IndyCar Tag

By INDYCAR PORTLAND, Oregon – Might as well add Portland International Raceway to the list of Indy car tracks where Will Power has dominated qualifying. Power had qualified seventh in his two previous races at this track – in 2006 and ’07 – and blitzing today’s Verizon IndyCar Series field gave him 25 tracks where he has won a pole. Power set a new track record in the first round of knockout qualifying of 57.2143 seconds, eclipsing the previous record of 57.597 seconds set by Justin Wilson in 2005. InRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer PORTLAND, Oregon — The two-car team of Ed Carpenter Racing showed promising speeds before qualifying for Sunday’s Portland Grand Prix, notably rookie and road course driver Jordan King. The 24-year-old from Warwick, England, had a solid result in the two Friday practice sessions, ending up sixth and ninth quickest, respectively, outpacing full-time driver Spencer Pigot. Then on final practice, King continued to show solid speed and ended up 12th. With those positive runs, he saw himself being a possible contender of making the Firestone FastRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer PORTLAND, Oregon — Opportunities come in the strangest of forms. For Carlos Muñoz, the thought of his next chance in the Verizon IndyCar Series wasn’t supposed to come at the expense of an injury of another – Robert Wickens. After spending time over the last few seasons racing for Andretti Autosport and A.J. Foyt Racing, Muñoz saw himself without a full-time ride this season. The 26-year-old has only competed in the Indianapolis 500, where he finished 7th for Andretti. This past Wednesday, it’ll change as he’llRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer PORTLAND, Oregon — Friday practice has come and gone for the Verizon IndyCar Series ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland and the time sheets saw numerous names flying up and down in unexpected places. While it’s expected to see Sebastien Bourdais near the top and he in fact led the opening session, the midfield was full of happy surprises. Santino Ferrucci was 12th fastest in the opening session in his first IndyCar race since the Chevrolet Duel in Detroit. Ahead of Ferrucci was Jack HarveyRead More

By INDYCAR PORTLAND, Oregon – Will Power continued to show he’s serious about getting back into Verizon IndyCar Series title contention by posting the fastest lap of Friday’s second practice session at Portland International Raceway. The winner of last week’s race at Gateway Motorsports Park turned a lap of 57.4053 seconds (123.166 mph) in the No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet to best the field of 25 entrants in that session. Power will head to Saturday’s qualifications seeking his fourth pole of the season and the 54th of his career. PowerRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer PORTLAND, Oregon — Off the track, Juncos Racing driver Alfonso Celis, Jr. of Mexico City is an avid soccer fan,  rooting for Real Madrid and Tigres UANL. On the track, though, he’s all business and looking to make a name in open wheel racing as he’s set to make his second career Verizon IndyCar Series start at Portland International Raceway Sunday. However, the former Force India test driver has seen himself waiting on the sidelines, eager to run as many races possible. The task hasRead More

By INDYCAR PORTLAND, Oregon – Sebastien Bourdais has raced at Portland International Raceway five times in his Indy car career, winning Champ Car races in 2004 and 2007. But after his first laps in the 2018 Indy car at Portland, he felt like he was visiting for the first time. “It’s narrower than I remember it,” the four-time Indy car champion said during a break Thursday at INDYCAR’s Open Test at the track. “The width goes from super-wide to very narrow. It’s probably the narrowest place we go all season.Read More

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Journalist Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has named Carlos Munoz as the substitute driver for the injured Robert Wickens in the final two races of the Verizon IndyCar Series season at Portland and Sonoma. The Colombian will be making his second start of the season. Raced for Andretti Autosport in the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, where he finished seventh. Wickens suffered multiple injuries in a crash in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway two weeks ago. He remains at the Lehigh Valley Hospital – CedarRead More

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Journalist MADISON, Illinois – A late fuel gamble in Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 allowed Alexander Rossi to close the championship fight with Scott Dixon to 26 points. The driver of the No. 27 Napa Auto Parts Honda finished second behind Will Power by going 71 laps on his final tank of Sunoco E85 fuel. Having won the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on fuel strategy, Rossi is no stranger to making fuel gambles work. While he didn’t pull off the win, he found a silverRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Sebastien Bourdais’ chances at a third consecutive top-10 finish disappeared moments after the drop of the green flag in Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park. The outcome happened on the opening lap when his No. 18 SealMaster Honda slammed the Turn 1 wall, leaving him to finish last in the 21-car field, and in danger of falling out of the top 10 in the championship standings. It’s Bourdais’ first last-place result since the Indy Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway lastRead More