Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Music City Grand Prix Adds to Schedule

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Update on Marti- Sometime this morning Marti will be flown to Vanderbilt medical Center in Nashville to see a specialist on her blood pressure issue. We hope they have an answer and she can return to a mostly normal life. I will drive down later this morning. Thanks for your continued thoughts, prayers, and cards.

The Music City Grand Prix released a revised schedule yesterday. The weekend looks jam packed. Here are the daily schedules:

When things settle down in Nashville, I will post another update.

New NTT INDYCAR SERIES Video Game Racing to Consoles, PC in 2023

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Big news from Indycar. I know many fans have been asking for this for several years. The news release:

Esports Competition Also Included
in New Partnership with Motorsport Games
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 15, 2021) – INDYCAR has formed a new, official partnership with leading racing game developer, publisher and esports ecosystem provider Motorsport Games Inc. (NASDAQ: MSGM) to create and distribute INDYCAR video games, with a debut title expected to launch in 2023 on Xbox and PlayStation consoles and PC.
In addition to the new game, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES esports competition featuring potential driver participation and collaborations could begin as early as this year. Details will be announced at a later date.
“Our partnership with Motorsport Games will bring the fierce competition of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to a global gaming audience hungry for quality motorsports content,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO, Penske Entertainment Corp., the parent company of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “Like the talent and depth of our field, INDYCAR’s universe continues to expand and grow rapidly. Motorsport Games is an industry leader with a track record of innovation, and we know our fans will have 2023 and the debut of this new NTT INDYCAR SERIES video game circled on their calendars.
”Motorsport Games’ partnership with INDYCAR will produce a brand-new franchise that has been eagerly anticipated by racing and gaming fans. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ bold, audacious and unapologetic style of racing is primed for a video game franchise built entirely around its expanding brand.
North America’s premier open-wheel racing series features a growing roster of rising young stars and talented veterans with global name recognition. These defiant athletes compete across a uniquely challenging and diverse set of ovals, road and street courses.
“I am super excited our fans will be able to bring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES into their homes with this new video game franchise,” Arrow McLaren SP driver Pato O’Ward said. “This is such a great opportunity for fans to connect to our series even more, from watching us on the weekends to playing as us on their favorite tracks whenever they want.
”Motorsport Games, a Motorsport Network company, combines innovative and engaging video games with exciting esports competitions and content for racing fans and gamers around the globe.
The company is the officially licensed video game developer and publisher for iconic motorsport racing series and events, including NASCAR, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Motorsport Games is an award-winning esports partner of choice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E, BTCC, the FIA World Rallycross Championship and the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, among others.
“Motorsport Games and INDYCAR are thrilled to provide fans with a long-overdue dedicated gaming experience,” said Dmitry Kozko, CEO of Motorsport Games. “After decades of world-class racing, we cannot think of a more deserving league for a video game franchise. INDYCAR shares our commitment to bringing authentic experiences to motor racing enthusiasts. Fans can anticipate the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to meet the same level of excellence and immersive gameplay they expect from Motorsport Games.
”Information about the new NTT INDYCAR SERIES video game will be available in the future at https://indycargame.com. For more information about Motorsport Games visit: www.motorsportgames.com.

Eraced: Charlie Wiggins’ Story on Film

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Charlie Wiggins, the Indianapolis mechanic and race driver who starred in the Colored Speedway Association in the late 20s and early 30s, is the subject of a new film biography which begins production next spring. The film will be produced by Welburn Media Group, headed by Ed Welburn and Madisun Leigh.

Welburn, the former Vice President of Global design at General Motors, said he was inspired by For Gold and Glory, the documentary and subsequent book about Wiggins and the Colored Speedway Association.

“Watching the documentary about Charlie, I was excited and at the same time deeply saddened that such an amazing piece of African American history, of American history, of car history, could be completely unknown to me, my enthusiast friends, and most auto racing experts,” said Welburn. “I decided that I had to bring Charlie’s story to life.”

Leigh is helping to adapt the screenplay from the documentary.

“It’s yet another missing piece of the puzzle that is the contribution of African American ingenuity and genius to our country’s rich history,” said Leigh. “Charlie was a humble yet daring man who, despite the stifling impediment of Jim Crow laws and unimaginable personal tragedy, rose again and again to meet those challenges and obstacles.”

The project has received production support from the NTT Indycar Series and from Firestone.

Wiggins won the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes at the Indiana State Fairgrounds four times, and also worked on William Cummings’ car in 1934, when Cummings won the Indianapolis 500. The crew explained to the speedway guards that Wiggins was their janitor. After the track closed for the day, Wiggins and the rest of the crew worked on the car. On Race Day Wiggins had to watch from the “Coloreds Only” section of the track.

