IndyCar Announces Grid Penalty

thepitwindow

From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Aug. 8, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing entry for avoidable contact involving driver Kyffin Simpson during the Sunday, July 27 race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The penalty comes after a post-race review of the Lap 1, Turn 6 incident with the No. 60 entry of Meyer Shank Racing.
Simpson was in violation of:
Rule 9.3.3. Avoidable Contact – The primary responsibility for avoiding contact with a Competitor resides with the overtaking Competitor and the secondary responsibility resides with the Competitor(s) being overtaken. A Competitor who fails to demonstrate their responsibility and initiates a maneuver that results in contact with another Competitor may be penalized.
According to the rulebook, a penalty can be applied at the next INDYCAR race if the penalty cannot be served at the event where the infraction took place.
Consistent with an Unapproved Engine Change-Out penalty in the INDYCAR rulebook, the Avoidable Contact grid penalty is six positions on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI on Sunday, Aug. 10 at Portland International Raceway. 

Welcome to Portland; Spotters’ Guide

thepitwindow

Today’s Schedule:

Times Pacific

1:00 pm Indy NXT Practice 1 FS 1

2:30 pm IndyCar Practice 1 FS 2

The Road to Indy will be on track all weekend as well, making for constant track activity.

Weekend weather:

The temperature is currently 58 degrees and should be about 75 degrees by the time IndyCar takes to the track this afternoon.

I noticed some paths and driveways have been paved at Portland, and the parking area seems more organized.

Java House continues its West Coast activation with another large area near the footbridge on the frontstretch.

Schedule news: From what I am hearing, the schedule is not quite done, and some fans may be disappointed with the final result. That is all I can share right now.

If seeing David Malukas in the Gallagher livery isn’t a big hint about where he will drive next year, I don’t know what is. The Gallagher livery has been in regular rotation of Team Penske liveries. Malukas has been carrying the colors of an associate Penske sponsor, Clarience, but now with a more regular Penske scheme on the number four, I think we can all see where this is going.

Where does Will Power end up min 2026 if Malukas does make the switch?

Spotters’ Guide

I will be back with a report around midday and then after practice.

Portland Preview: Beyond the Title

thepitwindow

As this somewhat unusual season winds down, IndyCar is still in search of its fifth winner of the year, and the points leader could be on is way to tie or better two of the sport’s all time greats.

Portland International Raceway has seen some classic finishes but lately has been known for its not so classic starts in turn1, where chaos has reigned in five of the last six races.

Alex Palou may have the Astor Cup all but clinched, but There are still some things to be decided as the IndyCar series enters its final three races of the 2025 campaign.

Palou is very likely to clinch the title with two races to go on Sunday; He doesn’t have to win this weekend in order to leave Portland as a four time series champion. Palou has won eight times in 2025; one more win will tie him with Marion Andretti, who had 9 wins in 1969. Two more victories and he joins A. J. Foyt and Al Unser, Sr., who had 10 wins in 1964 and 1970 respectively.

Although first place is virtually wrapped up, second is still not settled. Pato O’Ward currently is the runner-up, but he leads Scott Dixon by77 points, and Kyle Kirkwood by 112. Should Dixon and Kirkwood tie, Kirkwood has the tie breaker with 3 wins to Dixon’s single victory.

Rookie of the Year

Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman are locke3d in a tight battle for top rookie honors. Foster holds a four point lead over Shwartzman. Each driver has a pole.

Foster has become a consistent qualifier, and Shwartzman has had some good finishes.

I think Foster will end up with the rookie title after a good showing on Sunday.

For the race, it is hard not to pick Palou to win, but I am going with Christian Lundgaard.

Notes

IndyCar’s broadcast deal with FOX has been extended until 2030. I bele3ive this is a separate thing from the 33% purchase of Penske Entertainment stock announced earlier.

