Category: Auto Racing

INDYCAR Prepares for AnotherRecord-Making Season

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From Indycar. Includes a summary of technical and rule changes.

  NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone Set To Shine on Streets of St. Petersburg

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, March 1, 2024) – It is that time of year when the winter freeze quickly turns into the heat of thrilling wheel-to-wheel action as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone launch their 2024 seasons on the palm tree-lined streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule highlights include traditional favorites and, new to 2024, a made-for-TV $1 Million Challenge at The Thermal Club – a spectacular racing event set among extraordinary scenery just a short drive from world’s premier entertainment market, a return to historic Milwaukee Mile for a thrilling doubleheader, evening racing at Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway and a supercharged season finale at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway.

Once again in 2024, St. Petersburg begins a season of double-digit telecasts on NBC. It is the first time in 20 years the INDYCAR SERIES schedule has featured three consecutive years of double-digit events on network television. Peacock will feature all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions, qualifying and events after a 2023 season that featured the highest viewership in more than a decade.

The bright lights from TV cameras also will accompany production of season two of the docuseries “100 Days To Indy,” focusing on the dramatic countdown to the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Episode 1 will debut on The CW Network Friday, April 26.

“This is an era of tangible growth and tremendous opportunity for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “Rising attendance, combined with incredible fan engagement across our digital channels, increased merchandise sales and rising viewership and visibility are all signs of significant momentum. We look forward to continuing this rising tide, on and off the track, as the curtain rises on another intensely fought and captivating season.”

Personalities aside, all focus will be on another record-making season with numerous storylines:
INDYCAR’s Most Unique Season
While the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season awaits the arrival of the 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with hybrid technology after the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, teams will push the limit until then with enhanced possibilities of track records with lighter chassis components prepared for the hybrid addition. They include a lighter, 3D-printed titanium aeroscreen top frame. Without compromising overall strength and durability, the new INDYCAR top frame saves seven pounds from the previous model.

Additionally, a switch to a magnesium gearbox casing and bellhousing – located between the INDYCAR SERIES combustion engine and the gearbox and will house the hybrid assist unit – will provide additional weight savings.2024_COMP_CHANGES_HYBRID.pngThe hybrid system is made up of the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Energy Storage System (ESS). Teams will be free to use multiple strategies for regeneration and deployment as the power unit builds and transmits energy through the MGU before and after being saved in the ultracapacitor ESS.
The additional horsepower is deployed through the same motor generator. The new powerplant unit will be used in addition to the traditional overtake (“push-to-pass”) option on road and street circuits. The combination of the traditional push-to-pass with the hybrid unit will provide over 100 additional horsepower.
Use of the new power unit will be available on ovals with manual and automatic regeneration options but only with manual deploy.
Since the start of on-track testing, 21,108 miles have been completed with the INDYCAR-specific hybrid unit.
To ensure a smooth and comfortable transition to the hybrid unit addition this summer, teams will not be assessed any grid penalties for unexpected hybrid unit changeouts.

.Evolving Safety and On-Track Performance
An annual INDYCAR review has led to adjustments for the upcoming NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with an eye on safety, technical performance and rules.
From a safety perspective, 2024 will feature: The addition of LEDs on rear wing end plates for better visibility for trailing drivers during rainy conditions.
Redesigned brake rotors for improved cooling
Specific to racing on ovals, 2024 will feature:
The addition of a stronger front wheel bearing retaining nut to match the implementation of the updated rear wheel bearing retaining nut in 2023. The update followed a meticulous review of the incident at the 2023 Indy 500 involving the No. 27 car of Andretti Global and the No. 6 car of Arrow McLaren, which resulted in the loss of the left rear wheel assembly on the No. 27.
Stronger rear retaining ring
New and stronger rear uprights with wheel tethers mounted to the upright rather than caliper studs.
Updates to the rear wing front clevis to better distribute impact loads into the attenuator.
Beginning with the Sonsio Grand Prix in May on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, an updated, lightweight PPG ballistic screen (aeroscreen), will be introduced featuring vents for increased overall driver cooling and a top front duct directing air to the drivers’ chest. The ducting is 3D printed in rubber to prevent hand injuries in an accident. The updated aeroscreen will only be used on the remaining road courses and street circuits in 2024.  2024_COMP_CHANGES.png  From an officiating standpoint, updates for 2024 include:
Restart line.

