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.

USAC Sprint Cars Competing Sept. 26 at IMS During BC39  

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Stopped for coffee on the road and saw this great news from IMS.

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 13, 2024) – USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars are coming to The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time Thursday, Sept. 26 during the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors.
The inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational will take place on the 1/4-mile dirt oval located inside Turn 3 of IMS during the opening night of the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors.
The invitation-only, non-points special event for USAC National Sprint Cars at IMS will feature two heat races followed by a 20-lap main event.
“USAC Midgets have put on an incredible show at IMS since 2018, so we expect wheel-to-wheel action from Sprint Cars on The Dirt Track,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said.
“The Stoops Sprint Car Invitational is another must-see dirt event at IMS, as this division features great racing with some of the biggest stars of USAC.”
Invitations to compete in the unique event were presented to top-10 teams on the 2024 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship tour. Confirmed entries so far have been received from Logan Seavey, Daison Pursley, C.J. Leary, Kevin Thomas Jr., Mitchel Moles, Kyle Cummins, Robert Ballou and Kale Drake.
The Thursday night portion of the BC39 will feature both sprint cars and a full program for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.
Spectator tickets are on sale for the event at IMS.com.The BC39 will continue to honor the late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson.
It also will increase awareness of organ donation and encourage participation in the Indiana Donor Network Driven2SaveLives program, the title sponsor of the BC39 since the inaugural running in 2018.
The final night of the BC39, on Saturday, Sept. 28, includes a 39-lap feature race. Practice, qualifying, heat races and feature races will take place Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27. 
 

Nashville Preview

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Too soon, as always, the IndyCar season comes to the end of its 2024 edition Sunday afternoon at Nashville Superspeedway. Also, NBC will end its fine coverage of the series after six years. FOX tkes over as the broadcast partner next year.

While the championship is still in doubt, there is also a fight for the final Leaders’ Circle spot. Alex Palou leads Will Power by 33 points. Assuming Power earns maximum points, Palou needs a ninth-place finish to clinch his third title. Power is also gunning for his third Astor Cup. A Palou championship would make him the first back to back champion since Dario Franchitti in the last decade.

At the end of the standings, Sting Ray Robb in the 41 A J Foyt Racing holds the final spot in the Leaders’ Circle by one point over the Ed Carpenter Racing 20 of Christian Rasmussen. The 51 of Dale Coyne Racing is 15 points behind.

Tire Twist

For just the second time on an oval, Indycar has mandated the use of an alternate tire. Road/street course tire rules are basically in effect, but the alternates must be used for two stints. This should make for a lot of strategic choices, and a roll of the dice should there be a caution with 20-25 laps left.

The alternate experiment was tried at gateway in 2023, but the alternate tire was not noticeably different from the primary.

Weather

The remnants of hurricane Francine loom as a huge factor as to how the weekend will proceed. Indycar said yesterday that the priority is practice, since only Power, Scott Dixon, and Graham Rahal have raced at this track previously.

That means if something has to give on Saturday because of delays, it will be qualifying, and the field will line up by entrant points. I would hate to see that with a championship battle as it takes some of the drama away, but as usual, safety first.

Nashville Superspeedway does have lights, and the series will go to great lengths to get the race completed on Sunday.

If you are going to the race, bring rain gear and know where to go ion case of lightning. The track has already issued a statement to fans regarding possible weather interruptions.

Loose Ends

If Power does not earn the pole in qualifying, it will be his first season with winning a pole since 2008. A qualifying rainout would end his chance, of course, and he would lose a valuable point.

Graham Rahal needs a fifth place or better finish to keep alive his streak of having at least one top five finish in every season of his career.

If Palou, Josef Newgarden, or Dixon win Sunday, IndyCar will have four drivers with three victories in the same year. Only seven drivers have won races in 2024, and I don’t think that number changes after Sunday.

I think Power wins the race, but Palou still is the 2024 champion.

Many thanks to NBC for arguably the best television coverage IndyCar has had since the early days of ABC’s tenure.

Firestone To Continue as NTT INDYCAR SERIES Exclusive Tire Supplier through Long-Term Extension 

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It is always good news to hear Firestone is staying.

From IndyCar:

Highlights-

 Bridgestone announces its Firestone brand will remain the sole tire supplier for all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, including the Indianapolis 500.

Firestone will also continue as the entitlement partner and official tire supplier for INDY NXT by Firestone, as well as an official partner of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The agreement reinforces collaboration between Bridgestone and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to help advance developments toward sustainable racing innovation.

