Latest news with #INDYCARChipGanassiRacing
Fox Sports
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Paddock Buzz: Will Power Beefs About Alex Palou's Traffic Manners
INDYCAR Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou was the fastest NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifier Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but he also drew the ire of Team Penske's Will Power. Power thought three-time and defending series champion Palou should have been more polite to him during the morning practice. To make his point, Power, a two-time series champion, six times directed one of the big curse words at Palou, and he pointed his finger at the Spaniard at least that many times. Later, Power argued that it was as much the fault of Palou's strategist Barry Wanser for sending Palou into his path, but he was just as angry that Palou didn't yield the track to his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. 'I went out on new tires, and he came out a lap later in front of me and then stayed there,' Power told FS1. '(He) then spent four laps just going slow, so I had to keep backing up, backing up, backing up, which was frustrating. 'Then, I came in (to the pits), made a change, went out, (was) on a money lap (and CGR) sent him out of the pits again right in front of me – and he didn't move. He just kept going, and I had to back off again.' Power noted that not only did Palou didn't have traffic ahead of him on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course, no cars were behind him. One resolution would have been for Power to slow down to give himself a gap to Palou, but he didn't choose that path. 'He could have backed off, which I always do for him and anyone else if I'm in that position,' Power said. Palou said he anticipated what Power wanted to say to him – and likely how he was going to say it – as he approached him on pit lane after the session. 'Yeah, I knew, I knew,' Palou said. 'Look, I think if you look at (either) practice, everybody is complaining about traffic, and we're all angry that we don't get clear laps. But maybe he thought we did something personal to him. For sure, that was not the intention. 'I don't know if you saw, but I was always like a second or two seconds in front of him. He was just having to back off. I never tried to defend or anything. I think he was just a little upset, and that's OK. 'But, yeah, I knew what he was coming (to discuss) – I just didn't want to start to get into an argument. Yeah, it happens. It wasn't my first time with him, so it's good.' Power, Teammates Fail To Advance Power's day didn't get any better in qualifying. He and Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin did not turn laps in Round 1 that were fast enough to have them advance to the second round. Newgarden will start Sunday's Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport from the 18th position (of 27 cars). McLaughlin and Power will start together on the 11th row, qualifying 21st and 22nd, respectively. McLaughlin blamed traffic for preventing him from having a faster lap in qualifying. All three Penske drivers are former series race winners at this track, so they must be accounted for in this race. McLaughlin has been particularly strong in recent years, finishing first, fourth and third in the past three races, an average finish of 2.66. Newgarden has won two series races here. Power and McLaughlin have won one each. Keep an Eye on Turn 4 This popular section of the Mid-Ohio circuit is the first corner the field will encounter at the start of Sunday's race. Cars will be two-wide – at least – as they approach the hard right-hander. Trouble awaits, especially for those positioned in the left lane. That portion of the track has been redefined since last year's race, and it is flatter now to lessen the drop-off from asphalt to the gravel trap known as 'China Beach.' Several cars drifted wide in practice, dropping left-side tires in the new grass. But that's not the primary issue. There now is a bump at a popular braking point, and the bump seems to be more prominent on the left side. McLaughlin hit it at a bad time Saturday, and it pushed his car off the track. He wasn't the only one, and he won't be the last. If another car is alongside when the bump bites, more than one car could get chewed up. Longer Race Changes Pit Strategy This will be the first INDYCAR SERIES race at this track since 2019 that's 90 laps in length, and the 10-lap increase will change strategies. For the past four years, 80 laps were the norm, but that was an easy two-stop strategy with tight pit windows. The result was conservative racing and few options. This year, three stops will be necessary, and there should be some flexibility in when to make them. Fuel should last between 26 and 28 laps, but look for some competitors to pit early to get track position in the event of an early caution. INDYCAR staged 90-lap races here from 2013-19. Odds and Ends McLaughlin is one of six drivers who won series races last year but are winless this year, and each of them won multiple races. Power and Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward joined McLaughlin as three-time winners; Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon, Newgarden and Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian won two each. This year, Palou (six) and Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood (three) are the only winners through nine races. Kirkwood qualified seventh but like McLaughlin thought he was impacted by traffic ahead of him in the second round of qualifying. As a consolation, the driver who stands second in the standings (93 points behind Palou) will be one of the highest qualifiers with two sets of new Firestone Firehawk alternate tires for the race, and that should be an advantage. Santino Ferrucci has been the hottest non-winner in the field the past four races. Despite having an average starting position of 18.25, the driver of the No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet has finished fifth, second, fifth and third, an average finish of 3.75, helping him climb to ninth in the standings. He qualified 17th for Sunday's race. Marcus Ericsson's season continues to be a struggle. Twenty-first in the standings, the driver of the No. 28 FOX INDYCAR Honda of Andretti Global saw the front of his car slam the right-side barrier at Turn 14 in practice. Repairs were made, but Ericsson could only manage to qualify in the 11th position. Ed Carpenter Racing's Christian Rasmussen qualified 10th, but the No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet will move back six positions for the start of the race due to an unapproved engine change following last week's test at Iowa Speedway. recommended
Fox Sports
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Paddock Buzz: Rivals Tip Cap to Alex Palou's Sizzling Start
INDYCAR Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou continued his dominating start to the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season by scoring his fourth win in the first five races in Saturday's Sonsio Grand Prix. The two-time defending series champion has built a commanding 97-point cushion over the closest driver, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood. Andretti Global driver Kirkwood and Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard, who trails Palou by 98 points, are the only drivers within 100 points of the lead. 'When you have that sort of confidence level, you've got that car underneath, you're pretty damn hard to beat,' Graham Rahal said. 'Look at this points gap. It's the most insane thing. I've been racing in this sport forever, and I've never seen this. I've never seen it, and it's just massively impressive.' Four-time '500' winner Helio Castroneves, witnessed the opening five races as co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian nd transitions to driver of the No. 06 Cliffs Honda for the team. Castroneves draws a direct line between Palou's dominance and the legendary CGR era of the late 1990s – a time when Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo Montoya ruled the series with an iron grip, earning its first four championships in succession. 'It's hard to beat someone with that momentum, the whole team,' Castroneves said. 'It's not just him; it's the whole team. That gives him the confidence.' Palou turned the third-fastest lap, 226.673 mph, Tuesday in his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda during the Opening Day of practice in preparation for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Despite being winless in 27 oval starts, including all five at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Palou remains on the minds of his rivals. All believe he can give CGR its sixth '500' victory next Sunday. The good part is, Rahal and others are aware how Palou is beating them. The bad part is, they don't know how to stop it. 'I think they're on their game,' Rahal said. 'They're fast as hell. They're fast in a straight line. Alex (Palou) is obviously in a different planet, but even (Scott Dixon) Dixie, in the race, his race pace was better than anybody but Alex. 'I mean, what can you do? The answer is, nothing at all. And it's insane. 'When they (Ganassi cars) get to you, how close they can follow compared to everybody else, in Turn 14 (on IMS road), we're hanging on for their lives, I come out of 14 look in the mirror, and I can see his (Palou's) eyeballs, and you're like, 'What are they doing?' 'But then they also overtake, the acceleration rate that they have is far more extreme than any other car that followed me. That just shows you mechanical drag, aerodynamics, they're just on top of their game. It's just damn impressive.' O'Ward Shows Persistence To Get Helmet to Indy Turns out the unexpected two-plus-hour rain delay Tuesday came with a silver lining for Pato O'Ward. The delay gave the driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet driver enough time to resolve a frustrating customs issue involving two specialty Indianapolis 500 helmets shipped from Germany. O'Ward spent much of the morning on the phone, including a 48-minute stint on hold trying to get the helmets cleared through customs. Officials believed he hadn't paid the necessary fees, but O'Ward insisted otherwise. To ensure the helmets would arrive in time, he even agreed to pay the fee again, asking only for the payment link to expedite the process. The hard work paid off, with the helmets arriving at his house just before the 2:34 p.m. ET start of practice. They will be at IMS Wednesday. Franchitti Speaking Right Language to Armstrong Marcus Armstrong is making his second attempt at qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, but he's not shy about admitting he feels like a rookie. His '500' debut last year with Chip Ganassi Racing was painfully brief – just six laps, all under caution after a mechanical failure ended his day. With no green-flag laps completed, Armstrong didn't exactly get the full Speedway experience. 