David Malukas will be in Gallagher livery this weekend, fueling more speculation that we will see him in the number 12 car in 2026. Gallagher has been a long time Penske sponsor which has been on Team Penske cars a few times each year.

A 2026 schedule was posted on X Wednesday afternoon. I t was from a parody account and is not accurate in any way. I hearthat6 a schedule is close, but not out yet.

Schedule change: On Saturday, IndyCar final practice (25minutes) has been moved to 7:32 Eastern time and will now be on FS1.

IndyNXT qualifying will follow at 8:30 Eastern on FS2.

The rest of the schedule remains the same for now.

Upfdated schedule:

BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland Fast Facts

thepitwindow

From IndyCar. My preview will post tomorrow morning early.

 Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10
Track: Portland International Raceway, a 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course in Portland, Oregon
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI 110 laps / 216.04 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland 35 laps / 68.74 miles / 55 minutes
Media links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | Trackside Media Guide (Interactive PDF)
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 350 kilojoules (kj) per lap
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryover sets from the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event may be used during pre-qualifying practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
X: @Race_Portland, @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @Race_Portland, @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCARThreads: @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @PortlandGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR, #INDYCARYouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.raceportland.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com

2024 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet)
INDY NXT by FirestoneJacob Abel (No. 51 Abel Motorsports)
2024 NTT P1 Award winner: Santino Ferrucci (No. 14 Phoenix Investors Chevrolet), 58.2046 seconds, 121.475 mph
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1 minute, 2.1396 seconds, 113.783 mph
Qualifying records: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power, 57.2143 seconds, 123.577 mph, Sept. 1, 2018 (Set in Round 1 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by Firestone Louis Foster, 1 minute, 2.1396 seconds, 113.783 mph, Aug. 24, 2024
FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, noon ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Final practice, 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI, 3 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live).
Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters.
 INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Practice 2, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1; Qualifying, 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live).
Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young and Nick Yeoman are the turn announcers. Jake Query, Ryan Myrehn and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI race (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday) can be heard live on network affiliates nationwide. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, INDY NXT by Firestone race (12:55 p.m. ET Sunday), NTT P1 Award Qualifying (2:30 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices also air live on SiriusXM 218, www.indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Friday, Aug. 8
1:05-1:50 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, FS1 (live)
2:35-3:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1, FS2 (live)
Saturday, Aug. 9
9-10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45 minutes green flag or 1 hour total), FS1 (live)
11:35 a.m. – BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)
1:30-2:15 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, FS1 (live)
4:32-4:57 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS1 (live)
5:30 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (two groups/12 minutes each), FS2 (live)
Sunday, Aug. 10
10:01 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland “Drivers, start your engines”
10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland (35 laps / 68.74 miles / 55 minutes), FS1 (live)
Noon – FOX on air
12:15 p.m. – BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI “Drivers, start your engines”
12:22 p.m. – BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI (110 laps/216.04 miles), FOX (live) 
NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship facts: Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with three races to go for the third time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Palou also led with three races to go in both 2023 and 2024 when he won the series title. Palou has led the point standings since the start of the season.There are two drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward. If O’Ward trails Palou by 108 points or more following Sunday’s race, Palou will clinch the series title. Palou leads by 121 points entering this event.Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland International Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season 12 times: Bobby Rahal (1987), Danny Sullivan (1988), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Michael Andretti (1991), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1998), Gil de Ferran (2000), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Sebastien Bourdais (2004, 2007) and Alex Palou (2021, 2023).
Honda is on the verge of wrapping up the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers Championship after winning 12 of the first 14 events. Honda needs to maintain its 224-point advantage this weekend to clinch its seventh manufacturers’ title and first since 2021. 
 Point differential: The 121 points separating Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward are the largest margin with three races remaining since 2008. During that span, the average lead with three races remaining is 39.1 points.
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the driver who has led the championship with three races to go has won the championship 11 times – Scott Dixon in 2008, 2018 and 2020, Dario Franchitti in 2011, Will Power in 2014 and 2022, Simon Pagenaud in 2016, Josef Newgarden in 2017 and 2019 and Alex Palou in 2023 and 2024.

