IndyCar looks to close out Belle Isle's run with a bang
IndyCar Detroit Auto Racing Josef Newgarden drives during qualifying for the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto race on Belle Isle in Detroit, Saturday, June 4, 2022. The Spider-Man climb became his signature and Castroneves has scaled the fencing at the Detroit Grand Prix three different times. As the Detroit Grand Prix prepares to exit Belle Isle following Sunday's race, Castroneves wants to replicate that inaugural 2000 fence climb one final time. That three-year run ended in 1991 and the event shifted the next year to the 2.35-mile temporary course called Belle Isle Raceway. Chevrolet is the title sponsor for the Detroit Grand Prix and the race is run in the shadow of its offices inside GM's Detroit Renaissance Center Global HQ.
wftv.comEricsson's 500 win helps fuel Swedish momentum in IndyCars
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Felix Rosenqvist sensed Swedish race fans started following IndyCars earnestly again in 2019. Marcus Ericsson's Indianapolis 500 victory will only fuel the momentum. After becoming the second 500 winner from Sweden, Ericsson's homecoming later this summer could be fit for a king. “I don’t think you realize yet what this means for your career, but you will find out in time.”While Ericsson's victory sweeps Sweden, it's a boon for the series, too. That could open the door to even more Swedes as Ericsson's 500 win gives him IndyCar's top spot as the new points leader.
wftv.comPranks, practical jokes turn Indy paddock into silly season
Alexander Rossi knows everything and is divulging nothing. Rossi was tight-lipped during Indianapolis 500 media day Thursday while discussing a rash of pranks that have turned May into silly season inside the paddock leading into “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” “There’s been a lot of rain,” Rossi said.
news.yahoo.comConcerns about pit row linger as IndyCar revs up for May
Simon Pagenaud figures track workers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway can solve just about any problem in three weeks. It's unlikely Pagenaud, the 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2016 series champ, and everyone else won't know until Indianapolis 500 practice opens Tuesday. Until then, Pagenaud and the other 26 drivers entered for this weekend's IndyCar Grand Prix will spend the next two days focused on May's other race Indianapolis.
news.yahoo.comLate crashes prompt IndyCar officials to cut testing short
Three Indianapolis 500 winners spun while coming out of the pits Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and four-time race champion Helio Castroneves hit the second turn wall with about 80 minutes left in an unusually chaotic testing session. Castroneves was taken to the track's infield medical center where he was checked and cleared to drive shortly after the crash. “Very strange,” Castroneves said.
news.yahoo.comFelix Rosenqvist earns much-needed pole at slick Texas track
IndyCar Texas Auto Racing Rinus Veekay passes Alexander Rossi on the fourth turn during the first practice round of the IndyCar Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Jimmie Johnson, the all-time winningest driver at Texas with seven wins in NASCAR, qualified 18th in his IndyCar oval debut. For Rosenqvist, it was his second career pole since joining IndyCar in 2019. It makes a high line that is far too slick and dangerous for the IndyCar drivers. Very few drivers dared to even coast into the second lane during Saturday morning practice.
wftv.comCastroneves back at St. Pete as a driver seeking another win
When St. Pete officials asked him to be the grand marshal in 2018, his first year out of IndyCar, Castroneves told anyone who would listen that he'd be back in the series someday. Castroneves went out and won the race — his record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory — and was hired to drive the No. Castroneves won a second consecutive watch. “There's a huge buzz around the race team right now, which is great to be part of,” Pagenaud said. Grosjean was followed by Andretti teammate Colton Herta, the defending race winner, and then Will Power of Team Penske.
wftv.comCastroneves claims yet another crown jewel with Rolex win
Castroneves climbed the fence for the third time this calendar year Sunday after earning another crown jewel victory, this time a second consecutive win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Brazilian closed out the race for Meyer Shank Racing, the team that helped him win a record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 last May. Castroneves denied Wayne Taylor Racing a fourth consecutive win at Daytona International Speedway, where he of course climbed the fence with his team in celebration. The win for Michael Shank came on the 10th anniversary of Shank's first victory in North America’s most prestigious sports car race. Shank grabbed both Castroneves and Pagenaud to help his fulltime IMSA sports car drivers Olivier Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist win the 60th running of the Rolex.
wftv.comColumn: Pagenaud joins rare club of drivers to leave Penske
He was the second driver this season to walk away from Team Penske. 60 for Meyer Shank Racing, where he will reunite with former Penske teammate Helio Castroneves to drive for this year's Indy 500 winning organization. He joins Brad Keselowski from the NASCAR team in the rare club of Penske drivers who leave of their own accord. "My time driving for Team Penske was incredible but that's come to an end now and this really seemed to be the best fit for me. There's a crop of young drivers waiting for promotion from Indy Lights, and this IndyCar season proved to be a true changing of the guard.
