One streak continues, and another restarts. Josef Newgarden broke his two race oval losing streak with a come from behind win at World Wide Technolgy Raceway, his fifth win at this track.
Newgarden beat Scott McLaughlin out of the pits on a late stop and held the lead the rest of the way.
The race had many dimensions, cautions, questionable moves, and a red flag which resulted in a seven lap shootout in which newgarden ran away from the field.
Tonight’s race was the best race since the introduction of the hybrid. There was a lot of overtaking, multiple pit strategies, and the winner was in doubt until near the end. There were also heartbreaking stories- David Malukas, Nolan Siegel, and Conor Daly, to name a few.
Alex Palou looked as if he would take a huge hit on his points lead, but thanks to Will Power’s mishap near the end, he once again extends his lead.
In the post race press conference Newgarden said that the second lane worked tonight, and he is hopeful that Indycar can get other tracks to put on a good show. He felt relieved that he didn’t hit the wall when he spun.
I will have more thoughts on the race tomorrow morning.
When I arrived at the track yesterday, things looked different yet the same. In my walks around yesterday, I noticed several improvements. The track has changed a lot since Indycar’s return in 2017.
Paddock
The paddock area is much improved with more signage and a change to the spaces. The work areas are all on the east side. The west side is now a spectator area under cover. Drivers’ names and car numbers tell fans who is where. In addition, a video screen presents each driver’s profile.
Fan Comfort
At the north end of the infield behind the pits, there are numerous picnic tables shaded by umbrellas. Just past the tables are three covered lounge area with video screens. While they don’t provide much relief from the heat, the pergola does give some relief from the sun, which helps a bit.
The track management has stationed several cooling buses around the unfield and the outer grandstands., and there are misting stations to provide a short respite from the heat.
The media center and the medical building have a fresh coat of paint, which helps the appearance a lot.
The grandstand seats have been repainted as well.
This year is the best the track has looked since Indycar’s return. I hope the track continues to improve the appearance and fan comfort, and can work with Indycar to put on a good show on the track.
Photo by Kyle McInnes. Could this scene be the duel at the end of the race?
Today’s Schedule: Times are Central
11 am Gates Open
11:10 am: Vintage Indy
1:45pm: Vintage Indy
3 pm: INDY NXT Command
3:05 pm: INDY NXT Green Flag
4:48 pm: Driver Intros
5:13 pm: Invocation
5:14 pm: Anthem
5:25 pm: Command
5:30 pm: Green Flag 260 laps; USA, Peaocck, Indycar Radio
7:53 pm: Sunset
What looked to be processional event now has the promise of being quite intriguing. Grid penalties and a qualifying mishap has several favorites starting in the second `half of the field.
Colton Herta has one of the fastest cars this weekend, and he starts 25th. Points leader Alex Palou starts 16th. While Herta, Palou,, and Scott Dixon will probably work their way into the top ten, the going will get tougher after that. The Penske trio of Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden will be strong. Pato O’Ward should also be in the mix, as will David Malukas.
Based on the final practice last night, I think passing will still be difficult in the race. The best overtaking opportunity appears to be going into turn 1.
Will Power has a great opportunity to cut into Palou’s points lead., but as we have seen before, Palou seems to find a way to minimize the damage.
Two Things to Watch
How easily will the leaders be able to get through lapped traffic? At Iowa, it took quite a few laps to get past a slower car. While that does bunch up the leaders, it really slows the pace of the race and keeps it as a processional.
How many cautions and when they happen could make the race more interesting. Restarts will provide the best passing opportunities. I hope there is a balance between a crash fest and a caution free race.
In the end, we might see a duel between Josef newgarden and Pato O’Ward for the win. This time, O’Ward comes out on top and breks the Penske oval streak.
Pato O’Ward led the evening practice as the Indycar series had its final tune up before this afternoons’ Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
Early in the session Nolan Siegel had a tire come apart on the front stretch. he pulled to the inside ad stopped next to the pit wall. Firestone officials determined that the tire had been cut and that it did not deflate immediately. A serious situation was avoided.
Josef Newgarden led for much of the session, and O’Ward grabbed the top spot in the final 30 minutes.
The practice followed a 30 minute high line session as cars tried to make the second groove usable for the race. It will still be difficult to pass tonight.
Alex Palou and Graham Rahal ((Photo by Kyle McInnes)
The 7:30 start time for the practice would be the ideal for this race to begin. The t excessive heat of the day moderated, and it was pleasant during the second half of the session. Indycar needs to have a true night race again.
Silver Crown
Dakoda Armstrong won the USAC Silver Crown race at WWTR last night. Justin Grant, winner of the BC39 at IMS last fall, was second, and Kalee Bryson scored her first career podium.
