Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Grant Takes the High Road to Victory

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Justin Grant continued his dominance at the 1/5-mile dirt oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Thursday night. Grant notched his second straight win in the Indiana Sprint Week event on the IMS dirt track, leading 29 of 35 laps.

The Ione, California, native spent most of the feature race on the high part of the track against the cushion. He went to the bottom on lap and immediately lost the lead to jake Swanson. Five laps, he went back to the high side and retook the point after Swanson lost momentum in turn two. Grant was never headed after that, pulling away on each of the three restarts during the feature. Swanson remained a threat, but he could never quite catch up to Grant.

Grant won for the fifth time at the IMS oval, with three wins coming in the BC39 midget show. He joins A. J. Foyt, Rich Vogler, Mel Kenyon, and Dave Darland with 100 USAC national race wins.

“It’s been an incredible career for me to live through and experience,” Grant said. “I’ve been so fortunate and so blessed. To win at IMS with this TOPP Motorsports team, I’m speechless. Couldn’t think of a better place to win No. 100.”

The evening ran relatively clean. The heats finished with few issues. Heat three was one of the wildest races I have ever seen, with cars three wide coming out of turn two and some banging between cars.

For me, the biggest disappointment of the night was that J/J Yeley did not advance to the feature.

Notes

The problem with the sprint race at IMS is that it only occurs once a year. I hope a way can be found to add a second one. The sprints put on a great, entertaining show.

Each year I got the BC39 or the sprint race, I vow to make time to attend more of theses events. One day, I will do that.

Below are a few photos I took Thursday night. Next week, it’s back to IndyCar.

The start of the feature
I thought this was the best looking car at the track.
Heat race start- 10 laps of fury.

St. Pete Kicks Off 2027 Season March 5-7

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Ftrom IndyCar

\2027 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Set for March 5-7

INDYCAR

INDYCAR.com

Editorial Staff

3 HOURS AGO

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The 2027 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is scheduled for March 5-7, Green Savoree Racing Promotions officials announced Thursday.

The event will mark the 23rd edition of the race through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg during Florida’s spring break season. Traditionally the season opener for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the event combines world-class racing with a festival atmosphere along the city’s waterfront.

The temporary 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit winds around Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts and The Dalí Museum before extending onto the runway at Albert Whitted Airport. The layout also borders Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina.

“The 2026 event was our best yet. Spectator attendance was tremendous on all three days,” said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “We look forward to welcoming fans back for the 23rd annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend.”

Four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou opened the 2026 season by winning the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for the second consecutive year on March 1.

Tickets for the 2027 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend will go on sale in the fall. Ongoing event updates will be posted at gpstpete.com.

Dreyer & Reinbold Returns to IndyCar Full Time with Rahal Charter Purchase

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Dreyer& Reinbold Racing announced today that they have purchase one charter from Rahal Letterman Racing and will compete full time in the 2027 IndyCar Series. DRR has been an Indianapolis 500 only entry since 2013.

It had been the dream of late owner Dennis Reinbold to return to full-time status.

“I want to thank Bobby Rahal, Mike Lanigan, David Letterman, and (RLL president) Jay Frye for the way they approached this from our very first conversation,” Reinbold said in a news release. “They treated this as a partnership between two organizations that want to see each other succeed, and this announcement today reflects that.”

The first purchase of a charter, this one rumored to be $13 million, establishes relative values for other teams. A charter from Chip Ganassi racing or Team Penske could potentially be worth around $20 million or more.

RLL issued the following statement:

Now the question is who will drive for DRR and who is out at RLL? Graham Rahal and Louis Foster are signed for 2027 while rookie Mick Schumacher is a free agent. Conor Daly is considered the favorite for the DRR seat, but Schumacher said at Nashville that there is a “high possibility” that he returns next season.

A media availability with Dreyer & Reinbold will take place at 1 pm Eastern this afternoon. More on this story as it develops.

Nashville Wrap Up: One Ace Beats three of a Kind

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Team Penske’s strongest race of the year only netted them a second, a third, and a Fourth as Alex Palou used a timely pit stop just ahead of a caution flag to win his fifth race of the year at yesterday’s rain delayed Brochet\ta Bourbon Grand Prix.

While Palou won the pit strategy battle, pole sitter Kyle Kirkwood came up on the short end as another yellow flag flew while he was in the pits. Kirkwood was on the same tire strategy as Palou, finishing on primaries, but he had a lot of track position to make up.

On Saturday, Palou appeared to be struggling, and he was not happy with his car during the first two stints of the race.

