Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

McIntosh Finally Finds Victory Lane in BC39 at IMS

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From IMS:

Rookie Drake Earns Initial USAC Win in First Feature of Doubleheader

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024) – Relief and joy came in equal measures Sunday night for Cannon McIntosh at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.McIntosh passed pole sitter Chase McDermand on the final lap of the 39-lap feature to win the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors, a USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship race delayed by rain for one day.
McIntosh had finished second in the BC39 in 2022, in a preliminary feature race in 2023 and in the prelim feature Thursday night on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 at IMS.
“We’ve been so close to winning here, even on prelim nights, and haven’t got it done,” McIntosh said. “I knew I was good enough there. It was hard to get a rhythm and find your way. When someone got a good run on the outside, I had to move around a little bit. I just stayed patient. I knew I had the car to do it.”
Jade Avedisian finished second to Keith Kunz Motorsports teammate McIntosh, with McDermand hanging on for third. Daison Pursley finished fourth, with Kevin Thomas Jr. rounding out the top five.
McDermand dominated the 39-lap feature from the pole. He lost the lead in his family-owned No. 40 machine on Lap 1 to Pursley in the No. 86 CB Industries machine. But McDermand regained the lead on Lap 2 and kept the top spot on five ensuing restarts.
Meanwhile, McIntosh worked his way from the sixth starting position to second with eight laps to go but didn’t look like he would threaten McDermand, who won the 30-lap preliminary feature Thursday night for his first USAC victory.
But heartbreak struck for McDermand on Lap 38. His car got hung up in a rut at the bottom of Turn 4, slowing his momentum. That let McIntosh power even with McDermand on the outside of the main straightaway with the white flag in the air, and McIntosh’s momentum carried him under McDermand in Turn 2 for a lead he would not surrender in the final two corners.
“I ran 38 decent laps and one really, really bad one,” a dejected-yet-classy McDermand said. “It stings, it really stings.”
McIntosh, from Bixby, Oklahoma, earned $20,039 for what he called the biggest victory of his career.
“I just stuck to the line I had,” McIntosh said. “I just waited patiently and drove under him (McDermand) and protected it into (Turn) 3. But I’m so thankful to do this in honor of Bryan (race namesake Bryan Clauson), who was a legend in our sport and a hero. It’s a really cool feeling. I’m just so grateful to be able to race here.”
Avedisian turned her No. 71 Keith Kunz Motorsports car into a thrill ride for most of the feature. She started fifth, next to McIntosh on the third row, and was one of the first drivers to try the treacherous high line.The gamble worked. Avedisian, 17, started to gain ground quickly, sliding inches from the concrete wall in the corners. She passed Pursley for third with seven laps to go and had momentum exiting Turn 4 on the final lap, falling short of catching McIntosh at the line.
“It’s super, super heartbreaking,” Avedisian said. “I wanted this one so bad. You do it for these kind of races, and when you’re in a spot to capitalize and it doesn’t fall your way, it’s heartbreaking. It’s still so cool to race inside IMS.”
Rookie Kale Drake earned his first USAC victory by capturing the 30-lap feature that preceded the BC39. The feature was rained out Friday and Saturday.Drake, who started fourth in the No. 97K car fielded by Keith Kunz Motorsports, passed Gavin Miller for the lead six laps into the feature and stayed out front for the rest of the way despite four caution periods.
“I don’t think there is anything better than it, honestly,” Drake said, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Holy moly. This is unreal. We’re a winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s pretty surreal.”
Pole sitter Thomas finished second, while Avedisian finished third. Drake, Thomas and Avedisian earned automatic starting spots in the BC39 feature by placing in the top three.
Drake never was seriously challenged on any of the restarts after he took the lead, and he was able to smoothly navigate the rougher Turn 3 and 4 portion of the racetrack.
“I had the best race car out there,” Drake said. “The entire Keith Kunz Motorsports team gave me the easiest Cadillac to drive through those ruts.”
Like in the BC39, Avedisian was the star of the show in the 30-lap feature. She struggled in her heat race but produced a strong drive from 10th to third in the feature, earning an automatic transfer spot after passing reigning BC39 winner Justin Grant and Miller in the last 11 laps.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.

