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Fox Sports
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Inside Line: What Are You Watching This Week at Indy (Other Than Speed)?
INDYCAR Today's question: What are you watching during practice this week for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, other than the speed charts? Curt Cavin: Doesn't it have to be Josef Newgarden? If the intrigue of the '500' realizing a three-peat isn't enough to draw interest, how about paying close attention to a driver who needs a positive result for the first time in this NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. In the races since finishing third in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, Newgarden has an average finish of 15.5. That's not what a two-time series champion expects to have in a four-race stretch, and that figure is as good as it is because he battled back from an electronic issue at the start of last weekend's Sonsio Grand Prix to finish 12th. We're 30 percent of the way through the season and Newgarden is a staggering 152 points out of the lead. He almost certainly won't win the title, so winning Indy again will be the only thing that saves his season. Eric Smith: My eyes are on Rinus VeeKay this week. He's had an excellent start to his first season driving the No. 18 askROI Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. VeeKay is 10th in points, with three top-10 finishes in five races. The reason to watch him is because he's been fast around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but the car he's driving was the lone entry to not make last year's race. Nolan Siegel crashed in practice and during his final qualifying attempt. VeeKay, meanwhile, has a 3.8 average starting spot in five '500' attempts, with three front row starts in the last four years. He was also third fastest in the October test, his first time driving a DCR-powered entry, trailing only Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden. Can one driver really make that much of a difference here? Arni Sribhen: Seven drivers are looking to make their first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start of 2025 at the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. And while Kyle Larson will get a lion's share of the attention focused on the non-regular INDYCAR SERIES drivers, I'm curious to see how the other six part-timers adapt to driving their INDYCAR SERIES cars on the IMS oval for the first time with hybrid technology. Granted, Ed Carpenter and Jack Harvey both raced on ovals with the hybrid technology in 2024, but this is the first chance Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Takuma Sato and Ryan Hunter-Reay will get to turn a lot of laps at IMS (even with Tuesday's weather delay.) Will any have speed to challenge for the Fast 12 and/or Fast Six for the NTT P1 Award? Will they focus on race setup runs with an eye on Race Day? Will any have trouble in the week that could put them in jeopardy of missing the show? Only time will tell. Paul Kelly: I share the same focus as Arni, but my spotlight is tighter. I'm watching one of the part-timers, Helio Castroneves. It seems impossible that a four-time winner of the '500' can be flying under the radar, but I get that sense this week at IMS. There are so many other compelling storylines dueling for attention. We have Josef Newgarden going for an unprecedented third consecutive win in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' There's Kyle Larson attempting the 'Double' of racing the '500' and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, probably for the last time in the foreseeable future. There's Alex Palou's quest to continue steamrolling the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field this season by earning his first oval victory and a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy in one Sunday drive, almost assuring his place among the sport's immortals. But we still have Helio driving ahead to become the first five-time winner of the world's greatest race, and at age 50, he also would become the race's oldest winner. He has a very good chance to pull it off, as Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian is a stronger team than when he won for it in 2021. Plus, Castroneves was sixth on the speed chart Tuesday on the opening day of practice, so the pace is there. It would be no surprise if the drive for five ended up on the Victory Podium on May 25. recommended
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
2026 St. Petersburg Event Date Set for Feb. 27-March 1
INDYCAR Next year's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is scheduled for Feb. 27-March 1, 2026, as the dates were approved unanimously via a resolution at the City of St. Petersburg (Florida) City Council meeting held May 1. 'The 2025 event was another tremendous success with record crowds across the three days,' said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of event organizers Green Savoree Racing Promotions. 'After consulting with the City of St. Petersburg staff and multiple stakeholders, INDYCAR and our Green Savoree Racing Promotions teams agree continuing this great downtown tradition on similar dates is optimal. We look forward to planning for and hosting the Grand Prix on the same weekend in 2026.' Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou won for the first time in his career on the streets of St. Petersburg at this year's race March 2. Tickets for the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will go on sale in the fall. recommended