In december, i wrote about including CSA records in the all time Indycar records as baseball did with the Negro leagues:

thepitwindow.blog/2020/12/28/the-next-step-in-diversity-recognizing-the–csa/

Wiggins won several other races during the Colored Speedway association’s brief time as a racing series. Following Wiggins’ career ending injury in the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, the association’s attendance dwindled and the league folded in 1936 at the end of the season.

The Youngest Champion?

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Photo: Alex Palou celebrates winning the Rev Group Grand Prix. Photo by Chris Owens, Indycar

Alex Palou holds a 39 point lead in the NTT Indycar Series championship over Pato O’Ward with just six races left in the season. Veterans Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden sit third and forth and have a chance at overtaking him in the final stages. I think Palou will prevail. At Mid Ohio he showed that he can maximize points playing the hand he has been dealt on a particular weekend. Would Palou be the youngest champion in Indycar Series history? He would only rank third. Sam Hornish, Jr. was just 22 years old when he won the IRL championship in 2001. Jacques Villeneuve was slightly younger than Palou will be when the 2021 season ends.

Sam Hornish, Jr.
Jacques Villeneuve

Villeneuve, born April 9 , 1971 was 24 years, 154 days old when the 1995 season ended on September 10. Palou’s birthday is April 1, 1997, and he will be 24 years, 178 days old when the current season ends on September 26. The 1995 season had 17 races, In 2021 the schedule called for 17 races, but the cancellation of the Toronto race has reduced this year to 16 events.

We need to look back to 1960, when A. J. Foyt won his first championship at age 25. The next youngest series winners since then were Sam Hornish, Jr. in 2006, and Al Unser, Jr. in 1990, who were both won at the age of 27. Hornish, Jr. was 27 years, 100 days at the final race of 2006, while Unser, Jr. was 27 years, 185 days old at the conclusion of the 1990 season.

In the year of the kids, crowning the third youngest champion in the last 61 years seems appropriate. I’m anxious for the year too resume anbd to see how everything plays out.

Indycar Notes: Chasing Unicorns: A Third OEM and More Ovals

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Photo: Action at Road America, photo by Joe Skibinski, Indycar

Marti Update: Marti is still in the hospital. progress is not where we would like it to be, but she is in good spirits. She will probably move to a rehab facility next week. We are trying to arrange for her to be seen y a doctor at Vanderbilt medical center. They are well regarded specialists on this issue. Thanks for all your thoughts and concerns.

For 10 years, basically since the beginning of Mark Miles’ tenure as head of Indycar, there has been constant talk of a third engine manufacturer joining the series. There have been teases, most recently the unlikely Ferrari chatter, and I heard that Lamborghini was close to a deal once, and several other names have been mentioned. But since Lotus withdrew its non competitive engine in the early 201s, Indycar has been a one or two horse show.

Marshall Pruett interviewed Roger Penske on the subject in a Racer magazine story published this past Tuesday. All Penske would say is that talks are ongoing, and there people who are “very interested.”

With a new 2.4 liter V-6 twin turbo coming on board in 2023, I 2ould have thought someone might have committed by now. Perhaps a new OEM may want to wait a year to see how things develop. A third engine has many advantages for the series.

It would bring another marketing avenue for Indycar, it could increase car counts by attracting new teams, ad with three engines, a 36 car or more an Indianapolis entry list of 36 or more cars would virtually be guaranteed.

there are thing Indycar can live without, but a third OEM is a key part of the future of the series.

More Ovals?

In another Pruett article in Racer, Penske discussed adding more ovals to the Indycar schedule with a possible expansion to 18 races. The 2021 lineup with four oval races at three venues did not make me happy.

Penske is looking to balance the schedule with more ovals. And he wants a mix of superspeedways and short ovals. The Captain specifically mentioned Iowa, which would be my first choice of an oval to return to the rotation. The pandemic cost Indycar a chance to have a place in the southeast when last year’s Richmond race fell victim to the shutdown. I am still puzzled as to why it was not considered for 2021.

The bottom line is Indycar should have 5-6 ovals at 5-6 venues. The 2021 schedule has now 16 races at 12 venues. The problem is that the sport does not reach several areas of the country. Three races at IMS is too many. One of the road course races has to go.

I am sure we will see more ovals in 2021, hopefully without any double headers.

Staying on NBC?

Indycar may be close to a new broadcast deal. I am hoping NBC remains the exclusive partner of the series. Overall the network has done a good job, Detroit Race 1 this year notwithstanding.

I am happy with Peacock. I would like to see full race replays there instead of just a highlight reel.

NBC has been a good partner. Nine races will be on NBC this year. It would be nice to get that number to double digits.

That’s probably a thing for my dream world racing series, just like Indycar races in October.

Thoughts for Robin

Based on a letter published by Racer on Wednesday, Robin Miller’s health issues have put his mailbag and other postings on hold. I am hoping he recovers and returns soon. Robin has been very kind to me in my short time in the media centers. Please keep Robin in your thoughts and prayers. He is the soul of Indycar reporting.

It is nice to be back. I am hopeful that things will settle down and I can write more often.

Indycar, Road America Sign Multi Year Extension

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A release from Indycar and Road America:

NTT INDYCAR SERIESAnnounces Extension with Road America
-Historic Elkhart Lake Road Course To Remain on Calendar in Multiyear Agreement-
ELKHART LAKE, Wis., July 6, 2021 – INDYCAR and Road America announced today a new, multiyear extension designed to keep the NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing at the legendary 4.014-mile permanent road course for years to come. The series began racing at the picturesque layout in 1982. After a brief hiatus, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2016 to packed grandstands and campgrounds. This year marked the sixth consecutive year Road America has hosted North America’s premier open-wheel series. “INDYCAR is pleased to continue its relationship with Road America,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles. “It is clear that NTT INDYCAR SERIES events in Wisconsin’s scenic Kettle Moraine have developed into exciting and favored weekends for our fans and athletes, as well. “Last year, Road America became a central figure in the series’ return to racing during the global pandemic and the first to host a doubleheader. It has been a fantastic addition to our championship, and it is gratifying to know that it will remain a mainstay on our calendar.” A stellar list of INDYCAR champions have claimed victories at one of the world’s fastest permanent road racing tracks. Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Michael Andretti are three-time winners at Road America. Double winners include Jacques Villeneuve, Paul Tracy and Scott Dixon. Danny Sullivan, Alex Zanardi, Dario Franchitti, Sebastien Bourdais, Will Power and Josef Newgarden have also visited victory lane. This year, Alex Palou thrilled a massive crowd with a daring drive and a late-race pass to win the REV Group Grand Prix presented by AMR on June 20. “The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is clearly one of the greatest forms of open-wheel racing ever to grace our beautiful 4-mile road course,” said Road America President and General Manager Mike Kertscher. “We’ve had a strong relationship since its return in 2016, and we are very proud to continue the tradition. The response from our fans has been tremendous over the past five seasons, and as part of showing our appreciation to them, we are offering a special four-day ticket package for $122. This special is only available online as a print-at-home ticket, and the special price ends on Sept. 30, 2021, so go to roadamerica.com and get yours today.” The 2022 race date will mark the 33rd appearance of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at “America’s National Park of Speed.” The entire 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule will be announced at a later date.
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About Road America: Established in 1955, Road America is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 65 years. Along with over 500 events held seasonally at the 640-acre facility, several major weekends are open to the public, which include the IndyCar Series, the MotoAmerica Series, three vintage racing events, numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and NASCAR. Road America’s park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, numerous camping options, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Fans can also stay and play in cabins conveniently on the grounds and find all sorts of souvenirs, collectibles, and apparel at the 7,500 sq. ft Paddock Shop. Affectionately known by many as America’s National Park of Speed, Road America can accommodate groups of all sizes, including weddings and corporate events in the Tufte Conference Center. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers various group event programs, including geocaching, disc golf, and off-road adventure tours, karting, and the Road America Motorcycle and Driving Schools. For more information, visit http://www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or call 800-365-7223 ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌
Elkhart Lakes Road America | N7390 Hwy 67, Plymouth, WI 53073Unsubscribe tutorindie@yahoo.comUpdate Profile | Constant Contact Data NoticeSent by media@roadamerica.com powered byTry email marketing for free today!

Mid Ohio- Finally Team Penske Finds Victory Circle

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Photo by Matt Fraver, Indycar

Charlie Brown got to kick the football at last. On his third try to win a race from the pole, Josef Newgarden hung on despite rapidly fading tires to win the Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio. Marcus Ericsson made up much of the eight second gap he had with less than 10 laps to go to finish just 0.8 seconds behind.

Newgarden;s win ended a season of frustration for himself and Team Penske as both took their first victory of the year. In Detroit race 2, Newgarden lost to Pato O’Ward as his tires could not maintain pace in the final three laps. At Road America gearbox issue with two laps to go caused Newgarden to fade to 21st from the lead. Will Power had Detroit race 1 in hand until his car would not restart after a red flag.

The race was a decent one for Mid Ohio, with a nice battle for positions third through sixth in the middle of the race.

