Rossi Takes Pole for Race 1
Photo: Kyle McInnes
Alexander Rossi won the pole for Race 1 at the Detroit Grand Prix. His fastest lap, 1:14.1989, nipped Scott Dixon in the last minute of his qualifying group. Dixon had the second fastest time overall, 0.2 seconds behind Rossi, but will start third since he was in Rossi’s group. Josef Newgarden led Group 1 with 1:14.9272 and will start second.
The bonus point Newgarden earned puts him in a virtual tie with Simon Pagenaud for the series lead.
This is Rossi’s sixth career pole. He has won four times from the pile. It is his second consecutive pole at Belle Isle.
Rain may have an impact on the race. Rossi and Newgarden still don’t think the red tires will last very long, but Rossi added, “We’ve been surprised in this series before.”
Other notable performances include Colton Herta, fifth and Pato O’Ward seventh.
Qualifying Groups
Today’s qualifying Groups. Tomorrow group 2 goes first.
Detroit Race 1
Good Morning from Belle Isle and Race day 1 .
Today’s schedule
10:45 Indycar Qualifying Delayed Showing on NBCSN at noon
12:30-2:30 IMSA Race
3:00- Indycar Race 1 (green flag at 3:50) on NBC
Detroit uses a different qualifying procedure. Two groups each have fifteen minutes on track. The fastest car in each group gets a bonus point. The fastest overall wins the pole. For Sunday’s qualifying session, the groups go out in reverse order.
There is a possibility of rain late in the race.
Back after qualifying.
Rossi Fastest in Practice 2; Chevys Make Gains on Reds
Alexander Rossi had the day’s fastest time of 1:15.135 to lead the second practice session at Belle Isle this afternoon. The official practice ended early when Simon Pagenaud made contact with the outside wall. The team repaired the broken toe link and took part in the pit stop practice.
Spencer Pigot was the first driver to go to the alternate red tires with about 12 minutes left in the session. Most other cars put on the reds about three minutes later. Pagenaud brought out the red flag with just over three minutes left.
Josef Newgarden broke the Honda logjam at the top of the standings on the red tires, finishing second to Rossi. Five Chevrolets were in the top ten nthis afternoon, two more than in the morning round. The Chevys represented the entire Penske and Carpenter teams.
Watch for a full report on the day on Wildfire Sports later tonight.
Dixon Leads Practice 1
Scott Dixon had the fastest lap in the opening practice session for the Detroit Grand Prix. His best lap was 1:16.7418, a speed of 110.240 mph. Four Hondas and two Chevrolets occupied the top six spots. Will Power was second, 0,3464 seconds behind Dixon.
The rest of the top six – Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, and Colton Herta. Spencer Pigot was the only other Chevy driver in the top 10, in ninth place. Alexander Rossi, one of this weekend’s favorites, was eighth quickest.
The session was green until Sebastien Bourdais found the runoff area in turn seven with about eight minutes left. He tried to spin the car around and continue, but the car stalled. The session resumed with about five minutes left. Felix Rosenqvist spun into a runoff area, but the session continued.
The next practice is at 2:50 and the results will determine tomorrow’s qualifying groups. Pit stop practice follows the practice session.
More later.
Welcome to the Detroit Grand Prix
Here at the Detroit Grand Prix. The first practice begins in about 20 minutes. Most of my coverage will be on Wildfire Sports this weekend, but I will still have posts here, including qualifying and race quick thoughts.
One change I noticed is the food court has moved to the drive just before the bridge leading to the paddock. Picnic tables are in the grassy area near the bridge. This arrangement makes the food court less crowded.
Practices today will be on NBC Gold. I’ll be back after practice.
Lessening Post Race Depression by a Day- The Victory Banquet
Last year I decided to attend the Victory Banquet. It is something I have always wanted to do and the time was right. I knew after five minutes 2018 would not be my one and only Banquet. The best thing about it is that it delays the post race blues for another day.
This year my good friends Frank and Nola Proctor joined me for the first time. Marty was planning to go, but had to change her plans at the last minute. The Proctors were awestruck. They loved the proximity to the drivers.
This year featured tributes to Mari Hulman George and Mario Andretti on the 50th anniversary of his 500 win. A. J. Foyt gave a touching tribute Mrs. George.
There were humorous moments. Conor Daly pretty much did a stand up comedy routine. Colton Herta said His $351, 000 prize would allow him to move out his parents’ basement. James Hinchcliffe warned him that since Herta lives in California, that wasn’t enough money to move.
The evening’s most awkward moment of the night occurred when Helio Castroneves seemed to be pleading for Roger Penske to let him drive in next year’s race. I thought he had a three year agreement for the 500. Penske did not seem to be smiling. The room got eerily quiet. while Castroneves spoke.
Santino Ferrucci received the Rookie of the Year Award. This rookie class was so close that I thought it would come down to which rookie had the highest finish in the race. Ferrucci finished seventh. No other rookie finished any better than 22nd.
The Banquet Format Needs Work
The one thing I don’t like about the banquet is that some drivers come to the podium to speak and others, sometimes two at a time, sit in chairs and have a late night talk show type chat with a different host. This format sets some drivers apart as being more important than others.
I especially don’t like when they talk to two drivers at once. the banquet should be a chance for each diver to talk about his day and thank his sponsors and others. The two driver portions diminish each driver’s accomplishments. We don’t learn how much prize money some of the drivers get.
Here are some photos from the banquet. Tomorrow look for my Detroit preview on Wild fire Sports. The thing I like about Detroit is that I get to incorrectly pick two winners instead of one.
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A Look at the Aeroscreen
The new aeroscreen for 2020 was introduced on Carb Day by Jay Frye, President of Indycar, accompanied by Andy Damerum, and Ed Collings of Red Bull Racing. The device will replace the AFP, which debuted at the Indycar Grand Prix.
My first impression was that it is too tall, it looks like an enclosed halo, and if the open area is covered, we have a single seat Daytona Prototype. here are some other views.
The driver appears to be sit much lower in the cockpit, but that may just be an illusion. I like seeing the drivers turn the steering wheel. I don’t think this design will allow for that.
One question that wasn’t asked was what happens on a road or street course when it rains? Frye said if the screen gets covered in oil, the car would have to pit to remove a tearoff. Removing a tearoff will not help in the rain. Are we about to see wipers on Indycars?
Part of the aesthetic issue is that the screen is being retrofit onto existing bodywork. When the new car goes into service, the aeroscreen (they’re still working on a better name) will be better integrated into the design. That may help lower the profile.
I liked the look of the windscreen that was tested last year better. I understand there were problems with it as far as heat in the cockpit and distortion. Red Bull and Dallara are working on a cockpit cooling system as well as a defogging unit.
I’m all for making the cars as safe as they can. I’m not sure I like the look of the car with this new attachment. However, like the original screen and the AFP, , I would like to view it in person on a car. I’m sure there will be modifications as they go through the on track testing.
Coming up tomorrow I have a look at the Victory Banquet. Watch for my Detroit preview on Wildfire Sports Friday.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 