Tag: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

Quick Thoughts- Detroit Grand Prix

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Indycar photo by James Black

Will Power’s strategy worked, Alexander Rossi’s plan almost worked. Power had enough of a lead that his red tires lasted 20 laps. He was helped by the race going caution free. If you like strategy races. this one was about as good as it gets. Both teams executed their plans well, and the race was decided on the track. The two best cars finished 1-2.

The win was redemption for Power, who had Race 1 last year pretty much in hand until the race was red flagged. His engine wouldn’t restart and the race resumed with Power in 20th.

I’m sad to see the race leave Belle Isle. The racing there has been really good the last few years.

Kyle Kirkwood had his best run of the season spoiled by a mistake leaving the pits. He was pretty much guaranteed a top 5. He has done fantastic work this year on a small team. I can’t wait to see how he does with Andretti next year.

The start of the race was probably the worst of the year with half the field not lined up or even close to the front of the grid. It didn’t matter in the long run, but it was not a good look.

Right Strategy, Wrong Year

Josef Newgarden’s strategy in 2021 was to end on reds with as short a stint as possible. His plan didn’t work last year as a yellow flag force him to pit and change to the alternate tire sooner than planned. Power used that strategy this year and it turned out to be the winning play.

NBC- Nothing But Commercials

I thought the broadcast was rather disjointed. The booth did a great job, but it seemed commercials breaks happened every four laps. Even with side by side it was interrupting of the flow. There were too many flashback episodes, and they were always on the larger screen when they should be on the smaller one. I’m more interested in the current action. We didn’t need to rehash what happened to Will Power last ear 10 laps from this year’s finish.

Numbers

Power is the sixth different winner after seven races.

There has been a different pole winner for each race.

The points lead has changed hands six times among five drivers. Only Scott McLaughlin has led for consecutive races. Power has regained the lead that Marcus Ericsson took last week. Power’s lead is three points over Ericsson. Josef Newgarden, in fifth place, is just 47 points behind Power.

Thanks for following along this weekend. I had another good day of improvement, but my trip to Road America is in serious jeopardy.

I’ll have some more thoughts on the weekend tomorrow.

Rossi Tops Race Warmup

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Alexander Rossi had the quickest lap in the 30 minute warmup session for today’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. He also was fastest in yesterday morning’s practice session.

This morning’s practice was the cleanest of the weekend, stopped just once when Jimmie Johnson spun and stalled with about 15 minutes left.

The red alternate tires appear to degrade rather quickly. The teams have some big decisions to make on when to use them. Tire choices will be coming soon, and the starting tire could be the key to the race. There are many options, including a third stop.

The top 13 results:

Race Day at Detroit

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Indycar photo

Today’s schedule: All Times Eastern

10:15-10:45 Indycar Warmup/ Peacock

12:10-1:05 Indy Lights Race Peacock

3:30- Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix (Green Flag t 3:45) USA Network; Peacock

Health Update: I’m feeling a bit better overall today, and I hope to improve as the day goes along.

Belle Isle’s final race begins this afternoon. It is fitting that a Team Penske car is on the pole. Josef Newgarden edged Takuma Sato on his final lap as time expired in the the Fast Six. Newgarden was fortunate to be in the last round.

In Round 2, Newgarden was in the pits as several cars were on laps pacing quicker than his best time. Romain Grosjean clipped the wall in turn 12, breaking the rear toe link and sending the car hard into the outside wall. The cars that might have knocked Newgarden out, including Scott Dixon and Colton Herta, were trailing Grosjean, thus did not get to complete their laps.

Qualifying Results:

DETROIT – Qualifying Saturday for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the 2.35-mile(s) Raceway at Belle Isle Park, with qualifying position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, time and speed in parentheses:

1. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 01:15.2153 (112.477 mph)
2. (51) Takuma Sato, Honda, 01:15.3490 (112.278)
3. (60) Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 01:15.3951 (112.209)
4. (06) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 01:15.4538 (112.122)
5. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 01:16.3301 (110.834)
6. (18) David Malukas, Honda, 01:16.6104 (110.429)
7. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 01:15.1043 (112.643)
8. (8) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 01:15.2279 (112.458)
9. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 01:15.4057 (112.193)
10. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 01:15.8670 (111.511)
11. (27) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 01:16.2179 (110.998)
12. (28) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 01:16.9740 (109.907)
13. (20) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 01:16.0154 (111.293)
14. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 01:15.5482 (111.981)
15. (14) Kyle Kirkwood, Chevrolet, 01:16.1255 (111.132)
16. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 01:15.5731 (111.945)
17. (77) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 01:16.1390 (111.113)
18. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 01:15.6121 (111.887)
19. (30) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 01:16.3068 (110.868)
20. (45) Jack Harvey, Honda, 01:16.8347 (110.107)
21. (29) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 01:16.3374 (110.824)
22. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Honda, 01:17.5499 (109.091)
23. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 01:16.4265 (110.695)
24. (11) Tatiana Calderon, Chevrolet, 01:18.3657 (107.955)
25. (4) Dalton Kellett, Chevrolet, No Time (No Speed)
26. (7) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 01:18.6291 (107.594)

Kirkwood’s Up and Down Day

Kyle Kirkwood led Friday’s practice session, but he didn’t get very far in yesterday’s practice. He collided with David Malukas on the first lap of the practice. He rebounded to qualify 15th.

In the afternoon, he was the winning co driver In IMSA’s GTD class, driving the Vasser-Sullivan Lexus.

The Race

I think today’s winner comes from row 2 today. Simon Pagenaud will win his first race in two years this afternoon. Today will be another day which jumbles the points standings. The top four are separated by just 24 points.

Kirkwood Leads First Detroit Practice

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Note: I did not feel well yesterday and left the track before practic began. I took a rapid COVID test bwhich was positive, then I arranged a PCR test. I should get those results today. I am heading home this morning to isolate if necessary.

Kyle Kirkwood put up the fastest time in yesterday’s first practice session for the Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit. The A. J. Foyt Racing driver turned a lap of 1:16.1345 edged Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi. All three drivers have announced new deals for 2023. O’Ward extended his contract with Arrow McLaren SP, Rossi joins O’Ward as a teammate next year, Kirkwood moves into Rossi’s current ride at Andretti Autosport.

Felix Rosenqvist slid in turn 1 and hit the barrier. The car suffered moderate damage.

Kirkwood also was fastest in practice in the IMSA GTD class.

The Day at Belle Isle

The Friday crowd was vary large for the final race on the island.

It was nice to see activity nin the infield again. In 2021 all vendors were outside the track.

Instead of a food court the food trucks lined up on na drive just before the paddock. The event provided many more tables this year.

I will report remotely the rest of the weelend, and we will see what happens as afr as Road America goes.

Kellett Has 6 Place Grid Penalty

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Dalton Kellett, driver of the number4 car for A. J. Foyt Racing, will serve a six place grid penalty in Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix for an unapoproved engine c hange before the Indianapolis 500.

The announcement from Indycar:

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, June 3, 2022) – INDYCAR officials have announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the No. 4 AJ FOYT RACING entry for an unapproved engine change before the start of the 2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.The team was in violation of:Rule 16.5.4. Once an Indianapolis 500 Engine is fitted to the Car, removal of the Engine prior to the Indianapolis 500 Race is an Unapproved Engine Change-Out, unless it is for Repair.According to the rulebook, the penalty for such a change at the Indianapolis 500 comes at the series’ next event, which is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Sunday, June 5.

Farewell to the Belle- Detroit Preview

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Today’s Schedule:

Friday, June 3, 2022 – Comerica Bank Free Prix Day
7:30 a.m. Gates open
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Practice 1 (DPi/GTD)
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. GM Car Corral Track Laps
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Masters Endurance Legends USA – Practice
11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Promoter Pace Car Ride Session (BCBSM Pit Lane)
12:05 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Practice 2 (DPi/GTD)
2:25 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Indy Lights Series Presented by Cooper Tires – Practice Session
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Practice 1 Peacock
4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Masters Endurance Legends USA – Qualifying Session
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (GTD – Silver/Bronze only)
5:55 p.m. – 6:10 p.m. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (DPi – any driver)
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Live Entertainment – The Verve Pipe (new stage location across from Autotrader Winner’s Circle)

This weekend marks the end of an era for Indycar, as the NTT Indycar Series runs its final race on Belle Isle.This is a race I used to not like. I didn’t like the track, I didn’t like the races it produced, and the first time I came to Belle Isle in 2014, I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Since that time, I have come to appreciate the Island and the track. The racing has improved the last few years. The event itself has grown up as well. The Penske organization has contributed millions to improving the venue. The State of Michigan took control of Belle Isle from the City if Detroit a few years ago. The improvement has been noticeable.

