Indycar 2017 at Road America

Indycar Kohler Grand Prix at Road America

 

Scott Dixon became the 8th different winner in ten races this Indycar season as he won for the first time at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  It was Scott Dixon's 41st win of his career which leaves him in fourth on the Indycar All Time win list, just a single win behind Michael Andretti.

The four Penske drivers dominated the weekend and wound up in second through fifth place but it was Dixon's pass of Josef Newgarden on lap 31 that made the difference.

 

 

 

 



TOP 10

1. Scott Dixon: His 5th podium in 10 races this season.

2. Josef Newgarden: His second 2nd place this year.

3. Helio Castroneves: His ninth Top 10 in ten races this season.

4. Simon Pagenaud  : His eighth Top 5 in ten races.

5. Will Power: Sixth in the season championship.

6. Charlie Kimball: His best finish of the season.

7. Ed Jones: His fourth Top 10 in his rookie Indycar season has him 10th in points.

8. Graham Rahal: His lowest finish in the last four races.

9. Max Chilton: His fourth Top 10 this season.

10. Mikhail Aleshin: His third Top 10 of the season.

Different Teams: 5  (Ganassi (3), Penske (4), Coyne, RLL, Schmidt )

Different Countries: 8 New Zealand, USA (3), Brazil, France, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Britain, Russia
4 Chevys   6 Hondas

  

FUN FACTS

 

 Average Speed:  123.431 mph

Time: 1 hour 47 minutes 18 seconds

Lead Changes:  6 among 4 drivers
Scott Dixon (24)  Helio Castroneves (17)  Josef Newgarden (13)  Charlie Kimball (1)
 

                 Fastest Lap:  139.664 on lap 52 by Josef Newgarden (2)

 Cautions 2 for 3 Laps

 

Most Improved: Mikhail Aleshin 9 positions

Penalties: 3
Rahal (blocking), Andretti (pit speed violation), Power (blocking)

Indycar at Road America 2016

Indycars returned to the beautiful 4-Mile Road America course for the first time since 2007. 
The 14-turn track was a favorite among the Indycar veterans and rookies alike.


 

 Will Power kept his momentum going from his win in Detroit Race 2 by winning his second pole of the 2016 season.  (He won the pole in St. Pete, but did not start due to illness).   Power led the field to green for the 50-lap, 202 mile race at Road America and he dominated the early stages.  Top championship and race contender Scott Dixon had engine issues on lap six, and called it a day. At the first round of pit stops, Takuma Sato had already moved up 7 positions, and Josef Newgarden, with his broken hand and collarbone, had moved up five. Later, Takuma spun and ended up 17th.  Up front, Simon Pagenaud took the lead for a few laps, but near the end, he too had engine problems.  He finished 13th.  As the checkered flag dropped, Will Power took his second consecutive win for 2016, and Josef Newgarden toughed out the pain and brought it home admirable 8th. 
The points standings saw Scott Dixon dropped to 4th, with 5th and 6th place closing in.  The top three spots in the championship are occupied by Penske's Simon Pagenaud, Helio Castroneves and Will Power.  

 Road America Top Ten

1. Will Power:   'Powers his way to third in points despite missing the first race of the season.

2. Tony Kanaan:  His best result since a second at Fontana last year.

3. Graham Rahal:  His second podium in two races at Road America.  (The other coming when he was just 18).

4. Ryan Hunter-Reay:  Fought the flu all weekend to finish a strong 4th.

5. Helio Castroneves:  Moved to second in season points, 74 back of his teammate Pagenaud.

6. Charlie Kimball:  His sixth Top 10 of the season.

7. Juan Montoya:  A hard fought position after a fantastic battle with Josef Newgarden in the closing laps.
8. Josef Newgarden:  Impressed alot of people as he was the biggest mover of the race, moving up 12 positions, despite the pain from his broken clavicle and hand.

9. Spencer Pigot:  Best run of his Indycar career!

10. Carlos Munoz:  Started 8th and ran around there most of the day.

Different Teams: 5 ( Penske, RLL, Andretti, Ganassi, Ed Carpenter Racing)

Different Countries: 4 (Australia(1), Brazil(2), USA(5), Columbia(2))

 

FUN FACTS

 Average Speed: 121.6 mph

 Time: 1 hour 39 Minutes 10 Seconds

Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers (Power, Pagenaud, Rahal)

Best Lap: 138.787 by Max Chilton

THOUGHTS:
Great runs but bad luck for...

Conor Daly who had a strong weekend and was running in the Top 8 all day when a rear wishbone gave out sending him speeding into the barrier.  Luckily he was unhurt. (21st)

Max Chilton was doing great and had the fastest lap of the race.  Unfortunately he ran out of fuel and lost 2 laps.  (20th)

And more bad luck....

Gabby Chaves had trouble with his pit speed telemetry and received a Drive Thru pit speed violation, and then another while on his first drive thru penalty.  He lost a lap. (19th)

Scott Dixon.  After qualifying second, he had an issue on Lap 6 and was out of the race. (22nd)

 

   

 

 

Hinchcliffe in an Indycar at Road America

James Hinchcliffe is back in an Indycar!!

After 4 months of recovery after his scary crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,  James Hinchcliffe got back in an Indycar at a test session at Road America on Monday.  He technically got back in an Indycar when he drove the two-seater across the Golden Gate Bridge prior to the season finale at Sonoma, but we're pretty sure he was going a bit faster at Road America.

But he did shave his beard after the Golden Gate drive, since he said after the accident he wouldn't shave till he got back in an Indycar.  He let his Indycar fans decide if getting in the two seater counted.

Votes are in! Tight race. Margin was less than 10 votes! https://t.co/tgGuUIwPLO

— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) August 28, 2015

He also went racing in a go-kart a few weekends ago at the Dan Wheldon Memorial Kart Race were he seemed to be enjoying himself.

So Hinch seems pretty happy to be back in and Indycar and we know all the Indycar fans are just as excited to see one of everyone's favorite drivers suited and booted and back in an Indycar going fast.

Welcome back Hinch!

So, I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but my Monday was definitely better than your Monday. pic.twitter.com/9ohcPVdr87

— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) September 28, 2015