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

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With the end of the season, the Silly Season begins in ernest…

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…and the first big post-season announcement came today, as Simon Pagenaud told all the he will move from Team Penske to Meyer Shank Racing for 2022, teamed with fellow former Penske guy Helio Castroneves.

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Simon Pagenaud to MSR for 2022

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Pagenaud will be driving the # 60 Honda that has been campaigned by Jack Harvey up to now, while Helio will drive the team’s # 06 Honda. While everyone else is seeking a youthful appearance, Mike Shank likes the wily veterans approach - especially with the Indy 500. In Pagenaud and Castroneves the Shank squad has 5 Indy 500 victories - the most of any current team - and a sure potential for more, as both guys are excellent at the Speedway.

In addition, Shank will get the benefit of both drivers’ extensive SportsCar knowledge and ability, when he needs them for endurance races on his IMSA side of things.

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Said Simon, “This is such an exciting time in my career. MSR has proven it is a high-quality organization when it won the Indianapolis 500 and pairing Helio and me together will help our team in 2022 and beyond. I’m really looking forward to this new challenge.”

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We think this is a squad that can give Shank another Indy 500 WIN, a Daytona 24 WIN and more. Good luck, Simon!!

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The Road to Indy is expanding and shrinking at the same time…

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Anderson Promotions and the Road to Indy has been sheparding three series for the last 8 years - USF2000, Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights. This week it was announced that Penske Entertainment will be taking over the operation of Indy Lights, so as to closer align it with the IndyCar series.

But that won’t lessen the workload of Anderson Promotions, as they also announced the launch of a new series, called USF Juniors.
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Dan Anderson

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USF Juniors will now be the starting point for young drivers wanting to get into formula car racing. It became necessary because USF2000 has become so competitive and the majority of drivers in it so talented that it is very difficult for a true newby to racing to get a toe-hold. They become lost and do not benefit from trying to compete at that level when they have so much to learn. They just bring up the rear.

USF Juniors will give them the place to develop BEFORE the pressures of a national spotlight are thrown on them and before the season budgets begin to grow exponetially. We occasionally see 14 and 15 year olds in USF2000 and it’s a lot to ask for them to acquit themselves like 16, 17 and 18 year olds. (Though, often they surprise us). USF Juniors will be loaded with a lot more 14 and 15 year olds, competing against each other.

For 2022, the Ligier JS chassis and a Honda powerplant will be utilized, built and re-built by Elite Engines, which currently does the USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 powerplants. They will run Cooper tires, of course. The plan is 6 weekends of racing with triple-headers at each.

The series will be managed by Gustavo Yacaman. Current Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 race directors Johnny Unser and Joel Miller will oversee race control and will work directly with USF Juniors official driver coach Gabby Chaves, the 2014 Indy Lights champion.

Left to right, Gustavo Yacaman, Johnny Unser and Joel Miller

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…and driver coach, Gabby Chaves

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The best news? Launching in 2022, USF Juniors will offer a prize package exceeding $325,000 including a scholarship valued at more than $200,000 to advance to USF2000. This will be GREAT for the development of new talent.

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[MarkyS]

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The Road to Indy has released the 2022 schedules for USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000…

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…and the good news is most of the race weekends will be shared with IndyCars, with only the Freedom races at Lucas Oil Raceway not at the same venue as the big cars, which will be doing the Indy 500 that weekend.

Both series will have 18 total rounds with the main difference being Indy Pro 2000 will be doing a 2nd oval at World Wide Technology Raceway, while both series will be doing the oval at LOR on the Indy 500 weekend. To make up for not being at WWTR, USF2000 will do a 3rd race at Mid-Ohio.
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First, the USF2000 schedule:

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Notable:

• There are 4 street course races, 13 natural road course races and 1 oval.

• Note that on May 13th there are two races on the same day. Otherwise, there will be 1 race per day.

• We’re all HOPING that Toronto returns to the schedule for real, but we should all be prepared to have those two races be moved, as they were in both 2020 and 2021.

• Pre-event test days include Barber Motorsports Park April 28, Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 12, Lucas Oil Raceway May 26, Road America June 9, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 30, World Wide Technology Raceway August 18 and Portland International Raceway September 1.

• All the races will be able to be seen LIVE on Youtube, as well as other sites.

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Next the Indy Pro 2000 schedule:

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Notable:

• There are 4 street courses, 12 natural road courses and 2 ovals.

• Note that on May 13th there are two races on the same day. Otherwise, there will be 1 race per day.

• Again, we’re all HOPING that Toronto returns and cross your fingers, but be prepared for a move.

• Pre-event test days include Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 12, Lucas Oil Raceway May 26, Road America June 9, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 30 and Portland International Raceway September 1.

• All the races will be able to be seen LIVE on Youtube, as well as other sites.

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The Indy Lights schedule will be prepared by IndyCar, as they are now in control of that series, again. It will likely mirror the IndyCar schedule very closely. Stay tuned!!