'I am almost a '500' rookie, so to speak,' Armstrong said. 'I've still been asking those types of questions.' This time, he's behind the wheel of the No. 66 Spectrum Honda for Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian. Although changing teams, Armstrong benefits from familiar resources thanks to an alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing, his former squad. 'I still use the coffee machine and their toaster and everything,' Armstrong said. 'Just walk in and use it. They have a big TV in their engineering room, as well.' Beyond appliances, Armstrong has access to one of the sport's greatest minds – Dario Franchitti, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time series champion. Franchitti's ability to break down the nuances of the 2.5-mile oval has been a major asset, even if the generational language can be hard to translate. 'What we're talking about, actually it's complex,' Armstrong said. 'I feel like sometimes with the older generation is a bit of a mismatch in the way that we talk about things.' Legendary Chat The driver motorhome lot at IMS has long been a hub of camaraderie, mischief and racing royalty. This May is no exception. While it's known for its occasional pranks among drivers, it also offers a unique window into the legacy and continuity of the Indianapolis 500. For four-time Indy 500 winner Castroneves, chasing a historic fifth victory this year, even a walk to a media availability turned into a heartwarming moment. As he made his way out of the motorhome lot Tuesday morning, he bumped into a few familiar faces – Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, and Simon Pagenaud – all '500' winners and now elder statesmen of the paddock. 'We're just talking about, imagine the kids looking at us right now — look at those bunch of old farts,' said Castroneves, 50. 'Which is probably how we used to look at the old farts before us.' It was a lighthearted but poignant reminder of how the Speedway doesn't just test speed and skill – it preserves history and fosters lifelong bonds. For Castroneves, IMS still holds a special, almost magical power. 'Just coming over here again, being back, and it just lights up,' he said. 'Just different feelings. This place brings the best out of me.' Castroneves Not Done Yet… Castroneves may be in the final year of his driving contract with Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian, piloting the No. 06 Cliffs Honda, but don't expect the four-time Indy 500 winner to call it quits, especially not if he makes history May 25 by becoming the first five-time winner. Castroneves was sixth fastest Tuesday, as he was on Opening Day last year. This time, he was faster, going 224.523 compared to 223.669 in 2024. While his role as a co-owner at MSR changes the dynamics of contract talks, Castroneves made it clear that he's not ready to park his helmet just yet. 'I'm going to come back,' he said with a grin. 'I want a statue!' It's classic Helio – part humor, part heart – but beneath the joke is a serious racer who still feels the competitive fire. In addition to his commitments, Castroneves recently has explored new challenges, including driving stock cars in Brazil — a shift he sees as invigorating, not as a sign of winding down. 'To become a good driver, you've got to drive different race cars,' he said. 'I feel that now that I have the opportunity to do that – when I spent 20-plus years with Team Penske, I wasn't able to – now that I can, it just feels like I'm a late-bloomer. Like everything started late in my life, which is fine. 'As long as I have the desire, the fun, and know that I can do it, I will keep going.' Rossi Becomes a Dad Ed Carpenter Racing driver Alexander Rossi and his wife, Kelly, welcomed the birth of their first child, Benjamin, last Wednesday. The Rossi's didn't announce the birth to the world until Mother's Day and, in fact, never mentioned they were expecting. 'My priority for 80, 70 percent of the day is here, and the rest of the time that I can give, I will give at home,' Rossi said. Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, turned the seventh-fastest lap of the day at 224.347 in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet. BorgWarner Bonus Reset Josef Newgarden stands on the edge of history at this year's Indianapolis 500 – with the chance to accomplish something no one has in the race's 109-year history by winning three consecutive Indianapolis 500's. Already a back-to-back winner in 2023 and 2024, Newgarden's bid for a third straight victory carries historical weight and a financial bonus, albeit smaller this time around. Thanks to BorgWarner's jackpot bonus program, the Team Penske star will receive an extra $20,000 if he takes the checkered flag again May 25. While that figure is modest compared to the $440,000 he pocketed last year – the largest jackpot to date – Newgarden isn't chasing the prize money. He's chasing immortality. BorgWarner launched the rolling jackpot in 1995 to reward repeat winners, adding $20,000 to the pot each year until it's claimed. It has only been awarded twice: first to Castroneves in 2002 after back-to-back wins (earning $160,000) and then to Newgarden last year following his 2023 and 2024 victories. Several Teams Welcome New Sponsors A handful of teams announced Indianapolis 500-only sponsors in the last few days, including two of the four Andretti Global cars. Siemens will be featured as a primary sponsor on the No. 27 Honda driven by Kyle Kirkwood. The car looks similar to the one teammate Marcus Ericsson has driven the last two seasons. As a result, Ericsson received new branding with Allegra being named as the sponsor on his No. 28 Honda. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced that Desnuda Tequila will be the primary sponsor of the No. 45 entry driven by 2024 INDY NXT Champion Louis Foster. Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian announced Creed will be featured as the primary sponsor of the No. 60 Honda driven by Felix Rosenqvist, and Spectrum will be the sponsor on Marcus Armstrong's No. 66 Honda. Juncos Hollinger Racing announced that ampm will serve as the primary sponsor for Conor Daly and the No. 76 Chevrolet for the '500' and multiple races throughout the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, with the partnership extending into 2026. The No. 76 will feature ampm's branding at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and additional events this season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway. Additionally, Team Penske unveiled Scott McLaughlin will drive the No. 3 Tire Rack Chevrolet during the June 1 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Kanaan Refresher Moved to Wednesday Due to lingering rain, Tony Kanaan's Indy 500 refresher test has been rescheduled to 10 a.m. Wednesday. He will drive Kyle Larson's No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Kanaan, who last raced in the '500' in 2023, is readying to be a standby driver for Kyle Larson on Race Day. Larson is attempting the 'double' of racing in the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25. Kanaan will step in for Larson if weather delays the start in Indianapolis and Larson must leave for Charlotte for his full-time drive with Hendrick Motorsports. Now serving as team principal for Arrow McLaren, Kanaan joked about his return to the driver's seat. His wife, Lauren, noted the change in his demeanor this morning, saying, 'I guess the race car driver is back.' Following Kanaan's session, full-field practice runs from noon-6 p.m. ET, with coverage split between FS2 (noon-4 p.m.) and FS1 (4–6 p.m.). Conquer Paralysis Event Set for May 23 Conquer Paralysis Now, a nonprofit founded by former INDYCAR SERIES driver and team owner Sam Schmidt, announced its Racing to Recovery Black & White Gala to celebrate its 25th anniversary will be Friday, May 23 at Indiana Roof Ballroom. The event is open to the public. Tickets are still available here. Grammy-nominated rock band Daughtry, fronted by Chris Daughtry, will perform at the event. Conquer Paralysis Now works to help fund research and treatment of spinal-cord injuries. Schmidt became a quadriplegic due to injuries suffered in an INDYCAR SERIES testing crash in January 2000. Odds and Ends Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske was initially supposed to be naturalized as an American citizen on Opening Day of Indianapolis 500 practice in Pagoda Plaza at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, the law states he had to go through the process in his home state, North Carolina. Since he already went through the process, McLaughlin led the 34 people from around the world to become American citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance. Five of the top seven speeds on Tuesday were turned by former '500' winners: Will Power (2018 winner, first), Newgarden (2023, 2024 winner, second), Scott Dixon (2008 winner, fourth), Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021 winner, sixth), Rossi (2016 winner, seventh). Team Penske produced three of the top-five lap speeds on Tuesday, in addition to the top three trap speeds at the end of the front straightaway. Power (237.798), McLaughlin (237.711) and Newgarden (237.243) led Christian Rasmussen's No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet (235.496) on that section timing chart. Kirkwood (219.497) was fastest in the non-tow report, followed by Newgarden (219.149), rookie Jacob Abel in the No. 51 Abel Construction Honda (218.884), Daly (218.786) and Rossi (218.736). recommended
