IndyCars - The off-season: Series news and comment until the March 2014 kick-off

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Today marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna…

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…whom his adversaries say was perhaps the greatest Formula One driver of all time. Ayrton was known for stepping way over the line but then usually hauling it back in just in time. The man is still beloved among racing afficianados, many of whom create some terrific tribute videos to the Brazilian 3-time World Champion who was cut down in his prime at Imola in 1994. This one features Alistair Griffin’s wonderful tribute to racing, “Just Drive”.:

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Ayrton Senna - Beyond Limits

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RIP, Ayrton.

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[MarkyS]

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IMSA is having a great party this weekend…

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…as the SportsCar world comes to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a full slate of racing at all levels, both in prototype and GT racing. At Mid-Ohio this weekend will be all four classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Michelin Pilot Challenge series for GTs and Touring Cars, the IMSA Prototype Challenge series for young lions learning prototype racing and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA series. They are all there for the…

…And a LOT of IndyCar drivers will be there - most alums of various series but a few are current drivers. Let’s see who they are, starting with the DPi class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship:

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• DPi class - IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the # 6 Acura ARX-05 with co-driver and former champion Dane Cameron, for Acura Team Penske.

• IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves will be in the other Acura Team Penske car, the # 7 Acura ARX-05 DPi, with co-driver and former champion Ricky Taylor. These guys are currently 2nd in the points in class.

• Pro Mazda alum Pipo Derani drives the # 31 Whelen Cadillac DPi-V.R. for Action Express with co-driver Felipe Nasr. These guys are currently leading the class in points.

(L to R) Juan Pablo Montoya, Helio Castroneves and Pipo Derani

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• Pro Mazda alum Will Owen will share the Juncos Racing # 50 Cadillac DPI-V.R. with 2017 Indy Lights Champion Kyle Kaiser.

• IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will share the # 55 MazdaRT24-P DPi with Jonathan Bommarito for Mazda Team Joest

(L to R) Will Owen, Kyle Kaiser and Ryan Hunter-Reay

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• Tristan Vautier will drive the # 85 Cadillac DPi-V.R. for JDC-Miller Motorsports, with co-driver Misha Goikhberg.

• GTLM class - Pro Mazda alum Connor de Phillippe drives the # 25 BMW M8 GTE for BMW Team RLL. His co-driver is Tom Blomqvist.

• IndyCar driver Sebastien Bourdais is subbing for Joey Hand in the # 66 Ford GT for Ford Chip Ganassi with co-driver Dirk Mueller.

(L to R) Tristan Vautier, Connor de Phillippe and Sebastien Bourdais

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• The # 67 Ford GT for Ford Chip Ganassi, will be piloted by IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe with co-driver Richard Westbrook.

• GTD class - Scott Hargrove - a Road to Indy ace alum driver - will run with fellow Canadian Zacharie Robichon, driving the # 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R for PFAFF Motorsports.

• IndyCar driver and broadcaster Townsend Bell will drive the # 12 Lexus RCF GT3 for AIM Vasser Sullivan, with co-driver Frankie Montecalvo. These guys are currently 2nd in points in class.

(L to R) Ryan Briscoe, Scott Hargrove and Townsend Bell

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• IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth will be in the sister car, the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for AIM Vasser Sullivan, with co-driver Richard Heistand.

• IndyCar driver Katherine Legge will campaign the # 57 Acura NSX GT3 for Heinricher Racing w / Meyer Shank Racing. Co-driver will be 2-time GTD-class Champ Christina Nielsen.

(L to R) Jack Hawksworth and Katherine Legge

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continued…

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[MarkyS]

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IMSA is having a great party this weekend…(part 2)…

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Next, let’s see the IndyCar folks in the Michelin Pilot Challenge race, the Mid-Ohio 120:
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• Grand Sport class - Road to Indy ace driver and multiple Porsche Cup title-holder Scott Hargrove will pull double duty, as in addition to his drive in the GTD class of the WeatherTech series, he will also drive in the # 13 Porsche Cayman GT4 MR for AWA. His co-driver will be fellow Canadian Orey Fidani.

• USF2000 alum and Porsche Cup champion Jesse Lazare will once again team with fellow Canadian Porsche Cup driver Corey Fergus in the # 69 McLaren GT4 for Motorsports In Action. These guys are 2nd in the points.

• Touring Car class - USF2000 driver Russ McDonough will drive the # 12 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for eEuropartsDotCom ROWE Racing. His co-driver will be New Yorker Ryan Nash.

(L to R) Scott Hargrove, Jesse Lazare, Russ McDonough

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• Indy Lights driver Shelby Blackstock will drive the # 37 Honda Civic TCR for LA Honda World Racing, with co-driver Tom O’Gorman. These guys are leading the title in class.

• Driving the LA Honda World Racing sister car, the # 52 Honda Civic TCR, will be Road to Indy Shootout participant and Team USA member Colin Mullan. His co-driver will be Max Faulkner.

• Pro Mazda alum and paraplegic Michael Johnson will once again drive the # 54 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for JDC-Miller Motorsports, using hand controls. MJ’s co-driver will be Stephen Simpson.

(L to R) Shelby Blackstock, Colin Mullan and Michael Johnson

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There are a bunch of IndyCar alums in the IMSA Prototype Challenge series, all driving LMP3 cars:

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• Indy Lights driver Neil Alberico will drive the # 4 Ligier JS P3 for Ansa Motorsports. Neil, a Vice Champion in both USF2000 and Pro Mazda, will have Leo Lamelas as a co-driver. These guys are currently 2nd in the points.

