ISSUE 8 JULY / AUGUST 2019
Simon’s month of May SAFETY OF THE FUTURE Meet Sage Karam
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ISSUE 8 I JULY / AUGUST 2019
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ISSUE 8 I JULY / AUGUST 2019
CONTENTS 12
Road to Indy Series – Carb Day Spectacular - Indy Lights had the Freedom 100 and the Pro 200 and F2000 had the short oval at IRP we review both these events.
26
Up To Speed - A look back at the Indy GP that kicked off the magic month that was May.
32
The 103rd 500 - Everything 500 and more.
42
Up To Speed - A look back at Detroit and Texas
60
Postcards of Belle Isle
70
Hunters World - Our man Hunter McElrea checks in once again and we chat with him on his first ever race on an oval.
76
Postcards of Indy
92
Meet the team - Meet Crew Chief for Tony Kanaan Mark Sampson
96
REGULARS On the Sofa with Sage - A moment with Sage Karam
FROM THE EDITOR
6
IN THE LOOP
8
FIRESTONE TRACK UPDATE
24
BREAKING NEWS
90
STILL TO COME
103
THE NEXT LAP
104
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FROM THE EDITOR
W
ell, the magic month of May has been and gone, gee it all happened so fast in the end didn’t it? Now we start waiting for the next one, let alone the rest of the season. The IndyCar Series and IMS can stand tall on what was another
classic event and both races held at IMS were classics in so many ways. When I wrote this column in the last issue I said expect an upset at Indy but we would have never ever of thought of those names that missed out to be on that list, thats for sure. We will look at that and the outstanding efforts by teams that did get in within this and future issues. To the team that assembles this magazine for you I personally want to thank them and our designer especially as she goes above and beyond to assist us and we thank you so very much. Yes this year marked my 17th year at the 500 and each year I tend to rant a little about how good it is and how I can’t wait along with all those standard kinda lines but yet again I came away with something and as I mentioned in a radio interview I did after the race I felt you got the price of admission big time during the 500. I applaud IndyCar for the red flag period during the race as it ensured we got a race to the end and those final 15 plus laps were the type of thing we dream of with lead changes and drama all the way, it was a true fight to the line. Standing in the pitlane at Indy the Race Control team spread itself across both the Pagenaud and Rossi pit bays and the changes in emotions were quicker than any roller coaster ride thats for sure. Gosh I almost thought i needed to head to the Sato pit at one stage as well. We were blessed with a fine day in the end and the race went its distance naturally as well which is all anyone could have asked for and while perhaps the walkup crowd might have been a little down you sure as heck can’t ever say the place looks great with a crowd and the crowd was there and they loved it. We have so many stories from both Indy and Belle Isle that we will be spreading them over the next few issues as we simply want to be able to share some of the amazing things, places and people we meet during those two weeks and then of course still focus on the season in hand which now after Texas is rapidly becoming a Newgarden, Rossi, Pagenaud and Dixon affair I suspect but then again are only just half way so anything Is possible that’s for sure. Look out soon for a feature on this amazing Vic’s Junkyard we found whilst driving in the state of Indiana , heck you could even buy an old NASCAR body there along with WW2 Jeeps and a host of other treasures, we certainly have a great range of fan based series coming your way. Plus we got the chance to sit down with Dan Andersen and chat about the Road to Indy Series and what an amazing man he is. In the mean time equally check out the You Tube channel (be sure to subscribe
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FROM THE EDITOR
to it for all the notifications on content) the content is growing and we were right there amongst it during qualifications at IMS and you can simply feel the tension a driver and crew go though from the close access we had. Just head to You Tube and search Race Control magazine. The Race Control Facebook page will equally update daily so you will always have the latest news there while the pages of Race Control magazine take you more inside the sport so all our platforms offer you the IndyCar fan something and all offer various content as well. The rest of season 2019 in all three tiers of Road to Indy and equally IndyCar look set to be awesome so hang on tight there is plenty to come yet. Enjoy this our latest issue and thank you to you all again. David Turner PUBLISHER
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IN THE LOOP INDYCAR, Red Bull Advanced Technologies partner on driver cockpit protection innovation set to debut in 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season Whenever a major press conference is called at IMS there is generally a good reason and on Friday May 24th Carb day this was a big one thats for sure and the announcement in many ways is the future of IndyCar. IndyCar has formed a partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies to design an Aeroscreen for enhanced driver cockpit protection that will be implemented for the outset of the 2020 season. The Aeroscreen is being developed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies to reduce the risk of driver injury from debris or other objects striking the cockpit area. The driver safety innovation that will encompass the cockpit consists of a ballistic Aeroscreen anchored by titanium framework. “Since the first prototypes were developed and demonstrated in 2016, the potential of Aeroscreen to improve the safety for drivers in the event of frontal impacts in the cockpit area of cars has been clear,” said Christian Horner, Red Bull Advanced Technologies CEO and Red Bull Racing team principal. “This new partnership with IndyCar gives us at Red Bull Advanced Technologies the go-ahead to fully explore that potential, and to deliver a protection system that will help prevent serious injuries and potentially save lives in the U.S.’ premier single-seater series. Over the coming months, we’ll be working closely with IndyCar and its drivers to refine and perfect Aeroscreen, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results race in 2020.” The Red Bull Advanced Technologies Aeroscreen is the second phase of IndyCar’s objective to further enhance driver safety in the open-cockpit race cars. INDYCAR The Advanced Frontal Protection (AFP)
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IN THE LOOP
device for the Indy Grand Prix that was held May 10-11 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course was just the start. The AFP is designed to help deflect debris away from the cockpit area and the driver. “This collaborative effort on the Aeroscreen between Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Dallara and IndyCar truly exhibits an unrelenting commitment and passion for enhancing driver safety,” IndyCar President Jay Frye said. “We would like to thank everyone at Red Bull Advanced Technologies for creating a design that will be significant in the evolution of motorsports safety, not only for the NTT IndyCar Series but from a global perspective.” The Red Bull Advanced Technologies design will consist of a polycarbonate laminated screen that
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IN THE LOOP
includes an anti-reflective coating on the interior of the screen, an anti-fogging device through an integral heating element and possibly tear-offs, all of which will be produced by integrated third-party companies. Another feature for the drivers will be a cockpit cooling option that will be designed by Dallara, an IndyCar official supplier, in conjunction with Red Bull Advanced Technologies. The titanium framework will mount in three areas around the cockpit – the chassis centreline, two-rear side mounts and roll hoop integration – to provide enhanced load-bearing capabilities. The load bearing is expected to be 150 kilonewtons (kN), which would equal the FIA load for the Halo design currently used in Formula One. A kilonewton is equal to approximately 225 pounds, which is a force of gravity rating, not static weight or mass. Force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. Upon completion of the Aeroscreen design by Red Bull Advanced Technologies, INDYCAR is tentatively planning on-track testing by selected NTT IndyCar Series drivers this summer and the approved Aeroscreen’s delivered to all teams by the fall. “IndyCar has always been on the forefront of driver safety,” five-time and defending NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing said. “They are constantly looking and evaluating what needs to be done. It’s something they have done throughout history if you look back through the different eras since auto racing started over 100 years ago. The Aeroscreen is just the latest effort in continuing INDYCAR’s efforts to enhance driver safety.” The AFP device, a 3-inch-tall titanium component manufactured by Dallara that is positioned in front of the cockpit along the chassis centreline, will be utilised by all teams for the remainder of the 2019 season. Previously, IndyCar had conducted extensive testing with a windscreen concept developed in conjunction with PPG Aerospace, including on-track sessions in 2018 at ISM Raceway in Phoenix and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The drivers who tested the windscreen did not report any issues, but additional comprehensive testing at PPG’s facility in Huntsville, Alabama, revealed additional work was needed before any implementation. Indycar was able to utilise the research and on-track testing from this project to provide additional data and information to Red Bull Advanced Technologies for the development of the current design. We think it’s a great step forward and one that retains the look of a single seater and yet improves the safely aspect and again gives IndyCar a look of its own as well, it will be great to see on the cars in the near future. n
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Road to Indy Series CARB DAY SPECTACULAR
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T
he entire Road to Indy Series competed on Carb day Friday either at IMS for the IndyLights or at IRP for Pro 2000 and F2000 divisions. So in the order in which the races happened on the day lets review what were three very top class events.
