Sunday
May162021
MAY 19, 2021
Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 09:38AM 
(Photo by Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR)
Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda) raised the speed limit on “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, turning the fastest lap of the week – 233.302 mph – in the final full day of practice before Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. It was the second day this week that six-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon topped the speed charts, as he also was fastest Wednesday. “It was really tough out there today," said Dixon. "Just really tough to get a clear track. I know it's difficult. I know everybody wants to try to get a (qualifying simulation) run.” Qualifying takes place from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, with positions 1-30 secured (noon-6 p.m., Peacock; 2-3 p.m., NBC; 3-6 p.m., NBCSN). On Sunday, the Fast Nine Shootout will determine the NTT P1 Award for pole and the order of the first three rows, and Last Chance Qualifying will determine which three of the five remaining cars will complete the starting field for the May 30 race. Today was the first day of the event with elevated boost levels in the engine turbochargers, which continues through Saturday and Sunday for qualifying. The additional boost added between 80HP and 90HP and increased speeds 8 mph from Thursday. Dixon’s top lap came with the benefit of an aerodynamic tow, which drivers won’t get in single-car qualifying this weekend. 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi (No. 27 Andretti Autosport NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda) was the fastest driver running alone on the 2.5-mile oval, marking him as a favorite to win the NTT P1 Award for pole Sunday. Rossi’s best no-tow lap today was 231.598 mph. All the top five overall speeds today came with a tow from traffic. Colton Herta was second at 232.784 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Gainbridge Honda, while 2013 Indy winner Tony Kanaan – fastest Thursday – was third at 232.690 mph in the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. Marcus Ericsson (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Huski Chocolate Honda) was fourth at 232.531 mph and Alex Palou helped Honda-powered drivers sweep the top five spots on the speed chart, clocking in fifth at 232.155 mph in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT DATA Honda. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda) raised the speed limit on “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, turning the fastest lap of the week – 233.302 mph – in the final full day of practice before Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. It was the second day this week that six-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon topped the speed charts, as he also was fastest Wednesday. “It was really tough out there today," said Dixon. "Just really tough to get a clear track. I know it's difficult. I know everybody wants to try to get a (qualifying simulation) run.” Qualifying takes place from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, with positions 1-30 secured (noon-6 p.m., Peacock; 2-3 p.m., NBC; 3-6 p.m., NBCSN). On Sunday, the Fast Nine Shootout will determine the NTT P1 Award for pole and the order of the first three rows, and Last Chance Qualifying will determine which three of the five remaining cars will complete the starting field for the May 30 race. Today was the first day of the event with elevated boost levels in the engine turbochargers, which continues through Saturday and Sunday for qualifying. The additional boost added between 80HP and 90HP and increased speeds 8 mph from Thursday. Dixon’s top lap came with the benefit of an aerodynamic tow, which drivers won’t get in single-car qualifying this weekend. 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi (No. 27 Andretti Autosport NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda) was the fastest driver running alone on the 2.5-mile oval, marking him as a favorite to win the NTT P1 Award for pole Sunday. Rossi’s best no-tow lap today was 231.598 mph. All the top five overall speeds today came with a tow from traffic. Colton Herta was second at 232.784 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Gainbridge Honda, while 2013 Indy winner Tony Kanaan – fastest Thursday – was third at 232.690 mph in the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. Marcus Ericsson (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Huski Chocolate Honda) was fourth at 232.531 mph and Alex Palou helped Honda-powered drivers sweep the top five spots on the speed chart, clocking in fifth at 232.155 mph in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT DATA Honda. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
(Photo by Walt Kuhn/INDYCAR)
Tony Kanaan led the third day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday. 2013 Indy 500 winner and 2004 INDYCAR SERIES champion Kanaan, who is aiming to make his 20th start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” led the pack of 35 cars with a best lap of 225.341 mph in the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. Track and air temperatures continued to climb after a cool start to practice Tuesday and moderate temperatures Wednesday. “It feels good,” Kanaan said. “Today has been the hottest day so far this week, so we’ve been to do a couple of things to kind of do the cookbook. You’re just trying to check the weather, what are we running in this type of weather, trying to guess when you’re going to qualify and then try to guess what’s going to happen next Sunday when we take the green flag. We’re just working on racing setup.” Practice resumes from noon-6 p.m. (ET) tomorrow on “Fast Friday.” It’s the first day with elevated boost levels in the engine turbochargers, which continues through Saturday and Sunday for Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying. The additional boost will add between 80 and 90HP and increase speeds. Conor Daly (No. 47 Ed Carpenter Racing U.S. Air Force Chevrolet) continued a strong week on the 2.5-mile oval by ending up second at 225.245 mph. Santino Ferrucci (No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Hy-Vee Honda) was third at 224.922 mph in what turned out to be a tough day for him. At 4:14 p.m., Ferrucci did a quarter-spin to the left in Turn 2 and made hard rear contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 before stopping on the back straightaway in the first major incident of practice this week. The rear of the car suffered heavy damage and Ferrucci was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for further evaluation of his left foot. He is expected to resume driving on Friday. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
