simon pagenaud Tag

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 David Morgan, Associate Editor FORT WORTH, Texas – As they say, it’s never over until it’s over. Scott McLaughlin dominated at Texas Motor Speedway, leading 186 laps and looked to be in the catbird seat on the last lap of Sunday’s XPEL 375. However, his Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden had other plans, passing him on the last lap to steal the win. Biding his time behind McLaughlin over the course of the closing laps, Newgarden saw his chance when the New Zealander caught lapped traffic, powering around McLaughlin throughRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor FORT WORTH, Texas – Simon Pagenaud is off to a flying start on the first day of NTT IndyCar Series action at Texas Motor Speedway. Aided by new downforce options for the 2022 running of the XPEL 375 and a clear, cool morning, Pagenaud piloted his Meyer Shank Racing Honda to the top of the board early on in the first practice session of the day with a lap of 23.2376 seconds (223.087 mph) and remained there throughout the hour of on-track activity. “It was aRead More

By INDYCAR ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Scott McLaughlin targeted a main goal after his rookie season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2021 – improve his qualifying performances. Consider that job done after just one race in 2022. McLaughlin earned his first career NTT P1 Award by leading the Firestone Fast Six with a lap of 59.4821 seconds Saturday afternoon in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet, taking the top starting spot for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. The pole also cameRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Traditionally, silly season always cause a lot of buzz in the NTT IndyCar Series. This upcoming season is no different and it involves drivers who’ve won the Indianapolis 500 and others looking to really hit their stride in the sport. With certain changes, time will tell if some team chapters will continue or they’ll turn a brand new page in a sport that continues to grow. There’s one central theme among those drivers who’ll drive elsewhere, they’re all powered by Honda. In this preview installment, we’llRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Simon Pagenaud will begin his next chapter in the NTT IndyCar Series by joining Meyer Shank Racing next season. The team announced Monday morning he’ll be taking Jack Harvey’s seat of the No. 60 Honda, becoming teammates with Helio Castroneves once again. Sunday’s finale at Long Beach marked the final race for Pagenaud at Team Penske after seven seasons of tremendous accomplishments. From 2015-2021, the 37-year-old Frenchman captured 11 victories and two of the sport’s biggest prizes. Those being his lone title to date in 2016Read More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor LONG BEACH, Calif. – Qualifying has been the bane of Josef Newgarden’s existence in recent weeks, but Saturday, the tide turned in his favor with a lap fast enough to score the pole for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Still mathematically eligible for the NTT IndyCar Series championship, the elation among the No. 1 team was palpable, with Newgarden emerging from his Team Penske Chevrolet following his pole-winning run with arms stretched upwards, yelling “F*** yeah!” to his team, knowing he was still inRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor LONG BEACH, Calif. – For Colton Herta, it’s déjà vu all over again. In a repeat of Friday’s first practice, Herta was fast again during the second practice of the weekend for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, topping the board with a scorching lap of one minute, 7.978 seconds. “We tried to find that happy medium between drivability and comfort and it looks like we’re pretty close,” Herta said. “We feel really good. I think there’s still some work to do to make theRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor LONG BEACH, Calif. – Coming off his win one week ago, Colton Herta found himself in familiar territory on Friday’s opening practice for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach with his Andretti Autosport Honda at the top of the board. Reminiscent of his run on the Streets of Nashville back in August, Herta’s car looked to be out of control around the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street course, but the clock doesn’t lie as the 21-year-old put up a lap of one minute, 9.268 seconds toRead More

By INDYCAR MONTEREY, Calif. – Colton Herta continued his family’s success at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a dominant victory Sunday in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, while Alex Palou marched closer and closer to an even bigger win. Herta earned his second victory this season and fifth career victory, beating Palou’s No. 10 NTT Data Honda to the finish by 1.9747 seconds. NTT P1 Award winner Herta led 91 of the 95 laps in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. LINK: Official Results California native Herta also won this eventRead More