ASKEW PIPS TEAMMATE NORMAN IN INDIANAPOLIS FREEDOM 100 THRILLER IN INDYLIGHTS Overcast conditions didn’t stop yet another thriller in the Freedom 100 as Florida based rising star Oliver Askew inched past Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Norman at better than 200 mph on the final run to the checkered flag as the top six finishers crossed the yard of bricks blanketed by less than six-tenths of a second at the conclusion of another memorable Freedom 100 Presented by Cooper Tires. The 17th annual edition of the Carb Day curtain-raiser at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway once again lived up to expectations with a large crowd on its feet and cheering to the rafters as the Indy 500 aspirants put on quite a show. Officially there were 12 changes of lead at the start/finish line – and countless more during a scintillating 40-lap contest. Askew’s final margin of victory was listed at just 0.0067 of a second – the fourth closest in IMS history, behind only the Freedom 100s in 2017 (0.0024), 2013 (0.0026) and 2014 (0.0050). This really has become
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part of what is Carb Day and no sooner have the IndyCar teams vacated the pitlane than the IndyLights teams roll out, its simply great non stop entertainment for all. Norman, who officially led 29 laps, had to be content with second place, while Dutchman Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing) edged out Englishman Toby Sowery (BN Racing/Team Pelfrey) by just 0.0773 in another photo-finish for the final podium position. The red-hot action mirrored the hot, humid conditions which replaced morning rain and proved quite challenging for the drivers. Indeed, there was drama even before the cars took to the track when it was announced after qualifying that five cars had failed post-qualifying technical inspection and would be banished to the rear of the starting grid. Then on the first of two pace laps, debutant Jarett Andretti lost control in Turn Four. Thankfully, the Indianapolis native was able to continue unscathed, although Aaron Telitz, who had rejoined the Belardi Auto Racing team at almost literally the last moment, also struck misfortune as he was forced into the pits before the green flag by a broken driveshaft.
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When the green flag finally flew, one lap later than original scheduled, the field was already jockeying hard for position when David Malukas (BN Racing), from Chicago, Ill., lost control and spun at the entrance to Turn Four, moments after being passed by VeeKay for fourth place. A close-following Chris Windom (Belardi Auto Racing), from Canton, Ill., was unable to avoid him, whereupon the two cars made heavy contact with the outside retaining wall. Neither driver was hurt but the race was red-flagged shortly thereafter for repairs to the SAFER barrier. For Windom this came hard on the heels of his Silver Crown crash at State Fairgrounds the night before in the final running of the Hoosier 100 at the fairgrounds which we will have an extended feature on in our next issue. The race was restarted after an almost 10 minute delay and the drivers immediately took up where they had left off, slicing and dicing for position all the way around the 2.5-mile four-cornered oval. The crowd loved it. It was a good old-fashioned nail-biter. Eventually, and perhaps unsurprisingly, a relatively minor glance of Sowery’s right-front wing against Megennis’ left-rear wheel at the exit of Turn One resulted in Megennis being tipped into a spin, although moments later the teenaged New Yorker’s car was back pointing in roughly the right direction when the two cars once again came into contact. Miraculously, both regained control and continued, and the field was granted a brief respite when the yellow flags waved. Sowery was instructed to fall to the back of the pack at the restart, after being adjudged to have caused the incident, but
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before long he was slicing his way back through toward the front. The Englishman even nosed ahead into the lead for a few yards with a couple of laps to go, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd, but as the final lap unfolded it came down to a battle between Askew, Norman and VeeKay for top honours. Askew led at the white flag and, unusually, was able to maintain his advantage through Turn One, only for teammate Norman to come back at him in Turn Three. The Ohio native led the way off the final corner but Askew was tucked up tight behind in the draft, pulling out once he knew he had enough momentum and then edging up alongside as the top two sped underneath the checkered flags. No sooner was that taken care of and the podium presentations held and the thoughts moved 20 minutes to the West and Lucas Oil Raceway and the two other Road to Indy events.
SHIELDS DOMINATES TO CLAIM FIRST USF2000 WIN Australian drivers have a long history of success in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, and Cameron Shields added to that legacy with a beautifully judged drive to victory in the first of the evening’s races and the Cooper Tires Freedom 75. Shields, who hails from Toowoomba, Queensland, the same hometown as then defending Indianapolis 500 champion Will Power, who was in attendance started second, took the lead by holding on around the outside at the start. His first win also
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ensured a maiden PFC Award for Newman Wachs Racing. Pole sitter Colin Kaminsky (Pabst Racing), from Homer Glen, Ill., couldn’t keep pace with Shields but was edging away from an intense battle for third between Mexico’s Manuel Cabrera (Exclusive Autosport) and Frenchman Alex Baron (Legacy Autosport) until the pair hauled up behind some lapped traffic shortly after the halfway mark. On Lap 43, Baron made a move to the inside of Cabrera at the entrance to Turn One. Unfortunately, Cabrera found himself pinched in between Baron and, on the outside, the lapped Pabst Racing Tatuus USF-17 of Brazil’s Bruna Tomaselli, who herself was embroiled in a tense battle with the Jay Howard Driver Development pair of Christian Bogle, from Covington, La., and Englishman Matt Round-Garrido, plus Venezuelan Anthony Famularo (BN Racing). In a flash, Cabrera’s car started to spin, taking both himself and Tomaselli into the wall to trigger the first of two full-course cautions. A second interruption came just 10 laps after the restart, on Lap 61, when Jack William Miller (Miller Vinatieri Motorsports), from Carmel, Ind., spun and crashed out of seventh place between Turns Three and Four. Each time, Shields was picture-perfect out front. The 18-year-old rookie held off the advances of Kaminsky, who instead came under increasing pressure from a charging Baron, who had started fifth. Baron finally made his move for second place into Turn One with just four laps remaining. Fourteen-year-old Jak Crawford (DEForce Racing), from Houston,
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Texas, drove another impressive race to claim fourth ahead of championship leader Braden Eves. After the race Shields had this to say “That was absolutely incredible, I just can’t believe it. I’m so happy to do this with fellow Aussies here, especially the Australian Consul-General, it was so special to have them here to witness this win.”
