Tag: NTT Indycar Series

INDYCAR To Host $1 Million Challenge in March 2024 at Scenic Thermal Club 

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 INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023) – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will bring its pulsating, wheel-to-wheel action to The Thermal Club for a unique, made-for-TV racing exhibition during the 2024 season. The special event from sunny Southern California will offer a $1 million prize to the winner and will receive a network broadcast showcase on NBC.
Race Day for the $1 Million Challenge is set for Sunday, March 24 with an NTT INDYCAR SERIES Open Test and qualifications to take place Friday and Saturday March 22-23
.“The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will add an incredible new event to our schedule with next year’s spectacular racing showcase at The Thermal Club,” said Paenske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles. “This world-class venue just down the road from the world’s premier entertainment market is the perfect place to bring our hyper-competitive racing and growing star power.”
While championship points will not be on the line, the event will feature a multimillion-dollar purse. A draw party to begin the event will embed members of The Thermal Club with each race team and driver. The weekend format will include a qualifying session and two heat races, with the top six from each heat advancing to an All-Star showcase. The top five finishing teams will split their earnings with The Thermal Club members, including a $1 million prize awarded to the winner.
There will be a charitable component to the event that will be announced at a later date.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES hosted a successful Open Test on the 17-turn, 3.067-mile layout in February to jump-start the 2023 racing season.
“The experience the teams had at The Thermal Club was second to none,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “We treated it like a preseason scrimmage, and, looking back, it was the perfect launch to this record-breaking season.
“The facility is spectacular, and we cannot wait to return and showcase INDYCAR in a whole new way.”
The private, world-class facility, located just outside of Palm Springs, California, is an expansive 490-acre property known as the ultimate destination for driving-minded motorsports enthusiasts. Located at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, The Thermal Club has everything from luxury homes to a motorsports village and gourmet restaurants. The facility was named “Professional Motorsport Facility of the Year” at the 2017 Professional Motorsports World Expo in Germany.
“After having a smooth 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES test, we are proud to welcome INDYCAR back to The Thermal Club during the 2024 season,” said John Rogers, owner, The Thermal Club. “The teams, drivers and the entire INDYCAR SERIES paddock are true professionals, and we look forward to developing our relationship with them in the future. This marquee racing showcase in March promises to be special for everyone, including spectators, Thermal members and race fans tuning in at home.”
There will be limited tickets available to INDYCAR fans, with more details to be provided in the future.
This year’s season concludes this Sunday, Sept. 10 with the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES taking on world-famous WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and Peacock. The INDYCAR Radio Network will provide coverage via SiriusXM channel 160 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
More details on the entire 2024 season schedule will be available in the coming weeks. 

Shortened Warm Up Leaves Teams Guessing on Tires

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A 45 minute fog delay forced Indycar to shorten the scheduled 30 minute warm up session top just eight minutes. Teams used the time to scuff tires. They are still guessing about about which tire will be best.

Fuel mileage may also be in play today as the disruptions to practice and the short window this morning may have hindered preparation.

Can Felix Rosenquist end his time at Arrow McLaren with a win? He has never won a race when he has been on the pole. I think he has a good chance today. This race is up for grabs.

Warmup Results:

A Lovely Parting Gift-Rosenqvist Wins Pole in Final McLaren Outing

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Felix Rosenqvist will start the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on the in his last race for Arrow McLaren. He won the pole by 0.01 seconds over Scott McLaughlin, who was the last car to cross the line. Mclaughlin admitted that he dropped a wheel off the track in the first corner.

It was arguably the best qualifying of the year. Each round saw dramatic swings in the top six positions and the track record get slashed to bits. Christian Lundgaard ended the day with the record, 1:06.4610 in the second round.

The first three segments reflected the rest of the weekend with cars off track causing red flags. Ryan Hunter-Reay spun off track then came back onto the racing surface with 1:27 left inGroup1, Round 1. The other drivers were given one more timed lap, and positions changed wildly. Scott Dixon ended the session with the best time.

In Group 2 Helio Castroneves spun and stalled about three minutes into the round. Pato O’Ward seemed to be out of contention, but turned a quick lap to lead the group.

In the Fast 12 Christian Lundgaard set the track record to lead the group. O’Ward spun near the end of the session, eliminating what many thought was the car to beat for the pole.

Christian Lundgaard

The Fast Six was a fitting All Star ensemble to end the season. 500 winner Josef Newgarden, series champion Alex Palou, first time winner Lundgaard, Scott Dixon, Scott Mclaughlin, and Rosenqvist. All the drivers have races or poles in 2023.

The Fast Six was the only round of the weekend without an incident. It was a game of alternate tire strategy, and who crossed the line last as time expired.

Notes

Ironies-

Helio Castroneves will start last in his final race as a full time Indycar driver. He watched as his track record was soundly beaten.

Will Power, the career leader in poles earned with 70, made just none Fast Six this season. His only two poles this year came at the Iowa short oval.

Rookie Juri Vips had another strong qualifying effort. He qualified seventh but will start 13th after he serves his penalty.

Starting position is important here. 80% of the races have been won from the front row.

Results

These results are from qualifyi9ng today. they do not reflect any penalties.

Lundgaard Tops Practice 2 Amid More Disruptions

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Christian Lundgaard was the only driver to beat the track record in the second Indycar practice session. practice was delayed 25 minutes because of lightning in the area.

The weather delayed Indy NXT qualifying and thus pushed back the start of Iindycar practice.

Nine minutes into the session Pato O’Ward spun into the tire barrier and damaged the left front corner of his car. The red flag also few for Will Power, who spun without hitting anything at the top of the corkscrew and Santino Ferrucci, who appeared to lose an engine. Ferrucci may have a six place grid penalty assessed if the team needs to change the engine.

Green time has been at a premium this weekend. Today’s practice had just 35 minutes of green flag time. the longest segment was 16 minutes. The situation meant a crowded track where it was difficult for anyone to get a clean lap.

Teams fgot very little, if any, time on the alternate tires yesterday. Qualifying is going to be interesting.

Results

Qualifying Records in Danger at Laguna Seca; Spotter Guide

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Track records are expected to tumble toady in qualifying for both the NYYn Indycar series and the Indy NXT by Firestone series.

The Indycar record of 1:07.722 was set by Helio Castroneves in 2000 as he won his first career pole. Ironically, Sunday will be Castroneves’ final race as a fulltime Indycar driver.

Today’s schedule: Times Eastern

12:05-12:35 .m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two 12-minute sessions / Session 1 determines the lineup for Race 1, Session 2 determines the lineup for Race 2), INDYCAR LIVE

1 pm-2 pm Indycar Practice 2 Peacock

3:35 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 Peacock

5 pm-6:30 pm Indycar Qualifying  Peacock

Spotter Guide