Tag: World Wide Technology Raceway

Race Preview- Bommarito Automotive Group 500

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First, I want to thank all who sent well wishes concerning my surgery earlier this week. I feel fine and will be heading to St. Louis later today and be at the track this weekend.

The race airs Sunday at 3:30 Eastern on NBC and Peacock. Why this race is run in the middle of the day is puzzling. It is a fantastic night race.

The 2023 Indycar season begins it three week run to the end of the year Sunday with the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Missouri. Normally, the final oval race of the year merely serves to set up the championship showdown over the next two weekends.

But for 2023, there is a lot to watch on the 1.25 mile oval. Since Indycar returned to the track formerly known as Gateway in 2017, Team Penske has dominated. Josef Newgarden has won four times and Will Power has one win.

A new twist to the race this weekend is the first use of an alternate tire which the teams must use for at least two laps during the race. Indycar is allotting just two sets of the alternate rubber to each team, and they must use a new set in the race. The other set will see action in the morning practice Saturday. Unlike road and street course procedures, teams may not qualify on the alternate tires, and all teams will start the race on a primary set. I think this will set up some intriguing strategies, depending on when yellows fall and later in the race.

Another possibility for the race is that the alternates may make this race less of a fuel saving run, which it has been the last couple of years. Some teams may need to make an extra stop depending on how the caution flags fall.

I’m hoping Indycar plans to expand this concept to other ovals, other than the Indianapolis 500 for now.

Josef Newgarden at Texas

Newgarden Oval Sweep?

Josef Newgarden has a chance to sweep all of the 2023 oval races Sunday. The Indianapolis 500 winner has won at Texas and both races at Iowa. he has won this race four times. Newgarden has to be considered the favorite entering the weekend. He needs the win to keep his very slim championship hopes alive. He lost a lot of ground in the title chase at the IMS road course two weeks ago.

Alex Palou after winning the pole at Detroit

Can Palou Clinch?

Alex Palou can clinch his second Indycar series championship by leaving Gateway with a lead of 108 points over either Scott Dixon or Newgarden. ovals are not Palou’s strong suit, but he doesn’t necessarily have to win. He did earn a podium in the second race at Iowa. If Palou wraps up the title, it will be the earliest the championship has wrapped up since Dan Wheldon clinched in 2005.

Linus Lundqvist

Lundqvist Oval Debut

Linus Lundqvist will again fill in for Simon Pagenaud in the Meyer Shank Racing number 60. The race will be the Swede’s first Indycar event on an oval. Lundqvist has impressed in his first two races for Meyer Shank, and he is rumored to have a ride with Chip Ganassi Racing for 2024.

One has to wonder, though, if we have seen the last of Simon Pagenaud in Indycar. WWTR will be the eighth straight race he has missed in a contract year. I enjoy watching Pagenaud race, and I hope he has at least a 500 ride for 2024, but it is something to watch going into the offseason.

Could this also be the final Indycar race for Takuma Sato as well? Sato drove the five oval races for Chip Ganassi Racing this season, and I have not heard of any prospects for him for next year. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner will surely be back for May. He is a former winner of this event.

Malukas Eager to Return to WWTR; Thinks Alternate Tires Will Help the Racing

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David Malukas had his best race of 2022 at Weather Tech Raceway, finishing second to Josef Newgarden. He is excited to return to the track and expects another good result.

“Things are looking up for Gateway, but it’s also a little bit of
pressure being put down because it was a really good
performance last year, so you have to come in and try to
replicate it,” the Dale Coyne Racing with HMD said in a media conference yesterday.
“Either way, though, I’m very excited. I think we have a
good opportunity to do something.”

Malukas also touched on his 2024 plans, saying the Marcus Ericsson signing with Andretti earlier in the day does not affect his plans at all. He is very confident of where he will be next season, although he gave no hints.

Much of the discussion centered around the introduction of an alternate tire for the race, the first time Indycar will use an alternate tire on an oval. Malukas thinks it is a good idea and will add to the race.

“…overall I think it’s going to be good just to add kind of more flavor to the racing with the strategy with different tires. But I don’t really know how it’s going to be. I don’t know if the dropoff is going to be massive, but you would expect it to be a little bit more than the primaries.
Overall, I don’t know, I think it’s going to be a good addition, I think, just more chaos in the race.”