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IMSA goes to VIRginia International Raceway for this weekend…

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…as they do an almost all-GT event, known as the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR

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Running this weekend will be the 2 GT classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Michelin Pilot Challenge series, the IMSA Prototype Challenge series and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America series. And, IndyCar drivers will be in all four series. Let’s see who they are, starting with the WeatherTech gang:

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GTD class - Indy Car driver Zach Veach will pilot the # 12 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan, with Franke Montecalvo as his co-driver.

Zach Veach

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Indy Pro 2000 Champion and IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth will driver the other V-S Lexus, the # 14 RCF GT3, with co-driver and fellow Indy Pro 2000 Champion Aaron Telitz.

Jack Hawksworth (left) and Aaron Telitz

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Former Champ Car driver Katherine Legge will be in the # 88 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Team Hardpoint with co-driver and team owner Rob Ferriol.

Katherine Legge

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• The Michelin Pilot Challenge series is built around GT cars and there are a number of IndyCar guys driving some of them in both classes.

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GS class - Indy Lights Champion and IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot drives the # 3 McLaren 570S GT4 for Motorsports In Action. His co-driver is Sheena Monk.

Spencer Pigot

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Former IndyCar driver Jan Heylen is one of the top stars of the GS class and is currently 3rd in the points. He drives the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports with co-driver Ryan Hardwick.

Jan Heylen

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Former Road to Indy Shootout participant and Porsche GT3 Challenge USA Champ Trenton Estep is a co-driver in the # 18 Mercedes-AMG GT GT4 for CB Motorsports. He shares the car with Mark Kvamme.

Trenton Estep

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TCR class - Indy Pro 2000 alum and paraplegic Michael Johnson drives the # 54 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Michael Johnson Racing, using hand controls. The car is prepped by Bryan Herta Autosport and Michael’s co-driver is Stephen Simpson.

Michael Johnson

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2020 TCR class Champion and IndyCar driver Ryan Norman drives the # 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport with co-driver Parker Chase.

Ryan Norman

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• IMSA Prototype Challenge will have the only prototypes on track this weekend, as the LMP3 class cars the series uses are small enough to work on the narrow VIR track.

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Road to Indy ace and current Indy Lights driver Rasmus Lindh will drive the # 6 Ligier JS P320 for Performance Tech Motorsports with co-driver Dan Goldburg.

Rasmus Lindh

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Jake Eidson is another Road to Indy ace and Lamborghini Super Trofeo pilot who will be on track this weekend, driving the # 17 Ligier JS P320 for O’Gara Motorsport / USRaceTronics with co-driver Brian Thienes.

Jake Eidson

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Canadian Garett Grist is an Indy Lights alum who drives the # 33 Ligier JS P320 for Jr III Racing with co-driver Ari Balogh

Garett Grist

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Antoine Comeau is an Indy Pro 2000 alum who drives the # 34 Duqueine D08 for Conquest Racing / JMF Motorsports with co-driver and former Team USA Scholarship WINNER Colin Mullan.

Antoine Comeau

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Dakota Dickerson is another Road to Indy ace with multiple junior formula titles. He will drive the # 54 Ligier JS P320 for MLT Motorsports with co-driver Josh Sarchet.

Dakota Dickerson

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Courtney Crone is another Road to Indy Shootout contestant who will drive the # 74 Duqueine D08 for Forty 7 Motorsports with co-driver Jason Rabe.

Courtney Crone

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• Porsche Carrera Cup North Anmerica has only 2 IndyCar guys but both are superb drivers:

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Road to Indy ace Parker Thomson spends most of his time as a host on Road to Indy TV these days, but when he competes it’s in the # 9 Porsche 992 for JDX Racing. Parker is currently 3rd in the points.

Parker Thompson

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TJ Fischer is an Indy Pro 2000 alum who drives the # 58 Porsche 992 for TOPP Racing.

TJ Fischer

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Friday will be a busy day of practice for all four series racing this weekend, and late in the day, the WeatherTech gang will qualify for Saturday’s race.

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[MarkyS]

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Friday morning at VIR - IMSA practice begins…

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The 3.27-mile, 18-turn Virginia International Raceway is a highly technical track, much like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and it calls for finesse a lot more than dive-bomb heroics. It’s long, hilly and narrow and it rewards a smooth flow from corner to corner. Set them up with a good rhythm and precise car placement and you score with great times.

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The first guys to complete their two practice sessions were the WeatherTech GTLM class and GTD class, and we have the TOP THREE from each class here:

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GTLM class - Kevin Estre set the TOP TIME of the day in the P-1 session driving the # 79 Porsche 911 RSR-19 for WeatherTech Racing with a time of 1:41.124s for a speed of 116.411mph. He bested the P-2 session time of Tommy Milner in the # 4 Corvette for Corvette Racing by 0.362 seconds. Third fastest for the day was Jordan Taylor with his P-2 session time in the # 3 Corvette.

