IndyCars - Texas: A double dose of Super Speedway racing

[MarkyS]

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For the third weekend in a row the IndyCars will be hot at it and this time we get TWO races from one venue as we do…

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The Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway

…followed by…

The XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway

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The 1-and-a-half mile oval has produced some of the most exciting oval races in IndyCar history and this weekend we get two races - one at night and one in the daylight. Texas Motor Speedway features 20 degrees of banking in Turns 1 and 2 and 24 degrees of banking in Turns 3 and 4, with a track surface 60 feet wide, at a minimum.
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While the weekend will have 690 miles of IndyCar racing, that is all it will have, as there will be no support racing and the weekend will be very quickly dealt out. On Saturday the IndyCars will hold their one and only practice midday, followed by qualifying for both races in the afternoon, followed by the Genesys 300 in the evening. On Sunday afternoon we will get the XPEL 375.

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The big news for IndyCar fans is that Tony Kanaan is returning to competition, as he steps into the # 48 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, subbing for Jimmie Johnson, who will not be doing the ovals in 2021. Johnson hand-picked the Brazilian to drive the car and Chip Ganassi was happy to oblige.

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TK (left) in for Jimmie

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At the same time, Conor Daly will be driving the # 59 Gallagher Chevrolet for Carlin’s Max Chilton, who only does the Indy 500 oval, and Pietro Fittipaldi will be driving for rookie Romain Grosjean in the # 51 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing, as Romain similarly will not be doing ovals in 2021.

Conor Daly (left) and Pietro Fittipaldi - super-subs

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Lastly, this will be Team Penske rookie Scott McLaughlin’s first oval races.

Scott McLaughlin

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Qualifying on Saturday for the 24 entrants will be for both races with the quick method devised in 2020 for oval double-headers:

Qualifying will consist of one warm-up lap followed by two hot laps. Each driver’s first hot lap of qualifying will set the grid for Saturday’s race - the 212-lap Genesys 300 - and the second hot lap will set the grid for Sunday’s 248-lap XPel 375.

Between qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday, the cars will be impounded, meaning that all teams and drivers will be setting their qualifying times in race trim, as whatever is on the car is what they will start with. This will help the guys will less oval experience do qualifying, as cars will not be trimmed out for ultimate speed for two laps, but rather will have the race-pace downforce on them.

BOTH races will be broadcast LIVE on NBC-SN.

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Let’s GO!!

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M

[GrandWazoo]

Marky are you going to be there?

[Ex-Pat]

Just learned the other day that IndyCar gets its name from “independent” not Indiana or Indianapolis. Apparently they used to be owned by NASCAR but got their “independence” years ago. Lots of internal battles. NASCAR didn’t treat them well at all. Really interesting stuff.

[MarkyS]

No, GW.

I’m working on the East coast. Been there many times in the past, however.

[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway - the weather takes a hand…

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…as the rains came in early on the day and spoiled the plans for the series. Not to worry, the cars finally got in a 1-hour practice session, but with a time crunch, there will be no qualifying as the series will go with the current points totals to grid both races.

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 - Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 00:23.5451s for a speed of 220.173mph

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2 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP - time of 00:23.5707s for a speed of 219.934mph

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3 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan - time of 00:23.5778s for a speed of 219.868mph

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4 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 00:23.5933s for a speed of 219.723mph

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5 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske - time of 00:23.5950s for a speed of 219.708mph

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6 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
7 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP
8 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
9 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport
10 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

11 - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
12 - Conor Daly, Carlin
13 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
14 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport
15 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing
16 - Will Power, Team Penske
17 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport
18 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing
19 - Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing
20 - Scott McLaughlin [R], Team Penske

21 - Ed Jones, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan
22 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises
23 - Dalton Kellett, AJ Foyt Enterprises
24 - Pietro Fittipaldi, Dale Coyne w/ Rick Ware Racing

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Notable:

• Tony Kanaan is a master of super speedways and he proved that here, with the TOP TIME and the only one to crack the 220 miles per hour threshold. What a great return to competition for the 46-year-old. Too bad they aren’t qualifying, as with Jimmie Johnson’s points, Tony will start from the back row in 23rd, but expect him to charge forward. His rivals also know there is virtually no reason for Tony to be too careful. He has nothing to lose.

• Chip Ganassi has to be pumped to have all four cars in the TOP ELEVEN, but Arrow McLaren has both cars in the TOP SEVEN and Rahal Letterman Lanigan has both cars in the TOP TEN.