The race has seen torrential rains, snow flurries, and broken pavement. Overall, it’s been a fun, though sometimes frustrating run.

Next year the race moves to the streets of downtown Detroit. I hope to see maps of the new course this weekend, I am not thrilled with waht I have previously seen. Some clarification would be nice.

Points Battle

The top four in points- Marcus Ericsson, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, aqnd Will Power- are separated by just 24 points. A bad race by one of of them will be costly. Indianapolis 500 Ericsson will try to break the 500 winner’s jinx at the race after Indy. O’Ward and Ericsson each won a race at Belle isle in 2021.

Josef Newgarden needs a strong showing to climb back intoi title contention. He is 52 points behind. While a win would help a lot, Newgarden’s main objective is to finish ahead of the four drivers inb front of him.

Penske Rebound?

Team Penske did not have a strong Indianapolis 500. The team won the first three races of the year, but has been mostly silent since. Belle Isle is the team’s home race. They have performed well here in the past, and the team needs a strong showing this weekend.

Dixon Redemption?

Scott Dixon has won three times on the island. His unforced error on the last pit stop last Sunday might be the push he needs to get his 52nd Indycar win. Dixon doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody, but it is unusual to see him go nearly 14 months without winning a race.

Tires and Timing

The race at Belle Isle comes down to having the correct tires on the car at the correct time. In 2021 Newgarden looked to have made the corredt choice to start on primaries, but a caution caution caused him to make his last pit stop for alternates earlier than he had planned. The tires did not last and O’Ward passed him for the win.

When the caution flags fall greatly sdeetermines pit strategy on this track. Some teams will pit early in hopes of avoiding getting caught out by a yellow flag. Some are not so fortunate. The pit strategy that has been in play the last few years have made this race fascinating.

