IndyCars - Indianapolis: The IndyCars hold a double-header weekend of racing

[MarkyS]

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…and this will be on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course as they do…

The IndyCar Harvest GP

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Making the weekend even better, there will be fans in the stands, as the Speedway will allow up to 10,000 people to sit socially distanced in the grandstands.

The venue is the IMS Road Course, which just today announced that the combination of IndyCars and NASCAR’s Xfinity series on the 2020 Brickyard 400 weekend was so well received that they will do it again in 2021.

The IMS Road Course is a 2.439-mile, 14-turn course which incorporates portions of Turns 1 and 2 and the front straight of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and the remainder of the circuit is within the infield, allowing for great spectator viewing from the grandstands and from spectator mounds. With two long straights, the Road Course is known for its passing possibilites.

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Fans who show up will see the IndyCars race on Friday and Saturday. That leaves the track free for Sunday, when the SRO GT World Challenge America series will take over, to do their inaugural Indianapolis 8-Hour endurance race - The season finale. The series pits GTs from many of the world’s manufacturers against each other in great GT racing, in 3 classes - Pro/Am, Silver and Am. Cars will include Acuras, BMWs, Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Mercedes, Porsches and others. This will be a mix of GT3 and GT4 cars, on track at the same time. A total of 23 cars – 13 GT3s and 10 GT4s – are provisionally set to start the Indianapolis 8 Hour.

We’ll be paying attention, as there are a few IndyCar guys in the mix. Indy Lights veteran Shelby Blackstock has already clinched the Silver class Championship with co-driver Trent Hindman in the # 93 Racer’s Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3, so now they are racing for bragging rights, and to help Acura clinch the manufacturer’s title, as well.

Helping them out in the 8-hour event will be Indy Lights driver Robert Megennis. Meginnis WON the 2019 Indy Lights Grand Prix of Indianapolis and earned the 2016 USF2000 Rookie of the Year honors.

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Trent (center left) and Shelby (center right) - Champs, Silver class…

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…and Rob Megennis

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The Racer’s Edge Acura NSX GT3 - one of many GTs to take to the track, this Sunday

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Thursday will be a day of practice for both the SRO gang and for the IndyCars. Then, later in the day, the IndyCars will qualify for Race 1 of the weekend, to be held on Friday. Let’s GET THIS GOING!!

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[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Indianapolis - The GT World Challenge take to the track for practice…

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It was the Bronze-rated drivers only who practiced this morning on the Indy Road Course for the first GTWC session for Sunday’s Indianapolis 8 Hour. The session was 30 minutes long. We have the TOP FIVE contenders here:

David Askew, the DXDT Racing owner/driver recorded a best lap of 01:25.673s in his # 63 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. He bested Fred Poordad in the # 20 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R by 0.382 seconds. Third fastest was Kenny Habul in the # 75 SunEnergy Racing Mercedes Evo, followed by the # 1 Squadra Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 of Mark Issa in fourth.

The #14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 of James Sofronas was the only GT4-spec car to turn laps in the session, slotting fifth overall.

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The # 63 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo

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David Askew

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The real practices for the GTWC will begin on Friday with all drivers able to participate. Next up, the IndyCars will hold their practice this afternoon, to be followed later with qualifying for Race 1.

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[MarkyS]

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Thursday afternoon at Indianapolis - the IndyCars hold their practice…

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The IndyCars got their one and only practice session in before qualifying this afternoon for Friday’s Race 1 of the double-header weekend.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCars P-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Alex Palou [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Team Goh - time of 01:10.1777s for a speed of 125.117mph

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2 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing - time of 01:10.2773s for a speed of 124.939mph

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3 - Colton Herta, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner - time of 01:10.3857s for a speed of 124.747mph

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4 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:10.4328s for a speed of 124.664mph

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5 - Max Chilton, Carlin - time of 01:10.4636s for a speed of 124.609mph

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6 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
7 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
8 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP
9 - Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing
10 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske

11 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta
12 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
13 - Rinus VeeKay [R], Ed Carpenter Racing
14 - Will Power, Team Penske
15 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport
16 - Santino Ferrucci, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan
17 - Dalton Kellett [R], AJ Foyt Enterprises
18 - Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing
19 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
20 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

21 - Charlie Kimball, AJ Foyt Enterprises
22 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises
23 - Helio Castroneves, Arrow McLaren SP
24 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport
25 - Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

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Notable:

• Max Chilton was TOP DAWG for most of the session, but things always happen quickly at the end of a session. With about 11 minutes to go the order was Max, followed by Felix Rosenqvist followed by Josef Newgarden followed by Alexander Rossi followed by Jack Harvey.

• In those 11 minutes Alex Palou went from P11 to P1. Colton Herta went from P13 to P3. Scott Dixon went from P14 to P4. Graham Rahal went from P16 to P7.

• In those 11 minutes Max fell from P1 to P5 (still excellent), Felix fell from P2 to P10, Josef fell from P3 to P6 (a minor drop) and Alexander went from P4 down to P12. Of the original TOP FIVE only Jack Harvey actually improved, going to P2.

• Aiding Rossi’s drop was the fact that he and Will Power got together with a minor bump in Turn 7, spinning Power and slowing Rossi.

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Alex Palou - TOPS of the session

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The IndyCars will come back on track this afternoon to qualify for Race 1, to be run on Friday.

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[MarkyS]

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Thursday afternoon at Indianapolis - The IndyCars are qualified for Race 1…

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The procedure for qualifying is fairly simple: The field of 25 is split into 2 groups, the first 12 strong, the second 13 strong. Each group goes out for 12 minutes and each car sets their fastest lap possible. The guy who turns in the fastest lap of all from both groups is on the pole, while everyone else in his group will occupy the odd-numbered slots behind him, based on speed. The fastest guy from the other group will start P2 while everyone else in his group will occupy the even-numbered slots behind him, based on speed. Simple!

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Here is the way the IndyCars will grid for Race 1, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Rinus VeeKay [R], Ed Carpenter Racing - time of 01:09.6903s for a speed of 125.992mph

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P2 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske - time of 01:10.4706s for a speed of 124.597mph

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Row 2

P3 - Colton Herta, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner - time of 01:09.7048s for a speed of 125.966mph

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P4 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:10.5686s for a speed of 124.424mph

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Row 3

P5 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta - time of 01:09.7140s for a speed of 125.949mph

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P6 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing - time of 01:10.6234s for a speed of 124.280mph

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Row 4

P7 - Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing
P8 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport

Row 5

P9 - Max Chilton, Carlin
P10 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP

Row 6

P11 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P12 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing

Row 7

P13 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport
P14 - Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing

Row 8

P15 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
P16 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises

Row 9

P17 - Alex Palou [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Team Goh
P18 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport

Row 10

P19 - Helio Castroneves, Arrow McLaren SP
P20 - Santino Ferrucci, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan

Row 11

P21 - Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
P22 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske

Row 12

P23 - Charlie Kimball, AJ Foyt Enterprises
P24 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Row 13

P25 - Dalton Kellett [R], AJ Foyt Enterprises

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Notable:

• This is VeeKay’s first IndyCar pole and it comes in his rookie season as an IndyCar driver. He was in Group 2.

• Group 1 had a tougher time, as Takuma Sato spun into the gravel trap at Turn 4, bringing out a red flag that ended the session with 4 minutes left to run. That means all the drivers in Group 1 had no chance to put in their last-minute red option-tire flyer laps and had to use their early-session primary-tire times. Sato lost his best lap up to that point and will start P24.

• The lack of time on the reds really hurt points-leader Scott Dixon who was P6 in his group when the red flag fell, stopping the session, and helped his championship rival Josef Newgarden, who was P1 at the time. The only good thing about it is that Group 1 cars will have another set of unused reds for the race.

• Rinus was the first guy in Group 2 to go out on the reds in the last 4 minutes and he was able to set the time and hold it for the remainder of the session, despite all efforts to knock him off.

