Race Control magazine and Racing World podcast

21/08/2024

Racing World is back

A look back at last weekends NTT INDYCAR event at St Louis and a look forward to the final run of races as well.

We hear from Hunter McElrea after his NTT INDYCAR debut.

We speak with McLaughlin, Newgarden, Power and Dixon and talk about many things including helmet changes under the red.
Racing World is finally back for the run to the 2024 NTT INDYCAR title.

Catch it on You tube or the audio version on the run on
Apple podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/racing-world-presented-by-race-control-magazine/id1517089000?uo=4

Spotfy
https://open.spotify.com/show/6CKyao5SKwBCj14luckTen

or watch it on You Tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXIeVgSvBNE

A look back at last weekends NTT INDYCAR event at St Louis and a look forward to the final run of races as well.We hear from Hunter McElrea after his NTT IN...

07/08/2024

Great article from Simon on Hunter McElrea

https://speedcafe.com/indycar-news-hunter-mcelrea-dale-coyne-racing-debut-toronto-review-2025-silly-season/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEf-FtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHe6SpeydiyXe4BP_p2NUCU4y9oxm9tkfrlqh9xaAB3f0RF0i2d9xtXF-QA_aem_YeFYXQKuLdOWAyY6NPEUBQ

He made his debut with Dale Coyne Racing and has eyes on a permanent seat. - Australia's #1 motorsport news website - Speedcafe.com

21/07/2024

Great morning warm up times from all FOUR kiwi drivers and Hunter McElrea certainly showing he's worthy of this drive.

20/07/2024

Great job by the Kiwis and awesome job by Hunter McElrea in his first weekend in an IndyCar.

02/07/2024

Check this out its a pretty good listen

21/06/2024

McLaughlin Gets Firmest Grip of Tricky Laguna Seca Practice

Scott McLaughlin led the opening practice for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on Friday, as NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers worked to come to grips with the evolution of the asphalt since the legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was repaved last season.

McLaughlin was quickest at 1 minute, 7.6325 seconds in the No. 3 Good Ranchers Team Penske Chevrolet on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit that includes the famous “Corkscrew” turn complex.

Numerous drivers spun or ventured off track while working to adjust to the lower levels of grip on the track this year compared to 2023, when the fresh asphalt offered more traction.

“Pretty good day in the Good Ranchers Chevy,” McLaughlin said. “The car was pretty hooked up from the get-go, and it really got on reds (Firestone alternate tires) when we turned it on. The track’s getting faster and faster, and I think it’s sort of coming to our car a little bit. More to come tomorrow.”

Colton Herta, a winner in 2019 and 2021 at this track, was second at 1:07.7316 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda fielded by Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian. Reigning and two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, who won here in 2022, was third at 1:07.7371 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden was fourth at 1:07.8805 in the No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet.

“It’s quicker than it feels,” Newgarden said of the track. “It does feel like a lot less grip, but the lap time is not that bad compared to last year. So, it’s still really fast, but you’re tiptoeing more. Last year, the thing just felt like it was stuck on the track.”

Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, produced one of his best outings of the season in the 75-minute session. He ended up fifth at 1:08.0025 in the No. 30 Eurofarma Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Two drivers made highly anticipated debuts today in sunny, cool Northern California. David Malukas, making his season debut with Meyer Shank Racing after suffering a wrist injury during a mountain biking accident in February, ended up 25th at 1:09.0206 in the No. 66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda. Nolan Siegel, who signed a multiyear deal this week with Arrow McLaren, ended up 27th at 1:10.0019 in the team’s No. 6 Chevrolet.

23/05/2024

Kiwis at Indy and only some of them.

