

Assignments based on qualifying for the GMR Grand Prix.

Detroit Grand Prix Preview

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Today’s Schedule:

Racing returns to downtown Detroit this weekend for the first time since 1991. Formula 1 raced the downtown streets from 1982-1989. CART then took obver the streets for three years, then moved to Belle Isle.

CART left the island and the city after 2001. Roger Penske got the race on Belle Isle started again in 2007. After a couple of false starts, Indycar returned in 2012 nd raced there until last year, missing 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

The track is a new layout, nothing like the F1 or CART tracks. From what I’ve seen, it looks very narrow with few passing opportunities. I will have a closer look when I get there later today.

Another feature of the venue is the split pit lane, with cars pitting on both sides of drive. the cars will funnel into a single exit. The race off pitlane could be the most interesting part of the race.

Detroit is the fifth downtown street race on the Indycar schedule. There has been talk of a street race in Denver and possibly simne other cities. What is the saturation point? The street courses draw well, and they are likely profitable in the long run, but too many can get tedious. Street racing does not ususally produce the most exciting competition, especially in the first few years of a circuit. I would like to see the series stay at five or even go down to four races on city streets.

Traxck position and qualifying will be key for this race. I say that for every street race, but on this track it is doubly important I hope Sunday doesn’t devolve into an F1 style race.

Points Battle

Since the Indianapolis 500 is over, we can start talking about points again. Alex Palou leads Marcus Ericsson by 20 points. 37 points separate the top four.

Palou showed n winning the title in 2021 that he does what he needs to do each race to amintain his lead. His stiffest competiton may come from 500 winnerJosef Newgarden, who is fourth in points. Plou needs tio win another race soemtime in the next three events.

The Edge

Since the circuit is new to everyone, who has the advantage? Andretti cars have been strong on the street courses this season with two poles and a win.

On a new course I would give the edge to Team Penske and Ganassi. They seem to be the best prepared and ready to take on new situations.

This will be an interesting weekend. I thin Romain Grosjean will finally break through for his first series victory,.

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear Fast Facts  

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From Indycar

Race weekend: Friday, June 2 – Sunday, June 4
Track: Streets of Detroit, a 1.7-mile, nine-turn temporary street course (counterclockwise)

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 100 laps / 170 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: Race 1 – 45 laps/55 minutes; Race 2 – 45 laps/55 minutes

Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation | INDY NXT by Firestone: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation

Firestone tire allotment: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate (weekend). Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in each race. One additional set available to teams fielding a rookie driver is available for the first session of the weekend.

Twitter: @DetroitGP @IndyCar, #DetroitGP, #IndyCar Event website: http://www.DetroitGP.com INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com

2022 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) INDY NXT by Firestone Races 1 & 2: Linus Lundqvist (No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing)

2022 NTT P1 Award winner: Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet) 1:15.2153, 112.477 mph

Qualifying lap record: NTT INDYCAR SERIES New circuit INDY NXT by Firestone New circuit

NBC Sports race telecast: 3 p.m. (ET) Saturday, June 4, 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 live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product. NBC’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race telecast will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader will be streamed on Peacock with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Alex Wollf, Joel Sebastianelli and Georgia Henneberry are the pit reporters. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race (2:30 p.m. ET), INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader (11:55 a.m. ET Saturday and 12:40 p.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone 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, June 2 
(All times local) 1:50 – 2:40 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #1, INDYCAR Live 3 – 4:30 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (90 minutes), Peacock Premium 5:30 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two 15-minute sessions with 8 minutes of green flag running): 5:30-5:45 p.m./Race #1; 5:50-6:05 p.m./Race #2), INDYCAR Live

Saturday, June 3
9:05 – 10:05 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (45 minutes), Peacock Noon INDY NXT by Firestone Command to start engines 12:05 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Race #1 (45 Laps/55 minutes), Peacock (U.S)/INDYCAR Live (Most international markets) 1:20-2:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock Premium (live)

Sunday, June 4 10 – 10:30 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock 12:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Command to start engines 12:50 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Race #1 (45 Laps/55 minutes), Peacock (U.S)/INDYCAR Live (Most international markets) 3 p.m. NBC on air 3:23 p.m. Command to start engines 3:30 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (100 laps/170 miles), NBC (live)
Race notes: There have been five different winners in six NTT INDYCAR SERIES races to start the 2023 season. Marcus Ericsson (Streets of St. Petersburg), Josef Newgarden (Texas Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500), Kyle Kirkwood (Streets of Long Beach), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park), and Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course-1) have all won in 2023. The record for the most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be the first INDYCAR SERIES race held on the new nine-turn, 1.7-mile downtown Detroit street circuit and the 33rd INDYCAR SERIES race held in the Motor City. A 2.5-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit hosted CART events from 1989-1991 before the event moved to Belle Isle Park in 1992.