• The track temperature was the lowest for an Indianapolis GP qualifying ever, with ambient temperatures in the high 50s. That made getting tires up to temperature tougher. In addition, the sun was setting in the eyes of all drivers in both groups, making their task tougher.

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Rinus VeeKay

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The 85-lap race is scheduled for broadcast on the USA Network starting at 3:30pm EASTERN time on Friday.

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[MarkyS]

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Friday at Indianapolis - The GT World Challenge practice

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There were two practice sessions today for the Indianapolis 8 Hour to be held on Sunday. The first was a paid test session but the second was a free practice and we have some of the results here:

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Coming in P1 in the free practice was Jules Gounon in the # 7 Bentley Continental GT3 for K-PAX Racing with a time of 01:23.300s for a speed of 169.62mph. Jules bested IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe in the # 6 Ferrari 488 GT3 for Vital Speed, by 0.290 seconds. Third fastest was IndyCar driver Connor De Phillippe in the # 34 BMW M6 GT3 for Walkenhorst Motorsport.

Jules shares the Bentley with team regular Maxime Soulet and Jordan Pepper while Ryan shares the Ferrari with regulars Trevor Baek and Jeff Westphal. Connor’s co-drivers are regulars Nicky Catsburg and Augusto Farfus.

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P1 in the free practice was the # 7 Bentley Continental for K-PAX Racing.

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P1 Jules Gounon (left), P2 Ryan Briscoe and P3 Connor De Phillippi (right)

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Other IndyCar guys in the field testing today were IndyCar veteran Jan Heylen in the # 20 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 - R that he shares with Max Root and Fred Poordad. Jan came in P6. Also, Indy Lights guys Rob Megennis and Shelby Blackstock are co-drivers in the # 93 Acura NSX GT3 Evo for The Racer’s Edge Motorsports. Shelby is the Silver-class Champion for 2020 already. Those guys watched co-driver Trent Hindman come in P9 this afternoon. Trent is Shelby’s co-Champion.

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Left to right, IndyCar guys Jan Heylen, Rob Megennis and Shelby Blackstock

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Pre-qualifying kicks off Saturday at 8:30am EASTERN time, right before the IndyCars qualify for Race 2. The GTWC will then do qualifying following the IndyCar Race 2.

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Next, the IndyCars do Race 1. The grid for this race is in post # 4.

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[MarkyS]

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Friday afternoon at Indianapolis - Josef Newgarden WINS a passing-clinic race…

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The defending series Champion made a substantial thrust into the big points lead of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon today by retaking the lead of the Harvest GP Race 1 on lap 60 and holding it for Team Penske to the end, crossing the line a very healthy 14 seconds over P2 finisher Alexander Rossi for Andretti Autosport. Rossi was not as excelled, beating P3 finisher Rinus VeeKay for Ed Carpenter Racing by only 0.7 seconds. Dixon could only manager a P9 finish after making an uncharacteristic mistake late in the race.

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Newgarden - first WIN ever at Indianapolis in an IndyCar

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This one had two great things for race fans - LOTS of passing and in dramatic fashion, but no full course cautions to slow down the action, and the action was from the very start, as young pole-sitter Rinus VeeKay and equally-young young lion Colton Herta for Andretti Steinbrenner. battled for several laps to decide who was going to lead. Colton took the lead in some great moves on lap 1 and Rinus responded with great moves of his own, retaking the TOP SPOT on lap 2 and holding it for the next 15 laps, despite pressure from Herta. Newgarden shadowed the two, never out of third place from his P2 start.

Josef finally took the lead on lap 17, but Herta retook it on lap 24. Then is was Newgy’s again on lap 37. Then Colton regained it on lap 45. Then on lap 60 Herta got tremendous pressure from Newgarden as the two entered Turn 1. Herta misjudged the braking and went past the corner, needing to rejoin the track from the escape road and losing the lead for the last time.