• Pro Mazda alum Max Hanratty will drive the # 7 Ligier JS P3 for Performance Tech Motorsports, with co-driver Blake Mount.

• USF2000 alum Austin McCusker was the 2018 Vice-Champion of the Prototype Challenge series. He will drive the # 47 Norma M30 for Forty 7 Motorsports. His co-driver will be Rodrigo Pflucker from Lima, Peru. These guys are leading the championship right now.

(L to R) Neil Alberico, Max Hanratty and Austin McCusker

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• Indy Lights driver Garett Grist will pilot the # 51 Ligier JS P3 for K2R Motorsports. The multiple race-winning Canadian will co-drive with Rob Hodes.

• USF2000 alum and 2018 F4 United States Champion Dakota Dickerson will drive the # 54 Ligier JS P3 for MLT Motorsport with co-driver Dylan Murry.

• IndyCar veteran Alex Barron will drive in the # 64 Ligier JS P3 for K2R Motorsports. His co-driver will be Californian Naveen Rao.

(L to R) Garett Grist, Dakota Dickerson and Alex Barron

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• Indy Lights alum and WeatherTech 2017 PC class Champion James French will drive the # 75 Ligier JS P3 for Performance Tech Motorsports. His co-driver is Cameron Cassels. These guys are currently 3rd in the points.

James French

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Finally, there is one IndyCar guy in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, as…

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• Current Indy Pro 2000 championship leader Parker Thompson will drive the # 3 Porsche 991 Cup car for JDX Racing. He is 3rd in the points in Porsche GT3 Cup.

Parker Thompson

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Friday will be a day of practice for all four series racing at Mid-Ohio this weekend. Let’s go!

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[MarkyS]

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Friday at Mid-Ohio - the IMSA gang all practice in the wet…

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The weather was a bit nasty in the morning near Lexington, Ohio and was still damp in the afternoon, as all four series that will race this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course had two practices each.

We have the TOP THREE for the day of each class in each series, as we combined the results of both test session they all ran, starting with the top series and top class, thr DPI class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship:

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DPi class - The TOP DAWG for the day was Oliver Jarvis driving the # 77 Mazda RT24-P DPi for Mazda Team Joest, with a time of 01:28.158 seconds. Oli bested IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay in the team sister car, the # 55 Mazda, by a tiny 0.064 seconds. 3rd on the charts was Simon Trummer in the # 85 Cadillac DPi-V.R. for JDC-Miller Motorsports.

Oliver’s co-driver will be Tristan Nunez while Ryan is driving with Jonathan Bommarito and Simon shares the Caddy with Stephen Simpson.

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Oliver Jarvis takes the wet Mazda to the top

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LMP2 class - The rabbit in the class today was Eric Lux in the # 52 ORECA LMP2 for PR1 / Mathiasen Motorsports with a time of 01:37.375 seconds. he beat out the only other car in class this weekend, the # 38 ORECA LMP2 driven by Kyke Masson for Performance Tech Motorsports by a big 9.478 seconds.

Eric shares the # 52 with Matthew McMurry and Kyle shares the # 38 with Cameron Cassels.

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The # 52 ORECA for PR1 - Mathiasen

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GTLM class - Taking the TOP SPOT for the day was Nick Tandy in the # 911 Porsche 911 RSR for Porsche GT Team with a time of 01:32.142 seconds. Nick bested the # 24 BMW M8 GTE for BMW Team RLL, driven by Jesse Krohn by 0.763 seconds. 3rd fastest on thw day was Laurens Vanthoor in the other Porsche, the # 912.

Patrick Pilet shares the Porsche with Nick Tandy while John Edwards is the co-driver with Jesse Krohn and Earl Bamber is the other guy in the # 912.

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The # 911 911 RSR - another great practice for the Porsche

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GTD class - The cannon-shot today was IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth who blasted to the top with a time of 01:30.190 seconds in the AIM Vasser Sullivan # 14 Lexus RC F GT3. That was good enough to be the 6th fastest time of any car on track, today. It was also a full 3.164 seconds faster that P2 Zacharie Robichon in the # 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R for PFAFF Motorsports. P3 was Marco Seefried in another Porsche 911 GT3 R, the # 73 for Park Place Motorsports.

Jack will share the Lexus with Richard Heistand while Zacharie drives with fellow Canadian and Road to Indy ace Scott Hargrove and Marco shares the # 73 with Patrick Long.

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Shot out of a cannon - Jack Hawksworth in the Lexus.

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[MarkyS]

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Friday at Mid-Ohio - the IMSA gang all practice in the wet…part 2…

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In the Michelin Pilot Challenge series the TOP DAWG in the Grand Sport class was Kenny Wilden driving the # 59 Ford Mustang GT4 for KohR Motorsports, with a time of 01:33.432 seconds. Kenny was better than Jade Buford in the # 40 Ford Mustang GT4 for PF Racing by 0.281 seconds. Behind the two Mustangs in 3rd was Jeff Westphal in the # 39 Audi R8 for Carbahn Motorsports.

Kenny’s co-driver is Rod Randall while Jade shares his Ford with James Pesek and Jeff is in the Audi with Tyler McQuarrie.

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The KohR Mustang with Kenny Wilden at the wheel

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In the Touring Car class it was Mark Wilkins in the # 98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport who set the pace with a time of 01:34.553 seconds. He bested Indy Lights driver and championship leader Shelby Blackstock in the # 37 Honda Civic TCR for LA Honda World Racing by 2.129 seconds. 3rd fastest was Alex Popow in the # 3 Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR for KMW Motorsports.

The co-driver in the car with Mark Wilkins is Michael Lewis. Shelby shares the Civic with Tom O’Gorman and Alex shares the Alfa with Mark Kvamme.

