| June 2016 News |
IndyCar Detroit Race #1
June 4 - Simon Pagenaud seemed to be back to
form, starting from pole and leading the first half
of the race. When he pitted on lap 35, the four
Penskes were all in front. But then a crash by
James Hinchcliffe on lap 42 brought out a full
course yellow which mixed up the pit strategies.
Juan Montoya, Graham Rahal, Sebastin
Bourdais and Conor Daly decided not to pit.
By the end, Bourdais was in front, followed by
rookie Daly and Montoya. This was Daly's first
podium
Will Power had a loose wheel exiting the pits that
resulted in an end to his day.
Pagenaud ran out of fuel on the last lap and
finished 13th.
June 4 - Simon Pagenaud seemed to be back to
form, starting from pole and leading the first half
of the race. When he pitted on lap 35, the four
Penskes were all in front. But then a crash by
James Hinchcliffe on lap 42 brought out a full
course yellow which mixed up the pit strategies.
Juan Montoya, Graham Rahal, Sebastin
Bourdais and Conor Daly decided not to pit.
By the end, Bourdais was in front, followed by
rookie Daly and Montoya. This was Daly's first
podium
Will Power had a loose wheel exiting the pits that
resulted in an end to his day.
Pagenaud ran out of fuel on the last lap and
finished 13th.
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IndyCar Detroit Race #2
June 5 - Will Power set the fastest qualifying speed ever at
Detroit on Sunday morning, but a penalty took away his
fastest two laps, relegating him to starting in 8th. Simon
Pagenaud once again started the race from pole.
Helio Castroneves was at the front with Pagenaud before
the last of the day's three caution periods. Pagenaud went
into the pit on lap 49 and Castroneves stayed out a bit
longer. That turned out to be a tough break for
Castroneves when the caution flag came. He had to pit
during the caution period, lost track position and finished
14th.
The key move came with about 18 laps remaining, shortly
after a restart. Power passed Pagenaud to take over fifth
place — and the top four drivers still had to pit again.
"I knew on that restart, I had to get Simon. It was my best
chance," Power said. "But he's the championship leader and
also my teammate, so I had to make it a very clean move so
I went to the outside. I wouldn't have done it to go up the
inside — too much risk of taking him out."
After moving ahead of Pagenaud, Power was in good
position to win, and he took over the lead in his No. 12
Chevrolet on the 61st of 70 laps on the 2.35-mile street
course.
Ryan Hunter-Reay finished third, and Josef Newgarden was
fourth.
June 5 - Will Power set the fastest qualifying speed ever at
Detroit on Sunday morning, but a penalty took away his
fastest two laps, relegating him to starting in 8th. Simon
Pagenaud once again started the race from pole.
Helio Castroneves was at the front with Pagenaud before
the last of the day's three caution periods. Pagenaud went
into the pit on lap 49 and Castroneves stayed out a bit
longer. That turned out to be a tough break for
Castroneves when the caution flag came. He had to pit
during the caution period, lost track position and finished
14th.
The key move came with about 18 laps remaining, shortly
after a restart. Power passed Pagenaud to take over fifth
place — and the top four drivers still had to pit again.
"I knew on that restart, I had to get Simon. It was my best
chance," Power said. "But he's the championship leader and
also my teammate, so I had to make it a very clean move so
I went to the outside. I wouldn't have done it to go up the
inside — too much risk of taking him out."
After moving ahead of Pagenaud, Power was in good
position to win, and he took over the lead in his No. 12
Chevrolet on the 61st of 70 laps on the 2.35-mile street
course.
Ryan Hunter-Reay finished third, and Josef Newgarden was
fourth.
A first lap accident knocked James Hinchcliffe and Max
Chilton out of the race.
Chilton out of the race.
| Winner Will Power |
Multi-platinum award-winning rock 'n' roll icon Kid Rock
will be in concert on July 23 during the the Brickyard 400
weekend at the Speedway. His high-octane Saturday night
performance will take place in the IMS infield following the
Xfinity Series Lilly Diabetes 250 race.
The Michigan native played at IMS in 2007 on Carb Day.
Acclaimed country rockers Parmalee will be the opening
act for this can't miss event.
General Admission includes the concert and costs $30 until
July 9, when the price increases to $40. Current
ticketholders to any IMS event can purchase a GA Saturday
ticket and front-stage pit access for $85 through a pre-sale
which runs until June 15.
will be in concert on July 23 during the the Brickyard 400
weekend at the Speedway. His high-octane Saturday night
performance will take place in the IMS infield following the
Xfinity Series Lilly Diabetes 250 race.
The Michigan native played at IMS in 2007 on Carb Day.
Acclaimed country rockers Parmalee will be the opening
act for this can't miss event.
