Tag: NTT Indycar Series

World Wide Technology Raceway Dresses Up

thepitwindow

When I arrived at the track yesterday, things looked different yet the same. In my walks around yesterday, I noticed several improvements. The track has changed a lot since Indycar’s return in 2017.

Paddock

The paddock area is much improved with more signage and a change to the spaces. The work areas are all on the east side. The west side is now a spectator area under cover. Drivers’ names and car numbers tell fans who is where. In addition, a video screen presents each driver’s profile.

Fan Comfort

At the north end of the infield behind the pits, there are numerous picnic tables shaded by umbrellas. Just past the tables are three covered lounge area with video screens. While they don’t provide much relief from the heat, the pergola does give some relief from the sun, which helps a bit.

The track management has stationed several cooling buses around the unfield and the outer grandstands., and there are misting stations to provide a short respite from the heat.

The media center and the medical building have a fresh coat of paint, which helps the appearance a lot.

The grandstand seats have been repainted as well.

This year is the best the track has looked since Indycar’s return. I hope the track continues to improve the appearance and fan comfort, and can work with Indycar to put on a good show on the track.

Race Day at WWTR

thepitwindow

Photo by Kyle McInnes. Could this scene be the duel at the end of the race?

Today’s Schedule: Times are Central

11 am Gates Open

11:10 am: Vintage Indy

1:45pm: Vintage Indy

3 pm: INDY NXT Command

3:05 pm: INDY NXT Green Flag

4:48 pm: Driver Intros

5:13 pm: Invocation

5:14 pm: Anthem

5:25 pm: Command

5:30 pm: Green Flag 260 laps; USA, Peaocck, Indycar Radio

7:53 pm: Sunset

What looked to be processional event now has the promise of being quite intriguing. Grid penalties and a qualifying mishap has several favorites starting in the second `half of the field.

Colton Herta has one of the fastest cars this weekend, and he starts 25th. Points leader Alex Palou starts 16th. While Herta, Palou,, and Scott Dixon will probably work their way into the top ten, the going will get tougher after that. The Penske trio of Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden will be strong. Pato O’Ward should also be in the mix, as will David Malukas.

Based on the final practice last night, I think passing will still be difficult in the race. The best overtaking opportunity appears to be going into turn 1.

Will Power has a great opportunity to cut into Palou’s points lead., but as we have seen before, Palou seems to find a way to minimize the damage.

Two Things to Watch

How easily will the leaders be able to get through lapped traffic? At Iowa, it took quite a few laps to get past a slower car. While that does bunch up the leaders, it really slows the pace of the race and keeps it as a processional.

How many cautions and when they happen could make the race more interesting. Restarts will provide the best passing opportunities. I hope there is a balance between a crash fest and a caution free race.

In the end, we might see a duel between Josef newgarden and Pato O’Ward for the win. This time, O’Ward comes out on top and breks the Penske oval streak.

O’Ward Fastest in Final Practice

thepitwindow

Photo by Kyle McInnes

Pato O’Ward led the evening practice as the Indycar series had its final tune up before this afternoons’ Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

Early in the session Nolan Siegel had a tire come apart on the front stretch. he pulled to the inside ad stopped next to the pit wall. Firestone officials determined that the tire had been cut and that it did not deflate immediately. A serious situation was avoided.

Josef Newgarden led for much of the session, and O’Ward grabbed the top spot in the final 30 minutes.

The practice followed a 30 minute high line session as cars tried to make the second groove usable for the race. It will still be difficult to pass tonight.

Alex Palou and Graham Rahal ((Photo by Kyle McInnes)

The 7:30 start time for the practice would be the ideal for this race to begin. The t excessive heat of the day moderated, and it was pleasant during the second half of the session. Indycar needs to have a true night race again.

Silver Crown

Dakoda Armstrong won the USAC Silver Crown race at WWTR last night. Justin Grant, winner of the BC39 at IMS last fall, was second, and Kalee Bryson scored her first career podium.

I will have a pre race story up in a couple of hours.

Results

Malukas Leads Practice

thepitwindow

Photo by Kyle McInnes

David Malukas continued his great run since joining Meyer Shank Racing by turning the fastest lap in the first practice at World Wide Technology Raceway. He edged Colton Herta by four tenths of a second.

The Andretti Global cars topped the charts in the first half of the session, but Herta was the only one who maintained his position.

Scott McLaughlin and Will Power were third and fourth fo Team Penske.

Alex Palou had the fifth fastest lap.

The session was stopped just once when linus Lundqvist stalled off of turn two.