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) and Penske Entertainment today announced a long-term extension to Firestone’s role as the exclusive tire supplier of all INDYCAR-sanctioned racing. The agreement will keep Firestone as the sole tire supplier for all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, the INDY NXT by Firestone developmental series, and the annual Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Firestone is currently in its 25th consecutive season as the exclusive tire supplier for the series. The extension reinforces Bridgestone’s ongoing commitment to driving innovation through motorsports. The Firestone brand continues its rich history in open-wheel racing, dating back more than a century.
“At Bridgestone, motorsports are our passion – always have been and always will be. This is particularly true for our Firestone brand, which has been part of world-class racing since winning the first Indy 500 in 1911,” said Paolo Ferrari, executive chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Americas.
“We believe motorsports are the ultimate challenge for premium performance and a proving ground for advancing in our goals toward sustainable innovation. Our relationship with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has been a critical part of these efforts, and we are proud to keep driving forward together.”
Through the Firestone brand, Bridgestone has worked closely with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and partners across the paddock to help advance developments in more sustainable racing. Bridgestone incorporated certain materials made from hard-to-recycle plastics and palm oil waste residue in Indy 500 race tires in 2023 and 
2024. The company has also used guayule-derived natural rubber in the sidewall of alternate race tires the past two seasons.
Bridgestone’s motorsports initiatives are aligned with the company’s long-term sustainability goals. They also demonstrate alignment with INDYCAR’s efforts to work toward making the sport more sustainable.
“Our relationship with the team at Bridgestone continues to set an industry standard for success and innovation,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation. “Firestone has been a foundational partner for our sport, from the very first Indy 500 to now, playing an integral role in the development of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and its highly competitive racing. We’re extremely proud to carry this long-term partnership forward into a very exciting and productive future together.”
The long-term extension includes Firestone’s role as presenting sponsor and sole tire supplier of the top-tier development series, INDY NXT by Firestone. The brand signed as presenting sponsor of INDY NXT in 2023 to help the sport develop the next generation of racing talent and engage new audiences. The agreement also renews Firestone’s status as official partner and tire supplier of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest spectator sporting facility on the planet.
The announcement reinforces Bridgestone’s investment and commitment to its workforce in Northeast Ohio. All Firestone Firehawk race tires are designed and manufactured at the Bridgestone Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron. The facility opened in 2022 across the street from the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center (ATC). This proximity allows the Firestone Race Tire Engineering team to work side-by-side with other tire engineers to transfer insights from racing into other innovation workstreams.
In addition to providing tire technology and on-track support, Firestone will continue its role as a key partner in the marketing and promotion of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone. The brand’s comprehensive, season-long activation features fan engagement, sponsorships and signage at multiple venues. It also includes robust social and digital media programs, traditional media and hospitality.
Bridgestone motorsports activities are leveraged globally as co-creation platforms to help deliver the values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment. This corporate commitment outlines eight areas where the company is focused on contributing to a more sustainable world. The ongoing relationship with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES supports the values of emotion, energy, ecology and empowerment.
For more company news, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Bridgestone Americas employs more than 50,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
About INDYCAR:INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and its developmental series, INDY NXT by Firestone. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including two-time and reigning series champion Alex Palou, two-time series champion Will Power, six-time series champion Scott Dixon and two-time series champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The 2024 season consists of 17 races in the United States and Canada and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader.
For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com. For more information on INDY NXT by Firestone, please visit www.indynxt.com. 

Juncos Hollinger Racing Trials Cutting-Edge Digital Advertising Technology with Industry Disruptor Seamless Technology

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This could be interesting.

From Juncos Hollinger Racing:

September 12, 2024

Juncos Hollinger Racing has collaborated with technology innovator Seamless Digital to bring the first-ever dynamic on-car digital display to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Partner logos and imagery, which have typically been displayed as static prints on the inner portion of the aeroscreen of the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, now feature a completely customizable digital display system, forging an innovative look in advertising technology.

“We’re delighted to extend our portfolio of sports now using the Seamless Digital system, from Formula 1 to Golf to INDYCAR,” said Mark Turner, Founder and CEO, Seamless Digital. “We were excited to work with INDYCAR and Juncos Hollinger Racing, who have been fantastic collaborators, as we worked through the approval process.”

Piloting the state-of-the-art technology in 2022 in Formula 1 and golf in 2023 Seamless Digital has now set its sight on showcasing the technology with Juncos Hollinger Racing.

“One of our team’s main priorities is to champion the things that other teams haven’t before, leading the charge to change the industry for the better,” said Ricardo Juncos, Founder and Co-Owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “The technology and opportunities Seamless Digital provides to our sponsors and partners will allow our team to grow beyond what has been possible before.”

“Connecting and engaging with the INDYCAR community is what guides us here at Juncos Hollinger Racing,” said Brad Hollinger, Co-Owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “Integrating this new technology allows us to connect directly with every individual who watches and engages with our sport – and we couldn’t be more excited to lead the way on what this could look like in INDYCAR.”

After successful test runs at tracks earlier in the season, the new digital technology will be displayed on the No. 77 entry of Roman Grosjean at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale in Nashville, Tennessee September 13-15.