Will Power, Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves each won three times at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park and are tied for most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver in the Detroit Grand Prix.
In addition to Power, Castroneves and Dixon, other previous Detroit Grand Prix race winners entered include Pato O’Ward (2021 Race #2), Marcus Ericsson (2021 Race #1) Josef Newgarden (2019 Race #1), Simon Pagenaud (2013 Race #2) and Graham Rahal (2017 Race #1 and Race #2).
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Helio Castroneves 3 2000, 2001, 2014 Race #2
Scott Dixon 3 2012, 2018 Race #1, 2019 Race #2
Will Power 3 2014 Race #1, 2016 Race #2, 2022 Graham Rahal 2 2017 Race #1, 2017 Race #2
Simon Pagenaud 1 2013 Race #2
Josef Newgarden 1 2019 Race #1
Marcus Ericsson 1 2021 Race #1
Pato O’Ward 1 2021 Race #2
The driver who has gone on to win the championship has won at Detroit seven times. 
Josef Newgarden won Race #1 on Belle Isle in 2019, Scott Dixon won Race #1 on Belle Isle in 2018, Will Power won on Belle Isle in 2022 and won Race #2 on Belle Isle in 2014, Alex Zanardi won on Belle Isle in 1998, Bobby Rahal won at Belle Isle in 1992 and Emerson Fittipaldi won in downtown Detroit in 1989. Milestones: 
Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 312th consecutive start, the second-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Santino Ferrucci will attempt to make his 50th INDYCAR SERIES. Ferrucci made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut at Belle Isle in 2018.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes: The ultra-competitive INDY NXT by Firestone season resumes with a doubleheader on the downtown Detroit street circuit. Barber winner Christian Rasmussen leads his HMD Motorsports teammates Nolan Siegel and Danial Frost in the point standings with Indianapolis winner Matteo Naninni close behind.
Qualifying for the doubleheader event takes on a new look with teams splitting Saturday’s 30-minute qualifying session into separate 15-minute periods with eight minutes of green flag running. Drivers will set the field for Saturday’s 45-lap race during the first 15 minutes, then after a short break for adjustments, take to the 1.7-mile street circuit for a second 15-minute session to set the lineup for Sunday’s 45-lap race.  

Joyous Victory Celebration Caps Outstanding May

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The 500 Victory Celebration can at times be a bit of a stuffy low key affair, but last night’s banquet was ajoyous, lfun filled program. The mood was ectremely light hearted as anorther May in indianapolis came to close.

I don’t know if the 1,000 plus fans in attendance was a record for this event, but it was definitely a larger crowd than the previous two banquets.

As usual, Conor Daly was the star of the show. he always livens up the program when it’s his turn to come to the podium. Last night’s gem- Newgarden will not only have his face on the Borg Warner trophy but also his abs.

Pato offered fashion advice

Pato O’Ward and Lindsey Czarniak had a humorous discussion about Pato’s clothing choices. Lindsay dismissed him when he asked if she liked his shoes.

The emotional tribute to Tony Kanaan was a fitting send off toone of the most popular drivers IMS has seen. After his lettr to fans clip which was shown on the video boards Sundy played, Kanaan received a standing ovation usually reserved for the race winner. Helio Castroneves, Kanaan’s lifelong friend, joined the dais and the two reminisced for a bit.

Kanaan tried to get Helio to promise to stop dying his hair since Tony is done racing. The secret is out.

Josef Newgarden’s speech as full of humility and gratitude for the sacrifices his parents made to launch his racing career. Winning has opened a new side of Newgarden i hadn’t seen before. Like Will Power after his 2018 win, he seems less wound tight, and more at ease.

In May, 2021, I wrote a post wondering ahere the buzz around the 500 had gone. It was the first year after the pandemic, but the whole seemed to run in a rather perfunctory manner. This May, i felt that buzz and excitement from the start of practice for the GMR Grand Prix all the way through last evening. I athink track attendance was a reflection of that. This year felt a lot like the 70s and 80s.

The payout of the record $17 million purse:

Indianapolis 500 Wrap Up

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Indycar photo by James Black

I stated my thoughts yesterday on the finish, and I will just say the series is walking a very fine line between racing and entertainment. I hope in the future they decide to lean more toward the racing. It is entertaining enough. Let’s wrap up what has been one of the best overall Mays in a long time.

The Last Brazilian

Tony Kanaan’s final race did not have the outcomehe or his many fans hoped for. iy was evident eartly that he would struggle for a good result. Kanaan provided a highlight when he went into the grass to make a pass late in the race.

Kanaan summed up his day.

“I think I would do a disgrace to almost 400,000 people that
were there that made me feel the way they did to say I’m
sad. I had a laugh. Helio and I battling for 15th and 16th
on the last lap like we’re going for the lead. It was like,
who’s playing pranks with us.
We both went side by side on the backstretch after the
checker and we saluted with each other, and I just told him
actually I dropped a tear because of that, and he said, I
did, too.
It was a good day for me, man. What can I say? We cried
on the grid.
Yeah, not the result that we wanted. I went really
aggressive on the downforce to start the race. It was
wrong. Then I added downforce towards the end of the
race and it was wrong. So it was just one of those days.”

