Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Morning at PIR

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The skies have cleared, the rain chances are dropping for the weekend, and we have a pleasant morning here at Portland International Raceway.

There are a good number of fans already at the track enjoying the USF and touring car action, as well as wandering through the paddock.

PIR has made some facility improvements. First, the media center has moved to the opposite end of the paddock into a nice temporary glass and metal building. It is a nice change from the trailers media used my first trip out here.

The main pedestrian bridge looks new and freshly painted.

I wandered through the paddock this morning as cars were emerging from their transporters. Here are a few photos. I’ll be back in a bit with more.

Victory podium. The new logo looks sharp.
Will DHL be back next year?
MSR prepping the cars

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT-INDYCAR Fans Can Celebrate Season Champs Sept. 21 at IMS

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From Indycar:

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 1, 2023) – INDYCAR fans can participate in the salute of 2023 season champions in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone at the INDYCAR Victory Lap Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Doors open for the event, hosted by NBC NTT INDYCAR SERIES announcer Leigh Diffey, at 7 p.m. ET at the Gallagher Pavilion in the Pagoda Plaza at IMS. Fans can register for free tickets at www.indycar.com/victorylap. Quantities are limited, so fans are encouraged to register promptly.

Awards will be presented to the 2023 champions in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone during the program that starts at 7:30 p.m. Drivers finishing second through fifth in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings and the 2023 Rookie of the Year also will attend and be honored. The Manufacturers Championship trophy also will be presented.

Both series have two race weekends remaining, Sept. 1-3 at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, and Sept. 8-10 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

Portland Race Preview

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Today’s schedule. Times are Pacific

8:30 AMBITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland Gates Open
9:00 AM – 9:30 AMUSF2000Practice
9:45 AM – 10:15 AMUSF Pro 2000Practice
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM U.S. Touring Car ChampionshipPractice 1
11:15 AM – 11:45 AMUSF2000Qualifying
12:00 PM – 12:30 PMUSF Pro 2000Qualifying
12:30 PM – 1:30 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESAutograph Session in SpeedZone
12:45 PM – 1:15 PMU.S. Touring Car Championship Practice 2
1:55 PM – 2:40 PMINDY NXTPractice 1
3:00 PM – 4:15 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESPractice 1 Peacock
4:30 PM – 5:15 PMUSF2000Race 1
5:30 PM – 6:20 PMUSF Pro 2000 Race 1
6:35 PM – 7:05 PMU.S. Touring Car ChampionshipQualifying

Good morning from Portland. Yesterday was a gloomy, rainy day, but chances of rain over these next three days are diminishing. With the championship pretty much decided, it would seem there is little of interest to look for in Sunday’s 110 lap race. Some intrigue still remains, and part of it brings attention to the bottom of the grid. A former champion has a season win streak on the line, and another possible 2024 full timer gets his first chance to show what he can do.\

Power’s Streak on the Line

Scott Dixon saved his string of winning at least one race for 19 straight years by taking the checkered flag at the Gallagher Grand Prix. He added the Bommarito 500 for good measure last weekend, dominating the field.

Will Power has won at least one race every year for 16 straight seasons. 2023 has not seen Power in Victory Circle. With two races to go, we may see a desperate Power with a sense of urgency. Last year he won just oine race on the way to the title.

Palou’s Way to the Cup

Alex Palou can clinch the championship by finishing fifth or higher Sunday, no matter what Scott Dixon does. Dixon would have to win maxiumm points in both remaining races (he won’t) to have a chance.

Palou has won at Portland before, and I think he would like nothing better to cap his second title with a victory.

Leaders’ Circle on the Line

Up for grabs in the final two weekends is a spot in the Leaders’ circle, wotrth almost 1 million dollars to a team.

Herev are the current standings. The fourth Ganassi car, which is ineleigibke for the money, holds one of the top 22 spots, so 23rd place is the actual cutoff.