I will have a pre race story up in a couple of hours.
Scott McLaughlin seems to have inherited Will Power’s mastery of qualifications, as he earned his fourth pole of the season and will lead the field to green tomorrow night in the Bommarito 500. This Mclaughlin’s third oval pole. he finished sixth and third in the other two oval events where he started first.
In the post qualifying press conference, McLaughlin brushed aside the notion that Penske has an advantage with the hybrid because of their extensive testing with it.
“Debatable,” he said. “Everybody’s doing the same thing.”
Colton Herta, thought to be the only driver to challenge Herta, had a first lap that would have gotten him close to McLaughlin, but he spun and hit the wall in turn 2 of his second lap.
The session got off to a rocky start as first qualifier Jack Harvey pulled to s top at the end of the front stretch just after taking the green flag. Compounding the woes for the Dale Coyne team, Katherine Legge’s car failed ech inspection. and she was not allowed to qualify.
Felix Rosenqvist was second fastest, but he will start 11th due to a grid penalty for an engine change. His Teammate david Malukas will start second.
Points leader Alex Palou qualified seventh but will start16th after serving his grid penalty. Scott Dixon’s penalty will move him back to 19th on the grid.
McLaughlin’s Team Penske teammates, Will Power and Josef Newgarden, will start third and fourth. Each of the team’s drivers have won one of the oval races so far this year.
Notes
Sting Ray Robb in 24th is slowest driver to complete both qualifying laps at speed. Herta completed his second lap at about 97 mph. It’s been aw hile since as many as three cars did not fully complete their qualifying runs at full speed.
Pato O’Ward will be the biggest beneficiary among the title contenders of the grid penalties as he moves to eighth on the grid.
Conor Daly showed some hope for the 78 car as he qualified 12th and will start ninth.
Next on the schedule is high linbe practice at 6:45 Central, followed by the final practice at 7:30 pm Central.
David Malukas continued his great run since joining Meyer Shank Racing by turning the fastest lap in the first practice at World Wide Technology Raceway. He edged Colton Herta by four tenths of a second.
The Andretti Global cars topped the charts in the first half of the session, but Herta was the only one who maintained his position.
Scott McLaughlin and Will Power were third and fourth fo Team Penske.
Alex Palou had the fifth fastest lap.
The session was stopped just once when linus Lundqvist stalled off of turn two.
Qualifying begins at 3:20 Central time.
Qualifying order is in inverse order of entrant points.
Four grid penalties, including two of the title contenders have been assessed by Indycar for unapproved engine changes.
The cars affected:
No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Scott Dixon · No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou · No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Katherine Legge · No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Felix Rosenqvist
Each car will lose nine positions on the starting grid after qualifying.
11:45 am Indycar practice 1 Peacock, Indycar Radio
3:20 pm Indycar Qualifying Peacock, Indycar Radio
7:30 pm Indycar practice 2 (includes hiugh line practice) Peacock, Indycar Radio
World Wide Technology Raceway, affectionately known as Gateway, has been a popular late season stop on the Indycar circuit. The track has provided nearly non stop action with Indy NXT, Silver Crown, and vintage cars keeping fans entertained.
For 2024, the tracked has moved ahead in the schedule. It had been the 15th race on the calendar. This year it is the 13th. In 2025, it will be race number eight.
The weather this weekend will again be typical, warm, muggy St. louis are summer conditions. The latest from @Indycar_Wxman:
The early morning cloud cove is beginning to dissipate. The temperature when first practice begins should be around 87 degrees.
The three oval races that have run this season eqch saw aq different winner- all from Team Penske. They will probably be strong again. Josef Newgarden has won four races at this track. he was in contention last year until he crashed late in the race.
Andretti Global drivers Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson were the top three in testing at Gateway last month. Herta won pole for one of the Iowa races, and I expect him to be strong this weekend.
Pato O’Ward should also be aq driver to watch. O’Ward is always good on ovals, and it just might be time to break through.
Points leader Alex Palou is still lookng for his first win on an oval, but does he really need to win? We are at the point in the season where Palou is more concerned about keeping his as close to the 49 point margin he holds entering tomorrow’s race.
Iowa 2.0?
Some drivers said after the test session that they don’t think this weekend’s race will be any better than the ones we witnessed at iowa. I hope that is not the case. While this is a track where passing is difficult, we have seen somebold moves going into turn 1.
While I don’t like a lot of cautions, three caution periods well spaced out could make for an intriguing event.
I look for an Andretti car to win the race. Colton Herta could get his second straight victory this season. It’s difficult to remember that he won the Tronto race nearly a month ago.
Notes
Alexander Rossi returns to the 7 car after missing the Tronto race with a thumb injury.
Will we see more tire degradation/? That would really help the flow of the race.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 