I asked him if he would like to see alternate tires at all the ovals.
” Yeah, I mean, I think it really depends on how it’s going to end up — how the race is going to go. That’s going to be a really good question for afterwards.
Just going into it, not knowing how it’s going to be, I don’t
know how it wouldn’t be a good thing. It’s going to add
more variety to the strategy and more opportunities for
everybody within the field to get an opportunity to try to
make the jump and be in the front by the end of it.
As of right now, I think it should be, and I think it would be
a really good addition.
But then again, who knows. Maybe it will affect things in
the wrong way and it won’t be a good result, but I think it
will be.”
Malukas also thinks the different tire strategy could possibly make this particular race less of a fuel saving race, whuich the last couple of Gateway races have turned into.
” Yeah. I mean, quite possibly, yeah. It really just depends on how long the alternates will be able to last. If they have a massive dropoff, then most likely, yeah, you probably don’t need to do a fuel save, if
everybody need to do that extra stop.
But yeah, I don’t know. It’s something to see or if it’s going
to add more variety if the tires do start trying to fall off
quicker, then are people going to try to stay out and maybe
try to make them last and have a bigger differential from
people on new tires and old tires and then have an
experience where it’s a bit like Iowa where the lap-per-lap
distance is actually a few seconds quicker.
I don’t know. It’s something that we’ll add — maybe it’ll add
more of that possibility of not being a fuel-save race.”

The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 is Sunday at 3:30 pm Eastern on NBC and Peacock.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500presented by Axalta and Valvoline Fast Facts

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Nice to be back home again. The following is from Indycar. My preview will, be up Friday morning. look for two more stories tomorrow.

Race weekend: Saturday, Aug. 26 – Sunday, Aug. 27

Track: World Wide Technology Raceway, a 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline 260 laps / 325 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: OUTFRONT Showdown 75 laps / 93.75 miles


Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Eight sets primary, two sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams will be required to start the race on primary tires, and alternate tires will not be allowed to be used in qualifying. Teams participating in the high-line session will get 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 sets to be used during the one-day event.

X (formerly known as Twitter): @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Threads: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @WWTRaceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @WWT_Raceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.wwtraceway.com/
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2022 race winners :NTT INDYCAR SERIES Josef Newgarden (No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet) INDY NXT by Firestone Matthew Brabham (No. 83 Andretti Autosport)
2022 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet), 49.2539 seconds, 182.727 mph (two laps)2022
INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Linus Lundqvist (No. 26 HMD Motorsports) 56.1590 seconds, 160.259 mph (two laps)
One-lap qualifying lap record: NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Will Power, 23.7206, 189.709 mph, Aug. 25. 2017I
NDY NXT by FirestoneJuan Piedrahita, 27.8890, 161.354 mph, Aug. 26, 2017

NBC race telecast: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline, 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 27, NBC (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dillon Welch and Georgia Henneberry 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 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown 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. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query and Michael Young are the pit reporters. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (3:30 p.m. ET Sunday), the INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (3:20 p.m. ET Saturday) 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):
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
8:55-9:40 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, INDYCAR LIVE
10-11 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1, Peacock
11:45 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown Qualifying, INDYCAR LIVE
1 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT P1 Award qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), Peacock
2:30 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown “Drivers Start Your Engines”
2:35 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (75 laps / 93.75 miles)
4-4:30 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES high-line session (Two groups/15 minutes)
4:45-5:45 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, Peacock
SUNDAY, AUG. 27
2:30 p.m. – NBC on air
2:31 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
2:36 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta & Valvoline (260 laps/325 miles), NBC (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Facts:
Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with three races to go for the first time in his career.
There are six drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward and Marcus Ericsson. Any driver who trails the points leader by 108 points or more following the race will be eliminated from contention.Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship three times: Alex Zanardi (1998), Josef Newgarden (2017) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the driver who has led the championship with three races to go has won the championship nine times – Scott Dixon in 2008, 2018 and 2020, Dario Franchitti in 2011, Will Power in 2014 and 2022, Simon Pagenaud in 2016 and Josef Newgarden in 2017 and 2019.Point differential: The 101 points that separate Alex Palou and Scott Dixon is the largest point margin with three races remaining since 2008. Prior to this season, the average lead with three races to go since 2008 was 28.5 points. The last time the INDYCAR SERIES championship was clinched before the final race was 2007 when Sebastien Bourdais won the Champ Car World Series with one race remaining.
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 3 TO GO (2008-2023)
YEAR LEADER SECOND  LEAD CHAMPION
2008 Scott Dixon Helio Castroneves 78 Scott Dixon
2009 Ryan Briscoe Dario Franchitti 4 Dario Franchitti
2010 Will Power Dario Franchitti 23 Dario Franchitti
2011 Dario Franchitti Will Power 26 DarioFranchitti]
2012 Will Power Ryan Hunter-Reay 5 Ryan Hunter-Reay
2–3 Helio Castroneves Scott Dixon 49 Scott Dixon
2014 Will Power Helio Castroneves 4 Will Power
2015 Juan Pablo Montoya Graham Rahal 42 Scott Dixon(-48)
2016 Simon Pagenaud Will Power 27 SimonPagenaud
2017 Josef Newgarden Scott Dixon 18 Josef Newgarden
2018 Scott Dixon Alexander Rossi 29 Scott Dixon
2019 Josef Newgarden Alexander Rossi 35 Josef Newgarden
2020 Scott Dixon Josef Newgarden 72 Scott Dixon
2021 Pato O’Ward Alex Palou 10 Alex Palou
2022 Will Power Scott Dixon 6 Will Power
2023 Alex Palou Scott Dixon 101 ?