Race notes:The BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI will be the 31st INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland International Raceway and the seventh since the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2018. Al Unser Jr. won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland in 1984, while Will Power won last season. Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power are the only former winners entered in this year’s race.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Alex Palou 2 2021, 2023

Will Power 2 2019, 2024


Scott McLaughlin 1 2022

Eight INDYCAR SERIES drivers have won at Portland International Raceway from the pole – Danny Sullivan (1988), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1996), Max Papis (2001), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Sebastien Bourdais (2004), Alex Palou (2021) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).

ACTIVE POLE WINNER POLES SEASONS

Santino Ferrucci 1 2024

Graham Rahal 1 2023

Scott McLaughlin 1 2022

Alex Palou 1 2021

Colton Herta 1 2019

Will Power 1 2018


Team Penske has won eight times at Portland International Raceway, tied with Newman/Haas Racing for most at the track. Penske’s winning INDYCAR SERIES drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988), Emerson Fittipaldi (1993), Al Unser Jr. (1994, 1995), Gil de Ferran (2000), Will Power (2019, 2025) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).
Chip Ganassi Racing has four wins at Portland with Alex Zanardi in 1996 and 1998 and Alex Palou in 2021 and 2023.
Twenty-four drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at Portland International Raceway. Scott Dixon and Will Power each have eight starts, most among the entered drivers.
Fourteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Power 169, Scott McLaughlin 109, Alex Palou 101, Graham Rahal 59, Colton Herta 40, Alexander Rossi 32, Dixon 30, Pato O’Ward 28, Josef Newgarden 9, Felix Rosenqvist 6, David Malukas 2, Marcus Armstrong 1, Marcus Ericsson 1 and Christian Lundgaard 1).
Six drivers have won INDY NXT by Firestone races at Portland before moving up to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Pato O’Ward won both races at Portland in 2018 on his way to the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. Rinus VeeKay won one of the doubleheader races in 2019, and Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas split the doubleheader races in 2021. NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookies Louis Foster and Jacob Abel won in 2023 and 2024, respectively … Graham Rahal scored the first win of his professional racing career at Portland, winning the Star Mazda (now USF Pro 2000 championship) race in 2005.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 354th consecutive start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 254th consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 217th consecutive start, the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record to 417 with a start Sunday…Dixon’s win July 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – his 59th INDYCAR SERIES win – extended two ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: seasons with a win (23) and consecutive seasons with a win (21). Dixon’s second-place finish July 13 at Iowa Speedway extended two additional ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: podium finishes (145) and top-five finishes (215).
INDY NXT by Firestone notes:The season-long INDY NXT by Firestone title fight between Andretti Global’s Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes saw a new contender enter the fray as HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet swept the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader July 26-27 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Sega. Hauger, who has a season-best five wins, leads Collet by 42 points headed into the final road course race of the season at Portland. Hughes, Myles Rowe and Portland native Josh Pierson are just behind, looking to make it a five-man sprint to the finish. The ultra-competitive 2025 season has seen four winners in 11 races and nine different drivers finish on the podium.The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland will be the series’ 24th race at Portland International Raceway. Previous Indy NXT by Firestone winners at Portland include Paul Tracy, Andre Ribeiro, Greg Moore, Pato O’Ward, Rinus VeeKay, David Malukas, Kyle Kirkwood, Louis Foster and Jacob Abel.Dennis Hauger could clinch the INDY NXT by Firestone Dallara Rookie of the Year Award if he can gain 19 points on Lochie Hughes in this weekend’s event. The award is given to the top-finishing rookie in the point standings. 