Fox Sports
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Paddock Buzz: Alex Palou Aiming for Rare Three-peat
INDYCAR NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou is 2-for-2 this season, with victories March 2 in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding and March 23 at The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix. Two-time defending series champion Palou is aiming for the hat trick in Sunday's 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. A driver has won three consecutive INDYCAR SERIES races just three times in the last decade – Simon Pagenaud in 2016, Scott Dixon in 2020 and Palou in 2023. All three of those drivers won the Astor Challenge Cup as series champion those seasons. Palou rued he was winless over the last nine races last season after winning two of the first eight. 'Whenever you get the chance, whenever the car feels good, whenever you have confidence in the team, you can feel that the team has the confidence and the calls that we're making are right, you need to try and get that wave and try and surf it for as long as possible,' Palou said. 'Because you know that there's going to be a moment where that wave ends a little bit, and hopefully you can get back on really soon. But we know it's not going to be forever.' Palou, a three-time series champion, is winless in four Long Beach starts but has been close with finishes of fourth, third, fifth and third, respectively. He starts third in his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in Sunday's 90-lap race airing at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network 'It just makes it even more interesting,' Palou said. 'I think if it was another track, it would still be super fun to try and get three in a row, but being Long Beach, which is probably our second biggest race of the year, it would make it extra special. That's the goal.' A.J. Foyt won a series-record seven straight races in 1964 en route to his fourth series championship in five years. Honda Advantage? Does Honda have an advantage for Sunday's 90-lap race? Honda-powered drivers swept the top five starting positions two years after sweeping the top-five finishing positions around the 1.968-mile, 11-turn track in 2023. Last year, Honda drivers finished 1-2-3-5. Alexander Rossi has the rare distinction of driving for both manufacturers at Long Beach. He won two Long Beach races in 2018-19 driving a Honda for Andretti Global. He raced the last two years with Chevrolet power for Arrow McLaren and will drive Sunday's race for Ed Carpenter Racing. 'Any time there's slow-speed corners, very low in the RPM range, the architecture of that (Honda) engine is just in a better range,' Rossi said. 'And because it's an architectural thing, there's only so much that you can do with an homologated engine. 'Now that being said, there's been a huge kind of study on what we can control from software side of things and the hybrid side of things for this event, in particular, to try and close that gap. Again, there's only so much you can do without changing hard components.' Honda placed five cars in the top seven of the March 2 season-opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, including winner Palou and second place Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing. Chevrolet drivers did lead 65 of 100 laps in St. Petersburg and had two of the top four finishers. Rossi is the second-fastest Chevrolet qualifier, starting eighth in the No. 20 ECR JavaHouse Chevrolet, with Scott McLaughlin rolling off sixth as the top Chevy in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet. There are seven Chevrolet-powered cars starting in the top 13. Long Beach Grandstands Sold Out Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach officials announced Saturday all grandstand seating around the 1.968-mile street circuit is sold out. Fans can still purchase tickets for the general admission areas to watch the 90-lap event in person. 2022 Long Beach winner Josef Newgarden has noticed the fan interest seems larger this weekend compared to years past. Newgarden started competing at Long Beach in 2011 in INDY NXT by Firestone. 'We say that every year, and I think in a lot of ways the last three years they've just increased the capacity and size,' Newgarden said. 'It was no different this time around. It just felt bigger than last year. I don't know how we can keep saying that year after year. 'It looked like race day today. It was super cool. I think that's the great thing about motorsports right now. There's an excitement. There's a cool factor to it. If you just want to talk about trends, I think motorsports is a trend right now, especially with young people, and it's really fun to see that. You're just seeing this resurgence. 'It has been unique to see over the last two years the amount of kids that I see at the racetrack that are bringing their parents. It's not the other way around. I meet parents that are my age and they're going, 'I know nothing about this, but my 6-year-old loves it and loves you and loves INDYCAR.' It used to be the other way around. It was, 'Hey, I used to love INDYCAR back in the '80s, and now I'm here and I'm trying to bring my kids.' 