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The Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Bryan Herta

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In the IMSA Prototype Challenge series the rabbit for the day was USF2000 alum and points leader Austin McCusker in the # 47 Norma M30 for Forty7 Motorsports with a time of 01:50.697 seconds. He was faster than Stevan McAleer driving the # 43 Norma M30 for Robillard Racing by 0.669 seconds. 3rd on track was Mike Skeen in the # 23 Norma M30 for Gilbert / Korthoff MotorSports. The Normas in the field are hot, this weekend.

Austin shares the # 47 with Rodrigo Pflucker while Anthony Simone is in the # 23 with Mike. Stevan drives the # 43 alone, and well. He WON the last race.

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The hot # 47 Norma for Forty7 Motorsports

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Finally, topping the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA series today was Indy Pro 2000 points-leader and Cup rookie Parker Thompson in the # 3 Porsche 991 Cup car for JDX Racing with a time of 01:50.917 seconds. Parker had a healthy 2.731 seconds on points-leader Roman de Angelis in the # 79 Porsche for Kelly-Moss Road & Race. 3rd on the track was hot rookie Riley Dickinson for Moorespeed in the # 53 Porsche - only 16 years old and looking great in his first SportsCar ride.

It’s early in the season but these three guys are already looking like the championship contenders.

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Parker Thompson in his 2nd Porsche Cup weekend tops the charts.

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On Saturday, there will be even more practice and all series will qualify, while the Pilot Challenge gang will hold their race and the Porsche Cup boys will do their Race 1 of the weekend.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Mid-Ohio - IMSA action all day, including some racing…

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The day started cold and damp with more practice for the WeatherTech gang, and then most of the midday was spent having them qualify for Sunday’s race. Let’s see how they did, starting with the DPi class:

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DPi class - In the final practice IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves in the # 7 Acura ARX-05 for Acura Team Penske topped the field, just edging out the sister car, the # 6, in the hands of IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya, but when it came time to qualifying, Oliver Jarvis topped both Acuras in the # 77 Mazda RT24-P for Mazda Team Joest, relegating the # 7 Acura to 2nd and the # 6 Acura to 3rd. Jarvis posted a time of 01:10.705s for a speed of 114.967mph, besting Castroneves by a scant 0.022 seconds.

Oliver’s co-driver for the race will be Tristan Nunez, while Helio shares the # 7 with Ricky Taylor and Juan Pablo’s co-driver is Dane Cameron. This is Oli’s 2nd pole of the season, following Daytona.

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Mazda man Oliver Jarvis - 2nd pole for 2019

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LMP2 class - On Friday the # 52 ORECA for PR1 / Mathiasen Motorsports absolutely dominated in practice but on Saturday the tables turned and Kyle Masson in the # 38 ORECA for Performance Tech not only went to the top in practice but them creamed it in qualifying, with a time of 01:14.877s for a speed of 108.561mph, besting Eric Lux in the # 52 by 6.875 seconds. These are the only two cars in class, this weekend.

Kyle will share the # 38 with Cameron Cassels and Eric will co-drive with Matt McMurry.

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Kyle Masson takes pole handily for Perf Tech.

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GTLM class - It was IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe in the # 67 Ford GT that was the speedy guy in the 3rd practice, but when it came to qualifying it was another IndyCar driver, Sebastien Bourdais, who took pole in the sister car, the # 66 Ford GT for Ford Chip Ganassi, with a time of 01:19.124s for a speed of 102.734mph. Seb beat out Laurens Vanthoor in the # 912 Porsche 911 RSR for Porsche GT Team by 0.275 seconds. 3rd on the grid will be the # 24 BMW M8 GTE of BMW TEam RLL, thanks to the efforts of Jesse Krohn.

Sebastien is subbing this weekend for Joey Hand, as he did at Long Beach, in early April. His co-driver will be regular Dirk Mueller. Laurens share the # 912 with Kiwi Earl Bamber, while John Edwards shares duties in the Bimmer with Jesse.

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Sebastien (left, with Dirk) takes a pole while filling in for Joey Hand

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GTD class - Trent Hindman was very speedy in the P-3 practice, taking top spot in the # 86 Acura for Meyer Shank, but during qualifying, Richard Heistand took pole in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for AIM Vasser Sullivan with a time of 01:24.281s for a speed of 96.448mph. Richard bested Ben Keating in the # 33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Riley Motorsports - Team AMG by 1.828 seconds. 3rd on the grid will be the # 12 Lexus for AIM Vasser Sullivan, thanks to Frankie Montecalvo.

Richard’s co-driver in the Lexus will be IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth while Ben Keating shares the big Mercedes with Jeroen Bleekemolen and Frankie shares the other Lexus with IndyCar driver and broadcaster Townsend Bell.

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Richard Heistand (MOTUL flag) earns his keep at AIM Vasser Sullivan. Jack Hawksworth is on his left.

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The race is scheduled for LIVE broadcast on Sunday on NBC-SN from 1:30pm to 4:30pm EASTERN time.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Mid-Ohio - IMSA action all day, including some racing…(part 2)…

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Qualifying for their race later today were the Michelin Pilot Challenge gang, both classes, and here are the results:

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GS class - Taking pole was Kenton Koch in the # 2 Audi R8 for eEuropartsDotCom ROWE Racing with a time of 01:44.181s for a speed of 78.025mph. Kenton edged out USF2000 alum Jesse Lazare in the # 69 McLaren GT4 for Motorsports in Action by 1.079 seconds. 3rd on the grid will be the # 33 Mercedes-AMG for Winward Racing / HTP Motorsport, thanks to Russell Ward.