With Kanaan gone, Helio Castroneves is the last Brazilain driver in the series, which at one had almost a third of the grid representing the Sout American nation. Castroneves is 48 years old. he may e a 500 only driver next year, but fior how many years will he be here?

Rough Day for Rookies

Benjamin pederesen wasthe highest finishing rookie in 21st, taken out in a front stretch crashon the lap 196 restart. None of the rookies were running ay yjr finish. Pedersen will likely win Rookie of the Year tonigh.

R C Enerson finsihed 32nd with mechanical problems. Abel Motorsports can’t be too disappointed. It was a hug accomplishment to qualify as solidly as they did. The race was abonus for this very young program. I hope they come back nexrt year.

Agustin Canapinio ran a good race which unfortuntely ended in a collision with Pato O’Ward. he was headed for a very good result. I am impressed by how quickly Canapinoi has adapted to Indycar.

Sring Ray Robb got caught up in the marbles on lap 90, ausig the first yellow.Robb is still learning Indycar, and I hope he can turn things around in the second half of the season.

Rahal’s Forgettable May

Graham Rahal failed to qualify for the race. he got a reprieve when Dreyer &Reinbold and Cusick Motorsports asked him to sub for the injured Stefan Wilson. Rhahl’s miserable month got een worse when his car wouldn’t and had to be wheeled to his pit to change the battery. Rahal started the race two laps down and never caught up.

The entire rahal team didn’t fare much better. jack Harvey in 18th was their best result.

The Race

The ending aside, I thought this was one of the best 500s I’ve seen. I have been to a few of them. Once again, I did not see the 1911 race,-thanks for asking. Yesterday was fascinating for the great racing early and the strategy discussion I had with my friends in the stands. I loved how the first two yellows changed the pit strategy for some teams.

I agree with what winner Josef Newgarden said in his press confer3nce last night that the cars should be mnore difficult to drive, and then leader should nor be a sitting duck on restarts..

How to Celebrate a 500 Victory

Newgarden did it right. His post race celebration of unbridled joy was how winning the 500 should be handled. Yes the there are traditions, but they can wait. Indycar needs to allow the drivers to have a few moments of spontaneous exuberance after a win. We need more of this at every race rather thanhaving the driver sit inhis car until a television producer gives the okay to get out.

Pato

What does Pato O’Ward have to do to win an oval rtace? Stymied by a yellow flag in texas, only to be foiled by red flags ijn the 500. O’Ward had the strategy figured out, and if the race had not been halted, he would be the winner.

I hope he sweeps Iowa and wins Gateway. It has to be frustrating for him. O’Ward could potentially have had his third win of the season Sunday.

I have yet to watch the replay and I ight have some comments on that later this week. I’m off to the Victory Celebration in a bit, then we look to Detroit.

hank you for followingduring May. It wa sone of the best Mays I remmebr.

Quick Thoughts-107th Indianapolis 500

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I tweeted the following after the final red flag. I still stand by it.

Indycar is trying too hard to finish this race under green under 10 laps to go istoo late just to get a green finish.

If the track were blocked, if the SAFER barrier were damaged, if there is a weather situation, then yes, a red flag is warranted. But to stop the race just to have a green flag finish just isn’t right.

Yellows breed yellows, but wethe series doesn’t need to be at the point where reds breed reds. End of rant

Other than That..

This was a terrific race. The first 90 laps were green with very good racing. Fifty two lead changes is a huge number for the 500. There was passing throughout the field. The second cautionn on lap 150 caused some teams to rethink strategy. Pato o’Ward tried to pit ahead of everyone else. It might have worked had there not been another caution.

O’Ward once again became his own worst enemy with his inside pass attempt, I thought Pato was a bit slow on the restart, thus putting himself in that position.

As is typical in a 500 mile race, early contenders fallmout of contention. Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay looked like the two strongest cars early. VeeKay made contact with Palou inn the pits, ending both their chances for the win. Palou did come back to finish fourth and retain the championship lead. VeeKay came back from the penalty to finish 10th.

jJosef Newgarden ran a very smart, steady race. He deserved the win, but would he have won with out the two red flags?As drivers often say, it is what it is.

Slaying the Dragon

It’s time for Indycar to ban the dragon move that the leaders late in the race have used the last few years. One day the leader will hit hte pit wall and possiblyn take out some cars behind him.

I would prefer to see a straight fight for the lead. i remember when drivers used to just mnake their cars a bit wider on the track.

Tether Flaw?

The accident involving Felidx Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood may have exposed a flaw in the wheel tether system. I have never seen a tire sail like that since the tehers were intorduced.

Fortunately, the wheel landed in the space between the Riley suites and the grandstand and no one was injured.

I’m sure there will be an investigation and a modicfication of the sysstem.

I will have a complete race wrap up sometime tomorrow. Thanks for following this month.