NASCAR Double-Header
Sep 10 - Rain all weekend prevented both NASCAR
series from practicing or qualifying.
Monday, both series would race with no practice.
Justin Allgaier held back JR Motorsports teammate
Tyler Reddick at the finish to win the NASCAR Xfinity
Series race It was for 250 miles - or 100 laps around
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Several Cup drivers
competed, meaning they had to race a total of 650 miles
today. Chase Elliott finished 4th in the 250 and 15th
in the 400. Austin Dillon finished 8th in the 250 and
22nd in the 400. Ross Chastain finished 12th in the
250 and 26th in the 400.
BRICKYARD 400
Brad Keselowski prevailed in a thrilling battle for the
win with Denny Hamlin, giving Roger Penske his first
Brickyard 400 victory after 25 years of the event.
Clint Bowyer led the way on a Lap 106 restart to kick
off the final stage. With William Byron struggling to get
going, Hamlin quickly moved into the second position.
Stage 2 winner Matt Kenseth restarted back in ninth
after pitting during the stage break, but he did not waste
any time moving forward through the field. By the time
the final round of green-flag pit stops began, he was in
sixth and knocking on the door of the top-five.
Up front, it continued to be Bowyer with Hamlin
stalking close behind. With 41 laps to go, Kyle Busch
was forced to pit right at the edge of the pit window
with a flat right rear tire.
Hamlin came down pit road with 35 laps to go, but
Bowyer waited two more laps before he made his stop.
That allowed Hamlin to move ahead, but they remained
close as the pit stops cycled through.
Both Ryan Blaney and Kenseth saw potential top-five
finishes slip away as Blaney blew through his stall and
Kenseth’s car fell off the jack.
With 17 laps to go, Brad Keselowski was one of the last
frontrunners to pit, doing so mere moments before the
caution flew for debris on the frontstretch.
Sep 10 - Rain all weekend prevented both NASCAR
series from practicing or qualifying.
Monday, both series would race with no practice.
Justin Allgaier held back JR Motorsports teammate
Tyler Reddick at the finish to win the NASCAR Xfinity
Series race It was for 250 miles - or 100 laps around
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Several Cup drivers
competed, meaning they had to race a total of 650 miles
today. Chase Elliott finished 4th in the 250 and 15th
in the 400. Austin Dillon finished 8th in the 250 and
22nd in the 400. Ross Chastain finished 12th in the
250 and 26th in the 400.
BRICKYARD 400
Brad Keselowski prevailed in a thrilling battle for the
win with Denny Hamlin, giving Roger Penske his first
Brickyard 400 victory after 25 years of the event.
Clint Bowyer led the way on a Lap 106 restart to kick
off the final stage. With William Byron struggling to get
going, Hamlin quickly moved into the second position.
Stage 2 winner Matt Kenseth restarted back in ninth
after pitting during the stage break, but he did not waste
any time moving forward through the field. By the time
the final round of green-flag pit stops began, he was in
sixth and knocking on the door of the top-five.
Up front, it continued to be Bowyer with Hamlin
stalking close behind. With 41 laps to go, Kyle Busch
was forced to pit right at the edge of the pit window
with a flat right rear tire.
Hamlin came down pit road with 35 laps to go, but
Bowyer waited two more laps before he made his stop.
That allowed Hamlin to move ahead, but they remained
close as the pit stops cycled through.
Both Ryan Blaney and Kenseth saw potential top-five
finishes slip away as Blaney blew through his stall and
Kenseth’s car fell off the jack.
With 17 laps to go, Brad Keselowski was one of the last
frontrunners to pit, doing so mere moments before the
caution flew for debris on the frontstretch.
| September 2018 News |
More Cars at Portland Raceway
Sep 1 - Twenty-five cars are entered for the IndyCar
Portland Grand Prix.
Portland is one of the six races new IndyCar team
Michael Shank Racing are competing in this season.
Their driver is Jack Harvey.