'It's very, very cool to be a part of. I think we can continue that and grow it, and we're in a really good position to do it. So, it's just a fun time to be a part of motorsports.' Herta Ready for Long Beach Limelight Colton Herta starts Sunday's 90-lap race in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Global in the same place he finished last season at Long Beach – second. 'Historically with Andretti, four wins going back to 2018, so we do have really good race cars here,' he said. 'And from where we're sitting right now, we kind of expect that to stay the same.' California native Herta is joined on the front row by teammate and 2023 winner, Kyle Kirkwood. Herta has extra motivation to secure his second Long Beach victory Sunday due to the nature of his maiden win in 2021. He stormed from a 14th-place starting position to reach victory after leading a race-high 43 of 85 laps that afternoon. However, he questions whether that win comes with a caveat. Due to COVID-19 safety measures, the 2021 Long Beach Grand Prix was moved to the season finale. That's only the second time in 49 years this race was held outside of March or April, joining the inaugural event in 1975. 'I've made a habit of winning the last race of the championship,' Herta said. 'I think it's like four times in seven years. So, I do a good job of making it a pretty unimportant race to win, but it's a win, nonetheless.' Palou took the first of his three championships that afternoon in 2021, overshadowing Herta's victory. 'I think you don't get all the limelight when you have a champion, Alex Palou again,' Herta said. 'Overall, I think it was a great day, but even on my wins, I'm still having to chase that guy.' Rossi Making 150th Career Start Rossi becomes Sunday the 56th driver to make 150 career NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts. 'It goes fast,' he said. 'I wouldn't have thought that I was there yet. It's a number in my mind. It's cool. Obviously, you have to be grateful for having that amount of opportunity and to have that career longevity.' Rossi, who moved to Ed Carpenter Racing this season, strives to earn his third Long Beach victory. Only Al Unser Jr. (six wins), Paul Tracy (four), Mario Andretti (three) and Sebastien Bourdais (three) have more trips to an INDYCAR SERIES victory lane in Long Beach. Rossi stomped the field, leading 71 of 85 laps, in his 2018 victory and led 80 of 85 laps in a repeat victory a year later. He accomplished both with Andretti Global. 'I think what a lot of people see is my passion for this championship and this sport has grown over my time here,' he said. 'I think I love it just as much as a Tony Kanaan, who has been here for two and a half decades. I think that carries a lot of weight. 'I will do everything in my power to continually help grow and promote this championship. For me, that's something that comes easily just because I do love it and care for it.' 100 Career Starts for Ericsson Marcus Ericsson made 97 Formula One starts across five seasons with Sauber from 2015-18. The 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach marks his 100th career NTT INDYCAR SERIES start. 'That's pretty crazy,' he said. 'When you think about it, 100 races are a lot of races. And yet it doesn't feel like that long ago when I came over. It's been a blast for me. I really love being in INDYCAR and just the way the racing is and everything. I've really, enjoyed it here.' Having more starts in the INDYCAR SERIES than F1 speaks to the longevity Ericsson has earned. Ericsson has four career victories, none bigger than the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in 2022. 'To be honest, when I was in F1, I was very focused on staying there,' he said. 'Then when that ended, I was very focused on getting here to INDYCAR. There was no doubt about that. And then when I got here, it was all about trying to establish myself here, and I'm very happy to have been able to do that. 'I live here now with my wife and Indianapolis as home, so now it feels very normal and very natural. It's crazy to think that it's my seventh season now.' Odds and Ends Andretti Global has produced four of the last six Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race winners and the runner-up finisher in three consecutive years. It has all three drivers starting in the top five Sunday, with Kirkwood on pole, Herta second and Ericsson fifth. CGR has produced the third-place finisher in six of the last seven races at Long Beach. Palou starts third. Thirteen drivers won both the Indianapolis 500 and Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach: Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Danny Sullivan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Helio Castroneves, Will Power, Dario Franchitti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Takuma Sato, Dixon, Simon Pagenaud, Rossi and Newgarden. There will be a special flyover after the national anthem Sunday consisting of helicopters from L.A. County Fire, L.A. City Fire, Cal Fire, L.A. County Sheriff, the L.A. Police Department and the Long Beach Police Department. Also on Sunday, 27 first responders from various departments will ride in the back of pickup trucks along with NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers in the pre-race parade lap. Sunday's honorary starter will be Captain Erik Scott with L.A. City Fire, and there will be a special recognition for Department Chief Anthony James with Pasadena Fire. Chip Ganassi Racing launched its 2025 trading cards for purchase at com/cgrcards. This year's version will honor important wins and milestones through CGR's history. All proceeds from card sales will benefit select charities throughout the year. April proceeds will support the American Red Cross for its disaster relief efforts across the country. recommended
