IndyCar Category

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

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Josef Newgarden has found a home at his “home track.” Winner of two of the last three Honda Grand Prix of Alabama presented by America’s First races, Newgarden led Verizon IndyCar Series practice today for this year’s ninth running that takes place Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. Newgarden toured the picturesque 17-turn, 2.3-mile permanent road course in 1 minute, 7.4345 seconds (122.786 mph) in the latter of two practice sessions. HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA: Practice 1 results; Practice 2 results; Combined practice results Newgarden, who hails from 200Read More

By INDYCAR INDIANAPOLIS – Though he has the most race wins of any active Verizon IndyCar Series driver, Scott Dixon has his eyes set on a new kind of victory in intense competition – being a bona fide “INDYCAR Ninja.” Dixon, 37, will compete in the 10th season of NBC’s hit obstacle-course competition series “American Ninja Warrior,” which will film its city qualifier and city finals episodes in Indianapolis on April 29-30. The top athletes from the first night of competition move on to the city finals round on the secondRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer The Verizon IndyCar Series is a tour lauded for the challenge of its schedule. From street circuits and road courses to high speed ovals both big and small, the drivers that contest the championship are tasked with finding consistency in a field and schedule rife with parity and variables. IndyCar’s depth and difficulty have been proven with the tour’s early 2018 results. There have been three different winners – all from different organizations – and only one driver has managed a podium in each of the open three races.Read 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

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Writer LONG BEACH, California — Graham Rahal recovered from early contact with Simon Pagenaud to claim fifth in Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Starting fifth, Rahal tagged the back of Pagenaud’s No. 22 DXC Technology Chevrolet sending him into the wall before the field got to Turn 1. The incident didn’t damage the No. 15 TOTAL Honda as Rahal continued after being assessed a drive-thru penalty for avoidable contact. The penalty dropped Rahal to 22nd as the team then opted to try a three-stop strategy.Read More

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Writer LONG BEACH, California – Will Power could only watch from second as Alexander Rossi dominated Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. A two-time winner at the Streets of Long Beach, Power started second in today’s race and found himself trailing Rossi for much of the 85-lap event’s opening stint. Scott Dixon and St. Petersburg winner Sebastien Bourdais overtook Power on the first exchange of pitstops. The 37-year-old Australian got some good fortune on the next pit exchange by pitting on Lap 59 just before theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Third-place starter Simon Pagenaud never got a chance of getting past Turn 1 after retiring from the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California Sunday. Entering the first corner, fifth-place starter Graham Rahal was sent high across the track by Scott Dixon, and passed him. As soon as he got by the multi-time champion, Rahal tapped into the back of Pagenaud’s No. 22 DXC Technology Chevrolet, sending the 2016 Long Beach race winner around with his left rear hitting the concrete wall. Rahal wentRead More

By INDYCAR LONG BEACH, California – Alexander Rossi sought redemption for the one he felt got away a year ago at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Andretti Autosport driver made up for it in dominant fashion, completing a nearly flawless weekend with a flawless drive to win today’s race. Driving the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda, Rossi led all but 14 of the 85 laps on the renowned 1.986-mile, 11-turn temporary street course that’s hosted Indy car races for the last 35 years. The 26-year-old CalifornianRead More