Alfonso Celis Jr. will be driving the #32 Juncos
Racing Chevrolet this weekend. He also drove at
Road America. He is shares that car with Kyle
Kaiser and Rene Binder this year.
Carlos Munoz is filling in for the injured Robert
Wickens. He is driving the Schmidt Peterson
Motorsports #6 Lucas Oil Honda car.
Gabby Chavez will be back in the #88 Harding
Group Chevrolet while Conor Daly sits out the
race.
Sep 1 - Twenty-five cars are entered for the IndyCar
Portland Grand Prix.
Portland is one of the six races new IndyCar team
Michael Shank Racing are competing in this season.
Their driver is Jack Harvey.
Alfonso Celis Jr. will be driving the #32 Juncos
Racing Chevrolet this weekend. He also drove at
Road America. He is shares that car with Kyle
Kaiser and Rene Binder this year.
Carlos Munoz is filling in for the injured Robert
Wickens. He is driving the Schmidt Peterson
Motorsports #6 Lucas Oil Honda car.
Gabby Chavez will be back in the #88 Harding
Group Chevrolet while Conor Daly sits out the
race.
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| Most recent news is at bottom of page. |
After sabotaging his career in Formula 2,
20 y/o Santino Ferrucci filled in for an
injured Pietro Fittipaldi at Detroit.
For the last two races of the year, Dale
Coyne Racing is adding a third car for
him.
20 y/o Santino Ferrucci filled in for an
injured Pietro Fittipaldi at Detroit.
For the last two races of the year, Dale
Coyne Racing is adding a third car for
him.
| Lawrence Stroll |
Force India Takeover
Sep 1 - Canadian investor Lawrence Stroll is leading a
consortium that has agreed a full takeover of the struggling
F1 Force India team to save their future. Or rather, the
billionaire father of F1 driver Lance Stroll buys him a
team.
Force India F1 team were looking at bankruptcy and
reportedly owe their largest creditor over £159m as well
as engine suppliers Mercedes £10million.
The team's money problems mounted following the legal
issues of co-owner Vijay Mallya, who has denied fraud
charges and is fighting extradition to India.
A deal has been agreed upon between the team's senior
management and a consortium led by the senior Stroll.
All 405 jobs at Force India will be saved and all debts
paid.
Expect Lance to leave Williams F1 and move to Force
India next year.
Sep 1 - Canadian investor Lawrence Stroll is leading a
consortium that has agreed a full takeover of the struggling
F1 Force India team to save their future. Or rather, the
billionaire father of F1 driver Lance Stroll buys him a
team.
Force India F1 team were looking at bankruptcy and
reportedly owe their largest creditor over £159m as well
as engine suppliers Mercedes £10million.
The team's money problems mounted following the legal
issues of co-owner Vijay Mallya, who has denied fraud
charges and is fighting extradition to India.
A deal has been agreed upon between the team's senior
management and a consortium led by the senior Stroll.
All 405 jobs at Force India will be saved and all debts
paid.
Expect Lance to leave Williams F1 and move to Force
India next year.
IndyCar Adds COTA to 2019 Schedule
Aug 4 - A beautiful 20-turn 3.4-mile road course was built near Austin Texas in 2012.
It is called the Circuit of the Americas. It takes advantage of the naturally undulating
landscape, including an intimidating 133-foot hill at Turn 1.
While IMS has lost MotoGP, Formula 1 and the IMSA SportsCar Champioionship,
they all race at COTA. I might move to Austin if it weren't so hot.
It was announced this week that IndyCar will be racing at COTA next year!
This is the first time in my memory where F1 and IndyCar raced at the same track in the
same year. I have always wished for this. Comparing the top two open-wheel racing
series in the world should now be much easier.
I expect F1 to be faster, but there's also the possibility of COTA altering the track in some
way in order to keep comparisons less obvious. They could add a chicane, or they could
run the IndyCars clockwise instead of counterclockwise. I hope they don't do that.
It is wonderful that IndyCar will finally get to race on a world-class road course, particularly
since it's in America! It's about time!!
Aug 4 - A beautiful 20-turn 3.4-mile road course was built near Austin Texas in 2012.
It is called the Circuit of the Americas. It takes advantage of the naturally undulating
landscape, including an intimidating 133-foot hill at Turn 1.
While IMS has lost MotoGP, Formula 1 and the IMSA SportsCar Champioionship,
they all race at COTA. I might move to Austin if it weren't so hot.
It was announced this week that IndyCar will be racing at COTA next year!
This is the first time in my memory where F1 and IndyCar raced at the same track in the
same year. I have always wished for this. Comparing the top two open-wheel racing
series in the world should now be much easier.
I expect F1 to be faster, but there's also the possibility of COTA altering the track in some
way in order to keep comparisons less obvious. They could add a chicane, or they could
run the IndyCars clockwise instead of counterclockwise. I hope they don't do that.
It is wonderful that IndyCar will finally get to race on a world-class road course, particularly
since it's in America! It's about time!!
| Turn 1 at COTA |
| 251' Tall Viewing Tower at COTA |
| Marco Andretti off the ground |
Crazy Race in IndyCar's Return to
Portland
Aug 3 - In IndyCar's return to the NorthWest, a crash on
the first lap saw Marco Andretti's car get airborn and
land upside down. Points leader Scott Dixon ran right
into a big dust cloud created by the wrecked cars off
track, but miraculously avoided destroying, or even
stalling his car.
Will Power, 3rd in points, had the pole and was fighting
off a hard charging Alex Rossi (2nd in points) for the
lead.
Power began having problems with his gearbox and lost
a dozen postions. He went off track and hit a tire wall!
They managed to keep him in the race, but eventually
his gear box failed. He would finish near the back of the
pack.
Rossi took over and was leading. He was on a 3-stop
strategy. Some how, due to cautions, he not only lost
the lead, he ended up finishing back in 8th place!
Josef Newgarden, another title contender also had a
poor day, finishing in 10th.
Dixon, despite a stop-and-go penalty, worked his way up
and finished in 5th, retaining the points lead!
Takuma Sato, driving for RLL, won his 3rd IndyCar
race. He won the 2013 Long Beach GP and the 2017
Indy 500.
Points will be double for the last race at Sonoma in a few
weeks. It will also be the last race at Sonoma as they
dropped IndyCar when IndyCar decided to race at
Laguna Seca next year. How petty.
Portland
Aug 3 - In IndyCar's return to the NorthWest, a crash on
the first lap saw Marco Andretti's car get airborn and
land upside down. Points leader Scott Dixon ran right
into a big dust cloud created by the wrecked cars off
track, but miraculously avoided destroying, or even
stalling his car.
Will Power, 3rd in points, had the pole and was fighting
off a hard charging Alex Rossi (2nd in points) for the
lead.
Power began having problems with his gearbox and lost
a dozen postions. He went off track and hit a tire wall!
They managed to keep him in the race, but eventually
his gear box failed. He would finish near the back of the
pack.
Rossi took over and was leading. He was on a 3-stop
strategy. Some how, due to cautions, he not only lost
the lead, he ended up finishing back in 8th place!
Josef Newgarden, another title contender also had a
poor day, finishing in 10th.
Dixon, despite a stop-and-go penalty, worked his way up
and finished in 5th, retaining the points lead!
Takuma Sato, driving for RLL, won his 3rd IndyCar
race. He won the 2013 Long Beach GP and the 2017
Indy 500.
Points will be double for the last race at Sonoma in a few
weeks. It will also be the last race at Sonoma as they
dropped IndyCar when IndyCar decided to race at
Laguna Seca next year. How petty.
| Takuma Sato |
Defending Brickyard 400 Champion
Not Returning
Sept 7 - Kasey Kahne, winner of the 2017 Brickyard
400, is skipping the race this year after suffering from
dehydration at Darlington last week. This will be the
first time he's missed a race.
Kahne said he felt so poorly he should not have been
driving the final 100 laps of last weekend’s Southern
500 at Darlington Raceway. He said he was nauseous,
struggled to take in fluids from the midway point of the
race and vomited when it was over.
“I definitely shouldn’t have been in the race car any-
more,” Kahne said Friday. “I stayed out there, put my
body through it, my brain, my head. It was really hard
to keep my eyes open and see. I was struggling to do
that. I was trying to control my heart rate because it
was so high.”
Apparently he has been suffering from this condition for
two years and it has been getting worse, even though he
is in good physical condition. He says he is quitting
racing after this season.
Kahne, 38, began racing in the NASCAR Cup series in
2004 and won Rookie of the Year. He won 5 races in
2006. He has won 18 races in the series in total.
Not Returning
Sept 7 - Kasey Kahne, winner of the 2017 Brickyard
400, is skipping the race this year after suffering from
dehydration at Darlington last week. This will be the
first time he's missed a race.
Kahne said he felt so poorly he should not have been
driving the final 100 laps of last weekend’s Southern
500 at Darlington Raceway. He said he was nauseous,
struggled to take in fluids from the midway point of the
race and vomited when it was over.
“I definitely shouldn’t have been in the race car any-
more,” Kahne said Friday. “I stayed out there, put my
body through it, my brain, my head. It was really hard
to keep my eyes open and see. I was struggling to do
that. I was trying to control my heart rate because it
was so high.”
Apparently he has been suffering from this condition for
two years and it has been getting worse, even though he
is in good physical condition. He says he is quitting
racing after this season.
Kahne, 38, began racing in the NASCAR Cup series in
2004 and won Rookie of the Year. He won 5 races in
2006. He has won 18 races in the series in total.
Sadler Retires
Elliott Sadler began racing in the NASCAR Cup Series
full-time in 1999. In 2001, he won the Bristol Spring
race, his only Cup victory. He quit the Cup series after
the 2011 season.
Sadler began racing full-time in the Xfinity Series full-
time in 2011, where he has gone on to finish 2nd in
points four times, as well as a 3rd, 4th and 6th.
Sadler is retiring after this season, saying he wants to
spend more time with his two kids, 6 and 8. Sadler is
43.
Elliott Sadler began racing in the NASCAR Cup Series
full-time in 1999. In 2001, he won the Bristol Spring
race, his only Cup victory. He quit the Cup series after
the 2011 season.
Sadler began racing full-time in the Xfinity Series full-
time in 2011, where he has gone on to finish 2nd in
points four times, as well as a 3rd, 4th and 6th.
Sadler is retiring after this season, saying he wants to
spend more time with his two kids, 6 and 8. Sadler is
43.
| Elliott Sadler |
| Kasey Kahne |
Xfinity Practice Rained Out
Sep 7 - Friday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series practices have
been canceled due to inclement weather at Indianapolis
Motor Speedway. The series was scheduled for two 50-
minute practice sessions on Friday afternoon; one at
1:05 p.m. ET and one at 3:05 p.m. ET.
The Xfinity Series was the only scheduled series on-
track activity for Friday. The next scheduled on-track
activity for Xfinity Series drivers will be Saturday’s
qualifying session at 11:45 a.m.
A fleet of 19 units of the Toyota Track Drying Team
are on hand to dry the track as quickly as possible in
the event of wet weather, along with 10 jets and four
vacuums.
Sep 7 - Friday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series practices have
been canceled due to inclement weather at Indianapolis
Motor Speedway. The series was scheduled for two 50-
minute practice sessions on Friday afternoon; one at
1:05 p.m. ET and one at 3:05 p.m. ET.
The Xfinity Series was the only scheduled series on-
track activity for Friday. The next scheduled on-track
activity for Xfinity Series drivers will be Saturday’s
qualifying session at 11:45 a.m.
