IndyCars - Indianapolis: The one time of the year that a right turn is possible and necessary

The Sports Roundtable and Bar
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Spotter’s Guide - Changes in livery since the Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber…(part 2)…

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Charlie Kimball is always in the green and black Tresiba car, but for the GP of Indy he jumps into the Fiasp car of yellow, black and white:

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Alexander Rossi was in the Kerauno / Military to Motorsports car at Barber, red and blue, but he jumps into the NAPA car for the month of may - Yellow and blue:

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It was Rene Binder in the # 32 car for Juncos at Barber, but it will be Kyle Kaiser in the car at the GP of Indy. The only difference is that instead of “Binderholz” on the side it will just say “Juncos”. The colors are the same.

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Marco Andretti drove the Kerauno car of silver and red at Birmingham but returns to the US Concrete car for the GP of Indianapolis - same colors but different logos

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Saturday morning at Indy - The Indy Lights qualify for their Race 2 of the weekend…

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First guys on track today were the Lights, needing to qualify their cars for their last race of the weekend, to be held later today.

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Here is the way Indy Lights will grid for Season Round 6, with times for all: [R] denotes rookie

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1- Pato O’Ward [R], Andretti Autosport - time of 01:15.8647s for a speed of 115.738mph

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2 - Colton Herta, Andretti Steinbrenner - time of 01:15.8654s for a speed of 115.737mph

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3 - Santiago Urrutia, Belardi Auto Racing - time of 01:15.9253s for a speed of 115.645mph

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4 - Aaron Telitz, Belardi Auto Racing - time of 01:16.0000s for a speed of 115.532mph

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5 - Ryan Norman, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:16.0625s for a speed of 115.437mph

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6 - Victor Franzoni [R], Juncos Racing - time of 01:16.1413s for a speed of 115.317mph

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7 - Dalton Kellett, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:16.3958s for a speed of 114.933mph

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Notable:

  • This is Pato’s 2nd pole of the weekend and 3rd of the year.

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The Lights will race following the IndyCar warm-up, later this morning. Next up USF2000 hold their 2nd race of the weekend. the grid for this race is in post # 10…

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Saturday morning at Indy - USF2000 hold Season Round 4…

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…And like yesterday’s race, Alex Baron for Swan / RJB Motorsports made it a thriller to the end. The WINNER was Kyle Kirkwood for Cape Motorsports with Baron slotting in P2. P3 was Swedish multi-champion karter Rasmus Lindh in his first USF2000 podium for Pabst Racing.
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At the start pole-sitter Kirkwood began to motor off immediately and created a gap to the filed within a few turns, that would widen with each lap, as yesterday’s P3, Jose Sierra for DEForce, pitted for a mechanical and DNF’d. On lap 2 Alex would take P2 from Lucas Kohl for Pabst Racing in Turn 1 and Jamie Caroline for BN Racing followed him through for P3. On lap 3 Caroline and Baron would touch in Turn 7, spinning Baron off course. He would rejoin dead last, in P25. Meanwhile Zach Holden for DEForce began to make passes through the filed until by lap 10 he was P3 from his P7 start, battling with Jamie for P2.

But then, contact in Turn 1 took Holden out. Moments later Caroline and Kaylen Frederick for Pabst Racing collided in Turn 4, with Jamie taken out, bringing out a full-course caution. This aided Baron, who was already marching through the field, as it bunched up the leaders. On the lap 12 restart it was Kyle, followed by Rasmus, Darren Keane for Newman Wachs, James Roe for Swan / RJB, and Kory Enders for DEForce making up the TOP FIVE. Baron was all the way up to P9. Alex immediately took P8 and P7. One lap later he was in P6. Then he passed Kory for P5, James for P4 and Darren for P3.

On lap 17 Michael D’Orlando for Team Benik went off in Turn 4, bringing out another FC caution. That created what would be a last-lap dash and a last chance for Baron. Coming to the restart Bruna Tomaselli for Team Pelfrey was speared hard in the back, throwing wings and parts in all directions in Turn 12. The race went green - long enough for Baron to nip Lindh in Turn 1 for P2 - but then it went yellow again for the Tomaselli shunt and thus ended under yellow, without a chance for Baron to get Kirkwood.

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Here is your happy podium - That’s Alex Baron in P2 on the left, Kyle Kirkwood in P1 in the m9iddle and Rasmus lindh in P3 on the right:

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Following this weekend here are the TOP FIVE in series points leaving the GP:

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1 - Kyle Kirkwood 106
2 - Alex Baron 93
3 - Jose Sierra 64
4 - Igor Fraga 55
5 - Darren Keane 51

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.The next outing for USF2000 will be Round 5 at the .6-mile oval at Lucas Oil Raceway - the only oval of the year for the series - on May 25th - Carb Day at Indianapolis. Next up, Pro Mazda hold Season Round 6. The grid for this race is in Post # 11…

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Saturday morning at Indy - Pro Mazda hold Season Round 6…

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…and the WINNER was Canadian Parker Thompson driving for Canadian team Exclusive Autosport - known as the “Eh team” in the paddock. P2 was Carlos Cunha for Juncos and P3 was Sting Ray Robb for Team Pelfrey in his career best finish.