Tony Kanaan led the third day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday. 2013 Indy 500 winner and 2004 INDYCAR SERIES champion Kanaan, who is aiming to make his 20th start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” led the pack of 35 cars with a best lap of 225.341 mph in the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. Track and air temperatures continued to climb after a cool start to practice Tuesday and moderate temperatures Wednesday. “It feels good,” Kanaan said. “Today has been the hottest day so far this week, so we’ve been to do a couple of things to kind of do the cookbook. You’re just trying to check the weather, what are we running in this type of weather, trying to guess when you’re going to qualify and then try to guess what’s going to happen next Sunday when we take the green flag. We’re just working on racing setup.” Practice resumes from noon-6 p.m. (ET) tomorrow on “Fast Friday.” It’s the first day with elevated boost levels in the engine turbochargers, which continues through Saturday and Sunday for Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying. The additional boost will add between 80 and 90HP and increase speeds. Conor Daly (No. 47 Ed Carpenter Racing U.S. Air Force Chevrolet) continued a strong week on the 2.5-mile oval by ending up second at 225.245 mph. Santino Ferrucci (No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Hy-Vee Honda) was third at 224.922 mph in what turned out to be a tough day for him. At 4:14 p.m., Ferrucci did a quarter-spin to the left in Turn 2 and made hard rear contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 before stopping on the back straightaway in the first major incident of practice this week. The rear of the car suffered heavy damage and Ferrucci was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for further evaluation of his left foot. He is expected to resume driving on Friday. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda) was quickest on Wednesday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 226.829 mph in the second full day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Conor Daly (No. 47 Ed Carpenter Racing U.S. Air Force Chevrolet) was second quick at 226.372 mph. Ed Carpenter (No.20 Ed Carpenter Racing SONAX Chevrolet) was third at 226.103 mph. All of the top speeds on Wednesday came with the benefit of aerodynamic tows in heavy traffic, as 34 drivers combined to turn 3,326 laps during the six-hour practice session. 2016 Indy winner Alexander Rossi (No. 27 Andretti Autosport NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda) turned in a top no-tow lap of 221.114 mph.
Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda) was quickest on Wednesday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 226.829 mph in the second full day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Conor Daly (No. 47 Ed Carpenter Racing U.S. Air Force Chevrolet) was second quick at 226.372 mph. Ed Carpenter (No.20 Ed Carpenter Racing SONAX Chevrolet) was third at 226.103 mph. All of the top speeds on Wednesday came with the benefit of aerodynamic tows in heavy traffic, as 34 drivers combined to turn 3,326 laps during the six-hour practice session. 2016 Indy winner Alexander Rossi (No. 27 Andretti Autosport NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda) turned in a top no-tow lap of 221.114 mph.
(Photo by Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR)
Will Power (No. 12 Team Penske Verizon 5G Chevrolet) led a busy, compressed opening day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Tuesday, turning a top lap of 226.470 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 2018 Indy 500 winner Power’s fastest lap came in the final session of the day, an open practice lasting one hour, 50 minutes between 4:10-6 p.m. (ET) on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Delays due to late-morning rain compressed the final session, so drivers wasted no time clustering in packs of thick traffic and swapping positions in the aerodynamic draft. “Just a big tow,” Power said of the aerodynamic pull of leading cars. “It’s as simple as that – trying to catch that train. But as far as in traffic, I felt pretty good. Running with two or three cars in front, I felt as comfortable as I have in a while.” 2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 28 Andretti Autosport DHL Honda) was second at 226.371 mph, while two-time and reigning winner Takuma Sato was third at 226.132 in the No. 30 Panasonic/PeopleReady Honda. Sage Karam was the fastest non-“500” winner on the speed chart, fourth at 225.942 in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-AES INDIANA Chevrolet. Conor Daly rounded out the top five at 225.640 in the No. 47 Ed Carpenter Racing U.S. Air Force Chevrolet. INDYCAR introduced a regulation in 2021 that requires teams to fill in the front half of the “hole” in the underwing of the Dallara chassis with a carbon fiber clam-shell piece. This increases downforce and reduces the reliance on the front wing, which will create more passing. After just one day in traffic, 2014 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Power thinks the changes will generate even more action on Race Day, Sunday, May 30. “It’s promising,” Power said. “I think adding that downforce is certainly going to help the racing. I think you’re going to have one of the old-style races where the front three are just swapping positions constantly because you can follow so close now. I think it will be good. It’s good for the fans.” Power was the busiest and fastest of the 35 drivers on track today, turning 87 laps. The field combined to turn 2,369 laps overall. The track is scheduled to be open from noon-6 p.m. on Wednesday for open practice.
