Tag: Andretti Autosport

Why Andretti Autosport should join NASCAR after failed attempt at Formula 1

This is why Andretti Autosport should join NASCAR after their failed attempt at Formula 1. Check out the reasoning behind the claim!

Michael Andretti, owner of [autotag]Andretti Autosport[/autotag], has been pursuing an entry into Formula 1 over the last few years. The team presented a phenomenal case as it would partner with General Motors and bring the American team to the series. In fact, the FIA approved Andretti’s application to expand the grid by two cars as an 11th team. However, Formula 1 didn’t approve.

On Wednesday, Formula 1 denied Andretti’s entry into the series, citing that “research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around.” In other words, Formula 1 doesn’t believe the organization would bring enough value to the sport and that an 11th team would not provide value toward the championship.

That is Formula 1’s loss because Andretti is one of the most famous racing families in the world. Was it truly about the competitiveness of Andretti and value toward Formula 1? We may never know; however, this should allow Andretti to focus their attention on a sport that would value their presence. Enter the NASCAR Cup Series.

The Andretti Autosport owner has flirted with the sport in the past. They tried to become the flagship team for Dodge over 10 years ago, but it obviously didn’t happen. Most recently, Andretti said, “We have to make sure we get into NASCAR in a few years.” While Formula 1 was the primary focus, it’s clear that he would be more welcome in a series that respects the history of Andretti Autosport.

In fact, Michael’s son, Marco Andretti, will compete in 14 ARCA Menards Series races while attempting seven NASCAR Truck Series starts. It is clear that he wants to become a stock car driver, which could show the family’s increased interest in NASCAR. Another indicator of increased interest comes from Gainbridge, which is a close partner to Andretti.

The company joined Spire Motorsports in 2023, and Andretti’s connection to them is a good way to start making relationships within NASCAR. There are numerous ways this could go forward. Maybe, it results in buying a charter or becoming a majority owner of an existing race team. Either way, it is something the team should puruse.

Formula 1 didn’t close the door on Andretti entering the series. In the statement, the sport said it would look at the team’s application differently in 2028 when a GM power unit is built. That is four years away, and a lot can change over that period. Therefore, Andretti should pursue another dream with the Cup Series.

NASCAR would love to see Andretti at the top level. The Andretti family is arguably the most popular racing name in America, and everyone respects what they bring to the table. If Formula 1 doesn’t believe the organization brings enough value to the sport, then NASCAR can show the family how they feel. Welcome Andretti Autosport with open arms and enjoy the value they bring toward the championship picture.

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General Motors registers with FIA to become F1 power unit supplier in 2028

The move puts further pressure on Formula 1 to approve Andretti Autosport’s entry into the series.

General Motors and Andretti are continuing to put pressure on the Formula 1 Management Group.

GM announced on Tuesday that, under the branding of Cadillac, it has registered with the FIA to become a power unit manufacturer in F1 from 2028 onwards. The news comes a few weeks after Andretti Global was approved by the FIA to become the 11th new team on the grid in F1. Andretti is still awaiting approval from the FOM to solidify their F1 bid.

Formula 1 has been hesitant to allow another team into the sport due to what team principals have described as a monetary issue — with more teams on the grid, prize pools at the end of the year would get distributed in smaller amounts and thus reduce payouts. The pressure has been on from the FIA to allow Andretti Global in, and it’s possible that GM’s application could help the process. With a promise that the team will eventually be paired with another engine manufacturer, F1 president Stefano Domenicali could be more easily persuaded to accept Andretti’s bid.

As expected, the FIA has reacted positively to the news. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem tweeted on Tuesday that he was “delighted” with the news that GM is set to enter the sport in the near future and that their presence is good for the sport as a whole:

Should GM indeed join the fray and no one else back out, F1 could be set to have seven different engine manufacturers by 2028 — Red Bull Powertrains/Ford, General Motors, Ferrari, Renault, Mercedes, Audi and Honda are all set to be in the sport once 2028 comes around at the moment.

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Associated Press reveals F1 asked General Motors to break off from Andretti

Formula 1 continues to be at odds with Andretti Autosport as Andretti attempts to become the sport’s 11th constructor.

