A look at the weekend schedule for Toronto. All on Peacock. Times Eastern.
Toronto Schedule
Tag: NTT Indycar Series
Coyne Tabs Hunter McElrea for Toronto; Sowery Gets A Second Look
Dale Coyne Racing today named former Indy NXT driver Hunter McElrea as the driver of car `18 for this weekend’s Toronto Indycar race., and Toby Sowery returns to the 51 after his great outing at Mid-Ohio.
McElrea has been driving sportscars after huis Indy NXT career did not result in an Indycar ride. he tested for Coyne at Mid-Ohio earlier this summer.
Sowery drove to 13th place at Mid-Ohio in his first Indycar drive.
Mcelrea is the ninth driver in a Coyne entry in 2024, a record. he is the 42nd driver to take part in a series race this season.
Nolan Siegel was originally slated for the Toronto ride, but he signed a multi year deal with Arrow McLaren last month. Jack harvey woiuld have been tghe logical choice toi step in, but he needs time to recover from the injury which caused him to miss Sunday’s race.
Practice for the Toronto race begins Friday afternoon. Sunday’s race is exclusively on Peacock.
Quick Thoughts- Iowa Race 2
Photo by Kyle McInnes
Alex Palou summed it up.
“It was a boring race,” he told the media in the post race press conference. Scott McLaughlin echoed those thoughts.
Today’s race pretty much turned out the way I expected. I thought there might be another yellow or two.
This weekend at Iowa we saw two races without a single on track pass for the lead. Today it was an overcut pit stop by Will Power that got him to the front. With the lack of passing Power cruised to the victory.
Update-Sting Ray Robb is awake and alert after his horrific flip at the checkered flag. He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
There is a consensus among the drivers that something must be done to improve this race. Power said a second lane “…would make this race amazing.”
He suggested a softer tire and a lighter car asn two possible solutions. he surface in turns also needs some attention.
Iowa used to be really fun track. I almost wish that they would bring back the bump in turn 2.
The last lap incident cost Kyle Kirkwood his top 10 streak.
Nice Recoveries
Colton Herta and Alex Palou bounced back from difficult Race 1 results. Palou crashed Saturday and finished 23rd.
Herta finished mid pack last night after getting caught out by a yellow just after he pitted.
Palou was 2nd today and Herta was 5th.
Good Weekends
Rinus VeeKay earned a top 10 in both races.
Pato O’Ward finished second and sixth. he moves to third int he standings, 52 points behind Palou. Power takes over second, just 35 points behind. The battle for second is helping Palou keep his lead.
Final Thought
I’m glad Indycar and Iowa have extended their agreement. If both parties want a race here, Indycar and the track have to work together to find a solution to get the racing back to where it was.
I love this track. the quick laps are incredible to watch, but I want to see good racing, which was in very short supply this weekend.
Indycar can’t control where NASCAR races, b ut if a track wants Indycar as well, a compromise needs to be reached so that both series can put on a great show.
I will have a final wrap-up tomorrow. Thanks for following along on what was a very quick trip.
Race Day 2- Deja Vu?
Photo by Kyle McInnes
Good morning from Iowa Speedway as we get ready for a very early Race 2. Scott McLaughlin has to be the favorite. he has had the fastest car all weekend
Today’s schedule, including the all important concert times:.
9-9:05 am: All cars install lap
9:05-9:20 am: Special session for 18 car
10:41 am: Driver Intros
11:03 am: Invocation
11:04 am: Anthem
11:25 pm: Command
11:30 pm: Green Flag
2 pm: @KelseaBallerini Concert
3:45 pm: @PostMalone Concert
Conor Daly will replace Jjack Harvey in the 18. Harvey is suffering from neck and back pain. he drove in last night’s race but dropped out and to be helped out of the car.
Today’s revised lineup:
Yesterday’s race presented a strong case why t Iowa needs to be a true night race. The racing got so uch better once the sun went behind the grandstands. I have attended both day and night races here, and the night races are many times better. A start tie 30 minutes before sunset would be ideal.
In the media availability after the race last night, Pato O’Ward spoke out about how the repave has changed the track. “They ruined a good race,” he said.
I will be back after the race with a brief post with some thoughts, and I will have a weekend wrap-up tomorrow..
McLaughlin Takes Race 1- Some Thoughts
Photo by Kyle McInnes
The racing was good- what there was of it. Six caution periods slowed the pace. No matter how slow the pace car leads the field around, cautions eat laps quickly on a 7/8 mile track.
Early on we saw a great duel between Colton Herta and Scott McLaughlin. When McLaughlin beat Herta out of the pits, the race was pretty much over.
In the post race press conference, Pato O’Ward talked about how the repave hurt the racing. “You couldn’t get by anybody,” he said. The track seemed to get racier when the sun went behind the grandstands.
We don’t normally see this much attrition in an Indycar race. The half dozen cautions and the number of cars dropping out made the race a bit old school.
McLaughlin starts on pole tomorrow, and he has a great chance of sweeping the weekend. The driver may change, but the team remains the same.
McLaughlin says he can now call himself an Indycar driver since he’s won on an oval. “I’m proud to say I’ve won on all three types of courses, ” McLaughlin said.
O’Ward is now second in points, just 37 behind Alex Palou. Will Power and Scott Dixon are also within 50 points of Palou. The standings are refreshing to see after last year’s runaway by Palou.