General Admission includes the concert and costs $30 until
July 9, when the price increases to $40. Current
ticketholders to any IMS event can purchase a GA Saturday
ticket and front-stage pit access for $85 through a pre-sale
which runs until June 15.
Rain Causes Delay of Texas Firestone 600
June 13 - The IndyCar race in Ft Worth Texas was
supposed to be a night race on Saturday, but day long
rain prevented them from being able to get the oval track
dry.
The next day they had trouble getting the track dry and it
caused a long delay. Some of the drivers went into the
stands to greet the fans who had returned.
Most drivers were worried about their cars' setup for the
race as they had planned to race at night under cooler
conditions than in the middle of a hot Texas day.
At 2:48 p.m. they were finally able to start the race.
Carlos Munoz, who finished 2nd in the Indy 500,
started from pole. This was his first IndyCar pole.
The race was very exciting until a terrible accident where
Conor Daly's car speared sideways into Josef
Newgarden's car and pushed him into the outside wall.
Then they slid down the track with Newgarden on his
side, then slammed into the safer barrier again -
Newgarden head first. It actually tore into the steel,
which means the impact was at least 50 gees. It looked
like the worst accident I've ever seen. His roll bar saved
him. Miraculous.
Newgarden was able to exit the car before collapsing. At
the hospital they found he only suffered a broken collar
bone and hand.
Then the rain began again and the race was red flagged
after 71 laps - many of those caution laps.
IndyCar plans to restart the race on Aug 27.
June 13 - The IndyCar race in Ft Worth Texas was
supposed to be a night race on Saturday, but day long
rain prevented them from being able to get the oval track
dry.
The next day they had trouble getting the track dry and it
caused a long delay. Some of the drivers went into the
stands to greet the fans who had returned.
Most drivers were worried about their cars' setup for the
race as they had planned to race at night under cooler
conditions than in the middle of a hot Texas day.
At 2:48 p.m. they were finally able to start the race.
Carlos Munoz, who finished 2nd in the Indy 500,
started from pole. This was his first IndyCar pole.
The race was very exciting until a terrible accident where
Conor Daly's car speared sideways into Josef
Newgarden's car and pushed him into the outside wall.
Then they slid down the track with Newgarden on his
side, then slammed into the safer barrier again -
Newgarden head first. It actually tore into the steel,
which means the impact was at least 50 gees. It looked
like the worst accident I've ever seen. His roll bar saved
him. Miraculous.
Newgarden was able to exit the car before collapsing. At
the hospital they found he only suffered a broken collar
bone and hand.
Then the rain began again and the race was red flagged
after 71 laps - many of those caution laps.
IndyCar plans to restart the race on Aug 27.
Newgarden and Hinchcliffe went into the stands while
waiting on track to be dried.
waiting on track to be dried.
Josef Newgarden says
he's ok after horrific
crash.
he's ok after horrific
crash.
IndyCar Drivers Compete in 24 Hours of Le
Mans
June 19 - In the fastest class at Le Mans, P1, Mike
Conway finished in 2nd. Mikhail Aleshin came in 11th.
Sebastien Bourdais won in the next class, GTE Pro,
finishing in 18th. Scott Dixon finished two spots behind
him.
Townsend Bell won in the next class, GTE Am, finishing
in 26th.
Mans
June 19 - In the fastest class at Le Mans, P1, Mike
Conway finished in 2nd. Mikhail Aleshin came in 11th.
Sebastien Bourdais won in the next class, GTE Pro,
finishing in 18th. Scott Dixon finished two spots behind
him.
Townsend Bell won in the next class, GTE Am, finishing
in 26th.
| Carlos Munoz - Pole Sitter |
| Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly Crash |
| Chip Ganassi's Le Mans winning GTE Ford GT |
Speedway Building Dirt Track
June 30 - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway says it will
construct a 3/16th-mile oval dirt track in turn three as a
retirement gift for NASCAR driver Tony Stewart.
According to IndyStar.com, several teams that own dirt
midgets will be invited for an exhibition race.
IMS president Doug Boles said IMS isn't going to be
doing a lot of dirt races, but the track will be used from
time to time. Other sources at IMS say the track is only
temporary.
Regardless, the dirt track area will still be able to be used as
infield parking for the speedway's bigger oval races, the
Indy 500 and Brickyard 400.
June 30 - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway says it will
construct a 3/16th-mile oval dirt track in turn three as a
retirement gift for NASCAR driver Tony Stewart.
According to IndyStar.com, several teams that own dirt
midgets will be invited for an exhibition race.
IMS president Doug Boles said IMS isn't going to be
doing a lot of dirt races, but the track will be used from
time to time. Other sources at IMS say the track is only
temporary.
Regardless, the dirt track area will still be able to be used as
infield parking for the speedway's bigger oval races, the
Indy 500 and Brickyard 400.
| A Midget Car |
