Tag: Texas Motor Speedway

Texas Wrap Up

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Indycar photo by Chris Jones

Just a few more thoughts on the PPG 375:

Excitement for the Indianapolis 500 went up several notches after yesterday’s race. Texas and IMS are different tracks, but Indycar seems to have found the right aero package. Josef newgarden said in the post race press conference that he would like to see a little less downforce. He would also like for the cars o be able t run the third line, but doesn’t want a three wide pack race.

Repaving Texas Motor Speedway is under discussion.I hope it doesn’t happen. There will be no chance of having another race like we saw yesterday. Leave it alone.

Sources at the track say attendance was much improved from a year ago. The crowd still looked pretty puny on television, but I understand it was a doublke digit increase from 2022. Still a long way to go. A race like we saw Sunday may help attendance, but the key is heavy promotion, which there was not.

Consistency

Six drivers have finished in the top 10 in both races. Pato O’Ward, Callum Ilott, David Malukas, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson,and Alex Palou. Dixon is the only one of these drivers with more than five years of experience.

Dixon’s fifth place finish was his 194th top five, putting him ahead of Mario Andretti. In 370 starts, Dixon has finished in the top five 52% of the time.

A special shout out to Augustin Canapino. Some people were leery of a 33 year old rookie who had never been in a single seat race car before, but he has two 12th place finishes in the young season including his first oval. I can’t wait to see what he does at IMS.

Playing Chess

It was fun watching the different strategy calls during the third and fourth cautions yesterday. Newgarden came for tires and fuel, then came in to top off just before the race returned to green. Brilliant. That extra stop may have been the difference in the race.

Hot Seat Update

Jack Harvey finished 18th, highest of the Rahal cars and was running at the finish. The entire team had a miserable weekend, but Harvey fared the best.

Felix Rosenqvist as not had the start to the season he needs. He won the pole on Saturday for the second year in a row at Texas, but didn’t lead a lap until just before halfway. Rosenvist crashed on lap 179, ending his day. he has two DNFs this season.

Romain Grosjean had a repeat of his St. Pete day. In contention, but crashed late in the race. Grosjean needs a good result in the next two races before the series gets to IMS.

Point Standings

‘Beautiful Chaos’-Quick Thoughts- PPG375

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Wow! Just Wow!

Today’s race was the best Indycar race in a long time. It reminded of the 2015 Fontana race.

David Malukas’s description, which I used in the title, sums it up perfectly.

It was great to see the old Texas race return. Indycar, don’t change a thing for next year.

Indycar got the package right. Cars could race and pass each other, the leaders weren’t stuck behind lapped cars for 20 or 30 laps, and there were battles for the lead virtually all day.

Is Newgarden-O’Ward the rivalry Indycar has needed? Today was the seventh time the duo has finished 1-2 since 2020. Newgarden has won five of those but I think the gap will be closer by the end of this season.

Pato O’Ward had the dominant car. It’s a shame the race ended under caution,but it happens sometimes.

When will Felix Rosenqvist do more than just win a pole at a race?

Another big car repair weekend for Andretti Autosport this wekend. Colton Herta did end up seventh after battling for the lead late in the race.

Juncos Hollinger Racing with another nice race. Callum Ilott earned his second straight top 10, finishing ninth, and Augustin Canapino finished 12th, the same place he finished at St. Pete. Today was canapino’s fiorst oval race ever. He has to be the leading candidate for Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

David Malukas continues to be a factor on ovals. He was fourth today and second at Gateway last August. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins at Iowa or Gateway later this year. Malukas is off to a great start in 2023 with two top 10 finishes.

The 20 laps after the second caution saw some of the best racing I’ve seen anytime. Edge of your seat stuff.

A fine drive today by Alex Palou, who finished third and was fighting for the lead at the end.

It’s a shame more fans weren’t there to witness such a great race. For some reason this track does not do a lot to promote a great product. maybe going back to a night race two weeks after he 500 would help.

Some stats– 482 passes for position, 300 more than the average for Texas. the 26 lead changes were the most at TMS since 2001, 26 races ago.

I will have more to say about this race tomorrow. I want to watch the replay 2or three times first.

Texas Race Day

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UPDATE:Race has been moved up 9 MINUTES. Drivers start your engines at 12:01 Eastern

Good morning and welcome to race Day at Texas Motor Speedway. The PPG 375 is scheduled for an 12:15 Eastern green flag start on NBC and Peacock.

The weather outlook has improved for the race, but an hour or so after the checkered flag, severe storms may move in. If at the track, be careful going home.

Sources tell me that this will not be a well attended event. Starting a race during the time people in Texas are at chucrh on a significant religious Sunday was probably not the best idea.

