Latest news with #INDYNXTbyFirestone
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
David Malukas Stays on Upswing with Fast Qualifying Performance
INDYCAR David Malukas is on the move in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The 24-year-old driver piloting the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises entered this hectic Month of May in the 18th position in the season standings. Three races later, he is 10th – and charging. Malukas earned the second starting spot for Sunday's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, which is where he stood after the official results of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge were posted. Clearly, the Chicago native has momentum. 'We're starting off (in Detroit) where we finished (in Indianapolis),' Malukas said, smiling. 'We're still in that (second spot), but that's a really good (qualifying) session. As soon as we unloaded the car, we knew we were (going to) have a good run. 'I've just been really happy.' Malukas felt he had a car quick enough to beat Colton Herta, the driver of the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian who won the 15th pole of his career, but Herta edged him by .1713 of a second over the nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit. Malukas said 'just a few tweaks' to the car's setup likely would have made a difference for him to swap positions with Herta. Malukas did outqualify Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood, who edged him for the INDY NXT by Firestone championship in 2021. Kirkwood won 10 of the 20 races that season; Malukas won seven, Linus Lundqvist three. Kirkwood will start third in Sunday's race in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda. Malukas still doesn't have a pole in his 51 events in this series, although this will be the third time he has started a race from the second position. The other two front-row starts came last year on oval tracks – World Wide Technology Raceway and the Milwaukee Mile – while driving for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. This was Malukas' first appearance in the Firestone Fast Six qualifying round since earning the sixth starting position in last year's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. He finished sixth in that race. Malukas said this momentum has been building for some time as he and the Foyt crew have gotten to know one another in their first season together. Specifically, Malukas singled out the recent tips he has received from Derek Miller, one of Chevrolet's trackside engineers. 'I think having that whole month (in Indianapolis), being with the (team) guys, understanding what we want (out of the car setup),' Malukas said of the reason for the competitive rise. 'Having Clarience Technologies on board with us – those guys have been ecstatic. I think the mood has really lifted us up, and we can see this momentum carrying (on). 'Man, what a good car, what a good group of guys here, what a good run here.' Malukas also doesn't have a race win in this series, although as with pole pursuits, he has been close. His best result was a second-place finish in the 2022 race at World Wide Technology Raceway when he split a pair of Team Penske drivers in a late-race shootout. Josef Newgarden scored his third consecutive win in the event that year. Sunday might offer Malukas' best chance to break through and become a race winner in this series. He is extremely fond of this circuit, although a 23rd-place finish in the 2023 race is his only start on it. 'Man, it's just so technical,' he said. 'It's something that I love, and I think (Saturday's) cooler temperatures are something that I've always been suited to ever since go-karting as a little kid. Yeah, everything kind of lined up for us today.' It's worth noting that Malukas' first appearance in a Firestone Fast Six round came on Detroit's Belle Isle circuit in 2022. He qualified sixth that afternoon for Dale Coyne Racing w/HMD Motorsports. He likes the mojo of the Motor City, which could be just the lift he needs to win the 100-lap race (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). 'That was kind of the first big transition for me, knowing that I actually had a strong opportunity to be quick and get good results here in INDYCAR,' he said. 'So, Detroit is my turnaround (event).' recommended
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Colton Herta Rises to Top as Andretti Global Stays Quick at Detroit
INDYCAR A second Andretti Global driver has stepped to the fore, as Colton Herta led pre-qualifying practice for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Saturday morning. Herta produced the top lap of the one-hour session on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit, 1 minute, 1.7823 seconds, in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. That's just slightly slower than the top lap of the weekend turned Friday by his teammate Kyle Kirkwood, 1:01.7509, as air temperatures this morning hovered in the mid-50s under overcast skies. SEE: Practice Results Scott McLaughlin stayed in the No. 2 position for a second straight session in the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet with his top lap of 1:01.8995. Kirkwood stayed sharp, ending up third at 1:01.9423 in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda. Callum Ilott brought PREMA Racing closer to the front of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid for the second straight weekend by ending up fourth at 1:02.1450 in the team's No. 90 Chevrolet. Ilott's rookie teammate, Robert Shwartzman, was the shock pole winner for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Rookie Louis Foster, the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, enjoyed one of his strongest sessions of the season. He rounded out the top five at 1:02.1696 in the No. 45 Mi-Jack Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Alex Palou continued to struggle for the first time this season. Palou, who has won five of the first six races this season, managed to improve to 12th at 1:02.5318 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda after ending up 15th out of 27 drivers Friday. Up next is NTT P1 Award qualifying at noon ET (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 100-lap race starts at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). recommended
