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The IndyCar Series returned to the hallowed Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for its second race of the year on the infield road course.
This time around, the NASCAR Cup Series and second-tier Xfinity Series join them for the second year the traditional stock car race takes place on the road course rather than the famed oval.
With contracts signed, legal battles between teams and drivers, and a drought-snapping win, the Gallagher GP had a little of everything.
Here are all the talking points from a big weekend back home again in Indiana.
Finally, Alexander Rossi wins
After a stretch of more than three years – 1133 days to be exact – Alexander Rossi drove his Andretti Autosport Honda to a win on the Brickyard road course, his first IndyCar Series triumph since Road America way back in the summer of 2019, where he absolutely dismantled the rest of the field, winning by more than 28 seconds.
When you think about how much has happened not just in IndyCar racing but in the world since that date in June 2019, you realise what an extended drought it has been.
It was almost comical at times during the 49-race winless stretch, Rossi befallen by all sorts of incidents on track, a lot of them purely him being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But on Saturday afternoon at the IMS road course, everything went right. Rossi capitalised on the early exit of Andretti stablemate Colton Herta, who had transmission issues on lap 42, and went from leading the race to finishing second-last, and wasn’t headed, taking his 16th IndyCar Series race by a comfortable 3.5 seconds.
Coming home a distant second (for a Honda 1-2) was Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Christian Lundgaard, whose best IndyCar Series finish was also the best day in many moons for a squad whose struggles have been well documented by me and many others.
Maybe – just maybe – the Rahal squad has figured out what they were missing earlier in the season and are on the upswing.
Third, a crucial podium finish for his championship hopes, was Australia’s Will Power, more than 11 seconds behind the leader. Toowoomba’s finest led his Penske teammates Scott McLaughlin (fourth) and Josef Newgarden (fifth) home.
IndyCar series driver Will Power (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Newgarden was a welcome presence in the field after spending Sunday night under observation in a Des Moines, Iowa hospital following a crash at Iowa Speedway last Sunday, and a scary fall after that. McLaughlin recovered from 15th starting position by running an alternate strategy to claim another top-five finish.
A bad day for Arrow McLaren SP
Friday was brilliant for the McLaren squad, with Felix Rosenqvist capturing pole and teammate Pato O’Ward in third. Sunday was anything but.
O’Ward was turned around in turn two on the opening lap, relegated to the rear of the field, and spent all day fighting back to a 12th-place finish. Meanwhile, Rosenqvist had an uneven race, finishing ninth, and never truly contended.
A new IndyCar Series points leader
Following his third place run at Indy, Will Power assumes top position in the championship standings with four races – Nashville, Gateway, Portland and Laguna Seca – left to run. He is nine markers ahead of Ganassi’s Marcus Ericsson, who has held the points lead since his win at the Indianapolis 500 in May, but finished down in 11th today.
Power’s Penske teammate Josef Newgarden is in third, 23 back of Ericsson. Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward round out the top five, 38 and 46 points behind Power respectively.
Chip Ganassi Racing sues Alex Palou
The ongoing saga between Palou, who both Ganassi and Arrow McLaren SP believe they have contracted for 2023, took another strange turn this week, with Ganassi suing their driver, the reigning IndyCar Series champion, whilst continuing to field a car for him as they shoot for a second-straight title.
Palou mentioned last week that he has been restricted as far as access to Ganassi data goes, only able to view it at the track rather than remotely as well, and now the lawsuit is hanging over his and the teams’ heads. It’s hard to believe how the team hasn’t split apart at the seams, but so far they haven’t.
There’s still no real clarity – plenty of rumours, and hearsay, but nothing concrete – about Palou’s 2023 plans, but imagine if he wins the series this year, for two in a row, then is forced by the team he won it for two years straight sit out next season.
It’s not an entirely impossible situation, although Palou is going to need to go on a tear pretty soon. It’s a fascinating, if crazy situation that has never been seen before in IndyCar racing.
And a question worth asking: if Palou doesn’t race for Ganassi next year, who gets his plumb, championship- and Indy 500-winning calibre seat?
Juncos-Hollinger Racing locks up Callum Ilott
As silly season moves into high gear, the Juncos squad announced a two-year contract extension with their talented British pilot that represents another domino fallen in the race to fill seats for next season and beyond. The young squad and its promising rookie driver is definitely one to watch in coming years.
IMSA to IMS
Roger Penske and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that the IMSA Sports Car series will visit IMS for the first time since the old days when the Grand-Am Series supported the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.
Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series have merged since then, and sports car racing in America is in a fantastic place, with good-looking cars (many factory efforts), and great racing.
It’s another big event for Penske and the Speedway, without the cost attached to luring Formula One or MotoGP. For the first time, infield camping will be allowed.
Whilst the first race will be a two-hour, 45-minute event (standard for most IMSA races aside from Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans), there are plans for future races to be six or eight hours in length.
One thing is for certain: we can be assured there will be a heavy IndyCar Series presence no matter what. Now, for some Australian coverage of the excellent IMSA series.
Next stop, Nashville
The streets of Nashville welcome the IndyCar Series for the second running of the Big Machine Grand Prix in one week’s time to cap five races in four frenetic weeks of IndyCar Series action, a tough stretch for crews, drivers and everyone else associated.
Last year’s debut event was an unqualified success with huge crowds and a great buzz around the city, even if some of the racing left a little to be desired.
Minor track alterations have been made, with a view to making the on-track product a little less processional.
Race coverage from 5am Monday 8 August (Australian eastern standard time) live and commercial free on Stan and on IndyCar Radio via the IndyCar app.
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