Kenton shares the Audi with Tyler Cooke while Jesse co-drives the McLaren with Corey Fergus and Russell Ward shares the Mercedes with Indy Dontje.

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Kenton Koch takes the R8 to pole for eEuropartsDotCom ROWE Racing

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TCR Class - The Touring Car pole was taken by Chad Gilsinger in the # 89 Honda Civic TCR for HART with a time of 01:41.986s for a speed of 79.704mph. Chad got the better of Mark Kvamme in the # 3 Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR for KMW Motorsports by 1.597 seconds. 3rd on the grid will be Brian Henderson in the # 84 Honda Civic TCR for Atlanta Speedwerks.

Gilsinger shares the HART Civic with Ryan Eversley while Mark shares the Alfa with Alex Popow and Brian co-drives the Speedworks Civic with Todd Lamb. .

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Chad Gilsinger - pole for HART in the Civic TCR

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In the IMSA Prototype Challenge series, qualifying for Sunday’s race took place today. On the pole was Mike Skeen in the # 23 Norma M30 for Gilbert / Korthoff MotorSports with a time of 01:37.612s for a speed of 83.276mph. Mike beat out recent race-WINNER Stevan McAleer in the # 43 Norma M30 for Robillard Racing by 0.232 seconds. 3rd on the grid will be the # 47 Norma M30 for Forty7 Motorsports, thanks to points leader and USF2000 alum Austin McCusker.

Mike Skeen shares the # 23 with Anthony Simone while Austin shares the # 47 with Rodrigo Pflucker. Stevan drives alone. This is Mike Skeen’s 2nd IPC race ever.

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Pole sitting Norma M30 of Gilbert / Korthoff MotorSports, with Mike Skeen

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In Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA the field tried to qualify for their two races this weekend, but the weather had cars going off all over, with attendant red flags halting the proceedings, so qualifying was instead set by points.

On pole for Race 1 today will be points-leader Roman de Angelis in the # 79 car for Kelly-Moss Road & Race. 2nd on the grid will be Riley Dickenson for Moorespeed in the # 53 car while 3rd on the grid will be Indy Pro 2000 driver Parker Thompson in the # 3 car for JDX Racing.

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Roman de Angelis on pole

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Next up, the Michelin Pilot Challenge guys race!

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Mid-Ohio - the Michelin Pilot Challenge guys race!..

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While the weather was threatening all day, the MPC series got in their race and it was a great one. Coming home P1 in the Grand Sport class and overall was the Volt-sponsored # 7 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport of Park Place Motorsports, with Volt owner Alan Brynjolfsson starting the race from P11 and Trent Hindman bringing it home in difficult conditions. P2 at the end was the # 39 Mercedes-AMG for Riley Motorsports, with James Cox starting and Dylan Murry at the finish. P3 on the podium were starter Tyler McQuarrie and finisher Jeff Westphal in the # 39 Audi R8 for Carbahn Motorsports.

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Trent Hindman (left) and Alan Brynjolfsson

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The race started under dark skies. About halfway through a mist came over the track and it looked like rain. Several cars ducked into the pits and took on rain tires, but Trent, who had just jumped into the Porsche, stayed out on slicks, vaulting him to the lead. The other cars on the podium made the same call and it paid off, as the track slicked up in the fog but it never rained and Hindman masterfully kept it on the island in the slippery conditions to the end.

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In the Touring Car class the WINNERS were Bryan Herta Autosport in their 3rd race ever in class with the # 98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR. Mark Wilkins started the race from P6 in class, (P29 overall), and Michael Lewis brought it home in a great battle to the very last corner of the race. P2 at the end was the # 61 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for Roadshagger Racing, with Gavin Ernstone starting and Jon Morley ending. P3 was the # 12 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for eEuropartsDotCom ROWE Racing with qualifier Ryan Nash and finisher and USF2000 alum Russ McDonough.

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TCR-class WINNERS Michael Lewis (left) and Mark Wilkins for BHA

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The TCR class got very exciting at the end of the race as Lewis in the Hyundai battled with Canadian Remo Ruscitti in the # 81 Mark Motors Audi, with the two continuously swapping lead changes over several laps. The Roadshagger Audi of Jon Morley lurked in third, waiting for the two leaders to take one or the other out. After several lead changes Ruscitti was leading in class but blocked a bit by a GS-class car as Lewis picked that moment to go around the outside of both cars and into the lead.

As Ruscitti tried to punch over and challenge Lewis he found himself under attack by the lurking Morely in the # 61. The two cars touched, sending Remo into the weeds. He would recover to finish P4. The Hyundai was not only P1 in class but also P7 overall.

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The next race for the Michelin Pilot Challenge will be the Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240, to be held at Watkins Glen in support of the Sahlen’s Six hours at the Glen, June 27-30.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday at Mid-ohio - The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA boys race!..

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Late in the day on a rain-drenched racetrack Indy Pro 2000 driver Parker Thompson did what he has done before at Mid-Ohio - WIN the race. But those WINS were in open-wheel cars. This one was his 3rd-ever Porsche Cup race and his first-ever WIN in the series, driving the # 3 Porsche for JDX Racing. P2 at the end was Roman De Angelis in the # 79 Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche while P3 was 16-year-old Riley Dickinson for Moorespeed in the # 53 Porsche.

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New Porsche GT3 Cup WINNER IndyCar guy Parker Thompson

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The race was a rain race from the start, with all cars on rain tires. On the opening lap Riley Dickenson got a great jump on pole-sitter Roman de Angelis to take the lead but immediately Parker Thompson was also by de Angelis and into P2 behind Dickinson. Later, as cautions began for spinning cars on the wet track, Parker was able to jump past Riley on a restart to take over P1.

