Race Weekend Central

Indy 500 Win Not Enough for Formula One Transplant Alexander Rossi

2016 Ics Alex Rossi Texas Photo Shawn Gritzmacher/indycar

(Photo: Shawn Gritzmacher/IndyCar)

For most drivers, winning the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 would be a big enough moment to justify a career, let alone a rookie season. But Alexander Rossi is no typical rookie.  Rossi clutch-and-coasted his way to an improbable victory in front of over 350,000 people in his first Month of May, but the Andretti …

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OWW: Bowtie Beatdowns and Napa Know How: IndyCar Midseason Review

2016 Indycar Detroit Sunday Start Chris Owwns

(Photo: Chris Owens/IndyCar)

Wait, weren’t we just saying Honda was on the verge of a resurgence 10 days ago? Yes. Yes we were. If there’s one thing fans of the Verizon IndyCar Series know, it’s that things pass by in the blink of an eye. That includes cars, and – in the middle of the season – races and stories. …

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Happiness Is…Dominance, Owning It & “Fluky”

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Jimmie Johnson Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Well Sunday sure ended up being an interesting day. For being considered the best day in racing, however, there was something that felt slightly peculiar. Perhaps the rain falling over Monaco set the stage, as the Formula 1 race then began behind a safety car. That’s never a great way to get things started.   …

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Open Wheel Wednesday: Life After the Indy 500

Alexander Rossi Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Alexander Rossi won the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 this past Sunday…  Wait, who?  Alexander Rossi?  Who’s that?  Isn’t he the guy who tears it up in the Moto GP circuit and at one point was rumored to be headed to Formula 1 and Ferrari?  No, that’d be Valentino Rossi.   To say that …

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2016 Frontstretch Podcast – Episode 10: 2016 Memorial Day Weekend Edition

Alexander Rossi Indianapolis 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Welcome to the Fronstretch Podcast! Racing expert Matt Stallknecht and his rotating panel of guests have you covered from now until the end of the season with all of the main storylines from the motorsports week that was. This week’s podcast covered the following topics… Stallknecht and Bearden share their thoughts on the atmosphere of the 2016 Indianapolis 500, along …

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Five Points to Ponder: Racing Legends New and Old

Alexander Rossi Indianapolis 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

ONE: Truex Wins What a morale-boosting victory it was for Martin Truex, Jr. Sunday night. The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevy eviscerated the field, leading a whopping 392 of 400 laps – the most one driver has ever led in a NASCAR race at Charlotte. Truex has led laps in seven races this season …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Pocono Edition

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Confetti Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The best day in auto racing gave us two differently distinct types of races, but the final results brought about similar feelings. There was awe in how a rookie could save so much fuel, snookering several top-notch IndyCar teams and competitors down the stretch. The awe we felt with Martin Truex, Jr. reaching Victory Lane was connected to dominance; …

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Rookie Alexander Rossi Rides Fumes to Improbable 100th Indy 500 Victory

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(Photo: Jim Haines/INDYCAR)

Rookie Alexander Rossi entered the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season as an unproven shoe, a failed Formula 1 driver looking for a career turnaround. After 500 miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he may now be the face of IndyCar and American open wheel racing for years to come. Rossi stretched his fuel to the …

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Rossi, Newgarden Top Sunday Practice at IMS

Jhh 4595

(Photo: Jim Haines/INDYCAR)

Alexander Rossi may not be in the Fast 9, but he is fast. Rossi put down a 230.064mph lap to pace Sunday’s pre-qualifying practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After being bumped from ninth in the final minutes of Saturday’s first round of qualifications, Rossi will qualify for a starting position between 10th and 33rd in …

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Alexander Rossi Leads Pre-Qualifying Practice for Indy 500

2016 Indycar Alexander Rossi Photo Forest Mellott Indycar

(Photo: Forrest Mellott/INDYCAR)

While the other former Formula 1 driver in the paddock left his team recovering from a crash, Indy 500 rookie Alexander Rossi led the way in an abbreviated Saturday practice session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rossi’s 231.249mph circuit served as the fastest lap of the rain-delayed session, with Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay slotting in …

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Happiness Is… Atlanta, Handling & Musical Chairs

The Daytona 500 now sits in the rear view mirror.  Denny Hamlin added his name to the big trophy and enjoyed the spoils of the win.  While his story may be a feel good one for him and his team there is still something about the whole thing that felt a little flat.  It’s not …

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