Kyle Kirkwood notched another Top 10, as did Santino Ferrucci. Both have been consistent all season,. The logjam of drivers who usually get Top 5s is keeping them from moving up a bit.
I will have a pre race post early tomorrow morning. remember, the race begins at 12:30 pm Eastern
Herta, McLaughlin Take Iowa Poles
Phot by Kyle McInnes
After a delayed and confusing qualifying session in which Jack Harvey both began and ended, Colton Herta won the pole for tonight’s race and Scott McLaughlin will loead the field to green tomorrow morning.
Hybrid issues apparently hindered Harvey’s run, and he was given another chance. I was traveling during qualifying and will need to watch the replay to see exactly what happened.
Will Power’s two year deiouble pole streak has ended. He will start fourth tonight and 23rd tomorrow.
Josef Newgarden’s string of wins is in jeopardy. the winner of three of the last four Iowa races starts14t5h Sunday and 22nd tonight.
Toniught’s lineup
. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 187.655 mph
2. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevy, 187.526
3. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 186.841
4. (12) Will Power, Chevy, 186.328
5. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 186.208
6. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevy, 186.074
7. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevy, 186.039
8. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevy, 185.405
9. (11) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 185.337
10. (28) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 185.271
11. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 185.196
12. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 184.810
13. (8) Linus Lundqvist, Honda, 184.659
14. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevy, 184.336
15. (66) David Malukas, Honda, 184.151
16. (6) Nolan Siegel, Chevy, 183.749
17. (78) Agustin Canapino, Chevy, 183.632
18. (30) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, 183.623
19. (18) Jack Harvey, Honda, 183.556
20. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 183.504
21. (77) Romain Grosjean, Chevy, 183.453
22. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevy, 182.763
23. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 181.521
24. (41) Sting Ray Robb, Chevy, 177.530
25. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevy, 176.838
26. (51) Katherine Legge, Honda, 176.225
27. (4) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 175.
There are conflicting reports on whether Harvey will drive in the race tonight because of back pain. Conor Daly will fill in for him if he cannot go.
I will have a quick wrapu after the race.
McLaughlin Leads Iowa Practice
photo by Kyle McInnes
About to board my flight. Yesterday saw a busy session. Marcus Ericsson hit tge wall. Katherine Legge spun d didn’t hit anything.
Saturday
Times Eastern Iowa is on Central time
2:15p: INDY NXT Race
3:45p: INDYCAR Qualifying Peacock, Indycar radio
5:15p: @lukecombs Concert
8p: INDYCAR Race 250 laps NBC, Peacock, Indycar Radio
Results
Simpson, Rahal Serve Grid Penalties at Iowa
From Indycar
For Immediate Release | INDYCAR Announces Iowa Speedway Grid Penalties INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, July 12, 2024) – INDYCAR officials have announced a nine-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 4 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for unapproved engine changes following the Sunday, July 7 race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The teams were in violation of: Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out. According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart Saturday, July 13 at Iowa Speedway. |
Race Previews- HyVee Indycar Weekend
The hybrid debut tour continues this weekend with a double header at Iowa Speedway as oval season begins. Six of the final eight races will be on ovals.
The new Energy Recovery System had its series debut last Sunday at Mid-Ohio. Saturday evening will mark the new power component’s first oval run, and next week, the hybrid will have its first run on a street course at Toronto. While many, including me, questioned the mid-season debut for the hybrid, it has actually worked out well that each type of track Indycar races on gets a chance to test it in rapid order.
The HyVee Indycar Weekend began in 2022 with a blockbuster concert lineup, and drew a sellout crowd. This is the third year for the Iowa race in this format. I don’t mind an occasional double header, but I think each race should be a different distance. Saturday’s race should be 300 laps and Sunday’s 250 laps. Today Indycar announced a multi year renewal of the contract with Iowa Speedway.
In addition to the hybrid debut, the track has been repaved in the turns. In testing at the track, drivers still complained of the 7/8 mile oval still being a one lane track. The series will try to rubber in the second lane, so we will see if that helps.
Penske Dominance
Team Penske has owned this track of late. Will Power has won all four poles the last two years, and Josef Newgarden has won three of the f our races. Newgarden would have won the fourth won, but a crash due to a part failure thwarted a clean sweep.
Pato O’Ward has also been strong here, and he carries the momentum from last Sunday’s victory into the weekend.
A statistic that stood out to me in the Indycar preview is that Newgarden and O’Ward are the only two active race winners at this track. I think they each win a race this weekend.
I don’t think the hybrid system will be much of a factor at Iowa. There is not a lot of opportunity to regenerate the battery, and the extra horsepower will not help much.
The races could come down to how usable the second groove is and tire wear. I understand there was not a lot degradation of the tires in the test.
Points leader Alex Palou may see his cushion shrink a bit. Palou has never won on oval. if he can get a couple of top five results, he should be okay.
Weather
The forecast has just one word: HOT. The heat index Sunday could reach above 100 degrees. There is a slight chance for rain Saturday. The timing seems to be shifting more toward evening. If you are going to Iowa, remember to hydrate, and take breaks in the shade under the grandstands often.
I will not be on site until Saturday afternoon after qualifying. The reason is Iowa related. I’m going to see Caitlin Clark play tonight, then fly to Des Moines Saturday morning.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 