Qualifying begins at 3:20 Central time.

Qualifying order is in inverse order of entrant points.

Results:

Indycar Announces WWTR Grid Penalties

thepitwindow

Four grid penalties, including two of the title contenders have been assessed by Indycar for unapproved engine changes.

The cars affected:

No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing  Scott Dixon
· No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou
· No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Katherine Legge
· No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Felix Rosenqvist

Each car will lose nine positions on the starting grid after qualifying.

Bommarito 500 Preview

thepitwindow

Today’s Schedule: Al times Central

11:45 am Indycar practice 1 Peacock, Indycar Radio

3:20 pm Indycar Qualifying Peacock, Indycar Radio

7:30 pm Indycar practice 2 (includes hiugh line practice) Peacock, Indycar Radio

World Wide Technology Raceway, affectionately known as Gateway, has been a popular late season stop on the Indycar circuit. The track has provided nearly non stop action with Indy NXT, Silver Crown, and vintage cars keeping fans entertained.

For 2024, the tracked has moved ahead in the schedule. It had been the 15th race on the calendar. This year it is the 13th. In 2025, it will be race number eight.

The weather this weekend will again be typical, warm, muggy St. louis are summer conditions. The latest from @Indycar_Wxman:

The early morning cloud cove is beginning to dissipate. The temperature when first practice begins should be around 87 degrees.

The three oval races that have run this season eqch saw aq different winner- all from Team Penske. They will probably be strong again. Josef Newgarden has won four races at this track. he was in contention last year until he crashed late in the race.

Andretti Global drivers Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson were the top three in testing at Gateway last month. Herta won pole for one of the Iowa races, and I expect him to be strong this weekend.

Pato O’Ward should also be aq driver to watch. O’Ward is always good on ovals, and it just might be time to break through.

Points leader Alex Palou is still lookng for his first win on an oval, but does he really need to win? We are at the point in the season where Palou is more concerned about keeping his as close to the 49 point margin he holds entering tomorrow’s race.

Iowa 2.0?

Some drivers said after the test session that they don’t think this weekend’s race will be any better than the ones we witnessed at iowa. I hope that is not the case. While this is a track where passing is difficult, we have seen somebold moves going into turn 1.

While I don’t like a lot of cautions, three caution periods well spaced out could make for an intriguing event.

I look for an Andretti car to win the race. Colton Herta could get his second straight victory this season. It’s difficult to remember that he won the Tronto race nearly a month ago.

Notes

Alexander Rossi returns to the 7 car after missing the Tronto race with a thumb injury.

Will we see more tire degradation/? That would really help the flow of the race.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Notes; Silly Season Shakeup

thepitwindow

Good afternoon from St. Louis. I stopped by the track to pick up my credentials and I drove around. the outside of the track place looks great and ready for the weekend.

Katherine Legge will drive the 51 for Dale Coyne this weekend. I had thought there was an earlier announcement from Dale Coyne that she was set to run all the ovals at the end of the season. I guess it is race by race now.

A Lead with Five Races to Go is Pretty Safe

Indycar provided the following chart yesterday which shows the points leader with five races to go since 2008 and how the year finished. Only six times has the leader with five races remaining failed to win the title the last time in 2017. Datio Franchitti and Scott Dixon are the main spoilers.

Malukas Rocks the Silly Season Boat

David Malukas’ shock signing with A. J. Foyt Racing this week reset all the thinking about Silly season. It put his current seat at Meyer Shank Racing in play without filling one of the other seats thought to be open.

Alexander Rossi is the beneficiary of Malukas’ move. He is arguably the\ top free agent now, and there is another quality seat for the taking.

What Prema’s plans are remains a mystery. They want a veteran and a rookie. While a Rossi signing will het the other free agents settled in short order. rather quickly, I think knowing Prema’s plans are just as big a factor to seeing the 2025 grid set.

Schedule Reminder

First practice tomorrow is at 12:45 pm Eastern. If you are coming to the track, make sure you hydrate. it will be hot.

The 2025 race is in June, and the weather should be more pleasant then.

Your first friendly reminder that the race is at 6:25 pm Saturday on USA Network as well as Peacock.

Look for my scintillating race preview tomorrow morning.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline Fast Facts 

thepitwindow

From Indycar. Look for my preview Friday morning. I will have a post tomorrow afternoon after I arrive in St. Louis.

 Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 16 – Saturday, Aug. 17
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway, a 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline 260 laps / 325 miles
INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown 75 laps / 93.75 miles

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 120 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIESEight sets for use through the doubleheader weekend.
INDY NXT by FirestoneTwo new sets to be used during the event weekend.
X: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Threads: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @WWTRaceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @WWT_Raceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCARYouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.wwtraceway.com/
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2023 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)I
NDY NXT by Firestone Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports)
2023 NTT P1 Award winner: Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet), 49.1936 seconds, 182.951 mph (two laps)
2023 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports), field set by points after qualifying was rained out
One-lap qualifying lap record: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power, 23.7206, 189.709 mph, Aug. 25. 2017
INDY NXT by Firestone Juan Piedrahita, 27.8890, 161.354 mph, Aug. 26, 2017
USA Network race telecast: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline, 6 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 17, USA Network (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry and Dillon Welch are the pit reporters.
Peacock Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while USA Network’s race telecast of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown will be streamed on Peacock, with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR LIVE.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query and Michael Young are the pit reporters. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (6 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (3:50 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone 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 local):
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, Peacock
2:15-3 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, INDYCAR LIVE
3:20 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT P1 Award qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), Peacock
5:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), INDYCAR LIVE
6:45-7:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES high-line session (two groups/15 minutes each), Peacock
7:30-8:30 p.m. –NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
3 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown “Drivers Start Your Engines”
3:05 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (75 laps / 93.75 miles)
5 p.m. – USA Network on air
5:25 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
5:30 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps/325 miles), USA Network (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Facts:· 
Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with five races to go for the third time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. He also led the 2021 and 2023 championships with five races to go, winning the title in each of those seasons. Palou, who has led the point standings after seven of the 12 rounds this season, took the point lead at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in June.· There are 18 drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward, Scott McLaughlin, Kyle Kirkwood, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Santino Ferrucci, Christian Lundgaard, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong, Rinus VeeKay, Romain Grosjean, Graham Rahal and Linus Lundqvist. Any driver who trails the points leader by 217 points or more following this race will be eliminated from contention.·
Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship three times: Alex Zanardi (1998), Josef Newgarden (2017) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the championship leader with five races to go has won the championship nine times. Those drivers were: Scott Dixon (2008, 2018, 2020), Dario Franchitti (2011), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Simon Pagenaud (2016), Josef Newgarden (2019) and Alex Palou (2021, 2023).
Point differential: The 49 points that separate Alex Palou and Will Power is the seventh-largest point margin with five races remaining since INDYCAR SERIES racing was unified in 2008. Before this season, the average lead with five races remaining was 43.9 points.

Race Notes: There have been seven winners in 12 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2024 season. Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course), Scott Dixon (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway-1), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca), Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500), Will Power (Road America, Iowa Speedway-2) 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 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the 16th INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Scott Dixon won at WWTR for the second time in 2023. Paul Tracy won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WWTR in 1997. Dixon, Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018) are the former winners entered in this year’s race.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Josef Newgarden 4 2017, 2020-Race2, 2021, 2022
Scott Dixon 2 2020-Race 1, 2023
Will Power 1 2018
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the fourth of seven oval races during the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Team Penske drivers have won the previous three races. Josef Newgarden won the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May while Scott McLaughlin and Will Power split the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader at Iowa Speedway last month.
Three drivers have won at World Wide Technology Raceway from the pole – Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Gil de Ferran (2002) and Helio Castroneves (2003).T
eam Penske has won eight times at World Wide Technology Raceway. Penske’s winning drivers are Paul Tracy (1997), Gil de Ferran (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003), Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018). Chip Ganassi Racing has three wins at Gateway with Alex Zanardi (1998), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
Twenty-four drivers have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at World Wide Technology Raceway. Scott Dixon has nine starts, most among the entered drivers. Rookies Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson will make their first start at WWTR. Thirteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Josef Newgarden 582, Scott Dixon 374, Will Power 333, Pato O’Ward 159, Colton Herta 134, Scott McLaughlin 12, Alexander Rossi 8, David Malukas 4, Felix Rosenqvist 4, Marcus Ericsson 3, Romain Grosjean 2, Graham Rahal 2 and Conor DalyMilestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 335th consecutive start, extending his NTT INDYCAR SERIES record streak.
INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:
Andretti Global’s Louis Foster returns to World Wide Technology Raceway looking to solidify his grip on the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. The 21-year-old English driver leads Jacob Abel of Abel Motorsports by 77 points heading into the pivotal championship stretch of four races in five weeks.The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown will be the series’ 14th race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at WWTR include Lee Bentham, Townsend Bell, Dan Wheldon, Jeff Simmons, Oliver Askew, David Malukas and Christian Rasmussen.