Late in the race Dickinson had to drive off course to avoid another spinning car and Roman was able to get into P2 as Riley rejoined in P3.

By virtue of his two race WINS at Barber last month, Roman came to Mid-Ohio in the points lead, and remains so, but now Parker is in 2nd place behind him by 7 points, while Riley is now 3rd.
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Roman de Angelis (left), Parker Thompson and Riley Dickinson (right)

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The Porsche GT3 Cup boys will hold their 2nd race of the weekend on Sunday morning.

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[MarkyS]

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Sunday at Mid-Ohio - The IMSA Prototype Challenge gang hold a wild one…

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All this weekend the Norma M30 cars in the race have dominated practice and qualifying but when the race was over there were 3 Ligier JS P3 cars on the podium.

In P1 were the guys in the # 54 Ligier for MLT Motorsports, with USF2000 alum Dakota Dickerson starting in his 2nd IMSA race and Dylan Murry driving at the end - also his 2nd start. P2 was taken by starter Leo Lamelas and finisher Neil Alberico - an Indy Lights alum - in the # 4 Ligier for Ansa Motorsports. Rounding out the podium was the # 60 Ligier for Wulver Racing, with Bruce Hamilton starting and veteran Tonis Kasemets bringing it home. The car started the race in P20!

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Dylan (right) and Dakota celebrate their first IMSA WIN in their 2nd start ever.

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The 4-caution race started with a caution on lap 1, as P2 starter Stevan McAleer and Lance Wilsey collided in Turn 4, taking McAleer out, but not before Dakota Dickerson jumped from his P4 start to P2, behind pole-sitter Mike Skeen in the # 23 for Gilbert / Korthoff MotorSports. Next in line was Austin McCusker for Forty7 Motorsports in the # 47 Norma. On the lap 4 restart Leo Lamelas took the P7 spot. On lap 5 Dakota got past Mike Skeen to take the lead. On lap 6 Leo was up to P5 and by lap 9 he was in P4, behind McCusker.

It took until lap 24 before Leo was able to pass Austin McCusker for the P3 spot. One lap later both Leo and Austin passed Mike Skeen to take over P2 and P3 respectively. On lap 28 the pit stops and driver changes began. By the time they all shook out the leader was Dylan Murry in the # 54, with Neil Alberico in P2 in the # 4 and Rodrigo Pflucker in P3 in the # 47.

By this time the # 60 had gone from P20 all the way to P8 with Bruce Hamilton driving. Once Tonis got in the car he started clicking off on the leaders. On lap 40 he was P7. By lap 42 that was P6. Lap 54 saw him in P5 and the next lap in P4. On lap 56 Tonis was past Rodrigo Pflucker into P3 and that was the final podium spot sewn up. The race ended nine laps later.

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Race WINNERS Dakota Dickerson (left) and Dylan Murry

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Notable:

• This was the first race that Dakota Dickerson and Dylan Murry have driven togather.

• Both P1 Dakota Dickerson and P2 Neil Alberico are IndyCar guys, and both are also Team USA Scholarship WINNERS.

• Austin McCusker - yet another IndyCar guy - and Rodrigo Pflucker came home P4, and that was enough to keep them in the points lead.

• Tonis Kasemets is one of the best driver coaches in the business and he is obviously still a great competitive driver.

left to right, Austin McCusker, Neil Alberico and Tonis Kasemets

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With this result here are the TOP FIVE in points leaving Mid-Ohio:

1 - Austin McCusker, Rodrigo Pflucker 92
2 - Neil Alberico, Leo Lamelas 88
3 - Bruce Hamilton, Tonis Kasemets 74
4 - Alex Barron, Naveen Rao 73
5 - Blake Mount 67

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The next outing for the Prototype Challenge series will be at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for the Mobile One SportsCar Grand Prix, where the full slate of IMSA series will again race, July 5-7.

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[MarkyS]

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Sunday morning at Mid-Ohio - the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA race again…

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For their 2nd race of the weekend the Porsche Cup boys got to race in the dry, rather than the rain, and 18-year-old Roman de Angelis won handily for Kelly-Moss Road & Race. P2 was fellow Canadian and Indy Pro 2000 driver Parker Thompson for JDX Racing. Rounding out the podium was Max Root for Wright Motorsports.

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Roman de Angelis - 3rd WIN in 4 starts.

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Parker Thompson was on pole for the start, due to setting Fastest Lap during his Race 1 victory. Starting P2 was Riley Dickinson for Moorespeed and Roman was in P3. On lap 1 Roman was quickly by Dickinson and going hard after Thompson. Dickinson would bobble, handing P3 to Max Root. Parker was able to hold Roman off for ten laps, but succumbed on lap 11. Once past, Roman was able to put a gap on Thompson of about 5 seconds, which he held to the end. Root was hounded by Dickinson to the end, but just managed to secure P3 by half a car length across the line.

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Here is your happy podium - That’s Parker Thompson in P2 on the left, Roman de Angelis in P1 in the middle and Max Root in P3 on the right:

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Notable:

• This is Roman’s 3rd WIN in 4 starts and 4th podium, as well.

• This is Parker’s 4th podium in his first 4 SportsCar starts - including his spectacular win in the rain on Saturday.

• Thompson is 2nd in the points in Porsche GT3 Cup and leading the points in Indy Pro 2000.

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With this result here are the TOP FIVE in points leaving Mid-Ohio:

1 - Roman de Angelis 137
2 - Parker Thompson 127
3 - Riley Dickinson 118
4 - Jeff Kingsley 108
5 - Max Root 100

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The next outings for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA will be at the Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, June 7-9, where both the Porsche Cup USA and the Porsche Cup Canada guys will race.