Race Notes: There have been seven winners in 14 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).
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the 15th INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Josef Newgarden won his third consecutive race (and fourth overall) at WWTR in 2022. Paul Tracy won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WWTR in 1997. Newgarden, Scott Dixon (2020 Race 1) Takuma Sato (2019), Will Power (2018) and Helio Castroneves (2003) are the former winners entered in this year’s race.

ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONSJ
josef Newgarden 4 2017, 2020-Race2, 2021, 2022
Scott Dixon 1 2020-Race 1
Takuma Sato 1 2019
Will Power 1 2018
Helio Castroneves 1 2003

The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the fifth and final oval race of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. The previous oval races were won by Josef Newgarden (Texas Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500, Iowa Speedway-1, Iowa-Speedway-2). The last driver to “sweep” the oval portion of a schedule was Sebastien Bourdais, who won the only oval scheduled in 2006 (Milwaukee).
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will mark the first time that Firestone’s alternate tire will be used on an oval track in a race. Like on road and street courses, the Firestone Firehawk alternate tires will be constructed of a softer compound allowing for more grip but quicker tire wear. Teams will be required to start the race on primary tires, and alternate tires will not be allowed to be used in qualifying. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race.
Alex Palou has a chance to complete the PeopleReady Force for Good Challenge and win its $1,000,000 bonus – half of which will be donated to his chosen charity – The American Legion – if he wins at World Wide Technology Raceway. Palou has won on a street course and a road course, and needs an oval victory to complete the challenge. Three drivers have won at World Wide Technology Raceway from the pole – Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Gil de Ferran (2002) and Helio Castroneves (2003).
Team Penske has won eight times at World Wide Technology Raceway. Penske’s winning drivers are Paul Tracy (1997), Gil de Ferran (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003), Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018). Chip Ganassi Racing has three wins at Gateway with Alex Zanardi (1998), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1). Twenty-four drivers have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at World Wide Technology Raceway. 
Scott Dixon has eight starts, most among the entered drivers. 
Rookies Agustin Canapino, Linus Lundqvist, Benjamin Pedersen and Sting Ray Robb will make their first start at WWTR. Sixteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Josef Newgarden 484, Will Power 329, Helio Castroneves 271, Scott Dixon 251, Takuma Sato 167, Pato O’Ward 141, Colton Herta 121, Scott McLaughlin 12, David Malukas 4, Felix Rosenqvist 4, Alexander Rossi 4, Marcus Ericsson 3, Romain Grosjean 2, Graham Rahal 2 and Conor Daly 1).

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:HMD Motorsports’ Christian Rasmussen returns to World Wide Technology Raceway looking to solidify his grip on the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. The 23-year-old Danish driver leads Hunter McElrea of Andretti Autosport by 33 points heading into the pivotal championship stretch of four races in three weeks.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 or Ernie Francis Jr. score a first INDY NXT win in 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway?

A Tire Choice for Gateway; Qualifying Tweaks

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Look for red tires on the oval at Worldwide Technology Raceway

It’s an idea I have thought about, but I never dreamed it would really happen. The NTT Indycar Series will require teams to use road/street course tire rules at World Wide Technology Raceway in August. This will be the first time since the 2008 merger that an oval race will require to teams to use different tire compounds. This oval is the best one to try out this idea. The track drives like a road course with incline into turn 1 and the upward sweep into turn 2.

Think of the strategies involved. Does a team start on the alternates to get them out of the way? Do they save them for a late yellow and be at an advantage on a late restart? Does a driver decide to just use them in the middle of the race and hope to gain enough ground to have a chance at the end of the race?