Fox Sports
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Kyle Kirkwood Knows Race Wins Key to Challenging Alex Palou
INDYCAR Kyle Kirkwood is making a strong impression in the early stages of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, but he admits to feeling the heat from Alex Palou's dominance. The Andretti Global driver is sixth in the point standings, one of six drivers joining Palou, Scott Dixon, Christian Lundgaard, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi in producing top-10 finishes in both races this season. But the frustration of having to chase down a three-time champion, including two consecutive championships, in Palou can be tough on a driver's mindset. Remember, Palou has won both races so far this season. Kirkwood's fifth- and eighth-place finishes this season are certainly respectable, but he is aiming for more, and Palou's pace is high. 'I should be a lot more satisfied than I am,' Kirkwood said. 'Because if you look back at (the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding), one of our better races, I pretty much followed Alex Palou the entire race and watched him win, which is disappointing. 'Then (at the second race, at The Thermal Club), we were on pace for what seemed like a locked top-four result, which would have been two top-five (finishes) in a row. As a driver, as a competitor, you always want better.' Kirkwood has a 48-point deficit to Palou. To really challenge Palou for the Astor Cup, Kirkwood will need to convert those solid finishes into wins. Given his background – winning championships in USF2000 (2018), USF Pro 2000 (2019) and INDY NXT by Firestone (2021) -- it's evident Kirkwood knows how to win and has the experience to handle the pressure of a title fight. He just needs to find a way to outpace Palou on these race days. That pursuit begins this weekend with the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third race of the season (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports App, INDYCAR Radio Network). 'We've got to do the same thing that they're doing -- we got to win races,' Kirkwood said of Palou. 'We can't let them get a big head start. That is one thing that Palou has done in the past couple years: He gets a huge head start, then everybody claws back at him at the end of the season. He's kind of on cruise control at that point. We need to not let him get out front and hold him back a little bit. 'It's turning into a thing that when you beat Alex Palou, you've clearly had a really good day. He's kind of the No. 1 guy that everyone is looking at now.' This weekend's 50th anniversary race could be a perfect place for Kirkwood to strike. He earned his maiden NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory and NTT P1 Award in this event. Add in the fact that Andretti Global has been strong at Long Beach with four of the last six race winners coming from the team, the stars could be aligning for Kirkwood. 'This is a very crucial weekend for us to turn things around in the championship hunt,' Kirkwood said. 'Even though it's still early in the season, a lot of people don't look at points. They're like, well, it's only two races in of the 17-race season. But if the guy is 60 points ahead of you, you've got to kind of pay attention to that. There is a long way to go. You're also falling behind very early, which is not something you want to do. 'I think this weekend is one of our best opportunities (to gain on Palou). If you look back at history in general, Long Beach has been one of the best tracks for Andretti Global. I think Toronto and Detroit are starting to grow on that. Street courses in general are really, really good. Long Beach has been a top one for the team. 'We're obviously going to be looking for a win. Honestly, at this time we need wins to be able to win a championship here because Alex Palou is just walking away with (the championships) at the moment. We need to turn that ship around.' Kirkwood is also aware that he is creating pressure for himself. He embraces the added dynamic. When a driver has a car that's capable of winning, the expectations naturally shift and bring a whole new level of pressure to deliver. It's one thing to be aiming for a top-10 finish and dealing with the challenges that come with trying to extract everything from a less-than-optimal car, but when you know your car has the speed and the potential to win, the stakes are raised significantly. 'I would say the weekends that you feel like you have a really good shot are the easiest,' he said. 'I guess you wouldn't think that coming into it, but now that I've had a couple years in the series, the hardest weekends are the ones that you're struggling. It's the ones that you're struggling to get into a top-10 finish. When you have kind of pace under your belt in a race weekend or across practices and qualifying, etc., it just makes things a lot easier.' Another interesting dynamic is Long Beach is a shared weekend with IMSA leading to a compressed schedule. Kirkwood sees that as an advantage for his No. 27 Honda. 'That doesn't give you a lot of time to really focus on changes, to hone in on stuff,' he said. 'Coming off the trailer very quick is very important. It just gives you a sense of ease, if I'm being honest. 'Of course, you have the pressure that now you have a fast car, now it's all on you to go out there and win. If anything, that just gives me comfort. I'm pretty confident that I can get it done if I have everything in my arsenal. So yeah, it's not really managing emotions; it's more just an easier weekend if everything is kind of flowing right.' in this topic