“Saturday, I was not that comfortable in the car,” Palou said. “But Julian (Robertson, engineer) and everybody on the 10 and CGR prepared a really, really good car for today. The beginning of the race we were not that comfortable in traffic, but the last two stints I was just super comfortable.

“It was a close battle there with Newgarden. It just seemed like he had so much speed there, and I was flat-out for the last 30, 35 laps. Just awesome to win here.”

The win capped a glorious weekend for Spain, with Palou’s country winning the World Cup.

David Malukas turned in the best performance of the day finishing third after starting 25th. Malukas started the wekend with a morning crash which sent him to a local hospital for evaluation. He return for the early evening practice and set the fastest time. Malukas cycled to the lead during the first round of pit stops as the team attempted a three stop fuel save strategy. It didn’t quite work out, but Malukas still ended with his third podium in four oval races.

I am impressed with how much Malukas has matured on ovals in 2026. Last year he was impatient with slower cars, and he paid the price. Yesterday, he chose his moves wisely and backed off when he needed to. How he hasn’t won a race this year yet is puzzling.

Malukas was first through the second place revolving door, although Palou’s lead is now 83 points. Kyle Kirkwood falls to third, 87 points behind Palou. Monday was likely Kirkwood’s last best shot at catching Palou.

Notes

Unsung- Marcus Ericsson has been very competitive in the last two oval races, and Andretti Global was wise to resign him for 2027. he had a podium at Gateway, and he nearly snagged another one yesterday.

Rinus VeeKay continues to show great talent. The pit cycles knocked him out of what should have been a top 10 result. Whichever team signs him for 2027 is getting a very good driver.

Mick Schumacher scored his first top 10 in IndyCar- on an oval, no less. Schumacher was the bright spot in an another otherwise dismal day for RLL. Louis Foster was 17th and Graham Rahal finished 19th. Rahal was quite slow on track. I can’t figure out why the team can’t put a better car on the grid for him.

Palou’s fifth win of the season was his first since Detroit on May 31.

In the three weeks before Portland, we may see the 2028 car on track. Also, on Thursday Indiana Sprint Week begins with an event at IMS on the dirt track.

Thanks for following along on what turned out to be an extended weekend. I hope IndyCar has seen the last of rainy ovals for 2026. Please stay dry, Milwaukee.

Results

Starting Tire Switch Allowed and Other Notes

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Per Zion Brown of IndyStar, teams will be allowed to change their starting tire selection because of the change in race length. I mentioned this after hearing about the shortened race. A new tire list will be out soon.

I spoke with track staff about the paddock situation. The person I talked to said that only hard cards were allowed in the paddock today, no wristbands. I am all for fan friendliness at tracks, but sometimes circumstances require things to change. Please read the Terms and Conditions on the race tickets.

I do think, however, that many times IndyCar schedules are geared more for the convenience of television and the fans who put the effort forth to come to the tracks are sometimes not considered. There needs to be some middle ground.

Let’s Try Again

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Today’s schedule: Times are Central. broadcast on FOX

Another scorching day on tap with a slight chance for pop up showers is on hand as we attempt to run the Music City Grand Prix. The race distance, as I noted last night returns to the 225 lap distance of 2025. The reason given is the heat.

Tire rules remain in effect, one set of primaries and two sets of alternates must be used. It probably won’t happen, but I think teams should have the option to change their starting tire designation if they wish, considering the shortened race length.

A series will not grow if it doesn’t take risks. Yesterday was huge gamble given the summer weather patterns in the Midwest and South. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t.

I do wonder why FOX made this a midafternoon race instead of an 11 am local start. I understand a lot of wheels have to turn to reschedule a race If heat were the biggest concern, late morning would make more sense.It would be cooler at that time as well.

I am not changing my prediction of a Kyle Kirkwood win, and I would still keep an eye on Scott McLaughlin. We will see how this works out.

I will need to leave immediately after the checkered flag to get home. If there is a weather delay or a stoppage of the action, I will leave at that point. Look for a wrap up tomorrow.

If you’re coming to the track today, sunscreen and hydration are still very much in order.

I will keep you posted on any new developments this morning

Postponed- Nashville Monday Afternoon

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The weather won the day and the Music City Grand Prix will take place tomorrow at 3 pm Eastern on FOX.

Today was planned as a huge ratings boost following the World Cup, but typical weather at this time of year in Nashville washed out any chance of running tonight.

Tomorrow’s schedule will be forthcoming. Thanks for following along this weekend.