Kevin shares the Porsche with Cooper MacNeil while Tommy shares the # 4 Corvette with Nick Tandy. Jordan’s co-driver in the # 3 Corvette is Antonio Garcia.

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The # 79 Porsche 911 RSR-19 for WeatherTech Racing - TOPS in practice

Kevin Estre

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GTD class - The TOP TIME of the day was set in the P-1 session by Bill Auberlen in the # 96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport with a time of 1:44.391s for a speed of 112.768mph. Bill topped IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth’s P-2 session time in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan by a teensy 0.016 seconds. Third fastest on the day was Ross Gunn in the # 23 Heart Of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with his P-2 session time.

Bill’s co-driver in the Bimmer is Robby Foley while Jack’s co-driver in the Lexus is fellow IndyCar driver Aaron Telitz. Ross shares the Aston Martin with Roman De Angelis.

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The # 96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport - TOPS in practice for the day

Bill Auberlen

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Also completing two practice sessions today were the boys from Porsche Carrera Cup North America and the TOP THREE guys in the Pro class were all fastest in their P-1 session:

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Pro class - TOPS for the day was points-leader Seb Priaulx in the # 15 Porsche 992 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race with a time of 1:46.407s for a speed of 110.631mph. Seb got the better of Riley Dickinson in the # 53 Porsche 992 for Team Hardpoint by 0.079 seconds. Third fastest on the day was Kay van Berlo in the # 3 Porsche 992 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race.

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The # 15 Porsche 992 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race - TOPS for the day in practice.

Seb Priaulx

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The WeatherTech gang will later today qualify for Saturday’s Michelin Challenge at VIR…

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continued…

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[MarkyS]

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Friday morning at VIR - IMSA practice begins…(part 2)…

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Also having one practice session each were the Michelin Pilot Challenge series and the IMSA Prototype Challenge series and we have the TOP THREE here from each of those, starting with both classes of the MPC gang:

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Grand Sport class - The TOP TIME of the day was put in by IndyCar driver Jan Heylen in the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports with a time of 1:52.819s for a speed of 104.343mph. Jan bested Brit Robin Liddell in the # 71 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R for Rebel Rock Racing by 0.328 seconds. Third fastest was Trent Hindman in the # 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for VOLT Racing with Archangel.

Jan shares the Porsche with Ryan Hardwick while Robin shares the Camaro with Frank De Pew. Trent’s co-driver in the Aston is Alan Brynjolfsson.

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The # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports - TOPS in the P-1 practice session

Jan Heylen

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Touring Car class - TOPPING the charts for the session was Mikey Taylor in the # 17 Audi RS3 LMS SEQ for Unitronic JDC-Miller MotorSports with a time of 1:56.509s for a speed of 101.039mph. Mikey got the better of Tim Lewis in the # 5 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR for KMW Motorsports w/ TMR Engineering by 0.259 seconds. Third fastest in the session was Mark Wilkins in the # 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport.

Mikey’ co-driver in the Audi is Chris Miller while Tim’s co-driver in the Alfa is Roy Block. Mark shares the Elantra with Harry Gottsacker.

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The # 17 Audi RS3 LMS SEQ for Unitronic JDC-Miller MotorSports - TOPS in the P-1 practice session

Mikey Taylor

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The IMSA Prototype Challenge series also held a P-1 practice session and we have the TOP THREE from that here:

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P3-1 class - TOPS for the day was IndyCar driver Garett Grist in the # 33 Ligier JS P320 for Jr III Racing with a time of 1:40.698s for a speed of 116.903mph. Garett bested IndyCar driver Rasmus Lindh in the # 6 Ligier for Performance Tech Motorsports by 0.223 seconds. Third fastest in the session was fellow IndyCar driver Dakota Dickerson in the # 54 Ligier for MLT Motorsports.

Garett shares the # 33 Ligier with Ari Balogh while Rasmus shares the # 6 Ligier with Dan Goldburg. Dakota’s co-driver is Josh Sarchet.

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The # 33 Ligier JS P320 for Jr III Racing - TOPS in the P-1 practice

Garett Grist

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Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA Prototype Challenge will each get a second practice session on Saturday and late in the day the MPC gang will qualify for Sunday’s Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix.

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Next up, the WeatherTech gang qualify for Saturday’s race, the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR…

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[MarkyS]

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Friday at VIR - the WetherTech SportsCar Championship series is qualified…

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…for Saturday’s race, the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR. We have the TOP THREE qualifiers in both classes racing this weekend, starting with GTLM class:

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GTLM class - On the pole will be Tommy Milner in his first WeatherTech Championship pole, driving the # 4 Corvette C8-R for Corvette Racing with a time of 1:40.263s for a speed of 117.410mph. Tommy denied Jordan Taylor his 6th pole in a row in the # 3 Corvette by just 0.003 seconds! Starting 3rd on the grid will be Cooper MacNeil in the # 79 Porsche 911 RSR-19 for WeatherTech Racing.

