All posts by Christopher DeHarde

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS — With the beginning of the Month of May comes rookie orientation for the four that will attempt to qualify for the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27th and the accompanying veteran refresher tests for those attempting to qualify at Indianapolis that don’t compete full time in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Rookie orientation consists of three speed phases with 10 laps between 205-210 mph, 15 laps between 210-215 mph and another 15 laps above 215 mph. The laps do not have toRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS — In the first official test day ahead of the 2018 Indianapolis 500, Tony Kanaan set the fastest speed with a lap of 226.181 mph in the late afternoon. Behind the A.J. Foyt Racing driver in the second session was Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud, Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti and Harding Racing’s Gabby Chaves. In the morning test, Andretti was quickest with a lap of 223.997 mph ahead of defending Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato and 2008 Indianapolis 500 champion Scott Dixon. This was the firstRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Ryan Hunter-Reay has a hit or miss relationship with Barber Motorsports Park and during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the Floridian came out of Monday’s conclusion with a second-place finish. The 2013 and 2014 Barber winner started fourth which became third after Will Power hydroplaned on the main straight and crashed on Lap 16. The race was postponed to Monday following Lap 22. When racing resumed Monday, the No. 28 Andretti Autosport DHL Honda remained in third until pitting on LapRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Sebastien Bourdais nearly pulled off the ultimate gamble during Monday’s continuation of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. The four-time Champ Car champion played second-fiddle to Josef Newgarden for much of the race, but attempted a daring late push before watching the rain intensify and washing away those hopes for the win and ending up fifth. The clouds began to open up on the 2.3-mile natural terrain road course during the closing moments of the fourth race of the 2018 Verizon IndyCarRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The final practice session for Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama finished with a familiar face on top of the time sheet. Team Penske’s Will Power went around the 2.3-mile natural terrain road course with a fastest lap of 1 minute, 07.3430 seconds. Robert Wickens was second followed by Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi. It’s interesting to see where many teams are on Saturday compared to where they were on Friday. Power was in the top four positions in allRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Ryan Hunter-Reay has had some success before at Barber Motorsports Park. The 2012 Verizon IndyCar Series champion was victorious at Barber in 2013 and 2014 and is looking for another win at Barber after qualifying in fourth position. In 2018, the Floridian has taken a bit of a backseat to current points leader Alexander Rossi. Rossi currently leads the points standings with a pair of third place finishes and a victory. While Rossi has been the one grabbing all of the headlines, Hunter-ReayRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Friday practice for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama has concluded for the Verizon IndyCar Series and there’s a lot of interesting storylines following the hour and 45 minutes of practice that the competitors were granted. First of all, the reduction of downforce with the new Universal Aero Kits is felt almost immediately with many drivers losing control of their cars heading to Turn 5. Sebastien Bourdais, Zach Veach, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Gabby Chaves among others had issues with theRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — After a month off, the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires races are back at Barber Motorsports Park with two championship doubleheaders: Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires and the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires. Indy Lights Despite the loss of Team Pelfrey in Indy Lights, the Indy Lights field is strengthened by the addition of Alfonso Celis to the Juncos Racing squad. Celis was a test driver for Formula One team Force India and is making his AmericanRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer LONG BEACH, California — Sebastien Bourdais had the most entertaining move of Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He also had some of the worst luck in the Verizon IndyCar Series field after penalties, an ill-timed caution and contact ruined his day. Bourdais started ninth but climbed his way to second before making his first pit stop on Lap 30. After his tires heated up, Bourdais raced his No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda to third place before making a pass that looked like somethingRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer LONG BEACH, California — Zach Veach’s weekend at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was flipped on its head as the Ohio native managed to race home fourth for his first top five finish in Verizon IndyCar Series competition. Veach started 16th in his No. 26 Group One Thousand One Honda and parlayed a two stop strategy mixed with a small amount of luck into a career-best finish, which brought congratulations from numerous people on pit lane after starting so far back. “I think theRead More