Will the softer tires last an entire stint at high speed? I hope the teams get some test tine with the alternate at Gateway.

Another tire change for 2023- all teams may participate in the rubbering in session that was first employed at Texas Motor Speedway and Gateway last year. In 2022, only one car per team was allowed in the special session. Not everyone put a car on track. The process helped at Texas, and might help even more with more cars in the second groove/

Practice/Qualifying Changes

In an effort to give everyone a fairer chance at qualifying, the series has changed red flag procedures. The session clock will stop for the first red flag of each segment of qualifying but will keep running for any other red flags. The procedure is an attempt to allow the faster cars from not advancing because time runs out before they get their best laps in.

I understand why the rule was changed, but many times I see the faster cars just sitting in the pits waiting to do one final lap, then get hung out because of a red flag. If it’s their choice to play the clock, they have to accept that it may not work I don’t mind a few qualifying surprises. A fast car will find its way to the front most of the time during the race.

Another change Indycar made is when the clock starts for the session. Since the current qualifying procedure began, the clock starts when the green flag waves. In 2023, the clock begins when the first car crosses the alternate start/finish line, which is usually in the vicinity of the last turn before pit in. I like this change. It will allow at least one extra lap of qualifying, which may give someone a chance to make up for a bad lap, or to retake the top spot from someone late in the session.

The cars themselves have some modifications for 2023 which i will discuss next week, along with my season preview.

Gateway Wrap Up

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There is nothing like an impending rain storm to liven up what began as a pretty dull race. The processional fuel saving start began to get intriguing when some cars began pitting around lap 51. The Coyne cars of Takuma Sato and David Malukas were among the early stoppers. Both had time leading. the race. As it turned out, Malukas was the eventual beneficiary of track position when the race resumed.

Forty laps of racing under the lights is nice for a sprint or midget feature. Indycar needs to seriously consider returning the non Indy ovals to night races. I don’t care if they can only be on Peacock. As I watched the Silver Crown cars Friday night under the lights, the feeling was bittersweet that Indycar would run in daylight the following day.

As Scott Mclaughlin mentioned after the race, the handling of the cars changes as the sun goes down and the track cools. This phenomenon is what makes night races more intriguing.

Outshining the Winner

The 2005 Indianapolis 500 saw Danica Patrick beco9me the first woman to lead the 500 . She eventually finished fourth. After the race race, and in the weeks following, if you weren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t knwo Dan wheldon actually won the race.

Saturday night was a bit like that. Second place David Malukas seemed to be the center of attention, while winner Josef Newgarden was the second biggest story. I am okay with this. Malukas has matured steadily throughout the season. he has been quick on ovals, and his road course game has improved tremendously.

It will be a while before the grin leaves David Malukas’ face.

To see him hunt down and pass Mclaughlin and nearly catch Newgarden was one of the highlights of the season.

Speculation has begun about where Malukas will race next year. Some say he will replace Alex Palou at Ganassi. I’m sure he got a call from Mclaren after the race.

Points Race Gets Even Tighter

I thought this race would shake up the points race, but only a couple positions switched and there are four drivers still with a realistic shot at the title.

Will Power holds a three point lead over Newgarden. His lead is basically the bonus points he earned for Saturday’s race. Scott Dixon is only 14 points behind. He has come back from farther than that to win with two races left.

Notes

I watched the first few laps of the race last night and I was surprised at the sparse grandstand crowd. Weather may have made some decide to stay home, but I wonder if the NASCAR race in June may have affected attendance as well. When tracks force people to decide which major event to attend, Indycar seems to take the hit. The promoters need to do a better job promoting all their bug events equally.

I have said this before, but I think it is time for Ed Carpenter to become an Indy only only driver for a couple more years. Carpenter has had a dismal season. His average finish in five races this season was 19.2 with a best of 13th. His third car could be the avenue for Paretta Autosport to have a full time entry in 2023.

The pits at night take on a kind of state fair atmosphere. It definitely has a different vibe after dark.

I watched the restart from a spot in the infield. I have never been as close to cars during a race as I was when the race resumed. The sound and the vibrations were overwhelming. Cars zipped by like I was using fast forward on my remote. I may have to be at this spot for the start next year.

Thanks for following my coverage this past weekend. Later this week, i will examine the points chase in more depth.