20/05/2024

Indianapolis 500 Starting Lineup

Results of qualifying Sunday for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Rank, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, time and speed in parentheses:

1. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 02:33.7017 (234.220 mph)
2. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 02:33.9007 (233.917)
3. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 02:33.9726 (233.808)
4. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 02:34.4469 (233.090)
5. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 02:34.6083 (232.848)
6. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 02:34.7110 (232.692)
7. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 02:34.7657 (232.610)
8. (5) Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, 02:34.7829 (232.584)
9. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 02:34.9686 (232.305)
10. (75) Takuma Sato, Honda, 02:35.0578 (232.171)
11. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 02:35.8490 (230.993)
12. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, 02:36.1367 (230.567)
13. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 02:34.9616 (232.316)
14. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 02:34.9682 (232.306)
15. (6) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 02:35.0184 (232.230)
16. (11) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 02:35.0504 (232.183)
17. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 02:35.1608 (232.017)
18. (4) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 02:35.2069 (231.948)
19. (98) Marco Andretti, Honda, 02:35.2458 (231.890)
20. (06) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 02:35.2587 (231.871)
21. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 02:35.2723 (231.851)
22. (78) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, 02:35.2750 (231.847)
23. (41) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, 02:35.2888 (231.826)
24. (33) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, 02:35.3852 (231.682)
25. (66) Tom Blomqvist, Honda, 02:35.4554 (231.578)
26. (77) Romain Grosjean, Chevrolet, 02:35.4982 (231.514)
27. (8) Linus Lundqvist, Honda, 02:35.5034 (231.506)
28. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 02:35.5308 (231.465)
29. (24) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 02:35.6803 (231.243)
30. (30) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, 02:35.7768 (231.100)
31. (51) Katherine Legge, Honda, 02:36.4590 (230.092)
32. (28) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 02:36.5037 (230.027)
33. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 02:36.5396 (229.974)

20/05/2024

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EXa7-KQJRMc&pp=ygUVcmFjZSBjb250cm9sIG1hZ2F6aW5l Check out our chat on You Tube

20/05/2024

Kiwi McLaughlin takes his first pole at Indy

Kiwi Scott McLaughlin takes his first ever Indy 500 pole and what a clean sweep as well for Team Penske as the take the total front row in 2024

19/05/2024

Shoot out for pole today and of course the back row shoot out but this is how it looks so far.

Indianapolis 500 Day 1 Qualifying Results


Click HERE to view and download the results of Indianapolis 500 Day 1 Qualifying, portions 13 - 30 are now locked in.

Results of qualifying Saturday for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Rank, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, time and speed in parentheses:

1. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 02:34.0053 (233.758 mph)
2. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 02:34.2863 (233.332)
3. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 02:34.3124 (233.293)
4. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 02:34.4609 (233.069)
5. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 02:34.6634 (232.764)
6. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 02:34.7965 (232.563)
7. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 02:34.8074 (232.547)
8. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 02:34.8415 (232.496)
9. (75) Takuma Sato, Honda, 02:34.8566 (232.473)
10. (5) Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, 02:34.8826 (232.434)
11. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 02:34.8930 (232.419)
12. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, 02:34.9153 (232.385)
13. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 02:34.9616 (232.316)
14. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 02:34.9682 (232.306)
15. (6) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 02:35.0184 (232.230)
16. (11) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 02:35.0504 (232.183)
17. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 02:35.1608 (232.017)
18. (4) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 02:35.2069 (231.948)
19. (98) Marco Andretti, Honda, 02:35.2458 (231.890)
20. (06) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 02:35.2587 (231.871)
21. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 02:35.2723 (231.851)
22. (78) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, 02:35.2750 (231.847)
23. (41) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, 02:35.2888 (231.826)
24. (33) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, 02:35.3852 (231.682)
25. (66) Tom Blomqvist, Honda, 02:35.4554 (231.578)
26. (77) Romain Grosjean, Chevrolet, 02:35.4982 (231.514)
27. (8) Linus Lundqvist, Honda, 02:35.5034 (231.506)
28. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 02:35.5308 (231.465)
29. (24) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 02:35.6803 (231.243)
30. (30) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, 02:35.7768 (231.100)

19/05/2024

Photo of the day Part 5 (Saturday)

Performance engineer for Scott McLaughlin - Kiwi Malcom Finch in full on action mode after qualifying day 1 at Indy.

18/05/2024

Day 1 at Indy hear from the kiwis

18/05/2024

Day 1 Qualifying at Indy the 2024 edition.

The first day of qualifying for the 108th running of the Indy 500 and in this short mid afternoon update we catch up with all three new Zealand drivers that ...

