9:05 AM – 9:35 AM USF2000 Qualifying 9:55 AM – 10:25 AM Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM USF2000 Race 1 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session 12:20 PM – 1:10 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 1 1:25 PM – 2:15 PM Indy Lights Practice 1 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 Peacock 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM USF2000 Race 2 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM Indy Pro 200 Race 2 6:05 PM – 7:05 PM ARCA Menards Series West Practice
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 Peacock 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM USF200O Race 3 11:15 AM – 11:55 AM Indy Lights Practice 2 12:05 PM – 1:20 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying Peacock 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Indy Lights Autograph Session 1:35 PM – 2:05 PM ARCA Menards Series West Qualifying 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 3 3:25 PM – 3:45 PM Indy Lights Qualifying 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice Peacock 5:30 PM ARCA Menards Series Race (57 laps)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
10:20 AM – 11:15 AM Indy Lights Race Peacock 11:40 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions 12:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Grand Prix of Portland (110 laps) NBC; Peacock *Schedule subject to change without notice. All times PT
Will Power has a very tenuous lead heading into the final two races
The Indycar title fight is down to four drivers who are separated by just 17 points. Three of the four have nine Indycar championships between them. 2022 is one of the closest four driver battles with two races left that I remember. It is also a team battle, Team Penske vs. Chip Ganassi Racing.
The standings:
I have shown the top six because Alex Palou drives for Ganassi and Scott McLaughlin drives for Penske. They are both a bit too far out to have a realistic chance at the title unless all four ahead of them have some extremely bad luck the next two weekends. but they have a role to play. Palou and Mclaughlin need to help their teammates by taking points away from the competitors on the other team.
If either Palou or McLaughlin should win of the last two races- Palou won at Portland last year- it doesn’t necessarily hurt their team members.
Bonus Points
The three point difference between Power and Newgarden can be contributed to the bonus points Power earned at Gateway last weekend. The championship could come down to who scores the most bonus points at Portland and Laguna Seca. The season long bonus point standings”
Dixon 21 (5 races)
Power 18 (10 races)
Newgarden 18 (9 races)
Ericsson 12 (5 races)
Dixon’s total is skewed by the 12 points he earned for winning the pole at the Indianapolis 500. He would have just 10 bonus points if Indianapolis awarded the normal ingle point for pole.
Power and Dixon are the only two of this group who have earned maximum bonus points for a race.
Testing as Strategy
Most Indycar teams have one test day left, and the top two teams have each chosen a different track to map the final push.
Today, Team Penske tests at Portland. Ganassi tests Monday at L:aguna Seca. Ganassi tested at Portland last year and took the pole and the race win.
There is nothing like an impending rain storm to liven up what began as a pretty dull race. The processional fuel saving start began to get intriguing when some cars began pitting around lap 51. The Coyne cars of Takuma Sato and David Malukas were among the early stoppers. Both had time leading. the race. As it turned out, Malukas was the eventual beneficiary of track position when the race resumed.
Forty laps of racing under the lights is nice for a sprint or midget feature. Indycar needs to seriously consider returning the non Indy ovals to night races. I don’t care if they can only be on Peacock. As I watched the Silver Crown cars Friday night under the lights, the feeling was bittersweet that Indycar would run in daylight the following day.
As Scott Mclaughlin mentioned after the race, the handling of the cars changes as the sun goes down and the track cools. This phenomenon is what makes night races more intriguing.
Outshining the Winner
The 2005 Indianapolis 500 saw Danica Patrick beco9me the first woman to lead the 500 . She eventually finished fourth. After the race race, and in the weeks following, if you weren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t knwo Dan wheldon actually won the race.
Saturday night was a bit like that. Second place David Malukas seemed to be the center of attention, while winner Josef Newgarden was the second biggest story. I am okay with this. Malukas has matured steadily throughout the season. he has been quick on ovals, and his road course game has improved tremendously.
It will be a while before the grin leaves David Malukas’ face.
To see him hunt down and pass Mclaughlin and nearly catch Newgarden was one of the highlights of the season.
Speculation has begun about where Malukas will race next year. Some say he will replace Alex Palou at Ganassi. I’m sure he got a call from Mclaren after the race.
Points Race Gets Even Tighter
I thought this race would shake up the points race, but only a couple positions switched and there are four drivers still with a realistic shot at the title.
Will Power holds a three point lead over Newgarden. His lead is basically the bonus points he earned for Saturday’s race. Scott Dixon is only 14 points behind. He has come back from farther than that to win with two races left.
Notes
I watched the first few laps of the race last night and I was surprised at the sparse grandstand crowd. Weather may have made some decide to stay home, but I wonder if the NASCAR race in June may have affected attendance as well. When tracks force people to decide which major event to attend, Indycar seems to take the hit. The promoters need to do a better job promoting all their bug events equally.
I have said this before, but I think it is time for Ed Carpenter to become an Indy only only driver for a couple more years. Carpenter has had a dismal season. His average finish in five races this season was 19.2 with a best of 13th. His third car could be the avenue for Paretta Autosport to have a full time entry in 2023.
The pits at night take on a kind of state fair atmosphere. It definitely has a different vibe after dark.
I watched the restart from a spot in the infield. I have never been as close to cars during a race as I was when the race resumed. The sound and the vibrations were overwhelming. Cars zipped by like I was using fast forward on my remote. I may have to be at this spot for the start next year.
Thanks for following my coverage this past weekend. Later this week, i will examine the points chase in more depth.
What bstarted out as a snoozer turn into a pretty good race. Pato O’Ward looked strong as he took the lead from Will Power on the only restart, but Josef Newgarden shot through the field to grab the lead and run away from the rest of the pack. The rain cam just after everyone’s last pit stop. 217 laps are complete and track drying continues.
Current standings:
I will have another update as soon as I have information on a restart.
INDYCAR Moves Up Start Time of Bommarito Automotive Group 500
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022) – During careful monitoring of likely weather conditions in the St. Louis area, INDYCAR officials have decided to move up the start time of today’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway to 6:01 p.m. ET, ensuring fans see the most NTT INDYCAR SERIES action. Fans are encouraged to follow INDYCAR social media (@INDYCAR on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook) for further updates. The start time for the Indy Lights at World Wide Technology Raceway 75-lap race will remain unchanged as the green flag for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ developmental series will fly at 4:15 p.m. ET. Live coverage of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will begin at 6 p.m. ET on USA, Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Coverage of the Indy Lights at World Wide Technology Raceway also will be available via Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
A brief rain shower has ended and the sun is back out, but there are more rain clouds to the east.
Good morning from the Olivette media center annex. Here is the latest from @Indycar_Wxman
Good morning! Here’s your raceday weather briefing…very little change as things seem to be playing out as I described yesterday…rain this evening has a stop time, so though we may get delays, I think this one goes this evening. Sunset is 7:48pm tonight. #Bommarito500#INDYCARpic.twitter.com/OHz6f2SXiI
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.
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.
