Tag: Bommarito Automotive Group

Race Day at WWTR

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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.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Notes; Silly Season Shakeup

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Good afternoon from St. Louis. I stopped by the track to pick up my credentials and I drove around. the outside of the track place looks great and ready for the weekend.

Katherine Legge will drive the 51 for Dale Coyne this weekend. I had thought there was an earlier announcement from Dale Coyne that she was set to run all the ovals at the end of the season. I guess it is race by race now.

A Lead with Five Races to Go is Pretty Safe

Indycar provided the following chart yesterday which shows the points leader with five races to go since 2008 and how the year finished. Only six times has the leader with five races remaining failed to win the title the last time in 2017. Datio Franchitti and Scott Dixon are the main spoilers.

Malukas Rocks the Silly Season Boat

David Malukas’ shock signing with A. J. Foyt Racing this week reset all the thinking about Silly season. It put his current seat at Meyer Shank Racing in play without filling one of the other seats thought to be open.

Alexander Rossi is the beneficiary of Malukas’ move. He is arguably the\ top free agent now, and there is another quality seat for the taking.

What Prema’s plans are remains a mystery. They want a veteran and a rookie. While a Rossi signing will het the other free agents settled in short order. rather quickly, I think knowing Prema’s plans are just as big a factor to seeing the 2025 grid set.

Schedule Reminder

First practice tomorrow is at 12:45 pm Eastern. If you are coming to the track, make sure you hydrate. it will be hot.

The 2025 race is in June, and the weather should be more pleasant then.

Your first friendly reminder that the race is at 6:25 pm Saturday on USA Network as well as Peacock.

Look for my scintillating race preview tomorrow morning.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline Fast Facts 

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From Indycar. Look for my preview Friday morning. I will have a post tomorrow afternoon after I arrive in St. Louis.

 Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 16 – Saturday, Aug. 17
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway, a 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline 260 laps / 325 miles
INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown 75 laps / 93.75 miles

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 120 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIESEight sets for use through the doubleheader weekend.
INDY NXT by FirestoneTwo new sets to be used during the event weekend.
X: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Threads: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @WWTRaceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @WWT_Raceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCARYouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.wwtraceway.com/
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2023 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)I
NDY NXT by Firestone Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports)
2023 NTT P1 Award winner: Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet), 49.1936 seconds, 182.951 mph (two laps)
2023 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports), field set by points after qualifying was rained out
One-lap qualifying lap record: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power, 23.7206, 189.709 mph, Aug. 25. 2017
INDY NXT by Firestone Juan Piedrahita, 27.8890, 161.354 mph, Aug. 26, 2017
USA Network race telecast: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline, 6 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 17, USA Network (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry and Dillon Welch are the pit reporters.
Peacock Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while USA Network’s race telecast of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown will be streamed on Peacock, with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR LIVE.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query and Michael Young are the pit reporters. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (6 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (3:50 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, Peacock
2:15-3 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, INDYCAR LIVE
3:20 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT P1 Award qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), Peacock
5:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), INDYCAR LIVE
6:45-7:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES high-line session (two groups/15 minutes each), Peacock
7:30-8:30 p.m. –NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
3 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown “Drivers Start Your Engines”
3:05 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (75 laps / 93.75 miles)
5 p.m. – USA Network on air
5:25 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
5:30 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps/325 miles), USA Network (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Facts:· 
Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with five races to go for the third time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. He also led the 2021 and 2023 championships with five races to go, winning the title in each of those seasons. Palou, who has led the point standings after seven of the 12 rounds this season, took the point lead at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in June.· There are 18 drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward, Scott McLaughlin, Kyle Kirkwood, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Santino Ferrucci, Christian Lundgaard, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong, Rinus VeeKay, Romain Grosjean, Graham Rahal and Linus Lundqvist. Any driver who trails the points leader by 217 points or more following this race will be eliminated from contention.·
Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship three times: Alex Zanardi (1998), Josef Newgarden (2017) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the championship leader with five races to go has won the championship nine times. Those drivers were: Scott Dixon (2008, 2018, 2020), Dario Franchitti (2011), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Simon Pagenaud (2016), Josef Newgarden (2019) and Alex Palou (2021, 2023).
Point differential: The 49 points that separate Alex Palou and Will Power is the seventh-largest point margin with five races remaining since INDYCAR SERIES racing was unified in 2008. Before this season, the average lead with five races remaining was 43.9 points.