17/05/2024

The Friday morning Team Press conference and we had the chance to catch up with the two kiwis at Chip Ganassi Racing.

17/05/2024

O’Ward Fast in Traffic, Herta Speedy Soloas ‘Fast Friday’ Looms


Pato O’Ward led the overall speed chart Thursday during practice for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while Colton Herta led the “no-tow” speeds that gain more importance as qualifying approaches.

O’Ward was fastest at 228.861 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, a speed turned with the help of an aerodynamic tow from leading cars around the 2.5-mile oval.

“We got a really fat tow lap on the board, which was unexpected,” O’Ward said. “I’m happy with my car. We did race runs. We did qualifying runs. Obviously, it doesn't necessarily translate perfectly to when the boosts come up just because the speed is so different. But tomorrow if it does rain out, at least we got a bit of a feeling of what the car is tending to want to do on a bit more trim level.”

Speeds will jump during the next practice, from noon-6 p.m. ET on “Fast Friday.” The Honda and Chevrolet engines that power the field will feature approximately 100 more horsepower due to increased boost levels that also will be available during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday and Sunday.

Scott McLaughlin, fastest Wednesday at 229.493, was second Thursday at 227.316 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. Reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou ended up third at 226.915 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Herta was fourth at 226.828 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda fielded by Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian. While that lap – like all of the top five drivers of the day – was turned with the help of a tow, Herta was fastest when running alone in a qualifying simulation, turning a best lap of 224.182.

Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five overall at 226.684 in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet.

The eight-hour session was halted for 68 minutes late in the afternoon and ended 13 minutes early due to rain, the third straight day precipitation has hampered practice. In between raindrops, all 34 drivers alternated focus between honing car setups for qualifying and the race, combining to turn 1,896 laps.

There also were two caution periods for separate crashes – the first contact of the month – involving rookie Linus Lundqvist and 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson. Neither driver was hurt.

At 11:30 a.m. ET, Lundqvist’s No. 8 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda slid through Turn 2, making contact with the SAFER Barrier with the right rear wheel. The car then made light secondary contact with the inside wall on the backstretch. Lundqvist’s machine suffered significant damage and turned no more laps.

Lundqvist ended up as the fastest rookie of the day despite his crash, as his best lap of 226.261 was seventh overall.

At 3:49 p.m., Ericsson’s No. 28 Delaware Life Honda fielded by Andretti Global spun in Turn 4 and hit the SAFER Barrier, continuing to spin and making contact with the inside barrier and then hitting the pit lane attenuator. The car suffered heavy damage, Ericsson turned no more laps, and the team confirmed it will move to a backup car.

The 108th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26

16/05/2024

McLaughlin Jumps to Top on Another Damp Day at Indy. In what practice there has been Kiwis have topped the times sheets -- Dixon Day 1 and McLaughlin Day 2


Scott McLaughlin led three Team Penske cars in the top four on the speed chart Wednesday after another rain-interrupted day of practice for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

McLaughlin was fastest with a best lap of 229.493 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet in a session that started five hours, five minutes late due to persistent morning rain and was interrupted three times by sprinkles before heavier rain washed out the last 59 minutes. All 34 drivers in the field still managed to turn 2,084 laps in rapid packs of traffic around the 2.5-mile oval.

“The Pennzoil Chevy ‘Yellow Submarine’ straight out of the box is pretty good,” McLaughlin said. “I was able to use that draft and get that speed. Obviously, the car’s got good pace right now. We ran through a lot of items, as much as we can, and I think we’ve gotten in a really good spot.”

McLaughlin’s lap was the fastest so far in two limited days of practice, as Scott Dixon led opening day Tuesday at 229.107 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in a session that ended after just 23 minutes due to heavy rain.

Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Will Power helped Team Penske take the top two spots Wednesday on the speed chart. 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Power ended up second at 228.767 in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet.

Colton Herta was third at 227.858 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global, followed by reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden in fourth at 227.675 in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet.

2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi rounded out the top five at 227.484 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Rossi’s Month of May teammate Kyle Larson also attracted attention, as he was the fastest of seven rookies on the track while continuing his preparations to attempt the “double” of competing in the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson was 15th at 225.245 in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

“It’s a little bit frustrating,” Larson said of the weather delays today and Tuesday. “But it is what it is. There’s plenty of track time. I’m trying to remember that.

