Latest news with #NTTINDYCARSERIES
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Fans Can Vote for Alex Palou To Win ESPY as Best Driver
INDYCAR Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou was one of four competitors nominated in the Best Driver category of the annual ESPYS, and fans can vote for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver now. Palou earned his second consecutive series championship last season, adding to his crown in 2021 during his first season with CGR. He won two races and recorded 13 top-five finishes in 17 starts. The good times have continued to roll this season for Palou, who has won six of the first nine races. He earned his first oval victory in the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 25 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Fans can click here to vote for Palou, who leads the series standings again this season. Voting is open until 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, July 16, three hours before the ESPYS will air at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Other nominees in the Best Driver category are NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano and Formula One drivers Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. in this topic
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
WillScot Joins Nashville Season Finale as Presenting Sponsor
INDYCAR The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix announced today that WillScot, North America's leading provider of innovative temporary space solutions, will serve as presenting sponsor for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix on Aug. 30-31 at Nashville Superspeedway, the INDYCAR season finale weekend. WillScot, headquartered in Phoenix, is the premier provider of highly innovative and turnkey space solutions in North America. The company's comprehensive range of products includes modular office complexes, mobile offices, classrooms, temporary restrooms, portable storage containers, protective buildings and climate-controlled units and clearspan structures, as well as a curated selection of furnishings, appliances and other supplementary services. The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot is the season finale for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone for the second consecutive year. WillScot will provide temporary space to support event operations and elevate the fan experience, including a Fan Zone installation near Nashville Superspeedway comprised of a two-story WillScot FLEX modular building with an observation viewing deck, a FLEX modular beverage bar and other innovative space solutions for fans to enjoy. Weekend packages, premium viewing and hospitality options along with camping are available online at and by calling the event ticket office at 866-RACE-TIX (866-722-3849). Race fans are encouraged to act fast, as prices will increase when single-day tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 9.
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Test Patterns: Conor Daly on Point in Prep for Vital Iowa Weekend
INDYCAR There's no question the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is the race that every NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver circles on their calendar for its magnitude. But the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend on July 11-13 at Iowa Speedway isn't that far behind on that list of important events for one reason -- it's the only doubleheader on the 2025 schedule, so drivers can climb or fall in the standings on this .894-mile oval more quickly than any other race weekend. 'It feels like a double-points race because we have two races here,' Andretti Global driver Colton Herta said. That points reality placed even more importance on a team test June 25 at Iowa, with 21 of the 27 full-time drivers in the series turning laps to prepare for the Synk 275 on Saturday, July 12 and the Farm to Finish 275 on Sunday, July 13 (both races live on FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). This wasn't an Open Test, so no times and speeds were released, but it's still time for some itemized deductions: Daly Set for Breakthrough Win? Conor Daly's name appears near the top of any list of most likely first-time winners in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and that dream may be closer to reality after this test. Daly was the fastest overall in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet. There are more signs pointing upward for Daly at Iowa. One, his only career pole came at this track, in 2020. Two, his best races this season have come on ovals, finishing eighth in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and sixth earlier this month at World Wide Technology Raceway. He led 13 laps at Indy and 36 at WWTR. While Daly is beyond eager to break his 124-race winless drought, he hopes part of practice is reserved for getting rubber down on the higher line of the asphalt racing surface, allowing for more car setup and passing options. 