Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Palou Tops Nashville Practice

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

The weather has turned out beautifully, and it looks like we will get the entire day in.

Points leader Alex Palou was fastest in the prequalifying practice for the Music City Grand Prix. Palou turned a quick lap of 199.682 miles an hour. His closest challenger for the title, Will Power, was sixth fastest. Plaou leads by 33 points. While he could earn a point for winning the pole this afternoon, Palou can start no better than 10th. due to an engine change.

The session stopped early when Nolan Seigel crashed hard in Turn 2. The incident heavily damaged the wall and required a lengthy repair.

I sat in the grandstand for part of practice this morning. It is y first time at this track. It is a very well maintained facility. There is a shuttle from the infield to the grandstand-not just any shuttle. It is a luxury touring bus. I was expecting a tram or a fancy golf cart, but this is way beyond that. Nice work, Scott Borchetta,

Qualifying begins at 1:15 pm Central time.

It’s Nashville Weekend

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Good morning from Nashville Superspeedway.

Today’s schedule in Central time:

The weather pattern is improving, and IndyNXT is on track at the moment, There have been two major crashes in their session so far. The drivers are okay.

My first impression of this venue is thaat the footprint is much larger than expected. Once in the infield, it resembles Milwaukee or WWTR, but on approach it is on a large tract of land.

Tomorrow’s forecast loks much better, and we may get by today as well. I am going to go over to the grandstands and I will be back after practice.

Nashville Preview

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Too soon, as always, the IndyCar season comes to the end of its 2024 edition Sunday afternoon at Nashville Superspeedway. Also, NBC will end its fine coverage of the series after six years. FOX tkes over as the broadcast partner next year.

While the championship is still in doubt, there is also a fight for the final Leaders’ Circle spot. Alex Palou leads Will Power by 33 points. Assuming Power earns maximum points, Palou needs a ninth-place finish to clinch his third title. Power is also gunning for his third Astor Cup. A Palou championship would make him the first back to back champion since Dario Franchitti in the last decade.

At the end of the standings, Sting Ray Robb in the 41 A J Foyt Racing holds the final spot in the Leaders’ Circle by one point over the Ed Carpenter Racing 20 of Christian Rasmussen. The 51 of Dale Coyne Racing is 15 points behind.

Tire Twist

For just the second time on an oval, Indycar has mandated the use of an alternate tire. Road/street course tire rules are basically in effect, but the alternates must be used for two stints. This should make for a lot of strategic choices, and a roll of the dice should there be a caution with 20-25 laps left.

The alternate experiment was tried at gateway in 2023, but the alternate tire was not noticeably different from the primary.

Weather

The remnants of hurricane Francine loom as a huge factor as to how the weekend will proceed. Indycar said yesterday that the priority is practice, since only Power, Scott Dixon, and Graham Rahal have raced at this track previously.

That means if something has to give on Saturday because of delays, it will be qualifying, and the field will line up by entrant points. I would hate to see that with a championship battle as it takes some of the drama away, but as usual, safety first.

Nashville Superspeedway does have lights, and the series will go to great lengths to get the race completed on Sunday.

If you are going to the race, bring rain gear and know where to go ion case of lightning. The track has already issued a statement to fans regarding possible weather interruptions.

Loose Ends

If Power does not earn the pole in qualifying, it will be his first season with winning a pole since 2008. A qualifying rainout would end his chance, of course, and he would lose a valuable point.

Graham Rahal needs a fifth place or better finish to keep alive his streak of having at least one top five finish in every season of his career.

If Palou, Josef Newgarden, or Dixon win Sunday, IndyCar will have four drivers with three victories in the same year. Only seven drivers have won races in 2024, and I don’t think that number changes after Sunday.

I think Power wins the race, but Palou still is the 2024 champion.

Many thanks to NBC for arguably the best television coverage IndyCar has had since the early days of ABC’s tenure.

Firestone To Continue as NTT INDYCAR SERIES Exclusive Tire Supplier through Long-Term Extension 

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It is always good news to hear Firestone is staying.

From IndyCar:

Highlights-

 Bridgestone announces its Firestone brand will remain the sole tire supplier for all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, including the Indianapolis 500.

Firestone will also continue as the entitlement partner and official tire supplier for INDY NXT by Firestone, as well as an official partner of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The agreement reinforces collaboration between Bridgestone and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to help advance developments toward sustainable racing innovation.