Will Power (No. 12 Team Penske Verizon 5G Chevrolet) led a busy, compressed opening day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Tuesday, turning a top lap of 226.470 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 2018 Indy 500 winner Power’s fastest lap came in the final session of the day, an open practice lasting one hour, 50 minutes between 4:10-6 p.m. (ET) on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Delays due to late-morning rain compressed the final session, so drivers wasted no time clustering in packs of thick traffic and swapping positions in the aerodynamic draft. “Just a big tow,” Power said of the aerodynamic pull of leading cars. “It’s as simple as that – trying to catch that train. But as far as in traffic, I felt pretty good. Running with two or three cars in front, I felt as comfortable as I have in a while.” 2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 28 Andretti Autosport DHL Honda) was second at 226.371 mph, while two-time and reigning winner Takuma Sato was third at 226.132 in the No. 30 Panasonic/PeopleReady Honda. Sage Karam was the fastest non-“500” winner on the speed chart, fourth at 225.942 in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-AES INDIANA Chevrolet. Conor Daly rounded out the top five at 225.640 in the No. 47 Ed Carpenter Racing U.S. Air Force Chevrolet. INDYCAR introduced a regulation in 2021 that requires teams to fill in the front half of the “hole” in the underwing of the Dallara chassis with a carbon fiber clam-shell piece. This increases downforce and reduces the reliance on the front wing, which will create more passing. After just one day in traffic, 2014 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Power thinks the changes will generate even more action on Race Day, Sunday, May 30. “It’s promising,” Power said. “I think adding that downforce is certainly going to help the racing. I think you’re going to have one of the old-style races where the front three are just swapping positions constantly because you can follow so close now. I think it will be good. It’s good for the fans.” Power was the busiest and fastest of the 35 drivers on track today, turning 87 laps. The field combined to turn 2,369 laps overall. The track is scheduled to be open from noon-6 p.m. on Wednesday for open practice.
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
The belief always has been there for Rinus VeeKay. Now it has translated into victory. VeeKay earned his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory Saturday in the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in his 19th career start. VeeKay drove his No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Sonax/Autogeek Chevrolet to a 4.9510-second victory over NTT P1 Award winner Romain Grosjean in the No. 51 NURTEC ODT Honda. Alex Palou rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. "I actually thought it, yeah,” the confident VeeKay said when asked if he believed he could win this 85-lap race. “We had an awesome start to the weekend. I knew we had the car; we were so fast. I'm so happy for the team, so thankful. I couldn't have done it without them. A perfect day. It's amazing, and thank you to all the fans coming out. Getting my first podium here last year and now winning, it's a dream.” VeeKay, 20, became the sixth-youngest winner in INDYCAR SERIES history by delivering Ed Carpenter Racing its first victory since Josef Newgarden won in July 2016 at Iowa Speedway. VeeKay also became the first driver ever to win in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and in all three rungs of the Road to Indy ladder series – Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000. The victory also continued a remarkable opening five races of the 2021 season, with three first-time series winners – VeeKay, Palou (Barber Motorsports Park) and Pato O’Ward (Texas 2) – for the first time since 2013. There also has been a different winner in each race this season. The 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year, VeeKay led 33 laps and averaged 116.096 mph. He took the lead for good on Lap 65 when six-time series champion Scott Dixon made his final pit stop in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Honda, on a different pit strategy than the leaders. Then VeeKay managed his gap over Grosjean and traffic over the closing 20 laps as very light rain began to spatter the Speedway. The moisture never required a switch to rain tires, but it kept VeeKay and the rest of the 25-driver field atop their respective steering wheels. VeeKay’s margin over Grosjean was 9.0106 seconds with 10 laps to go. Grosjean, helped by Firestone alternate “red” tires that were three laps fresher than VeeKay’s, sliced that gap nearly in half over the last 10 trips around the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit but never threatened VeeKay, who also slowed in his final laps to save enough fuel to finish. "I was not concerned about the fuel,” VeeKay said. “I just hoped the rain was not going to get worse. I'm standing in Victory Lane!” (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