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER FIVE OF 15 RACES: 1. Braden Eves
153
2. Hunter McElrea
109
3. Colin Kaminsky
86
4. Darren Keane
86
5. Alex Baron
85
6. Cameron Shields
84
7. Manuel Sulaiman
83
8. Christian Rasmussen
63
9. Reece Gold
60
10. Anthony Famularo
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5
FROST TAKES A WIN IN THE FINAL EVENT OF THE DAY FOR THE ROAD TO INDY IN PRO 2000 It was to be another first time winner in the Pro 2000 race as Singapore’s Danial Frost led from flag to flag for Exclusive Autosport. Frost, just 17 years old, was in imperious form on the ultra-fast oval. He was comfortably fastest in last week’s pre race test, led the way in qualifying and, after fighting off an early challenge from last year’s dominant USF2000 champion Kyle Kirkwood, controlled the proceedings to score a thoroughly well-deserved victory in the Cooper Tires Freedom 90. He also took home the first PFC Award this season for Michael Duncalfe’s Exclusive Autosport team, which also triumphed at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2018. Championship leader Rasmus Lindh (Juncos Racing), from Gothenburg, Sweden, chased both his teammate, Robb, and Kirkwood virtually throughout the race before finally finding a chink in Kirkwood’s armor on the very last lap when he took advantage of an open-door opportunity on the high line into Turn One. Robb moved quickly alongside, then carried his momentum through Turn Two to edge ahead and hold off Kirkwood for third on the line.
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PROVISIONAL POINTS AFTER FIVE OF 16 RACES:
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1. Rasmus Lindh
142
2. Danial Frost
133
3. Sting Ray Robb
121
4. Parker Thompson
115
5. Kyle Kirkwood
97
6. Nikita Lastochkin
79
7. Jacob Abel
77
8. Moises de la Vara
74
9. Phillippe Denes
68
10. Kory Enders
66
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TRACK UPDATES
TIRE TRACKER: 103RD RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 ROUND 6 Firestone supplied approximately 6,000 race tires for on-track activities related to this year’s 103rd Running™ of the Indianapolis 500, which included testing, practice, qualifying, and the race. Each entry receives 36 sets for practice, qualifying and the race* *Does not include open test, ROP, refresher or Last row/Fast 9 qualifying
CARA’S NOTE “The 2019 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires feature a new left-side compound and new right-side construction and compound. With the new aero kit last season, trailing vehicles in traffic at IMS exhibited ‘aero wash,’ or a reduction on aero load on the right front tire due to the disturbance of the leading cars. Firestone worked with INDYCAR to improve this by developing right side constructions with modified footprints (the shape of the contact patch where the rubber meets the road), which successfully changed the side grip load dependency. This reduction in sensitivity allows for a more consistent level of grip as the tire is unloaded in traffic.” Cara Adams, Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports
A LITTLE FIRESTONE FAST FACT The Firestone Race Tire Engineering team won the 53rd annual Louis Schwitzer Award for Engineering Excellence for its work on the 2019 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires. It’s the second time that Firestone has won the prestigious honour, which recognises innovation that improves the competitive potential of the Indy 500. The new right-side construction improves the footprint of the tire to make lateral grip less dependent on aerodynamic downforce, while new compounds on both the left and right side tires help improve mechanical grip.
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From
$5,875
Land only share twin
Being there, it’s everything
2019 INDY 500 Escorted by Willie Kay Meet and Greet with
Scott Dixon &
Victory Banquet • • • • • • • • • • • • •
21 - 28 MAY 2019 Return economy Class airfares, return airport transfers (Full Package) All airline levies, fuel surcharges NZ & USA departure taxes (Full Package) Seven nights at Drury Inn Indianapolis Daily cooked breakfast at Drury Inn Evening “Kick Back and Relax” sessions with hot food and cold beverages at the Drury Inn Get together drinks with your host Willie Kay Group transfers by minivan for the duration of the tour Entry to Indy 500 and Pit/Gasoline Alley access Tickets to Terre Haute Speedway, Freedom 100 race, Silver Crown Hoosier 100 race, Carburation Day, Legends Day, Indy 500 Parade and Anderson Speedway Sprint Cars Reserved Grandstand seat for Indianapolis Boxed lunches on the days of Indy 500 Parade and Indy 500 Indy 500 Victory Awards Celebration Banquet Local sightseeing in Indianapolis Sporting Tours merchandise Services of tour host Willie Kay (subject to a minimum of 10 persons travelling)
RACE CONTROL • 25 kel@sportingtours.co.nz | 021 726 637 |www.sportingtours.co.nz
UP TO SPEED
ROUND 5 INDY GP, INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 2.45 mile road course 14 turns 85 laps
Pagenaud wins wet-and-wild INDYCAR Grand Prix Well the magic month kicked off with the GP and it was Simon Pagenaud that overcame the elements and the competition to win the Indy Grand Prix in thrilling fashion on the IMS road course. Pagenaud passed five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon for the lead on the next to last lap on a rain soaked closing stage and pulled away to collect the 12th victory of his Indy car career and first in a 23-race span. “What a way to start May!” said Pagenaud, who won by 2.0469 seconds. “The car was fantastic; the car was awesome all day. We had something for everybody.” Of course this also became another win for Team Penske and in all Indy GPs ever held (6) no other driver other than Simon with now 3 wins (though Pagenaud’s first win in 2014 came with Arrow Schmidt Peterson
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UP TO SPEED
Motorsports) and Will Power equally with 3 has ever taken to the top step of the podium. Starting eighth in the 85-lap race that ran from start to finish in varying levels of rain, Pagenaud charged from sixth place in the final 18 laps in treacherous conditions to collect his first win since the 2017 season finale. With all running cars on rain tires for the final stint, Pagenaud passed Matheus Leist of AJ Foyt Racing for third place with 10 laps to go and Meyer Shank Racing’s Jack Harvey for second position five laps later. The 2016 NTT IndyCar Series champion then set his sights on Dixon. When Dixon, slid a little wide exiting Turn 7 on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn circuit, Pagenaud dove inside Dixon’s car as he was struggling with tire wear at that point. The two cars made light side-to-side contact in the series of corners before Pagenaud exited Turn 9 in front. “I was just braking as deep as I could to catch him. I wasn’t really planning on passing him there. He made a slight mistake.” Dixon finished second in the race for the third straight year. It was also the reigning champion’s 43rd career runner-up result, ranking second only to the 56 of Mario Andretti. “It was tough,” Dixon said of the conditions beginning in a light rain that grew stronger as the day wore on. Despite the slick track, no team opted to change from Firestone’s dry-condition tires to the wets until past the halfway point. Jack Harvey finished a career best third for the Meyer Shank Racing with Arrow SPM team that’s scheduled to run 10 races this season as it
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UP TO SPEED
builds toward a full-time NTT IndyCar Series program in the future. “I will remember this day for a long time,” said Harvey, who reached the podium for the first time in his 14th series race. “It was just so awesome that we finally got this podium. I feel like we’ve been right on the edge of having something like this for a while. As soon as the event was done however all attention turned to the one we all know May is about and the Indy 500. The teams set up oval spec cars and the track was reconfigured and in just two days time the quest for the 103rd 500 was to kick off.