On restarts, drivers must remain in single file and are prohibited from passing until reaching a line designated in the last corner. Additionally, the EM Motorsports light panels positioned around the track will be illuminated green to supplement the traditional cloth flag waved at the start-finish line for both starts and restarts.
A split group practice on the Streets of St. Petersburg
Deployed on a trial basis in St. Petersburg, the field will be split into two groups following a 20-minute “All Cars” session to begin Practice 1. Following the 20-minute “All Cars” session, each group – split by odd and even numbered pit boxes – will receive two 10-minute segments on an alternating basis. As in qualifying, the clock in Segments One and Two will stop for the first red flag condition of each practice segment.

Updates for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will be announced at a later date.
A 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season that featured 7,753 passes, including on-track passing records set at six racetracks, and the most laps and miles completed in a season in over a decade is expected to continue to its record-making trajectory in 2024.

“The last few seasons have been unprecedented in terms of records and milestones,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “Between the massive effort by Chevrolet and Honda with the hybrid unit and the perpetual partnership and input from our owners, teams and drivers, 2024 is expected to be even more competitive and one of the most unique seasons and championships we’ve ever had. We cannot wait to get started in St. Petersburg.”
A Sustainable Return for 2024
The most sustainable era in INDYCAR SERIES history will continue as the series, its teams and events continue to work to develop green technologies. Highlights from 2023 included the first use of Shell’s 100% Renewable Race Fuel, continued use of renewable diesel for all INDYCAR team transporters supporting the series and use of Firestone Firehawk alternate race tires – on street circuits – made from guayule rubber.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the first sport facility to achieve organizational certification through the Council for Responsible Sport while the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear and the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend achieved gold-level event certification.
Other announcements are expected throughout the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
NXT Up: INDY NXT by Firestone
After last year’s successful launch of a reimagined look for INDYCAR’s developmental series with continued integration with INDYCAR as a sanctioning body, INDY NXT by Firestone enters 2024 with even more energy and momentum. The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel racing series is expected to feature over 20 drivers from seven countries in pursuit of a $1.4 million purse. It is set to have the most entries across the entire season for the developmental series in 16 years (2008).
Once again, the series champion will receive $850,000 to be applied to an oval test at Texas Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 Open Test and Rookie Orientation Program, an entry for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 and an entry for an additional 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES event. The 2024 championship team, again, will receive a prize of $35,000.
This season’s INDY NXT champion will have to earn it.
The 2023 season featured 1,226 on-track passes for position, up 113% from the previous year. Lead changes were up 25% from 2022.New for 2024, group qualifying will decide the starting grid on road and street circuits. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions.
With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group.
Lineups for race weekend doubleheaders will be set by the entrant’s best lap determining their starting position for Race 1 and their second-best lap determining their starting position for Race 2. The procedure for qualifying on ovals (aggregate time of two consecutively timed laps) remains unchanged for 2024.
Also noteworthy, INDY NXT will celebrate its 500th race as INDYCAR’s top developmental series when the series competes on the streets of Detroit this summer.
“It is clear that incorporating this series with the rest of the INDYCAR paddock has paid dividends,” INDY NXT by Firestone Director Levi Jones said. “The rise in team participation and car count is proof of concept. It’s even more gratifying to see former champions Linus Lundqvist and Christian Rasmussen advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.“As the series grows and the competition becomes more fierce, we look forward to elevating the next generation of top INDYCAR SERIES racers.”
All 14 INDY NXT races will be available in the United States via Peacock with coverage on INDYCAR Live, INDYCAR’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, in those countries not covered by international agreements.
INDYCAR’s season begins March 8-10 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Coverage of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season debut, Sunday, March 10 will be available at noon ET on NBC and Peacock.
A Spanish language version will be available on Universo.INDY NXT by Firestone’s season opener begins earlier in the day at 10 a.m. ET.The award-winning INDYCAR Radio Network will provide coverage of both races, with audio available on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. 