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Palou and Ganassi Go 1-2 in IndyCar Season Opener at St. Pete
One of the big questions for the NTT IndyCar Series field entering the 2025 season was how to halt the title march of three-time and two-time defending series champion Alex Palou. They're still searching for that answer, even after the first race of the season Sunday on the sunny streets of St. Petersburg. Palou opened his quest for a third consecutive Astor Challenge Cup as series champion in the best way possible, winning the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding in a master class of strategy, speed and patience. He drove his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a 2.8669-second victory over teammate and six-time series champion Scott Dixon, who said afterward that he contested the last 90 laps of the 100-lap race without radio communication in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 'What an amazing job by everybody,' Palou said. 'They gave me everything we needed this weekend to win. I told you yesterday we had a really, really fast car. 'Our strategy changed a lot during that first yellow, but I'm so glad we got that No. 10 in Victory Lane. It's been 138 days since Nashville (2024 season finale), and I've been dreaming about this every single night.' Spaniard Palou, who started eighth, earned his 12th career victory in the series. The Ganassi team secured its first 1-2 finish since July 2023 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet after Dixon passed him for second on the final lap. NTT P1 Award winner Scott McLaughlin finished fourth in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet, as Team Penske joined Chip Ganassi Racing with two drivers in the top four. McLaughlin was one of seven drivers out front today, leading a race-high 40 laps. Florida native and resident Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top five finishers at his home race in the No. 27 Chili's Honda fielded by Andretti Global. Palou took the lead for good on Lap 75 when Felix Rosenqvist made his final pit stop in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing. It was the culmination of a race of split strategies, as drivers who started on the grippier, less durable Firestone Firehawk alternate tires – including Palou, Dixon and Newgarden – jumped into the pits on Lap 3 during the only caution period to shed the alternates for Firestone primary tires. That proved decisive, yet Palou didn't just inherit the lead at the race's three-quarter mark and cruise to Victory Lane. He produced blazing in and out laps surrounding his final pit stop at the end of Lap 72, undercutting his teammate Dixon, who couldn't discuss strategy with his team and reacted to Palou's pit move by stopping one lap later after being slowed by thick traffic. After his final stop, Dixon exited the pits behind a charging Palou. 'We were just kind of flying blind out there,' Dixon said of his radio problems. 'Ultimately, I think they were trying to call me in because on that last lap we had before we pitted, there was just so much traffic, and we lost two or three seconds. That's where the 10 car got us.' Said Palou: 'I think he (Dixon) got trapped in traffic a little bit. That's why the 10 stand decided to pit a little bit early. We had a really clean out lap, could run fast and just opened a gap from there.' Palou was 4.502 seconds ahead of Newgarden on Lap 75, but that gap didn't last. Newgarden sliced that margin to 2.4 seconds by Lap 88 as Palou coped with turbulent air from the car ahead of him, the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet of Sting Ray Robb, who was racing to stay on the lead lap. Newgarden took advantage and continued to stalk Palou, pulling to within.8186 of a second after Lap 95. Dixon also was gaining ground in third. But a potential logjam of three cars battling for the checkered flag was scattered when Palou finally lapped Robb in Turn 1 on Lap 96. Newgarden and Dixon squirted past Robb on the same lap, but the traffic-free clean air allowed Palou to pull away immediately. Palou expanded his gap to 1.1959 seconds after Lap 97 and 1.6938 seconds at the white flag at the end of Lap 99. His lead grew even more during the final trip around the 14-turn, 1.8-mile street circuit as Dixon and Newgarden dueled for second. Dixon got past fellow Indianapolis 500 winner and series champion Newgarden in Turn 10 on the final lap. 'I felt like our car today certainly was capable of winning,' Newgarden said. 'Just didn't quite get there for a couple of reasons. Pit cycles, obviously, we needed to go longer, and we had a shift at the end that we didn't realize, so we kind of had to give up that second place.' 2024 St. Petersburg winner Pato O'Ward used a mix of strategy and speed to climb from the 23rd starting spot to finish 11th in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. That was the biggest climb from start to finish by any of the 27 drivers in the field. The next NTT IndyCar Series race is The Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix on Sunday, March 23 at Thermal, California (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, IndyCar Radio Network).
