- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Following a layoff of a month after the St Petersburg season-opener, the IndyCar Series was back in action over the weekend out in the Arizona desert at the lightning-fast ISM Raceway: the first oval and the first night race of the 2018 season.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Newgarden wins
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, the reigning IndyCar Series champion, had never even stood on the podium in Phoenix – until Saturday night, anyway.
A late-race restart on fresh rubber after Ed Jones found the outside wall allowed the Tennessean to haul in Canadian rookie Robert Wickens and then it was Newgarden first, daylight second, as the young American motored away for his first win of the season.
Phoenix 2018 was far better than 2016 or 2017
After two races that were largely follow-the-leader processions at Phoenix since the IndyCar Series returned after a number of years away, 2018 with the new IndyCar proved to be far more competitive.
Tyre degradation and the ability to get closer to the car in front provided lots of close racing, particularly in the closing stages. An encouraging general admission crowd – larger, by most reports, than in previous years – and strong corporate support would suggest that the series returns to the desert in 2019. That’s good news, as track management are keen to build the event and promote the series.
Wickens impresses again
We knew Robert Wickens would be good on road and street circuits after impressing in DTM for much of the last decade, but Saturday night was the Canadian’s first oval race but he looked like a veteran out there, coming within a handful of laps of winning on his debut. In the end, it was a strong second-place finish.
Wickens is fast making a name for himself as one of the most talented series rookies we’ve ever seen. It’s now a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ the Canadian makes it into an IndyCar Series victory lane. And on current form, he’ll be a driver to watch in the championship hunt.
Rossi was strong
Speaking of drivers in the championship hunt. Alexander Rossi, winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500, is on fire at the moment. After a strong finish to last year, the American has started the season with two consecutive podiums and his second IndyCar race win can’t be too far away. He fought back from a lap down on Saturday night to notch a third place finish. Very quickly, Rossi has become the main man at Andretti Autosport.
I’ve got this feeling that Rossi and Newgarden are going to be fighting for race wins and series titles for many years to come – which is great news for IndyCar.
Scott Dixon salvages a good finish from a rough night
It was unusual not to see the four-time series champion racing at the front of the pack on Saturday night. Instead of competing for a win, the New Zealander was trying to grab as many positions (and championship points) as he could.
Starting in eighteenth, the Chip Ganassi Racing pilot rallied for a fourth place finish that figures to look large in the championship hunt.
Will Power had a disappointing end
The Australian was having a wonderful race early, leading a chunk of laps – 80, more than anyone else in the race – before hitting the wall on lap 153. That was the end of what had been a promising night for the Team Penske pilot. Hard not to imagine what might have been…
Next Week: Long Beach
The IndyCar Series remains on the west coast and heads to sunny Southern California the second-most prestigious event on the schedule, the famed Grand Prix of Long Beach, where many of the sports’ biggest names have triumphed.
It’s a blue ribbon event on one of the raciest street circuits anywhere in the world. The race is always spectacular, and you can see it live on ESPN next Monday morning at 6:00am AEST.
Looking for great odds on racing and sport? Get into the action with PlayUp today. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.