Fast Facts-Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

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Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear
 Fast Facts  
Race weekend: Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5
Track: Raceway at Belle Isle Park, a 2.35-mile, 14-turn temporary street course (clockwise)
Race distance: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix: 70 laps / 164.5 miles | Indy Lights Detroit Grand Prix Race 1: 25 laps/45 minutes; 
Indy Lights Detroit Grand Prix Race 2: 30 laps/55 minutes
Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation | Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation
Firestone tire allotment: Six sets primary, four sets alternate. Teams must use one new set of primary and alternate tires in the race. One additional set for teams fielding a rookie driver is available for the first session of the weekend.
Twitter: @DetroitGP @IndyCar, #DetroitGP, #IndyCarEvent website: www.DetroitGP.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2021 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Race 1: Marcus Ericsson (No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
Race 2: Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet)
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Race 1: Kyle Kirkwood (No. 28 Andretti Autosport
)Race 2: Kyle Kirkwood (No. 28 Andretti Autosport)
2021 NTT P1 Award winners: Race 1: Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet) 1:14.1989, 114.018 mph;
Race 2: Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet) 1:14.8607, 113.010 mph
Qualifying lap record: NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Takuma Sato, 1:13.6732, 114.831 mph, June 4, 2017
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Jonny Kane, 1:21.840, 103.372 mph, June 17, 2000
USA Network race telecast: 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, June 5, USA Network (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for USA Network’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.
Peacock Premium Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while USA Network’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix race telecast will be simulcast on the streaming service. Peacock Premium’s exclusive post-race show – featuring driver interviews, podium ceremonies and post-race analysis – will be streamed following the race. The Indy Lights Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader will be streamed on Peacock Premium with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR Live!
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the chief announcer alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Ryan Myrehn and Joel Sebastianelli are the pit reporters. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix race (3 p.m. ET Sunday), Indy Lights Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader (11:20 a.m. ET Saturday and noon ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local)
:Friday, June 3
 (All times local)2:25 – 3:15 p.m. Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires practice #1, INDYCAR Live!
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (45 minutes), Peacock Premium
Saturday, June 4
7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Indy Lights Grand Prix of Detroit Qualifying (Two 12-minute sessions: 7:45-7:57 a.m./Race #1;
8:03-8:15 a.m. /Race #2), INDYCAR Live!
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (45 minutes), Peacock Premium
11:25 a.m. Indy Lights Grand Prix of Detroit Race #1 command to start engines
11:30 a.m. Indy Lights Grand Prix of Detroit Race #1 (25 Laps/45 minutes), Peacock Premium (U.S)/INDYCAR Live! (Most international markets)
12:35-1:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock Premium (live)
Sunday, June 5
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock Premium
12:05 p.m. Indy Lights Grand Prix of Detroit Race #2 command to start engines12:10 p.m. Indy Lights Grand Prix of Detroit Race #2 (30 Laps/55 minutes), Peacock Premium (U.S)/INDYCAR Live! (Most international markets)
2:55 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver introductions
3:38 p.m. Command to start engines
3:45 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (70 laps/164.5 miles), USA Network (live)
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Race Notes:
There have been five different winners in six NTT INDYCAR SERIES races to start the 2022 season. Scott McLaughlin (Streets of St. Petersburg), Josef Newgarden (Texas Motor Speedway and Streets of Long Beach), Pato O’Ward (Barber Motorsports Park), Colton Herta (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course-1) and Marcus Ericsson (Indianapolis 500) have all won in 2022. The record for most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be the 30th and final INDYCAR SERIES race conducted at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park and the 33rd INDYCAR SERIES race held in Detroit. A 2.5-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit hosted CART events from 1989-1991.
Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves have won three times at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park and are tied for most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver at the track. In addition to Castroneves and Dixon, other previous Belle Isle winners entered include Marcus Ericsson, Josef Newgarden, Pato O’Ward, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power and Graham Rahal.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Helio Castroneves 3 2000, 2001, 2014 Race #2
Scott Dixon 3 2012, 2018 Race #1, 2019 Race #2
Will Power 2 2014 Race #1, 2016 Race #2
Graham Rahal 2 2017 Race #1, 2017 Race #2
Simon Pagenaud 1 2013 Race #2
Josef Newgarden 1 2019 Race #1
Marcus Ericsson 1 2021 Race #1
Pato O’Ward 1 2021 Race #2
Four NTT P1 Award winners have won the race from the pole: Graham Rahal (2017, Race 1), Scott Dixon (2012), Helio Castroneves (2001) and Robby Gordon (1995).
ACTIVE POLE WINNER POLES SEASONS
Helio Castroneves 3 2001, 2007, 2014 Race #1
Scott Dixon 2 2008, 2012
Takuma Sato 2 2014 Race #2, 2017 Race #2
Simon Pagenaud 2 2016 Race #1, 2016 Race #2
Alexander Rossi 2 2018 Race #2, 2019 Race #1
Josef Newgarden 2 2019 Race #2, 2021 Race #2
Will Power 1 2015 Race #1
Graham Rahal 1 2017 Race #1
Pato O’Ward 1 2021 Race #1
The winner at Detroit has gone on to win the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season five times. Josef Newgarden won Race #1 in 2019, Scott Dixon won Race #1 in 2018, Will Power won Race #2 in 2014, Alex Zanardi won on Belle Isle in 1998, Bobby Rahal won at Belle Isle in 1992 and Emerson Fittipaldi won in downtown Detroit in 1989.
Scott Dixon has competed in 20 previous races at Belle Isle, most of any driver.
Thirteen drivers entered have led laps at the track (Helio Castroneves 268, Scott Dixon 143, Graham Rahal 111, Josef Newgarden 100, Simon Pagenaud 93, Will Power 87, Takuma Sato 44, Santino Ferrucci 20, Alexander Rossi 21, Marcus Ericsson 7, Pato O’Ward 6, Conor Daly 4 and Romain Grosjean 1.)
Four drivers will race NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars at the Raceway at Belle Isle for the first time: Tatiana Calderon, Devlin DeFrancesco, Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas. Kirkwood, who won both Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires races in 2021, will be pulling double duty, by also competing in the IMSA Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on Saturday.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 295th consecutive start, the second-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history.
Indy Lights Detroit Grand Prix Race Notes
:Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires will conduct a doubleheader weekend with a 25-lap sprint race on Saturday and a 30-lap feature race on Sunday. Linus Lundqvist rides a wave of success, having won two of the last three races to put himself on top of the Indy Lights championship standings. The 23-year-old Swede has swept three out of four qualifying sessions so far this season, taking the momentum of three consecutive pole positions to this weekend’s event in Michigan. Qualifying for the doubleheader event takes on a new look with teams splitting Saturday’s 30-minute qualifying session into separate 12-minute periods. Drivers will set the field for Saturday’s 25-lap sprint race during the first 12 minutes, then after a short break for adjustments, take to the 2.35-mile street circuit for a second 12-minute session to set the lineup for Sunday’s 30-lap feature.
Push-to-pass will also take on a new look beginning at Detroit as Indy Lights drivers will have a bank of 150 seconds to use added horsepower to assist in overtaking, similar to the drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The maximum amount of time for each press of the overtake system is 15 seconds.
The 2022 season features a deep and talented field with race winners such as Linus Lundqvist and Matthew Brabham joining a promising rookie class that includes Christian Rasmussen (Indy Pro 2000 champ), Hunter McElrea (Indy Pro 2000), Kyffin Simpson (Formula Regional Americas champion) and Ernie Francis Jr. (seven-time Trans Am champion/Formula Regional Americas). Other contenders include returning drivers Danial Frost, Sting Ray Robb and Benjamin Pedersen. 
 
