IndyCar
Racing Notebook – Thursday, February 6
PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Thursday’s Pittsburgh Racing Now “Racing Notebook” includes a “Joyride At Indy” after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway loses the “keys to the track”. A new look for the No. 10 NTT Data Services Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driven by Felix Rosenqvist, the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year. Plus, IndyCar to livestream next week’s test at COTA; Brad Sweet starts 2020 like he finished 2019, in victory lane; A new member of the RUSH Sprints; a familiar sponsor returns for another year with Front Row Motorsports and an emotional day for the Andretti family as John is laid to rest.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Misplaces The Keys To The Track:
- Imagine getting the opportunity to use the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as your playground. That’s exactly what happened for NTT IndyCar star Alexander Rossi, action sports legend Travis Pastrana and freestyle motocross rider Gregg Duffy. A new video released by Red Bull shows what happened when IMS lost the keys to the track and the drivers/riders called “their guy”. Check out the video below:
Felix Rosenqvist’s No. 10 NTT Data Services Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Gets A New Look:
- The No. 10 NTT Data Services Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Rookie-of-the-Year Felix Rosenqvist is sporting a totally different look in 2020. The NTT IndyCar Season starts in a little of a month with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Sunday, March 15. The Ganassi team took to their Social Media accounts to debut the striking paint scheme:
Goin' bad on em in '20 😤 @FRosenqvist is bringing a brand new @NTTDATAServices design to the track this season 🔥 #NTTDATARacing | #INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/LlawOgiKw0
— Chip Ganassi Racing (@CGRTeams) February 6, 2020
IndyCar To Livestream Next Week’s Test At Circuit of the Americas:
- The NTT IndyCar Series is going to stream next week’s full-field test from Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX. Twenty-six drivers in 25-cars are scheduled to participate in the test, which will be streamed live on Tuesday and Wednesday on the IndyCar Mobile App and on IndyCar.com.
Brad Sweet Grabs Win Thursday Night At Volusia Speedway Park:
- Brad Sweet earned himself another Gator Trophy in the Sunshine State, this time climbing ahead two spots to clinch the DIRTcar Nationals sprint car opening night victory on Wednesday evening at Volusia Speedway Park. The win, the fifth of Sweet’s career during All Star Circuit of Champions competition, secured the defending World of Outlaws champion a $5,000 payday; his second All Star triumph in as many seasons at the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile Dirt Track’. Ian Madsen finished second followed by Cory Eliason, Kyle Larson and James McFadden.
Cabot’s Jeremy Scruggs Joins RUSH Sprints:
- The RUSH Sprint Car Series took to social media on Thursday to welcome Jeremy Scruggs to the Series:
We want to welcome Jeremy Scruggs of Cabot, PA as a new RUSH Sprint Car! Jeremy has sent in his membership for the 2020 season.
— RUSH Sprint Cars (@RUSHSprints) February 6, 2020
Love’s Travel Stops Returns To Front Row Motorsports:
- Love’s Travel Stops will return to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) aboard the No. 34 Ford Mustang, driven by Michael McDowell. Love’s Travel Stops will serve as the primary sponsor on McDowell’s No. 34 Ford Mustang for multiple races in the 2020 season, including the season-opening Daytona 500 later this month, both NASCAR Cup races at Talladega Superspeedway and the spring weekend at the company’s home track of Texas Motor Speedway. Love’s will remain as an associate sponsor throughout the year.
The No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang and Driver Michael McDowell.
John Andretti Laid To Rest After A “Final Lap”:
- John Andretti, a second-generation racer who ran in IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA and the NHRA was laid to rest today. Following a Christian mass the funeral procession made one “final lap” around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in honor of Andretti, who lost his battle with colon cancer (#CheckIt4Andretti) last week at the age of 56-years-old. Andretti’s legendary Uncle Mario was moved by the gesture:
Hearse carrying John Andretti makes one lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the way to the cemetery. No words. https://t.co/tAVh5mDN9v
— Mario Andretti (@MarioAndretti) February 6, 2020
LOS ANGELES, CA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Fox Sports, the new television partner for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, is aggressively getting the word out that INDYCAR has a new home for 2025.
Sunday Fox Sports debuted the first promotional ad during the network’s NFL coverage, featuring two-time Series Champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden.
This is the first of three promotional ads that Fox Sports will be rolling out between now and the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on March 2, 2025. The remaining two spots will feature three-time and reigning series Champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing and the series most-popular driver Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren.
PLAINFIELD, IL (January 13, 2025) – Dale Coyne Racing is adding INDY NXT by Firestone Vice-Champion Jacob Abel to it’s 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES roster.
Abel will drive the No. 51 DCR Honda for the entire 2025 season beginning in March with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.
“We are excited about running another Indy NXT by Firestone Vice-Champion here at Dale Coyne Racing,” said team owner Dale Coyne.
Abel, a Louisville Kentucky native, won three races in 2024 and finished on the podium in 10-of-14-races, which placed him second in the final standings – a steady progression from his 5th and 8th place Championship finishes the previous two seasons.
“It’s a lifelong dream come true… I can’t thank everyone who’s helped out along the way enough,” said Abel, who impressed in an evaluation day at Sebring last fall.
“We have watched Jacob over the years and did an evaluation test with him at the end of the 2023 season, where he showed great promise in these cars,” said Coyne. “It will be good to run one driver in the #51 car for the whole season, so that we can work on the consistency needed in the highly competitive NTT IndyCar Series.”
“I’ve had a great relationship with Dale for the last couple of years, and I’m very thankful for the confidence he has in me,” said Abel. “The team has some very experienced personnel joining and returning to the program, and I have full confidence they will deliver a great race car and help me learn the ropes of the NTT IndyCar Series. It’s going to be a fun but challenging journey, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Coyne said talks are progressing to fill the other vacant seat in the DCR stable.
“Our plans for our second driver are coming along quite nicely, and we will have more news on that in approximately three weeks.”
The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season kicks off February 28 – March 2 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.
LEBANON, TN (September 15, 2024) – Andretti Global’s Colton Herta passed Pato O’Ward with four laps to go in the Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix to claim his first oval NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory of his career.
“I’m so happy,” said Herta, whose No. 26 Gainbridge Honda crossed the finish line 1.8206-seconds ahead of O’Ward. “We knew we were going to have a hot rod in the race. It’s been an amazing year.”
The victory also vaulted Herta a couple of spots up in the final standings of the year.
“I just saw I finished second in the championship, which is awesome,” said Herta. “Hoping to do a little bit better next year.”
The second place finish was the sixth of the year for O’Ward and the twenty-sixth of his career and said afterwards he was lucky to finish there.
“Yeah, I wish I could have done it a little bit harder on him,” said O’Ward. “Those reds (Firestone alternate tires) at the end, I couldn’t see straight with so much vibrations. Could barely talk to the team with just how much was going on in the car. I think one more lap, Josef would have gotten me for sure. I was dying.”
Josef Newgarden finished third in the No. 2 Hitachi Chevy. The Tennessee native was not in the Championship hunt after being stripped of a season-opening win at St. Petersburg after he and teammate Scott McLaughlin were found to have illegal software that allowed them to use push-to-pass when others couldn’t.
“Team did a great job today,” said Newgarden. “They put a good car on the track, a great car. We’re going to come back next year and hopefully have a little different cadence would be nice. I’m going to be happy to leave all this in 2024.”
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou finished 11th and claimed his second straight Championship and third overall in four years. Dario Franchitti was the last driver to win three championships in four year, winning three straight for CGR from 2009-2011.
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