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Sunday Afternoon - The WeatherTech gang race…

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All four classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship held their first race on a naturzal road course this season, today at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in great weather for the first time this weekend. We have the results:

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Taking the DPi class and overall WIN was the # 6 Acura ARX-5 for Acura Team Penske, with Dane Cameron in at the start and IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya bringing it home, in a spirited defense from the P2 car, the # 77 Mazda RT24-P in the hands of Tristan Nunez at the end, after a great start by Oliver Jarvis, from pole. P3 was the Mazda sister car, the # 55 driven at the start by IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay and at the end by Jonathan Bomarito.

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The victorious Acura Team Penske ARX-05 # 6 - first WIN for this car.

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Pole-sitter Oli Jarvis lost the lead to Dane Cameron on lap 7 of the race but later recovered it, by lap 35. Once Tristan Nunez and Juan Pablo Montoya were in their cars, JPM grabbed the lead again due to a quicker pit stop on lap 64 and held it to the end. The # 55 Mazda came in and out of the TOP THREE for much of the race but despite an electrical gremlin late in the race, was able to stay in 3rd across the line.

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The LMP2 class went from a two-car race to a one-car race on the opening lap, as the pole-sitting # 38 ORECA for Performance Tech went off with Kyle Masson driving. The car suffered damage and went 31 laps down to the other car, the # 52 ORECA for PR1 / Mathiasen Motorsports, which went on to the WIN in class and 11th overall for drivers Eric Lux and Matt McMurry. The Perf Tech car finished the race, with Cameron Cassels battling suspension woes the whole way.

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Eric Lux (left) and Matt McMurry

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continued…

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[MarkyS]

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Sunday Afternoon - The WeatherTech gang race…(part 2)…

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In the GTLM class the WINNERS were starter Laurens Vanthoor and finisher Earl Bamber in the # 912 Porsche 911 RSR for Porsche GT Team - their 2nd WIN in a row, following Long Beach. P2 at the finish was the # 3 Corvette C7.R for Corvette racing with starter Jan Magnussen and finisher Antonio Garcia. P3 was the other Porsche, the # 911 with Nick Tandy finishing after the start from Patrick Pilet.

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Laurens Vanthoor (left), and Earl Bamber

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GTLM saw many different leaders at times. Porsche started on pole with the # 911, but three laps in they lost the lead to the # 4 'Vette. Those guys had it until lap 38 when the # 3 Corvette took it after pit stops. Then the # 912 briefly had it again, then each of the Ford GTs for Ford Chip Ganassi had it for a few laps. Finally, Bamber took it on lap 79 and held it to the end, on lap 116.

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GTD class was the hottest-contested class of the day, but really only between two cars, with the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for AIM Vasser Sullivan collecting their first WIN as a team, with Richard Heistand starting the lead from pole and IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth bringing it home, after reacquiring the lead late in the race. P2 was the # 86 Acura NSX GT3 for Meyer Shank Racing, with Trent Hindman at the start and Mario Farnbacher at the end. The # 48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo of starter Ryan Hardwick and finisher Bryan Sellers completed the class podium.

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The boys from AIM Vasser Sullivan celebrate. Left to right, that’s owner James “Sulli” Sullivan, Jack Hawksworth, Richard Heistand, and owners Ian Willis and Jimmy Vasser:

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Heistand took off from pole but within 8 laps Trent Hindman was past him into the lead. Hindman and later Mario Farnbacher would keep the lead, with either Heistand or Hawksworth close behind, until lap 96, when Jack got by Mario to take the lead. Farnbacher would spend the remaining 20 laps of the race glued to Hawksworth’s tail and at times lunged beside him but could not find a way to get back past him.

Jack WON this race last year too, and in a Lexus RCF GT3, but was driving for Paul Gentilozzi’s 3GT Racing, at the time. He was the only driver from that team to make the transition to AVS when they took over the Lexus deal, this year. Fortuitous.

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Following this event the TOP THREE in points in DPi class are:

1 - Felipe Nasr, Pipo Derani 120
2 - Helio Castroneves, Ricky Taylor 116
3 - Jordan Taylor, Renger van der Zande 113
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Following this event the TOP THREE in points in LMP2 class are:

1 - Cameron Cassels, Kyle Masson 99
2 - Matthew McMurry 95
3 - Gabriel Aubry 60

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Following this event the TOP THREE in points in GTLM class are:

1 - Earl Bmaber, Laurens Vanthoor 126
2 - Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen 119
3 - Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet 117

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Following this event the TOP THREE in points in GTD class are:

1 - Mario Farnbacher, Trent Hindman 84
2 - Frank Montecalvo, Townsend Bell 80
3 - Richard Heistand, Jack hawksworth 77

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The next event for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series will be the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle, May 31-June 1, in support of the IndyCar race. Featured will be the DPi class and the GTD class.

[MarkyS]

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He’s in!..Kyle Kaiser gets to play at Indianapolis again, this year…

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Announced over the weekend, Juncos Racing has pulled together the sponsorship to get 2017 Indy Lights Champion Kyle Kaiser into the 2019 Indy 500 - the 35th CONFIRMED driver, so far. Kaiser, who WON his title driving for Juncos in 2017, was abe to get into the 2018 Indy 500 with his Indy Lights scholarship of 1 million dollars, but this year, he and the team will have to foot the whole bill, and that’s why this is such an accomplishment for Kyle and for Ricardo Juncos - They will be able to pay the freight.

