IndyCar
Racing Notebook – Wednesday, March 18: Long Beach GP Cancelled and more
PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – The Long Beach Grand Prix and season opener at Mid-Ohio fall victim to the coronavirus; Race teams reach out to kids at home and more in Wednesday’s Racing Notebook.
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Cancelled:
- The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach has cancelled the 46th annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach after trying to move the date to later this year. The Grand Prix Association also announced a ticket credit/refund policy for 2020 Acura Grand Prix ticket holders. The first option allows ticket holders to receive a credit for tickets purchased which will apply to the same level of admission to the 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach event. The credit will come with a Price Protection Plan which will not only protect them against any price increase for the 2021 Acura Grand Prix but also guarantee they can purchase the same level of ticket for the 2022 event at the 2020 price. The second option gives ticket holders a full refund (less the processing fee) by April 30, 2020. The 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place April 16-18.
The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach today announced that the 2020 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is cancelled. All 2020 ticket holders will be receiving an e-mail today with instructions on how to apply for a credit for 2021 or a full refund. https://t.co/gokXIolGkS
— AcuraGPLB (@GPLongBeach) March 18, 2020
Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Postponed:
- The coronavirus pandemic is forcing the postponement of The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course season opening Acura Sports Car Challenge. The event was scheduled to take place May 1-3 but fans should hold onto their tickets because the track and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) are looking at alternative dates later in the year. Read the complete statement from the track below.
Official Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Update: https://t.co/XdKovXA3VF pic.twitter.com/zw3Xk69tAA
— Mid-Ohio (@Mid_Ohio) March 17, 2020
24-Hours of Le Mans Postponed:
- One of the most historic endurance races is being postponed due to COVID-19. The 24-Hours of Le Mans is being postponed from its usual mid-June date until the weekend of September 19-20. Le Mans is typically the last race in the WEC Season so its effect on the start of the 2020-2021 season is being determined.
Race Teams Come Up With Colorful Idea To Reach Kids:
- A couple of race teams came up with a colorful idea to reach kids stuck at home because of the coronavirus. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing tweeted out a link to black & white pictures of Graham Rahal’s No. 15 United Rentals INDYCAR and Takuma Sato’s No. 30 Mi-Jack Honda for kids to color and then show the team their designs. NASCAR teams got in on the act too with Hooters tweeting out a picture of Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro and Front Row Motorsports also did the same thing with their NASCAR fleet.
In search of an art project for your kids? Or maybe you’re looking for something relaxing to do?
Download this coloring page of @GrahamRahal’s @UnitedRentals @indycar from our website and let us see your artwork. 🏎🖍
🔗 https://t.co/o3a1sqALZ3 pic.twitter.com/M5cnDcGysH
— Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (@RLLracing) March 18, 2020
Show us your best work. 🏎🖍
Download this coloring page of @TakumaSatoRacer’s @panasonic @HondaRacing_HPD #IndyCar from our website and have your kids (or yourself!) design a version of his race car. 👇🏼
🔗 https://t.co/NcJ4F65aki@IndyCar @IMS #IsItMayYet pic.twitter.com/p6J6YXwczg
— Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (@RLLracing) March 18, 2020
Looking for an activity to do with your kiddos while they’re home? 🖍
Print this image & design your dream @chaseelliott @Hendrick9Team paint scheme! #di9 pic.twitter.com/xkF3OMbqgc
— Hooters Racing (@HootersRacing) March 18, 2020
PARENTS:
We know that your kids will be spending more time at home over the next few weeks and we're here to help you combat boredom!
Print off these 3 coloring pages and give your kids something fun to do. Once finished, snap a pic and post it in the comments for us to share! pic.twitter.com/MIOuL2GIe1
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) March 18, 2020
MARKHAM, ONTARIO (August 15, 2026) – The NTT IndyCar Series is making it’s first visit to a new street circuit in Markham, Ontario but a familiar face topped the speed charts after the first practice.
