FEBRUARY 28, 2024

(INDYCAR)

2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Marcus Ericsson led the second day of NTT INDYCAR SERIES testing Tuesday (Feb. 27) at Sebring International Raceway, turning a top lap of 51.9512 seconds in the No. 28 Andretti Global Delaware Life Honda. Ericsson joined Andretti Global this season after racing the last four seasons for Chip Ganassi Racing. His time on the bumpy, 1.67-mile short course circuit at Sebring was the quickest overall in two days of testing this week as every NTT INDYCAR SERIES team prepared for the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 10 (noon ET, NBC, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network). Ericsson won the St. Petersburg race last year. "Today is very important, especially when you're in a new team," Ericsson said. "It's been a lot of learning processes, learning the people, learning the car. Everything is new, obviously. We don't get a lot of tests these days. So, we need to maximize that. "We just had a really good day. So, that's positive, and we're feeling excited about going to St. Pete."

Two-time series champion Will Power was second quickest at 52.0076 in the No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Business Chevrolet. Like Ericsson, Power turned his top lap in the final fifteen minutes of the session. Pato O'Ward was third quick with his best afternoon lap of 52.0104 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. O'Ward showed remarkable consistency, leading the morning session at 52.0158. Felix Rosenqvist ended up fourth at 52.0305 in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda. Rosenqvist, like fellow Swede Ericsson, has switched teams this season, shifting from Arrow McLaren to Meyer Shank Racing. Graham Rahal rounded out the top five at 52.0598 in the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

Each of the top five drivers Tuesday posted times quicker than the best overall lap Monday, 52.0883 by reigning series champion Alex Palou in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing DHL Honda. Palou ended up sixth on the overall speed chart. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)

(NASCAR)

Daniel Suárez (No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) captured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season Sunday, prevailing in a three-wide photo finish to win the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Suárez continued after a Lap 2 crash and led just nine of the 260 laps, holding on for an 0.003-second margin of victory over Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) at the finish. His first win at the 1.54-mile Georgia track was the second of his Cup Series career. Kyle Busch (No. 8 RCR Chevrolet) finished third — just 0.007 seconds back of the race winner as the trio finished three-abreast on the dash to the checkered flag. Watch the finish here. 

(Trans Am)

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season-opener at Sebring International Raceway started off with a bang, beginning with a crash in the first turn of the race that took out two former champions and ending with last-lap charge for the win. After defending three-time champion Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) made contact with polesitter and four-time champion Ernie Francis Jr. (No. 79 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge Challenger) just seconds after the green flag, Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards Ford Mustang) was able to cruise to victory, but not without a late challenge from 1986 champion Wally Dallenbach Jr. (No. 4 Ultimate Headers Mustang). (Thank you to Trans Am Media.)

(Trans Am)

Seventeen-year-old Connor Zilisch was unstoppable in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race at Sebring International Raceway, opening up the 2024 season with a win from the pole. Zilisch took green flag from the point position and led every lap en route to victory, cleanly dominating the 27-lap race. Zilisch’s No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro was the class of the field, pacing the competition from start to finish. He managed to open up multi-second advantages over second place through three long runs, effortlessly keeping his lead through two restarts after full-course cautions. (Thank you to Trans Am Media.)