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) and Penske Entertainment today announced a long-term extension to Firestone’s role as the exclusive tire supplier of all INDYCAR-sanctioned racing. The agreement will keep Firestone as the sole tire supplier for all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, the INDY NXT by Firestone developmental series, and the annual Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Firestone is currently in its 25th consecutive season as the exclusive tire supplier for the series. The extension reinforces Bridgestone’s ongoing commitment to driving innovation through motorsports. The Firestone brand continues its rich history in open-wheel racing, dating back more than a century.
“At Bridgestone, motorsports are our passion – always have been and always will be. This is particularly true for our Firestone brand, which has been part of world-class racing since winning the first Indy 500 in 1911,” said Paolo Ferrari, executive chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Americas.
“We believe motorsports are the ultimate challenge for premium performance and a proving ground for advancing in our goals toward sustainable innovation. Our relationship with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has been a critical part of these efforts, and we are proud to keep driving forward together.”
Through the Firestone brand, Bridgestone has worked closely with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and partners across the paddock to help advance developments in more sustainable racing. Bridgestone incorporated certain materials made from hard-to-recycle plastics and palm oil waste residue in Indy 500 race tires in 2023 and 
2024. The company has also used guayule-derived natural rubber in the sidewall of alternate race tires the past two seasons.
Bridgestone’s motorsports initiatives are aligned with the company’s long-term sustainability goals. They also demonstrate alignment with INDYCAR’s efforts to work toward making the sport more sustainable.
“Our relationship with the team at Bridgestone continues to set an industry standard for success and innovation,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation. “Firestone has been a foundational partner for our sport, from the very first Indy 500 to now, playing an integral role in the development of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and its highly competitive racing. We’re extremely proud to carry this long-term partnership forward into a very exciting and productive future together.”
The long-term extension includes Firestone’s role as presenting sponsor and sole tire supplier of the top-tier development series, INDY NXT by Firestone. The brand signed as presenting sponsor of INDY NXT in 2023 to help the sport develop the next generation of racing talent and engage new audiences. The agreement also renews Firestone’s status as official partner and tire supplier of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest spectator sporting facility on the planet.
The announcement reinforces Bridgestone’s investment and commitment to its workforce in Northeast Ohio. All Firestone Firehawk race tires are designed and manufactured at the Bridgestone Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron. The facility opened in 2022 across the street from the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center (ATC). This proximity allows the Firestone Race Tire Engineering team to work side-by-side with other tire engineers to transfer insights from racing into other innovation workstreams.
In addition to providing tire technology and on-track support, Firestone will continue its role as a key partner in the marketing and promotion of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone. The brand’s comprehensive, season-long activation features fan engagement, sponsorships and signage at multiple venues. It also includes robust social and digital media programs, traditional media and hospitality.
Bridgestone motorsports activities are leveraged globally as co-creation platforms to help deliver the values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment. This corporate commitment outlines eight areas where the company is focused on contributing to a more sustainable world. The ongoing relationship with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES supports the values of emotion, energy, ecology and empowerment.
For more company news, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Bridgestone Americas employs more than 50,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
About INDYCAR:INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and its developmental series, INDY NXT by Firestone. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including two-time and reigning series champion Alex Palou, two-time series champion Will Power, six-time series champion Scott Dixon and two-time series champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The 2024 season consists of 17 races in the United States and Canada and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader.
For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com. For more information on INDY NXT by Firestone, please visit www.indynxt.com. 

Juncos Hollinger Racing Trials Cutting-Edge Digital Advertising Technology with Industry Disruptor Seamless Technology

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This could be interesting.

From Juncos Hollinger Racing:

September 12, 2024

Juncos Hollinger Racing has collaborated with technology innovator Seamless Digital to bring the first-ever dynamic on-car digital display to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Partner logos and imagery, which have typically been displayed as static prints on the inner portion of the aeroscreen of the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, now feature a completely customizable digital display system, forging an innovative look in advertising technology.

“We’re delighted to extend our portfolio of sports now using the Seamless Digital system, from Formula 1 to Golf to INDYCAR,” said Mark Turner, Founder and CEO, Seamless Digital. “We were excited to work with INDYCAR and Juncos Hollinger Racing, who have been fantastic collaborators, as we worked through the approval process.”

