(Formula1.com)
Max Verstappen (No. 1 Oracle Red Bull Racing) claimed an impressive victory in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the Dutchman denying Lando Norris (No. 4 McLaren Formula 1 Team) in a race that later saw both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren Formula 1 Team) disqualified from the results. Verstappen was left in control of the 50-lap race on the streets of Las Vegas after the opening corners, passing poleman Norris when the Drivers' Championship leader ran wide through Turn 1 having initially chopped across his title rival off the line. Norris also slipped behind George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 TEAM) and only re-passed the Mercedes driver in the latter stages, but was unable to mount a challenge on Verstappen, eventually limping home nearly 21 seconds adrift after nursing a late problem. Following the race, however, it was confirmed that Norris – along with Piastri, who had originally taken fourth place – had been disqualified due to the rearmost skid wear on both cars being found to be below the minimum thickness required in the technical regulations. (The stewards said after the race that "the FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations".) This promoted Russell – who had held on for the podium despite complaining of his own issues with his Mercedes' steering – up into P2 ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli (No. 12 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team), the Italian having put in a tremendous drive to finish fourth on-the-road after starting P17. The rookie had held off a charging Piastri and Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) in the closing stages, but a five-second penalty for a false start dropped Antonelli behind Piastri in the classification, just one-tenth ahead of Leclerc, who fell back in the final laps. Watch the Race Highlights
here.
(Thank you to Formula1.com)
(IMS)
2025 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Alex Palou unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy on Nov. 19 in Indianapolis, one of the most significant honors since he earned his first Indy 500 victory May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing DHL Honda, earned the first oval victory of his career and became the first Spaniard to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” He passed Marcus Ericsson on Lap 187 and never trailed thereafter, earning Chip Ganassi Racing’s sixth Indy 500 victory.
The bas-relief, sterling silver image of Palou is the 112th face to be affixed to the iconic trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936.
“This is one of those days that I knew I wanted to be part of at some point in my career,” Palou said. “I knew it was going take a lot of work, and finally to be here and to get to see the trophy for the first time, it’s amazing.
“I know that it's always going to be there forever, if I race one more year or if I race 50 more years. And whatever the history of INDYCAR is going to be, it's always going to be there. So, it's great to be part of all those amazing drivers. And, yeah, I feel that now. I want to get that face again on that trophy. Try and be part again of the history of our sport.”
Renowned sculptor Will Behrends created Palou’s image, as he has for every winner since 1990.
Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG
