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Fox Sports
23-06-2025
- 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
Fox Sports
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Palou Reaches Sweet Six After Strategic Win at Hot Road America
INDYCAR Amid a race full of mystery from different strategies, the certainty known as Alex Palou emerged once again. Palou earned his sixth victory in nine NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season, his torrid form matching the air temperatures in the mid-90s to win the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR on Sunday. Two-time defending series champion Palou drove his No. 10 SOLO Cup Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a 2.175-second victory over Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Santino Ferrucci finished third in the No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. Stay tuned for a complete report. recommended
Fox Sports
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Christian Lundgaard Wastes Little Time To Reach Top at Road America
INDYCAR Efficiency bred speed for Christian Lundgaard in the second practice for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR on Saturday. Lundgaard led the pre-qualifying practice session at 1 minute, 45.3412 seconds in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet despite turning just 10 laps on the 14-turn, 4.014-mile permanent road course. Lundgaard was fifth in the opening practice Friday. SEE: Practice Results 'We decided to go out on new tires in the beginning, and I think the track was potentially a little better,' Lundgaard said. 'Our run plan was to go out and see what we have and try the items we wanted to try and don't necessarily try any more. 'Obviously, the car was fast enough. It got hotter at the end of the session. I think we're looking good for qualifying. We've been fast all weekend.' Air temperatures are expected to climb into the low- to mid-90s in Wisconsin today after reaching the mid-80s Friday. NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship leader Alex Palou climbed to second after ending up ninth Friday, turning a top lap of 1:45.5916 in the No. 10 SOLO Cup Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Reigning Road America winner Will Power continued a steady, fast weekend so far in third at 1:45.6809 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Kyle Kirkwood, quickest Friday, dropped to fourth today at 1:45.7126 in the No. 28 Siemens Honda of Andretti Global. His teammate Colton Herta rounded out the top five at 1:45.7160 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Up next is NTT P1 Award qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 55-lap race starts at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). recommended
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur entrepreneur among 2025 Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductees
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A total of nine people, products and companies have been named to this year's Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame class, and one inductee has ties to Macon County. On Tuesday, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) announced the 2025 class of inductees, which recognizes individuals, products and companies that have had a lasting impact on the manufacturing industry across Illinois. One of the people being inducted is J. Gerald Demirjian, a Decatur engineer and entrepreneur. Juneteenth to be celebrated across Central Illinois Demirjian acquired the York Division compressor line in 1987 and started TCCI Manufacturing, a global innovator in compressor and thermal management technologies. From Central Illinois to customers across the world, TCCI has created jobs, driven innovation and strengthened communities. His legacy continues to live on through a family-led company that is powering future generations of commercial transportation. Established in 2024, the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame celebrates over two centuries of manufacturing in Illinois. Additionally, manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), supporting almost one-third of all jobs statewide and contributing over $580 billion to the state's economy each year. 'For more than 200 years, Illinois manufacturers have created iconic products to improve our daily lives, built companies that have transformed communities, fostered visionary leaders dedicated to building a brighter tomorrow, and are reimagining the future and creating it with cutting edge technology,' Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, said. 'This year's Hall of Fame inductees reflect our state's proud manufacturing legacy and demonstrate that the future of manufacturing in Illinois remains strong.' Explosive detonation training in progress in Decatur Outside of Demirjian, the other eight 2025 inductees include: People Barry L. MacLean: An engineer by training, MacLean grew MacLean-Fogg into a global manufacturing leader with three dozen locations around the globe. Suad Muthana: Muthana represents the American dream, immigrating to the United States without a formal education before co-founding M&M Quality Grinding in Hodgkins. Products Kraft Mac & Cheese: For over 85 years (introduced by James Lewis Kraft in 1937), Kraft Mac & Cheese has been serving up comfort and smiles one bowl at a time. Red SOLO Cup: Created by Leo Hulseman, the iconic and best-selling red SOLO Cup is the original sign of good times. Tootsie Roll: Manufactured in Chicago since 1968, Tootsie Rolls are a chocolate taffy candy and the first penny candy to be individually wrapped in America. Companies & Organizations C. Cretors & Company: Founded in 1885, C. Cretors and Company is a 5th-generation, family-owned global leader in food processing and concession equipment. Ford Motor Company: Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, Ford Motor Company is a global manufacturer of automobiles, with their oldest continuously operating factory in Chicago. Horween Leather Company: Founded in 1905, Horween Leather Company produces premium leathers for a wide variety of top-quality products. 'Illinois has a storied reputation as a global hub for innovation and manufacturing, and the ongoing success of industry leaders and companies small and large is a testament to our unmatched legacy,' Governor JB Pritzker, said. 'I am proud to congratulate this year's Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame Inductees, who have made significant contributions not just in manufacturing – but to the cultural and commercial fabric of America as well as communities across Illinois.' The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during a ceremony at 11 a.m. on June 26 at the Westin Chicago Lombard. At the event, the IMA will also partner with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to unveil the 2025 Manufacturing Excellence Awards winners: recognizing companies, organizations and individuals in eight key categories. For more information on the IMA, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
