IndyCar
Scott Dixon 2nd Fastest In Only IndyCar Practice At Pocono Raceway
LONG POND, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – AJ Foyt Racing’s Tony Kanaan sits atop the speed charts after the one and only NTT IndyCar Series practice at Pocono Raceway in preparation for Sunday’s ABC Supply 500.
Kanaan’s fast lap of 216.354 MPH set the pace in the No. 14 ABC Supply Chevrolet.
“I think we have a pretty decent car,” said Kanaan. “Our biggest challenge is that we will be starting in the back and this track is not an easy track to overtake on, especially in traffic.”
PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon was 2nd fastest at 215.761 MPH. Dixon also had the best “non-tow” speed of 214.438 MPH.
The first practice session in the morning was rained out and qualifying, which was set for mid-day, was cancelled because of the rain and track drying efforts.
“I think losing qualifying today due to weather definitely simplifies it,” said Dixon, the five-time and defending series Champion. “We came here with a pretty different kind of outlook and approach than we had year in the PNC Bank car just because it was not so good. I think we have a good car but it’s a long 500 miles.”
The cancellation forced the series to set the field by entrant points, which puts Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden on the pole position and Andretti Autosports Alexander Rossi on the outside of the front row.
“It would’ve been nicer if we could’ve had a normal day,” said Newgarden. “We’re not dissatisfied with where we’re going to start. We’re all starting in a good spot, the top 5 guys in points, obviously we’re right next to each other. It could be worse. We could’ve qualified in a worse position. We’ll take it.”
“Obviously, we’re starting in a good spot on the front row,” said Rossi, the defending race winner. “But it’s a shame that a track such as Pocono has become one of our more predominant track position races. These cars do not perform well in traffic in superspeedway trim.”
Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske will start third and Dixon will start on the outside of row two.
“I love this time of year because it’s ‘crunch time’ so it’s time to go for it with four races remaining,” said Pagneaud.
Penske’s Will Power will start fifth with Andretti’s Ryan Hunter-Reay starting on the outside of row three.
Tickets are available for the ABC Supply 500. Tickets start at just $45 and Kids are Free! In addition to the race there is a Carnival behind the frontstretch grandstand, the IndyCar Fan Village and the Pocono Welcome Center with live music inside the Fan Fair, all of which are free for ticket holders. Fans with a Paddock Pass will be treated to IndyCar garage access, vintage IndyCars and a Classic Car Show. For more information visit www.poconoraceway.com.
The green flag drops at 2:45 p.m. and will be televised by the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) beginning at 2:00 p.m. and can be heard on the Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network affiliates, Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 98 and XM Channel 209.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and NBC Network announced on Tuesday a multi-year extension to the media rights of the open wheel series.
NBC Sports will continue to be the exclusive home of the Indianapolis 500 and will provide coverage of all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, qualifying, practices and Indy Lights races across its linear, digital and streaming platforms, including Peacock. Terms of the deal were not announced.
“NBC Sports is proud to extend its partnership with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and continue to serve as the exclusive home of the most competitive open-wheel racing series in the world and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” said Jon Miller, NBC Sports.
“NBC Sports has been the ideal partner for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, bringing our bold and audacious style of racing to a significantly larger domestic audience and fully leveraging the power and scale of the Indianapolis 500,” said Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “This new deal represents a significant expansion of our network TV exposure and sets us up for continued growth and success alongside a committed, innovative and world-class broadcast partner.”
INDYCAR and NBC are enjoying strong ratings for the 2021. Ratings are up 30% this year.
As part of the agreement, 13 races will be broadcast on NBC. USA Network and Peacock Premium will show the remaining races. Telemundo Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage of the season-opening race, the Indianapolis 500 and the season finale.
Peacock will stream all races on NBC and USA Network and will continue as the streaming home of NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying and practices sessions, Indy Lights races and full-event replays. Peacock will stream two races exclusively, which will be announced at a later date.