BC39 To Resume This Afternoon with Doubleheader at IMS 

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 INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024) – Track preparation is underway at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 29, as the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors is scheduled to be the highlight this evening of a doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship.
Rain from Hurricane Helene forced the postponement of all action Friday and Saturday on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed IMS paved oval.
Friday’s originally scheduled program will take place first, starting with hot laps at 3 p.m., weather permitting. Heat races, qualifying races and a B main will follow, capped by a 30-lap feature at 5 p.m.
The BC39 program will start at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps, followed by the C and B Mains and Last Chance Race. The 39-lap BC39 feature is scheduled to start at 9 p.m., with the winner earning $20,039.
Parking opens at 12:30 p.m., with public gates open at 1:30 p.m.
All Saturday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) are valid today. Customers with only Friday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) were contacted by the IMS Ticket Office with options. Tickets for today are available for purchase on IMS.com.
Customers with questions may contact the IMS Ticket Office at tickets@brickyard.com.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception in 2018. 

BC39 Postponed to Sunday at IMS Due to Continued Weather

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From IMS:
  INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024) – Saturday’s Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors has been postponed until mid-afternoon Sunday, Sept. 29 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Rain from Hurricane Helene continues to impact track preparations, causing postponement of today’s event.
“We are still committed to delivering this major event,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Right now, the track surface is sealed over. If we open the track up to begin to prepare it, and the rain that is forecasted today happens to fall during that process, water will get deep in the track and cause a significant challenge to get it prepped in the near future. Postponing to Sunday gives us the best chance for a successful event.”
Hot laps will start the program Sunday. There will be a doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship featuring Friday’s originally scheduled program first, which will be followed by Saturday’s originally scheduled program on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed IMS asphalt oval, weather permitting.
All Saturday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) will be valid Sunday. Customers with only Friday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) were contacted by the IMS Ticket Office with options.
Tickets for Sunday are available for purchase on IMS.com.
Customers with questions may contact the IMS Ticket Office at tickets@brickyard.com.
The highlight of Sunday’s competition will be the 39-lap feature, which pays $20,039 to win and has become a must-win for any USAC Midget competitor since the inaugural event in 2018.
Chase McDermand won the 30-lap preliminary feature Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS. Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information. 
 
 

BC39 Scheduled To Resume at 4 p.m. Saturday at IMS 

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 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 27, 2024) – The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors is tentatively scheduled to resume at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 28 after persistent rain and high winds from Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of all activity Friday, Sept. 27 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Hot laps will start the program, with a doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship also scheduled for Saturday on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed IMS asphalt oval, weather permitting.
Another update will be issued at 10 a.m. ET Saturday.
The highlight of Saturday’s competition will be the 39-lap feature, which pays $20,039 to win and has become a must-win for any USAC Midget competitor since the inaugural event in 2018.Chase McDermand won the 30-lap preliminary feature Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS. Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information.

Rain Washes Out BC39 Activity; Racing To Resume Saturday at IMS 

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From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 27, 2024) – Persistent rain and high winds from Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of all track activity Friday, Sept. 27 for the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship is planned for Saturday, Sept. 28 at the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed paved oval at the Racing Capital of the World, weather permitting.
An update on the event schedule will be provided at 6 p.m. ET Friday, with more information released at 10 a.m. ET Saturday.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of all participants and fans, and we are committed to delivering this major event over the next few days, if required,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We will be doing everything in our power to ensure a successful event.”
Customers with Friday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) will be contacted by the IMS Ticket Office with options.
The highlight of Saturday’s competition will be the 39-lap feature, which pays $20,039 to win and has become a must-win for any USAC Midget competitor since the inaugural event in 2018.Chase McDermand won the 30-lap preliminary feature
Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS. Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information.

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Moran Dies at 74

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From IMS:

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024) – Rocky Moran, a veteran of three Indianapolis 500 starts and one of the most respected sports car racers of his generation, died last weekend after a battle with cancer. He was 74.
After failing to qualify with Salt Walther’s small team in 1987, Southern California native Moran made three consecutive “500” starts from 1988-90, with a best finish of 14th in 1989 while driving the No. 33 Skoal Classic March/Cosworth owned by the legendary A.J. Foyt. He also made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1988 in a Foyt-owned car, finishing 16th in the No. 48 Skoal/Trench Shoring March/Cosworth as the second-highest placing rookie in the field. His final start came in 1990 with Gohr Racing. He earned the 33rd and final spot in the field in an older car and was credited with 25th place in the No. 56 Glidden Paints Lola/Buick when his engine expired after he completed 88 laps. It was his final INDYCAR SERIES start.
Moran made unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the “500” in 1992 and 1993 with Menard Racing and Team Losi, respectively.
The popular, versatile Moran never raced a full season in INDYCAR SERIES competition, but his talent still attracted rides from prominent team owners besides Foyt. Moran drove for Dan Gurney’s All American Racers in his INDYCAR SERIES debut in 1981 at Watkins Glen. He qualified a strong seventh in the No. 48 Pepsi Challenger Eagle/Chevrolet, drove to first and led 21 laps. A storybook victory in his first series start was denied when the team didn’t put enough fuel in the car to make the finish during his final pit stop. Moran still was credited with sixth place in a race won by Rick Mears.
He started his amateur racing career in the early 1970s on the West Coast in open-wheel and sports cars before climbing to national sports car series such as Trans Am, Can-Am and IMSA later in the decade. Gurney didn’t forget Moran’s impressive INDYCAR SERIES debut with AAR in 1981 and hired him as a driver for the team’s factory sports car program in the IMSA GTO class in 1986. Gurney also hired Moran to team with Willy T. Ribbs in an earlier version of a Toyota prototype in IMSA competition in 1991, and they earned a podium finish at Portland.
The pinnacle of Moran’s sports car racing career came in 1993 when he teamed with PJ Jones and Mark Dismore to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona, a year after they finished fourth. It was the first Rolex 24 victory for AAR and Toyota.
Moran is survived by his wife, Kayla; daughter, Kelly; sons Rocky Jr. and Cody; and seven grandchildren. Rocky Moran Jr. made starts in stock cars, sports cars and INDY NXT by Firestone. His INDYCAR SERIES debut in 2015 at Long Beach in a Dale Coyne Racing car was cut short before the race by a broken thumb suffered in a crash. 
 
 

Battle on the Bricks: Rahal Win a Satisfying End to Difficult Week and Season

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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing leftt it all behind them Sunday afternoon. The FBI investigation and wo years of zero podiums all vanished in a brilliant final 46 minutes with a 1-2 finish at IMS in the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. The team had a victory awarded them in 2023 after the winning car, ironically the number 6 Penske Porsche, was disqualified.

Philipp Eng, and Jesse Krohn, drove the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 to a 1.647-second victory over teammate No. 25 car shared by Connor DePhillippi and Nick Yelloly. Eng drove the final stint. He managed traffic beautifully to stay ahead of the 25, who backed off at the end to preserve the team sweep.

Completing the podium was No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 driven by Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet, the winner of last year’s event. A penalty set the te car back and it could not catch the BMWs.

Lined up for the start

LMP2

Steven Thomas, Mikkel Jensen and NTT Indycar Serie and INDY NXT by Firestone veteran Hunter McElrea won the LMP2 class by 26.049 seconds in the No. 11 TDS Racing prototype over the pole-sitting No. 52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports machine driven by Nick Boulle, Jakub Smiechowski and Tom Dillmann.

GTD Pro

“Rexy,” the number. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R came back from its pole disqualification with a win by drivers Laurin Heinrich and Michael Christensen, 12.527 seconds ahead of number.64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang of Mike Rockenfeller and Harry Tincknell. Heinrich drove to the pole position, but a post qualifying penalty moved the Porsche to the back of the class on the grid.

GTD

Jan Heylen drove the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R to a win in the GTD class, with co-drivers Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer. Heylen finished 2.465 seconds ahead of the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 shared by Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher and Jake Walker.

The Race

The rain began about an hour into the race and took up most of the second hour and part of the third. By the halfway mark, the rain had stopped and the track dried. The GTP class did not disappoint, as usual.

There was a great battle between the 01 Cadillac of Sebastien Bourdais and the number 6 Porsche driven by Mathieu Jaminet. The pair exchanged the lead on track twice. Eight of the 11 GTP cars led at some point., with numerous on track passes for the lead.

Romain Grosjean had a great drive early in the Lamborghini entry, charging in to the lead. Its chance for the win ended because of a pit penalty for too many men over the wall. Later in the race the car retired after on track contact broke an axle.

The pole winning 01 Cadillac was clawing its way back into contention when a punctured tire put the car three laps down.

Notes

I thought Sunday’s race was better overall than the 2023 sprint race. There was more strategy and intrigue, and one car did not dominate the entire race.