The Race Control magazine Race Statistics Winner’s average speed: Time of Race: Margin of victory: Cautions: Lead changes:
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103.254 mph 2:00:28.1166 2.0469 seconds 3 for 15 laps 10 among 6 drivers
UP TO SPEED
Lap Leaders: Rosenqvist, Felix Dixon, Scott Rahal, Graham Newgarden, Josef Dixon, Scott Rahal, Graham Bourdais, Sebastien Newgarden, Josef Pagenaud, Simon Dixon, Scott Pagenaud, Simon
1 - 15 16 - 26 27 28 - 39 40 - 46 47 - 49 50 - 51 52 - 59 60 - 62 63 - 83 84 - 85
NTT IndyCar Series Points after 5 rounds of 17 Newgarden Dixon Rossi Pagenaud Sato Power Rahal Bourdais Hunter-Reay Hinchcliffe
182 176 146 138 132 119 113 111 109 107
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UP TO SPEED
ROAD TO INDY RECAP – INDY GP A rapid fire recap for the Road to Indy division and Pole sitter Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing) led all 35 laps and grabbed a flawless victory in the second race of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires weekend. Rasmus Lindh (Juncos Racing) completed a weekend sweep by winning the second race of the Indy Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires. Pole sitter Braden Eves (Cape Motorsports) went flag-to-flag to win the second race of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship weekend. Eves has won all four USF2000 races to start the season but once again Race Controls Hunter McElrea made the podium in both races in his debut season.
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UP TO SPEED
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ROUND 6 THE INDY 500
2.5 mile super speedway 200 laps
I
t’s the race that makes us all stand to attention and value the joy of the sport. Seeing a field of 33 cars line up at Indy is like no other and 2019 was to be no different in my 17th time of seeing this in the flesh, you shiver as they commence the parade lap. The weather was an issue and had been all month from rain to cool to thunder and lighting it was then mixed along with days of humid hot and clear. Straight out of the Indy GP there really wasn’t time to rest and the teams quickly got into it. Practice week provided a few notable events and the crashes of Alsono, O Ward and Kaiser were the ones to remember as two of these drivers in the end did not make the field of 33. The mighty McLaren was never expected to be in that position but a series of badly planned events and lack of recovery in many ways sealed their fate. The month of May was to become the month of Simon Pagenaud as he continued on his roll this time winning the pole position for the great race. Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, however, will be
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a spectator for the May 26 race after failing to successfully qualify. His openness in his press conference was to be admitted but the hurt was deep and easy to see. In a drama filled Sunday afternoon that featured separate qualifying sessions to fill opposite ends of the 33-car starting grid, Pagenaud completed a four-lap Fast Nine Shootout qualification run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway super speedway at 229.992 mph to earn the NTT P1 Award, the 11th pole position of his 11-year Indy car career and first at the Indy 500. Meanwhile, Sage Karam, James Hinchcliffe and Kyle Kaiser drove their way into the field with the best qualifying efforts in the Last Row Shootout, with Alonso among those whose runs came up short on speed. Pagenaud delivered the 18th Indianapolis 500 pole position for Team Penske, extending the benchmark NTT IndyCar Series program’s record that stands at 13 more than any other team. In addition, Pagenaud became the first Frenchman in a century to capture the Indy 500 pole, since Rene Thomas in 1919. “Team Menards and Team Penske have been phenomenal about giving me the best equipment,” said Pagenaud, who turned 35 on Saturday. “I can’t thank them enough and my teammates for always pushing me to the limit. This is incredible. This is the biggest race in the world, so obviously I’m on Cloud Nine.” The time separating Pagenaud’s four-lap qualifying attempt and that of slowest qualifier Pippa Mann was 1.8932 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 2.1509 seconds in 2014. The 228.240 mph speed average of the 33 qualifiers is fourth fastest in Indianapolis 500 history.
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Rain delayed the start of Sunday’s two qualifying sessions more than four hours. The Last Row Shootout to decide the final three drivers in the field preceded the Fast Nine Shootout, and it ended with Alonso and McLaren Racing on the outside looking in. Returning to the Indy 500 for a second time in a bid to win the last leg of racing’s Triple Crown, Alonso was knocked from the field when Kaiser posted a four-lap qualifying run 0.019 of a mph faster. Six drivers vied for the last three positions in the field. Alonso, the third to try, completed his run at 227.353 mph in the No. 66 McLaren Racing Chevrolet. It placed the Spaniard second to Hinchcliffe at the time. Karam qualified at 227.740 mph in the No. 24 DRR WIX Filters Chevrolet, dropping Alonso onto the bubble as the 33rd qualifier. In a backup car cobbled together by his Juncos Racing crew after Kaiser crashed the primary No. 32 Chevrolet in Friday practice, Kaiser ran four laps at 227.372 mph to take the last spot away from Alonso. “Obviously, it would be nice to be in the race next Sunday,” Alonso said. “We came here to race and to challenge ourselves, and we were not quick enough. I congratulate all the other guys that did a better job, and hopefully we’ll see a nice show next Sunday.
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“We are all disappointed, and we will try to do better next time. But it’s that kind of things that you learn. I said before, I prefer to be here - even 34th - than being at home like last year.” Kaiser called the days since his crash “the most emotional 48 hours of my life.” The 2017 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champion qualified for his second Indianapolis 500 with the small-budget Juncos team. “I don’t think I can wrap my mind around what we just did,” Kaiser said. “Like I keep saying, all the credit to the team. They’ve been working nonstop trying to get this car ready for us and they did everything we needed to get us in this field. I’m so proud of them, so proud of everybody that helped make this happen.” The week flew by with a Monday free practice and then the drivers toured the country to promote the event and then settle into Carb day Friday. Its a massive week for everyone and the feeling of no orange McLaren hung for quite some time as there respective merchandise stand continued to sell of tee shirts and the garage emptied out. Race day arrived and we awoke to heavy, heavy rain lighting and thunder storms a plenty at 3:30am driving to the track. However arriving at the circuit there was almost like a line in the road that went from wet to dry and the
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race gods were looking kindly of the running of this event in full and on the day. The 6am gun went off and the crowds roared in, the speedway was suddenly alive with colour and noise. The pre race events were full of colour and glitzy things, the air show and fly by one of the best as a fighter jet simply headed straight into the sky. The Hollywood actors of Damon and Bale waved the green flag it was all it ever should be and if you have never done it then make it a must do and experience a 500. In just over a few hours Simon Pagenaud completed his May mission with the biggest win of his racing life, capturing the 103rd Indianapolis 500 in a duel for the ages and extending Team Penske’s dominance in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Pagenaud edged Alexander Rossi by 0.2086 of a second following a thrilling clash over the final 14 laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that had the crowd at the world’s largest single-day sporting event on its feet and screaming with excitement. It was the seventh-closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history. “It’s amazing. It’s another dream come true, and the biggest dream of my life come true,” said Pagenaud, the 35-year-old native of Montmorillon, France. “It’s hard to fathom, really. It’s really hard to process it right now, but I’m just filled with a lot of joy.” Pagenaud and Rossi swapped the lead five times in the closing laps, the last when Pagenaud roared his yellow No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet outside of and past Rossi’s No. 27 heading into Turn 3 on the 199th of 200 laps around the famous 2.5-mile oval. We were spread across both eh pit bays and the emotions were running high and the facial expression changing by the second this was a race a real race and a race to the line.
