Indy Car News

Newgarden Wins First Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – RIS – Two Time IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden finally finished first in the 2023 Indianapolis 500.  Newgarden prevailed in a one-lap shootout with defending race winner Marcus Ericsson on Sunday after incidents in the closing laps brought out multiple red flags in the 107th running of the iconic race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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Volume 2023, Issue 5, Posted 8:12 PM, 05.28.2023

Jimmie Johnson to Retire from Full Time Racing

Jimmie Johnson,  a seven time NASCAR champion and IndyCar driver has decided t retire from full time racing.   Johnson, who joined Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda’s IndyCar team in 2021, competed only on road and street courses during that first season, earning best results of 17th in the final two rounds.

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Volume 2022, Issue 9, Posted 4:04 PM, 09.26.2022

NTT INDYCAR SERIES: ACCURA LONG BEACH GP-JOSEF NEWGARDEN WINNER QUOTE

LONG BEACH, Calif (April 9, 2022) – Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet, captured his second consecutive win of the 2022 season with his first victory at Long Beach Grand Prix. It is the 22nd win of his NTT INDYCAR Series career and the 98th win for the Chevrolet 2.2 liter V6 engine. Newgarden leads the standings after today's win. Win quote:

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Volume 2022, Issue 4, Posted 8:17 PM, 04.10.2022

Helio Castrovenes Wins Fourth Indy 500.

SPEEDWAY, IN - RIS -Helio Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday for the fourth time in his career.  By beating Alex Palou in the final laps of the 105th running of the Indy 500, Castroneves now ties A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser for the most all time first-place finishes. Castroneves has 31 Indy car victories in his career.

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Volume 2021, Issue 5, Posted 8:52 PM, 05.30.2021

Book Review - The First 30 Years of the Indianapolis 500

Book Review:
The First 30 Years of the Indianapolis 500. by David Story

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is unquestionably the apex of all motorsports. Many of our readers have a deep enthusiasm for The Speedway. The history, the traditions, the cars, the characters, are really almost a way of life for so many of us.

David Story, like us, is one of those people with The Speedway in his blood. A successful homebuilder in the Northwest, his passion since he was a kid was cars, motorsports, and racing, more specially, creating wonderful art of those racing cars. Now retired, he and his wife Kymm live in the small town of Inkom, Idaho. But don’t be fooled by his background, David Story is a great illustrator and artist.

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Volume 2020, Issue 9, Posted 2:36 PM, 09.12.2020

INDY 500 in AUGUST - Sato Wins Second 500!

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020) – Takuma Sato climbed to a higher level of immortality Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and becoming just the 20th driver to capture “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at least twice.

Sato, from Japan, won the race under caution in the No. 30 Panasonic/PeopleReady Honda fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing when Spencer Pigot crashed in Turn 4 on Lap 195. Sato also won the race in 2017, with Andretti Autosport.

Download: Official Results - The 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge

“This was the entire Rahal Letterman Lanigan team,” Sato said on Victory Podium. “HPD and Honda gave us a lot of power, a lot fuel mileage. And my boys … they sacrifice a lot. I can’t thank all of the people (enough).”

Scott Dixon finished second in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda despite leading a race-high 111 laps. It was the third career Indy 500 runner-up finish for Dixon, a five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner.

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Volume 2020, Issue 8, Posted 9:54 AM, 08.24.2020

INDY 500 in AUGUST - ROOKIE O’WARD LEADS MILLER LITE CARB DAY; THREE ‘500” WINNERS NEAR TOP

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Aug. 21, 2020) – Rookie Pato O’Ward turned the fastest lap of Miller Lite Carb Day practice for the 104thIndianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Friday, Aug. 21, with winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” looming large in the next three spots on the speed charts.

O’Ward, from Monterrey, Mexico, produced a top lap of 225.355 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet during the two-hour final practice before Race Day this Sunday. O’Ward will start 15th when “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” takes the green flag at 2:30 p.m. (ET), with live coverage starting at 1 p.m. on NBC and the Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network.

“I think it's just been really important to try and get the best car under us for Race Day,” O’Ward said. “I think traffic running is going to be key. It's going to be my first ‘500.’ From just feeling out practice and everything, it's so important to have a car that's able to follow closely and be able to get runs on people, ultimately move forward instead of moving backward.”

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Volume 2020, Issue 8, Posted 4:38 PM, 08.21.2020

INDY 500 in AUGUST - Still a Strange Year, Marco on Pole for the 500

INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time in 33 years, an Andretti will lead the Indianapolis 500 to the green flag.

Marco Andretti, grandson of the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti, topped the Fast Nine Shootout on Sunday to claim his first NTT Pole Award of 2020 and his family’s first Indy 500 pole since Mario Andretti won the in 1987.




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Volume 2020, Issue 8, Posted 2:50 PM, 08.16.2020

INDY IN AUGUST - ANDRETTI CONTINUES FAST MONTH BY EARNING TOP SEED FOR FAST NINE SHOOTOUT SUNDAY

INDIANAPOLIS – The Month of Marco continued Saturday at the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, as Marco Andretti posted the fastest four-lap qualification run and enters the Fast Nine Shootout on Sunday as the top seed for the run to the coveted NTT P1 Award for pole position.