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Ricardo Juncos (left) and Kyle Kaiser - Indy bound

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Said Ricardo, “We’ve (had) to work a lot to make it happen. Obviously, we’re very happy to be back together; I think we deserve a second chance. Last year, we were super, super fast and I was very happy with the whole team with him. Unfortunately, we needed some luck and we didn’t have it last year, but (I’m) looking forward to this one.”

Kaiser was indeed fast in his rookie run, putting himself 17th on the grid in qualifying - virtually right in the center of the field. Half-way through the race his # 32 Chevrolet broke on him, putting him out of the race. He finished in P29.

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This year Kaiser has had just three races for Juncos - He was at the IndyCar debut at Circuit of the Americas, and also at both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio in the Juncos Cadillac DPi-V.R., with co-driver Will Owen.

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Kyle at COTA…

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…and at Mid-Ohio
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For Kaiser, even the SportsCar races are great for the IndyCar effort, because there is no better training for a race driver than racing. In the mean time, Juncos has been prepping a fully-dedicated car for the 500 - massaged to the hilt for speed.

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Welcome to the fray and good luck, Kyle!

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[MarkyS]

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IndyCar has a new set of Power Rankings following the Long Beach race…

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IndyCar is keeping track of some stats as the season goes on in order to rank drivers on more than just WINS and series points. They are also factoring in qualifying results, on-track passes, on-track position passes and average running position throughout the race to come up with each driver’s rating in what they call the Power Rankings.

We last looked at the Power Rankings following the Barber Race in post # 556. Now, Just before this weekend’s IndyCar Grand Prix at Indianapolis, we factor in the last race at Long Beach and we get a different TOP TEN, including a new PR leader.

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Here are the current rankings, with the same driver’s post-Barber ranking in ( ):

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1 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport (4)

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2 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske (1)

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3 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing (3)

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4 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan (2)

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5 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport (7)

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6 - Will Power, Team Penske (5)

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7 - James Hinchcliffe, Arrow Schmidt Peterson (6)

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8 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan (not ranked)

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9 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske (not ranked)

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10 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser Sullivan (8)

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Notable:

• Despite Newgarden’s lead in the points, Rossi jumps over him, because of the superb WIN at the Beach, which was a bigger beat-down that Newgarden’s WIN at St. Pete, according to the stats.

• The Power Rankings only rank the last 4 races, so the DNF for Ryan Hunter-Reay at St. Pete - 4 races ago - will soon be out of the factoring and his good performances since then will have him rising more. The same will be true for Sebastien Bourdais.

• The good race at Long Beach has somewhat healed the situation for both Graham Rahal and Simon Pagenaud, as they are back into the rankings, following a drop-out after Barber.

• Notice that the rookies Colton Herta (10 after Barber) and Felix Rosenqvist (9 after Barber) are out of the rankings, Despite their impressive start to the season, they are now acting and ranking more like rookies, with each race. That can always change again, of course.

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Colton Herta (left) and Felix Rosenqvist

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New faces on the grid this weekend…

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This weekend, all three series that make up the Road to Indy will be out in force at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course to support the IndyCar Grand Prix and a few new guys will be racing. We already mentioned young Jak Crawford in post # 567, who will be driving for DEForce Racing in USF2000.

Now, we have two new Indy Pro 2000 drivers. First, from Guatemala is Ian Rodriguez, who will drive for RP Motorsport Racing in their # 5 Tatuus PM-18, alongside teammate Kyle Kirkwood. Ian is a karting champion who has been in formula cars for three years, driving in the Italian F4 series for DRZ Benelli, where he has collected a WIN and several podiums.

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Ian Rodriguez

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Next is Texan Jacob Loomis who will drive the # 9 Tatuus PM-18 for new team JDL Racing. Jacob comes out of two seasons in the F4 US Championship series where he earned several podium finishes. In 2016, he dominated the SCCA’s Formula Mazda series with multiple poles, WINS and track records. Jacob actually got to run two races at Road America in USF2000 in 2017, so this will not be his first Road to Indy rodeo.

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Jacob Loomis

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Not returning to drive, following showings at St. Petersburg are Nate Aranda from USF2000 and both Damiano Fioravanti and Parker Locke from Indy Pro 2000. We know that Parker is now competing in F3 Americas, instead.

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Chris Windom will make another shot at the Freedom 100…

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USAC superstar Chris Windom will return to Belardi Auto Racing partnered with Jonathan Byrd’s Racing to run in the 2019 Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this May, on Carb Day, the Friday before the Indy 500.

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Windom, the 2016 USAC National Silver Crown Champion and 2017 USAC National Sprint Car Champion, made his first shot at the Freedom 100 for Belardi in 2018, but pre-race shunt in practice left him with too much damage to start. This year his sponsor will be NOS Energy Drink on the # 17 IL-15.

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Said Windom, “After a disappointing ending to last year’s run for the Freedom 100, I’m very thankful to be given another opportunity to go back to Indy with the Belardi/Byrd team. I really enjoy working with everyone on the team and I feel like we can be strong contenders for this year’s race."

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Following the April announcement, Belardi joined a few other Lights teams at Kentucky Speedway for a shake-down test on their oval. Here is some video of Belardi’s Lucas Kohl and Chris Windom at speed in the red cars:

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https://twitter.com/BelardiRacing/status/1118921646927241216

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Jonathan Byrd’s Racing is known for trying to give USAC drivers a shot in IndyCars at the Indy 500, but this is their first foray into the Indy Lights. Welcome aboard, Chris! The more, the merrier.