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Leading Andretti Duo Looks To Pull Away from Pack in Motor City
INDYCAR Andretti Global rookie Lochie Hughes has delivered one of the most consistent starts to an INDY NXT by Firestone season in recent memory. The 2024 USF Pro 2000 champion is the only driver to finish on the podium in all four races this year, a feat that would usually earn him the top spot in the points standings. But teammate Dennis Hauger has been even more dominant. SEE: Event Details Hauger, also a rookie, has won three of the season's first four events, drawing comparisons to NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Alex Palou for his clinical performances. Hauger's only blemish came in Race 1 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course doubleheader, where early contact with Callum Hedge sent him off track. Despite rejoining at the back of the 21-car field, Hauger salvaged an eighth-place finish. Hughes went on to win that race. As the series heads into the Detroit Grand Prix, Hauger leads the standings by 15 points over Hughes. The rookie battle resumes at 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday, airing on FS1 and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Andretti Dominance Faces Rowe Threat in Detroit Andretti Global has established a firm grip on INDY NXT by Firestone, winning 13 of the last 15 races dating back to Race 2 of the 2023 Indianapolis weekend. That run includes a win on the streets of Detroit last year by eventual series champion Louis Foster, and the team remains undefeated in 2025 – 4-for-4 through the opening stretch of the season. But as the series heads back to Detroit, another emerging force could disrupt that momentum: Myles Rowe. Driving for ABEL Motorsports, Rowe has quietly built a consistent start to the season. After opening the year with back-to-back fourth-place finishes at St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park, Rowe surged with twin third-place results at the IMS road course earlier this month – his first career INDY NXT podiums. Now third in the championship standings, 53 points behind Hauger, Rowe enters Detroit with pace and experience. He finished fourth here last season with HMD Motorsports. Rowe looms as a serious contender, aiming to spoil the Andretti streak and insert himself into the title conversation. Collet Battles to Keep Pace Last year's INDY NXT Rookie of the Year, Caio Collet, arrived in 2025 with high hopes after a strong 2024 campaign that saw him finish third in points and claim a victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Returning to HMD Motorsports, the Brazilian driver set realistic championship goals. However, this season has proved challenging. Collet sits fourth in the standings, 70 points adrift of Hauger, and trails teammate Rowe by 17 points for third place. The adage 'it's getting late early' seems fitting as Andretti Global's rookies, Hauger and Hughes, pull away in the points battle. Collet showed flashes of speed, finishing runner-up to Foster in Detroit last season and again securing second place in the first IMS road course race this May. He also stood on the podium with a third-place finish in St. Petersburg. Yet a mechanical failure at Barber Motorsports Park, which relegated him to 19th, combined with a fifth-place finish in the IMS doubleheader finale have put him in a tough position. To keep championship hopes alive, Collet needs to transform podium appearances into victories—and do so consistently. Who Will Rise as Weekend's Breakout Story? While Andretti Global's rookies dominate the headlines, a clutch of drivers and teams are quietly building momentum and could emerge as the weekend's underdog story at Detroit. Jordan Missig impressed with a career-best sixth-place finish in St. Petersburg, driving the No. 48 ABEL Motorsports entry. His teammate, Jack William Miller, showed grit with a climb to ninth in Race 1 at the IMS road course. Meanwhile, Chip Ganassi Racing's Niels Koolen earned a career-best sixth a day later, signaling growth across the board. Evagoras Papasavvas turned heads with a stunning series debut, qualifying third and finishing second at Barber Motorsports Park for HMD Motorsports. One name to watch closely this weekend is ABEL Motorsports' Callum Hedge. The 2023 fourth-place points finisher and Detroit podium veteran sits eighth in the standings with just a single top-five finish this year, a fourth-place effort in Race 1 at IMS. Could Sunday's race mark his maiden INDY NXT victory? Pressure looms from HMD Motorsports teammates Josh Pierson and Liam Sceats. Pierson ranks sixth, riding a streak of four consecutive top-10 finishes, the best run he's had since 2023. That year, he put together five straight top-10s. Sceats, just 19, has quickly found his footing. After an 18th-place INDY NXT debut at St. Petersburg, he's not finished worse than eighth since. Adding to the intrigue, HMD Motorsports swept the inaugural Detroit weekend in 2023 with first career wins by Reece Gold and Nolan Siegel. History suggests the team could be primed for another strong showing this year. Track Specs: 1.645-mile, nine-turn street circuit Qualifying Record: Louis Foster, 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph, June 1, 2024 Push To Pass Parameters: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. recommended
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Lottery.com and Sports.com Power Triple Driver Lineup at Detroit Grand Prix