Andretti posted a four-lap average speed of 231.351 mph in the No. 98 U.S. Concrete/Curb Honda on his only attempt of the five-hour, 50-minute qualifying session. Andretti’s run was even more impressive because he was the 28th of 33 drivers to make his attempt in the first trip through the qualifying draw, blazing the top speed in hotter, more slippery track conditions than earlier qualifiers.

RESULTS: Indianapolis 500 Day 1 Qualifying | WATCH: Qualifying Highlights

The Fast Nine Shootout takes place from 1:15-2:15 p.m. (ET) Sunday, with live NBC coverage from 1-3 p.m. Andretti, who led “Fast Friday” practice and was in the top three on the speed charts in all three practices this week, will be a favorite for his first career Indianapolis 500 pole.

“It was a steady day,” Andretti said. “The one-and-done things are always nice. It's not fun to have to go do this a few times. We executed on the first time, so my goal is to do the same thing tomorrow.”

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Volume 2020, Issue 8, Posted 12:29 PM, 08.16.2020

Indy 500 in August -- Qualification Day at Indy.

INDIANAPOLIS – The boost was turned up, but the suspects remained the same during “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Andretti Autosport ended Friday with all seven of its cars or affiliated cars in the top 15 during the final full day of practice before Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

There are six drivers racing out of the Andretti Autosport stable for this event. Meyer Shank Racing, which has Jack Harvey as its driver, is a satellite team sharing and engineering alliance with Michael Andretti’s organization and counts as the seventh for the “500.”

RELATED: Andretti Blazes Fastest 'Fast Friday' Lap since 1996

Friday, Marco Andretti ran the fastest lap at IMS since Arie Luyendyk in 1996. Andretti ran 233.491 mph in the No. 98 U.S. Concrete/Curb Honda entered by Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco & Curb-Agajanian. Luyendyk turned a lap at 239.260 mph on May 10, 1996.

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Volume 2020, Issue 8, Posted 10:17 AM, 08.15.2020

Indy 500 in August - Practice Day Two

INDIANAPOLIS – Scott Dixon just keeps on rolling.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Dixon jumped to the top of the speed chart Thursday on the second day of practice for the 104thIndianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge with a top lap of 39.8050 seconds, 226.102 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. His fast lap came with the benefit of an aerodynamic tow, as drivers continued to refine race setups in traffic.

Dixon, who opened the 2020 season with three straight victories, rose to the No. 1 spot on the 2.5-mile oval after recording the third-fastest speed Wednesday on Opening Day at 224.047. He looks to be a prime contender for both pole position during Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend this Saturday and Sunday and for his second Indy 500 victory on Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 23.

RESULTS: Indianapolis 500 Day 2 Practice | Combined Results

“Today, we made some minor changes and tried to figure out some different balances,” Dixon said. “We’re also focusing on how the car feels. The No. 8 car had some changes yesterday that (teammate Marcus Ericsson) liked and we tried them, but I’m on the fence. We’re just running through those variations and trying to run in as much traffic as possible and get the car as comfortable as possible for the race.

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Volume 2020, Issue 8, Posted 9:46 AM, 08.14.2020

Scott Dixon Wins Third Straight IndyCar Race at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, WI – RIS - Scott Dixon dominated on track in the season opener and had strategy drop a second victory in his lap. On Saturday he won the front end of the REV Group Grand Prix doubleheader on pit lane at Road America to stay unbeaten in the NTT IndyCar Series. The five-time series champion survived three restarts and held off Will Power by 2.5386 at Road America.

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Volume 2020, Issue 7, Posted 11:43 PM, 07.11.2020

Scott Dixon Wins Indy Gran Prix

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – RIS – Scott Dixon won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second time in his career twelve years after the first one.  The five-time series champion won by a dominant 19.9469 seconds over Graham Rahal in the IndyCar Grand Prix.

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Volume 2020, Issue 7, Posted 3:46 PM, 07.04.2020

INDYCAR - All INDYCAR Races, thru April are off. Season to Start with Indy GP

Official Statement from INDYCAR

After careful consideration, including regular communication with our event promoters, health officials, and the city administrations in our respective race markets regarding COVID-19, we have made the decision to cancel all NTT INDYCAR Series events through April. This begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg which was to begin today and run through Sunday, March 15 and continues through the AutoNation INDYCAR Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas which was to take place April 24-26. Although we are disappointed to delay the start to this INDYCAR season and will miss our incredible fans who support us each year in St. Petersburg, Birmingham, Long Beach, and Austin, the safety of our fans, participants, staff, partners, and media will always remain our top priority. We will continue to coordinate with public health experts and government officials as we determine the appropriate plans for resuming our schedule."