wftv.comIndyCar title race flips to O'Ward in wild race at Gateway
The IndyCar championship flipped leaders Saturday night when Alex Palou was collected in an early three-car accident that moved Pato O’Ward to the point following O’Ward’s runner-up finish to winner Josef Newgarden at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Indianapolis in action: IndyCar, NASCAR tripleheader weekend
IndyCar Indianapolis GP Auto Racing Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, waits in the pits before a practice session for a IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. Organizers said ticket sales for Saturday's doubleheader — the IndyCar race and Xfinity's Pennzoil 150 — are ahead of last year's pace. The 28-car starting grid will be the largest for an IndyCar race, other than the traditional 33-car field for the Indianapolis 500, in a decade. “If this is successful it could pave the way for some really, really cool opportunities,” NBC analyst Jeff Burton said. Saturday’s races will be shown back-to-back on cable channel NBCSN while the NASCAR Cup Series race will be broadcast on network television Sunday.
wftv.comIndianapolis in action: IndyCar, NASCAR tripleheader weekend
Helio Castroneves walked into an empty, mostly quiet Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday morning. The four-time Indianapolis 500 winner knew it wouldn't last long. With drivers from NASCAR's top two series and the IndyCar Series all in town for a rare crossover weekend, Castroneves expected things to quickly shift into high gear at the busiest venue in motorsports.
news.yahoo.comCastroneves tops Motorsports Hall of Fame of America class
IndyCar Indy 500 Four-Time Winner Auto Racing Winner of this year's Indianapolis 500 auto race, Helio Castroneves, right, gathered with other four-time winners, from left, A.J. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler) (Doug McSchooler)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Helio Castroneves celebrated his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in May. George Levy, president of the Florida-based Hall of Fame, said half of the 200 ballots come from journalists and historians and the other half is comprised of Hall of Fame members. In addition to the four Indy wins, he's the last back-to-back winner in 2001-02, was the 500 rookie of the year in 2001. Castroneves' six career CART wins and 25 IndyCar wins give him 31 overall, tied with Paul Tracy and three-time Indy winner Dario Franchitti for No.
wftv.comIndy 500 winner Castroneves pumped for return at Nashville
Helio Castroneves will race for a record fifth Indianapolis 500 in 2022 with Meyer Shank Racing. Castroneves, who won his tying fourth Indy 500 in May, has agreed to a full season ride with Meyer Shank. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the only drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times. Castroneves joined the other members of the Indy four-timers club and flashed their Indy 500 rings during a group photo with the Borg-Warner Trophy on the Brickyard. Don’t get me wrong, for me to win a championship, I’ve got to win an Indy 500.
wftv.comCastroneves happily joins elite club of 4-time Indy winners
IndyCar Indy 500 Four-Time Winner Auto Racing Winner of this year's Indianapolis 500 auto race, Helio Castroneves, right, gathered with other four-time winners, from left, A.J. Castroneves won the race in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler) (Doug McSchooler)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Helio Castroneves is taking his sweet time getting his mind around the spoils of winning his fourth Indianapolis 500. The Brazilian driver's fourth Indy 500 victory two months ago took 12 years to achieve, and the reality of being mentioned alongside the drivers he idolizes still has him pinching himself. Roger Penske, the motorsports titan who earned nearly half his record 18 Indy 500 wins with Unser, Mears and Castroneves in particular, also praised Castroneves even though win No.
wftv.comSRX made-for-TV racing series debuts with Indy 500 winner
Ray Evernham and Tony Stewart took great care in extending invites to the made-for-TV league they had co-created. Never did they expect the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner to be in the field for the inaugural race. Helio Castroneves has no full-time job this season so joining SRX was a no-brainer.
news.yahoo.comHelio doesn't parlay Indy 500 win into seat at Detroit
IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Helio Castroneves of Brazil celebrates on the yard of bricks at the start/finish line winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya)Helio Castroneves had hoped his fourth Indianapolis 500 victory would lead to a seat this weekend at IndyCar's doubleheader in Detroit. The team has a six-race plan with Castroneves that launched at the Indy 500 and delivered MSR its first IndyCar victory. His next scheduled IndyCar race is at Nashville in August. I feel like he’s been kind of pushed to end his IndyCar career,” Sebastien Bourdais said Monday.
