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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Winners and losers from IndyCar's unique, chaotic Detroit GP street circuit race
With the Month of May complete, the NTT IndyCar Series ventured north to kick off June on the streets of Detroit. If anyone thought that meant a return to caution-free, procedural races, then they were in for a surprise. Sunday's race was hit with multiple yellow flags, causing strategies that ultimately shook up the final running order. General view, overlooking the circuit's unique 'split' pit lane General view, overlooking the circuit's unique 'split' pit lane Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Advertisement In the end, the same street course dominator from Long Beach rolled to victory lane. However, the path from Colton Herta's well-deserved pole position to Kyle Kirkwood taking the checkered flag was much more eventful, leaving a host of different storylines to touch on leaving Motown. Here are the winners and losers from the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Winner: Kyle Kirkwood controls another street circuit showdown Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment What more can you say about Kyle Kirkwood and the No. 27 Andretti Global team when it comes to street circuits? The Floridian bounced back from a disappointing third-place qualifying effort and marched to his fourth street circuit win and second of 2025, following a dominant drive in Long Beach. Advertisement Kirkwood was rapid on the streets of Detroit, particularly on restarts. A varied race, broken front wing and strategies that forced him to overtake couldn't keep Kirkwood from securing yet another big victory. If Alex Palou's the dominator everywhere else, then Kirkwood is establishing himself as the driver to beat when street circuits come around. Winners (and one Loser): Keeping the status quo… Sort of David Malukas, A. J. Foyt Enterprises David Malukas, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Okay, so on paper, not much changed with the podium of Sunday's race. Two Andretti Global stars were split by an A.J. Foyt Racing underdog in both qualifying and the race. But it took quite a bit to make that come true. Advertisement First off, let's get the bad news out of the way. David Malukas' promising weekend came unglued in the second-half of Sunday's race. His No. 4 Chevrolet dropped from second to fifth on the opening lap, but he'd generally stayed in contention until the final set of pit stops under caution. It was on the ensuing restart that Malukas made his race-changing error, slamming into Alex Palou from behind and nosing him into the tire barrier. That led to an avoidable contact penalty that ultimately relegated the Wisconsinite to a 14th-place result. Luckily for the Foyt gang, the caution that preceded the error set up teammate Santino Ferrucci for a shock result. Having already pitted under green, Ferrucci stayed out and inherited the lead. Neither he nor pole-sitting Andretti teammate Colton Herta had anything for the rapid Kyle Kirkwood in the end. But Ferrucci and Herta wrapped up the podium to give their organizations results they could be proud of. Loser (but Winner for IndyCar): Alex Palou finally looks human Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Advertisement It was easy to picture Sunday's race as a foregone conclusion based on the trends entering the weekend. Palou was obviously going to qualify well and surge to the lead when it counted, right? Not this time. The Indianapolis 500 winner qualified a respectable sixth and rose into the top-three through the opening corners, but ultimately lacked the pace to chase down the frontrunners in Detroit. It looked like the Spaniard was going to settle for a finish around the back-half of the top-five, but Palou's day was undone when he was clambered into from behind by David Malukas on a mid-race restart. Even with the awful result, Palou's still sitting pretty. His points lead still sits a 78 points over Kirkwood, leaving the Chip Ganassi Racing ace as the dominant championship favorite if catastrophe doesn't find his No. 10 Chevrolet continuously moving forward. Advertisement But for at least one week, IndyCar got the chance to highlight other stars and focus on different storylines. That's good for a series trying to grow its driver into brand names with FOX. Loser: Early chaos takes out contenders Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment If anyone was worried about the caution-free trends from before Indianapolis continuing in Detroit, they didn't have to wait long to get their answer. It took just 14 laps for the race to see its first full-course yellow, when Felix Rosenqvist went for a spin into the tire barrier while trying to chase down the frontrunners. Rosenqvist had closed up on the leaders after pitting to get rid of his alternate tires earlier than anyone else at the conclusion of lap 6, but the spin kept him out of contention. Advertisement The drama didn't end there. Devlin DeFrancesco was caught up in the incident and fell to the back of the field. But minutes later his No. 30 Honda was seen slowed before it lost a tire to bring out another caution flag. In-between those two unfortunate breaks for DeFrancesco, Arrow McLaren's Nolan Siegel made a strong impression as he surged past the just-pitted Colton Herta