A fleet of 19 units of the Toyota Track Drying Team
are on hand to dry the track as quickly as possible in
the event of wet weather, along with 10 jets and four
vacuums.
The Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speed-
way will use the same aerodynamic package used at this
track last season that produced a record number of race
leaders (8) and lead changes (16). The package has
already been used this season at Pocono and Michigan.
The 2017 Indy-specific package included a taller rear
spoiler, use of a restrictor plate (7/8th-inch) and aero
ducts (similar to brake duct openings) in an attempt to
lessen the aerodynamic advantage enjoyed by the lead
car at the 2.5-mile track.
way will use the same aerodynamic package used at this
track last season that produced a record number of race
leaders (8) and lead changes (16). The package has
already been used this season at Pocono and Michigan.
The 2017 Indy-specific package included a taller rear
spoiler, use of a restrictor plate (7/8th-inch) and aero
ducts (similar to brake duct openings) in an attempt to
lessen the aerodynamic advantage enjoyed by the lead
car at the 2.5-mile track.
| BRICKYARD 400 NEWS |
| <<< DAY 1 - Friday - Xfinity Practice >>> |
FGL Concert Cancelled
Sep 8 - A day long music festival featuring eight acts in
Turn 4 was cancelled by the speedway today despite
being a "rain or shine" event. A tropical storm however
has brought such heavy rain to Indianapolis that flooding
is occurring and events across the area are being can-
celled.
The headliners of the music fest, Florida Georgia Line,
plans to present FGL Fest in conjunction with the
NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for
three years.
Sep 8 - A day long music festival featuring eight acts in
Turn 4 was cancelled by the speedway today despite
being a "rain or shine" event. A tropical storm however
has brought such heavy rain to Indianapolis that flooding
is occurring and events across the area are being can-
celled.
The headliners of the music fest, Florida Georgia Line,
plans to present FGL Fest in conjunction with the
NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for
three years.
| <<< DAY 2 - Saturday - Xfinity 250 Race, Cup Qualifying >>> |
Organizers announced that tickets purchased through
Ticketmaster, IMS, FGLFEST.com, LiveNation.com
or the IMS ticket office will be refunded. Charges will
be put back on the credit cards used to purchase the
tickets. Those who bought tickets from StubHub, eBay,
scalpers, etc; are going to have a hard time getting a
refund.
The rain does not bode well for the stock car racing
either, which do not race on wet tracks.
Ticketmaster, IMS, FGLFEST.com, LiveNation.com
or the IMS ticket office will be refunded. Charges will
be put back on the credit cards used to purchase the
tickets. Those who bought tickets from StubHub, eBay,
scalpers, etc; are going to have a hard time getting a
refund.
The rain does not bode well for the stock car racing
either, which do not race on wet tracks.
Saturday Rained Out
Persistent rain has forced the postponement of all
NASCAR track activity for today, Saturday, Sept. 8 at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Brickyard 400 will start at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, one
hour earlier than previously scheduled.
The Lilly Diabetes 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series
is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday. The starting lineup for
both races was set by the NASCAR Rule Book since
qualifying for both races was rained out Saturday.
All tickets for the Lilly Diabetes 250 originally scheduled
for today will be honored at the gate Monday.
“We are hopeful the forecast improves tomorrow and
Monday so we can see the exciting racing that everyone
has looked forward to all year,” IMS President J. Douglas
Boles said.
Persistent rain has forced the postponement of all
NASCAR track activity for today, Saturday, Sept. 8 at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Brickyard 400 will start at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, one
hour earlier than previously scheduled.
The Lilly Diabetes 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series
is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday. The starting lineup for
both races was set by the NASCAR Rule Book since
qualifying for both races was rained out Saturday.
All tickets for the Lilly Diabetes 250 originally scheduled
for today will be honored at the gate Monday.
“We are hopeful the forecast improves tomorrow and
Monday so we can see the exciting racing that everyone
has looked forward to all year,” IMS President J. Douglas
Boles said.
