SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

(Photo by Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR) 

Colton Herta (No. 26 Andretti Autosport Gainbridge Honda) continued his family’s success at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a dominant victory Sunday in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, while Alex Palou  (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Honda) marched closer and closer to an even bigger win. Herta earned his second victory this season and fifth career victory, beating Palou to the finish by 1.9747 seconds. NTT P1 Award winner and California native Herta led 91 of the 95 laps. “I enjoy racing here so much,” Herta said. “It’s an amazing track for me and my family. It’s been so good to us. To go two-for-two so far (at Laguna Seca) is great. We were fast all weekend, and I’m glad we could pull it off in the race.” Spaniard Palou pulled 35 points ahead of Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet) in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings with just one race remaining, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach this Sunday at Long Beach, California. Palou must finish 11th or better at Long Beach to earn his first title in his second season in the series. “We didn’t have it today for the win, but we did the most we could,” Palou said. “I was trying, but it was tough. It was Herta’s day today. I’m happy with P2.” Romain Grosjean finished third today in the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Nurtec ODT Honda after a stirring late-race charge past rivals and lapped traffic in which he sliced between one to two seconds per lap from Herta and Palou. Grosjean’s third podium finish of the season helped him stay alive in the race for Rookie of the Year honors, as he trails Scott McLaughlin by 20 points. Palou, O’Ward and two-time series champion Josef Newgarden are the only drivers eligible to win the Astor Challenge Cup at the season finale. Newgarden is third in the standings, 48 points back. Six-time series champion Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson were eliminated from contention at this race after finishing 13th and sixth, respectively. This will be the 16th consecutive season in which the NTT INDYCAR SERIES title race will be decided at the final race of the season. Watch the race highlights here. (Thank you to Jake Boxall-Legge/Autosport) Editor-in-Chief's Note: And congratulations to Honda for its 10th Manufacturers' Championship (fourth in a row). -PMD

(Motorsport.com)
Having waited three years for his maiden MotoGP™ win, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) now has two in quick succession after he held off a hard-charging Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in another last-lap nail biter at the Octo Grand Prix of San Marino. The Ducati Lenovo rider held his nerve for a second week running to take victory in Misano, while a spectacular effort from Enea Bastianini (No. 23 Avintia Esponsorama Ducati) saw the rookie take a first premier class podium. Watch the race here. (Thank you MotoGP)

(Logan Reily/Getty Images)
Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) captured his sixth NASCAR Cup win of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night. Larson got by Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) late in the race. Harvick was second and William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) was third. There was the usual assortment of banging and other incidents, especially between Harvick and Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet). Watch the highlights here.