DETROIT, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRY, LTRYW)('the Company' or ' and the next-generation sports media platform, are proud to announce their continued sponsorship of three exceptionally talented drivers — Callum Ilott, Louis Foster and Sebastian Murray — as they take to the streets of Detroit this weekend in both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone. branded helmet worn by Callum Ilott Callum Ilott: Helmet Deal Extended Through 2025 Following his standout showing at the Indianapolis 500, Callum Ilott will now wear the logo front and center on his custom helmet for the remainder of the 2025 season. Driving car number 90 for the Prema racing team, Ilott represents lead entry in the top-tier INDYCAR SERIES. 'We're proud to extend our relationship with Callum,'said Matthew McGahan, Chairman and CEO of and 'I had the pleasure of spending time with Callum at the Indy 500 following his great drive, and I was really impressed not only by his ability to drive the wheels off a car, but also by his commercial understanding of how important partnerships like this are for the future. We look forward to working with Callum through this year and beyond.' branded helmet worn by Louis Foster. Louis Foster: Partnership Continues Post-Indy 500 After finishing 12th and earning Top Rookie Honors at the Indy 500 last weekend, Louis Foster continues his strong run in the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing No. 45 car. The branding will now appear on the chin of Foster's car, showcasing the Company's commitment to elite racing talent. 'Detroit's a tricky track and there have been some eventful races there in recent years,'Foster commented.'The main goal is to qualify well and stay out of trouble to keep our momentum going.' 'It's just, like, super bumpy,'he added. 'It's really short and narrow. For us to be on the limit and not end up in the wall, it just makes it very, very challenging. In some areas, it's very narrow. In others, you have different tarmacs in different corners, which makes it hard to feel the grip of the car.' 'Not only did Louis deliver one of the outstanding drives of the Indy 500 weekend,'said Marc Bircham, Director of 'but having spent time with him personally, I can say he's got a fantastic personality — every sponsor's dream. He has a great racing pedigree. He's the complete package.' Sebastian Murray: Rising Star Continues Indy NXT Journey In the INDY NXT by Firestone championship, Sebastian Murray will once again carry branding on the rear spoiler and nose wing endplates of his Andretti Cape Motorsports machine. As the youngest driver in the group, Murray's progression symbolizes the long-term vision for both and in supporting emerging motorsport talent and driver development. 'Sebastian represents the future,'said Marc Bircham. 'He's calm under pressure and has the talent to rise quickly through the ranks. We're excited to watch his journey unfold and to be a part of it.' 'Marc and I also had the pleasure of spending time with Sebastian over the Indy 500 weekend,'said Matthew McGahan, 'and he's not only a charming young man but an exceptional natural driver. There's no doubt he's one to watch.' Detroit Street Circuit: The Challenge Ahead Detroit's circuit is one of the most demanding in motorsport, with tight corners, changing surfaces, and limited overtaking zones that test both driver skill and race strategy. This marks the fourth major event in May, closing out the busiest month of the INDYCAR calendar. Broadcast Schedule (ET): Triple Sponsorship, One Global Vision This three-driver lineup exemplifies and investment in world-class motorsport to raise global brand awareness and fan engagement. From helmet design to car decals, the brands are front and center on one of the most watched racing series in the world. 'This is more than sponsorship — it's the start of a movement,'said Matthew McGahan. 'We're building long-term equity in the sports and entertainment verticals, and these partnerships are already delivering global brand recognition along with signaling to our shareholders that we are making strides to increase the value of our premium brand assets.' About The Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRY, LTRYW) family of brands — including Tinbu and WinTogether, comprise a unified ecosystem that integrates gaming, entertainment, and sports. Follow the Company on X, Instagram and Facebook. For more information, please visit or or contact our media relations team. Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the Company's strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Form 8-K, the words 'could,' 'should,' 'will,' 'may,' 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'project,' 'initiatives,' 'continue,' the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the date they are made. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. In addition, the Company cautions you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, any future findings from ongoing review of the Company's internal accounting controls, additional examination of the preliminary conclusions of such review, the Company's ability to secure additional capital resources, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, the Company's ability to respond in a timely and satisfactory matter to the inquiries by Nasdaq, the Company's ability to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement, the Company's ability to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Company's ability to become current with its SEC reports, and those additional risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading 'Risk Factors' in the Form 10-K/A filed by the Company with the SEC on April 22, 2025, and the other documents filed, or to be filed, by the Company with the SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the reports that the Company has filed and will file from time to time with the SEC. These SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual. For more information, please visit or or contact our media relations team at [email protected].
