Race Weekend Central

IndyCar June 2020 Preview: What Should Fans Expect When IndyCar Returns?

IndyCar

The NTT IndyCar Series on track at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019. (Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Courtesy of IndyCar.)

The NTT IndyCar Series returns to action in June 2020, almost three months behind its usual schedule. With the series—and the world—having changed drastically since the end of the 2019 IndyCar season, what are fans honestly going to see in this opening frame of an abbreviated season? There’s been more than enough discussion about the …

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IndyCar iRacing Challenge: What We Learned From Twin Ring Motegi

IndyCar iRacing Challenge

(Photo: IndyCar iRacing)

The IndyCar iRacing Challenge is two-thirds of the way complete after Saturday’s venture to Twin Ring Motegi, and Simon Pagenaud has his second win in just as many iRacing events. But surprisingly, his back-to-back victories were not the biggest story of this virtual return to Japan. What can we learn from IndyCar’s outing on the …

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IndyCar iRacing Challenge: What We Learned From Barber

IndyCar iRacing Challenge

(Photo: IndyCar Media)

The IndyCar iRacing Challenge rolled on this weekend with the Virtual Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the second race of the six-race series. Taking place the day before the 2020 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama was scheduled to run, the event did its best to replicate what racing at Barber Motorsports Park would have …

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IndyCar iRacing Challenge: What We Learned From Watkins Glen

IndyCar

WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - MARCH 28: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (Editors note: This image was computer generated in-game) <> at virtual Watkins Glen International on March 28, 2020 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The IndyCar iRacing Challenge kicked off Saturday with the American Red Cross Grand Prix at the Glen, the first of a half-dozen virtual races meant to fill the void until the 2020 IndyCar season begins in May. The event was uncharted territory for fans, drivers and league personnel alike, and it succeeded in some ways …

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James Hinchcliffe to Run 3 Races with Andretti Autosport

2019 Laguna Seca Indycar James Hinchcliffe Face Diego Alvarado

(Photo: Diego Alvarado)

James Hinchcliffe will compete in three races in his return to Andretti Autosport in the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season, the team announced Wednesday (Feb. 19). Hinchcliffe will drive the No. 29 Honda in the GMR Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the Texas 600. The car will have sponsorship from Genesys in two events. …

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4 Burning Questions: Showdown at the Formula 1 Corral

James Hinchcliffe 2019 Indycar Grand Prix

(Photo: Joe Skibinski/IndyCar Media)

Was it the right move to release Hinchcliffe? Arrow McLaren SP, formerly Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (presumably with Felix Sabates), announced this week that fan favorite James Hinchcliffe will not be on the two-car team next year in the NTT IndyCar Series. Hinchcliffe, a nine-year veteran of the series, was blindsided with the news on …

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Big Wreck on Opening Lap of IndyCar Race at Pocono

2019 Indycar Pocono Felix Rosenqvist Car Nkp

(Photo: Chris Owens/IndyCar Media)

There was much anticipation heading into Sunday’s (Aug. 18) NTT IndyCar Series race at Pocono Raceway, following a near death-defying crash last season. But the field didn’t even make it to turn 2 on the opening lap before there was a multi-car pileup, seeing Felix Rosenqvist and Takuma Sato go airborne. The crash was triggered …

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McLaren Returning to IndyCar With Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for 2020

James Hinchcliffe 2019 Firestone Grand Prix Of St. Petersburg

(Photo: Joe Skibinski/IndyCar Media)

McLaren will be returning to the NTT IndyCar Series on a full-time basis in 2020, the team announced Friday, Aug. 9. This will be done in an alliance/merger with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, which will be moving from Honda engines to Chevrolet as part of the move. Title sponsor Arrow Electronics will remain with the …

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A Day After Crashing, Scott Dixon Wins Wild Detroit Grand Prix Dual 2

Scott Dixon 2019 Indycar Grand Prix

(Photo: James Black/IndyCar Media)

After bad weather turned the first race of the 2019 Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader into an unpredictable affair on Saturday, few would have imagined an even greater number of dramatic moments would take place under sunny skies at Belle Isle on Sunday. But a lap 1 wreck involving Indy 500 champion Simon Pagenaud set the …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Thoughts on NBC Sports’ Indianapolis 500 Debut

Simon Pagenaud 2019 Indycar Grand Prix Winner

(Photo: Joe Skibinski/IndyCar Media)

Last weekend was very, very busy. We had hot weather in Charlotte to the point of drivers requiring attention after the race on Saturday, late race action in Indianapolis and a very long Coca-Cola 600. As you know, NBC went all out for Indianapolis. Mike Tirico, who has more or less assumed the role formerly …

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Fire on Fridays: The Return of the Road Course Specialist?

2016 Camping World Truck Homestead

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Ron Fellows. Boris Said. Dan Gurney. Scott Pruett. The list goes on and on. Max Papis. Jan Magnussen. Don’t forget Nelson Piquet Jr. or even Kenny Habul. But what happened the road course ringer? Once one of the most exciting group of racers on the NASCAR schedule has all but disappeared, with entry lists on …

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Fire on Fridays: Who Should Attempt the Memorial Day Double?

2019 Daytona I Cup Kyle Larson Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

John Andretti. Tony Stewart. Robby Gordon. Kurt Busch. These are the only four racers to complete the Memorial Day double. It’s one of the most mentally and physically grueling tasks a racecar driver can take upon themselves. However, it is doable; the past participants prove that. But these days, team owners and sponsors are reluctant …

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