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Pagenaud wasn’t to be denied in collecting his first Indy 500 triumph and 13th career NTT IndyCar Series victory. It was to come hard on the heels of his win May 11 in the INDYCAR Grand Prix on the IMS road course, Pagenaud became the first driver to win more than one NTT IndyCar Series race this season and second Team Penske pilot to win both IMS races in the same year - following Will Power in 2018. “The car was just on rails; the yellows came out perfectly. The stars are aligned. ... It’s pretty amazing.” “Simon wasn’t going to be beat today,” Penske said. “He raced clean, and that’s what I have to say about Rossi also. The two of them for the laps that they ran side by side was as good of racing as you’ve ever seen here.”With double race points available Sunday, Pagenaud also vaulted into the series championship lead by a single point over teammate Josef Newgarden. Rossi, the 2016 Indy 500 winner as a rookie, overcame two lengthy pit stops for refuelling issues, charging back from mid-pack to contend for the win. The Andretti Autosport driver was in first place on the final race restart on Lap 187, following an incident involving six cars that included an 18-minute red-flag stoppage, but Pagenaud bolted ahead by the time they’d reached the iconic yard of bricks at the start/finish line to complete the lap. The duo exchanged the lead twice on Lap 189 before Rossi swept back in front on Lap 198 heading into Turn 1. On the ensuing lap, Pagenaud made a similar outside pass, this time going into Turn 3, to take the lead for good. Rossi attempted several overtakes over the last one-plus laps but was thwarted each time. Still, his second-place finish marked the Californian’s fourth top-seven Indy 500 result in as many tries.”We were flat in that final lap coming to the flag - we just didn’t have enough,” Rossi said. “You can’t take anything away from the (No.) 22 guys. They were on pole, they led a lot of laps, did a good job and had a fast race car.
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Takuma Sato, the 2017 Indy 500 winner, recovered from pit-stop issues of his own, going down a lap early before recovering to finish third in the No. 30 Mi-Jack/Panasonic Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It was just his second top-10 finish in his 10th Indianapolis 500. “My race, (at) one stage it looked really tough,” Sato said. “We got some little issues after the first pit stop, so we had to come back.”I think it’s still great result to the team, especially considering we were a lap down in 31st. I think it was great.” The race featured 29 lead changes among 10 drivers. Pagenaud led 116 laps - the most in the race since Dario Franchitti led 155 laps in his 2010 win in becoming the first Indy 500 pole sitter to go on and win since Castroneves in 2009. There were five caution periods for 29 laps, including the Lap 178 incident involving Sebastien Bourdais, Graham Rahal, Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, Charlie Kimball and Zach Veach. It began when the cars of Bourdais and Rahal made contact in Turn 3, with the others collected in the aftermath. All the drivers were checked and released from the IU Health Emergency Medical Centre at the track, though Veach will undergo further examination for soreness in his right knee. The race was red-flagged for 18 minutes to allow the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team and track workers to clean the debris. It was a great call from IndyCar and it enabled a race to the line. Crewman Chris Minot was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital for further evaluation of a leg injury after he was struck in a pit-lane incident involving his driver, Jordan King, in the No. 42 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. In the end it became a classic race as you have to have classic races and this is worthy of the word classic. The sun shone down on the speedway and on Simon and the 103rd was in the books as a happy crowd reflected on the day and began the trip home. For the teams and the fans its now just under a year until we do it all again and the 104th Indy 500 and lest hope we have more than 33 attempt to make the show again and make them earn it as well its what its all about its simply called INDY!
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The Race Control magazine Race Statistics Winner’s average speed: 175.794 mph Time of Race: 2:50:39.2797 Margin of victory: 0.2086 of a second Cautions: 4 for 29 laps Lead changes: 29 among 10 drivers Lap Leaders: Pagenaud, Simon Power, Will Carpenter, Ed Sato, Takuma Rosenqvist, Felix Pagenaud, Simon Carpenter, Ed Power, Will Rossi, Alexander Dixon, Scott Pagenaud, Simon Carpenter, Ed Newgarden, Josef Rossi, Alexander Dixon, Scott Rosenqvist, Felix Pagenaud, Simon Rossi, Alexander Dixon, Scott Pagenaud, Simon Newgarden, Josef Carpenter, Ed Ferrucci, Santino Power, Will Sato, Takuma Pigot, Spencer Rossi, Alexander Pagenaud, Simon Rossi, Alexander Pagenaud, Simon
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1-31 32-34 35 36-37 38-41 42-63 64-66 67 68-69 70-72 73-98 99-100 101 102-105 106-110 111-112 113-128 129-137 138-142 143-150 151-170 171 172 173-175 176 177-180 181-186 187-197 198 199-200
NTT IndyCar Series Points after 6 of 17 rounds Pagenaud Newgarden Rossi Dixon Sato Power Hunter-Reay Hinchcliffe Pigot Ferrucci
250 249 228 203 203 184 157 145 133 129
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ROUND 7 DETROIT GRAND PRIX RACE 1, BELLE ISLE 2.35 mile street course 14 turns Set at 70 laps became 43 laps
Newgarden capitalises on timely pit stop to win Detroit doubleheader opener Just in a matter of days the teams had left the famous Brickyard behind them for another year and reloaded the haulers with road course spec cars they then travelled the roughy 4.5 hours across the country for the only double header event of the year. The track at Belle Isle is a punisher thats for sure but the weather gods were also to play a part in 2019. After the treat of rain for the 500 the mid western weather was doing some crazy things as rain, thunderstorms and even as many as 59 tornados in a single day swept that part of the country. Friday the scene at Belle Isle for practice was a beautiful warm dry one where you couldn’t even imagine
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what was around the corner as Saturdays forecast was not anywhere like that and it was due to hit around the time of the race start after an awesome dry qualifying period in the morning. The start of the race was to be delayed more than an hour after a thunderstorm moved through the area and the heavens opened over Belle Isle with heavy rains and strong thunder and lighting. IndyCar adjusted the race from its scheduled 70 laps to a timed event, with 43 laps completed when the checkered flag waved for Newgarden. It was to become a timely pit stop that catapulted Josef Newgarden to victory in the rain shortened opener of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix as well as putting him back into the NTT IndyCar Series championship lead. Newgarden won the Saturday race by 0.8237 of a second over Alexander Rossi and capped a perfect day at Belle Isle Park for team owner Roger Penske, whose team also won the IMSA sports car race in the weekend event promoted by Penske’s group. “It was great to have a victory here,” said Newgarden, whose best previous finish in 13 Detroit races was second place in the second race of 2017. “I think we’ve been strong here in the past. We’ve not been able to fully get a win. “I think, as a team, we executed. We had the car. We definitely had the compliance, the speed from the car. I think Chevy gave us the power, the drivability. Today was a lot about drivability, especially in the wet. We had all that that we needed.”
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The triumph was No. 267 in Indy car history for Team Penske, the most of any team. On the heels of Pagenaud’s May sweep at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rossi’s runner-up finish was his fourth top-seven result at Detroit in the past five races. The 27-year-old Andretti Autosport driver has finished first or second in three of the last four races this season - including a win on the streets of Long Beach, California, in April but wondered what could have been Saturday. “Yet again we’re on the wrong side of the yellow,” Rossi said of the fateful caution that aided Newgarden. “It’s part of the Series. Josef did a good job, didn’t make any mistakes there on the last stint. Takuma Sato made a pair of memorable passes late on Ryan Hunter-Reay and Felix Rosenqvist to finish third in the No. 30 Mi-Jack/Panasonic Honda. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver has been on the podium in three of the last five races, including a win at Barber Motorsports Park in April.”I think we played it well,” Sato said. “I think the rain definitely helped us and then (we) made some good position gains. In the end, I think fighting for the podium, on the wet parts and dry parts, we’re certainly exciting. The treacherous conditions led to four full-course cautions in the race, including one when five-time and reigning series champion Scott Dixon make a are mistake as he clipped the wall in Turn 6 and crashed into a tire barrier. The Chip Ganassi Racing veteran, a two-time Detroit winner,
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was unhurt but finished last in the 22-car field and slipped to fifth in the championship, 92 points behind Newgarden. Will Power, another two-time winner at Belle Isle, saw a strong run slip away when he left his pit on Lap 19 without the right-front tire secured. The tire came loose, forcing Power to limp around the 2.35-mile temporary street course on three wheels until he could pit for a new tire and front wing for the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Power finished 18th. So with one in the books the teams then had to focus on the fact they had to do it all again the very next day.