Race Notes: There have been seven winners in 12 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2024 season. Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course), Scott Dixon (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway-1), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca), Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500), Will Power (Road America, Iowa Speedway-2) and Colton Herta (Streets of Toronto) have all won in 2024. The modern record (1946-present) for the most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the 16th INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Scott Dixon won at WWTR for the second time in 2023. Paul Tracy won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WWTR in 1997. Dixon, Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018) are the former winners entered in this year’s race.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Josef Newgarden 4 2017, 2020-Race2, 2021, 2022
Scott Dixon 2 2020-Race 1, 2023
Will Power 1 2018
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the fourth of seven oval races during the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Team Penske drivers have won the previous three races. Josef Newgarden won the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May while Scott McLaughlin and Will Power split the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader at Iowa Speedway last month.
Three drivers have won at World Wide Technology Raceway from the pole – Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Gil de Ferran (2002) and Helio Castroneves (2003).T
eam Penske has won eight times at World Wide Technology Raceway. Penske’s winning drivers are Paul Tracy (1997), Gil de Ferran (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003), Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018). Chip Ganassi Racing has three wins at Gateway with Alex Zanardi (1998), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
Twenty-four drivers have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at World Wide Technology Raceway. Scott Dixon has nine starts, most among the entered drivers. Rookies Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson will make their first start at WWTR. Thirteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Josef Newgarden 582, Scott Dixon 374, Will Power 333, Pato O’Ward 159, Colton Herta 134, Scott McLaughlin 12, Alexander Rossi 8, David Malukas 4, Felix Rosenqvist 4, Marcus Ericsson 3, Romain Grosjean 2, Graham Rahal 2 and Conor DalyMilestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 335th consecutive start, extending his NTT INDYCAR SERIES record streak.
INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:
Andretti Global’s Louis Foster returns to World Wide Technology Raceway looking to solidify his grip on the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. The 21-year-old English driver leads Jacob Abel of Abel Motorsports by 77 points heading into the pivotal championship stretch of four races in five weeks.The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown will be the series’ 14th race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at WWTR include Lee Bentham, Townsend Bell, Dan Wheldon, Jeff Simmons, Oliver Askew, David Malukas and Christian Rasmussen. 

Race Day! Rain Day?

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Good morning from the Olivette media center annex. Here is the latest from @Indycar_Wxman

It looks like we will get the race in, althiough maybe later than scheduled. I wil We just might get the night race we want. l up date the weather situation during the on Facebook on The Pit Window and on Twitter @tutorindie.

Today’s Schedule: All times Central

The Indy Lights race ius on Peacock. The Indycar race is on USA Network and Peacock.

Thew starting lineup, which includes Romain grosjean’s penalty:

Rahal Leads Final Practice

Graham Rrahal had the fastest time in last night’s warm up for today’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500. He went to the top of the chart late in the session. Scott Dixon led a good portion the practice.

Jimmie Johnson spun entering pit lane with about two mi nutes remaining to end the practice early.

Silver Crown- Lots of Action

I watched the first half of the USAC Silver Crown race. I need to get to more of their races. The cars are loud and the action us furious. There was constant passing and several lead changes.

Kody Swanson leads

It was nice to watch a race at night (Ahem-Indycar).

I very much enjoyed this race. I hope they will accompany INdycar to more short ovals next year.

The Race

Will Power is the prohibitive favorite, but just one race has been won from the pole this year. I am looking at Josef newgarden, Scott Dixon, or Pato O’Ward to win.

I don’t think Arrow McLaren SP had gotten enough credit for the job they havedone on ovals this season. O’Ward has a win and two second place finishes. Felix Rosenqvist has a pole, a topo 5 and two top 10 finishes.

If you are looking for a dark horse, keep an eye on Takuma Sato.

Power’s Record Tying Pole Caps Dramatic Qualifying

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Will Power finally caught Mario Andretti’s pole record. But first he had to catch Marcus Ericsson. Poiwer. the final car to qualify, topped Ericsson’s 182.070 mph average speed with a two lap average of 182.727 mph.

The qualifying session was arguably the most dramatic oval qualifying of the season. Takuma Sato was the eighth driver to make a qualifying run. He took the top spot and held it until Pato O’Ward beat his time 12 drivers later. Scott McLaughlin grabbed the pole until teammate Josef Newgarden made his run.

One of the possible pole contenders, Felix Rosenqvist, spun on his first qualifying lap in turn 2. He hit the inside wall. Rosenqvist will start last.

Marcus Ericsson

Ericsson’s qualifying time shot him to the lead. Scott Dixon was next, but he could only manage the fifth best time. Then Power came on track to end the qualifying round.

Power’s first lap was good enough to put him on the pole and his second lap reinforced his spot.

Power has tied Andretti for the most career poles with 67. His next win will tie him for third place all time with Michael Andretti. At the last race in Nashville, Scott Dixon moved ahead of Mario in career wins with his 53rd win, second to A. J. Foyt’s 67 victories.

Imagine being the top performer in your field and living to see your records equalled or broken. Andretti probably knew it would happen someday. I wonder if he thought he would be alive to see it happen.

Andretti’s last pole was in 1993.