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The start of the race was quite eventful. As pole-sitter Oliver Askew for Cape Motorsports led the field up the front straight, P2 Harrison Scott for RP Motorsport Racing and P3 David Malukas for BN Racing slapped each other going up the straight and slowed enough for P5 Rinus VeeKay for Juncos Racing to climb over the back of them and go airborne. He was a DNF before even starting through Turn 1. As Scott and Malukas snaked around, Juncos teammates Carlos Cunha and Rob Megennis stole P2 and P3 before they hit Turn 1 but then collided in Turn 2, leaving Rob in the gravel. That left Askew in P1, Carlos in P2 from a P7 start and Parker Thompson in P3 from a P6 start. A Full-Course caution to retrieve VeeKay and Megennis ensued.

After Rob was extracted, the race restarted on lap 5 and Carlos took Oliver in Turn 1 for P1. Askew in fact dropped to P4 and in his attempt to regain spots pushed Lodovico Laurini for RP Motorsport off track in Turn 12. Oliver was issued a drive-through penalty as a result and he dropped to P11. On lap 8 Harrison took Parker for P2 in Turn 1 and went after Carlos. But three laps later Harrison was slowing on the front straight with an electrical failure. He was a DNF and brought out another FC caution.

On the lap 13 restart the guy on the move was David Malukas who went around Kris Wright for BN Racing for P5, then Sting Ray Robb for P4. On lap 16 Parker took the lead in Turn 1 from Carlos and shortly thereafter David went off in Turn 8 trying to get P3 from Andres Gutierrez for Team Pelfrey. For the remaining laps Parker led away, gapping the field. On the final lap Sting Ray was able to get P3 from Andres. Oliver Askew, recovering from his penalty, also sneaked past him for P4.

A very exciting race with passing throughout.

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Notable:

  • Despite the DNF today, Rinus Van Kalmthout has been doing well enough this season to still retain 2nd in the points.

  • By keeping his nose clean and avoiding contact, gentleman racer Charles Finelli was able to secure P7 from his P14 start - his best finish ever in the Mazda Road to Indy. Charles races for Fat Boy Racing! purely for the fun of it and because he can afford to.

Charles Finelli (left) and Rinus VeeKay

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Here is your happy podium - That’s Carlos Cunha in P2 on the left, Parker Thompson in P1 in the middle and String Ray robb in P3 on the right:

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With this weekend’s results here are your TOP FIVE in points leaving the Grand Prix:

1 - Parker Thompson 150
2 - Rinus VeeKay 128
3 - Carlos Cunha 120
4 - Harrison Scott 116
5 - David Malukas 105

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The next outing for Pro Mazda will be Round 7 at the .6-mile oval at Lucas Oil Raceway - one of two ovals on the year for the series - on May 25th, also known as Carb Day at Indianapolis. Next up, the IndyCars hold final practice before today’s race…

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Saturday Morning at Indy - The big cars hold their final practice before the race…

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…and the thing about final practice is that it doesn’t necessarily tell us much. Some teams that are struggling may try throwing the kitchen sink at their cars to see if they improve. Others may be confirming their original set-up. The bottom line is that the teams may change a lot between final practice and the race and they don’t tell anyone what they are doing.

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Here are the results of final practice for the IndyCars, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:10.8157s for a speed of 123.989mph

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2 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:10.8371s for a speed of 123.952mph

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3 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:10.9039s for a speed of 123.835mph

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4 - Jordan King [R], Ed Carpenter Racing - time of 01:10.9150s for a speed of 123.816mph

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5 - Max Chilton, Carlin - time of 01:11.1789s for a speed of 123.357mph

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6 - Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
7 - Zachary Claman DeMelo [R], Dale Coyne Racing
8 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
9 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser/Sullivan
10 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske

11 - Helio Castroneves, Team Penske
12 - Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter Racing
13 - Robert Wickens [R], Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
14 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
15 - Ed Jones, Chip Ganassi Racing
16 - Gabby Chaves, Harding Racing
17 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
18 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
19 - Zach Veach [R], Andretti Autosport
20 - Charlie Kimball, Carlin

21 - James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
22 - Matheus Leist [R], A.J. Foyt Enterprises
23 - Kyle Kaiser [R], Juncos Racing
24 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta

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Scott Dixon - big changes - will they work in the race?

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Next up, the Indy Lights will hold their final race of the weekend. The grid for this event is in post # 22…

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Saturday afternoon - The Indy Lights hold Season Round 6…

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…And Colton Herta for Andretti Steinbrenner SWEEPS the weekend with another WIN. P2 was Aaron Telitz for Belardi Auto Racing while rookie Victor Franzoni for Juncos Racing came home P3.