Some Thoughts

Marcus Ericsson once again stood ready to take advantage of a Team Penske misfortune, but Newgarden was able to hang on this time. Ericsson is becoming a great teammate to points leader Alex Palou and Scott Dixon, who is third in points. He sits 5th in points, 104 points behind Palou.

Palou did what he needed to do in what I thought was a championship drive yesterday. He got the most points he could, and he only lost points to the contending driver farthest away from him. Newgarden still trails Palou by 69 points with six races to go.

Pato O”Ward picked his way through the field from 20th to finish eighth and maintain second place in the standings. He trails Palou by 39 points.

Will Power’s season of frustration continues. Yesterday’s lap 4 crash ended what could have been a very strong day for the 2014 series champion. I’m not sure there is any blame to assess here. he and Dixon had a great duel through turns 4 and 5.

Santino Ferucci has driven in four races in 2021 and has four top ten finishes with a ninth place yesterday. Has Rahal found his third full time car? The sponsor, Hy Vee, has to like what they’re seeing. Ferrucci started 22nd.

Romain Grosjean continues to impress with a great save in the keyhole after being blocked by Sebastien Bourdais. His seventh place finish rom 18th on the grid was one of several great drives yesterday. Grosjean has four top tens in seven races.

Ryan Norman had a respectable outing in his Indycar debut. Although he finished 20th, he had worked his way up to 15th at one point and seemed to be on a good pace.

I find it sad that Simon Pagenaud is not a in the conversation for agood finish anymore.

Are the hot seats getting hotter for Felix Rosenqvist, James Hinchcliffe, and Ryan Hunter-Reay? Sunday’s first lap incident involving all three drivers didn’t help their causes any.

Colton Herta’s race woes continue. Two bad pit stops knocked Herta out of contention yesterday. He qualifies well, but the team needs to work on the race setup.

Jack Harvey’s team needs to rethink their strategy. Once again, they chose an off strategy move which didn’t pay off. The Meyer Shank team seems too eager to try something different instead of seeing how the race will play out. They have been in a funk since winning the Indianapolis 500 with Helio Castroneves.

Side Bars

It was a profitable day for the Ohio State Troopers, who were busy all day, “welcoming” motorists to Ohio on Interstates 71 and 70.

The crowd was near the normal size for Mid Ohio. Indycar races on July 4th have not been well attended in the past. While I would prefer to celebrate the 4th in some other fashion, I was okay with the relatively short drive in the same day.

I liked the early start time. Even if Mid Ohio returns to its traditional date next year, I hope they retain the noon start,.

Front Row Show Renewed for Third Straight Week

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Photo of Josef Newgarden by Matt Fraver, Indycar

Indycar’s longest running show, Josef Newgarden and Colton Herta in the front row, has been renewed by the series for a third straight week. Newgarden edged Herta this time by just 0.004 seconds in a wild qualifying session that saw lots of sliding and dirt thrown around, it had a controversial ending to Group 1 in Round 1.

Jack Harvey looked to be safely the top six ubtil he spun and came to halt just ahead of the timing line. Alexander rossi and Simon Pagenaud sped by, but did not slow enough according to race control. At the checkered flag, Harvey and Pagenaud were in and Rossi was out. Harvey lost his best lap, and Pagenaud and Rossi lost their final lap. As a result, Harvey and Pagenaud did not advance, but Rossi did. Rossi would go on to make the Fast Six.

The question now is, can Newgarden win? His last two poles looked like dominating wins, but tire and gear issues cost him each of the last two races with just a few laps to go. Herta has finished fourth and second in the previous two races.

Some Thoughts

Rinus VeeKay had a nice return race from his injury. The second year driver advanced to round 2.

The Fast Six seemed like old times with two cars each from Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti.

Will Power had to scramble in Round 1 to get his car fired again. He finally got on track with just four minutes left. Power, the active leader in pole positions, made it to the Fast Six. Power still does not have a pole this year. This is not the first time the 12 car has had electrical issues.

I hope Jack Harvey has his bad luck for the weekend out of the way now and can get a decent finish tomorrow.

Points leader Alex Palou starts seventh, while Scott Dixon starts fifth. Pato O’Ward, second in points, starts 20th.

Results:

Final practice begins in just a few minutes. Enjoy.

Mid Ohio Saturday

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Today’s Schedule:

An early start for Indycar today. Kyle Kirkwood is on the pole for today’s Indy Lights race. I will have a post qualifying report and possibly reports on other sessions.

Yesterday was about 20 degrees cooler than the predicted temperature for Sunday, and today is supposed to be in between Friday’s and Sunday’s highs. It should make for interesting tire choices to start the race.

Enjoy your Saturday. Back later.