Gateway Update: New Start Time; Current Weather

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From Indycar:

INDYCAR Moves Up Start Time
of Bommarito Automotive Group 500 
 INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022) – During careful monitoring of likely weather conditions in the St. Louis area, INDYCAR officials have decided to move up the start time of today’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway to 6:01 p.m. ET, ensuring fans see the most NTT INDYCAR SERIES action.
Fans are encouraged to follow INDYCAR social media (@INDYCAR on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook) for further updates.
The start time for the Indy Lights at World Wide Technology Raceway 75-lap race will remain unchanged as the green flag for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ developmental series will fly at 4:15 p.m. ET.
Live coverage of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will begin at 6 p.m. ET on USA, Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Coverage of the Indy Lights at World Wide Technology Raceway also will be available via Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

A brief rain shower has ended and the sun is back out, but there are more rain clouds to the east.

Race Day! Rain Day?

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Good morning from the Olivette media center annex. Here is the latest from @Indycar_Wxman

It looks like we will get the race in, althiough maybe later than scheduled. I wil We just might get the night race we want. l up date the weather situation during the on Facebook on The Pit Window and on Twitter @tutorindie.

Today’s Schedule: All times Central

The Indy Lights race ius on Peacock. The Indycar race is on USA Network and Peacock.

Thew starting lineup, which includes Romain grosjean’s penalty:

Rahal Leads Final Practice

Graham Rrahal had the fastest time in last night’s warm up for today’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500. He went to the top of the chart late in the session. Scott Dixon led a good portion the practice.

Jimmie Johnson spun entering pit lane with about two mi nutes remaining to end the practice early.

Silver Crown- Lots of Action

I watched the first half of the USAC Silver Crown race. I need to get to more of their races. The cars are loud and the action us furious. There was constant passing and several lead changes.

Kody Swanson leads

It was nice to watch a race at night (Ahem-Indycar).

I very much enjoyed this race. I hope they will accompany INdycar to more short ovals next year.

The Race

Will Power is the prohibitive favorite, but just one race has been won from the pole this year. I am looking at Josef newgarden, Scott Dixon, or Pato O’Ward to win.

I don’t think Arrow McLaren SP had gotten enough credit for the job they havedone on ovals this season. O’Ward has a win and two second place finishes. Felix Rosenqvist has a pole, a topo 5 and two top 10 finishes.

If you are looking for a dark horse, keep an eye on Takuma Sato.

Power’s Record Tying Pole Caps Dramatic Qualifying

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Will Power finally caught Mario Andretti’s pole record. But first he had to catch Marcus Ericsson. Poiwer. the final car to qualify, topped Ericsson’s 182.070 mph average speed with a two lap average of 182.727 mph.

The qualifying session was arguably the most dramatic oval qualifying of the season. Takuma Sato was the eighth driver to make a qualifying run. He took the top spot and held it until Pato O’Ward beat his time 12 drivers later. Scott McLaughlin grabbed the pole until teammate Josef Newgarden made his run.

One of the possible pole contenders, Felix Rosenqvist, spun on his first qualifying lap in turn 2. He hit the inside wall. Rosenqvist will start last.

Marcus Ericsson

Ericsson’s qualifying time shot him to the lead. Scott Dixon was next, but he could only manage the fifth best time. Then Power came on track to end the qualifying round.

Power’s first lap was good enough to put him on the pole and his second lap reinforced his spot.

Power has tied Andretti for the most career poles with 67. His next win will tie him for third place all time with Michael Andretti. At the last race in Nashville, Scott Dixon moved ahead of Mario in career wins with his 53rd win, second to A. J. Foyt’s 67 victories.

Imagine being the top performer in your field and living to see your records equalled or broken. Andretti probably knew it would happen someday. I wonder if he thought he would be alive to see it happen.

Andretti’s last pole was in 1993.

In Dixon and Power we are witnessing two of the legendary drivers of open wheel racing.

Notes

Andretti Autosport cars showed to be relatively equal as they qualified 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Romain Grosjean, the fastest qualifier on the team, will serve a nine spot grid penalty and will start the race in 18th.

PThe top five contenders in the points chase-Will Power, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Josef Newgarden, and Alex Palou- all start in the frirst three rows.

“It just shows no one’s letting up, no
one will until the end.Yep, pretty tight battle to the end. It will be very interestingto see how it unfolds. All you can do is just do your best.
Do your best. Can’t control some things, so see what
happens,” Power said.

“I think it shows howcompetitive this series is. It’s going to be tough. It’s going tobe tough to battle it out, try and beat the guy next to me
here. It’s going to be very tough.” Ericsson added.

A, J, Foyt Racing teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Dalton Kellett start 20th and 24th respectively. This usually one of the best tracks for Foyt’s cars.

Results