The drama behind a potential 11th Formula 1 constructor remains present as ever.

Michael Andretti, the son of motorsport legend Mario Andretti and owner of INDYCAR’s Andretti Autosport, made a bid to be an F1 constructor and was recently accepted by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, or FIA. Now, though, Andretti requires approval from Formula 1 and its management group, and that step of the process has been — and remains — a whirlwind of controversy and ire between both sides of the process.

The Associated Press released a column on Monday, writing that F1’s vendetta against Andretti seems far more personal than team heads would imply. Those opposed to Andretti’s entry have cited a diluted prize pool as the main reason to deny them entry, but a tidbit from the article seems to point otherwise.

Andretti can make a case that keeping him out of F1 is indeed personal: Three different people with direct knowledge of the conversations confirmed to AP that F1 asked General Motors if it would partner with someone other than Andretti.

That certainly seems to point toward F1 having an Andretti problem and not a money problem. General Motors is set to pair with Andretti under the Cadillac umbrella for car design outside of the engine, and as of this moment, they haven’t taken up F1 on their supposed ask.

Whatever the problem is, it will have to get solved soon — if Andretti wants his team to be in Formula 1 by 2025, he’ll have to begin making preparations as soon as possible, and that can only happen once F1 approves his new entry.

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Longtime sponsor DHL confirms Andretti exit

Longtime Andretti Autosport (now Andretti Global) partner DHL has confirmed its departure from the team after more than a decade of involvement with Andretti’s NTT IndyCar Series and Indy NXT teams. Together, the yellow No. 28 DHL entry piloted by …

Longtime Andretti Autosport (now Andretti Global) partner DHL has confirmed its departure from the team after more than a decade of involvement with Andretti’s NTT IndyCar Series and Indy NXT teams. Together, the yellow No. 28 DHL entry piloted by Ryan Hunter-Reay claimed the 2012 IndyCar championship, the 2014 Indianapolis 500, and won numerous races, with the last coming in 2018 at Sonoma Raceway.

More recently, the outgoing Romain Grosjean took over the car and delivered three podiums for Andretti and DHL across 2022 and 2023. The company also sponsored Jamie Chadwick’s NXT program this year where she earned a top result of sixth in her rookie season.

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“On behalf of DHL Express, I can confirm that DHL will not be renewing our long-standing partnership with Andretti Autosport following this season,” a DHL spokesperson told RACER. “Our organization is immensely grateful for the mutually beneficial and successful partnership over the last 12 years, during which we achieved significant milestones together with owner Michael Andretti and his team. The partnership, which engaged our customers, employees, and fans alike, resulted in many exciting wins, including a championship and a thrilling Indianapolis 500 win.

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Andretti Autosport and their commitment to our joint successes, and we part ways amicably with the utmost respect for their team. We look forward to ongoing presence in sports sponsorships within the United States for 2024 and beyond.”

Although the shipping company wouldn’t be drawn on where it’s headed in the paddock, sources continue to tell RACER DHL’s colors will return in 2024 at Chip Ganassi Racing.

JHR, RLL biggest winners of fierce Leaders Circle battle at Laguna

The battle to earn IndyCar’s final Leaders Circle contract played out in dramatic fashion as the last laps of the 2023 were completed in Monterey on Sunday. With guaranteed prize money contracts of $910,000 offered to the top 22 in IndyCar’s …

The battle to earn IndyCar’s final Leaders Circle contract played out in dramatic fashion as the last laps of the 2023 were completed in Monterey on Sunday.

With guaranteed prize money contracts of $910,000 offered to the top 22 in IndyCar’s entrants’ points, a few teams went into the season finale with added pressure to finish the contest on the right side of the cut line.

The big winners started with Juncos Hollinger Racing, with JHR’s Agustin Canapino hauling the No. 78 Chevy to 14th in the race and holding onto 21st in the entrants’ standings in the process. Leaving Portland in 21st, Canapino was in great shape for most of the Monterey race, but contact made with his teammate Callum Ilott, which broke his front wing, saw the No. 78 car drop quickly in the closing laps.