“I’m glad to have gotten out there and got running. I’m still trying to figure a lot out and work through the car balance, timing of runs and all that. Just trying to play around with things and make runs and pass people.”

Practice is scheduled to resume from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Thursday. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is this Saturday and Sunday, with Race Day on Sunday, May 26.

14/05/2024

Dixon Tops 229 on Rain-Shortened Opening Day at Indy


INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 14, 2024) – Short, but still speedy.

Persistent rain curtailed the opening day of practice May 14 for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the 2.5-mile oval was open for just 23 minutes, until 9:26 a.m. ET. Showers intensified during the afternoon, preventing any more laps.

Speeds were impressive despite the brief session. Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon led at 229.107 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 2020 “500” pole sitter Marco Andretti was second at 228.399 in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda fielded by Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian. Both Dixon and Andretti benefited from aerodynamic tows as morning traffic was brisk while teams eyed the leaden skies.

Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato was third at 225.551 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Pato O’Ward was fourth – and the fastest Chevrolet-powered driver – at 224.993 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Christian Lundgaard ended up fifth at 223.844 in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda, as Rahal Letterman Lanigan was the only team with multiple cars in the top five.

Just 219 total laps were turned before the rain arrived, with 29 of the 34 entries on track and no driver exceeding 13 laps.

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson managed just two laps in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet before the rain. Larson, racing for Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick, is attempting to become the fifth driver to complete the “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day. Kurt Busch was the last to achieve the feat, in 2014.

“It’s good to finally have the Indy 500 here,” Larson said. “I’ve known about this (double attempt) for a couple of years now, so it’s been a lot of waiting. Just happy to get this experience underway. The weather is getting in the middle of things today, but once we get through today, it should be good.”

This is the second consecutive year rain hampered the first day of practice. Last year’s opening day was a washout, with no laps turned.

Practice is scheduled to resume from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Wednesday. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is this Saturday and Sunday, with Race Day on Sunday, May 26.

09/05/2024

Something a bit different for you all this week

A special show this week for you all.First up an INDYCAR / INDY 500 update as we ready to report for you all from IMS there starting next week.The big featur...

08/05/2024

The month of May is underway Sonsio Grand Prix Fast Facts


Race weekend: Friday, May 10-Saturday, May 11

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES 85 laps / 207.3 miles

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: Five 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: Four new sets to be used during the doubleheader weekend. Two carryover sets from the Barber event may be used in practice prior to qualifying.

2023 race winners:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

May: Alex Palou (No. 10 The American Legion Honda)

August: Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone

May: Matteo Nannini (No. 75 Juncos Hollinger Racing)

August: Hunter McElrea (No. 27 Andretti Autosport)

2023 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES):

May: Christian Lundgaard (No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda), 1 minute, 9.3321 seconds, 126.643 mph

August: Graham Rahal (No. 15 Code 3 Associates Honda) 1:10.1132, 125.232 mph

2023 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners:

May: Matteo Nannini (No. 75 Juncos Hollinger Racing) 1:15.3194, 116.576 mph

August: Hunter McElrea (No. 27 Andretti Autosport) 1:15.1216, 116.882 mph

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Will Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Ed Jones 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016

At-track schedule (all times local):

FRIDAY, MAY 10 (All times are local)

9:30-10:45 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (75 minutes),

11:05-11:55 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice

1:10-2:10 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (45 minutes of green flag – limited guarantee)

2:30-3 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, (two groups/12 minutes each)

4:20 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications)

6:15 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 “Drivers, start your engines”

6:20 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes),

SATURDAY, MAY 11

11:15-11:45 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup (30 minutes),

1:05 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 “Drivers, start your engines”

1:10 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 (35 laps/55 minutes)

3:39 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

3:45 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the 16th INDYCAR SERIES event conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Active race winners expected to compete are Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Colton Herta, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power.

Four drivers have competed in every INDYCAR SERIES race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Graham Rahal. All are entered this weekend.

