Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Last IMS Doubleheader?

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This past weekend IMS in all likelihood hosted the last NASCAR/Indycar doubleheader. Most signs point to NASCAR returning to the oval for the traditional 400 mile race. While it is a nice treat to see another home Indycar race, i am glad this event is going away.

Indycar does not need to have two, or in this case, actually three, events at the same venue. I never liked the concept of the extra race, especially when Indycar played second- I mean third- fiddle to the stock car series. Three races of the same series at a track lead to fan fatigue, especially when two of the events are the same distance.

The doubleheader weekend, born out of necessity during the pandemic accomplished some positive things. It boosted the sagging attendance that the Brickyard 400 weekend had suffered since the 2008 tire debacle, it might have brought more fans to Indycar, and possibly NASCAR as well, and the weekend gave drivers of both series a chance to see what their counterparts in the other series do.

Graham Rahal leads Christian Lundgaard early in the Gallagher Grand Prix

I have always thought pairing Indycar with IMSA is a better idea than a NASCAR/Indycar weekend. The sportscars are closer in speed to the Indycars. I got to the track Saturday as Cup qualifying was ending. The pole speed for the NASCAR race was 17 seconds slower than the Indycar pole. When IMSA tested at IMS a couple of weeks ago, the GTP cars were just five seconds off Graham Rahal’s pole speed.

If the buzz is correct, Indycar might replace this second road course event with the mile oval at Milwaukee, I would be all for that. The series needs more ovals more than they need another street course. Iowa and Nashville have shown that ovals can draw people if marketed correctly.

As far as this past weekend is concerned, it’s been a fun three years, but now is the time for Indycar to expand to other venues.

Some Very Quick Notes on the Gallagher Grand Prix

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Today’s race was arguably one of the three best races on the IMS road course. The first turn move by Devlin DeFrancesco to take the lead from fifth was a thing of beauty. The crash six turns later set strategy in play that eventually decided the result. The last 30 laps were as exciting as any I’ve seen in the 500. Graham Rahal cut Scott Dixon’s lead from seven seconds to 0.04 seconds at the finish.

Overall, it was a great weekend for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Rahal won pole and finished second. Christian Lundgaard finished fourth. Rahal led the most laps. It is nice to see this team competitive again. I hope RLLR stays strong through the end of the season.

Linus Lundqvist had a solid day today for MSR, staring and finishing 12th. He ran in the top 10 quite a bit.

Alex Palou’s seventh place finish, his second worst of the year, actually increased his point lead as Dixon jumped ahead of Josef Newgarden. Palou takes a 101 point lead into the final three races of the year.

Newgarden had what was likely the worst Indycar weekend of his career. He was slow in practice, qualified 19th, missed the weigh in and lost 10 minutes in final practice; an unapproved engine change placed him six spots further back on the grid. Newgarden suffered the most damage in the turn seven pileup on lap1. He languished at the rea alld day, finishing 25th.

I don’t know what else to say about Scott Dixon. He was won at least one race every season for 19 straight years, added his 54th career win, moved into second place in the points, and again turned misfortune into a positive outcome. I firmly believe Dixon is an alchemist.

I will have a wrap up of the race up here in a day or two after I watch the replay. Thanks for following along the last two days.

Race Day at IMS

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Today’s Schedule. All times Eastern

7 a.m.-8 p.m.: Public gates open

9:30-10 a.m.:  Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard presented by Advance Auto Parts NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice

10-11 a.m.: Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard presented by Advance Auto Parts NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Verizon 200 at the Brickyard NASCAR Cup Series Practice

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Verizon 200 at the Brickyard NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying

2:30 p.m.: Gallagher Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race (85 laps) USA, Peacock, Indycar Radio

5:30 p.m.: Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts NASCAR Xfinity Series Race (62 laps)

Another friendly reminder that the over the air broadcast is on USA Network. The final three races of the year will be on NBC.

Weather may be a factor in the race this afternoon. We just had a brief shower on the northwest side of Indianapolis with thunder. This storm should clear out by mid-morning, but there is a chance of rain around the time of the green flag.

The starting grid is intriguing. Graham Rahal will try to turn his first pole in six years into his first win in the same amount of time. It will not be easy. Alex Palou should have no trouble getting to the front from eighth. Rahal’s teammate Christian Lundgaard starts second. Lundgaard has started on the front row for both IMS road courses in 2023.

Romain Grosjean and Pato O’Ward are still looking for their first wins of the season, and today may be their last good chance for victory.

The Curious Case of Alex Palou

It is time for summer reruns. In 2022, reports circulated that Palou was going to McLaren this year. An announcement, which Palou said he did not approve came out. Then Palou admitted that yes, he was moving from Ganassi. In the end, he stayed at Ganassi and is on the verge of clinching his second Indycar title in three years. The consensus was that he would go to McLaren in 2024.

Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press reported yesterday that McLaren CEO Zak Brown sent an email to company staff saying that Palou would not be joining McLaren in 2024.

I like Alex, but these contract games he plays are getting a little hard to take. I hope to find out more today about this. My guess is that the Ganassi lineup in 2024 will look just the same as this year’s lineup.

I will be back with tire selections in a bit. if you’re going to the track, br prepared for rain and remember to hydrate. it will still be warm.

Gallagher GP Qualifying- Some Thoughts

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The turnaround of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team since May has been nothing short of amazing-two poles, one win, five Fast Six appearances, five top 10 finishes.

The first three rows are comprised of teammates. Graham Rahal and Christian Lundgaard -RLL in row 1, Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward – McLaren in row 2, and Devlin DeFrancesco and Romain Grosjean -Andretti in row 3.

DeFDrancesco and Grosjean needed a strong showing as their jobs are likely on the line. They need to have a strong race as well.

Linus Lundqvist will start 14th Saturday, a little behind where he rolled off in Nashville. He continues to impress.

Jack Harvey’s eighth place qualifying run, one of his best this season, will be negated by a six place grid penalty.

Alex Palou starts ninth, which as we have seen doesn’t matter. He still starts 11 spots ahead of Josef Newgarden.

I found it odd to see a fast Six without a Ganassi or a Penske car in it. It took me a minute to realize the Fast Six had started.

I will have the official starting lineup and tire selections in the morning. I wll also have a story on the Mayer Shank news announced today. It wasn’t completely what I expected.

Rahal Redemption

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Legend has it that IMS chooses the winner. Most times it picks who doesn’t win. The Rahal Letterman Lanigam team struggled in May to get two cars into the Indianapolis 500.

Today two Rahal cars sit o. The front row for tomorrow ‘s Gallagher Grand Prix.

Graham Rahal won his first pole since 2017 and teammate Christian Lundgaard will start next to him.

Rahal led the morning practice and Round 2 of qualifying. He grabbed the top spot in the Fast Six on the final lap of the session.

I will have more details later this evening.

Results

Note; Jack Harvey, Helio Castro,and Sting Ray Robb will serve six place grid penalties