in a net-lead-changing moment that opened the door for Kyle Kirkwood to pass him as well. But on the first restart, Siegel was sent for a spin from the trailing Scott McLaughlin, who'd just pitted under the prior yellow. Siegel and DeFrancesco lost laps as a result of their incidents and left Detroit with finishes of 19th and 23rd. McLaughlin continued on, but was issued a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact and knocked out of winning contention. He ended the day a disappointing 12th. Winner: Early stops pay dividends for Simpson, Armstrong Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Advertisement Ferrucci was the star of the drivers that were fortunate enough to pit before Ilott's caution allowed them to cycle through to the front of the field. But the two drivers that joined him were nearly as fortunate. Simpson and Armstrong couldn't fend off the frontrunners in the run to the checkered flag, but the duo managed their fuel and tires well to take finishes of fifth and sixth, respectively. The top-five was a huge result for Simpson, salvaging a day where he'd rolled off 19th. Armstrong's wasn't as much of a comeback - he'd started ninth - but it served as the only highlight on a difficult day for Meyer Shank Racing. Loser: Foster, Rosenqvist take a wild ride Ouch. Advertisement Louis Foster and Felix Rosenqvist were each having decent - if unmemorable - races in Detroit heading into the closing stages. Foster had shown promise, but lacked the pace of the frontrunners. Rosenqvist was doing what he could to rally from an early shunt. Neither driver was prepared for what happened next. Foster suffered a suspension failure with 17 laps to go, slammed into Rosenqvist from two spots back and send both drivers careening into turn 3. Rosenqvist ultimately got the worst of the incident, slamming the turn 3 tire barrier and complaining of leg pain after the accident. Thankfully, the Swede appears to be okay. Meyer Shank Racing shared on social media that Rosenqvist was taken by stretcher to the infield care center, where he was seen and released before completing his IndyCar evaluation. Loser: A wheelie bad day Devlin Defrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Devlin Defrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Advertisement DeFrancesco wasn't the only one to lose a wheel during Sunday's festivities. With final stops getting ready to kick off on lap 67, Prema Racing's Callum Ilott came off pit road and immediately lost a wheel, clattering into the tire barrier and causing a caution that took any strategy out of the closing stint. No major safety issues came out of the two lost wheels in Detroit. But few on-track issues can cause a greater potential risk to spectators. This is an issue IndyCar's going to need to review leaving the Motor City. Graham Rahal nearly suffered the same fate, his pit crew having issues removing a wheel nut before struggling to put one on during his first stop. Thankfully, the Ohioan caught it and avoided catastrophe, but the issue left him three laps down in 20th at race's end. Loser: Rinus runs out of luck Rinus Veekay, Dale Coyne Racing Rinus Veekay, Dale Coyne Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Advertisement With veteran engineer Michael Cannon back in the fold and a strong seventh-place qualifying effort, Rinus VeeKay and Dale Coyne Racing rolled into Sunday's race with cause for optimism. But much like Detroit's own Pistons basketball team, those vibes didn't translate when it counted. Veekay's promising Detroit run was undone just six laps into the scheduled 100, when his No. 18 Honda lost power. That proved to be the end of his day, leaving the Netherlands native last in 27th when the checkered flag flew. Winner: One lucky bird Alex Palou is vicious to his competition on the race track, but the Spaniard proved Saturday that he's no killer. Advertisement The dominant championship favorite was heading onto the racing surface during the final pre-qualifying practice on Saturday morning when he found a small bird dead ahead of his No. 10. Luckily for the bird (and any animal-loving viewers), Palou saw the creature ahead and managed to swerve around it. Palou did technically commit a line infraction to make the dodge. But race control didn't seem to mind - a trend of the early weekend, as it turned out. Because… Loser: Power goes unpenalized for Detroit shove Will Power, Team Penske, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Will Power, Team Penske, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment On face value, Friday's unique run-in between Will Power and Kyle Kirkwood was more cool than anything else. Advertisement Power was approaching Kirkwood in the weekend's opening practice session when the pair came together, Kirkwood having checked up behind the slowed David Malukas ahead of him. Seemingly frustrated, Power locked onto Kirkwood's tail and pushed the Long Beach winner past Malukas and into the ensuing corner, where he shot up the track and allowed Power through. 'I came around, and he slowed up in the middle and made contact,' Power said. 