Race Control magazine Race Statistics Winner’s average speed: Time of Race: Margin of victory: Cautions: Lead changes:
80.294 mph 1:15:30.5932 0.8237 of a second 4 for 14 laps 1 among 2 drivers
Lap Leaders: Rossi Newgarden
1-18 19-43
NTT IndyCar Series Points after 7 of 17 rounds Newgarden Pagenaud Rossi Sato Dixon Power Hunter-Reay Hinchcliffe Pigot Rahal
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ROUND 8 DETROIT GRAND PRIX RACE 2, BELLE ISLE 2.35 mile street course 14 turns 70 laps
Dixon puts in royal rebound effort to win second Detroit race What a difference a day makes both in terms of the weather and the results. On the same day he was bestowed an honour by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Scott Dixon wrote another chapter in his royal Indy car history. Dixon recovered from a crash and last-place finish on Saturday to win the second race of the doubleheader on Sunday. The victory was the 45th of the five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion’s career and moved Dixon within seven wins of tying Mario Andretti for second on the all time Indy car list. Dixon crossed the Raceway at Belle Isle Park finish line 1.9419 seconds ahead of rookie Marcus Ericsson, who posted his first podium finish in his eighth series race. A day after crashing on the 24th lap and finishing 22nd, Dixon led 44 laps - including the last 21. It was Dixon’s first win in 14 races, since the Honda Indy Toronto last season, and his third at Belle Isle to tie Helio Castroneves for most wins on
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the circuit. Dixon won the first race of the Detroit doubleheader last year and went on to collect his fifth season title. “Today was all about redemption,” said Dixon, adding he felt like “an idiot” for crashing by himself in Saturday’s race. “The team nailed the strategy, the car was super-fast. We were able to get the mileage we needed to, which was going to be really tough, with the exception of those last couple cautions. “I can’t believe we ended up here today and it’s just fantastic. Fantastic.” Despite the ideal conditions, the race saw five full-course cautions for incidents on the tight and bumpy circuit. Dixon dodged the chaos and waited out a six-minute red-flag stoppage when teammate Felix Rosenqvist crashed in Turn 1 with five laps to go. Dixon easily held off Ericsson on the Lap 67 restart and pulled comfortably away to victory. Before the race, it was announced at the track and on the telecast that Queen Elizabeth II appointed Dixon the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his services to motorsports. It came as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List recognising achievements of extraordinary people across the Commonwealth countries which Dixon’s native New Zealand is part of. Ericsson, who joined the NTT IndyCar Series this year after five seasons in Formula One, was pleased with his second-place finish in the No. 7 Arrow
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Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda. The Swede’s best result in his first seven races this season had been seventh place at Barber Motorsports Park in April. We had caught up with his kiwi connection in terms of his crew chief Brendon Cleave just days before for an upcoming feature in Race Control so it was very much kiwis to the podium yet again when combined with Dixon and his kiwi crew chief Blair Julian. “It was amazing, my first podium since 2013 (in GP2), and you just have to thank the whole team at Arrow SPM,” Ericsson said. “They work so hard all year and we had so much bad luck, and I’ve done mistakes when we’ve been looking really good. So, to finally get a result like this and be on the podium, I think is a great reward for all of the hard work. Now, I think we can build on this.” Will Power recovered from gearbox damage sustained in a five-car incident on Lap 1 that stalled his car on course on the Lap 5 to finish third in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. The two-time Detroit winner and 2014 series champion was astounded with his turnaround in fortune. “I couldn’t believe it. It was an amazing day,” Power said. “I definitely thought we were done. I couldn’t shift and then, obviously, I tried to reset it and then I stalled. But just a great recovery. I haven’t been satisfied with a race since Gateway (a win in August 2018), and this is the first time I’ve been satisfied with a race (since).” Power’s teammates didn’t fare as well Sunday. Simon Pagenaud and Josef
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Newgarden were involved in separate incidents in Turn 3 and finished 17th and 19th, respectively.
The Race Control magazine Race Statistics Winner’s average speed: 87.877 mph Time of Race: 1:52:18.9365 Margin of victory: 1.9419 seconds Cautions: 5 for 23 laps Lead changes: 6 among 5 drivers
Lap Leaders: Newgarden, Josef Dixon, Scott Ferrucci, Santino Dixon, Scott Ericsson, Marcus Power, Will Dixon, Scott
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1 2-13 14-33 34-44 45-46 47-49 50-70
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NTT IndyCar Series Points after 8 of 17 rounds Newgarden Rossi Pagenaud Dixon Sato Power Hunter-Reay Hinchcliffe Rahal Bourdais
316 301 291 264 255 232 219 179 175 165
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ROUND 9 TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 1.5 mile High Bank Oval 248 laps
Newgarden makes late charge to win at Texas Motor Speedway This is where the season really kicks in and the patterns start to form. We have had non stop weekends of racing from the Indy GP, the 500 qualifying weekend, the 500 itself then two races at Belle Isle and now a Saturday night race at Texas before a one week break. No one ever said this is easy did they. It is however where you do see patterns starting to take place and if you think back just one year ago it was not until Belle Isle race 1 and a race win that Dixon started his roll so anything really is possible yet. However right now that top section of the points table with Newgarden, Rossi, Pagenaud, Dixon and Sato are looking very solid indeed. The man of the moment currently without a question is Josef Newgarden and he came seemingly from nowhere to win the latest electrifying NTT IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The 2019 championship
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leader fended off Alexander Rossi in a thrilling duel over the final 10 laps to capture the DXC Technology 600. Newgarden, won by 0.8164 of a second to collect his 13th career win, third this season and first on a super speedway. “Feels awesome to win here,” Newgarden said. “I knew we’d get it done here at some point. We’ve had fast cars (but) it never has materialised. Tonight, it happened.” Starting seventh in the 22-car field, Newgarden didn’t lead until Lap 190 of the 248-lap event on the 1.5-mile, high-banked oval. A lightning-quick final pit stop on Lap 198, accompanied by lightning-fast laps before and after the stop, put the 28-year-old Tennessean in position to retake the lead on the 202nd lap, and he never surrendered it. Pole sitter Takuma Sato led the first 60 laps of the race until making his first pit stop in the No. 30 ABeam Consulting Honda. But the car slid into the pit stall and made contact with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing front tire changer Chris Welch. Sato was assessed a stop-and-go penalty for hitting a crewman. Welch was evaluated and released from the track’s infield care centre. Rossi, ran second behind Newgarden for the final restart on Lap 236. Time and again in the closing laps, Rossi pulled alongside as the duo launched into Turn 1, but each time Newgarden kept the low line and held off the Andretti Autosport driver. “I think we had a good car, could obviously get a good run on him off of (Turns) 3 and 4,” Rossi said. “Lane 2 (the outside
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line) was really never there for me. We could get halfway around the outside (but) would have to bail out. “Ultimately, then it became about trying to beat him for the (start/finish) line. But we took out a lot of the tire life going in Lane 2 there, so we just didn’t have the rear tires there at the end to stay close to him. I didn’t see him up front all day. All of a sudden, he appears in P1, so obviously they’re doing a good job. He had a fast car once he got in front.” Graham Rahal finished third, rookie Santino Ferrucci fourth and Ryan Hunter-Reay fifth. It marked the first time Americans swept the top five spots in an Indy car race since 2001 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, when Al Unser Jr., Mark Dismore, Sam Hornish Jr., Eddie Cheever and Robbie Buhl finished first through fifth. Saturday’s race was the 31st for the NTT IndyCar Series at Texas Motor Speedway, which has become home to some of the most exciting finishes in history since the track opened in 1997. This year’s event was no exception. The race ran caution-free for more than the first half, until Zach Veach brushed the SAFER Barrier exiting Turn 2 on Lap 135. He did a 360-degree spin but Veach kept it off the wall and came to a stop in Turn 3 with only slight suspension damage and a flat tire. The second caution occurred when James Hinchcliffe slid wide into the Turn 2 SAFER Barrier on Lap 219. The final yellow waved when the cars of Scott Dixon and rookie Colton Herta touched while battling for third place in Turn 3 on Lap 229, in a bold move from Herta and one that will have impacts