Brickyard 400 Postponed to Monday
Sep 9 - All NASCAR activity for Sunday had to be
postponed due to persistant rain.
The Brickyard 400 for NASCAR Cup Series will start
at 2 p.m. (ET) Monday, with the Lilly Diabetes 250 for
the NASCAR Xfinity Series taking the green flag at 10
a.m. The starting lineup for both races was set by the
NASCAR Rule Book since qualifying for both races was
rained out Saturday.
Sep 9 - All NASCAR activity for Sunday had to be
postponed due to persistant rain.
The Brickyard 400 for NASCAR Cup Series will start
at 2 p.m. (ET) Monday, with the Lilly Diabetes 250 for
the NASCAR Xfinity Series taking the green flag at 10
a.m. The starting lineup for both races was set by the
NASCAR Rule Book since qualifying for both races was
rained out Saturday.
| <<< DAY 3 - Sunday - Xfinity 250 Race, Cup Qualifying >>> |
All tickets for both races will be honored at the gate
Monday, and tickets remain on sale at IMS.com, the
IMS Box Office and at the gate. Fans with reserved
seats for the Xfinity Series race are asked to move to
an open seat nearby if another fan holds that same
reserved seat for the Cup Series race. Gates open at
9 a.m.
This is the first time the Brickyard 400 has been delayed
a day by rain in the race's 25-year history. It is also the
first time it's been ran in September
Monday, and tickets remain on sale at IMS.com, the
IMS Box Office and at the gate. Fans with reserved
seats for the Xfinity Series race are asked to move to
an open seat nearby if another fan holds that same
reserved seat for the Cup Series race. Gates open at
9 a.m.
This is the first time the Brickyard 400 has been delayed
a day by rain in the race's 25-year history. It is also the
first time it's been ran in September
| <<< DAY 4 - Monday - Xfinity 250 Race, Brickyard 400 Race >>> |
| Brad Keselowski |
| Justin Allgaier |
On the following restart, Hamlin was able to get away as
Bowyer was harassed by Jamie McMurray for third.
With the freshest tires, Keselowski quickly charged
through the field and with seven laps to go, he was up
to third.
But at that moment, a massive incident took place
involving Landon Cassill and Jeffrey Earnhardt,
sending the latter driver airborne.
The race went back green for a three-lap shootout.
Bowyer spun the tires, giving way for Keselowski to go
after Hamlin. The two veterans went door-to-door with
two laps remaining, making contact as Keselowski
clawed his way by.
At the white flag, Erik Jones was able to overtake
Hamlin, but he could not run down Keselowski.
It’s also Keselowski’s second win in succession with this
latest triumph coming just after his first win in Darlington
Raceway’s Southern 500 -- another crown jewel.
"I gotta give credit where credit's due. My crew chief
gave me a heck of a call to pit there," said Keselowski.
Hamlin was third, Harvick fourth and Bowyer ended up
fifth.
This was the last race of the regular season and Kyle
Busch won the Nascar Cup Regular Season
Championship.
Bowyer was harassed by Jamie McMurray for third.
With the freshest tires, Keselowski quickly charged
through the field and with seven laps to go, he was up
to third.
But at that moment, a massive incident took place
involving Landon Cassill and Jeffrey Earnhardt,
sending the latter driver airborne.
The race went back green for a three-lap shootout.
Bowyer spun the tires, giving way for Keselowski to go
after Hamlin. The two veterans went door-to-door with
two laps remaining, making contact as Keselowski
clawed his way by.
At the white flag, Erik Jones was able to overtake
Hamlin, but he could not run down Keselowski.
It’s also Keselowski’s second win in succession with this
latest triumph coming just after his first win in Darlington
Raceway’s Southern 500 -- another crown jewel.
"I gotta give credit where credit's due. My crew chief
gave me a heck of a call to pit there," said Keselowski.
Hamlin was third, Harvick fourth and Bowyer ended up
fifth.
This was the last race of the regular season and Kyle
Busch won the Nascar Cup Regular Season
Championship.
