Category: Auto Racing

PREMA Signs Ilott

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This announcement was long suspected, now it’s official. Great to have Ilott back in the series full time.

from PREMA:

PREMA Racing announces that Callum Ilott will join the team’s brand-new NTT INDYCAR SERIES operation for its 2025 debut in the series.
 
The 25-year-old British, a veteran of 38 INDYCAR starts and two top-5 finishes, is no stranger to the PREMA family. Ilott joined the team for the first time in 2017, delivering six wins and 11 podium finishes in the Formula 3 European Championship. He is now set for a welcomed return to the team, and will be driving a Chevrolet-powered Dallara for PREMA’s highly-anticipated American effort.
 
One of the most brilliant kart racers of his generation, Ilott later moved to the GP3 Series in 2018, and eventually made his FIA Formula 2 debut in 2019. In the following season, he was a runner-up in the F1 feeder series, before moving to Endurance racing and eventually to INDYCAR in 2021. Earlier this year, he claimed his maiden FIA WEC Hypercar win in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
 
Ilott also had the chance to make multiple Formula 1 outings in testing and practice between 2019 and 2021. He took part in two Free Practice sessions with Alfa Romeo Racing and also served as a Scuderia Ferrari Test Driver in 2021.
 
He has now the chance to be part of a new chapter in the history of PREMA in one of the world’s most competitive racing series.

René Rosin – Team Owner, PREMA Racing
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Callum back with us for this new chapter of our history. We had a great time working with him in Formula 3, and we always kept an eye on him after that. He proved to be a great fit for us in the past, and I think he will feel like picking up something he had left off. He proved his outstanding speed skills everywhere he competed. In addition, his prior IndyCar experience will be an invaluable asset. Now that the opportunity to get back together has come, we are determined to make the most out of it.

Piers Phillips – CEO, PREMA Racing INDYCAR
“We are really looking forward to welcoming Callum to our INDYCAR team. His previous experiences in the series, combined with those with PREMA, will make him a key asset as we try to merge the team’s European heritage with what it will be able to learn in the US. We know Callum as a very talented driver, but we can also see how his professionalism has matured in the series. The information and feedback he will be able to share will be extremely important, as much as his impressive racing skills.”

Callum Ilott
“It’s an incredible opportunity to experience INDYCAR with PREMA, their first steps in the series and in the US. What an amazing chance. I love the racing, I love these cars and I love the team, so it’s great to be back to what they call the Italian family home. It’s going to be something special to build off, a lot of hard work but I’m excited to join the team and see what we can do together.”

Music City Wrap Up

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What began as a journey into the unknown with rain looming to complicate things turned into a stellar IndyCar Finale weekend. The series had several obstacles delaying its racing at Nashville Superspeedway. The decision to move the event from downtown Nashville to the oval came in February. IndyCar needed tire testing. The series had not raced here in 16 years. How would the race go? How can an oval event match the festival that is a street course event?

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix ended up doing a great job. many of the amenities from the street race simply moved to the track. There were pit lane suites, shuttles from downtown, and luxury bus to take fans to the grandstands from the infield and back. The fans who attended seemed to have a great time, and they were rewarded with a good race.

The Facility

This weekend was my first time at Nashville Superspeedway. The track has had minimal use since 2008, and a company was about to purchase it and tear it down. I, for one, am thankful that it didn’t happen. The grounds are in excellent shape. The grandstand tower looks brand new, and the concourses are wide and clean.

Fans can see the entire track without obstruction from the stands. The area in pit lane is about the widest of any track Indycar uses.

The garage area is nice, with ample room to work.

Why IndyCar stopped coming here is beyond me.

The Crowd

Attendance was better than expected, but I was hoping for more. There was competition from the Titans home opener at the site of the previous grand prixs, and I heard that many locals were not aware that the race had moved.

On the plane to Portland, I sat next to a man from Nashville. He seemed to be a somewhat active community member. he was aware of the grand prix, but he had no idea it would the speedway this year.

The Race

Anytime there is a pass for the lead with fewer than five laps to go, it has to be considered a good race. While the action did not reach the heights we saw at Milwaukee, there was quite a bit of intrigue. It’s too bad that Will Power’s seat belt issue on lap 12 ended any doubt about the season championship so early. The use of alternate tires added to the strategy calls, and I had no idea who would win. David Malukas, Pato O’Ward, Josef Newgarden, and Colton Herta all looked to have a chance.

Herta appeared to have the fastest car, and I had a feeling it was his race after the third round of stops. Herta had to dig deep to win it, though.

An oval like this is exactly the place for the IndyCar finale. It would be even better to have this race ar night. The cars colors pop under the lights, and the cooling air temperatures changes the handling of the cars. My favorite final race was the on I attended in Fontana in 2013. It was a night race, and there was non stop action and drama.

Overall, I thought it was great weekend. School is out until March.