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of Dixon’s points chase as well . All drivers were unhurt from the incidents. The caution for the Dixon-Herta incident set up the shootout to the finish between Newgarden and Rossi. “I knew he was going to be difficult to beat,” Newgarden said of Rossi. “He had a great car. He drove me clean, he drove me hard. “I think we had enough power there from Chevy. Our car was handling well enough out front (that) we could get the job done, pretty much stay on the throttle as much as we needed to just to stay ahead of him.” With the win, Newgarden extended his lead in the standings to 25 points over Rossi and 48 over Team Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud, who finished sixth on Saturday. Ferrucci collected a career-best fourth-place finish in the No. 19 Cly-Del Manufacturing Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. Hunter-Reay led a race-high 90 laps in the No. 28 DHL Honda but was forced to make an extra stop for fuel and wound up fifth. Now the teams have a weekend off before another massive run of races kicking off at Road America. For many however its a weekend of testing or in the case of Dixon and his crew chief Blair Julian an 8am flight the next morning from Dallas to Paris and onwards to LeMan’s for a little old 24 hour race and the final showing for the Ganassi Ford GT entires along with a few other members of the IndyCar family attending as well.
The Race Control magazine Race Statistics Winner’s average speed: 186.084 mph Time of Race: 1:55:08.8666 Margin of victory: 0.8164 of a second Cautions: 3 for 22 laps Lead changes: 13 among 8 drivers Lap Leaders: Sato, Takuma Rahal, Graham Hunter-Reay, Ryan Dixon, Scott Hunter-Reay, Ryan Dixon, Scott Rossi, Alexander Dixon, Scott Rossi, Alexander Dixon, Scott Newgarden, Josef Ericsson, Marcus Bourdais, Sebastien Newgarden, Josef
1 - 60 61 - 63 64 - 113 114 - 123 124 - 163 164 - 174 175 - 176 177 - 185 186 187 - 189 190 - 197 198 - 199 200 - 202 203 - 248
NTT IndyCar Series Points after 9 of 17 rounds Newgarden Rossi Pagenaud Dixon Sato Power Hunter-Reay Rahal Ferrucci Bourdais
367 342 319 278 272 254 252 211 193 190
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W
ell our man Hunter McElrea took one of the biggest steps in his first season in F2000 during May and it was in the form of oval racing. he is proving that is is very worthy of been part of this series and he most certify is on his way in the Road to Indy. The most recent round of the Road to Indy series featured the Friday races for both F2000 and Pro 2000 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg just a short drive from IMS and it was held on Carb day Friday in conjunction with the running of the Freedom 100 for the Indy Lights cars at IMS. IRP is a great faculty for those of you that have not been there and features a small oval a road course and the NRHA Drag Strip. Qualifying was to be the first new phase for Hunter as like the rest of the series it is set over several laps and then an average in this case a two lap run. Lots of positives came from this and while Hunter managed to find out about white walling a tyre on a racing wall the take away factors were good and the learning gained in this first season were as well. The conditions at IRP were hot and humid and the atmosphere was spot on with a good crowd coming directly from the Freedom 100 running straight to these events and the proof of the value of the entire Road to Indy program stood out yet again. A usurper illustration on what a great aid this ladder system is for young drivers. It was great to spend time with Hunter and his team along with series commentator and long time friend Jeremy Shaw and
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to spend valuable time with the Road to Indy CEO Dan Andersen whom we will feature in the next issue of Race Control magazine. For now however this is the debrief report in Hunters words and in the following pages we review all the Road to Indy series Carb day events as well. Hi Everyone and to you guys the readers of Race Control magazine. Well now just a few weeks ago now I competed in my first Oval Race, the ‘Freedom 75’, and Round 5 of the USF2000 Championship as a curtain raiser for the Indy 500. We had raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway the weekend of the Indy Grand Prix event on the full road course and had two races over the event with another two podiums collected that weekend so I was pretty happy with that but this was to become my first ever oval event. After a solid practice session, I was very excited for my first
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‘Oval Qualifying’ session, where you do a 2 lap shootout, and your laps are combined. After a strong 1st lap, which was quicker than the eventual Pole Sitter, I put it all on the line to get the pole, and made light contact with the wall on my 2nd lap. This was obviously disappointing and meant I had to start at the rear of the grid, but I was giving it my all! It was great to have the support of lots of people I knew that were in town for the 500 and really wanted to put on a better show for them but knew were could do better in the race and that was my approach on things. It was equally really cool to catch up with the publisher of this magazine and supporter of mine David Turner who was a trustee of the Motorsport NZ Elite Driver Academy when I attended this a few years back so it was very cool to have him around. It was unfortunate however and made my race very difficult from starting P19, but I drove my hardest to fight back to P11, making up 8 spots as the biggest mover of the race, at a track that is extremely difficult to pass on. There were a few yellow flag periods that bunched the field up but again during the restarts you needed to be smart and yet careful all at the same time as trying to move forward in positions as well. Although this was disappointing to not be able to race up the front due to track position, it was a great opportunity and experience which I learnt many things from. The big thing was to bring the car home and collect some points as the championship really gets moving once we get to late June. Our next event is at Road America and its a track I am really excited about and my team have greta knowledge there as well so it should be a great weekends racing. I have to thank Pabst Racing, Mazda Motorsports, and all my sponsors and supporters who make this possible for me. Many thanks from me once again and hope you enjoy the read. Hunter McElrea
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ISSUE 1 MAY 2018
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Queen DANICA returns SPEEDWAY the Township
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FORMULA FIT HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTRE
The 104th Countdown has started The logo for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge captures four essential elements - tradition, speed, excitement and innovation - of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” within the framework of the new logo system introduced last year. Bold, dynamic colours and features form the core of the 2020 logo. At the heart of the design is a continuation of the type lock-up introduced with the unveiling in May 2018 of the logo for the 103rd Running of the race. “The logo for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge acknowledges the traditions and grand legacy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while propelling ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ forward, racing for what’s next,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “This colourful design reminds everyone of the power and pageantry of the world’s greatest race. The logo is the ‘500;’ it is May.” The word mark is athletic, prestigious and confident, and includes a rich red shield that contrasts with gold, the colour of the iconic Wing and Wheel logo of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This lock-up creates a strong, consistent annual brand appearance for the event. A new feature of this year’s logo is a checkered flag pattern that races upward and forward behind the shield, symbolising the goal of every competitor in the race and the rich history of champions at IMS. The 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2020.