Newgarden Unveils Vivid 108th Indianapolis 500 Ticket

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NDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024) – Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden paid homage to one of Team Penske’s sponsors – Shell – when he unveiled the ticket for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Thursday, Feb. 29 in Indianapolis.

Newgarden earned his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” last May in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet, and one of the many honors bestowed upon the winner is unveiling the ticket for the next year’s race.

Featuring the winning driver on the next year’s “500” ticket dates to Mauri Rose’s appearance in 1948. Nashville native Newgarden dropped the cover from a billboard-sized version of the colorful ticket, affixed to the side of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis parking garage and viewable from the parking lot of the adjacent Shell gas station.

Designed in house by Senior Art Director Mandy Walsh, the ticket features a photo of Newgarden jumping from the car on the famous Yard of Bricks last May 26 before he climbed through the fence to join fans in the grandstands. In addition to honoring Shell with the location of the ticket unveil, Newgarden shared Shell gift cards with the first 108 fans as a continuation of his fan-focused celebrations.

“My initial reaction seeing the ticket is how special it is,” Newgarden said. “It reminds me of right at the end of the race and the moment I was able to have with the crowd. To me, that was almost more significant than winning the race itself – was having the opportunity to celebrate with everyone who comes to the Indy 500.

“The ‘500’ is so much bigger than just me – it’s everybody who makes it out. There are generations upon generations who have been going to that race and have made it so historic. That’s what this ticket signifies. It’s that celebration with the community and what makes the Indy 500. It’s different than what you normally see. People are used to seeing Victory Lane. This is seeing the event for what it is and the significance and honor of being able to be there.”

Newgarden will defend his Indianapolis 500 victory Sunday, May 26 in the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with live coverage starting at 11 a.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Tickets for the Indy 500 and all Month of May activities are on sale at IMS.com, by calling the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700 or by visiting the ticket office.

The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts Sunday, March 10 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding in St. Petersburg, Florida (live, noon ET, NBC, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network). 

A better view:

Hy-Vee Sponsors Milwaukee Double Header

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If ovals ever leave the Indycar series entirely, it won’t be Hy-Vee’s fault. The Iowa based grocery store chain, which helped make the Iowa race weekend a success, has added sponsorship of the Milwaukee twin bill over Labor Day weekend.

The Hy-Vee Milwaukee Twin 250s are scheduled for August 31 and September 1 as the final oval races of the 2024 season. The Saturday race is a late Afternoon event set for a 5 pm Central time start.

Entertainment details will be announced at a later date. The Hy-Vee sponsorship is a positive step for Milwaukee. Indycar was last there about 10 years ago, with poor attendance and little promotion.

Ericsson Fastest Overall; O’Ward Leads Morning Session

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Marcus Ericsson had the fastest overall time of the two day Sebring test session for Indycar. The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner led the final test round as 12 cars turned laps on the test’s final day. Pato O’Ward led the morning session.

Colin Braun, in his Indycar debut for Dale Coyne Racing, turned a faster lap than Jack Harvey did in the other Coyne car on Monday.

Kyffin Simpson was the fastest rookie driver, ninth overall.

Tuesday Morning Tims:

Results from Tuesday afternoon:

Overall Combined results:

Palou Leads Test Day 1

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Alex Palou had the day’s quickest time in the first day of Indycar testing at Sebring. Kyle Kirkwood led the morning session. 15 cars tested today.

Jack Harvey waited until the afternoon round to venture out on the 1.65 mile track. The team was conserving their limited tire allotment.