• Alex Palou will start from pole by virtue of leading the points, and he almost made the TOP TEN on speed, anyway. In his first IndyCar oval race here in 2020, he crashed out early, so he lacks the experience to keep the lead. Expect a lot of attempts to set him back, early on.

• The entire field was covered by less than a second in time difference.

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Tony Kanaan - has nothing to prove and nothing to lose

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M

[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway - the starting grid for the Genesys 300…

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As we said, the grids for both weekend races will now be set by the championship entrant points situation, so…

Here is the way the IndyCars will grid for the Genesys 300: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

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P2 - Will Power, Team Penske

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Row 2

P3 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing

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P4 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport

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Row 3

P5 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske

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P6 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing

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Row 4

P7 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises
P8 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing

Row 5

P9 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
P10 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske

Row 6

P11 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP
P12 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Row 7

P13 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P14 - Pietro Fittipaldi, Dale Coyne w/ Rick Ware Racing

Row 8

P15 - Scott McLaughlin [R], Team Penske
P16 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport

Row 9

P17 - Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing
P18 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP

Row 10

P19 - Ed Jones, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan
P20 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport

Row 11

P21 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport
P22 - Dalton Kellett, AJ Foyt Enterprises

Row 12

P23 - Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing
P24 - Conor Daly, Carlin

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Notable:

• Tony Kanaan, Pietro Fittipaldi and Conor Daly are gridded based on the points of the guys they are subbing for - Jimmie Johnson, Romain Grosjean and Max Chilton, respectively.

• Sunday’s XPEL 375 will be gridded either based on the points after tonight’s race or a qually session, if one is put in on Sunday, though there are currently no announced plans to run one.

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The race is scheduled for broadcast on NBC-SN starting at 7:00pm EASTERN time, but be aware that the rain is still a threat.

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M

[MarkyS]

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Saturday evening at Texas Motor Speedway - The Genesys 300…

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…was WON by now-five-time TMS WINNER Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi Racing from a P3 start. Coming in P2 in his first IndyCar oval race was fellow Kiwi Scott McLaughlin for Team Penske from his P15 start, while P3 went to Pato O’Ward for Arrow McLaren SP from his P11 start.

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Dixon took over the lead of the race very early, passing first Will Power for Team Penske and then pole-sitter Alex Palou for Chip Ganassi and was the leader for the rest of the contest. Early on the movers were Takuma Sato for Rahal Letterman Lanigan and Tony Kanaan for Chip Ganassi, as both made up three spots on passing.

As the first group of pit stops were happening the first caution came out as Josef Newgarden for Team Penske tapped the rear of Sebastien Bourdais for AJ Foyt, spinning him into the wall. Sebastien had checked up to avoid hitting a quickly slowing Colton Herta for Andretti Herta but Newgarden was caught off guard. He was penalized for avoidable contact and Bourdais was out of the race.

Because of the timing of the caution drivers who had not yet pitted were gifted with big moves to the front of the pack, as they were pitting under yellow and didn’t lose a lap. Scott McLaughlin was one of those.

O’Ward was different, getting much of his movement from his P11 start with a strategy of pitting very early on his 2nd stint, allowing him to run in clean air for a time and then to pass guys with much worse tires than his.

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NTT INDYCAR SERIES

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Notable:

• Dixon’s WIN was the first back-to-back WIN by any driver at TMS, as he also took the six-shooters in 2020. He is now only one WIN away from tying with Mario Andretti on the all-time WIN list and is now leading the points in 2021.

• Biggest mover was McLaughlin, gaining 13 spots over the race, with many due to the first yellow. Second biggest mover was Tony Kanaan for Chip Ganassi Racing who gained 12 spots - most of them legitimate passes on track.

• Pole sitter Alex Palou was eaten up by Dixon very early but still managed to hang with the front pack and finished in P4 with Graham Rahal in P5 from his P13 start.

• The XPEL 375 on Sunday will grid based on the series points, so the race results tonight did affect the grid, which is essentially a reflection of series points at the moment. Points leader Scott Dixon will be on pole.

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P2 Scott McLaughlin (left) and P3 Pato O’Ward

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M

[MarkyS]

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The grid for the XPEL 375 on Sunday was set on Saturday…

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…after the end of the Genesys 300, which affected the series points - the basis for the grid. With his WIN, new series points leader Scott Dixon will be on pole on Sunday.

