Race Weekend Central

Returning to Pocono is Best Medicine 1 Year After Justin Wilson’s Death

2015 Pocono Indycar Justin Wilson Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti, Frontstretch)

As the Verizon IndyCar Series approaches the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway this weekend, the sport is on the verge of another step forward in moving on from tragedy. Following the death of three-time Indianapolis 500 starter, Bryan Clauson, this past week, the series finds yet another shocking reminder, as it approaches the one-year …

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Scott Dixon Leads, But Crashes in IndyCar Mid-Ohio Warmup

2016 Ics Mid Ohio Scott Dixon Photo Joe Skibinski Indycar

(Photo: Joe Skibinski/IndyCar)

It was a combination of highs and lows for four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champ Scott Dixon as the New Zealander topped Sunday’s warmup, but crashed at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Dixon’s fastest lap, good for a time of 1:04.4039, served as the quickest lap of the planned 30-minute warmup for the Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio. …

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Scott Dixon Salvages Fifth-Place Result After Team Penske Pinball

2016 Indycar Detroit Scott Dixon Bret Kelley Indycar

(Photo: Bret Kelley/IndyCar)

On a typical race weekend, a fifth-place finish for Scott Dixon would be expected, if not disappointing. However, Sunday’s Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans – Dual II proved be anything but routine for the four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion. Dixon overcame a broken suspension from an opening lap melee with Helio Castroneves and …

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4 Burning Questions: Will Chase Elliott Grab a Third-Straight Top 5 in Richmond?

2016 Martinsville I Cup Chase Elliott John Harrelson Nkp

Will Chase Elliott Grab a Third Straight Top 5 in Richmond? Following back-to-back top 5s for Chase Elliott this season, the Sprint Cup Series rookie will look for a third this weekend at Richmond. Will he do it? One thing he has going for him – unlike most tracks on the circuit – is past …

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Simon Pagenaud Withstands Review, Scott Dixon to Score Long Beach Win

Simon Pagenaud Long Beach Victory

(Photo: IndyCar)

Looking to get the winless monkey off of his back, Simon Pagenaud surged to a late lead to claim the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. However, in typical Verizon IndyCar Series style, the win came amid controversy. Pagenaud inherited the lead after his final pit stop and withstood a furious charge from Scott Dixon to …

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Preview: IndyCar Series Returns to Famed Long Beach Circuit

Long Beach Indycar Richard Dowdy

(Photo: Richard Dowdy / IndyCar)

When it comes to history and tradition, few street circuits in America can compete with Long Beach, California. It was on the streets of Long Beach in 1975 that a man named Chris Pook staged a Formula 5000 race, the first major street race in North America. It was on those same streets in 1976 …

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Tequila Patron ESM Wins Sebring Thanks to Derani’s Charge

Saturday’s Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway seemingly had everything.  It had close racing, some incidents, and bad weather.  A severe thunderstorm ripped through Sebring in the third hour, resulting in a red flag that lasted for over two hours. Once the race resumed, the mad dash did as well.  Into the …

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The Frontstretch 5: Championship Performances From 2015

Scott Dixon at Sonoma celebrating his win and championship (credit: INDYCAR)

(Photo credit: INDYCAR Media)

NASCAR will crown its season champions this weekend in Homestead, but several other series have already seen their title battles draw to a close. Here’s a look back at the IndyCar and NHRA titlists for 2015. From the stunning finish to the IndyCar season to the NHRA finals in Pomona, there were surprises and fantastic …

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Happiness Is… Throwbacks, Jeff Gordon and Scott Dixon

Fans in the stands for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway

(Photo Credit: Yvonne Leonard, Frontstretch)

It’s Darlington time this weekend and the race is once again situated on its traditional Labor Day weekend slot. It seems that someone over there at NASCAR HQ finally made some kind of decent decision. Of course, the track had taken a difficult situation and made it its own before this most recent shift in the …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Juan Pablo Montoya’s Sour Grapes

Indycar 2015 St. Pete Juan Pablo Montoya Trophy And Car Credit Chris Jones

(Photo: Chris Jones)

As the laps clicked off on the IndyCar season finale from Sonoma last Sunday, I watched, wondering if anyone had a shot at using the double points available to upset Juan Pablo Montoya, who had led the standings all year. In the beginning, it looked like he would cruise to the championship by holding steady inside …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: The “Surprise” Champion, Stellar Seasons and More

Scott Dixon celebrates his race win and championship title at Sonoma

(Photo credit: INDYCAR)

Huston Ladner: So where does anyone want to begin? Matt Stallknecht: Man… where to even start. Toni Montgomery: Am I the only one who made the mistake of pretty much forgetting all about Scott Dixon? Matt: I completely forgot about him. Toni: And then wondering where the hell he came from. Huston: I doubt it. Matt: I figured …

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IndyCar Breakdown: 2015 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma

Crowd shot at Sonoma Raceway for the IndyCar finale in 2015 (credit: IndyCar)

(Photo Credit: IndyCar)

In a Nutshell: Scott Dixon earned his fourth IndyCar championship owing to his win at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday.  He started the race in ninth and though he should not have been counted out of the championship, still sat in third in the points standings. The caution for Luca Filippi on lap 32 may have …

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