I spent a few hours at the track. It was great to see Indycar back on track and get a look at the new liveries. They are new and different. Please study carefully before your first trip to the track. I spent the first half of the morning wondering, “Who is that?” I had to look at the numbers on the car to figure it out.

Alex Palou in DHL colors is the biggest shocker. I was taken aback when I saw the number 10 where a 28 should have been. I liked most of the new liveries. Teams have freshened up some old looks by flipping the color schemes. Look for lots of white on the front of vars. I counted six cars with a white front extending from the bottom of the aeroscreen to the nose.

Combined results from today:

Tomorrow’s lineup:

O’Ward drove the number 6 car today for the injured David Malukas.

Some photos:

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Notes: Indycar Continues to Lay It on the Line; Test Days

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If Indycar wants a theme song for the 2024 season, I suggest “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash. Days after mandating that drivers in the Indianapolis 500 cannot cross the pit lane line on the front stretch as a defensive move, the series set forth a new restart procedure.

A line will be placed just after the final turn on each track at a designated point. On restarts, cars must stay single file until they cross this line. No passing is allowed until this line is crossed. I appreciate Indycar’s efforts in trying to get restarts under control. They have been quite messy then last couple of years. The line is not in effect at the start of the race.

Testing Days

Today and tomorrow all teams are at Sebring for testing without the ERS system. On Wednesday and Thursday there will be an ERS test on the IMS road course for the teams that have had not had a chance to test the new system.

Today’s testing roster:

Today is Jack Harvey’s second test day in the Coyne car. Some think he will be in the car for the St. Petersburg opener. Colin Braun will test the car tomorrow. I would really love to see Braun run a full season in Indycar.

Teams at the IMS road course test:

Foyt, RLL, Coyne, ECR, MSR, JHR

IMS will host a full grid oval test for 500 entrants April 10 and 11.

Indycar Slays the Dragon

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The weaving, bobbing moves down the front stretch in the final laps of the Indianapolis 500 are gone, banished yesterday i a ruling by Indycar. The Dragon, which started in 2019 with Simon Pagenaud trying to break the draft and maintain his lead over Alexander Rossi, reached a ridiculous extreme in 2023 when Josef Newgarden used the pit entry lane to fend off Marcus Ericsson. Ericsson followed Newgarden into the area below the pit line.

Newgarden came close to the attenuator, the outer end cap to the pit wall. In the past, the attenuator has caused massive crashes. Kevin Cogan in 1989 hit the attenuator head on and his car split in two, with the engine sliding down pit lane. In 2020, Oliver Askew hit the end of pit wall late in the race, causing an extensive debris field. Askew got a concussion as a result of the impact.

In 2024, drivers will not be allowed to go below the pit line exiting turn 4. I think this is a good move by Indycar. It should force drivers to conform more to the one defensive move rule.

The series did not address the cause of the chaotic ending to last year’s race, which was the excessive use of the red flag. In their desperation to have a green flag finish, race control threw three red flags. Chaos reigned on the restarts as drivers weren’t sure how many more chances they would have to improve their position. I understand that a ruling is coming that will designate the last lap on which a red flag may be used, barring safety concerns. I hope it is around lap 180.

Safety Improvements

IMS has made several physical improvements to track safety, installing more SAFER barriers and refreshing the existing foam walls.

Inside turn 1,700 feet of catch fence has been added behind the wall, and 800 feet of new SAFER barrier is in turn 4,

In the north short chute, 85 feet of the foam wall replaces a guardrail.

Around the entire track, new SAFER wall has replaced all the preexisting barriers.

Indycar’s Broadcast Times- Change is in the Air

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Is the Peacock losing its feathers? NBC enters the final year of its current deal with Indycar, and it appears Fox is the favorite to take over the rights beginning in2025. The broad cast times and [platform distribution looks as if NBC is slowly weaning itself from the series.