Portland Schedule

thepitwindow

Times are Eastern. Portland is in the Pacific Time Zone

Friday, August 8

4 pm-FS1-NXT practice

5:30 pm-FS2-INDYCAR practice

Saturday, AUGUST 9

12-FS1-INDYCAR practice

2:35 pm-FS1-INDYCAR qualifying

4:30 pmS1-NXT practice

7:30pm-FS1-NXT qualifying

8:30 pm-FS2-INDYCAR warmup

Sunday, August 10

1:06 pm-FS2-IFS1-NXT race 35 laps

3 pm-FOX on air-Prerace

3:22 pm-FOX-Green flag INDYCAR race 110 laps

1964: The Improbable Season

thepitwindow

Alex Palou is having an amazing season, one that could tie a record of a 10-win season shared by two of the greats, A. J. Foyt and Al Unser, Sr. He has already tied Al Unser, Jr, who won eight races in 1994, and Sebastien Bourdais who reached the checkered first in 2007, with eight victories.

Foyt won 10 times in 1964 in a dominating rout of the competition. He won the first seven races of the season, and then he won three of the last six races. Only two other drivers, Parnelli Jones and Lloyd Ruby, also won that season.

The season opener at Phoenix was also the debut of the track, and Foyt became its first winner. The winning streak continued as the series entered May. The Lotus of Jim Clark was favored to win. The race was marred by tragedy as Eddie Sachs and Dave McDonald were killed in an early accident. Clark’s suspension failed, setting up a battle between Foyt and Parnelli Jones. The anticipated fight was short-lived, however. On Jones next pit stop, the fuel cap blew off, setting the car on fire. Foyt breezed to the win.

There was no 500 hangover for Foyt, as he won the next weekend’s race in Milwaukee. Another fiery crash involving Jim Hurtubise put a damper on the second race in a row. Hurtubise survived, but his hands and fingers were badly burned. He had doctors rebuild his fingers so that they could grip a steering wheel.

Foyt’s first loss of the season occurred on August 23rd in the second Milwaukee race. Parnelli Jones won the race from the pole. Jones’s win would start another pattern for1964.

It would be another month before Foyt would lose again, this time at Trenton on September 27th. Like Milwaukee, Jones earned pole position and won the race.

On November 22nd, the season finale at Phoenix, Jones again was the fastest qualifier, but Lloyd Ruby became just the third driver to win a race that year.

One oddity of Foyt’s year-in the three races he did not win, Foyt suffered DNFs. He ended his day at Milwaukee in 26th, finished 20th at Trenton, and 19th at Phoenix.

Alex Palou has three chances to win two races. A win at Portland next weekend will tie Mario Andretti’s victory total from 1969. After that he will need to win his first race on a medium sized oval. I think it would be a full circle moment if Palou were to tie the record at the site of Foyt’s first loss of1964.,

A Mixed Bag

thepitwindow

It’s been five hours since the news broke that FOX has bought 1/3 of IndyCar and IMS for somewhere between $125 and $135 million. My shock has not completely worn off, and some my initial thoughts about the potential of this new partnership have solidified. My feelings are mixed about this deal. I think this is a very good thing for the IndyCar series, but I’m I am concerned about what it may mean for IMS.

The press release from IndyCar lists three goals for the new partnership:

“Innovative and industry-leading racing and entertainment events.

A hyper-engaged digital strategy and immersive content focus.

Enhanced promotion and star-building opportunities for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers.”

The full release here:

Fox Corporation Acquires One-Third Interest in Penske Entertainment 

I like the last one best-promotion and star building of the drivers. I can’t think of any IndyCar driver at the moment who is a national household name. Pato O’Ward is quite popular with IndyCar fans, but is he known outside of racing circles? Alex Palou is having one of seven best years a racing driver has ever had, but how well known is he?

Innovative racing? I hope they don’t mean playoffs or green, white checkered finishes with overtime. I’d be happy if the yellow was thrown when needed.