I’m sticking with my pick of Pato O’Ward to win, but I am also watching out for Takuma Sato, Scott McLaughlin, and Scott Dixon. The winner should come out of this group.

Things to Watch

It is only the second race of the season, but the cars of Andretti Autosport need to have a decnt result today Colton Herta, Romain Grosjean, and Kyle Kirkwood especially could ebenfit from top ten finishes.

How will the rookies do today? Augustin canapino will start his first oval race ever. Sting Ray Robb and Benjamin Pedersen have limited experience on high speed ovals.

Can Santino Ferrucci back up his decent qualifying effort with a top ten finish for A. J. Foyt Racing?

Will the second groove work?

I’ll be back after the race with some quick thoughts and I will have a more in depth look at the race tomorrow. Enjoy the race.

Dixon Leads Final Practice; Mixed Results on Second Groove

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Scott Dixon posted the fastest lap in the final practice as just a few drivers took advantage of the rubbered in higher line. Josef newgarden and pATO o’ward used the higher line the most, with Nwgarden going into the second groove early in the sesion and O’Ward using it later.

While the practice ran incident free, in the high line session Conor Daly spun coming oput of turn 4. He narrowly missed hitting the outside wall, then spun into the grass before righting the car and driving back to the pits. Benjamin Pedersen avoided a collision with Daly.

It was not a good afternoon for Meyer Shank Racing. Helio Castroneves broke a bearing and never got onto the track. Simon Pagenaud was late to the weigh in and was penalized the last 10 minutes of the session.

I don’t think we can draw any conclusions on the second groove yet. Tomorrow will be warmer than today by mid race, and whatever Goodyear rubber the truck race leaves will be a factor as well.

Results:

19Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingHonda222.37884
22Josef NewgardenTeam PenskeChevy221.79259
311Takuma SatoChip Ganassi RacingHonda220.99273
43Scott McLaughlinTeam PenskeChevy220.86695
526Colton HertaAndretti Autosport w/Curb-AgajanianHonda220.80789
612Will PowerTeam PenskeChevy220.58397
777Callum IlottJuncos Hollinger RacingChevy220.46262
86Felix RosenqvistArrow McLarenChevy220.11593
910Alex PalouChip Ganassi RacingHonda219.86888
108Marcus EricssonChip Ganassi RacingHonda219.674100
117Alexander RossiArrow McLarenChevy219.41981
1228Romain GrosjeanAndretti AutosportHonda219.06370
135Pato O’WardArrow McLarenChevy218.77195
1418David MalukasDale Coyne Racing with HMDHonda218.54287
1578Agustin CanapinoJuncos Holling RacingChevy218.34356
1627Kyle KirkwoodAndretti AutosportHonda218.24647
1751Sting Ray RobbDale Coyne Racing w/RWRHonda218.19392
1860Simon PagenaudMeyer Shank RacingHonda217.86749
1945Christian LundgaardRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda217.62976
2020Conor DalyEd Carpenter RacingChevy217.59048
2133Ed CarpenterEd Carpenter RacingChevy217.42472
2229Devlin DeFrancescoAndretti Steinbrenner AutosportHonda217.39050
2315Graham RahalRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda217.04551
2455Benjamin PedersenAJ Foyt EnterprisesChevy216.65659
2514Santino FerrucciAJ Foyt EnterprisesChevy216.63774
2621Rinus VeeKayEd Carpenter RacingChevy216.42791
2730Jack HarveyRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda215.51142
286Helio CastronevesMeyer Shank RacingHonda—0

Rosenqvist Repeats Texas Pole

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Photo from Arrow McLaren Twitter account

Felix Rosenqvist earned his second straight pole at Texas Motor Speedway, recording the only two lap average above 220 miles per hour. The Arrow McLaren driver was the 10th driver to make a alifying run, and his laps came just before the track temperature began to significantly warm up.

The Arrow McLaren team had a strong day, with Alexander Rossi qualifying third and Pato O’Ward finishing the session in fifth.

Scott Dixon earned the fromnt row spot next to Rosenqvist. 0.292 miles per hour behind. Josef newgarden will start fourth.

Notes

Rosenqvist now has four career poles. Two are at Texas, and the other two are at the IMS road course. He has not won a race from pole.

Benjamin Pedersen led the rookies with his 13th place effort.

Takuma Sato didn’t need much time to get back up to speed. The two time Indianapolis 500 winner will start sixth in his first race of 2023.

RLL woes continue in qualifying. Graham rahal led the team and will start 19th. Christian Lungaard and Jack Harvey will start nin the last row.

Ed carpenter racing did not fare a lot better. Ed Carpenter starts 18th tomorrow, but Conor Daly and Rinus VeeKay make up row 13.

It was a respectable run for A. J> Foyt Racing with Pedersen in 13th and Santino Ferrucci in 14th.