NASHVILLE, TN (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Chase Elliott joined the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) for their season finale at Nashville Fairgrounds and took home the checkered flag beating Tony Stewart and his father Bill Elliott in the feature. The win was the first series victory for the younger Elliott.
Chase Elliott was on the inside with Stewart on the outside on a restart with 7-laps-to-go followed by Bill Elliott and Bobby Labonte in Row 2.
Chase Elliott beat Stewart into turn one and two with Bill Elliott and Bobby Labonte side-by-side for third.
Caution came out with 5-laps-to-go when Paul Tracy made contact with Marco Andretti, sending Andretti into a spin after picking up three spots following the restart.
Chase Elliott got the jump on Stewart on the restart and held on to pick up the win. Stewart finished second and took home the inaugural series Championship.
“Man it was so much fun,” said Chase Elliott. “I had a ball. I got to race against two of my heroes tonight and I got to race against Dad there throughout the race and those are moments that I’ll cherish forever. Thanks to Ray (Evernham, Series co-owner) and Tony (Stewart, Series co-owner) and I appreciate NAPA being on the car.”
NASCAR Hall-of-famer Bill Elliott, 65, finished third and picked up a win in the first heat race where he started side-by-side with his son Chase.
“I messed up in one not getting all the stuff (marbles) off my tires,” said Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. “Man I tell you it was a lot of fun. I knew the way the tires were on these cars and the way Chase manages his stuff he was going to be tough to beat.”
“I don’t know what lit a fire under him tonight,” said Chase Elliott. “But he was as aggressive as I have seen him in years. It was amazing and a lot of fun. I thought it was going to be between he and I but he got a little high going into (turn) one.”
The win was also special for the Elliott Family as they were able to park the No. 94 in Victory Lane. Casey Elliott, the late son of legendary engine builder Ernie Elliott, raced the No. 94 in the ARCA and Busch (now Xfinity) Series before his life was cut short by cancer.
“Obviously a special number too,” said Chase Elliott. “My late Cousin Casey Elliott ran the 94 for years and years and it’s always special to run that number and I’m glad we were able to get it in Victory Lane at Nashville.”
“How could you ask for more than to finish between two Elliott’s, that’s pretty bad-ass in itself,” said Stewart. “To win this Championship is awesome. I really appreciate Marcus Lemonis and everyone at Camping World for stepping up and helping us get this thing off the ground. To be the last guy to win an IROC Championship and the first one to win an SRX Championship means a lot.”
LEXINGTON, OH (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden picked up his, and Team Penske’s, first win of 2021 holding off Marcus Ericsson to win Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
Newgarden started on the pole position and led 73-of-80-laps to pick up his first win since the 2020 season finale at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“This team has been doing the job,” said Newgarden. “Everyone has been giving me a hard time, asking what’s up with us not winning a race. But I don’t think these people at Team Penske could have done anything different. We’ve been in the game almost every race, had great performance. It’s great to seal a win here finally.”
Newgarden spoiled a tremendous afternoon for Chip Ganassi Racing, the winningest INDYCAR team at Mid-Ohio.
CGR’s Ericsson finished second, 0.8790-seconds behind Newgarden. The second place finish was Ericsson’s seventh top-10 finish of 2021.
“We were hunting him down there,” said Ericsson. “He (Newgarden) was really struggling with his tires the last five laps. Just catching him quickly. Another lap or two would be even better, but I’ll take second today.”
Ericsson’s CGR teammate Alex Palou and Scott Dixon finished third and fourth respectively to give Chip Ganassi three cars in the top 5.
“It’s always good to start P7 and you finish on the podium,” said Palou. “Yeah, I think today was a good result.”
“I think it was a great day, great day for the team, to have me, Alex and Scott, P2, P3 and P4,” said Ericsson. “It’s a strong result. Shows how strong we are at the moment”
Palou remains the Championship points leader, 39 points ahead of Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP. Dixon is third, 56 points behind Palou. Newgarden remained fourth, 69 points back of the leader, and Ericsson jumped three positions to take fifth in the standings, 104 points behind Palou.
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