Tommy shares the # 4 Corvette with Nick Tandy while Jordan shares the # 3 Corvette with Antonio Garcia. Cooper’s co-driver in the Porsche this weekend is Kevin Estre.

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The # 4 Corvette C8-R for Corvette Racing - on the pole

Tommy Milner

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GTD class, position - Taking pole for the class was Robby Foley in the # 96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport with a time of 1:43.809s for a speed of 113.400mph. Robby edged out the # 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo of Madison Snow by 0.236 seconds. Starting 3rd on the grid will be the # 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R, thanks to the qualifying efforts of Trent Hindman.

Robby’s co-driver in the Bimmer is Bill Auberlen while Madison shares the Lambo with Bryan Sellers and Trent shares the Porsche with Patrick Long.

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The # 96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport - on the pole

Robby Foley

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GTD class, points - The Pro driver taking maximum points this weekend was Ross Gunn in the # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for the Heart of Racing Team with a time of 1:43.356s for a speed of 113.897mph. Ross bested teammate Alex Riberas in the # 27 Aston for HoRT by 0.141 seconds. Third on the charts for Pro points was IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan.

Ross shares the # 23 Aston with Roman De Angelis while Alex shares the # 27 Aston with Ian James. Jack’s co-driver is fellow IndyCar guy Aaron Telitz.

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The # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Heart of Racing Team - TOPS in points

Ross Gunn

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The race is scheduled to start just after Noon EASTERN time on Saturday and can be seen LIVE on NBC and on NBC Sports Gold’s Track Pass.

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This was the last on-track activity of the day. Saturday will start with Porsche Carrera Cup qualifying, followed by the 2nd practice for Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA Prototype Challenge, prior to the WeatherTech race.

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday morning at VIR - The Porsche Carrera Cup guys qualify…

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This session will grid both races, this weekend, using the fastest lap for Race 1 and 2nd fastest lap of each driver, or the fastest Race 1 lap to grid Race 2. The 30-minute session started on a wet track and saw light rain throughout. We have the TOP THREE cars for Race 1 here and all are Pro class cars:

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Pro class - On the pole is Kay van Berlo for Kelly-Moss Road & Race in the # 3 Porsche 992 with a time of 2:01.902s for a speed of 96.569mph. Kay bested his K-M teammate and points leader Seb Priaulx in the # 15 Porsche 992 by 0.306 seconds. Third on the grid in a bit of a surprise will be Erik Johansson in the # 14 Porsche 992 for MRS GT-Racing. This is Erik’s best qually this year.

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The # 3 Porsche 992 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race - on the pole for Race 1

Kay van Berlo

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PCCNA Race 1 will happen after the WeatherTech race this afternoon and will likely be a rain race. Next up, The Michelin Pilot Challenge gang hold their P-2 practice, followed by the IMSA Prototype Challenge gang, doing the same…

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday morning at VIR - The 2nd practices of both MPC and IPC come off…

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…in the wet. The Michelin Pilot Challenge gang were first out and we have the TOP THREE of each class here:

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Grand Sport class - Going to the TOP of class in the wet was Trent Hindman in the # 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for VOLT Racing with Archangel with a time of 2:14.225s for a speed of 87.703mph. Trent bested Kenny Murillo in the # 56 Mercedes-AMG GT GT4 for Murillo Racing by 0.080 seconds. Third fastest was Sheena Monk in the # 3 McLaren 570S GT4 for Motorsports in Action.

Trent shares the Aston with Alan Brynjolfsson while Kenny shares the Mercedes with Eric Foss. Sheena’s co-driver is IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot.

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The # 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for VOLT Racing with Archangel - TOPS in P-2

Trent Hindman

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Touring Car class - TOPS in the P-2 session was Chris Miller in the # 17 Audi RS3 LMS SEQ for Unitronic JDC-Miller MotorSports with a time of 2:19.221s for a speed of 84.556mph. Chris beat out Ryan Eversley in the # 84 Honda Civic FK7 TCR for Atlanta Speedwerks by 0.425 seconds. Third fastest was Denis Dupont in the # 19 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Van der Steur Racing. Mikey Taylor who shares the # 17 Audi with Chris was fastest in the dry in the P-1 session, so the JDC-Miller car has it going on.

Ryan shares the Honda with Brian Henderson while Denis shares the Veloster with Rory van der Steur.

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The # 17 Audi RS3 LMS SEQ for Unitronic JDC-Miller MotorSports - TOPS in P-2

Chris Miller

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IMSA Prototype Challenge held their own P-2 session in the wet and we have the TOP THREE from that session here:

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P3-1 class - It was veteran driver and driver coach Tonis Kasemets who TOPPED the session in the # 60 Ligier JS P320 for Wulver Racing with a time of 2:01.680s for a speed of 96.745mph. Tonis bested Mortiz Kranz in the # 21 Duqueine D08 for Muehlner Motorsports America by a healthy 1.354 seconds. Third fastest was Trent Hindman in the # 7 Ligier JS P320 for VOLT Racing with Archangel - Yes, the same guys as in Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class.