Results”

McLaughlin Leads First Practice

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Sciott McLaughlin ha the fastest lap in the early morning practice for the PPG 375 at texas motor Speedway. His lap of 223.747 edged Pato O’Ward ‘s 223.518 speed. The top five drivers had laps of more than 223. miles per hour.

All three Arrow McLaren cars finished in the top six. Alexander rossi was third, just five hunredths behind O’Ward, and Felix rosenqvist ended the session in sixth.

Andretti Autosport had two cars in the top 10 with Colton Hert fourth and Devlin DeFrancesco fifth.

Scott Dixon was 10th for Ganassi, but teammate Takuma Sato, in his first appearance of the year, finished eighth.

Callum Ilott was seventh quick for Juncos Hollinger racing.

The Lost Boys

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing cars finsihed in the final three spots. Graham rahal complained of understeer during the session. All htree cars had best laps under 220 miles per hour. They have some work to do before qualifying.

The fast speeds were set down early while the track was still cool. At the beginning of the session the track temperature was 57 degrees and the air tempeature was 55.

The belief in the paddock is that the early qulifiers will have an advantage as the track will be cooler than it will be for the end of the qualifying line.

Qualifying begins at 12:15 pm Eastern on Peacock.

Result:

Texas Preview- Can Racing Save the Race?

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Fans never know what kind of race they will see at Texas Motor Speedway. There have been spactatcular close duels, leaders crahing near the end of the race, photo finishes, and snozzers. Lots of snoozers.

In 2022 before the final practice, one car from each team except A. J. Foyt Racing, who opted out, ran a brief session on the high line which had been undriveable. The rubber they put down helped during the race. It allowed josef newgarden to pass Scott Mclaughlin comong out of the final corner.

Attendance has been an issue at the track the past several years. Last year’s crowd was quite small. There was much speculation whether the race would be on the 2023 schedule. It is here, and the track seems encouraged by ticket sales. Mclaren driver pato O’Ward has given awayaround 600 tickets through his merchandise store, and he has purchased a suite for some of his sponsors. We will see how full teh stands are on Sunday.

The PPPG 375 ( Sunday, noon Eastern, NBC and Peacock) looks to be a much better race than last year. The series has designated two 15 minute sessions, 14 cars each, to run in the high line and put rubber on the track. No new PJ-1, the sticky substance NASCAR needs for traction in the high groove, has been added since last season. The only issue this year is the Goodyear rubber fromn the truck series race Saturday afternoon. Will that negate the rubbering in?

Indycar has modified the downforce package to allow some team options with gurney flaps and barge boards. The different strategies with these pieces could help make the racing closer.

Scott Dixon said in the pre race tele conference that he believes the racing will be better.

“I think the combination of the additional aero, actually haven’t looked at the weather, I imagine this time of year it’s going to be pretty cold, too, which will help. It’s an early race. I think we’re like 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. local. Those and the high line practice I think. Actually thirdly with the addition of maybe not having a fresh amount of whatever the NASCAR kind of surface stuff is on top will definitely change it as well. All three of those should make, one, the second lane a little more usable, which will definitely tighten up the pack, and ultimately make it a lot more racy for everybody. I think for the drivers you just hope it doesn’t become a pack race. I don’t think it’s going to be that extreme,” the five time winner of Texas said.

Unfinished Business

Arrow McLaren had a strong start to the Texas weelend last year. Felix Rosenqvist won the pole and PatoO’Ward, who won one of the races in 2021, started near the front. Rosenqvist never led a lap and both cars had pit issues. Rosenqvist evenbtually retired with mechanical problems.

Look for this team,with the addition of Alexander rossi, to be very string this weekend. O’Ward will be even hungrier after his near miss of victory at St. Pete.

Compact Schedule

Saturday’s schedule is quite compact. teams will have to think quickly and adjust on the fly.

Saturday’s schedule:

9 am-9:10 2 stage pit limiter practice

9:10-10 Practice 1-Peacock

12:15 pm–1:15 Qualifying Peacock

1:45-2:00 Highline practice Group A Peacock

2:00-2:15 Highline practice group B Peacock

2:30-3:30 Final practice Peacock

In 2022, cars were impounded after qualifying. Teams had to run a race type setup in qualifying. For 2023, changes can be made to the cars in the 30 minutes between the end of qualifying and the beginning of high groove practice. Cars must remain on pit road.

I look for a strong three way battle between Arrow McLaren, Team Penske, and Ganassi. Pato O’Ward will emerge with his second Texas victory.

The good racing I expect may help save the race, but will really help is stronger promotion from the track. I’ve heard there wer some local ads int he last week, but the track sign ade no otion of Indycar being there. I would hate to see this event go away. it is usually fun. This year’s race could be one of the best ones yet.,