'So, I thought, 'Well, I may as well get a gap now,' so I just pushed him past the car in front, just moved him out of the way and got a really nice gap.' Will Power, Team Penske Will Power, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Advertisement In the end, neither driver was too upset about the incident. Kirkwood admitted it was 'the most absurd thing I've had happen to me at a racetrack,' but was largely unbothered after topping the charts in the session. The pair were seen laughing about the incident together on Saturday morning. That said, there was arguably a miss from race control. Power somehow avoided any unavoidable contact penalty for some of the most avoidable contact imaginable. But as was reported on the official broadcast, he may have suffered a worse fate than an on-track penalty — he was given a new nickname by his fellow drivers:'Will Plower'. Photos from Detroit - Race Colton Herta, Andretti Global Colton Herta, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Will Power, Team Penske Will Power, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment General view General view Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Will Power, Team Penske Will Power, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global Colton Herta, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Will Power, Team Penske Will Power, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global Colton Herta, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment General view General view Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment General view General view Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global Colton Herta, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Will Power, Team Penske Will Power, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Colton Herta, Andretti Global, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Larry Foyt Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Larry Foyt Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global, Dan Towriss Colton Herta, Andretti Global, Dan Towriss Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Larry Foyt Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises, Larry Foyt Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global Colton Herta, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Colton Herta, Andretti Global Colton Herta, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Will Power, Team Penske Will Power, Team Penske Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment To read more articles visit our website.
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Fewer cars, bigger cities, more risks part of McLaren Racing CEO's advice for IndyCar's future
DETROIT — If you see McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown walking around the IndyCar paddock during the tail end of the Detroit Grand Prix, and you notice he's not wearing a hard card, don't be alarmed. It's simply result of forgetting to pack it during a whirlwind couple weeks that culminated last weekend with his first Monaco Grand Prix win and bled into his first visit to the IndyCar paddock in 2025. He's not, as he joked with a small group of assembled media Saturday afternoon, run so far afoul of Roger Penske to have had his hard card pulled. But that doesn't mean Brown doesn't have bold ideas for the sport that expand far beyond Penske Entertainment's MO of prioritizing cost savings, balancing the books, making incremental steps toward growth and largely only looking toward partners in order to tackle big, bold projects, rather than stepping into the unknown and betting on the sport's brand, momentum and stars on its own. 'We need to play more offense. Sometimes, we're playing too much defense,' Brown said. ''Cost savings, cost savings, cost savings …' At some point, you've got to say, 'I want to spend more to make more.' 'I'm of the view that whatever (Roger Penske) bought (IndyCar, IMS and IMSP) for, it can (be worth) 10 (times) that, but the way to get there is to put in even more substantial investments into the sport. There's a difference between sustaining the spot and covering some losses, versus going and putting $100 million in. There's no reason why IndyCar as a series shouldn't be worth billions, but I think we need to put in more investments in key areas, and that's where the payback comes from.' Now, that's not to say Penske, Penske Corp. and Penske Entertainment haven't injected untold amounts of millions into the sport that weren't being spent before Tony George approached Penske on the grid at Laguna Seca in 2019 to gauge his interest in stewarding the sport's future. At last count in 2023, Penske had spent at least $50 million on refurbishing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to bring it up to "Penske perfect" standards. Other sizable, notable investments in and around the sport include backstopping the ever-delayed hybrid launch that IndyCar and its manufacturers eventually had to take into their own hands to get to the finish line after a series of delays, purchasing the Long Beach Grand Prix, expanding staffing levels at key areas of IndyCar to help the sport in its attempts to seek growth and reach younger audiences in the ever-changing media landscape and taking on various levels of promoter roles at new events like Iowa, Milwaukee and Nashville. Undoubtedly, the sport is in a better place than it was before Penske took the reins, but after years of solidifying IndyCar's foundation — a process many in the paddock would privately say has lasted too long — teams outside those annually competing for championships are finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat, with budgets that have risen as much as 30% or more in recent years and prospective partner interest not following the same trajectory. Many of the sport's biggest events have seen multiple years of attendance growth, and IndyCar, too, has experienced the occasional TV ratings win — most notably last weekend's Indy 500 that averaged more than 7 million viewers and saw a peak at 8.4 million, despite a rather lackluster closing stint. But even as series leadership parrots its off-track victories in ratings, attendance and merchandise sales, the implication around the paddock is that all isn't so swell for the teams who put their all on the line each weekend — without which the series wouldn't survive. And so, in Brown's eyes, in order for the entire ecosystem to experience a positive financial impact, the swings from series leadership need to be bigger — something ex-IndyCar team owner Michael Andretti famously said a year ago at St. Pete, only for Penske and his leadership to be up in arms privately, and public announce the creation of multiple small committees within the paddock to tackle the various issues at hand. That weekend, Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles told reporters that, among that project, Brown had been added to a new marketing committee, something which has turned into a running joke Brown brings up with any chance he gets. Because that 'committee' has never met. Brown said he was never formally invited to anything and only found out second hand of the nomination, and he quipped Saturday that perhaps he actually is the chairman of said committee, 'And maybe that's why there's been no meetings, because I'm supposed to call them.' Several of Brown's big-picture ideas aren't altogether new. After all, he's been known to release the occasional manifesto or open letter to fans and, for years, he's been the sport's loudest and most frequent voice that IndyCar should be pushing boundaries, leading instead of following, investing in more cutting edge technology in its cars and racing in bigger markets. But it was notable Saturday to hear that a meeting he had earlier in the day with Penske, Penske Corp. president Bud Denker, Penske Corp. executive VP of marketing and business development Jonathan Gibson, IMS and IndyCar president Doug Boles and Penske's son, Greg 'was one of the best meetings I've had with IndyCar,' according to Brown. 'I was very encouraged. I think they recognize the issues and opportunities. 'It was a good hour, and you could see a few raised eyebrows of, maybe everyone doesn't always say that to (Roger), but I was doing it in a productive (manner).' Brown later accused some of his rival team owners of 'when 'the captain' isn't around, they say one thing, but then when he is, they say another. When he's not around, the teams are like 'grrrr', and when he is, it's like, 'Hey, everything's great!' It's like, that's not what you said 20 minutes ago.' And I actually think that does a disservice when you don't give him real feedback.' On a positive note, Brown said the addition of Fox Sports as IndyCar's exclusive media rights partner, led by CEO Eric Shanks, has been 'mega,' noting that, 'When you look at the list of things we need, you need to get the right broadcaster, and I think we've done that. We still have the other 19 things to do, but that one has been done and done successfully.' Brown would, though, like to see IndyCar start its schedule even earlier — as early as the Saturday of the Daytona 500 race weekend, he boldly said, and if not at minimum the weekend immediately after NASCAR's Super Bowl-esque event, so as to expand IndyCar's season as much as possible and shorten the period during which it largely becomes irrelevant in the motor racing world. Like so many, he thinks IndyCar is sorely in need of a new car and an explicit road map for what that will look like. Though he understands current and prospective manufacturers are continuing to weight their options on whether to hop on board the proverbial IndyCar train for 2027 and beyond, 'but at some point, you've go to go.' As the team boss of the 2024 World Constructors' Championship in Formula 1, Brown intimately knows and has first-hand experience in the ways in which F1 commercial rightsowner Liberty Media has taken the sport to new heights, particularly in the U.S. Among the ways in which he thinks Penske should take a page out of Liberty's playbook are the ways in which F1 has twice now launched game-changing new races in the U.S. in the last five years and used those additions to supercharge the entire ecosystem with funding and revenue opportunities. 'Even though (the Las Vegas Grand Prix) isn't profitable today, it brought in a ton of new sponsors, and you've got a more lucrative TV contract. So if I look at the (IndyCar) schedule, I think we need to be in bigger cities,' Brown said of his not altogether new refrain. 'I know it's got to be fiscally difficult to say, 'I want to race in New York City,' but I think you've got to invest in a few more key markets where races may not be profitable, but you'd drive greater following of the sport, more sponsorship and bigger TV ratings. And then you'd get your money back in value creation and growth of the teams and the sport. 