The belief always has been there for Rinus VeeKay. Now it has translated into victory. VeeKay earned his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory Saturday in the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in his 19th career start. VeeKay drove his No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Sonax/Autogeek Chevrolet to a 4.9510-second victory over NTT P1 Award winner Romain Grosjean in the No. 51 NURTEC ODT Honda. Alex Palou rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. "I actually thought it, yeah,” the confident VeeKay said when asked if he believed he could win this 85-lap race. “We had an awesome start to the weekend. I knew we had the car; we were so fast. I'm so happy for the team, so thankful. I couldn't have done it without them. A perfect day. It's amazing, and thank you to all the fans coming out. Getting my first podium here last year and now winning, it's a dream.” VeeKay, 20, became the sixth-youngest winner in INDYCAR SERIES history by delivering Ed Carpenter Racing its first victory since Josef Newgarden won in July 2016 at Iowa Speedway. VeeKay also became the first driver ever to win in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and in all three rungs of the Road to Indy ladder series – Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000. The victory also continued a remarkable opening five races of the 2021 season, with three first-time series winners – VeeKay, Palou (Barber Motorsports Park) and Pato O’Ward (Texas 2) – for the first time since 2013. There also has been a different winner in each race this season. The 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year, VeeKay led 33 laps and averaged 116.096 mph. He took the lead for good on Lap 65 when six-time series champion Scott Dixon made his final pit stop in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Honda, on a different pit strategy than the leaders. Then VeeKay managed his gap over Grosjean and traffic over the closing 20 laps as very light rain began to spatter the Speedway. The moisture never required a switch to rain tires, but it kept VeeKay and the rest of the 25-driver field atop their respective steering wheels. VeeKay’s margin over Grosjean was 9.0106 seconds with 10 laps to go. Grosjean, helped by Firestone alternate “red” tires that were three laps fresher than VeeKay’s, sliced that gap nearly in half over the last 10 trips around the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit but never threatened VeeKay, who also slowed in his final laps to save enough fuel to finish. "I was not concerned about the fuel,” VeeKay said. “I just hoped the rain was not going to get worse. I'm standing in Victory Lane!” (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Rinus VeeKay gets a hug from his dad after his big win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Rinus VeeKay gets a hug from his dad after his big win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.
(Photo by Karl Zemlin/INDYCAR)
“That’s really a good day,” Grosjean said, after starting from the pole and finishing second in the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing NURTEC ODT Honda. “I think we’ve done really good work this weekend. We learned at the start of the race, and we were super fast. We were a bit unlucky with the slower cars and traffic, but P2 in my third INDYCAR race is not too bad.” Fans at IMS serenaded Grosjean with cheers as he was interviewed on pit lane after the race. The Frenchman has gained worldwide acclaim and popularity for his positive attitude after suffering severe burns to his hands last November in a fiery crash at Bahrain that ended his F1 career. “It’s incredible,” Grosjean said of the crowd. “Bahrain, it was horrible, but for my life it’s been a great experience, and people really are behind me, and I can tell. I can feel it. The support I’m having is incredible. You only see me smiling here in the U.S.”
“That’s really a good day,” Grosjean said, after starting from the pole and finishing second in the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing NURTEC ODT Honda. “I think we’ve done really good work this weekend. We learned at the start of the race, and we were super fast. We were a bit unlucky with the slower cars and traffic, but P2 in my third INDYCAR race is not too bad.” Fans at IMS serenaded Grosjean with cheers as he was interviewed on pit lane after the race. The Frenchman has gained worldwide acclaim and popularity for his positive attitude after suffering severe burns to his hands last November in a fiery crash at Bahrain that ended his F1 career. “It’s incredible,” Grosjean said of the crowd. “Bahrain, it was horrible, but for my life it’s been a great experience, and people really are behind me, and I can tell. I can feel it. The support I’m having is incredible. You only see me smiling here in the U.S.”
(Photo by Walt Kuhn/INDYCAR)
Alex Palou rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. It has been a remarkable opening five races of the 2021 season for the NTT INDYCAR Series, with three first-time series winners – VeeKay, Palou (Barber Motorsports Park) and Pato O’Ward (Texas 2) – for the first time since 2013. There also has been a different winner in each race this season.