Piloting the state-of-the-art technology in 2022 in Formula 1 and golf in 2023 Seamless Digital has now set its sight on showcasing the technology with Juncos Hollinger Racing.

“One of our team’s main priorities is to champion the things that other teams haven’t before, leading the charge to change the industry for the better,” said Ricardo Juncos, Founder and Co-Owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “The technology and opportunities Seamless Digital provides to our sponsors and partners will allow our team to grow beyond what has been possible before.”

“Connecting and engaging with the INDYCAR community is what guides us here at Juncos Hollinger Racing,” said Brad Hollinger, Co-Owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “Integrating this new technology allows us to connect directly with every individual who watches and engages with our sport – and we couldn’t be more excited to lead the way on what this could look like in INDYCAR.”

After successful test runs at tracks earlier in the season, the new digital technology will be displayed on the No. 77 entry of Roman Grosjean at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale in Nashville, Tennessee September 13-15.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge Fast Facts

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From Indycar:

Race weekend: Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15
Track: Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge: 206 laps/273.98 miles
INDY NXT by Firestone INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix: 65 laps/86.45 miles
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 140 kilojoules (kJ) per lap
.Firestone tire allotment:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Six sets primary, four sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and two sets of alternate tires during the race. One additional set is available for use during the upper/lower groove session Saturday.
INDY NXT by Firestone Two new sets for use through the event weekend. A carryover set from the Nashville Open Test in August may be used during pre-qualifying practice sessions Saturday
.X: @musiccitygp, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
Instagram: @musiccitygp, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @MusicCityGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
TikTok: @MusicCityGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.musiccitygp.comINDYCAR website: www.indycar.com
2008 race winners (most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway): NTT INDYCAR SERIES Scott Dixon (No. 9 Energizer Dallara/Honda/Firestone)
INDY NXT by Firestone Ana Beatriz (No. 20 Healthy Choice/Sam Schmidt Motorsports)
2008 NTT P1 Award winner (most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway): Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone), 1 minute, 31.5320 seconds, 204.519 mph (four laps)
2008 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner (most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway): James Davison (No. 11 Lifelock/Sam Schmidt Motorsports), 51.8844 seconds, 180.401 mph (two laps)
One-lap qualifying record: NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon, 22.6952 seconds, 206.211 mph, July 18, 2003
INDY NXT by Firestone Thiago Medeiros, 25.6508 seconds, 182.386 mph, July 16, 2004



NBC Sports race telecast: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge, 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 15, NBC. Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns and Georgia Henneberry are the pit reporters. Universo will provide a Spanish-language telecast.
Peacock live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while NBC’s telecast of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be simulcast on Peacock. The INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix will be streamed on Peacock, with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query, Michael Young and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge (3 p.m. ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix (11:45 a.m. ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone at Nashville Superspeedway practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times Central):
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
9-9:30 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, INDYCAR LIVE
10-11:30 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice, Peacock
Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, INDYCAR LIVE
1:15 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, Two laps, Peacock
2:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Single car, Two laps), INDYCAR LIVE
4:15-4:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Upper/Lower Groove Session (Two groups, 15 minutes each), Peacock
5-6 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, Peacock
SUNDAY, SEPT. 15
10:55 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines)
11 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix (65 laps/86.45 miles), Peacock2 p.m. NBC on air
2:25 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines”
2:30 p.m. Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge (206 laps/273.98 miles), NBC, Universo and Peacock (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship facts: Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship entering a title-deciding finale for the second time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Palou also led the championship with a race to go in 2021 and won the championship. Palou, who clinched the 2023 championship with one race to go in 2023, has led the point standings after 11 of the 16 rounds this season. He took the point lead at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in June. Three drivers are still mathematically eligible for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin. Palou will clinch his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the last four years with a finish of ninth or better. Nashville Superspeedway will host the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale for the first time in 2024. Tony Kanaan (2004) and Scott Dixon (2008) are the only drivers to win in Nashville and claim the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season.
Point differential: The 33 points separating Alex Palou and Will Power is the seventh-largest point margin with a race remaining since 2008. During that span, the average lead with one race remaining is 29.9 points.
Key championship point statistic: Ryan Hunter-Reay overcame a 17-point deficit to win the 2012 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship – the largest margin made up by an INDYCAR SERIES champion in the finale since 2000. Dan Wheldon made up 19 points in the 2006 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway to tie Sam Hornish Jr. atop the point standings, but Hornish won the championship via tiebreaker.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes: The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be the 17th and final race of the 2024 season. There have been seven winners in 16 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2024 season. Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Milwaukee Mile-1), Scott Dixon (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway-1, Milwaukee Mile-2), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca), Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500, World Wide Technology Raceway), Will Power (Road America, Iowa Speedway-2, Portland International Raceway) and Colton Herta (Streets of Toronto) have all won in 2024. The modern record (1946-present) for the most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be the seventh oval race of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Five of the first six oval races were won by drivers from Team Penske – Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500, World Wide Technology Raceway), Scott McLaughlin (Iowa Speedway-1, Milwaukee Mile-2) and Will Power (Iowa Speedway-2). The remaining oval race (Milwaukee Mile-1) was won by Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be the ninth INDYCAR SERIES event at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott Dixon is the only former Nashville Superspeedway winner entered in the event. But Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood won the three editions of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix held on the streets of downtown Nashville. Josef Newgarden has won 10 of the last 17 oval races on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Newgarden, a native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, has never raced at Nashville Superspeedway. Three drivers have previous starts at Nashville Superspeedway – Scott Dixon, Will Power and Graham Rahal. Dixon has six starts, most of all drivers. Only Dixon has led laps at the track, leading 247 laps in his six starts. Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 339th consecutive start, extending his record streak.