Despite the WIN being almost a foregone conclusion with several laps to go, this one was very exciting to watch, as the race had great passing thoughout the rest of the field all the way to the P2 spot. It also had several penalties that affected the outcome. One was given to Alexander Rossi while passing Will Power for Team Penske - exceeding track limits - which required he give back the position. Rossi quickly went to work on Power and retook the lost position, but it cost him time and Push-to-Pass to do it. At the end of the race Rossi was still quite angry for the penalty and reckoned it cost him a shot at the WIN.

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Notable:

• Points-leader Scott Dixon had great moments and bad moments. Great moves got him all the way from his P12 start to as high as P5 at one point but with just 2 laps to go, Dixon was running seventh, but pressure from Graham Rahal for Rahal Letterman Lanigan forced an error. Dixon went off course in Turn 7 and lost two positions, finishing ninth.

• The only thing close to causing a yellow was when Santino Ferrucci for Dale Coyne and Ryan Hunter-Reay for Andretti Autosport came together, spinning both cars, but both were able to proceed without assistance or penalty.

• The WIN gets Newgarden 32 points closer to Dixon who now leads 478 to 438 for the Tennessee native.

• The only other WIN that Newgarden has at Indy was as an Indy Lights driver.

• This was also best finish ever on the Road Course for Rossi and the best finish anywhere as an IndyCar driver for VeeKay.

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Your happy podium - That’s Alexander Rossi on the left in P2, Josef Newgarden in the middle in P1 and Rinus VeeKay in P3 on the right - It’s the best IMS Road Course finish ever for all three drivers.

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The IndyCars will qualify for Race 2 on Saturday morning and then run the shorter 75-lap race in the afternoon.

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[MarkyS]

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IndyCar has released a highlight reel from Race 1…

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INDYCAR Harvest GP Race 1 Highlights

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It will be hard to top this one for unending action.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday morning at Indianapolis - The IndyCars are qualified for Race 2…

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The format was the same as yesterday’s qualifying: The field of 25 is split into 2 groups, the first today is 13 strong, the second 12 strong. Each group goes out for 12 minutes and each car sets their fastest lap possible. The guy who turns in the fastest lap of all from both groups is on the pole, while everyone else in his group will occupy the odd-numbered slots behind him, based on speed. The fastest guy from the other group will start P2 while everyone else in his group will occupy the even-numbered slots behind him, based on speed.

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Here is the way the IndyCars will grid for Race 2, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:08.9767s

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P2 - Colton Herta, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner - time of 01:09.1017s

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Row 2

P3 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:09.2315s

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P4 - Alex Palou [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Team Goh - time of 01:09.1580s

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Row 3

P5 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP - time of 01:09.2477s

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P6 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:.09.1760s

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Row 4

P7 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing
P8 - Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing

Row 5

P9 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
P10 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Row 6

P11 - Santino Ferrucci, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan
P12 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta

Row 7

P13 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport
P14 - Rinus VeeKay [R], Ed Carpenter Racing

Row 8

P15 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
P16 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Row 9

P17 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P18 - Max Chilton, Carlin

Row 10

P19 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske
P20 - Helio Castroneves, Arrow McLaren SP

Row 11

P21 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises
P22 - Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

Row 12

P23 - Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing
P24 - Charlie Kimball, AJ Foyt Enterprises

Row 13

P25 - Dalton Kellett [R], AJ Foyt Enterprises

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Notable:

• This is Will Power’s 61st pole. He was the only guy to break into the 1:08s.

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Will Power

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The race is scheduled for broadcast on NBC starting at 2:30pm EASTERN time.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday afternoon at Indianapolis - The IndyCars Hold Race 2 of the weekend…

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…and a familiar name WINS for the 4th time on the course as Will Power for Team Penske led from pole to checkers. Making the last 15 minutes of the race terrifying for him was Colton Herta for Andretti Steinbrenner who was constantly in his mirrors, but ultimately unable to pass the Aussie. 3rd place went to Alexander Rossi for Andretti Autosport in his 4th podium appearance in a row.

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Starting from his 61st pole, Power led every single lap of the race, including during pit stops, as the 75-lap format had everyone pitting at almost the same time, except for Ryan Hunter-Reay for Andretti Autosport and Helio Castroneves for Arrow McLaren SP who both tried a failed 3-stop strategy. The absence of cautions also had an effect, making it a fast race.