Fox Sports
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Gearing Up: Countless Storylines, Contenders in This Year's Indy 500
INDYCAR Rookie Robert Shwartzman was only minutes removed from winning the pole for Sunday's Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge when he was thrown a challenging question. How will he start this race with a motivated field in tow and a couple of aggressive veteran drivers – two-time winner Takuma Sato and two-time runner-up Pato O'Ward – lined up to his right on Row 1? SEE: Indianapolis 500 Event Details Shwartzman, who will start his first oval race, took a deep breath. 'I just probably take it easy,' he said. 'I guess I need to just analyze and see what the others are doing because, you know, it's very easy to make a big mistake here. It can cost a lot. 'I just want to make it a smooth ride … then we're just going to race.' FOX's race broadcast begins at 10 a.m. ET Sunday (also FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Shwartzman and the rest of the drivers have several days to plot their strategy at the green flag. Clearly, there is much on the line. And as the sport's old adage goes, a race can't be won on the first lap, but it can be lost. The field of 33 is set. Awaiting are 800 corners over 200 laps. From start to finish, the winner will need about three hours to fend off all challengers. Eight former '500' winners in this race, each with a chance to reach a new classification in event history. Helio Castroneves of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian can win his record-setting fifth race. Josef Newgarden of Team Penske can win his third in succession. Sato can earn his second win with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and third overall. Castroneves, 50, and Sato, 48, could become the oldest winners. Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon is already that all-time leader in laps led with 677 – that's 33 laps more than second-place Al Unser – and Dixon can score his second race victory, the other coming in 2008. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014 winner), Ed Carpenter Racing's Alexander Rossi (2016), Team Penske's Will Power (2018) and Andretti Global's Marcus Ericsson (2022) also seek their second wins. As of now, 21 drivers in history have won Indy two or more times. Someone could become No. 22. Shwartzman is one of three rookies in this field, with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Louis Foster, who won last year's INDY NXT by Firestone championship, and Arrow McLaren's Nolan Siegel the others. Siegel failed to qualify for last year's race. The pole winner has won 19.4 percent of the races – 21 of 108 – easily the most among all starting positions. The last such winner was Simon Pagenaud in 2019. But only 10 rookies have gone to Victory Lane, one of those being Castroneves, who in 2001 was already a veteran of 64 INDYCAR SERIES races. Rossi was the last rookie to win, nine years ago in the 100th edition. Series points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing is considered one of the favorites to win the race based on the fact he has won four of this season's first five races, and he posted the fastest lap in Monday's practice. Although Palou has yet to win the '500,' he is already 57th in career laps led with 119. Only Dixon, Castroneves (326), Hunter-Reay (171), Ed Carpenter of Ed Carpenter Racing (149), Power (145), Marco Andretti of Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian (144) have led more among this year's contestants. There is significant intrigue through the field. No one could have imagined Newgarden and Power starting on the last row. Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin, who won last year's NTT P1 Award and has topped the speed chart after two practices this year, starts 10th. The second row is comprised of drivers using the technical alliance of Chip Ganassi Racing and Meyer Shank Racing – that's Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist and Palou. Sato is the highest-starting driver for an entry that isn't full time in at least two decades. Then there's Shwartzman. First oval race. First Indy. First time on the pole in an open-wheel car. On such a big stage. Gentlemen will soon be starting their engines. recommended