I found the race compelling. It is rare for me to sit and watch an entire race of this length, but I was focused for the entire event.

I am not sure if attendance was up from last year, but I think this event has a lot of growth potential. I would like to see the start moved back a bit later with a twilight or just after dark finish.

It was nice seeing former Indycar/IndyNXT drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Gabby Chaves, Hunter McElrea, Matt Brabham, and ben Hanley, amnong others, race again.

Personal Bests– I set a new record of 42 hours at sports car races in 2024. I stayed awake for 38 of them.

Sunday concluded the longest racing season I have ever had. Thank you all for following along. I’m going to take a couple days off unless there is some breaking news, which I think is coming soon. I’ll be back with more this drivel before the end of the month.

IMSA Race Day

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SCHEDULE (All times local):

8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open

10:20-11:20 a.m.: Fan Grid Walk

11:40 a.m.-5:40 p.m.: TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Race (six hours)

TICKETS: $60 for General Admission seating for the IMSA TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult in General Admission grandstand seating locations and infield viewing mounds. Reserved seating is available for $304 in the Hulman Terrace Club.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN (8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7S.

PARKING: Main Gate Parking Alert – The Main Gate Lot is inaccessible due to the closure of Polco Street. A Main Gate parking pass will grant access to Lot 3 during the IMSA weekend. Please enter via 16th Street. Free parking, including ADA parking, is available in the Hulman Lot with limited availability. Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3 for $20 and in Gate 1 Lot for $75. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3 for $20 and Gate 1 for $75. Motorcycle parking in Gate 1 can be purchased for $20.

CASHLESS OPERATIONS: IMS is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete ticket, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease via debit or credit card. Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions.

MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is closed for a major renovation, reopening in April 2025. To learn more, please visit imsmuseum.org/renovation.

Although this is the second year for the IMSA Weather Tech race at IMS, today’s race is a new event as the race expands to six hours instead of the 2 hour, 40 minute sprint race held in 2023.

Sebastien Bourdais won the pole yesterday afternoon in the Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac. Hi s time of 1:14.592 worn the top starting spot by 0.22 seconds over Louis Delatraz in the number 40 Wayne Taylor/Andretti car.

Pole winners in the other three classes:

LMP2: Nick Boulle No. 52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports It is Boulle’s first pole in IMSA

GTD Pro: Nicky Catsburg No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06.

GTD: Mikkel Grenier No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3.

The weather forecast calls for rain most of the day, It seems like rain ha followed me to major races all season, so this would be a fitting ending to my year. I will have a race wrapup tomorrow.

Saturday at IMS: IMSA Qualifying, Michelin Pilot Challenge Race

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Ther is a dense fog advisory this morning which may delay the start of action. Check the IMS app. Highs bear 90 degrees today. Find shade and hydrate.

All times Eastern:

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open
8-8:15 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR Qualifying
8:20-8:35 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge GS Qualifying
8:55-10:25 a.m.: WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Practice 2 (all classes)
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Autograph Session
11:10-11:50 a.m.: Porsche Carrera Cup North America Race 2 (40 mins.)
12:05-12:45 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge Pre-Race Grid Walk
1:05-3:05 p.m.: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120 Race for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (two hours)
3:40-3:55 p.m.: WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (GTD Pro/GTD)
4:05-4:20 p.m.: WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (LMP2)
4:30-4:45 p.m.: WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (GTP
)5:10-6 p.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Race 2 (50 mins

.)TICKETS: $50 for General Admission seating for the IMSA TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult in General Admission grandstand seating locations and infield viewing mounds. Reserved seating is available for $179 in the Hulman Terrace Club.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7S.

PARKING: Main Gate Parking Alert – The Main Gate Lot is inaccessible due to the closure of Polco Street. A Main Gate parking pass will grant access to Lot 3 during the IMSA weekend. Please enter via 16th Street. Free parking, including ADA parking, is available in the Hulman Lot with limited availability. Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3 for $20 and in Gate 1 Lot for $50. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3 for $20 and Gate 1 for $50. Free motorcycle parking in Gate 1.

CASHLESS OPERATIONS: IMS is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete ticket, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease via debit or credit card. Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions.

MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is closed for a major renovation, reopening in April 2025. To learn more, please visit imsmuseum.org/renovation.