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Another Andretti is heading to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this May…

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Jarett Andretti, the son of former IndyCar / NASCAR driver John Andretti, is going to drive this May for Andretti Autosport in the Freedom 100 - the “Indy 500” of the Indy Lights series. Driven on the same oval as the 500 and on Carb Day, the Friday before the 500, the Freedom 100 is the race every Lights driver wants to WIN.
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Michael Andretti (left) and Jarett Andretti announce a Freedom 100 ride
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Jarett started his career in USAC Sprints, so he’s an open-wheel guy, but lately he has been driving in the Am class of the Pirelli GT4 America series for Andretti Autosport, and he is coming off a P2 at Long Beach in the series.

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Jarett in his McLaren 570S GT4 for Andretti Autosport

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Jarett will be the 4th car in the Freedom 100 for Andretti Autosport and will team with series regulars Ryan Norman, Robert Megennis and Oliver Askew.

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Andretti, flanked by Rob Megennis (left) and Oliver Askew (right).

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Welcome to the fray!

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Tuesday at Indianapolis - the first day of practice for the 2019 Indy 500…

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All 36 cars and drivers entered thus far in the 2019 Indy 500 tool to te ova today fo the forst day of practice, in great weather. In addition, rookie orientation and refresher was completed for all, except for Pato O’Ward, who had mechanical problems and will need to complete on Wednesday, instead.

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

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1 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 00:39.1738s for a speed of 229.745mph

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2 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske - time of 00:39.1810s for a speed of 229.703mph

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3 - Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing - time of 00:39.3610s for a speed of 228.653mph

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4 - Helio Castroneves, Team Penske - time of 00:39.3974s for a speed of 228.441mph

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5 - Colton Herta [R], Harding Steinbrenner Racing - time of 00:39.4246s for a speed of 228.284mph

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6 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w / Vasser Sullivan
7 - Zach Veach, Andretti Autosport
8 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
9 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport
10 - Ed Jones, Ed Carpenter Racing

11 - Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter Racing
12 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport
13 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
14 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
15 - JR Hildebrand, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
16 - Santino Ferrucci [R], Dale Coyne Racing
17 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
18 - Felix Rosenqvist [R], Chip Ganassi Racing
19 - Conor Daly, Andretti Autosport
20 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

21 - Kyle Kaiser, Juncos Racing
22 - Charlie Kimball, Carlin
23 - James Hinchcliffe, Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (7)
24 - Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
25 - James Hinchcliffe, Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (5)
26 - Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Arrow SPM
27 - Max Chilton, Carlin (59)
28 - James Hinchcliffe, Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (77)
29 - Marcus Ericsson [R], Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
30 - Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

31 - Matheus Leist, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
32 - Fernando Alonso, McLaren Racing
33 - Jordan King, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
34 - Pippa Mann, Clauson-Marshall Racing
35 - Max Chilton, Carlin (31)
36 - James Davison, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Byrd, Hollinger, Belardi
37 - Oriol Servia, Team Stange w/ Arrow SPM
38 - Ben Hanley [R], DragonSpeed Racing
39 - James Hinchcliffe, Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (60)

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Notable:

• The times posted are for 1 lap only, and all times are with the tow of a car in front.

• The only incident was a spin by Colton Herta coming on the track near Turn 2 and he hit nothing.

• As of Monday, Oriol Servia is officially the driver of the # 77 Honda for Team Stange w/ Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports - the most well-known secret on the grid.

• James Hinchcliffe drove all four cars associated with Arrow SMP, to baseline them with one driver. The car he drove for each time is in ( )

• Max Chilton for Carlin drove his car, the # 59 and also Pato O’Ward’s car, the # 31. Once Pato passes rookie orientation on Wednesday, he will be able to drive his own car with everyone else.

• Chevys took the TOP FOUR but the best team was Andretti Autosport, with 4 cars in the TOP ELEVEN with Zach Veach the best performer. Ed Carpenter Racing had all 3 cars in the TOP ELEVEN, so they too are cooking with gas.

• The fastest speed with no tow was posted by Ed Jones for Ed Carpenter Racing, with a speed of 224.542 miles per hour.
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left to right, Will Power, Ed Jones and Oriol Servia

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continued…

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Tuesday at Indianapolis - the first day of practice for the 2019 Indy 500…(part 2)…

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Before the P-1 session the rookies and the refreshers did their orientation laps and we have those results here:

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1 - Kyle Kaiser, Juncos Racing - time of 00:40.2966s for a speed of 223.344mph

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2 - Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing - time of 00:40.3271s for a speed of 223.175mph

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3 - Pippa Mann, Clauson-Marshall Racing - time of 00:40.6694s for a speed of 221.297mph

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4 - Pato O’Ward [R], Carlin - time of 00:40.7611s for a speed of 220.799mph

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5 - Jordan King, Rahal Letterman Lanigan - time of 00:40.8859s for a speed of 220.125mph

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6 - James Davison, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Byrd, Hollinger, Belardi - time of 00:41.0442s for a speed of 219.276mph

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7 - Ben Hanley [R], DragonSpeed Racing - time of 00:41.5426s for a speed of 216.645mph

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Notable:

• 2017 Lights Champion Kyle Kaiser led the way in the car the team is calling the “white rabbit”. The Indy 500 is just the 2nd IndyCar race that Kaiser has entered for the team, this season, (the other was at Circuit of the Americas), but he has also raced twice for the team in their Cadillac DPi in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

• Once this orientation was over, everyone here, with the exception of Pato O’Ward, put in laps in the P-1 session, and they all exceeded these times.

• Pato was only able to put in 5 laps due to a mechanical with the car and will have to complete his orientation on Wednesday.

Kyle Kaiser - Open wheel and SportsCar guy

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