In the end, Canapino — who had Ilott’s race engineer Yves Touron assigned to his car over the final races to help in their Leaders Circle quest — was safe, but barely so.

The Argentinian completed his rookie year with 180 entrants’ points accrued for the No. 78, two points ahead of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s No. 30 RLL Honda which clinched 22nd in the entrants’ championship over Andretti Autosport’s No. 29 Honda driven by Devlin DeFrancesco. By a single point.

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The last Leaders Circle contract was settled by dueling bouts of misfortune, and in the case of Andretti Autosport, rage and frustration. Credit the resilience of the RLL mechanics for repairing Vips’ car after he was taken out in a lap 1 crash, and thanks to their efforts, the rookie returned to finish 24th — 24 laps down at the checkered flag — which was just enough to close the No. 30’s season-long entrants’ account at 178 points.

DeFrancesco’s strong drive was, like most drivers in the race, marred by frequent contact. It was the likely result of an impact received at the back of his No. 29 Honda that turned his transmission into a sentient being and started a downward spiral. Shuddering and shifting at will, DeFrancesco’s pace was greatly compromised, and due to his significantly reduced lap speeds, IndyCar black flagged the No. 29 and ordered him to pit lane for his mechanics to try and find and resolve the problem.

While there, a fresh set of tires were installed in the No. 29 and DeFrancesco was sent back out to continue racing — with the shifting problem unresolved — which was not, according to an IndyCar official who spoke with RACER, what the series had in mind. Ordered to return to the pits, an IndyCar official stood in front of the No. 29 and prevented the situation from happening again.

As one onlooker described the situation, a senior Andretti team leader “went ballistic and aggressively motioned for DeFrancesco to go back out on track” while the official refused to move aside and allow the No. 29 to continue racing. Having left the first time without the series’ approval, the No. 29 was parked, finishing four laps down in 22nd place.

Juri Vips might have been erased from the overall picture on lap 1, but his No. 30 RLL team’s diligence – and bad luck for Andretti’s No. 29 – made it a rewarding afternoon all the same. Gavin Baker/Lumen

In the all-important entrants’ championship, the No. 29 earned 177 points to the 178 captured by RLL’s Hail Mary with Vips in the No. 30 entry, leaving Andretti’s car 23rd and the first car out of the $910,000 pay days.

And to spare any confusion, the final entrants’ standings show the aforementioned drivers in positions that are one spot lower, with the No. 78 in 22nd, the No. 30 in 23rd, and the No. 29 in 24th. Due to a Leaders Circle policy that only allows eligibility for the top three cars from each team, Chip Ganassi Racing’s fourth car — the No. 11 Honda, which placed 14th in the entrants’ championship — is ineligible, which moves all the cars behind it forward by one position.

A special clause was written into the Leaders Circle rules that allows Andretti’s fourth entry to be the only one in the series that is eligible for a contract if places inside the top 22, which makes its one-point loss to RLL’s No. 30 a double blow to the team…

Why the Andretti/Ericsson deal is a good fit for both sides

Andretti Autosport went searching for an Indianapolis 500 winner and veteran voice to add to those of its young stars, and found exactly what it was looking for in Marcus Ericsson. Ericsson was searching for validation with a team that saw him as …

Andretti Autosport went searching for an Indianapolis 500 winner and veteran voice to add to those of its young stars, and found exactly what it was looking for in Marcus Ericsson.

Ericsson was searching for validation with a team that saw him as worthy of being paid to drive its race cars, and while Andretti wasn’t his only suitor, he found exactly what he wanted in an outfit that valued his ability to make the team better than it is today.

Together, the confirmed trio of Ericsson, Colton Herta, and Kyle Kirkwood is a powerful one, and in the Swede, who turns 33 next week, Andretti’s receiving someone who is easygoing but is also eager to prove he’s capable of winning in something other than a Chip Ganassi Racing entry.