Ferrucci Grid Penalty

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From IndyCar:

INDYCAR Announces Nashville Superspeedway Grid Penalty 
 INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024) – INDYCAR officials have announced a nine-position starting grid penalty for the entry of No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises for an unapproved engine change following Final Practice at Nashville Superspeedway.
The team was in violation of:Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next race, which is the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge today, Sept. 15 at Nashville Superspeedway.

The Final Race Day-2024

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Today’s schedule:
7:30 am: Gates Open
10:55 am: INDY NXT Command
11 am: INDY NXT Green Flag
12:25 pm: Daughtry Concert
1:43 pm: Driver Intros
2:13 pm: Invocation
2:14 pm: Anthem
2:25 pm: Command
2:30 pm: Green Flag

About Last Night

Scott Dixon had the fastest lap inthe abbreviated practice session under the lights Saturday, but the big news was pole sitter Kyle Kirkwood’s crash in turn 4 with 3 minutes left. It appeared something broke on the right rear when Kirkwood hit a bump. The damage looked minimal, and I don’t think he will need an engine change.

Photo by Kyle McInnes

Having the practice weather delayed to after sunset rekindled my longing for a true night race. Ending the season with a night race at an oval like Nashville with speeds approaching 200 miles an hour would be a proper ending to an Indycar season. The series needs to pursue this possibility.

Staring Lineup

The official grid, with penalties assessed, and tire choices. that sems weird to say for an oval.

I don’t know if last night’s practice gave teams enough time to get a good read on tire wear, especially in conditions much different than they will be at race time. It should make for an interesting day.

Alex Palou has to make up positions as quickly as he can, avoiding some inexperienced drivers who might be eager to make a good showing in the season finale. Will power still needs to lead as much as he can and win the race to have any chance at all to get the title.

The race will boil down to strategy, and whoever guesses right on which tire to use when will win. The situation favors a Penske car, and I’m picking Josef Newgarden to win today. Palou will get a top 10 and just edge Power for the Astor Cup.

Kirkwood Wins Pole; Palou Has Some Work to Do

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Kyle Kirkwood won his first Indycar oval pole this afternoon, and he will lead the field to the green flag tomorrow for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Meanwhile, points leader Alex Palou could only manage a 15th place run. His grid penalty means he will start 24th tomorrow.


“I’m stoked right now,” Kirkwood said. “It’s huge for our season to end off with a pole. I was a little upset we didn’t get a win or a pole (this season), and this is our final chance to do it, and we got it done.”

The milestone for Kirkwood created an ironic milestone for Will Power. The career leader in poles with 72 ends 2024 without winning a pole for the season, the first time in his his career since 2008 that nhe has not been on point for a race. Power will start fourth tomorrow. To win the title, he has to win the race, lead the most laps, and hope Palou cannot advance too far forward. Palou needs to finish ninth or better to win his second straight title.

Romain Grosjean was the only drib=ver to qualify on the primary tire. He qualified 16th.

Nolan Siegel received a nine spot grid penalty for an engine change after his practice crash. He did not attampt a qualifying run and will start last.

Attendance was above expectations today, and the rain held off until just a few minutes ago. Indy NXT Qualifying is on hold for rain at the moment.

Indycar has a scheduled practice session beginning at 4:15 pm Central. My guess is that IndyNXT qualifying will be cancelled and IndyCar will have the practice session at some point.

Results

Note: This is not the official starting lineup.

Palou Tops Nashville Practice

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

The weather has turned out beautifully, and it looks like we will get the entire day in.

Points leader Alex Palou was fastest in the prequalifying practice for the Music City Grand Prix. Palou turned a quick lap of 199.682 miles an hour. His closest challenger for the title, Will Power, was sixth fastest. Plaou leads by 33 points. While he could earn a point for winning the pole this afternoon, Palou can start no better than 10th. due to an engine change.

The session stopped early when Nolan Seigel crashed hard in Turn 2. The incident heavily damaged the wall and required a lengthy repair.

I sat in the grandstand for part of practice this morning. It is y first time at this track. It is a very well maintained facility. There is a shuttle from the infield to the grandstand-not just any shuttle. It is a luxury touring bus. I was expecting a tram or a fancy golf cart, but this is way beyond that. Nice work, Scott Borchetta,

Qualifying begins at 1:15 pm Central time.

It’s Nashville Weekend

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Good morning from Nashville Superspeedway.

Today’s schedule in Central time:

The weather pattern is improving, and IndyNXT is on track at the moment, There have been two major crashes in their session so far. The drivers are okay.

My first impression of this venue is thaat the footprint is much larger than expected. Once in the infield, it resembles Milwaukee or WWTR, but on approach it is on a large tract of land.

Tomorrow’s forecast loks much better, and we may get by today as well. I am going to go over to the grandstands and I will be back after practice.