wftv.comGood company: Helio Castroneves wins Indy 500 for 4th time
IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. “You’re a legend.”Castroneves became the fourth-oldest winner in Indianapolis 500 history, behind Al Unser (47, 1987), Bobby Unser (47, 1981) and Emerson Fittipaldi (46, 1993). Castroneves spent more than two decades driving for Team Penske and won three Indy 500s with the team. He hired Castroneves for the Indy 500 to complement the one-car Meyer Shank Racing team. This year, celebrities were back and fans were everywhere and they were treated to a win by one of the most popular drivers in Indy 500 history.
wftv.comHelio Castroneves wins Indianapolis 500 for 4th time
IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon of New Zealand leads the field through the first turn on the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Helio Castroneves joined the exclusive club of four-time Indianapolis 500 winners Sunday, and then scaled the fence at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of the largest crowd since the start of the pandemic. Castroneves won his third 500 in 2009 and has been chasing win No. This year, celebrities were back and fans were everywhere and they were treated to a win by one of the most popular drivers in Indy 500 history. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.
wftv.comWayne Taylor Racing wins record-tying 3rd consecutive Rolex
Wayne Taylor left General Motors after 28 years at the end of last season to become a factory Acura program. "We won it with Ricky, and Jordan won the GT class with Corvette, and then the Wayne Taylor Racing program won it overall. Albuquerque won in 2018 driving a Cadillac; Ricky Taylor won in a Cadillac for his father's team in 2017. AdWhen Taylor switched to Acura, he released van der Zande, who was grabbed by Ganassi as the team returned to sports car racing after a one-year hiatus. “Looked like we had the race won right there.
Johnson invigorated after stint in prestigious Rolex 24
The seven-time NASCAR champion is beginning a new chapter of his career — at 45 years old — in unfamiliar race cars. He was tabbed to start the most prestigious sports car race in America for his Action Express team and Johnson had just one goal for his first stint in the Cadillac. 48 over to teammate Simon Pagenaud and then turned to Kamui Kobayashi, the two-time reigning winner of the Rolex 24, for an animated debrief. AdElliott seemed despondent after his first run in his first sports car race. 31 Action Express entry had slipped to last in his class after the driver change between Elliott and Mike Conway.
Magnussen to race American sports cars for Ganassi in 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen will move to the IMSA sports car series in 2021 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. “If you are in professional racing anywhere in the world, you know the name Chip Ganassi and what it represents in motorsports,” Magnussen said. Van der Zande is a two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, most recently in January when teamed with Ganassi driver Scott Dixon. Lineups for the 2021 IMSA season are rapidly coming together with a flurry of announcements over the last week. “We have not been shy about our attack on the IMSA GTD championship for 2021,” team co-owner Jimmy Vasser said.
Marco Andretti breaks 233 mph on 'Fast Friday' at Indy
Marco Andretti packs up his gear following practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS The horsepower boost sent speeds skyrocketing over 233 mph early on Fast Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Andretti Autosport cars quickly jumped to the top of the board with Marco Andretti logging a lap of 233.491 miles per hour (375.77 kilometres per hour). It's the fastest lap in a practice which is considered unofficial since Sebastien Bourdais went 233.116 mph in 2017. The first thing you need is speed and then you need to put the four laps together," Andretti said.
Dixon leads opening practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, pulls out fo the pits during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS Scott Dixon, already off to a tremendous start to the IndyCar season, quickly set the pace on the first day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. Dixon turned a lap of 224.047 mph (360.57 kph) around Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the two-hour session for veterans. He has won the Indy 500 once in his career. The day was scheduled to conclude with a 150-minute open practice session.
IndyCar's next wave proving kids are more than all right
Two-time and defending champ Josef Newgarden, who won the second race of the Iowa doubleheader, has yet to turn 30. Pagenaud, who like Newgarden drives for Team Penske, won the first Iowa race on Friday night. The natural ebb and flow of sports dictates there must be a wave of youngsters waiting to replace them. Not surprisingly, Ferrucci was fired by his Trident Racing team. Take the doubleheader this weekend, where Herta and VeeKay were in contention Friday night before a caution flag waved.
Start the clock on the Rolex 24 at Daytona
The 58th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona roars to life Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. DAYTONA BEACH Hate to interrupt all the fun, but the reason were all here cranks to life about 1:30 Saturday afternoon. Shortly after lunch Saturday, all of the festivities slip under a 24-hour blanket of background noise as the 58th version of the Rolex 24 begins logging miles at Daytona International Speedway. He eventually walked away and was OK.A similar wreck on the opposite side of the track brought a premature end to the days lone 60-minute Rolex 24 practice Friday morning. Regardless of what happens Saturday and Sunday, the 2020 Rolex 24 might eventually be remembered for what happened the day before the big race.
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