(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Graham Rahal (No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing SoldierStrong/TurnsForTroops.com Honda) swept the Verizon IndyCar Series Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear doubleheader weekend in a dominant performance. Rahal held off Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske hum by Verizon Chevrolet) by 1.1772 seconds on Sunday to back up his victory Saturday on the 2.35-mile, 14-turn Raceway at Belle Isle Park's temporary street course. "All around just a spectacular weekend for us," said Rahal, whose win was the sixth of his 11-year Indy car career and the 25th for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's the first time the team has won consecutive races since Kenny Brack accomplished the feat in 2001 at Twin Ring Motegi and the Milwaukee Mile. "I could run a really strong pace, better than most guys, while saving a ton of fuel," Rahal said. "That's why I say, these weekends, they just don't happen that often. We're the first one to win the double (at Belle Isle). It feels great. Any day you can beat a Penske driver, it means a lot." Will Power (No. 12 team Penske Verizon Chevrolet) finished third on Sunday.
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Graham Rahal after winning Race 2 of the IndyCar weekend in Detroit on Sunday. The 28-year-old becomes the first driver to sweep a Verizon IndyCar Series doubleheader weekend since Scott Dixon won both races on the streets of Toronto in 2013. With the two victories, Rahal climbed nine spots in the championship standings, to sixth place after eight of 17 races. Next up for the Verizon IndyCar Series is the Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10, where Rahal is the defending champion. Live coverage begins on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network at 8 p.m. ET.
(Getty Images/NASCAR)
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's Chevrolet) passed Kyle Larson (No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing target Chevrolet) on an overtime restart for his third Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season Sunday at Dover International Speedway. Johnson led just twice for seven laps in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism to capture his 83rd career win, tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough on the all-time win list. “To be here and tie him at 83 wins is amazing,” Johnson said of Yarborough, a three-time series champion who retired after the 1988 season. “We just got the tribute helmet. I wasn’t sure how quickly we’d be, or if we’d be able to go there, and get it done. But, Cale, you’re the man. Thank you for all you have done for our sport.” Martin Truex Jr. (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota) was third. Watch a video here.
Editor-In-Chief's Note: Check out these images from the Test Day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, courtesy of Michelin. -PMD
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
Jordan and Ricky Taylor (No. 10 WTR Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at Belle Isle, their fifth consecutive win in the series this year. The duo started in 12th position after Ricky crashed in qualifying, but moved into the lead with 21 minutes remaining. Dane Cameron and Eric Curran (No. 31 Whelen Cadillac DPi-V.R) finished a season-best second, 4.948 seconds behind the Taylors. Rounding out the podium was the No. 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi of Tristan Nunez and Jonathan Bomarito, the team’s first podium with the Mazda DPi. Check out John Thawley's scintillating images from the racing weekend in Detroit here.
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
Andy Lally and Katherine Legge (No. 93 Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura NSX GT3) delivered a history-making first global victory for the new Acura NSX GT3 in GTD in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at Belle Isle Park. The Alessandro Balzan/Christina Nielsen No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3) finished second in GTD, 2.441 seconds behind the leader. Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow (No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3) were third. Check out John Thawley's hot photo gallery from Detroit here.
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
Ernie Francis, Jr. (No. 98 Breathless Pro Racing/Beta Tools Ford Mustang) started on pole and led every lap of the 3-Dimensional Services Motor City 100 as the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s TA class took to the Belle Isle circuit at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Vinnie Allegretta (No. 41 TA Sights & Sounds Chevrolet Corvette) finished second and Simon Gregg was third. It was the third consecutive victory for Francis. See more of John Thawley's superb photo work in the Autoextremist Image Gallery here.
(crash.net)
Andrea Dovizioso (No. 4 Ducati Team) won his home Italian MotoGP for Ducati on Sunday. Maverick Vinales (No. 25 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was second and Danilo Petrucci (No. 9 OCTO Pramac Ducati) finished third. Valentino Rossi (No. 46 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), riding with chest and stomach injuries from a motocross training accident last week, fought with the lead group throughout on his way to fourth place.
Editor-In-Chief's Note: Check out this video featuring the 2018 IndyCar bodywork from Dallara. -PMD