Team Penske has eight wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-Race 2, 2020-Race 3, 2021-Race 2). Chip Ganassi has three wins - with Scott Dixon in 2020-Race 1 and 2023-Race 2 and Alex Palou in 2023-Race 1. Andretti Autosport, Ed Carpenter Racing and Arrow McLaren SP are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Autosport won the Sonsio Grand Prix with Colton Herta in May 2022 and Gallagher Grand Prix with Alexander Rossi in August, while Ed Carpenter Racing won in 2021-Race 1 with Rinus VeeKay and Arrow McLaren SP won the inaugural race in 2014 with Simon Pagenaud when it was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

Four NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year contenders – Tom Blomqvist, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen and Kyffin Simpson - are entered and will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on the IMS road course for the first time alongside veteran driver Pietro Fittipaldi.

Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 325th consecutive start, the second-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:

INDY NXT by Firestone will conduct a doubleheader weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend with a pair of 35-lap races. Jacob Abel claimed his first series win on April 28 at Barber Motorsports Park and sits tied atop the point standings with St. Petersburg winner Nolan Siegel.

The 21-car field for the INDY NXT Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader is the largest INDY NXT by Firestone field at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the 2007 Liberty Challenge doubleheader. There were 25 cars for that event which supported the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

The 2024 season features a deep and talented field with INDY NXT race winners such as Nolan Siegel, Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Reece Gold joining a promising rookie class that includes Myles Rowe (2023 USF Pro 2000 champ), Callum Hedge (2023 Formula Regionals America champion), Michael d’Orlando (2022 USF2000 champion), and Caio Collet (Formula 3 race winner/Nissan Formula E reserve driver). Other contenders include returning drivers Josh Pierson, James Roe and Jamie Chadwick.

For the second consecutive season, INDY NXT by Firestone has added a new team. Miller Vinatieri Motorsports – co-owned by former INDYCAR SERIES competitor Dr. Jack Miller and former NFL standout Adam Vinatieri – debuted at St. Petersburg with driver Jack William Miller.

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.

07/05/2024

Breaking today but much more to come.

Several key members of Team Penske's NTT INDYCAR SERIES organization will miss this month's races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway following an internal review of the recent Push-to-Pass penalties levied by INDYCAR.

Team president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski and engineers Luke Mason and Robbie Atkinson will not participate in this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix or the upcoming Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the team announced.

Cindric is the strategist for defending "500" winner Josef Newgarden while Ruzewski holds the same duties for Will Power, the 2018 winner of the event. The two have combined to win road course races at IMS on six occasions.

The cars of Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were disqualified from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding after it was determined that software allowed them to improperly use INDYCAR’s overtake system on starts and restarts. Newgarden won that race with McLaughlin finishing third.

Power’s car also had the software, but he did not use it during the St. Petersburg race. Newgarden and McLaughlin did. The team was fined and Power's car, which finished fourth, was docked 10 points. The penalties were announced April 24.

Mason is Newgarden’s race engineer while Atkinson is Power’s data engineer.

"Following the penalties to the Team Penske INDYCAR team and drivers after Long Beach, Team Penske has completed an internal review," the team's statement read. "After a full and comprehensive analysis of the information, Team Penske has determined that there were significant failures in our processes and internal communications.

“As result, Luke Mason (No. 2 race engineer) and Robbie Atkinson (senior data engineer) will be suspended from Team Penske for the next two INDYCAR races, including the Indianapolis 500. In addition, Ron Ruzewski (Managing Director, Team Penske INDYCAR) will also be suspended for these two races along with Tim Cindric (President of Team Penske), who has accountability for all of Team Penske’s operations.”

Team Penske owner Roger Penske, who also owns INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, issued a statement.

“I recognize the magnitude of what occurred and the impact it continues to have on the sport to which I’ve dedicated so many decades,” he said. “Everyone at Team Penske along with our fans and business partners should know that I apologize for the errors that were made and I deeply regret them.”

01/05/2024

In this weeks show we look at the latest round of the NTT INDYCAR Series held at the beautiful Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama.

An event surrounded in the TEAM Penske scandal but the bottom line fact is it was still a round of the 2024 championship.
We speak with Graham Rahal, Romain Grosjean, Will Power and of course Race winner kiwi Scott McLaughlin.