Alex Palou rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing The American Legion Honda. It has been a remarkable opening five races of the 2021 season for the NTT INDYCAR Series, with three first-time series winners – VeeKay, Palou (Barber Motorsports Park) and Pato O’Ward (Texas 2) – for the first time since 2013. There also has been a different winner in each race this season.
(Australian Associated Press)
Jack Miller (No. 43 Ducati Lenovo Team) delivered a flag-to-flag win in the French MotoGP at Le Mans. Johann Zarco (No. 5 Pramac Racing Ducati) was second, while Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) finished third. Miller recovered from a double long-lap penalty and late charge by Zarco to make it two wins in a row during a dramatic dry-wet-dry flag-to-flag race. Early race leader Miller and Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) both received a double long-lap penalty for speeding in pit lane during their bike swaps, but the Australian was soon able to overcome the penalties, taking the lead from home favorite Quartararo with 16 laps to go. But there was more drama as the sun began shining and the track surface quickly began to dry, meaning those with a least one soft wet tire - including race leaders Miller and Quartararo - might potentially need to pit again for slicks. Zarco, who was on the medium wet tires, swept by countryman Quartararo for second place with 6 laps to go, but Miller remained out of reach for victory over the French stars. Miller became the first Australian to win successive MotoGP races since Casey Stoner did it in 2012.
Jack Miller (No. 43 Ducati Lenovo Team) delivered a flag-to-flag win in the French MotoGP at Le Mans. Johann Zarco (No. 5 Pramac Racing Ducati) was second, while Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) finished third. Miller recovered from a double long-lap penalty and late charge by Zarco to make it two wins in a row during a dramatic dry-wet-dry flag-to-flag race. Early race leader Miller and Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) both received a double long-lap penalty for speeding in pit lane during their bike swaps, but the Australian was soon able to overcome the penalties, taking the lead from home favorite Quartararo with 16 laps to go. But there was more drama as the sun began shining and the track surface quickly began to dry, meaning those with a least one soft wet tire - including race leaders Miller and Quartararo - might potentially need to pit again for slicks. Zarco, who was on the medium wet tires, swept by countryman Quartararo for second place with 6 laps to go, but Miller remained out of reach for victory over the French stars. Miller became the first Australian to win successive MotoGP races since Casey Stoner did it in 2012.
(Michelin Racing)
Ricky Taylor (No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 DPi) found himself in a tense, make that intense, situation before claiming the overall win in Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by the TLX Type S at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Taylor was quickly running low on fuel, while Felipe Nasr was charging hard in second place in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi V.R. Taylor’s mission was to save enough gas to get the checkered flag yet use enough fuel to keep Nasr at bay. “My fuel (warning) light came on with three laps to go, but I didn’t tell the crew,” Taylor said, after winning his second race of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with co-driver Filipe Albuquerque. “It was so stressful,” he added. Neither Wayne Taylor Racing, nor Wayne Taylor the driver, had never won at the 2.258-mile road course located in the heart of the Buckeye State. Wayne, who had his face buried in his hands atop the pit box during the critical closing laps, is Ricky’s father. The margin of victory was a scant 0.368 seconds over Nasr, whose last pass attempt on the final of 122 laps for the victory was thwarted by a slower car. The gamble of not stopping for fuel paid big dividends for Acura, which extended its Mid-Ohio winning streak to four consecutive years. Ricky Taylor has been involved in three of those wins, bringing his career IMSA total to 26. Nasr co-drove the No. 31 Cadillac DPi with Pipo Derani for second-place honors. Rounding out the podium was the No. 55 Mazda Motorsports DPi driven by Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell, who dominated the first half of the race and at one point enjoyed more than a 10-second lead. (Thank you to Godwin Kelly/IMSA Wire Service)
Ricky Taylor (No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 DPi) found himself in a tense, make that intense, situation before claiming the overall win in Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by the TLX Type S at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Taylor was quickly running low on fuel, while Felipe Nasr was charging hard in second place in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi V.R. Taylor’s mission was to save enough gas to get the checkered flag yet use enough fuel to keep Nasr at bay. “My fuel (warning) light came on with three laps to go, but I didn’t tell the crew,” Taylor said, after winning his second race of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with co-driver Filipe Albuquerque. “It was so stressful,” he added. Neither Wayne Taylor Racing, nor Wayne Taylor the driver, had never won at the 2.258-mile road course located in the heart of the Buckeye State. Wayne, who had his face buried in his hands atop the pit box during the critical closing laps, is Ricky’s father. The margin of victory was a scant 0.368 seconds over Nasr, whose last pass attempt on the final of 122 laps for the victory was thwarted by a slower car. The gamble of not stopping for fuel paid big dividends for Acura, which extended its Mid-Ohio winning streak to four consecutive years. Ricky Taylor has been involved in three of those wins, bringing his career IMSA total to 26. Nasr co-drove the No. 31 Cadillac DPi with Pipo Derani for second-place honors. Rounding out the podium was the No. 55 Mazda Motorsports DPi driven by Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell, who dominated the first half of the race and at one point enjoyed more than a 10-second lead. (Thank you to Godwin Kelly/IMSA Wire Service)