'I love this track,' Daly said. 'P1 today is nice. A really good learning experience for us. Not really sure what to say when it comes to race trim. I think a lot of people were trying to run in packs. 'I think we can follow close, but I think we need our high-line session. We love our good high-line session, so when we come back here, let's run our high-line session the whole time. That would be sweet.' Palou Right in the Mix Three-time series champion Alex Palou finally broke through with his first career oval victory in May at the Indianapolis 500 but followed with a challenging next oval race June 15 at WWTR, battling back from going nearly a lap down to place eighth, 14.1018 seconds behind winner Kyle Kirkwood. So, was the Indy win an exception to the rule, or was the WWTR race an anomaly? Probably the latter, at least when looking at Palou's results at this test. The Spaniard was second fastest behind Daly in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Newgarden, Penske Searching for Speed Six-time Iowa winner Josef Newgarden said before yesterday's test that he and the No. 2 Team Penske crew had a dual focus on this test, splitting their minds on qualifying setup and long runs to simulate the race. That focus on qualifying may seem odd, considering a Team Penske driver has won the pole for 11 of the last 13 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races at Iowa. But Newgarden had a point: He started 22nd and 14th for the two races of the Iowa doubleheader last year, and it's tough to climb to the top amid all the traffic and chaos of this bullring starting that far back. Newgarden ended up finishing third and seventh, respectively. Pace has been an issue for Team Penske all season, as the team has no victories and two poles. That worrying trend continued at Iowa, as Newgarden ended up 11th and teammates Will Power and Scott McLaughlin 14th and 15th, respectively. All three Team Penske drivers have victories at Iowa, so they know how to find victory lane here. But the spoils go to the speedy, and Team Penske needs to find pace. Hopeful Test for Ericsson It's an understatement to say Marcus Ericsson's move to Andretti Global from Chip Ganassi Racing after the 2023 season hasn't gone as planned. He was 15th in points last season and is 21st at the halfway point of this season after three consecutive sixth-place championship finishes for CGR from 2021-23. This test provides hope for Ericsson, who has just one top-10 result this season. He ended up fourth on the speed charts and was the fastest of the three Andretti Global drivers, clocking in just ahead of teammate Herta. Ericsson has become a skilled oval racer since joining the INDYCAR SERIES in 2019 despite his road-racing pedigree, and top-five results – or even a victory – could turn his fortunes in a hurry at this event weekend. But he was 15th in points after his first season with Andretti last year, and he's 21st this season. MSR Keeps Rolling It's no longer just a nice story from a race weekend or two: Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian continues to step up this season into the pantheon of elite teams in the series, and this test did nothing to dispel that. Felix Rosenqvist was third and teammate Marcus Armstrong eighth on the speed charts in the team's Honda-powered cars. Rosenqvist is fourth in the series standings and Armstrong 11th, as MSR has joined the 'Big Four' of Chip Ganassi Racing, Arrow McLaren, Andretti Global and Team Penske as a team with two drivers in the top 11 of the standings. Combining the total points of each of those team's two drivers in the top 11 sees CGR first at 617, Arrow McLaren second at 503, Andretti Global third at 477, MSR fourth at 415 and Team Penske fifth at 387. It's been a breakthrough season for Mike Shank and Jim Meyer's team, and that shows no signs of stopping at Iowa. Solid Showing for PREMA First-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES team PREMA Racing shocked the racing world in May when its rookie driver, Robert Shwartzman, became the first rookie to win the pole for the Indianapolis 500 since 1983. It was the first oval race for the driver and team. PREMA's background is decades of success in global junior open-wheel series, all taking place on road courses. But its rapid assimilation to the subtlety and unique nature of finding speed on ovals continued at this test. Shwartzman ended up 12th, and veteran teammate Callum Ilott was 13th in the team's Chevrolet-powered cars.