Four-time Series Champion Alex Palou turned the fastest lap around the 12-turn, 2.19-mile temporary street course, a 1-minute, 14.9915-seconds (100.811 mph) lap in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
A.J. Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collett was second quick with a 1-minute, 15.0454-seconds (100.739) in the No. 4 Chevrolet.
Louis Foster was third quick in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda at 1:15.0278 (100.702) followed by Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin 1:15.2981 (100.401). Will Power rounded out the Top 5 at 1:15.3152 (100.378).
Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammates were not as strong. Six-time Series Champion Scott Dixon was 20th at 1:16.4583 (98.877) in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. Kyffin Simpson was 24th at 1.17.3893 (97.688) in the No. 8 Sunoco Honda. Simpson made contact with the wall at Turn 6, causing damage to the rear suspension. Simpson limped to pits for repair and returned to action later in the session.
Practice 2 is set for 2:30 p.m. as delayed track construction forced officials to cancel Friday’s activities and condense Saturday’s schedule. NTT P1 Pole Qualifying is set for 6:30 p.m. ET
MARKHAM, ONTARIO (August 14, 2026) – Issues with the completion of the temporary street circuit in Markham Ontario has forced the NTT INDYCAR SERIES first practice to be moved to Saturday as all of Friday’s on-track activity had to be scrubbed from the schedule.
“INDYCAR is incredibly disappointed that our promoter was not able to complete the track build on time, despite significant support from our team on site,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “Ontario has always been a magnificent market for our sport and the number of spectators that attended today is a shining example of that. New events can always pose logistical challenges and we join in the frustration of our loyal fans and apologize.”
Green Savoree Promotions also issued a statement.
“Ensuring the safety of the drivers and the completion of the certification process of competing on a brand-new racetrack delayed all on-track activities today. Today’s sessions have been rescheduled to Saturday, August 15, to allow for further track preparations.”
“We greatly appreciate all the fans who made it out to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham today and chose to spend the day with us. The attendance and support were overwhelming.”
The revamped schedule calls for the first practice to take place at 10:00 a.m. followed by a second practice at 2:30 p.m. and P1 Pole Qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
PORTLAND, OR (August 9, 2026) – Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing are closing in on another NTT IndyCar Series Championship after winning Sunday’s Only Bulls Portland Grand Prix.
Palou started second and passed Felix Rosenqvist during the first round of pit stops by staying out an extra lap and using the ‘overcut’ to get the lead and then dominated, leading 60 of 110-laps to grab his sixth victory of 2026.
“Everybody at CGR and Honda did an incredible job,” said Palou, who started second. “I had an absolute rocket ship today. It was very, very nice to drive every single lap.”
“We had to do something different than Felix,” said Barry Wanser, team manager for the No. 10 Honda. “We had to go longer than him. It takes a lot of performance by Alex and certainly the Honda engine to give us the fuel mileage to jump in one more and do the overcut. That helped us. We had a pretty smooth pit stop and got the jump there.”
Rosenqvist, who started on the pole in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Grateful Dead Honda, closed to within a second late but couldn’t get back to the front.
“He got us in a sequence,” said Rosenqvist, the 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner. “I got kind of twisted up leaving my box because I was so close to the Schumacher crew. I think between the overcut and that, we kind of lost the position. From there on we just sat in second.”
Andretti Global’s Will Power finished third in the No. 26 TWG Honda to lockout the podium for the manufacturer.
“Great day for us,” said Power. “Great day for Andretti. Didn’t quite have the pace I think the top two guys. Probably about a tenth off. Just seriously fast pace all day. Qualifying laps, really good quality. Such a quality field now.”
The victory for Palou increased his Championship lead to 110 points over Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global, a gap of more than two races with just five races remaining this season.
“Chip puts the best guys around me, but then also everybody is just executing,” said Palou. “That car is a rocket ship, and I’m just lucky enough to drive it.”
The next NTT IndyCar Series race is the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham on Sunday, Aug. 16 on the streets of Markham, Ontario.
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