The first challenge to Power was made by Alexander Rossi who passed Colton Herta fairly early and then went after Will. Rossi got within a half a second of the Team Penske veteran but ultimately had to yield P2 back to Herta. The youngster also pulled as close as half a second to the leader but faded to 0.8 seconds back at the last lap.

Power was simply not to be denied .

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Notable:

• This is Will’s 39th career IndyCar victory, tying him with Al Unser on the all-time list in 5th place. Power was awed to be in that company, as Unser was a hero to Power growing up in Toowoomba, Australia.

• Coming in P4 was yesterday’s race WINNER Josef Newgarden while title rival Scott Dixon was only able to get to P8 from a P15 start. That kept the championship alive, to be decided in the final race at St. Petersburg. This is the 15th year in a row that the last race was the decider - and this without the usual double points awarded for the finale.

• Dixon’s Honda suffered some damage to the floor near the sidepod in an incident with Ryan Hunter-Reay but it was not enough to hinder him.

• The biggest mover on the day was Simon Pagenaud for Team Penske who went from a P19 start to a P10 finish.

• Finishing P5 was Pato O’Ward for Arrow McLaren SP and that helped to keep him in the TOP FIVE in series points.

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Your happy podium - That’s Colton Herta in P2 on the left, Will Power in P1 inthe middle and Alexander Rossi in P3 on the right:

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With these results here are the TOP FIVE in points leaving Indianapolis:

1 Scott Dixon - 502

2 Josef Newgarden - 470

3 Colton Herta - 401

4 Will Power - 388

5 Pato O’Ward - 376

But, going to St. Petersburg, there are only two guys left in the chase and Newgarden will have to be perfect, whereas Dixon will only need to do as well as P8 to take his 6th title.

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The season finale will be on October 25th, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday afternoon at Indianapolis - The pole is set for the Indianapolis 8 Hour…

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The joint GT World Challenge / Intercontinental GT Challenge Indianapolis 8 Hour will start on Sunday morning with an IndyCar guy leading the charge as Indy Pro 2000 ace Connor De Phillippe took pole this afternoon in the ten-car shoot-out for pole, following this morning’s qualifying session.

Connor set a time of 01:23.318s for a speed of 169.59mph to take pole in the # 34 BMW M6 GT3 that he will share with Nicky Catsburg and Augusto Farfus, driving for Walkenhorst Motorsport. De Phillippi is a race WINNING driver in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, driving a BMW M8 GTE for BMW Team RLL in the GTLM class.

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On the pole for the 8 Hour, the Walkenhorst BMW M6 GT3…

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…thanks to IndyCar driver Connor De Phillippi

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Initially, P2 went to K-PAX Racing’s # 7 Bentley Continental GT3, but the car was found to have its GPS transponder in the wrong place, despite warnings in the past, and was penalized, now to start in P10. The Bentley is driven by Jordan Pepper, Maxime Soulet and Jules Gounon.

Now, the P2 starting car will be the # 30 Acura NSX GT3 Evo for Team Honda Racing, driven by Mario Farnbacher, Dane Cameron and Renger van der Zande.

Starting P3 will be the 2nd Walkenhorst BMW M6 GT3, the # 35 driven by Martin Tomczyk, Nicholas Yelloly and David Pittard.

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CBS Sports Network will carry coverage of the Indianapolis 8 Hour from 12-2pm EASTERN time and 4:30-6:30pm, with the entire race streamed live on SRO’s GT World YouTube page (GTWorld - YouTube) beginning at 10am. EEASTERN time.

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IndyCar has released Race 2 highlights…

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INDYCAR Harvest GP Race 2 Highlights

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On to the season finale!

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[MarkyS]

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Sunday at Indianapolis - the Indianapolis 8 Hour comes off wonderfully…

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The longest endurance race ever at Indianapolis was waged today on the Road Course, as the SRO GT World Challenge and the Intercontinental GT Challenge held a great, new race - an 8-hour enduro that was the season finale for the GTWC and the 2nd event for the IGTC season.