Tonis is sharing the Wulver Ligier with Bruce Hamilton and Trent is sharing the VOLT Ligier with Alan Brynjolfsson. Moritz usually does these races alone in the Muehlner Duqueine, but this weekend he will have Ugo de Wilde co-driving.

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The # 60 Ligier JS P320 for Wulver Racing - TOPS in the P-2 session

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Michelin Pilot Challenge will qualify for the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix on Sunday morning and then run the race Sunday afternoon - last event of the weekend. IMSA Prototype Challenge will qualify for their Season Round 5 this afternoon and then run the race on Sunday morning.

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Next up, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship runs the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR. The race can be seen LIVE on NBC and on NBC Sports Gold’s Track Pass…

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday at VIR - The WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race…

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…turned out to be a real dogfight in the GTLM class, as the # 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19 and the # 4 Corvette C8.R for Corvette Racing in the hands of Kevin Estre and Nick Tandy banged doors and wheels for the lead in the last hour of the race, with Tandy emerging as the race WINNER in class and overall along with co-driver Tommy Milner - the pair’s 3rd WIN in a row. P2 went to the sister Corvette # 3 of starter Jordan Taylor and closer Antonio Garcia while starter Cooper MacNeil and closer Estre had to take P3.

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Tommy (right) and Nick savor their 3rd WIN in a row.

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The race was sloppy at the start because of track conditions following rain in the morning and anyone getting a tire off the island was usually doomed to lurid slides on the wet grass. One in particular looked vicious, as Mario Farnbacher in the # 66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo plowed into tire barriers with 1 hour and 27 minutes to go, bringing out a full course caution that allowed Estre to get in touch with the Corvettes and the battle was on. As it turned out, Farnbacher was okay but the Acura was a write-off for the finish.

Late in the race contact between Antonio Garcia and the GTD class-leading # 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 of Bill Auberlen with less than 12 minutes to go resulted in Auberlen suffering a right rear puncture that cost him the likely class WIN. Taking over the lead at that point was Larens Vanthoor in the # 9 PFAFF Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. Vanthoor and starter Zacharie Robichon would go on to WIN the class, after having started the race from last place for a qually infraction. P2 went to the # 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini of closer Bryan Sellers and starter Madison Snow after a rear tire-only change on its final stop, while the # 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 of starter and IndyCar driver Aaron Telitz was third after an aggressive final lap move by closer and IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth on the # 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche of Patrick Long.

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The race WINNING pair of Zacharie Robichon (left) and Laurens Vanthoor

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Vanthoor and Robichon have gotten three P1s and a P2 out of the last four races and are now on top of the GTD class championship, 50 points ahead of Bryan Sellers, Madison Snow and the # 1 Lamborghini, with only the Petit Le Mans left to contest, this season.

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Next up, Race 1 for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America…

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[MarkyS]

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Saturday afternoon at VIR - The Porsche Carrera Cup North America Race 1…

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…was dominated by Kay van Berlo in the # 3 Porsche 992 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race while teammate Seb Priaulx in the # 15 car came home 2nd after a race-long battle with 3rd place Riley Dickinson in the # 53 Team Hardpoint Porsche.

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Kay van Berlo collects his sixth Porsche Carrera Cup North America WIN

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Left to right, Kay van Berlo, Sebastien Priaulx and Riley Dickinson

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From pole, Van Berlo jumped out into an early lead, ran a steady race and crossed the line 7.4 seconds of Priaulx in the 45-minute contest, which ran caution-free despite several minor incidents further down the field. It was Priaulx who had the fight on his hands with Dickinson, almost from the start of the race, after Riley jumped P3-starter Erik Johansson in the # 14 MRS GT-Racing Porsche.

With the WIN van Berlo comes with 34 points of Priaulx in the title fight. The PCCNA boys will do Race 2 just after Noon on Sunday.

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Next, the IMSA Protoype Challenge guys qualify for their Sunday race…

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Saturday afternoon at VIR - the IMSA Prototype Challenge gang qualify…

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…for season Round 5, to be run on Sunday morning. We have the TOP THREE qualifiers in the P3-1 class, here:

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P3-1 class - Starting on pole will be Moritz Kranz in the # 21 Muehlner Motorsports America Duqueine D08, with a time of 1:41.132s for a speed of 116.402mph. Moritz bested Dan Goldburg in the # 6 Performance Tech Motorsports Ligier JS P320 by a decent 1.692 seconds. Starting P3 will be Keith Grant in the # 40 Duqueine D08 for JDC Motorsports.

Moritz is sharing the # 21 Duqueine with Ugo de Wilde while Dan shares the Perf Tech Ligier with IndyCar driver Rasmus Lindh. Keith’s co-driver in the # 40 Duqueine is his brother, David Grant.