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On the start pole-sitter Pato O’Ward for Andretti Autosport got through Turn 1 clean but Herta in P2 was pushed wide and fell to P6. By the end of the first lap he would go past Victor to claim P5. On lap 2 Herta made a great move in Turn 1 to take P4 from Aaron, who fell to P6, but Victor got the best of it, going to P3 behind Santi Urrutia for Belardi in P2. On the same lap Santi took Pato for P1 in Turn 7. The two would stay close for the next 20 laps of the race, with Pato just a few lengths off Santi. On lap 7 Herta got by Franzoni and went after the two leaders, chipping away at their lead. By lap 16 all three were nose-to-tail.

On lap 22 Pato, trying to stay out of Herta’s clutches, overcooked it in Turn 1 and flat-spotted his tires dramatically. Colton was by in a flash and into P2. By lap 29 Pato’s tortured tire gave up and he had to pit for a replacement. On lap 32 Santi and Colton sped up the straight and entered Turn 1 virtually side-by-side. Neither would give up the corner and they eventually touched in Turn 2, sending Santi off, as Colton took the lead. Santi would recover, but in P4 as Aaron and then Victor passed him by.

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Notable:

  • Victor Franzoni set Fastest Lap, proving that the rookie is finally getting the hang of the IL-15. He’s now dangerous.

  • Though he finished a lap down and last, Pato is still - barely - in the points lead, because in the small field a last place finish is also a P7 in points.

Pato O’Ward - hanging on

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Here is your happy podium - That’s Aaron Telitz in P2 on the left, Colton Herta in P1 in the middle and Victor Franzoni in P3 on the right:

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Following this result, here are the TOP FIVE in points leaving the Grand Prix:

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1 - Patricio O’Ward 145
2 - Colton Herta 144
3 - Santiago Urrutia 139
4 - Victor Franzoni 119
5 - Ryan Norman 102

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The next event for the Indy Lights is the their biggest race of the year, the Freedom 100, run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on Carb Day in front of a usually great crowd. That will be May 25th, this year. A few extra cars are already entered to pad the field and go for the big one. Next up the IndyCars are ready to race! the grid for this race in in post # 17…

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Racer’s Marshall Pruett interviews the king of the Lights, this weekend, Colton Herta…

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The IndyCar race: Picture Perfect Power…Will Power WINS again at the Grand Prix…

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Simon Pagenaud for Team Penske has WON this race twice and now the fifth-ever Grand Prix of Indianapolis has been won for the third time by Simon’s Team Penske teammate, Will Power, giving the Australian his 33rd career IndyCar victory and the 200th IndyCar victory for Roger Penske. P2 in a great drive to the front was Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi Racing while P3 went to rookie Robert Wickens for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

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The race was one of an all-out assault for about 80% of it, with everyone driving near qualifying speeds, and the leaders and followers largely determined by whatever tire they were using - the alternate reds clearly being the better of the primary blacks, for as long as they lasted, which wasn’t that long. Power led for the first third of the race. Following pit stops Robert Wickens led for a middle stint. Eventually Power took the lead again and then never relinquished it.

The last stint became an all-out effort to save fuel to make it to the end and many cars rolled to a halt just after crossing the start/finish line, empty fuel tanks, but Power was not one of them. His strategy and careful driving gave him a solid WIN even over Scott Dixon, the master of fuel saving while making power.

Dixon had started the race in P18 but was able to make up huge ground in the middle stints by a stop strategy that had him getting clear of other cars and going flat out, instead of mixing it up. By the time the race was in the final stint he simply had more experience that Wickens to extract the most from a car in fuel-save mode, and was able to pass the Canadian and set sail after the Australian.

But Power had the measure of him and Scott was never able to mount a sustained challenge.

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Notable:

  • Fast rookie Jordan King never had a chance. In turn 1 of the first lap Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud touched while side-by-side, launching Pagenaud directly in front of King who speared the Frenchman, spinning him and sending both into the kitty litter, where Jordan was stuck. Pagenaud was able to drive out and rejoin. King went 2 laps down, getting him out and fired.

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Here is your happy podium - That’s Scott Dixon in P2 on the left, Will Power in P1 in the middle and Robert Wickens in P3 on the right:

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With this result here are the TOP TEN in points following the GP of Indy:

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1 - Josef Newgarden 178
2 - Alexander Rossi 176
3 - Sebastien Bourdais 152
4 - Scott Dixon 147
5 - James Hinchcliffe 144
6 - Grahan Rahal 142
7 - Will Power 135
8 - Robert Wickens 133
9 - Ryan Hunter-Reay 125
10 - Marco Andretti 105

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The next race for the IndyCars is the 102nd running of the Indy 500, May 27th. Practice for that event start at the Speedway this week coming,

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Racer magazine’s Robin Miller speaks to Roger Penske on his 200th IndyCar WIN…

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I’m never reading one of your threads after smoking a joint ever again. I just learned a lot about a sport I don’t like. lol

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Racer Magazine’s Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller report on the race from Indy…

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