Tag: Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca

Java House Grand Prix of Monterey Fast Facts

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Race weekend: Friday, July 25-Sunday, July 27
Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, an 11-turn, 2.238-mile permanent road course in Monterey, California
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Java House Grand Prix of Monterey: 95 laps / 212.61 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 & 2: 35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes (each race)
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 415 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Four new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryover sets from the Mid-Ohio event may be used during Friday’s practice sessions.
X: @WeatherTechRcwy, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @weathertechraceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT Facebook: @WeatherTechRaceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.weathertechraceway.com
INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com
INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com
2024 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) INDY NXT by Firestone Race 1: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global) Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)
2024 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1:07.1465, 119.988 mph
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners: Race 1: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:12.1760, 111.627 mph Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:12.4444, 111.214 mph
Qualifying records: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Christian Lundgaard, 1:06.4610, 121.226 mph, Sept. 9, 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone Christian Rasmussen, 1:11.7225, 112.333 mph, Sept. 9, 2023
FOX Sports telecasts:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 5 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Java House Grand Prix of Monterey 3 p.m. ET, Sunday, FOX (live).
Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be available on FOX Deportes.
 INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 6:35 p.m. ET Friday, FS2; Qualifying, 1 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race 1, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race 2, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Alex Wollf are the turn announcers. Jonathan Grace, Dan Rusanowski and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey race (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday) can be heard live on network affiliates nationwide. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, INDY NXT by Firestone races (4:25 p.m. ET Saturday and 12:55 p.m. ET Sunday), NTT P1 Award Qualifying (2:30 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices also air live on SiriusXM 218, www.indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Friday, July 25
1-1:25 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, FS2 (Live)
2-3:20 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (45 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 10 minutes each), FS2 (Live)
3:35-4 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, FS2 (Live)
Saturday, July 26
8:30-9:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45 minutes limited guarantee), FS1 (Live)
10-10:30 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12-minutes each / Fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 1, second fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 2), FS1 (Live)
11:35 a.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (Live)
1:31 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 “Drivers Start Your Engines” 1:36 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS2
Sunday, July 27
9:02-9:27 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS2 (Live)
10:01 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 “Drivers Start Your Engines”
10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS1 (Live)
Noon – FOX on air
12:15 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey “Drivers, start your engines”
12:22 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles), FOX (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship facts: · Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with four races to go for the fourth time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Palou also led the championship with four races to go in 2021, 2023 and 2024, when he won the title. Palou has led the point standings since the beginning of the season. · There are four drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Kyle Kirkwood and Scott Dixon. Any driver who trails the points leader by 162 points or more following this race will be eliminated from contention. · Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season seven times: Bobby Rahal (1986, 1987), Danny Sullivan (1988), Michael Andretti (1991), Alex Zanardi (1998), Cristiano da Matta (2002) and Alex Palou (2024). ·
Since 2008 when INDYCAR SERIES racing unified under the NTT INDYCAR SERIES banner, the eventual series champion has won the 14th race of the season four times. The most recent occurrence was in 2021 when Alex Palou won at Portland. Other drivers to win the 14th race of their championship season were Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Dario Franchitti (2009, 2010) and Scott Dixon (2008). Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the largest deficit overcome by the eventual champion was 59 points by Dario Franchitti in 2010. Scott Dixon overcame Juan Pablo Montoya’s 54-point lead in 2015. Point differential: The 99 points separating Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward is the largest point margin with four races remaining since 2008. During that span, the average lead with four races remaining is 43.22 points. Team Penske has won six times at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Penske’s winning drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988, 1990), Rick Mears (1989), Paul Tracy (1993, 1994) and Helio Castroneves (2000). Chip Ganassi Racing has five wins with Scott Dixon (2023), Alex Palou (2022, 2024), Alex Zanardi (1996) and Jimmy Vasser (1997). Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has three wins with Bryan Herta (1998, 1999) and Max Papis (2001). Twenty-four drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Scott Dixon has seven starts, most among the entered drivers. Nine entered drivers have led laps at the track – Colton Herta 183, Alex Palou 166, Kyle Kirkwood 24, Will Power 23, Dixon 22, Pato O’Ward 15, Felix Rosenqvist 11, Alexander Rossi 10 and Josef Newgarden 10.
Rookies Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time this weekend. Foster swept the INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader last season at Laguna Seca. Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 353rd consecutive start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 253rd consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 216th consecutive start, the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record to 416 with a start Sunday…Dixon’s win July 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – his 59th INDYCAR SERIES win – extended two ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: seasons with a win (23) and consecutive seasons with a win (21). Dixon’s second-place finish July 13 at Iowa Speedway extended two additional ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: podium finishes (145) and top-five finishes (215). INDY NXT by Firestone notes: The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader will be the series’ 31st and 32nd races at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Laguna Seca include Bryan Herta, Andre Ribeiro, Greg Moore, Tony Kanaan, Cristiano da Matta, Scott Dixon, Townsend Bell, Spencer Pigot, Rinus VeeKay, Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen. Current NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Louis Foster swept the Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader in 2024. The INDY NXT by Firestone title fight between Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes heads west for its final doubleheader weekend when the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey hits the track on Saturday and Sunday. Hauger leads Hughes by 79 points headed into the pair of 35-lap races, with series veterans Caio Collet and Myles Rowe looking to make it a four-man sprint to the finish. The ultra-competitive 2025 season has seen four winners in nine races and seven different drivers finish on the podium. Push to Pass could play a key strategic role at Laguna Seca as INDY NXT by Firestone drivers will have a bank of 150 seconds to use an added 50 horsepower to assist in overtaking, similar to the drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The maximum amount of time for each press of the overtake system is 15 seconds. Group qualifying will decide the starting grid on road and street circuits. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group.  
 

A Few Quick Thoughts on a Random Race

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Scott Dixon did it again. One of these days the series will learn not to give him a penalty- or two- as he received today. It seems to motivate Dixon and his team. Dixon won three of the final four races and finished second in then points.

The tone for the race was set when control chose to start the race despite several cars, notably Colton Herta, jumping out of line. It looked like a start that should have been waved off to me.

The chaos throughout the race was caused by a couple of things. It was the last race of the season, and most drivers had nothing to fight for. The new track surface- slippery and fast- caused problems all weekend. The thing I didn’t understand is why the start/restart zone was in the last urn. If it is brought onto the straight, many of the yellows may have been avoided.

Once again, Pato O’Ward was a victim of untimely yellow flags while leading. I will say, to be fair, his tire strategy played a part in it too today. The yellows somewhat dictated that, but the team has struggled most of the year with pit calls.

It was a great day for Juncos Hollinger Racing. Callum Ilott ran as high as third before falling to fifth. Agustin Canapino was in the top 10 until a late off road excursion dropped him to 14th.

Newgarden Swoon– Since sweeping the double header at Iowa, Josef Newgarden’s finishes over the last five races were fourth at Nashville, 25th at the IMS road course, 25th at Gateway, fifth at Portland, and 21st today. Newgarden ended the season in fifth place.

It was a tough last drive for Helio Castroneves. He was involved in several contact situations, and he spent a lot of time in the gravel, but still soldiered home in 13th on the lead lap.

Scott McLaughlin overcame the lap 1 incident and some other contact to finish second and place third in the final standings. Mclaughlin was my preseason pick to win the championship this year.

hat is it for me tonight. I will have some more thoughts this race and the season tomorrow. Thanks for following along this weekend and all season.

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.