(Honda)
(IMSA)
Gar Robinson, who opened 2021 with the LMP3 win at Daytona, and Felipe Fraga topped the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class in the No. 74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320. The top four LMP3 machines finished on the same lap. Robinson started from the pole position and helped earn Riley Motorsports’ 15th IMSA victory. “The perfect weekend,” Robinson said. “This track has always been important to me because when you did well here it sets the tone for the rest of the championship.” “This was my first prototype race ever,” Fraga said. “This was the first time I could race in IMSA this year. I’m really happy we won the race together.” The DPi class returns to action at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 11-12. The next LMP3 race weekend is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, June 24-27, at Watkins Glen International. (Thank you to Godwin Kelly/IMSA Wire Service)
(IMSA)
When opportunity knocked, Robby Foley and Bill Auberlen kicked open the door to victory. The co-drivers of the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 appeared destined for a runner-up finish at best in Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by the TLX Type S. Lexus looked secure to win the GT Daytona (GTD) class race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the fourth straight year, until a rear suspension issue took Jack Hawksworth’s No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 out of contention. Foley and Auberlen capitalized on the break and rolled to their first triumph of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. It also marked the 63rd win for Auberlen – the all-time IMSA victory leader – and the fifth career win for Foley. On top of that, it put Auberlen, Foley and the No. 96 BMW atop the unofficial WeatherTech Championship season standings, seven points ahead of the No. 23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 shared by Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn. “The (No.) 14 had some pace, they were quick,” Auberlen said. “And you can never count your chickens until this race is over. Sure enough, they had a rare mechanical failure and that put us in the lead, and then (Foley) had the pace of everybody else in the field.” Foley still ran second to Hawksworth when smoke began pouring from the rear of the No. 14 Lexus with 90 minutes to go on the 2.258-mile road course in Central Ohio. Hawksworth limped the car back to the pits, where it underwent lengthy repairs and eventually retired last in the 13-car GTD field. From there, Foley sailed in the No. 96 BMW, building a 26-second lead before turning over the car to the veteran Auberlen for the final hour. Zach Veach, in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus, was able to keep Auberlen in sight but never mounted a serious charge. The final margin of victory was 2.712 seconds to give Auberlen his record-extending 63rd career win. Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (No. 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3) finished third. The top seven finishers, in fact, each represented a different manufacturer. (Thank you to Mark Robinson/IMSA Wire Service)
(Sean Garner/Getty Images)
Alex Bowman (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) took the lead off pit road after his final pit stop with 97 of 400 race laps remaining, held off the field on two more race restarts and earned his second victory of the year in Sunday’s Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway. The win punctuated a historic Hendrick Motorsports day at the famed 1-mile track, with the team becoming the third organization in NASCAR Cup Series history to finish 1-2-3-4 in a single event, joining Peter DePaolo Racing (Dec. 30, 1956 at Titusville; April 7, 1957 at North Wilkesboro Speedway) and Roush Fenway Racing (Nov. 20, 2005 at Homestead-Miami Speedway). Bowman held off his teammate Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) by 2.017 seconds. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) was third, and William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) finished just behind in fourth, marking the first time in the organization’s 267-victory history it has had a four-car sweep atop the scoreboard. It was actually Larson who paced the field most of the day – leading a race-best 263 of the opening 303 laps, and sweeping both Stage 1 and Stage 2 victories – his series-best fifth and sixth stage wins of the season. And at one point, Sunday, he led the field by a full eight seconds. But Bowman’s team turned in the single fastest pit stop of the entire 2021 season during a late-race caution period and got the car back on track just in front of Larson. Bowman held off his teammate on the restart and pulled away to a comfortable win. In all, Bowman, Larson and Byron combined to lead 381 of the 400 laps. “I can guarantee you this is the most nervous I’ve ever been in a race,” Hendrick said. “Great day for the organization. And Alex, congratulations to him. This is a sign of the guys working together and bringing good stuff to the track. I don’t think it will hit me until tomorrow that we were able to finish one, two, three, four. That’s pretty hard to do, things can happen, pit stops, tires, anything. That’s a first and we’ll take it. It was a great day for us.” Not only was it a win for Bowman, and a seriously strong effort by Larson, but it was also another statement-making day for the 23-year-old Byron. It marks his 11th straight top-10 finish – making him the youngest in series history to put together a string of excellence like that. (Thank you to Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service)