At the end the WINNING car overall was the car on the pole at the start of the race - but with a lot of drama in the intervening 8 hours - the # 34 BMW M6 GT3 for Walkenhorst Motorsport, driven by regulars Augusto Farfus and Nicky Catsburg and enduarance add Connor De Phillippi - a Road to Indy ace and a member of the BMW Team RLL squad in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It was Connor who had put the car on pole on Saturday.

P2 at the end was the sister car for Walkenhorst, the # 35 BMW driven by Nick Yelloly, Martin Tonczyk and David Pittard, making for a 1-2 sweep for the mark. P3 was the # 30 Acura NSX GT3 Evo for JAS Motorsport driven by IMSA stalwarts Renger van der Zande, Dane Cameron and Mario Farnbacher.

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At the bricks - left to right, Connor De Phillippi, Nicky Catsburg and Augusto Farfus

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The race started and it literally started raining when the flag fell. Soon the track was getting drenched and the decision as to when to go for rain tires was happening throughout the entire 22-car field of both GT3 and GT4-class cars. One car gamely staying on slicks was the # 7 K-PAX Racing Bentley Continental GT3 of Jordan Pepper, who led for the much of the first two hours of the contest. Even he had to resort to rain tires, eventually. The rain caused a number of incidents that made the day all the more dramatic, but it ceased in the 2nd hour and the track dried, eventually.

The leading Bentley was eventually a victim of coming together with a GT4 car that put it out of the race, until repairs could be effected many laps down. That left the BMWs in the lead and the two cars battled each other and the Acura to the end. with the # 34 victorious by 41 seconds over the # 35 and 1 lap over the # 30.

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In the GT4 class the WINNERS were once again BMW, as the # 82 M4 GT4 for Bimmerworld Racing WON in the very capable hands of James Clay, Chandler Hull and closer and BMW legend Bill Auberlen.

Coming in P2 in class was another Bimmer, the # 438 M4 GT4 for ST Racing, driven by Nick Wittmer, Samantha Tan and Jon Miller. P3 was the # 2 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS MR for GMG Racing, driven by Andrew Davis, Jason Bell and Robin Liddell.

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The Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4 of Bill Auberlen, James Clay and Chandler Hull

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Notable:

• Many laps down, the # 7 Bentley did earn a crucial single point, keeping it 1 point in the lead of the IGTC championship, over the # 34 BMW crew as they head for the Total 24 Hours of Spa, Intercontinental GT Challenge, in late October.

• When the # 30 Acura made its penultimate pit stop it was unable to start its engine due to an electrical gremlin that kept the car in gear. By the time they were able to get going, they were a lap down and that made the world safer for the two BMWs in the lead.

• The # 20 Porsche 911 GT3-R for Wright Motorsports WON the Silver class today, but they were the only entrant, making it easier for Fred Poordad, Max Root and IndyCar veteran Jan Heylen, but Heylen didn’t let that slow him, and he put in the 2nd fastest lap of the event, with Nicky Catsburg putting in the Fastest Lap in the WINNING car.

• Trent Hindman and Indy Lights drivers Rob Megennis and Shelby Blackstock suffered two flat tires in the race and finished 7th in the # 93 Racer’s Edge Acura NSX GT3 Evo, but that was enough to earn Acura the manufacturer’s title, Racer’s Edge the team title and Trent and Shelby took the 2020 OVERALL driver’s title, as well as the Silver class title for GT World Challenge.

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Shelby Blackstock (left) and Trent Hindman - 2020 series Champs!!

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A HUGE congrats to IndyCar guys Connor De Phillippi and Shelby Balckstock for their WIN and Championship, respectively. Proud of you both!!!

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Race WINNER Connor De Phillippi, (left) and Series Champion Shelby Blackstock

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That’s it for the SRO GT World Challenge for 2020, but the Intercontinental GT Challenge goes on as they will do round 3, the Total 24 Hours of Spa, in Belgium, October 22-25.

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