Along with that we look ahead to the 108th running of the Indy 500 and all the latest news from this upcoming event all of this edition of Racing World.

In this weeks show we look at the latest round of the NTT INDYCAR Series held at the beautiful Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama.An event surrounded in the ...

28/04/2024

McLaughlin Pulls Off Sweet Repeat To Lead Penske 1-2 at Barber
more to follow

Scott McLaughlin proved Sunday there’s no strategy like pure speed to win an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race.

McLaughlin won the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst for the second consecutive year at Barber Motorsports Park, again using a mash-the-gas, three-stop pit strategy in his No. 3 Good Ranchers Team Penske Chevrolet to earn his first victory of the season and his fifth career win.

The triumph put a positive exclamation point on a trying week for Team Penske, which was penalized Wednesday for illegal use of the Push to Pass system at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden were disqualified from the race, while Will Power received a 10-point penalty.

“We know our job, we know what we need to do,” McLaughlin said. “I’m just super proud of the ex*****on. A couple of yellows didn’t fall our way, but we just showed our pace. We just keep rolling, man.

“Definitely one of my best drives in terms of ex*****on and just knocking out the laps. Very happy we could advance to the checkered flag there and bring home a W for Team Penske and for Roger (Penske).”

Power finished second in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet, 1.3194 seconds behind McLaughlin, after starting second. Rookie Linus Lundqvist earned his first career INDYCAR SERIES podium finish by placing third after starting 19th in the No. 8 American Legion Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing.

Felix Rosenqvist finished fourth in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda to continue burnishing his potential championship credentials after joining Meyer Shank Racing this season. Two-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou rounded out the top five in the No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda as Chip Ganassi Racing matched Team Penske also with two drivers in the top five.

McLaughlin, who led 58 of the 90 laps after earning the NTT P1 Award in qualifying Saturday, took the lead for the final time on Lap 76 after his final pit stop. McLaughlin, Power, Lundqvist and Christian Lundgaard were the leading drivers on a three-pit stop strategy, while Palou and Rosenqvist were among those who opted to make only two stops and conserve fuel in hopes of snatching an unlikely victory like Scott Dixon did April 21 in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Palou led Laps 46-55 while on the alternate strategy before making the last of his two stops at the end of Lap 56. Meanwhile, McLaughlin – who made his second stop at the end of Lap 46 – knew he had to build a gap of around 27 seconds on Palou after Palou’s final stop to be able to keep the lead after his third and final stop.

No problem.

McLaughlin led Palou by nearly 30 seconds before his last stop and exited the pits for the final time ahead of his Chip Ganassi Racing rival. It looked like McLaughlin had more than enough speed to hold off Power over the last 14 laps, as both were on identical fuel strategies and running Firestone Firehawk alternate tires to the finish. Meanwhile, 2022 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Lundqvist completed his mighty march from the back of the field by passing teammate Palou for third place on Lap 84.

But the last of the race’s four caution periods threw a trick in the tail. Rookie Christian Rasmussen spun and stalled his No. 20 Guy Care Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing in Turn 13 on Lap 86.

That set up a two-lap scramble for the victory on the 17-turn, 2.3-mile asphalt roller coaster. On the Lap 89 restart, McLaughlin eased away from Power and stayed inch-perfect for victory.

“It was a hard-fought 1-2 for Penske,” Power said. “We were certainly fast, but obviously a lot of strategy played into that. We were able to use our speed to come out in front again.”

McLaughlin, from New Zealand, has won at least one race in each of the last three seasons after joining the team full time in 2021. He was a legend in the Supercars Championship based in Australia, winning three consecutive titles for Penske in that touring car series from 2018-20.

Six-time series champion Dixon, who led the points entering this event, lost the top spot with his 15th-place finish capping a challenging weekend for the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda crew.

Colton Herta took the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points lead for the first time – by one point over Power – after finishing eighth in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian. Palou is third, just three points behind Herta. Dixon is fourth, just seven points behind Herta.

That sets the table for a magical Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The most fabled three weeks in motorsports begin with the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 on the IMS road course, followed by the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 on the IMS oval.