Gar Robinson, who opened 2021 with the LMP3 win at Daytona, and Felipe Fraga topped the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class in the No. 74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320. The top four LMP3 machines finished on the same lap. Robinson started from the pole position and helped earn Riley Motorsports’ 15th IMSA victory. “The perfect weekend,” Robinson said. “This track has always been important to me because when you did well here it sets the tone for the rest of the championship.” “This was my first prototype race ever,” Fraga said. “This was the first time I could race in IMSA this year. I’m really happy we won the race together.” The DPi class returns to action at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 11-12. The next LMP3 race weekend is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, June 24-27, at Watkins Glen International. (Thank you to Godwin Kelly/IMSA Wire Service)
(IMSA)When opportunity knocked, Robby Foley and Bill Auberlen kicked open the door to victory. The co-drivers of the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 appeared destined for a runner-up finish at best in Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by the TLX Type S. Lexus looked secure to win the GT Daytona (GTD) class race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the fourth straight year, until a rear suspension issue took Jack Hawksworth’s No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 out of contention. Foley and Auberlen capitalized on the break and rolled to their first triumph of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. It also marked the 63rd win for Auberlen – the all-time IMSA victory leader – and the fifth career win for Foley. On top of that, it put Auberlen, Foley and the No. 96 BMW atop the unofficial WeatherTech Championship season standings, seven points ahead of the No. 23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 shared by Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn. “The (No.) 14 had some pace, they were quick,” Auberlen said. “And you can never count your chickens until this race is over. Sure enough, they had a rare mechanical failure and that put us in the lead, and then (Foley) had the pace of everybody else in the field.” Foley still ran second to Hawksworth when smoke began pouring from the rear of the No. 14 Lexus with 90 minutes to go on the 2.258-mile road course in Central Ohio. Hawksworth limped the car back to the pits, where it underwent lengthy repairs and eventually retired last in the 13-car GTD field. From there, Foley sailed in the No. 96 BMW, building a 26-second lead before turning over the car to the veteran Auberlen for the final hour. Zach Veach, in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus, was able to keep Auberlen in sight but never mounted a serious charge. The final margin of victory was 2.712 seconds to give Auberlen his record-extending 63rd career win. Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (No. 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3) finished third. The top seven finishers, in fact, each represented a different manufacturer. (Thank you to Mark Robinson/IMSA Wire Service)
(Sean Garner/Getty Images) Alex Bowman (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) took the lead off pit road after his final pit stop with 97 of 400 race laps remaining, held off the field on two more race restarts and earned his second victory of the year in Sunday’s Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway. The win punctuated a historic Hendrick Motorsports day at the famed 1-mile track, with the team becoming the third organization in NASCAR Cup Series history to finish 1-2-3-4 in a single event, joining Peter DePaolo Racing (Dec. 30, 1956 at Titusville; April 7, 1957 at North Wilkesboro Speedway) and Roush Fenway Racing (Nov. 20, 2005 at Homestead-Miami Speedway). Bowman held off his teammate Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) by 2.017 seconds. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) was third, and William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) finished just behind in fourth, marking the first time in the organization’s 267-victory history it has had a four-car sweep atop the scoreboard. It was actually Larson who paced the field most of the day – leading a race-best 263 of the opening 303 laps, and sweeping both Stage 1 and Stage 2 victories – his series-best fifth and sixth stage wins of the season. And at one point, Sunday, he led the field by a full eight seconds. But Bowman’s team turned in the single fastest pit stop of the entire 2021 season during a late-race caution period and got the car back on track just in front of Larson. Bowman held off his teammate on the restart and pulled away to a comfortable win. In all, Bowman, Larson and Byron combined to lead 381 of the 400 laps. “I can guarantee you this is the most nervous I’ve ever been in a race,” Hendrick said. “Great day for the organization. And Alex, congratulations to him. This is a sign of the guys working together and bringing good stuff to the track. I don’t think it will hit me until tomorrow that we were able to finish one, two, three, four. That’s pretty hard to do, things can happen, pit stops, tires, anything. That’s a first and we’ll take it. It was a great day for us.” Not only was it a win for Bowman, and a seriously strong effort by Larson, but it was also another statement-making day for the 23-year-old Byron. It marks his 11th straight top-10 finish – making him the youngest in series history to put together a string of excellence like that. (Thank you to Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service)
(Photos Copyright © 2021 Joe Skibinski/IMS and General Motors)