If Fox can help with scheduling, prioritize IndyCar television slots, get some more tracks on the calendar, get more fans to races, and put more eyeballs in front of tv sets, that is where they can be most helpful.

I don’t have my Corp/Techspeak-English dictionary with me, so I have no idea what a hyper engaged digital strategy is.

Of course, an infusion of money is always a good thing. I am looking for better graphics and maybe some enhancements on the new car.

If 1/3 of the value of the series and IMS together is only $135 on the high end, I find it disturbing that the value is that low, especially with the Speedway included.

About IMS

I really hope that nothing much changes for the month of May. I don’t want to see the format change, the start time moved to later in the afternoon (I think it should start earlier than it does now), or a new qualifying format. I would like to see the IndyNXT race return on Carb Day.

I have seen some talk on social media about moving the Brickyard 400 to May, so it fits within Fox’s NASCAR broadcast window. This race belongs after the 500, and since FOX would receive a cut of IMS revenue for it, they don’t need to broadcast it.

I can’t imagine any events being cut from the IMS calendar just because Fox isn’t the broadcast partner.

The bottom line for FOX- do what you do best- promote, publicize- a full-on blitz; present the series on television as you have been, maybe with fewer full screen commercials, and serve the series and IMS in a complimentary role. Let the racing people handle the racing.

Fox Corporation Acquires One-Third Interest in Penske Entertainment 

thepitwindow
From Indycar. My thoughts will be posted in a bit.
 Strategic Investment and Partnership Launches New Era of Growth Across INDYCAR that Includes a Multi-Year Extension of INDYCAR’s Media Rights with FOX Sports

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 31, 2025) – Penske Entertainment and Fox Corporation (“FOX” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX), the parent company of FOX Sports, today announced an investment in the future of North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, with FOX’s acquisition of a one-third interest in Penske Entertainment, inclusive of INDYCAR and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The investment is expected to supercharge a new era of growth for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the most competitive and dynamic motorsport on the planet. This includes: Innovative and industry-leading racing and entertainment events. A hyper-engaged digital strategy and immersive content focus. Enhanced promotion and star-building opportunities for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers
Today’s announcement also includes a multi-year extension of INDYCAR’s media rights with FOX Sports.“This partnership is built on long-standing trust and a shared vision for the future,” Roger Penske said. “FOX sees the incredible potential across our sport and wants to play an active role in building our growth trajectory. Lachlan Murdoch and his team, starting with Eric Shanks, are committed to our success and will bring incredible energy and innovation to INDYCAR.”
FOX Sports acquired INDYCAR’s media rights in 2025, bringing fresh promotional resources and significantly larger reach to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This year’s Indianapolis 500 on FOX averaged 7.01 million viewers, a 41 percent increase over the previous edition and a 17-year high. So far, the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is averaging a 31 percent increase in viewership year-over-year
“We’re thrilled to join the INDYCAR ownership group at such a pivotal time for the sport,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports.
“INDYCAR represents everything we value in live sports — passionate fans, iconic venues, elite competition and year-round storytelling potential. This investment underscores our commitment to motorsports and our belief in INDYCAR’s continued growth on and off the track. We’re excited to help elevate the sport to new heights across all platforms.”