INDY NXT by Firestone Race Notes :Andretti Global’s Louis Foster has already clinched the INDY NXT by Firestone championship but can cap his historically dominant season with another win at Nashville. Foster, a native of England, leads the series in wins (seven), poles (six), laps led (297 of 575), top-five finishes (12) and top-10 finishes (13) through 13 races. 
 

The Last Cowboys

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Summer 2024 has been rough on us older race fans. In June Parnelli Jones, 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died at the age of 90, and last Friday Paul Goldsmith, two-time USAC stock car champion and six-time 500 starter who finished third in the 1960 race, left us at the age of 98.

Jones and Goldsmith had something in common with just three other drivers still alive. The five were the last to drive front engine cars in the Indianapolis 500. The remaining three are all multiple Indianapolis 500 winners- A. J. Foyt, age 89; Gordon Johncock, 87; and Johnny Rutherford, 86. The trio has nine 500 victories between them, as many as the Unser family.

Gordon Johncock
Johnny Rutherford

The front engine cars of the 1950s and 60s were tanks, built with little regard to driver safety. Stepping into one of these cars knowing that any run could be your last one, took a certain amount of fearlessness The front engine design had probably reached its top speed at the Speedway, a touch over 150 miles per hour, as the rear engine cars quickly pushed them aside in the mid ‘60s.

The drivers mentioned survived one of the deadliest 20 year periods in the sport’s history, and the three still living all are within shouting distance of their 90th birthdays. Is there a correlation between getting through that difficult era of racing and being extremely talented?  How much can be ascribed to good fortune?

Both Foyt and Rutherford suffered severe injuries on the track. How Foyt survived his accidents at Road America and Riverside is nothing short of miraculous.

On the other hand, there are drivers just as gifted as these three who had fatal injuries on track- Bill Vukovich, Bob Sweikert, Ted Horn, Rex Mays, and Jimmy Bryan- to name a few.

Racing needs to do more to honor these three living pioneers of the modern era.  While IndyCar’s popularity is just a shadow of what it once was, it would probably have disappeared had it not been for the efforts of these men and a few others. Foyt alone brought some new life to IndyCar with his incredible success in the early 60s. I hope all three are still here next May.  Foyt will be 90 by then, and Johncock and Rutherford will be one year closer to their 10th decade. I would like to see IMS go all out to give these men, and the other drivers of front engine cars their due, as a thank you.

Because of drivers like Jones, Foyt, Johncock, Rutherford, and Goldsmith, IMS and auto racing went through a renaissance, and we older fans should be able to cheer for them one more time. If you are an old timer like me, and you are at the track, seek out Foyt or Rutherford to say hi and thank them \. Johncock rarely ventures to IMS.

90 isn’t too far away for some of us either.