Race Weekend Central

Simon Pagenaud Tops Frantic Thursday in Indianapolis

Indycar 2015 St. Pete Simon Pagenaud Pit Lane Credit Chris Jones

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

With Indianapolis 500 qualifying approaching, a third Team Penske car has topped the charts. Simon Pagenaud put down a 228.793-mph lap to top Thursday’s Verizon IndyCar Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pagenaud was the third Team Penske driver to put down a fastest lap this week; teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves put …

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Drivers Weigh-In on Safety After 2015 Indy 500 Practice Crashes

The Month of May is off to a dubious start. Now equipped with aerodynamic enhancements, the current IndyCar machine looks drastically different than any that came before it. The DW12 is also faster than it was last year and appears markedly more unstable following the first three days of practice for the Indianapolis 500. On …

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Josef Newgarden Escapes Violent 2015 Indy 500 Practice Crash

Another day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 brought with it yet another violent-looking crash as Josef Newgarden was the latest victim of the seemingly unstable Chevrolet aero package at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Driving through turn 1, Newgarden saw his car snap loose, loop around, and hit the wall nose first. His Chevrolet then …

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Tristan Vautier to Sub for James Davison in 2015 Indy 500 Qualifying

With qualifying approaching, the details for the final vacant Indy 500 ride have been released. Dale Coyne Racing announced today (May 14) on Twitter that Tristan Vautier will practice and qualify the team’s No. 19 Honda from Thursday through Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. James Davison will then return on Monday to practice the car …

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Increasing Speeds, Risk Highlight Early 2015 Indy 500 Practices

2015 Indycar Helio Castroneves Headshot Credit Indycar Media

Photo Credit: IndyCar Media

As the Indy 500 approaches, the stakes – and speeds – are increasing. Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske took turns trading fastest laps in the opening days of Verizon IndyCar practice. Juan Pablo Montoya took the quickest lap in one of 95 laps on opening day with a 226.772-mph lap. Teammate Helio Castroneves brought …

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Going for Gold: IMS Tabs Nastia Liukin as Indy 500 Grand Marshal

Nastia Liukin Indy 500 Grand Marshal

(Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway has decided to go for gold. Track officials announced on their website that Nastia Liukin, individual all-around gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will serve as Grand Marshal of the 99th Indianapolis 500 on May 24. “We’re excited to have Nastia Liukin as part of the rich pre-race pageantry of …

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Team Penske Adds Avaya as Primary Sponsor in NASCAR and Verizon IndyCar Series

2015 Team Penske Avaya Indycar

(Photo courtesy Team Penske)

Team Penske will welcome another company as a primary sponsor starting at Kansas Speedway with Brad Keselowski. Avaya, a provider of customer and team engagement services, will have its red and white colors featured on the No. 2 Ford in a one-race deal. Moreover, after creating a partnership with Hewlett-Packard (HP), Team Penske has also announced …

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Jeff Gordon to Drive Indy 500 Pace Car

Jeff Gordon Indy 500 Pace Car Driver Indianapolis Motor Speedway

(Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet announced Wednesday that Jeff Gordon will be the honorary pace car driver for the 2015 Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gordon will sit behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and lead the field to the green flag. “I don’t know how it gets any better than that,” …

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Pippa Mann Confirms 2015 Indianapolis 500 Run

Pippa Mann Pink Indy 500

(Photo: Pippa Mann)

Verizon IndyCar Series driver Pippa Mann confirmed this morning that she will run the Indianapolis 500 with Dale Coyne Racing. Once again, Mann will sport her pink gear and car in support of breast cancer awareness through Susan G. Komen. This year’s race will be the fourth for the driver at the Brickyard. Last year, …

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Team Chevrolet Penalized by IndyCar for Engine Infractions

2014 Indycar Sonoma Scott Dixon On Track

IndyCar announced that it has penalized Chevrolet 220 points for “non-minor” engine repairs following the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The consequences come as a result of 11 penalties for engine alterations. According to Rule 10.6.4.4 of the Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook, 20 points will be deducted for a non-minor engine repair. All but one …

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Carlos Huertas, Francesco Dracone to Dale Coyne Racing

2014 Indycar Carlos Huertas

Photo Credit: IndyCar Media

With the 2015 IndyCar season quickly approaching, a few of the vacant seats have been filled. Dale Coyne Racing announced on Monday that Colombian Carlos Huertas will return to the team’s No. 18 Honda for a second season, per RACER.com. “I am very happy to be back with the team this year. I expect to …

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