This news builds on wider momentum across the sport, marked by rising attendance and record crowds at several events this year, including a sell-out of the Indy 500.
INDYCAR has invested heavily in digital growth recently, launching a new mobile APP, web site and fantasy platform while also generating 1 million new social followers. The SERIES will also add a new showcase to its calendar in 2026, racing through Arlington’s entertainment district through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. 
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport in North America with every race on U.S. network television. It features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses.
The 2025 season continues with the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.
Also, part of the Penske Entertainment family, the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is annually home to the largest single-day spectator sporting event on the planet, the Indianapolis 500. This year’s “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” featured a crowd of more than 300,000 people. The famed venue is steeped on more than a century of racing heritage and has the largest seating capacity of any sporting venue across the globe.
About Penske EntertainmentPenske Entertainment is a leading provider of world-class sports and entertainment, encompassing INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is a subsidiary of Penske Corporation, a closely-held, diversified, on-highway, transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate in a variety of industry segments, in retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics and professional motorsports. Penske Corporation manages businesses with consolidated revenues of more than $45 billion, operating in over 3,300 locations and employs more than 73,000 people worldwide.
About Fox CorporationFox Corporation produces and distributes compelling news, sports, and entertainment content through its primary iconic domestic brands, including FOX News Media, FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment, FOX Television Stations and Tubi Media Group. These brands hold cultural significance with consumers and commercial importance for distributors and advertisers. The breadth and depth of our footprint allows us to deliver content that engages and informs audiences, develop deeper consumer relationships, and create more compelling product offerings. FOX maintains an impressive track record of news, sports, and entertainment industry success that shapes our strategy to capitalize on existing strengths and invest in new initiatives. For more information about Fox Corporation, please visit www.FoxCorporation.com.
About FOX SportsFOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing Fox Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and the UFL and a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
CONTACTS:Penske Entertainment: Alex Damron, Adamron@brickyard.com
FOX Sports: Andrew Fegyveresi, Andrew.Fegyveresi@fox.com
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors and other factors affecting the operation of FOX’s businesses. More detailed information about these factors is contained in the documents FOX has filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including FOX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.Statements in this press release speak only as of the date they were made, and FOX undertakes no duty to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement made in this press release or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in FOX’s expectations, except as required by law. 

Race Recap: Java House Grand Prix of Monterey

thepitwindow

After six very good races in a row, IndyCar produced a rather dull show yesterday at Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca. The winner was never in doubt as Alex Palou won his eighth race of the season. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver should clinch the title at the next race in Portland.

Palou has a chance to finish the season with a record 11 wins should he sweep the rest of the schedule. A. J. Foyt won 10 races in 1964, and Al Unser, Sr. matched that victory total in 1970. Mario Andretti won nine times in 1969.

There were a couple of interesting on track battles, the best of which was between Colton Herta and Christian Lundgaard for second place late in the race.

Pato O’Ward did not get the start he needed from second place and had to settle for fourth place. He lost 22 points to Palou. If O’Ward does not gain 14 points on Palou at Portland, the championship is officially over.

Where is Race Control?

Once again race control dropped the ball and failed to throw an immediate yellow flag after Marcus Ericsson spun and stalled with his car sitting on the track in a dangerous spot on lap 77. It seemed to be at least a lap before the caution flag came out.

I believe the flag was held so that Alex Palou and other cars could pit. Allowing pit stops is not a good reason to withhold a necessary yellow. For those in the “No one should have their race ruined by a yellow crowd, I say, “breaks of the game.” Should a baseball umpire not call ball four on a high and wide pitch because it will spoil a pitcher’s no hitter?

Yes, Palou was the fastest car Sunday, but things happen, and the fastest car sometimes loses out because of circumstances. Ericsson’s car was in a vulnerable position and created a potential for a collision. One day, race control will get bitten by this dangerous practice of waiting to display a caution flag. I hope we don’t have to wait until something bad happens to see a change in procedures.

Ilott’s Great Drive

Callum Ilott gave Prema its best finish of the year, finishing sixth after starting 24th. He made several passes and used great pit strategy to advance. PREMA has done a very respectable job in their first IndyCar season, winning the pole for the Indianapolis 500 and now has two top 10 finishes for the season. Rookie Robert Shwartzman is just four points behind Louis Foster for Rookie of the Year.

Rookie Race

Louis Foster now leads Shwartzman by four points for Rookie honors with three races left. The pair entered yesterday’s race tied in points. Each has won a pole, Shwartzman has two top 10 finishes, while Foster’s best finish is 11th.

The rooie title will come down to the season finale at Nashville.