A 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 30, 2021. The Arctic White Stingray - with Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow upholstery - will be the first convertible since 2008 to pace the iconic race. The 2021 Corvette Stingray convertible is powered by the naturally aspirated, next-generation 6.2L Small Block V8 LT2 engine, which produces 495HP (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette. The LT2 V8 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. When combined, the advanced propulsion system, revised chassis tuning and retractable hardtop make the Stingray "the most no-compromise Corvette convertible in history," according to Chevrolet PR minions. Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and nameplate, respectively. The 2021 race marks the 32nd time for Chevrolet to pace the race dating back to 1948, and the 18th time since 1978 for America’s quintessential sports car. Chevrolet has a storied history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race. Company co-founder and namesake Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920. Nine drivers powered by Chevrolet engines have combined to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” eleven times, with Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and, most recently, Simon Pagenaud in 2019. The Indy 500 will be televised live on NBC for the third consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. The INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA.
A 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 30, 2021. The Arctic White Stingray - with Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow upholstery - will be the first convertible since 2008 to pace the iconic race. The 2021 Corvette Stingray convertible is powered by the naturally aspirated, next-generation 6.2L Small Block V8 LT2 engine, which produces 495HP (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette. The LT2 V8 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. When combined, the advanced propulsion system, revised chassis tuning and retractable hardtop make the Stingray "the most no-compromise Corvette convertible in history," according to Chevrolet PR minions. Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and nameplate, respectively. The 2021 race marks the 32nd time for Chevrolet to pace the race dating back to 1948, and the 18th time since 1978 for America’s quintessential sports car. Chevrolet has a storied history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race. Company co-founder and namesake Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920. Nine drivers powered by Chevrolet engines have combined to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” eleven times, with Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and, most recently, Simon Pagenaud in 2019. The Indy 500 will be televised live on NBC for the third consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. The INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA.
(IMS)
Danica Patrick will drive the 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible at the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30, returning to the track where she made racing history. Patrick will lead the field of 33 cars to the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Live coverage of the race starts at 11 a.m. (ET) on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network, with a global audience watching the popular Patrick drive the Arctic White Stingray, the first Corvette convertible since 2008 to pace the world’s most prestigious auto race. Driving the Corvette Stingray convertible will be part of a busy Race Day for Patrick at IMS. She also is serving as a studio analyst for NBC’s live race broadcast with host Mike Tirico and fellow analyst Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who is competing this season in road- and street-course events in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Patrick, who grew up in Roscoe, Illinois, achieved numerous milestones during her eight Indianapolis 500 starts, which took place from 2005-11 and in 2018. She achieved the best starting spot for a female driver, fourth, as a rookie in 2005 and electrified the racing world that year by becoming the first female driver ever to lead laps in the race. She finished third in 2009 – the best result ever for a woman in the “500” – and holds the race record for laps led by a female, 29.
Danica Patrick will drive the 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible at the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30, returning to the track where she made racing history. Patrick will lead the field of 33 cars to the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Live coverage of the race starts at 11 a.m. (ET) on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network, with a global audience watching the popular Patrick drive the Arctic White Stingray, the first Corvette convertible since 2008 to pace the world’s most prestigious auto race. Driving the Corvette Stingray convertible will be part of a busy Race Day for Patrick at IMS. She also is serving as a studio analyst for NBC’s live race broadcast with host Mike Tirico and fellow analyst Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who is competing this season in road- and street-course events in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Patrick, who grew up in Roscoe, Illinois, achieved numerous milestones during her eight Indianapolis 500 starts, which took place from 2005-11 and in 2018. She achieved the best starting spot for a female driver, fourth, as a rookie in 2005 and electrified the racing world that year by becoming the first female driver ever to lead laps in the race. She finished third in 2009 – the best result ever for a woman in the “500” – and holds the race record for laps led by a female, 29.