NBC network has only nine points races, down from 13 last year and 14 in 2022. You could argue that with the Thermal Club exhibition and the scant three hours of Indianapolis 500 qualifying the big network has 11 events, but that still is a significant drop in air time.

Meanwhile, USA network will have six races, including the historic Long Beach race, one of Indycar’s crown jewels.

Peacock has two races exclusively, Toronto and the first Milwaukee race.

If this is NBC’s final year, that would be sad. They have been a great broadcast partner, although I felt that last year they started to fall into the complacency trap which happens with long term partners. I don’t need a full season recap in the middle of the race, nor highlights of someone’s win at a track 10 years ago.

The Times They are a’Changing

The time change that stands out for me is Road America. Since Indycar’s return to the famed Wisconsin track, the race has had a noon star. The promoter insisted on it. I really liked. Most years I could still get back to Indy before dark after the race. With a 2:30 pm local start, that will not be possible.

The early green flag seemed popular with the fans. I wonder if the new time will affect attendance.

Weather Tech Raceway at Laguna Seca moves from an early afternoon start to a 3 pm local start.

Night Races?

On the surface, I guess you could call Iowa race 1, Gateway, and Milwaukee race1 night races, but how much of the race will actually be under the lights?

Iowa is listed as 7 pm local time, so that one should end in darkness. Gateway has a 5 pm local broadcast window start time. How dark it gets during the race depends on the actual green flag time. The same goes for Milwaukee. \The Wisconsin State Fair sent an email yesterday which listed the race start time at 5 pm.

If we are going to have a night race let them start at twilight, so at least two thirds of the race is run under the lights.

Overall, it is probably the best schedule possible, considering the disruptive Olympic break for 26 at the peak of the season. Not having to deal with that interruption every four years would be one of the few good reasons to go to Fox.

I’m ready for some racing. Just two weeks to go.

NBC Sports, INDYCAR Unveil 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Broadcast Start Times 

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My thoughts will be posted later.

From Indycar and NBC:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024) – NBC Sports and INDYCAR announced Feb. 20 the race broadcast start times for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, headlined by the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The 2024 season kicks off on NBC and Peacock with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding at noon ET Sunday, March 10.
“I can’t wait for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season to begin, and what a way to kick things off in St. Petersburg again on NBC,” said reigning series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.
“We’ll be returning with our two goals in focus – winning the Indianapolis 500 and winning the championship – and I know our entire team is counting down the days until we have a chance to put all our hard work and preparation this offseason to the test.”

Highlights of NBC Sports’ 2024 INDYCAR coverage schedule include:
Indianapolis 500 qualifying coverage from IMS airing on NBC and Peacock at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, May 19 to determine the starting grid for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
The $1 Million Challenge made-for-TV exhibition race at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 24 on NBC and Peacock at The Thermal Club outside of Palm Springs, California.
The return of the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park for the first time in nearly a decade (2015) with a doubleheader Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Exclusive coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 31 on Peacock, with the second race at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 on USA Network and Peacock.
The season finale for the first time at Nashville Superspeedway, determining the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 15 on NBC and Peacock.
Peacock once again will provide comprehensive streaming coverage of the 2024 season, including the exclusive presentation of the Streets of Toronto for the third consecutive year at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, July 21.

Throughout the season, Peacock will present over 120 hours of coverage, including nearly exclusive coverage of every qualifying and practice session in 2024.
Additionally, coverage surrounding the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, all INDY NXT by Firestone races, race day warmups and full-event race replays will be available on the platform. Click here for more details.
“The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is going to bring quite a bit of change to the schedule, changes that should be exciting for our fans watching the broadcasts and in-person,” said 2023 Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske. “
New races at The Thermal Club and The Milwaukee Mile bring new venues to the schedule, and crowning a champion in my hometown, Nashville, will be must-see television. The Indianapolis 500 is always thrilling, and when you combine it all together, you get a schedule that fans will not want to miss.”