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The # 21 Muehlner Motorsports America Duqueine D08 - On the pole

Moritz Kranz

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The race is scheduled to be run just before 9:00am EASTERN time on Sunday morning and can be seen on NBS Sports Gold’s Track Pass. This was the last on-track activity of the day. Sunday morning will start out with qualifying for the Michelin Pilot Challenge gang. Their race will close out the VIR weekend on Sunday afternoon.

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Sunday morning at VIR - The Michelin Pilot Challenge qualify …

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…for the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix, to be run later this afternoon. We have the TOP THREE qualifiers from each of the two classes here:

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Grand Sport class - On pole is Dillon Machavern in the # 95 BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsport with a time of 1:53.732s for a speed of 103.506mph. Starting P2 will be Kenny Murillo in the # 56 Mercedes-AMG GT GT4 for Murillo Racing, 0.396 seconds off Dillon’s time. Starting 3rd will be Alan Brynjolfsson in the # 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for VOLT Racing with Archangel.

Dillon shares the Bimmer with Bill Auberlen while Kenny shares the Mercedes with Eric Foss. Alan’s co-driver in the Aston is Trent Hindman.

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The # 95 BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsport, and Dillon Machavern - On the pole

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Touring Car class - On pole will be Harry Gottsacker in the # 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport with a time of 1:57.686s for a speed of 100.028mph. Start in P2 will be Tyler Gonzales in the # 27 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Copeland Motorsports, with a time 0.150 seconds behind Harry. Starting third on the grid will be Tristan Herbert in the # 44 Audi RS3 LMS DSG for New German Performance.

Harry’s co-driver in the Elantra is Mark Wilkins while Tyler’s co-driver in the Veloster is Tyler Maxson. Tristan shares the Audi with Britt Casey.

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The # 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport and Harry Gottsacker, on pole

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Near the end of GS-class qualifying Nate Vincent crashed heavily into the Turn 10 barriers and flipped his # 11 FCP Euro Mercedes-AMG GT GT4. At the end of TCR-class qualifying Parker Chase for Bryan Herta Autosport crashed the # 98 Hyundai Elantra. Both guys brought out session-ending red flags and both were checked out and released from the VIR Medical Center, but no word on the condition of their mounts.

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Nate Vincent (left) and Parker Chase

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The 2-hour race is scheduled for a 2:10pm start, EASTERN time, and can be seen on NBC Sports Gold’s Track Pass. Next up, the IMSA Prototype Challenge gang hold Season Round 5…

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Sunday at VIR - IMSA Prototype Challenge holds their best race of the season…

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It was the longest event on their calendar, at 3 hours, and the gang made great use of all three of them, with great racing throughout and a whiz-bang finish, to boot!. WINNING for the first time in 2021 were starter Dan Goldburg and Indy Lights driver and closer Rasmus Lindh in the # 6 Ligier JS P320 for Performance Tech Motorsports. Taking P2 in an heroic drive from a P14 start were starter Josh Sarchet and closer and IndyCar driver Dakota Dickerson in the # 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier. The pair also launched themselves into the points lead with 1 event to go. P3 went to starter Ari Balogh and closer and IndyCar driver Garett Grist in the # 33 Ligier for Jr III Racing, in a great drive by Grist from a lap down, at one point.

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Dan Goldburg (left) and Ras Lindh make the grade, finally in a barn-burner

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The race was led for the first half by the pair of Moritz Kranz, from pole, and Ugo de Wilde in the # 21 Muhlner Motorsports USA Duqueine 08, with Lindh in the P2 car chasing deWilde at about half way. As both cars approached Turn 10 Lindh suddenly spun on track but had the presence of mind to pull in the clutch as the # 6 briefly went airborne and completed the 360-degree spin still on the asphalt – much as Danny Sullivan did when he won the 1985 Indianapolis 500. Rasmus not only survived the spin but was still in 2nd place afterwards. Seconds later, de Wilde pulled into the pits with a mechanical and Lindh took over the lead.

From that point on Rasmus led until a late race caution with 17 minutes to go. On the restart, Lindh locked his tires as he braked entering Turn 1, giving Stevan McAleer in the # 43 Robillard Racing Duqueine enough room to pass for the lead. It looked like it would be the Robillard car that would earn its first series WIN, as Steven was able to maintain a half a second gap back to Rasmus, but on the final lap the young Swedish Indy Lights driver braked late when McAleer went too wide in the Oak Tree turns at Turn 11 and Turn 12 and Rasmus was suddenly beside him. The two cars bumped several times speeding along the back straight. They touched again in Turn 14, with McAleer sliding into the grass and Lindh speeding away to win by just 0.305 seconds over Dickerson, lurking behind the lead battle, ready for both cars to go out.