'The payback probably doesn't come on a race-by-race basis, but what it does is elevate the sport. You might not be making millions off of the New York Grand Prix, but you could have hundreds of millions off the value creation growth, which then drags up all the teams and gets more sponsorship.' And though Penske Entertainment launched a charter system last fall that gives full-time teams on the grid (outside newcomer Prema Racing) something tangible to be able to sell, should they wish to scale back or take advantage of tides rising within the paddock, that system comes with very little in terms of true revenue sharing that major American sports fans see across the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, beyond rather miniscule Leaders Circle payments ($1.2 million in 2025) that make up somewhere around 10% of an individual car's budget. Brown would love to see what he calls 'a true franchise system' for IndyCar, where teams could ride the waves the sport's governing body and ownership group are said to be feeling while also benefitting from a truly exclusive club that can't be joined without purchasing an existing team's entry, or 'charter.' Last fall, Penske Entertainment doled out 25 charters, but still allowed for Prema Racing's two open cars to make for a 27-car grid. 'Then, that means as a team, my (profit and loss) is one thing, but the value of my IndyCar team has gone up," Brown said. "You have everyone rowing in the same direction, because everyone is sharing in the growth of the sport.' And it's in that vein where Brown holds perhaps his most controversial take: the McLaren Racing CEO sees multiple cars on the grid as anchors holding IndyCar back, or parachutes significantly slowing the sport's growth potential. In his 'quality over quantity' vision, he points to Ferrari road cars and Richard Mille watches, the ownership of which exude luxury and exclusivity. 'Is it 20, or 22, or 24 cars? It's probably in that range, and all a sudden, you've got three or four people looking, and they might want to buy a franchise, and you can't get in unless you buy your way in,' he said. 'I think like any sport, 75% of your fans are mostly interested in your top teams. I don't think the fans would miss three or four cars from the grid that aren't going to win races and don't add much value. And if you have scarcity, it'll help with fewer yellow flags. These tracks are congested, and you'd probably have a better on-track product.
Indianapolis Star
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
'Worst moment of my life': Team Penske's tumultuous Indy 500 week ends with crash, car issues
INDIANAPOLIS -- Team Penske's chances for a third straight year of Indianapolis 500 glory, already complicated by a week of penalties and turmoil, ended abruptly Sunday. Scott McLaughlin's bid for back-row immortality ended on the pace lap – his No. 3 car the casualty of a collision with the wall. Two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden completed 135 laps before a fuel pressure issue took him out in 25th place. He began the race in 32nd position – one spot ahead of teammate Will Power. Both were sent to the back row after their cars failed inspections for unapproved modifications to the rear attenuator. Power completed the race, finishing 19th. The lackluster finishes concluded a tumultuous week. Calls for an independent officiating body were renewed, with Penske Entertainment's ownership of both the series and the 500 seen as a conflict of interest. Penske fired its IndyCar leadership last Wednesday. 'I just wish we had a chance to fight for it,' Newgarden said on the Fox broadcast after his exit. 'We didn't even get to see what we had there. We were just slowly working forward. '... It's just a shame to not be there in the fight.' Newgarden was talking about his own car and race team. The comments, though, could easily apply to the entire Penske Corporation's endeavor to reclaim the narrative after the past week's chaotic events. Not only did the team fall short, it stumbled to its worst Indianapolis 500 performance in recent history. Sunday marked only the second Indy 500 in the past 14 without a top-10 Penske finish. It had posted at least two top-10 finishes in every race since 2011. A Newgarden three-peat would have made him the first driver to win from a back-row start. He made steady progress throughout the race. He ran in 10th at Lap 80. By Lap 130, he'd moved up to sixth. The fuel pressure issue, though, came up during a pit stop after Lap 133. Newgarden later told reporters the problem was 'an anomaly – something we've never seen before.' Newgarden had qualified for the Fast 12 one day prior to the failed inspection. 'We were trending in the right direction," Newgarden said. 'We just tried to take our time. It was not going to matter until the very end, and I think we were at least going to be in position to give it a fight. 'It's just tough to end on that note. We had such a good month in so many ways.' The race began under a caution when McLaughlin crashed on the parade lap. He called it 'the worst moment of my life.' Starting in 10th place, the New Zealand native seemed to represent the best chance for Penske to salvage the weekend. Instead, the only one of its three drivers which hadn't been banished to the back lost traction and slammed into the wall, ruining his left front suspension, on the pace lap. 'It is what it is,' McLaughlin said. 'You've just got to get on with it, pick yourself up.'