“I think ‘complement’ is the right word to use for Marcus,” Andretti COO Rob Edwards told RACER. “When Kyle was getting ready to join us towards the end of last year, he said, ‘What can I do to get ready?’ And I said, ‘Become Colton’s best friend.’ Because the more that they can work together, the better it’s going to be. And I just think Marcus is another piece to that.

“He’s got some complementary skills and some pieces that I think he can help the other guys in some ways. And the other guys can obviously help him and it’ll be a good mix amongst the three of them.”

With the recent departures of team leaders Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi, Herta, at 23, and Kirkwood, at 24, were thrust into greater leadership positions along with Romain Grosjean and Devlin DeFrancesco. In Ericsson, who raced alongside established Ganassi champions in Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, Andretti welcomes a driver who also wants to show he can guide a major IndyCar program without being in the shadow of others.

“I think they all lead in their own way,” Edwards said. “Kyle’s impressed us with his work ethic. Colton has been great with the new additions to the team, making them feel part of the team. With Marcus, age isn’t a defining attribute, but you have to look at how he’s elevated his game over the last few years.”

And with its last Indy 500 win being recorded in 2017, Andretti’s onboarding someone who knows the fastest way around the Speedway, which should make an impact in May.

“You have to look at Indianapolis, obviously, between the win and finishing second this year,” Edwards said. “He’s clearly got a really good handle on that. So we’re really looking for the three of them to feed off each other to maintain the strength that we’ve got, which is particularly street courses recently and, to a lesser extent, road courses. I think we need to elevate on the ovals and Penske is the benchmark on ovals. And we certainly need to focus on that and see Marcus as someone that can definitely help us there.”

The enthusiasm for what Andretti has in its new lineup is felt throughout the team.

“When you look at Penske and Ganassi, they’ve had a group of great drivers that all complement each other and work well together for multiple years, and that’s the intention with what we’re putting together with Marcus and Colton and Kyle,” Edwards said.

Andretti will be hoping Ericsson’s Indy mojo will help the team roll out of Gasoline Alley in good shape next May. Jake Galstad/Motorsport Images

“The aim is to have a group of drivers that we can really build the team around for a long period of time, give us that continuity, that strength, and to continue to go forward. There’s a lot of excitement internally about what we’re doing.”

Ericsson’s confirmation is the first in a series of developments for 2024 and beyond that Andretti will be announcing. Although the team and driver declined to discuss the topic, Grosjean is not expected to return after his two-year contract is completed after the September 10 season finale at Laguna Seca, and Ericsson is likely to step into Grosjean’s No. 28 Honda next season.

DeFrancesco, who the team previously confirmed will be vacating the No. 29 Honda, is in active discussions with multiple teams, and Grosjean is also known to have some options ​to explore​ in the paddock ​.

With its new trio in place, RACER understands the Andretti team is contemplating whether it would be better to stick with four full-time entries, or if it would become more competitive by downsizing to three cars, as Penske did in 2022.

There’s said to be a possibility for a new co-entrant or two to join the No. 29 program and bring a recent IndyCar driver back to the series in the car, but Edwards wouldn’t be drawn on whether the team is preparing to focus ​strictly on Ericsson, Herta, and Kirkwood, or if it will seek to keep the No. 29 entry in motion with a fourth driver included in the mix.

“There’s not a direction on anything there anytime soon,” he said.“There’ll be a number of announcements between now and Monterey, and the message clearly with what we’re doing by adding Marcus is, we want to make sure that we’re doing ​​everything right. So over the next couple of weeks, the rest of the pieces will emerge.”

For now, we know Andretti has Ericsson and his four wins to stack alongside Herta’s seven and the two Kirkwood’s delivered this season. Throw in Ericsson’s consistency with back-to-back finishes of sixth in the championship for Ganassi — he’s currently sixth again — and his metronomic ability to reach the finish line in a strong position will be a great asset to Andretti.

After a few too many boom-or-bust years for Andretti, a steadying influence like Ericsson, who produced 12 top 10s from 17 races in 2022, and has 12 top 10s from 14 so far in 2023, should do wonders for a team that has struggled to reach its full potential. Also consider his advanced oval skills and all he’s learned on that subject at Ganassi that comes with him, and this is a great move for all involved.