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Meet the team
Mark Sampson Crew Chief Car 14
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ark Sampson joined AJ Foyt Racing in 2018 and then becoming crew chief of Tony Kanaan’s car this season. At Indy we were able to sit down with him and ask him a few questions on his life within the sport. So Mark thank you for your time and really that common old question just how did you get involved in racing? “My father worked at General Motors and my brothers had muscle cars so I was always interested in cars. I went to vocational school to learn about machine work and after I worked in a Speed shop building engines. The owner Ray Smith ran Sprint cars and I got involved with helping him out on the weekends. I started in IndyCar racing in 1996.” Many people hear or read the name Crew Chief or look at most crew chiefs standing in pitlane guiding a car in on those all important pitstops but really just what does your job as a crew chief entail? “I ensure the car is built to the engineers’ exacting specifications. I organise parts, track mileage, and try to guide the mechanics in a positive direction.”
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The work load is massive we know in turning the cars around and equally the overall prep but what do you do on race day? “I have a titanium Humerus (upper arm bone) so my pit stop days are over. I crashed my dirt bike in 2005 and smashed my shoulder – it took six months of rehab. I used to do the air jack but now I feed the front tire to the changer.” Wow that’s still putting you in amongst it anyways so just how long have you been a crew chief (in your career)? “Oh about Eight years.” Is there a secret or skill that one needs too take on the role and to be a be a crew chief? “ha ha mainly you need patience and organization skills a lot of the time.” Now looking back you must have some great memories whats been say your greatest thrill of your career (to date)? “Easy really been part of the team that won the 2008 Indy 500, I wasn’t the crew chief then (Ricky Davis was and he now looks after Felix Rosenqvist) but was still part of the team.”
For our New Zealand readers of course you will all remember 2008 as it was the year the current 5 time champ Scott Dixon took his only (so far) 500 win. Like all jobs there must be loads of challenges what’s the most challenging aspect of your job? “Managing the people and time you have to get the jobs done, it can really push you thats for sure.” So when it comes to the race how do you prepare for a race? “I have a Race Prep list of jobs that need to be done before we race. I look over the car before it leaves the garage.” Is there a favourite track you like more than others and if so why?
“Indy because of the speed and history.” Well Mark we certainly cant agree that one with you. Looking at that then do you look forward to the month of May? Is there a favourite and least favourite part to the month for you? “Yes, my favourite part is Race day because of the atmosphere and the least favourite is the GP. I think the GP should be the last race of the season.” Just before we have to let you go who has been the greatest influence in your life? “My family”. Personally do you have any hobbies or interests outside of racing? “Driving my Chevelle.”
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ON THE
WITH
SPEED CITY BROADCAST
Sage Karam
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O
ur latest guest on the Race Control magazine sofa was 2019 Indy 500 only driver Sage Karam. Sage is from Nazareth Pennsylvania is a 6 time Indy 500 starter and he is a young man that knows what it takes around Indy as well. He had the extra dram and pressures this year of the Last Row shoot out and something he like any other driver is never keen to repeat. We got the chance to sit down and chat with him on the eve of the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 and a learn a little more on this driver that would like to rejoin the series full time but equally shares a passion for all things 500. When he’s not Racing Sports cars or this appearance at Indy she is actually modelling for the well known and high profile NewYork agency Willemina. His latest shoots had him in New York where he did layouts for Express Men ( a US clothing store) and Saks Fifth Avenue. Sage told it that modelling is actually a whole lot of fun as they tend to portray him in sporting scenarios and who would guess with lots of nice cars as well ! Something he feels very comfortable doing and he fully enjoys the chances he has to be able to do it.. Talking off nice cars, Sage drives a Aston Martin Vantage and also a 2016 BMW M4. At 24 years old thats something many young and old could only dream off and he cares for them and enjoys them as they should be. When I asked him what fictional hero he felt he would relate to he pointed to his phone and a superman sticker, it goes with the start of my name with the S in Sage, so I’ve always been Superman. Pretty clear answer really. Sage hasn’t had as much track time recently as he would have liked but he has certainly done plenty of laps. With highly detailed Computer software, video monitors, racing seat,steering wheel and pedals. Sage has spent hours upon hours on a racing simulator in his own home, known as Sim Racing he has used this as a training aid for this years race and many others. He actually races regularly in on line Sim Racing Leagues. Many of these events are available for anyone to view online via Twitch, a live streaming
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video platform that gives a good sense of how realistic Sim Racing is and allows viewers to communicate with the driver. Fans can watch and interact with him and also have their questions answered in real time not only is Sage committed to Racing, he is also a very religious young man who believes in his Baptist Faith very strongly and totally dedicated to his Family and Friends not to mention his Girlfriend whom he has been in a relationship for a year and a half. She is a school teacher in there hometown Pennsylvania and they have a great bond. Now Sage might only have a 500 drive in indyCar this season but rest assured the passion and will runs strong and getting to spend time with this young man you see it first hand and just like every other driver out there he’s there to win. l
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@
STILL TO COME
2019 SEASON Here’s what is still to come this season for the NTT IndyCar Series.
July 14
The Streets of Toronto
July 20
Iowa Speedway
July 28
Mid Ohio Sports Car Course
August 18
Pocono Raceway
August 24
Gateway Motorsports Park (last oval race of the season)
September 1
Portland International Raceway
September 22
Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca (Grand Final for all classes)
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THE NEXT LAP COMING UP IN ISSUE 9 OF RACE CONTROL SEPTEMBER 2019 Here’s a very small sample of what we have planned and what is around the turn in our next issue of Race Control The Final Hoosier 100 at State fairgrounds and a look back at what made it what is was. We visit Vic’s Junk yard and dig out some treasures. On the Sofa with Dan Andersen from the Road to Indy Series. An insight to fabrication on an Indy Car. Plus all the race updates from IndyCar and the Road to Indy series as the season hits full swing.
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THE LAST WORD
For this issue’s last word we are going to go slightly off target for a change and while it would be easy to give it to 500 winner Simon Pagenaud we thought it should go to someone else in the team that aided the Frenchman to his maiden 500 win. So the last word comes from Malcom Finch the data engineer on car 22. A young kiwi guy that chased a dream only several years ago to leave his home country just like any driver does but one to be part of a race team in the IndyCar Series. In his second 500 the smile simply never seemed to stop and his dream has only just got started we suspect and his driver only had kind things to say about him as well and praised him for the job he does.
I just can’t believe it, it’s my second 500 ever and we won it man, we won this thing wow I can’t believe this wow, I am here at Indy with Team Penske and we won oh my goodness we won. MALCOM FINCH Data Engineer for Simon Pagenaud Indianapolis May 26th 2019
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