verizon indycar series Tag

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor Motorsports Tribune reviews the season of the top 12 drivers from the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series championship. Our list continues with the fifth-place finisher, Josef Newgarden. Josef Newgarden, No. 1 Hitachi/Verizon Chevrolet 2018: 5th in the championship  Wins: 3, Top 5: 6, Top 10: 14, Poles: 4, Laps Led: 485 Best Finish: 1st (Phoenix, Barber, Road America) Josef Newgarden’s 2018 matched the highs of his 2017 championship season, but a lack of podiums and season-long consistency kept the Tennessean from mounting a successful title defenseRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Welcome to the Verizon IndyCar Series, rookies. The Harding Racing duo of Colton Herta and Patricio O’Ward exceeded expectations in their debuts on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. Both drivers finished on the lead lap, with O’Ward finishing ninth and Herta coming home 20th. Race strategist Brian Barnhart was proud of both by bringing his entries home with a clean car and lead lap finishes, stating that it was crucial of allowing the duo an opportunity to compete at the highest level before theRead More

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Journalist SONOMA, California – Determination, resilience, humility. Those three words best describe five-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon has he hoists yet another Astor Cup. The 38-year-old New Zealander already etched himself into Indy car racing history this year by passing Michael Andretti for third on the all-time win list. The driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing started second in today’s race at Sonoma Raceway and ran in the tire tracks of race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay the entire day. ChampionshipRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Ryan Hunter-Reay put in a dominating performance en route to victory in the Verizon IndyCar Series season finale at Sonoma Raceway. After starting on pole, the pilot of the No. 28 Andretti Autosport Honda led 80 of 85 laps and beat newly-crowned five time series champion Scott Dixon by 2.7573 second in the finale INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma. It marked Hunter-Reay’s 18th Indy car victory and became the third drought he snapped this weekend. His pole from Saturday marked his first sinceRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Alexander Rossi fell short of capturing his first Verizon IndyCar Series championship, but he made sure to go down fighting in the season finale at Sonoma Raceway. The 26-year-old Californian’s day began on the wrong foot after a cut right front tire on the opening lap set him back for the remainder of the 85-lap contest. Although he rebounded to finish seventh in Sunday’s INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma, the outcome left second in the overall standings, 57 points behind newly crowned championRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Neither of the IndyCar Series title contenders scored bonus points as Ryan Hunter-Reay snatched the Verizon P1 Pole Award for the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway Saturday. For the three drivers who are hunting down points leader Scott Dixon, their tasks became increasingly difficult after the New Zealander’s qualifying effort. He’ll start alongside Hunter-Reay in second, with Josef Newgarden following as the highest of the chasing trio after qualifying third. The reigning series champion kept his strong pace from FridayRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Ryan Hunter-Reay has consistently been the best of the non-title contenders these past two days and proved it with a time of 1:17.627, earning him his sixth career Verizon IndyCar Series pole for Sunday’s IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Not only it was a long-time coming for the former champion, scoring an elusive pole at the 2.385-mile road course, but its his first INDYCAR pole since Long Beach in 2014. The Floridian was congratulated with a hug and a kissRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — It was a share of laughs and soaking in the greatest opportunity that a racer has worked their heart and soul for – reaching the highest ladder in American open wheel racing. That was the story behind Harding Racing teammates and INDYCAR debutants Colton Herta and Patricio O’Ward’s Friday press conference at Sonoma Raceway. The Road to Indy alumni were teammates at Andretti Autosport in Indy Lights, and just wrapped up an intense championship battle which wrapped up two weeks ago at PortlandRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The answer is simple, it’ll take chaotic circumstances, and having a picture perfect weekend for championship contenders Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden and Will Power to prevent Scott Dixon from capturing his unprecedented fifth Verizon IndyCar Series championship at Sonoma Raceway. Among the three title chasers, Rossi is the closest to Dixon, trailing the points leader by 29 points and in many people’s eyes, the best among the three in terms of catching Dixon. Heading into Saturday, he has the most work to doRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — In attempt of keeping continuity at Ed Carpenter Racing, the owner-driver confirmed at Friday’s press conference at Sonoma Raceway that Spencer Pigot will retain his ride in the No. 21 Chevrolet for 2019, and debunked rumors by announcing that he’ll run on all five ovals on the IndyCar Series schedule. After spending the past two seasons sharing a ride with Carpenter, the former Indy Lights champion will wrap up first full-season Sunday, looking to continue has his second-half stride stride. Among his seasonRead More