IndyCar's Season Finale
Sep 18 - Heading into the last race of the season, Scott
Dixon was 29 points ahead of second-place Alex Rossi.
The last race pays out double points, which mean 100
points to the victor, 80 points to 2nd place, etc.
Will Power and Josef Newgarden from Team Penske
also had an outside chance of winning the championship.
All four of those drivers won 3 races this year, with
Power winning the Indy 500.
IndyCar headed to Sonoma for not only the last race of
2018, but the last IndyCar race at Sonoma for the
forseeable future. Sonoma is a cool track, and it's too
bad IndyCar won't be back, but Sonoma threw a bitch
fit when IndyCar added nearby Laguna Seca to the
2019 schedule, and dropped their race. Of course if
their stands had been full, I imagine they would have
thought twice.
This was Tony Kanaan's 300th CONSECUTIVE Indy
Car race! The 43-year-old moved up from Indy Lights
to the Champ Car World Series in 1998. He drives for
A.J. Foyt Racing.
Ryan Hunter-Reay won pole position for the Grand
Prix of Sonoma. He led most of the laps and he won
the race. His Andretti team-mates also did well -
Simon Pagenaud finished 4th, Marco Andretti 5th
and Alex Rossi 7th.
Rossi had a tough race in his quest for his first IndyCar
championship. He ran into Andretti on the first lap and
had to limp all the way around the track to pit. This put
him in last place when the race resumed. Rossi then fell
a lap behind the leaders when he had to pit again.
Sep 18 - Heading into the last race of the season, Scott
Dixon was 29 points ahead of second-place Alex Rossi.
The last race pays out double points, which mean 100
points to the victor, 80 points to 2nd place, etc.
Will Power and Josef Newgarden from Team Penske
also had an outside chance of winning the championship.
All four of those drivers won 3 races this year, with
Power winning the Indy 500.
IndyCar headed to Sonoma for not only the last race of
2018, but the last IndyCar race at Sonoma for the
forseeable future. Sonoma is a cool track, and it's too
bad IndyCar won't be back, but Sonoma threw a bitch
fit when IndyCar added nearby Laguna Seca to the
2019 schedule, and dropped their race. Of course if
their stands had been full, I imagine they would have
thought twice.
This was Tony Kanaan's 300th CONSECUTIVE Indy
Car race! The 43-year-old moved up from Indy Lights
to the Champ Car World Series in 1998. He drives for
A.J. Foyt Racing.
Ryan Hunter-Reay won pole position for the Grand
Prix of Sonoma. He led most of the laps and he won
the race. His Andretti team-mates also did well -
Simon Pagenaud finished 4th, Marco Andretti 5th
and Alex Rossi 7th.
Rossi had a tough race in his quest for his first IndyCar
championship. He ran into Andretti on the first lap and
had to limp all the way around the track to pit. This put
him in last place when the race resumed. Rossi then fell
a lap behind the leaders when he had to pit again.
However, he pit36 laps later right before a full-course
caution, and was able to get back on the lead lap. He
went on a tear and worked his way past some cars.
Dixon’s fifth championship – and Chip Ganassi’s 12th
– elevates him to second in the all time IndyCar stats,
behind only A.J. Foyt (seven titles). Hunter-Reay’s
18th Indy car career win also lifted him to fourth in the
title race.
Like 2017, no Series Championship Awards Show is
taking place.
caution, and was able to get back on the lead lap. He
went on a tear and worked his way past some cars.
Dixon’s fifth championship – and Chip Ganassi’s 12th
– elevates him to second in the all time IndyCar stats,
behind only A.J. Foyt (seven titles). Hunter-Reay’s
18th Indy car career win also lifted him to fourth in the
title race.
Like 2017, no Series Championship Awards Show is
taking place.
| 5-Time Champion Scott Dixon |
Dixon also has a new movie coming out.
Check out the trailer for "Born Racer"
Check out the trailer for "Born Racer"