If that battle was the only one worth recounting it would have been a great race, but there were battles like that all race long, with mistakes by leaders and top contenders taken advantage of, time and again.

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Here is Rasmus Lindh’s “Spin and Win” moment:

#IMSA

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Said Dan Goldburg after the race, "We were pretty sure he was done for at that moment. (I thought) the car was going to be on its hood wholesale, and then he saves it, keeps position and picks up first. It was just nuts!”

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With the P2 Dickerson and Sarchet take the points lead over Moritz Kranz, 1590 to 1490, with only the Petit Le Mans weekend left to run and 350 points up for grabs.

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Next up, the Porsche Carrera Cup North America guys do Race 2…

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Sunday at VIR - Seb Priaulx extends his points lead in Porsche Carrera Cup…

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…North America, by taking the WIN in Race 2 today, from pole, in the # 15 Porsche 992 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race. P2 went to Riley Dickinson in the # 53 Team Hardpoint entry while P3 went to IndyCar driver Parker Thompson in the # 9JDX Racing Porsche.

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Sebastian Priaulx

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At the start of the race P5-starter Parker Thompson got a great jump and found himself beside P2 starter Kay van Berlo in the # 3 for Kelly-Moss Road & Race and the two Porsches lightly touched, which resulted in the Dutch WINNER of Race 1 slipping into the still-wet grass and then hard into the barriers, out of the race. Van Berlo blamed Thompson but Race Control found no fault. Thompson continued on behind P3 starter Dickinson, who pursued Priaulx tightly for the rest of the race, to no avail.

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The points are now 286 for Priaulx and 222 for van Berlo, with three rounds left to go at Michelin Raceway, Road Atlanta, for the Petit Le Mans weekend, with 90 points possible up for grabs.

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Next up, the final event of the weekend, as the Michelin Pilot Challenge series does the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix…

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Sunday afternoon at VIR - Jan Heylen takes his 2nd MPC WIN in the row…

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The former IndyCar driver WON today’s overall and GS class Michelin Pilot Challenge race in the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix, doing closing duties with starter Ryan Hardwick in the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports. Taking P2 initially was the # 23 Notlad by RS1 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Stevan McAleer and Patrick Gallagher, but in post-race tech the car was found to have too much fuel capacity and has been placed to the rear of the GS class finishing order. That advances the # 7 VOLT Racing by Archangel Aston Martin of Trent Hindman and Alan Brynjolfsson to second and has also put the #. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 of Bill Auberlen and Dillon Machavern on the podium in third.

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Ryan Hardwick (left) and IndyCar driver Jan Heylen WIN at VIR

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Hardwick started the race from P6 and he and Heylen had the car in P2 by the end. Heylen got by Stevan McAleer with 12 minutes to go and never looked back, taking a 0.516-second win over the Aston. Behind them, Trent Hindman held off a hard-charging Bill Auberlen, who climbed his way through the field after an off-sequence pit stop that initially put him outside of the top-ten, despite the car starting on pole.

In TCR class, closer Mikey Taylor and starter Chris Miller have dominate practices all weekend in the # 17 JDC-Miller Motorsports Audi RS 3 LMS TCR and that translated into a class WIN today, besting the # 54 Hyundai Veloster N TCR of Stephen Simpson and IndyCar driver and paraplegic Michael Johnson by 2.467-seconds. Johnson and Simpson drive for Michael Johnson Racing in a car prepped by Bryan Herta Autosport. Taking P3 was the # 33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR of Mark Wilkins and class pole-sitter Harry Gottsacker.

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Mikey Taylor celebrates a WIN at VIR for Audi and Unitronic JDC-Miller

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Chris Miller (left) and Mikey Taylor

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In GS class the points battle is TIGHT as Auberlen and MacHavern lead with 2360 points. Heylen is 2nd with 2330 points and Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta have 2220, with 350 points up for grabs at the Petit Le Mans weekend.

In TCR class the points leaders are Michael Lewis and Taylor Hagler with 2610, while Parker Chase has 2380 and Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins have 2350, with 350 points up for grabs at Road Atlanta.

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Road Atlanta will feature season enders for the Michelin Pilot Challenge series, the IMSA Prototype Challenge series, the Porsche Carrera Cup North America series and of course the WeatherTech SportCar Championship series, with the 10-hour Petit Le Mans. All will be decided November 11-13.

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We all knew this was coming…Jack Harvey will drive for Rahal Letterman Lanigan…

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…in 2022, but what was a bit of a surprise is that he will take over the # 45 car, which is the Hy-Vee sponsored car, rather than the expected # 30 car, driven of late by Takuma Sato. Sato is indeed leaving the team to seek a ride elsewhere, nevertheless, so the # 30 seat is not yet allocated to anyone.

