IndyCar
INDYCAR Drivers Frustrated With Racing At Iowa Speedway
NEWTON, IA (July 14, 2024) – NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers feel something needs to be done to make the Hy-Vee Doubleheader weekend at Iowa Speedway as exciting on-track as it has been historically.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t bummed about the race and how it raced,” said Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren Racing, who finished second Friday night. “Really tough to get that second lane working, compared to I don’t know how many on-track passes we had last year, probably not even a 10th of that. That was a bit frustrating because I thought we had a very strong car, definitely a car that was capable of winning. Just no way to get around a car.”
In 2023 for race one there were 1,502 total passes, of which 319 were for position. Conversely in race one of 2024 there were 192-total passes Saturday night, 100 of those were for position.
“Unfortunately I don’t think our car and our formula works super well for this type of track adjustment,” said Saturday night’s third place finisher Josef Newgarden about the partial track repave. “We’re different than a Cup car. We’ve developed our car differently than they have. It doesn’t always mesh. It definitely didn’t mesh tonight.”
“Bit of a shame that couldn’t really do anything to pass or to do anything,” said Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, who finished second on Sunday. “It’s the most boring thing I’ve ever done. It was yesterday, as well. It’s a shame that we couldn’t really put on a better show. I think everybody will agree that it was a very boring race to drive.”
INDYCAR reduced downforce levels by about 450-pounds heading into the race weekend and tire supplier Firestone came with new right side tires after heat-related issues during a recent test session at the track. The combination led to a parade-like race on Saturday and Sunday.
“I feel like we go into it and not do the right amount of study or whatnot to get it done and to get it to work,” said Saturday night’s winner Scott McLaughlin, who finished third on Sunday. “That’s not a shot at the sport, not a shot at anything. It’s working together with the amazing people and the geniuses we have up and down pit lane. It’s just a matter of making it work.”
“I think INDYCAR could go to work with downforce levels, working with Firestone on a few other things,” McLaughlin explained. “But you just can’t blame the track because at the end of the day they have to repave this at some time.”
“We went from the best oval race we would have all season to potentially the least amount of passing,” said Sunday’s winner Will Power. “Maybe just a softer tire might just work with this downforce level. Just a softer tire. If it degrades, people go out. You can roll to the outside. I don’t know what the answer is, but we certainly got to do something for next year.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 24, 2026) Felix Rosenqvist passed David Malukas on the last lap just before the yard of bricks to win the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race.
Rosenqvist was sitting in third place when the race restarted with one lap to go, two spots behind his Meyer Shank Racing teammate Marcus Armstrong and second place David Malukas and got beside Armstrong going into turn one, through the South short chute and raced side-by-side down the back stretch.
Rosenqvist was behind Malukas coming off Turn 4 and masterfully used the draft to get beside the No. 12 down the front stretch, pushing the No. 60 SiriusXM/Morgan Wallen Honda to the front by just less than half-a-car length at the yard of bricks. The margin of victory was 0.233-seconds, the closest finish in the history of the race.
“Massive thanks to the team,” said Rosenqvist. “We had two cars there in the win at the end. I think we were the best car today. I felt like in all situations we kind of had it under control. I just had a flat-out lap on the high line and it stuck. It’s just the coolest way you can finish and win an Indy 500.”
“I just don’t know what I could have done,” said Malukas. “We were the fastest car the whole race. I gave it 150-percent. We did everything we could. A big thank you to this team.”
Scott McLaughlin came home third in the No. 3 Pennzoil Chevrolet, giving Team Penske two cars in the Top 5. McLaughlin talked afterward about the agony of defeat.
“Alright, hear me out on this,” McLaughlin explained, “It’s Christmas, but not everyone gets presents. Only one guy gets to go home with one.”
Pato O’Ward finished fourth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, giving O’Ward four Top 5’s in the last four Indy 500’s.
Armstrong finished fifth in the No. 66 Acura Honda giving MSR two cars in the Top 5.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as post-race activities are still taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 22, 2026) – Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden led a quartet of Chevrolets atop the speed chart at the final ‘Carb Day’ practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Newgarden’s fast lap of 228.342 mph led four Chevys at the top of the speed chart with Ed Carpenter Racing’s second at 227.474, David Malukas in third at 226.525 and Conor Daly in fourth at 226.341.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Takuma Sato, a two-time 500 winner as well, led the Honda powered cars with the fifth fastest speed at 226.244.
Defending 500 winner and four-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou was sixth quick in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda at 225.986.
IndyCar
Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward and Romain Grosjean involved in multi vehicle crash during Indy 500 practice
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 18, 2026) – Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward and Romain Grosjean are losing valuable practice time after being involved in a multi-vehicle crash during Indianapolis 500 practice Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The crash was triggered when Rossi lost control of his No. 20 Java House Chevrolet in turn 2 and slammed into the outside wall.
O’Ward was two cars behind Rossi and when the No. 20 went sideways, O’Ward turned the wheel and jumped on the brakes in an attempt to avoid the crash but as Rossi came off the wall, O’Ward’s No. 5 Chevrolet crashed into Rossi.
Grosjean was an innocent victim getting collected in the meelee.
O’Ward and Grosjean were checked and released from the infield care center. Rossi exited his car under his own power, went to the infield care center where IndyCar Medical Director Dr. Julia Vaizer said in a statement that Rossi was awake, alert, and in good spirits.
Vaizer later stated that Rossi ‘is being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Rossi will have to go to a backup car while O’Ward and Grosjean’s machines will need to make significant repairs.
Rossi will not lose his No. 2 starting spot according to the IndyCar rulebook:
- 8.1.7.1. If a Qualified Car is involved in an incident, INDYCAR allows a Backup Car to replace the Qualified Car. The Backup Car will start the Race in the same position in the Starting Lineup as the Qualified Car.
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Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing win the pole position for the 110th Indianapolis 500
Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward and Romain Grosjean involved in multi vehicle crash during Indy 500 practice
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