Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Indycar Strengthens Wheel Bearings After Incident in 500

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From Indycar:

INDYCAR Strengthens Rear-Wheel Bearing Retaining Nut, To Debut at Iowa Doubleheader 
 INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, July 19, 2023) – INDYCAR, along with longtime partner Dallara, is providing an update to improve the overall strength and retention of wheel hubs on NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars.The updated rear-wheel bearing retaining nut is being distributed to all entries in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and will be mandated for use beginning at this weekend’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader at Iowa Speedway.
The strength of the rear-wheel bearing retaining nut has increased by 60 percent over the previous design. Revisions to the existing component came after a meticulous review of the incident at the 2023 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge involving the No. 27 car of Andretti Autosport and the No. 6 car of Arrow McLaren, which resulted in the loss of the left rear wheel assembly on the No. 27. “Dallara continues to be a tremendous partner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “Their thorough review process of the incident between the No. 6 and the No. 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway began immediately and included an extensive recreation at their headquarters in Italy.
“INDYCAR takes safety very seriously. This update is an important step in making sure an incident like this does not happen again.”
Previously, it was determined that the wheel tether system, using high-performance Zylon material, did not fail in the May 28 incident. INDYCAR was the first sanctioning body in the United States to require its use.
“It is Dallara’s mission, along with INDYCAR and all of the racing series we work with, to maintain and continuously improve safety based upon the highest standards,” Dallara CEO Stefano dePonti said. “After completing a detailed analysis of the accident during this year’s Indy 500, together with INDYCAR we have reached the conclusion that the outcome was the consequence of an unusual and never experienced set of circumstances.
“Nevertheless, we have developed and produced new components that will increase the strength of the corner in case the unlikely sequence of events repeats itself.”
The next race for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart Saturday, July 22 at Iowa Speedway. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBC with a simulstream available on Peacock. The doubleheader at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” continues Sunday, July 23 with the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade. Coverage on Sunday begins at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The INDYCAR Radio Network will also provide coverage throughout the weekend. 

The Pit Window is Pushed Back to the Garage

thepitwindow7 Comments

It was bound to happen at some point. Tghe Pit Window will be staying home for the next few weeks. Impending surgery on August 10 has made me decide to lay low to avoid the risk of exposure until then. While I will still cover Iowa and Nashville remotely, coverage of the GP at IMS may be delayed,

Without going into detail, the surgery is particular to older men, and the recover period is not long.I plan to return trackside at gateway and the final two rounds on the West Coast.

I will be at IMS next weekend for the IMSA test, since no extensive travel is involved and there won’t be a crowd.

While I really hate to miss Iowa, my favorite non Indy oval in the series. I will cheer myself up on Friday by going to a movie about nuclear weapons.

Daly Returns to MSR; Pagenaud Still Not Cleared

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Simon Pagenud photo by Joe Sibinski

Simon Pagenaud issues the following statement on Twitter this morning:

Conor Daly will again sub for Pagenaud in the 60 Meyer Shank Racing. Daly has raced seven times at Iowa, and he won the pole there in 2020 for race 1.

Daly also filled in for Pagenaud at Mid Ohio in July following Pagenaud’s massive practice accident.

I hope Simon is olay and we will see him back in the car before the end of the season.

Quick Thoughts- Honda Indy Toronto

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Note- A more ddetailed story about Christian Lundgaard and RLL will be up tomorrow morning, followed by a complete wrap up. Just wanted to egt some thoughts out there now.

Congratulations to Christian Lundgaard on his first career victory in Indycar. He has been the most solid driver on the team this year, but is starting to put it together. Lundgaard won the pole at GMR Grand Prix at IMS in May. At Mid Ohio he started fifth and finished fourth.

It is always nice to see a first time winner in the series. the genuine emotion and joy shown by Lundgaard and the entire RLL organization was a joy to watch.

The entire Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team deserves credit for thier incredible turnaround since May. This team struggled to get two of their three cars into the Indianpolis 500.

It was a richly deserved win with great stategy calls and a couple of great passes.

Maybe Palou Isn’t Human?

Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden had Alex palou right where they wanted him. He started 15th, his worst satrting spot of the year. Dixon and Newgarden were both ahead of him. With the race on a tight street course where passing is difficult, I’m sure visions of points gains danced in their heads.

So, Palou finishes second, nursing a front wing that could have fallen off at any moment, and adds seven points to his cahampionship lead.

Maybe he is bullet proof.

Toronto- Where the Streaks Have No Name

Four streaks ended this weekend. Alex Palou’s three race winning streak, Colton Herta’s two weekend pole streak, Will Power not being in the Fast Six, and Herta’s non podium streak.

It is hard for me to believe that Herta had not been on the poium in 2023 until today.

As for Palou, he could start another one and run to the end of the season.

I had questioned power’s competitiveness early in the year, but he has been strong since the 500.

Notes

Lundgaard joins Kyle Kirkwood as first time career winners in 2023. Their wins have something in common. Both drivers won a street race from the pole.

Romain Grosjean’s Indycar future may be hanging by a thread. Another crash today makrks his fourth finishn of 22nd or worse since May. His last top ten finish was at Barber.

How did the crews of Will Power and Marcus Ericsson get the fuel calculations so wrong?

Congratulations to Marcus Srmstrong on his seventh place finish.

Agustin canapino finsihed 12th, tying his career best set at St. Pete, but he started this weekend from 18th, his career best start. A great weekend for the Indycar rookie.

Does trouble always find Kyle Kirkwood, or does he always find trouble? He puzzles me.

Thanks for following along this weekend. A more in depth story on RLL’s journey to Victory Lane will be up tomorrow.

Dixon Tops Morning WarmUp

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Scott Dixon had the ffaststestt lap in this morning’s pre race warmuup for this afternoon’s Honda Indy Toronto. his time of 1:01.3208 was sisix hundredths quicker than Kyle Kirrkwood and nearly three tenths better than Josef Newgarden.

The 390 minute sessionn ran free of toppagees, and was highlighted by a racing duel between Scott McLaughlin and Felix Rosenqvist.

Pole sitter Christian Lundgaard finished sixth fastest and points leader Alex palou was fifth.

barring a win by Dixon tghis afternoon, which i think is a posibility, Palou’s lead should remain in triple digits.

My possible winners include Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, or Colton Herta.

The top 10:

Lundgaard Wins Wet, Wild Pole at Toronto

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Photo from Penske Entertainment

Christian Lundgaard won his second pole of the season, turning his fast lap as time expired in the Fast Six. The pole is a culmination of the improvements Rahal Letterman lLanigan Racing has made the last two races. It was an entertaining qualifying, with weatherr scrambling the Fast Six.

Rain neutralized the Andretti team advantage as the team did not put a car in the Fast Six. Round 1 group1 went according to plan for the team, with Kyle Kirkwood and Romain Grosjean advancing. Colton Herta did not make it out of his group as the rain during group 2 caused him to spin, losing his best 2 laps to that point. He could never get another good lap in. Herta had won poles at the last two races.

Round 1 did not go to plan for points leader Alex Palou, who will start 15th. It is Palou’s worst starting spot of the season. His three race winning strak is in jeopardy tomorrow.

The Fast Six was run in drying conditions. Pato O’Ward startedd on the altrnates and sett several fast laps. The others- Will Power, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, and Lundgaard, turned a lap on the rain tire then came in for alternates. O’Ward did not pit for new tires, he didn’t have enough at the end.

Thge final seconds ticked off as every driver too the lead as they crossed the line. Lundgaard secured the pole as the last car to finish.

Notes

Will Power made the Fast Six for the first time in 2023. The all time career leader still seeks his forst pole of the year.

Impressive job by Tom Blomqvist to qualify 20th in just his third session in an Indycar. He did it in rainy conditions as well.

Agustin CCanapino matched his best start at 18th, also in the rain.

There is a slight chance of rain during the race tomorrow.

The grid for tomorrow’s race has a lot of fast cars mid pack and toward the rear. Starting tire choices will be interesting The jumbled lineup should make for a fun race.

I will have the staring liineup tomorrow m\orning and a race preview.