In Dixon and Power we are witnessing two of the legendary drivers of open wheel racing.

Notes

Andretti Autosport cars showed to be relatively equal as they qualified 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Romain Grosjean, the fastest qualifier on the team, will serve a nine spot grid penalty and will start the race in 18th.

PThe top five contenders in the points chase-Will Power, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Josef Newgarden, and Alex Palou- all start in the frirst three rows.

“It just shows no one’s letting up, no
one will until the end.Yep, pretty tight battle to the end. It will be very interestingto see how it unfolds. All you can do is just do your best.
Do your best. Can’t control some things, so see what
happens,” Power said.

“I think it shows howcompetitive this series is. It’s going to be tough. It’s going tobe tough to battle it out, try and beat the guy next to me
here. It’s going to be very tough.” Ericsson added.

A, J, Foyt Racing teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Dalton Kellett start 20th and 24th respectively. This usually one of the best tracks for Foyt’s cars.

Results

Opening Day at Gateway

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Today’s Schedule. Times are Eastern

11am: Silver Crown Prac

1145am: Pro2000 Prac

1pm: INDYCAR Prac

215pm: Silver Crown Prac

310pm: Lights Prac

415pm: INDYCAR Quals

530pm: Silver Crown Quals

615pm: Lights Quals

7pm: INDYCAR Lane 2 Prac

745pm: IndyCar Final Prac

930pm: Silver Crown Race

Today should be dry, but tomorrow there may be some precipitation causing issues with the schedule.

Indyar aqctivity is on Peacock today.

Reminder: Tomorrow’s race is on USA Network. Coverage begins at 6 pm Eastern with the green flag at 6:30.

I will be heading to the rack in a coupple of hours and I will have a brief report after each Indycar session.

Bommarito 500 Preview

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Photo: Will Power has a shaky six point lead heading into the final oval race of 2022. Indycar photo by James Black

World Wide Technology Raceway has a tough act to follow. After the smash hit at Iowa, the final oval of the year, which usually puts on a great event, may seem a bit less so this year. Hy Vee is assisting in the production, but I don’t know if they can match Iowa’s energy.

Saturday’s race begins the final stretch of the 2022 Indycar season with three races in 22 days. I always feel sorry for the winners of these last races if they are not one of the title contenders. The focus is on the drivers going for the title. And we have quite a title fight going. Seven drivers have a mathematical chance of winning, but only five have a realistic shot at the Astor Cup.

The top five are within 33 points of leader Will Power, and just 12 points separate the top three. This race could stabilize the title picture or it could jumble it even more.

Penske Strength

Team Penske has been strong at Gateway the past few years. Josef Newgarden has been especially dominant here. In the last three races at WWTR, Josef Newgarden has won twice. Will Power has two poles and two third place finishes. Scott McLaughlin finished fourth in 2021 in his debut. The team has been strong at Texas and Iowa as well, with Newgarden winning at each track and Power and McLaughlin sweeping the poles.

I don’t see Team Penske having any fall off this weekend. The finishing order of this trio will determine who remains in the championship hunt.

What Does Ganassi Have?

Scott Dixon is right where he wants to be- second in points, jus six behind power, with just three races left. If Dixon can’t win here, which he did in 2020 race 1, he has two chances on road courses to get by Power. I would not count him out.

Scott Dixon is used to winning championships late in the season

Will Weather Give Us a Night Race?

Storms are forecast around race time Saturday, and a delay could push the event to the night race everyone wants. I detest rain delys, but I wouldn’t mind this one.

Kirkwood’s Best Opportunity

Rookie Kyle Kirkwood has a chance for a bit of redemption Saturday. Kirkwood thew away a career best finish at Nashville with his late crash. Gateway has been the best track for A. J. Foyt Racing. the team has a podium and to top fives in this event. Can Kirkwood bring the car to the finish?

Kyle Kirkwood carries the event sponsor’s name on his car this weekend.

A Second Groove

The first half hour of the post qualifying practice Friday will feature nine cars- one from each team except Foyt, running in the high groove to laydown some rubber to improve the racing line. Some drivers believe the high line will be good for the start and restarts, but that everyone will settle in to the low groove after a few laps.

Indycar did this at Texas, and it did help the race a bit.

Power putting rubber in the high line at Texas

Andretti Spoilers?

Colton Herta and Alexander Rossi have no realistic hopes of winning the championship. Both Andretti drivers were running well last year before encountering issues. Herta and Rossi overcame qualifying and early race problems at Nashville to finish the top five. The duo could have a say about who wins the title by having good results and taking points away from one or more of the contenders.

In fact, I think that is what will happen. Herta will win the race, and Rossi will grab a top five spot. Obe of the top four chasers will have a big issue and see his hopes dashed, and this tight title fight will become even titghter.