Vips Debut

Yuri Vips will make his Indycar debut in the number 30 car for RLL this weekend. Vips is a possible candidate to drive that car full time in 2024. He has essentially a two race tryout.

I understand giving someone a tryout, but the 30 is on the cusp of the leaders’ circle. I’d rather have someone with experience in the car here.

Race Notes

Not Indycar exactly, but news yesterday that the USF championships will switch to Continental Tire in 2024. Cooper tire had been the tire supplier for the Junior series for so long that I just thought it was part of the series name. Thanks to Cooper Tires for providing a great tire for the kids all these years.

I find it hard to believe it appears probable that Pato O’Ward, and the entire Arrow McLaren team will go winless this season. O’Ward was in a position to win at least three races early in the year, but the fickle racing gods intervened.

Last year Indycar moved the start zone back to the exit of the final turn. While it prevented the usual first lap mess in the Festival Curves, it made for a rather dull race.

Ganassi Signs Lundqvist to Multi Year Deal

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From Chip Ganassi Racing

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 31, 2023) – Chip Ganassi Racing announced today that the team has signed Linus Lundqvist to a multi-year contract.

Lundqvist is set to bring his championship credentials to Chip Ganassi Racing for his first full season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2024. 

“Joining Chip Ganassi Racing is an absolute dream come true for me,” said Lundqvist. “Stepping up to race full-time in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and to do so with one of the most successful teams in the history of the championship, is the moment I’ve been working for throughout my career. It is hard to explain how much this means to me. I am incredibly grateful to Chip, Mike and to everyone who has backed me on this journey, including of course my family.”

“It’s terrific that the opportunity to hire Linus, a proven winner, plus the reigning 2022 INDY NXT Champion is now a reality at Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull. “He has shown that his on-track performance creates the racecraft separation that’s required in INDYCAR today. Growing together with Linus is what comes next.”

After winning the 2022 INDY NXT championship, Lundqvist made the jump to compete in three INDYCAR races this season with Meyer Shank Racing. 

Lundqvist wasted no time making his mark, setting the fastest lap time among all drivers in two of his first three races in the series. 

“I have dipped my toes into INDYCAR racing in recent weeks, which will give me a little bit of a head start going into 2024,” said Lundqvist. “Coming up through INDY NXT has provided me with some important experience that will help me get up to speed. Having said that, this is an entirely new challenge as I prepare to join an established top team at the highest level of the sport. I know there is a lot of hard work ahead, but having a team like Chip Ganassi Racing put their trust in me is the greatest motivator I could ever have. I intend to do everything in my power to grab this opportunity and I look forward to all the moments ahead, next year and beyond.”

Lundqvist dominated throughout the 2022 INDY NXT season, clinching the championship by a margin of 92 points after earning five wins, nine podiums and seven pole positions. He made his series debut in 2021, where he finished third in the points standings with three wins, 11 podiums and three pole positions.

Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, Lundqvist previously won the 2020 Formula Regional Americas Championship, the 2018 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and the 2016 Formula STCC Nordic Championship. 

Lundqvist will be embedded with the Chip Ganassi Racing team for the final two races of the season as he prepares for the next step in his career.

Source: Chip Ganassi Racingex

Bitnile.com GP of Portland Fast Facts

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From Indycar. My preview will post tomorrow evening after i arrive in Portland.