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Jack Harvey - the guy in the Hy-Vee Honda in 2022

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Possible drivers for the # 30 include Oliver Askew, Santino Ferrucci and Christian Lundegaard, all of whom drove the # 45 at times in 2021. The most well-funded of the three is Christian, so it is assumed he has the best chance to end up on the squad, but the team favorite is rumored to be Santino, who posted the two best finishes of P6 in the car, including his terrific drive in the Indy 500. The fan favorite is probably 2019 Indy Lights champ Oliver Askew.

The possibles: Santino Ferrucci, (left) Oliver Askew and Christian Lundegaard (right)

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Said Jack of the confirmed move from Meyer Shank Racing, “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. I’ve been working towards this moment for my entire career and I’m so honored and thankful for the trust Bobby, Mike, David and Piers (Phillips, president) have placed in me. Hy-Vee has massively committed to elevating IndyCar as a series and I’m honored to be representing their brand on track in the No. 45. I’m eager to get to work with Graham and the entire team. We have common goals of competing for wins and championships, and I’m confident we’ll be contending from the drop of the green flag next year. This is an exciting next chapter, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”

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No word yet on where Sato might land, but the possibility of an Indy-only year for the 2-time Indy 500 WINNER with some team is strong.

Takuma Sato

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Ernie Francis, Jr. will get his shot as an Indy Lights driver for 2022…

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Road to Indy team Force Indy announced today that they intend to switch from USF2000 to participation in Indy Lights in 2022, and they will be testing five-time Trans Am series champion Ernie Francis in the car at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in late October.

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Ernie Francis, Jr.

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The 23-year-old from Florida is likely to land a full-time opportunity with the team led by Rod Reid associated with Penske Entertainment’s Race For Equality & Change program.

Though well-known to Trans Am fans, Ernie became an overnight national sensation competing in the made-for-TV SRX series this year, WINNING a race and placing second in the standings behind IndyCar and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. Showing more of his abilities, Francis, Jr. WON his first open-wheel race in June at Mid-Ohio, scored back-to-back victories at the most recent Formula Regionals America round at VIRginia International Raceway and he currently holds third in the FRA championship with one event left to run.

As Force Indy leaves USF2000 they will let go of Myles Rowe, who competed for the team in the series this season, collecting a terrific WIN in the rain at New Jersey, as well as earning 6 TOP TENS. Reid will assist Rowe in finding another ride with a returning USF2000 team for 2022.

Myles Rowe will go looking

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Kyle Kirkwood and Devlin DeFrancesco drive IndyCars at Sebring for Andretti…

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Both 2021 Indy Lights drivers got their first taste of an IndyCar on Wednesday on the Sebring Raceway’s 1.7-mile short course. The 2021 Indy Lights Champion Kirkwood drove the same # 26 Honda that Colton Herta used to collect three WINS in 2021 while Devlin drove the # 29 Honda that was Ryan Hunter-Reay’s in 2021 and will be Romain Grosjean’s car in 2022.

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The runs were slotted in between bouts of rain but each driver got a taste of what to expect in 2022, when both will have a least a few races in the big cars. (DeFrancesco is expected to take over the # 29 for the 2022 season). Both had the same comment, basically, that the big cars are the most impressive cars they have ever driven, but that the Dallara IL-15 Indy Lights car is close enough in performance characteristics as to be an excellent training vehicle to get to the IndyCars. If anything, the IndyCar is in many ways easier to drive, because of the better race tires, carbon fiber brakes and much better shocks.

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The engines are also more linear. That is to say, for turbo-charged engines, they progress in power without a huge wallop nearer the top of the rev range, as the Lights cars are more apt to do.

Kirkwood had a bit of a easier time adapting to the car because of the time he has spent in IMSA driving for Vasser Sullivan in the WeatherTech GTD class Lexus RCF GT3, which has equally-sophisticated controls electronics on the steering wheel. He will probably be on the Lexus squad again in November for the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

On Wednesday, Kirkwood turned a fastest lap of 52.49sec, while DeFrancesco produced a 52.85. Both will be back in the cars for a test at Barber Motorsports Park on October 25th.

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This weekend, Pippa Mann will be racing at Indianapolis for the first time…

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…for the first time on the Road Course, that is. (She has 7 Indy 500 starts). This weekend, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host three races, including the Indianapolis 8 Hour event, an Intercontinental GT Challenge sports car championship race October 15-17, in conjunction with its North American series, GT World Challenge America, and Pippa will be a co-driver in the # 7 OGH Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport run by Nolasport, which she will share with Sean Gibbons and Sam Owen in the GT4 class.

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Pippa Mann at the Nordschleife, earlier this year - a WIN in the ADAC 24-hour

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The English IndyCar driver has done a number of 8-hour endurance races in the past, in World Racing League events, but this will be her first SRO GT World Challenge race, and the first laps ever going clockwise around Indianapolis. She is coming off a WIN at the ADAC Total 24h Race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, driving on the “Girls Only” squad of the Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing with Célia Martin, Carrie Schreiner and Christina Nielsen.

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We’ll keep an eye on Pippa and wish her all the best luck.

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