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Casey Irsay Foyt, daughter of late Colts owner Jim Irsay, named honorary starter for Indy 500
Casey Irsay Foyt, the daughter of late Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay, will serve as the honorary starter for the Indianapolis 500 and wave the green flag on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "As Indianapolis prepares for a special weekend that showcases our city's unmatched ability to successfully host massive global sporting events, it's incredibly appropriate and especially meaningful to celebrate Jim's contributions to our city and state," Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles told "Put simply, the Indianapolis we know and love would not be remotely possible without Jim." Jim Irsay died in his sleep on Wednesday, May 21 at the age of 65. His daughters, Casey Irsay Foyt, Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Kalen Jackson will succeed him as co-owners of the Colts. Foyt joined the Colts in 2007 and was involved with marketing and community relations. Before that, she attended Indiana University and graduated with a degree in sports marketing. Foyt most recently worked for the NFL in London. Coverage of the 109th Indianapolis 500 begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Late Colts Owner Jim Irsay's Daughter Is Honorary Starter For Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS – Casey Irsay Foyt, who represents the next generation of Indianapolis Colts' ownership along with her sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Kalen Jackson, will serve as honorary starter for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, waving the green flag Sunday, May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Casey will wave the flag to honor the irreplaceable and impactful legacy of her father, Jim Irsay, whose stewardship of the Indianapolis Colts and generous philanthropic efforts had a transformative impact across Central Indiana and the Hoosier State. Jim Irsay passed away Wednesday, May 21 at age 65. 'As Indianapolis prepares for a special weekend that showcases our city's unmatched ability to successfully host massive global sporting events, it's incredibly appropriate and especially meaningful to celebrate Jim's contributions to our city and state,' Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said. 'Put simply, the Indianapolis we know, and love would not be remotely possible without Jim.' Said IndyCar and IMS President J. Douglas Boles: 'We're honored to have Casey on the flag stand representing her family, our friends at the Colts organization and Hoosiers everywhere who cherish our unique sports scene. Our organizations have a deep history together, and our fans cherish the familiar sight of players at the racetrack and drivers at the stadium.' Indianapolis regularly welcomes new Colts' draft picks through an annual visit to IMS on Fast Friday presented by Turtle Wax, and Colts' legends like Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Reggie Wayne have been fixtures at the track over time. Leadership at IMS and the Colts worked together closely in planning the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl and have maintained close ties for decades. After graduating from Indiana University with a degree in sports marketing, Foyt worked for the NFL in London, planning the first regular-season NFL game played outside North America, as well as special events associated with the game. Foyt joined the Colts in 2007 and focuses her energy on marketing and community relations. She helped revitalize the Indianapolis Colts Women's Organization and planned the group's first major fundraiser in 2007. Foyt also helps represent the club at NFL Owners' Meetings and other league events. Foyt resides in Carmel, Indiana, with her husband, Indianapolis 500 veteran Anthony J. Foyt IV, and their five children.