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Volume 2020, Issue 3, Posted 12:27 PM, 03.13.2020

INDYCAR - St Pete; Will Run; No Spectators

Joint statement from INDYCAR and Green Savoree Racing Promotions

"INDYCAR and Green Savoree Racing Promotions, in conjunction with the city of St. Petersburg, announced Thursday that all activities surrounding Sunday's season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be closed to spectators and limited to essential personnel only. This protocol is being put in place to protect the health and welfare of the fans, drivers, teams, workers and officials, as we mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The race weekend will operate from Friday through Sunday, with INDYCAR on-track sessions limited to Saturday and Sunday. The activities also include Road To Indy, IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup, and SRO Motorsports Group America on a condensed schedule. A press release with full details, including a revised schedule, will be issued with additional details later today." 




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Volume 2020, Issue 3, Posted 4:11 PM, 03.12.2020

INDYCAR - Thoughts of John Andretti, a real racer.

John Andretti died this week at 56. Way too young. I followed his career, at first, because he was an Andretti, then after meeting him and chatting several times, because he was simply a nice guy and a heck of a racer.


By now you have seen his stats, 11 Indy 500’s, hundreds of NASCAR races, and so on, but I most remember him from a few go-kart races when I had the chance to race him myself, at the annual Race 4 Riley charity event.


Two memories really stand out for me. I was in third place about half way through the race, and a kart clobbers my rear bumper, yep, that was John giving me a little love tap on his way to a win. I learned I was no Andretti!


The second memory was the next year in the special media race. Me, Dave Calabro, from WTHR-TV in Indy, and Dave Furst, from WRTV-TV in Indy, had a huge battle going for the lead dodging a bunch of media folks that had never driven a kart before. It was an epic kind of race, clean but very, very, tough. I got a second. John came up after and said “Wow, that was a hell of a race, you guys put on a show.” I can not tell you how that made me feel, a slap on the back from one of my hero’s!


I was at the press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April 2017, when John revealed he had stage four colon cancer. He admitted he had put off getting a colonoscopy, he said he did not like doctors. He became an advocate for getting that simple check-up when you turn 45 years old. He started the “Check-It-For Andretti” campaign.


Please do it, get a check-up.

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Volume 2020, Issue 2, Posted 1:00 PM, 02.01.2020

Stormy Weather Stops The ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway

Long Pond, PA - RIS - Well, where do I start? Okay,…. it was a beautiful day, and if you have heard “Don’t Like The Weather, Wait Ten Minutes, It will Change!” I believe this was written to cover Pocono Raceway, as it took all of ten minutes to change from hot and beautiful to Lightning, and rain drenching…..

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Volume 2019, Issue 8, Posted 6:58 PM, 08.18.2019

INDYCAR - Indianapolis 500 Notes

Simon Pagenaud completed his May mission with the biggest win of his racing life, capturing the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in a duel for the ages and extending Team Penske's dominance in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

"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."

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 2:40 PM, 05.27.2019

INDYCAR - Kanaan Sets the Pace in Carb Day Practice

Past winner Kanaan sets pace in final Indy 500 practice before race

The final practice for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge gave the 33 drivers and teams a last chance to dial in their cars for race. Afterward, some felt better prepared for Sunday's "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," while others aren't so sure.

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 5:26 PM, 05.24.2019

INDYCAR - 2019 Indianapolis 500 Qualifying

Indianapolis 500 qualifying results

Click HERE to view and download the official qualifying results of the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Results of qualifying Sunday for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge NTT IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with rank, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, time and speed in parentheses:

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 8:10 PM, 05.19.2019

INDYCAR - Indy 500 Qualifying Quotes

'What They're Saying' from Indianapolis 500 Day 1 qualifying

JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 2 Shell V-Power Nitro Plus Team Penske Chevrolet): "Our run was solid. The Shell V-Power car has been great the whole week. Chevy has done a phenomenal job for us as you can see, they have a lot of fast race cars here. Of course, I would have liked to have gone earlier. I think all of us would like to go out first or up front, but you have to work with what you've got. We had a fast run. Hopefully, it doesn't rain tomorrow and we can have a Fast Nine Shootout."

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 3:08 PM, 05.19.2019

INDYCAR - Fast Friday Practice Notes

Daly goes fastest in Indy 500 'Fast Friday' practice

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 17, 2019) - It's dubbed "Fast Friday" and the final full day of practice before qualifying for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge was just that.

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 2:54 PM, 05.19.2019

INDYCAR - Tuesday May 15 Practice Notes

Josef Newgarden and Alexander Rossi are content following the second day of practice for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Fernando Alonso, Felix Rosenqvist and their respective crews have work to do after separate incidents Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 5:10 PM, 05.16.2019

INDY 500 - Day Three at Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS - May 16, 2019 - Day three of practice for the 103 running of the 500 Mile Race is under way on another lovely day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We have a blue sky and 74 degrees, with a very slight wind out of the south. 

 Things on the cars are a little different here from last year. The aero package changed in an effort to make passing in the race easier. Aero downforce has been removed over all and the front wing design has been tweaked significantly. 

 

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Volume 2019, Issue 5, Posted 1:18 PM, 05.16.2019