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Bobby Rahal Named Grand Marshal of Mid-Ohio Event
INDYCAR Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced June 25 that Bobby Rahal, the 1985 and 1986 INDYCAR SERIES race winner at the Ohio road course, will serve as the honorary grand marshal of The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on Sunday, July 6. As grand marshal, Rahal will announce the most famous words in racing, 'Drivers, start your engines!' and participate in pre-race ceremonies for the 90-lap NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio (1 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Ohio native Rahal's connection to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course runs deep. In addition to his two INDYCAR SERIES wins at the track, three-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Rahal finished on the podium a remarkable eight of his 16 career starts on his home circuit, including in his last two races in 1997 and 1998. 'It's a great honor to be the grand marshal for The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio,' Rahal said. 'Mid-Ohio played an important role in my personal and professional life. I went to the first-ever race there with my father in 1962 and made annual trips there after that, sometimes twice a year. I got my first win at Mid-Ohio in my SCCA class in 1974, won both IROC races I competed in there, won the Lumberman's race and, of course, the two INDYCAR races in 1985 and 1986.' Rahal also has won at Mid-Ohio as a team owner in 2015 with his son, Graham Rahal, taking the checkered flag at The Honda Indy 200 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing shop was once located in nearby Hilliard, Ohio, in the same building which formerly housed Truesports Racing. Rahal drove for Truesports when entering the INDYCAR SERIES in 1982 and won the Indianapolis 500 with the Jim Trueman-owned team in 1986. Rahal is in a very select group of individuals who have won the Indianapolis 500 both as a driver and as an owner/entrant (2004 and 2020 as an owner). 'Being by (Jim) Trueman's side when he bought the track in 1980 and winning the IMSA race with him in 1983, as well as winning the INDYCAR races there and seeing Graham win there in 2015, are some of my greatest memories at one of my favorite tracks,' Bobby Rahal said. 'It was a privilege to drive on such a great circuit all those years.' Visit for ticket information for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on July 4-6, the 42nd running of Ohio's biggest racing event. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES headlines the weekend of nine races across five different racing series, including INDY NXT by Firestone. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. recommended
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Instant Recall: XPEL Grand Prix at Road America
INDYCAR If Alex Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing crew are going to execute races as they did Sunday at Road America, winning another NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship is a foregone conclusion. Ranking their six victories this season, including last month's Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, is difficult, but this latest one was massively impressive. Palou certainly had a fast car as he qualified on the outside of the front row, but he had to overcome a regrettable tire choice at the start of the race that dropped him to 14th, mid-pack contact, the fierce battles of two rivals and a fuel strategy that seemed unattainable. But again, Palou found himself in victory lane, pushing his series lead to 93 points, the equivalent of two full races with eight races remaining. The outcome of the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR had to be demoralizing to those closest to Palou in the pursuit of the Astor Challenge Cup. Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood, for example, had another strong outing and seemed positioned to finished ahead of Palou. He finished fourth and still lost 18 points to the reigning series champion. Two key moments in the track's famous Canada Corner saw Kirkwood ahead of Palou. In both cases, Kirkwood got caught battling Team Penske's Will Power only to see Palou scoot past. While frustrating for Kirkwood, those weren't the ultimate difference-makers in the 55-lap race. Under caution on Lap 23, Palou's strategist, Barry Wanser, called the effective race leader to pit road for service. To almost everyone, including Palou, that seemed too early to make the second stop as Palou would need to average 16 laps in the final two segments to get to the checkered flag. Most thought 14 or 15 laps was the maximum the fuel could last. Palou initially was frustrated by Wanser's decision. 'I got to be grumpy for a couple of laps,' the driver of the No. 10 SOLO Cup Chip Ganassi Racing Honda said. Said Wanser: 'He doesn't get grumpy, so when he is grumpy, I know he's really mad and questioning what we're doing.' As usual, Palou made the strategy work, using two caution laps to stretch 17 laps out of the ensuing segment. That left him 15 laps to get home, and home he got. 'We didn't know we were on the right strategy until like 10 (laps) to go,' Wanser said. 'We're reacting based on what we think is happening.' If that was a gamble, it was a big one. Had Palou needed a late splash-and-go fuel stop, as teammate Scott Dixon did for being two laps short of the target, he likely would have finished on the tail end of the top 10 as Dixon did in ninth. That could have given Kirkwood about 27 points to the good. Palou breathed a sigh of relief. 'We were looking really bad at the beginning, then really good, then terrible, then really good,' he said. 'It was tough to be up there (knowing how close the car was on fuel). We just had to stay focused on battling the people that were on our strategy.' Kirkwood must wonder 'what if.' In addition to this opportunity to gain on Palou, the driver of the No. 27 Siemens Honda also is missing a similar number of points from the '500' after his car was deemed outside the rules in post-race inspection. Rather than finishing sixth that day in the spot he saw the checkered flag, he is credited with 32nd place, receiving only five points. Instead of trailing Palou by 93 points, his deficit could conceivably be half of that. Those are the kind of breaks Palou and CGR keep getting – or making for themselves – and that's the reason they're in line for their third consecutive series championship and fourth in five years. Next up: The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on Sunday, July 6 (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). recommended