Here is the way the IndyCars will grid for the XPEL 375: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing

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P2 - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

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Row 2

P3 - Will Power, Team Penske

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P4 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP

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Row 3

P5 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing

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P6 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske

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Row 4

P7 - Scott McLaughlin [R], Team Penske
P8 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske

Row 5

P9 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P10 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport

Row 6

P11 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P12 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing

Row 7

P13 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
P14 - Sebastien Bourdais, AJ Foyt Enterprises

Row 8

P15 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
P16 - Pietro Fittipaldi, Dale Coyne w/ Rick Ware Racing

Row 9

P17 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP
P18 - Ed Jones, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan

Row 10

P19 - Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing
P20 - Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing

Row 11

P21 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport
P22 - James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport

Row 12

P23 - Dalton Kellett, AJ Foyt Enterprises
P24 - Conor Daly, Carlin

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The race is scheduled for broadcast LIVE on Sunday on NBC-SN starting at 5:00pm EASTERN time. The possibility of delay due to weather exists.

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M

[MarkyS]

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Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway - A new name in the series WIN column…

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…as Sophomore Pato O’Ward in the # 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet WINS the XPEL 375. Adding to Chevy’s day was P2 Josef Newgarden for Team Penske while Honda showed up on the podium, too, thanks to Graham Rahal for Rahal Letterman Lannigan.

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The race started with a HUGE schlemozzle, as six of the cars from the tail of the field collided, scattering parts and pieces in all directions and overturning Conor Daly for Carlin onto the roll hoop, until the grass flipped him back on his wheels. Also collected in the crash were Sebastien Bourdais and Dalton Kellet for AJ Foyt, Pietro Fittipaldi and Ed Jones for Dale Coyne and Alexander Rossi for Andretti Autosport - all immediately out. Also damaged was James Hinchcliffe for Andretti, who retired later and Tony Kanaan for Chip Ganassi, who was quickly repaired and returned to service, 3 laps in arrears.

It started when Pietro rear-ended Sebastien, sending him spinning into Rossi, but the blame may actually be on pole-sitter Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi for the way he led the field to the green, as the rear cars all had to check up after accelerating and Pietro was unable to avoid hitting Sebastien. Everyone walked away unharmed.

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The first lap shunt:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

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Once the race was underway on lap 20 it was apparent that there were two chargers in the field near the front, as Jack Harvey for Meyer Shank Racing and Pato O’Ward were trying to and/or succeeeding in passing in dangerous territory. Harvey eventually lost his right rear wheel bearing and had to retire. While Scott Dixon led most of the race he lost it finally at the final pit stops, with Newgarden taking over for a few laps, until a caution for Felix Rosenqvist for AMSP allowed Takuma Sato for RLL to lead for 12 laps. Sato needed fuel and pitted from the lead. Newgarden then took over again with Graham Rahal in P2 and Pato in 3rd, with 46 laps left to do.

O’Ward soon passed Graham and shadowed Josef. His strategist asked him to keep in touch with Josef but not pass him just yet, but the young Mexican was unable to stay behind in P2 and overtook Josef on lap 226, with 22 laps to go. He then made it clear he was going to go on to the WIN by opening up a gap sufficient to see it inevitable.

A great race with drama from the start and a lot of lead changes. There was lots of passing on a track that has become very difficult to pass on. All it required was insanity and nerves of steel.

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Notable:

• Pato becomes the 4th different driver in 4 races to WIN in 2021 and is now 2nd in the title hunt due to his season pole, a P4, a P3 and this WIN.

• Pato’s teammate Felix Rosenqvist was a huge mover, starting P17 and rising as high as P7 before a bad rear wheel nut ended his day, allowing his wheel to leave him after a release from his pit. He caused the last caution and ended up P16.

• Scott Dixon finished in P4 and Cotlon Herta finished in P5 so they keep well into the points with Scott leading and Colton in 7th.

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

1 - Scott Dixon, 153
2 - Patricio O’Ward, 131
3 - Alex Palou, 127
4 - Josef Newgarden, 116
5 - Graham Rahal, 107

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Next up for the IndyCars is a weekend off and then the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Road Course, May 15th, with full support from the 3 Road to Indy series.

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M

[GrandWazoo]

Great weekend at TMS. On Saturday we had our regular seats at the end of pit road.
I kept expecting Palou and O’Ward to start a two car draft to catch Dixon, but it didn’t happen.
Scott McLaughin got lucky but showed that he could stay with Dixon at the end.

On Sunday we checked out the new Busch Restart Zone. Here are some pics.

View down the front stretch.

View of the restart zone.

Coming around turn 4 for the start of the race.

Tickets are about double as a regular seat. However it has great views and is limited to 309 people.
The food and sodas and water are free. And the food was very good. They have a credit card full bar.
And the race was a lot more interesting then the day before. On the way out my wife told me that we will be hanging out at the restart zone for future races.