 

Detroit Race 2 Thoughts- O’Ward Wins the Weekend

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Photo by Joe Skibinski, Indycar

No one should be surprised at what Pato O’Ward is doing this season. We knew he was an exceptional talent when he began his Indycar career. I have to wonder how much better he would be if he had not lost his original Carlin ride and missed part of a season in Japan. I’m glad he is in Indycar and I hope the sirens of F1 don’t draw him away.

Pato O’Ward on track by Matt Fraver, Indycar

O’Ward’s weekend- a pole, a third place, a win after starting 16th, 88 points, and the new points leader. Not bad.

Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Team Penske now know how Charlie Brown feels when Lucy pulls the football away. Saturday was not Power’s fault, but the fault of a questionable call race control. Yesterday Newgarden got caught out by the yellows and had to finish the race on the alternate tires- a big ask to go 25 laps with the reds on this track. What a frustrating weekend for them.

O’Ward broke the streak of seven different winners in seven races. His second win of the season gives him the tie breaker should the championship end in a tie. Usually the series champion has at least three wins in a season.

Is There Still a Big Three?

Indycar fans are used to referring to the Big Three- Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti, but is that changing? Penske has just one pole and no wins, Andretti one win and one pole, and Ganassi has two wins and one pole. Arrow McLaren SP has two poles and two victories. We either have a Big Four or a Big Two. For now, I don’t think we can say Big Three.

Notes

Before his spin on lap 54 I thought Jimmie Johnson was having his best drive of the year. He passed cars on track with confident moves and was keeping pace.

Romain Grosjean’s reaction to his brake fire left me with a lump in my throat. I’m sure he never wanted to be in another burning car.

Scott Dixon leaves Detroit with the same points deficit to the leader he had going into the weekend, but he is now third instead of second in the standings.

I don’t think I have ever seen a snoozer of a race turn into a good race as quickly as I did yesterday.

Santino Ferruci had two top ten finishes this weekend. Yesterday’s was especially noteworthy since he destroyed his primary car in qualifying and drove a backup car in the race. The car got to the grid about two minutes before the command to start engines.

An annoying trend that needs to stop now-The PA announcer in the past has called drivers to their cars for years. I guess it is to build excitement for the start of the race. I have always found it unnecessary to announce but it never bothered me until the last few races when celebrities began assuming the task. Really? Next we will see celebrity drivers of the trucks that take the drivers around the tracks during driver introductions. Having celebrities at the races is great, but having menial tasks like saying “Driver to your cars” is a little much.

I will be back later with a full weekend wrap up. thanks again for following along this weekend.