Race weekend: Friday, Sept. 1-Sunday, Sept. 3
Track: Portland International Raceway, a 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course in Portland, Oregon
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland 110 laps / 216.04 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland 35 laps / 68.74 miles / 55 minutes
Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Six sets primary, four sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. A carryover set from the Indianapolis GP event may be used during the first practice.
X (formerly known as Twitter): @Race_Portland, @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCARInstagram: @Race_Portland, @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCARThreads: @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCARFacebook: @PortlandGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCARTikTok: @INDYCAR, #INDYCARYouTube: @INDYCAREvent website: www.raceportland.comINDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2022 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Freightliner Team Penske Chevrolet)
INDY NXT by FirestoneBenjamin Pedersen (No. 24 Global Racing Group with HMD)2022 NTT P1 Award winner: Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Freightliner Team Penske Chevrolet), 58.2349 seconds, 121.412 mph
2022 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Benjamin Pedersen (No. 24 Global Racing Group with HMD), 1 minute, 3.6698 seconds, 111.048 mph
Qualifying records:NTT INDYCAR SERIESWill Power, 57.2143 seconds, 123.577 mph, Sept. 1, 2018 (Set in Round 1 of knockout qualifying)INDY NXT by FirestonePato O’Ward, 1 minute, 2.8074 seconds, 112.573 mph, Aug. 31, 2018
NBC Sports race telecast: BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 3, NBC (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Kevin Lee 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 NBC’s race telecast of the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland 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. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Ryan Myrehn and Alex Wollf are the pit reporters. The BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland race (3 p.m. ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland (1 p.m. ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Friday, Sept. 1
1:55-2:40 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, INDYCAR LIVE3-4:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1, Peacock
Saturday, Sept. 2
9-10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45 minutes green flag or 1 hour total), Peacock
11:20 a.m.-12:05 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, INDYCAR LIVE
12:30 p.m. – BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock
4:25 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, INDYCAR LIVE
5:15-5:45 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 3
10:15 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland “Drivers Start Your Engines”
10:20 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland (35 laps / 68.74 miles / 55 minutes), Peacock
Noon – NBC on air
12:23 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
12:30 p.m. – BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland (110 laps/216.04 miles), NBC (Live)
Championship facts: Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with two races to go for the second time in his career. Palou previously led the championship with two races in 2021 when he won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.
There are two drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Palou leads Scott Dixon by 74 points. Palou will clinch the championship if he leads Dixon by 54 points at the end of the race. Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland International Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season 11 times: Bobby Rahal (1987), Danny Sullivan (1988), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Michael Andretti (1991), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1998), Gil de Ferran (2000), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Sebastien Bourdais (2004, 2007) and Alex Palou (2021).Point differential: The 74 points that separate Alex Palou and Scott Dixon are the largest margin with two races remaining since 2008. The average deficit with two races to go since 2008 is 24.3 points.
Key championship point statistic: It’s been 16 years since an INDYCAR SERIES title was clinched before the final race of the season. The last time was when Sebastien Bourdais was crowned the 2007 Champ Car World Series champion following the penultimate round at Surfers Paradise, Australia.
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 2 TO GO (2008-2022)
YEAR LEADER SECOND  LEAD CHAMPION
2008 Scott Dixon Helio Castroneves 43 Scott Dixon 2009 Ryan Briscoe Dario Franchitti 25 Dario Franchitti
