Kyle Kirkwood Tag

By David Morgan, Associate Editor NASHVILLE – Scott Dixon led the way in Sunday morning warm-up for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, snagging the top spot in the waning minutes of the session. The six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, who will start 14th in the race, put up a lap of one minute, 15.605 seconds in his No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to jump to the top of the scoring pylon on his 16th and final lap on track. Colton Herta was second fastest, as he looks toRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor NASHVILLE – Team Penske came out on Saturday in Nashville with its game face on, leading the way in the second practice of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend. Scott McLaughlin improved on his top-10 speed in first practice to jump to the top of the board in his No. 2 Chevrolet with a lap of one minute, 15.461 seconds, which would not be surpassed for the remainder of the session. “It’s so hot,” McLaughlin said of practicing in the steamy Nashville weather. “It’sRead More

By INDYCAR LEXINGTON, Ohio — For the ninth different time in nine races to start the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, a different driver will lead the field to green on Sunday. This time, it will be Pato O’Ward, who won the NTT P1 Award for pole Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. His best lap of 1 minute, 6.7054 seconds in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet capped an eventful qualifying session on the picturesque permanent road course. CLICK IT: Official Qualifying Results O’Ward’s fast lap on the 13-turn, 2.258-mileRead More

By INDYCAR DETROIT – A significant off-track week for Kyle Kirkwood extended to more good news Friday on track at the Raceway at Belle Isle. NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Kirkwood was the quickest driver under sunny skies Friday afternoon during the opening practice for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, with a best lap of 1 minute, 16.1345 seconds in the No. 14 ROKiT/AJ FOYT RACING Chevrolet. The practice-leading performance – the first time Kirkwood or a Foyt driver has led a session this season – came just twoRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer For 30 years, Belle Isle Park has been the site of the Detroit Grand Prix and a cornerstone of the INDYCAR calendar. Whether it’s known as the site of the climatic scene from the dreadful 2001 film Driven or Marco Andretti utilizing his skills in the wets while running a set of dry Firestone tires in 2019, Belle Isle has had memorable moments. It’s even the site of Helio Castroneves’ maiden CART win in 2000 where he debuted climbing the fence after each victory. Thus, theRead More

By INDYCAR LONG BEACH, Calif. – Josef Newgarden kept Team Penske unbeaten in three NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season with his second consecutive win of 2022, capturing the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in a taut, three-way tussle under brilliant Southern California sunshine Sunday. Newgarden earned his first career Long Beach victory in the No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet, holding off Romain Grosjean in the No. 28 DHL Honda and reigning series champion Alex Palou in the No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Grosjean tied aRead More

By INDYCAR LONG BEACH, Calif. – On a scorching April afternoon in Southern California, Simon Pagenaud turned up the heat even higher before the big chill arrives. Frenchman Pagenaud turned a top lap of 1 minute, 7.1991 seconds in the No. 60 AutoNation/Sirius XM Honda to lead the opening practice Friday for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of the season. 2016 series champion Pagenaud’s top lap was more than four-tenths of a second quicker than his closest pursuer, two-time Long Beach winner AlexanderRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The NTT IndyCar Series will kick off this month at St. Petersburg and the anticipation levels are beyond different than most seasons. All in large part of the series having tremendous momentum falling in their favor. Among those are an influx of young drivers making names for themselves with some being touted as future Formula One talent. Others are looking for a fresh chapter to their racing careers. For the rookies, it’s that and more because this rookie class is all about junior formula grads comparedRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The most decorated Road to Indy scholar has found a home in the NTT IndyCar Series. After weeks of uncertainty, Kyle Kirkwood was announced Wednesday as AJ Foyt Racing’s newest driver. The Floridian will replace Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 14 Chevrolet on a full-time basis next season. Bourdais will be make the move to IMSA once again as he’ll join Chip Ganassi Racing’s Cadillac DPi program. Kirkwood said he’s over the moon of driving for Foyt, knowing he’ll have big shoes to fill by takingRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport announced Thursday morning that Indy Lights competitor Devlin DeFrancesco will pilot the No. 29 Honda in the NTT IndyCar Series next season. The Italian-Canadian racer will replace veteran James Hinchcliffe, who scored a single podium at Nashville and finished 20th in the championship standings. In just one season in Indy Lights, the 21-year-old scored two podiums en route to a sixth-place points finish. Despite not reaching the top step of the podium, the team highly touts DeFrancesco, including co-owner Michael Andretti. “We’re thrilledRead More