2010 Will Power Dario Franchitti 17 Dario Franchitti
2011 Dario Franchitti Will Power 5 Dario Franchitti
2012 Will Power Ryan Hunter-Reay 36 Ryan Hunter-Reay
2013 Helio Castroneves Scott Dixon 8 Scott Dixon
2014 Will Power Helio Castroneves 39 Will Power
2015 Juan Pablo Montoya Graham Rahal 9 Scott Dixon (-34)
2016 Simon Pagenaud Will Power 20 Simon Pagenaud
2017 Josef Newgarden Scott Dixon 31 Josef Newgarden
2018 Scott Dixon Alexander Rossi 26 Scott Dixon
2019 Josef Newgarden Simon Pagenaud 38 Josef Newgarden
2020 Scott Dixon Josef Newgarden 40 Scott Dixon
2021 Alex Palou Pato O’Ward 25 Alex Palou
2022 Will Power Josef Newgarden 3 Will Power
2023 Alex Palou Scott Dixon 74 ??
Race notes:There have been seven winners in 15 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2023 season. Marcus Ericsson (Streets of St. Petersburg), Josef Newgarden (Texas Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500, Iowa Speedway-1, Iowa Speedway-2), Kyle Kirkwood (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Nashville), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course-1, Streets of Detroit, Road America, Mid-Ohio), Christian Lundgaard (Streets of Toronto) and Scott Dixon (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course-2, World Wide Technology Raceway).The BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland will be the 29th INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland International Raceway and the fifth since the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2018. Al Unser Jr. won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland in 1984, while Scott McLaughlin won last season. McLaughlin, Alex Palou and Will Power are the only former winners entered in this year’s race.Eight INDYCAR SERIES drivers have won at Portland International Raceway from the pole – Danny Sullivan (1988), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1996), Max Papis (2001), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Sebastien Bourdais (2004), Alex Palou (2021) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).Team Penske has won seven times at Portland International Raceway. Penske’s winning INDYCAR SERIES drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988), Emerson Fittipaldi (1993), Al Unser Jr. (1994, 1995), Gil de Ferran (2000), Will Power (2019) and Scott McLaughlin (2022). Chip Ganassi Racing has three wins at Portland with Alex Zanardi in 1996 and 1998 and Alex Palou in 2021. Newman/Haas Racing won a record eight times at Portland.Twenty-one drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at Portland International Raceway. Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power each have six starts, most among the entered drivers. Fourteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Castroneves 115, Scott McLaughlin 109, Power 68, Colton Herta 36, Graham Rahal 38, Alexander Rossi 32, Alex Palou 29, Pato O’Ward 28, Dixon 15, Josef Newgarden 8, Felix Rosenqvist 3, Marcus Ericsson 1, Callum Ilott 1 and Christian Lundgaard 1).Pato O’Ward won both Indy NXT by Firestone races at Portland in 2018 on his way to the series championship … Graham Rahal scored the first win of his professional racing career at Portland, winning the Star Mazda (now USF Pro 2000 championship) race in 2005.Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 321st consecutive start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record streak … With his next win, Will Power will tie Michael Andretti for fourth on the INDYCAR SERIES’ all-time victory list with 42 … Scott McLaughlin will attempt to make his 50th INDYCAR SERIES start.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland will be the series’ 22nd race at Portland International Raceway. Previous Indy NXT by Firestone winners at Portland include Paul Tracy, Andre Ribeiro, Greg Moore, Pato O’Ward, Rinus VeeKay, David Malukas and Kyle Kirkwood. Current NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Benjamin Pedersen won the INDY NXT by Firestone race at Portland in 2022.Christian Rasmussen of HMD Motorsports is enjoying a dominant season, leading the series in wins (four), laps led (240 of 475) and top-10 finishes (10) through 11 races. Rasmussen, a native of Denmark, owns a 50-point lead over second-place Hunter McElrea of Andretti Autosport. Rasmussen can clinch the season championship by leading by at least 109 points after this event.Push-to-pass could play a key strategic role at Portland as INDY NXT by Firestone drivers will have a bank of 150 seconds to use an added 50 horsepower to assist in overtaking. The maximum amount of time for each press of the overtake system is 15 seconds.Matteo Nannini, Reece Gold, Nolan Siegel and Louis Foster became first-time winners earlier this season. Will another talented prospect like Jacob Abel, James Roe, Kyffin Simpson or Ernie Francis Jr. score a first INDY NXT by Firestone win in 2023 in Portland?

Portland GP- Early Look at the Schedule

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All times Pacific

Friday, September 1

3 pm-4:15 Indycar practice 1 Peacock

Saturday, September 2 Peacock

9 am-10 Indycar practice 2 Peacock

12;30 pm-2 Indycar qualifying Peacock

5:15-5:45 Indycar Final practice Peacock

Sunday, September 3

10:20 am Indy NXT race (35 laps or 55 minutes) Peacock

12:30 pm Indycar race (110 laps) NBC, Peacock

RLL Tabs Vips to Finish Season in Car 30

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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced yesterday that Yuri Vips will drive the number 30 car in the final two races of the 2023 Indycar season. Vips replaces Jack Harvey, who the team dismissed after the Gallagher Grand Prix August 12.

Conor Daly drove the car last weekend in the Bommarito 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Vips is a candidate for this seat full time in 2024. The Estonian driver has competed in F2 this season.

I will have more details about this story later today.

Pagenaud Will Not Return This Season; Blomqvist to Drive Final Two Races

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News always breaks while I am in transit.

Simon Pagenaud sent out this statement earlier:

It has been difficult seeing Simon on the sidelines the last half of the year. I hope he has a full recovery. Pagenaud’s prospects for a ride in Indycar for 2024 are slim. I hope Meyer Shank can find a spot in their IMSA program for him.

It is strange to envision Indycar next season without either Helio Castroneves or Simon Pagenaud.

Tom Blomqvist

Tom Blomqvist is currently a driver in Meyer Shank’s IMSA Acura. he drove the Honda Indy Toronto in Pagenaud’s place and has signed to drive the 06 full time in Indycar in 2024.

Bommarito 500- A Dixon Masterpiece

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Good morning, Just a few notes on yesterday’s race. I will have a full weekend wrapup after I get home this afternoon and have a chance to watch the replay.

All my notes can be reduced to two words- Scott Dixon. I have seen many masterful drives from Dixon involving fuel saving, but Sunday was one of the best I’ve witnessed. It was brilliant strategy winning this particular race on three stops given the long green flag stretches, including the entire second half of the race.

Over the years I have said that in Dixon we are watching a legend at work. I appreciate seeing Dixon drive every race. It has been easy to dismiss his chances lately because of the strength of his teammate Alex Palou, but Dixon has won just one less race than Palou over the last two years. Dixon has won on an oval, street course, and road course in that time. Palou has yet to score his fist oval victory.

I believe Dixon has a shot at joining A. J. Foyt in the 60 win club. I don’t think he will catch Foyt’s mark of 67, but I can see him winning five more times before he retires.

Newgarden Eliminated

The stars aligned for Josef Newgarden to make significant headway in his quest to chase down Alex Palou for the championship, but wall contact on lap 210 knocked him out of the race. He finished 25th for the second straight race. Newgarden is out of contention for the title.

He has won at least four races for two consecutive seasons, and he has no Astor Cup to show for it. Newgarden’s issue is consistency. He is a master on the ovals, but his road and street course performances need to improve.

Palou Worried? He Shouldn’t Be

Alex Palou lost 27 points to Dixon Sunday and his lead is now just 74 points with two races remaining. Some might say Palou is starting to hear the theme music from Jaws with Dixon making another late season charge. But Palou can lose 27 points in each of the final two races and still win the title comfortably.

Dixon could win the final two events, and if Palou finishes in the top, he is the champion. Palou’s worst finish in 2023 is eighth. He waqs seventh yesterday.

Malukas Has Found His Track

David Malukas scored his second podium in a row at World Wide Technology Raceway, finishing third yesterday. Malukas came home second in 2022. Each driver has a track where everything comes together for them, no matter how the rest of the season goes. Malukas has found his home.

Notes

I thought it was an interesting race from a strategy standpoint, and a good race for this track. The multiple strategies made keeping track of who the effective leader was as complicated as the figures on Oppenheimer’s chalkboard at Berkely at times, but the drama of whether Dixon could make it all the way on stints of 65 plus laps (of course he would-it’s Dixon) gave some tension to the final segment.

More frustration for Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren. The team and driver have been in contention for the win at every oval this season, but they have no wins. O’Ward arguably had the fastest car after the first pit stop.

I’m not sure O’Ward will win one of the final two races of the year.

Linus Lundqvist again proved he belongs. He started 12th. His first oval race looked mostly like he was stuck in mid pack all day, but Lundqvist turned the fastest lap of the race on lap 62. The lap was a half second faster than Dixon’s fastest leading lap.

Thanks for following along this weekend. Saturday’s weather made the program chaotic, but at least we got some night racing action out of it. I hope Indycar takes the hint Mother Nature has given them the past two years here and just schedules a night race.