But make no mistake about what lies ahead for Ericsson. Beating Dixon and Palou hasn’t been easy, and the task ahead in matching or exceeding Herta and Kirkwood at most rounds is just as big of a challenge for anyone brave enough to line up next to them.

This will be the biggest test of Ericsson’s career. And the best thing about it is, he knows it and wants to continue reframing his name and reputation until he’s viewed as one of IndyCar’s truly elite talents. A single Indy 500 win won’t do it. Placing sixth in the championship won’t do it. But helping to bring Andretti back to victory lane at the Brickyard and returning the team to contending for titles would go a long way to asserting himself as a major player among this generation’s best IndyCar drivers.

The future holds the answers to whether he’s destined to become an all-time great, and I love the spirit behind his decision. He could have accepted Ganassi’s offer to stay, but that would have been the safer option. Good on Ericsson for embracing the harder road ahead and the willingness to test his mettle against a pair of young nightmares. His crucible starts in 2024.

Andretti confirms Ericsson for 2024

Marcus Ericsson has been confirmed as Andretti Autosport’s newest IndyCar driver. The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner will join the team at the end of the season on a new multi-year deal. The Chip Ganassi Racing veteran brings his speedway success and …

Marcus Ericsson has been confirmed as Andretti Autosport’s newest IndyCar driver. The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner will join the team at the end of the season on a new multi-year deal.

The Chip Ganassi Racing veteran brings his speedway success and leadership abilities to a team with a young core in Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood who are both seeking their first oval wins. It’s unclear if Romain Grosjean, who is out of contract in September, will continue with the team.

“Like everyone else, we have paid close attention to Marcus’ success in the NTT IndyCar Series and have been impressed with how quickly he proved that he belonged with the front-runners in what is arguably the most competitive IndyCar field ever,” said team owner Michael Andretti.

“It’s no secret that we want to win races and championships and to do that we need drivers like Marcus who have that natural talent and determined drive. We are excited for the winning mindset that Marcus brings to the table and I’m eager to see what next season has in store for us.”

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Ericsson’s quest to transition from bringing a budget to CGR to being paid to drive by a leading team has been in motion for quite some time, with numerous teams expressing interest in hiring the Swede. As RACER revealed last week, Ericsson is expected to be replaced by his young countryman Linus Lundqvist at CGR.

“I’m very happy and proud to be joining Andretti Autosport next season,” Ericsson said. “Andretti is one of the most legendary names in motorsports, so it is  definitely a  dream come true for me to join this team. I want to thank Michael and Dan [Towriss] for putting their trust in me and I can’t wait to get to know everyone in the organization. It’s a very exciting new chapter in my career and I’m really looking forward to getting to work achieving our goals together. Exciting times are ahead and I’m thankful for this opportunity.”

Ericsson’s soon-to-be former team wished the 32-year-old a warm farewell.

“Chip Ganassi Racing wishes Marcus Ericsson all the best in his future endeavors. In his time with CGR, the No. 8 team secured four victories, notably the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Chip Ganassi Racing looks forward to finishing the year strong and remains dedicated to upholding our winning tradition. The team will announce driver updates in due course.”

Milless attests to Kirkwood’s rapid development with Andretti

Veteran IndyCar race engineer Jeremy Milless has seen a lot of young talent develop in the cars he’s overseen, and after watching Kyle Kirkwood score his second NTT IndyCar Series victory of the year for Andretti Autosport, he’s come to appreciate …

Veteran IndyCar race engineer Jeremy Milless has seen a lot of young talent develop in the cars he’s overseen, and after watching Kyle Kirkwood score his second NTT IndyCar Series victory of the year for Andretti Autosport, he’s come to appreciate how far the Floridian has come in their first season together.

“You could just tell in his voice today how he was super calm and knew he had it under control and no worries, right?” Milless told RACER. “Obviously he’s gaining confidence every weekend and knows that if it weren’t for a few mistakes that we’ve made this year, we’d have been in the top five in points based on where our pace has been. So if we can put all of this together, next year will be a really good year.”

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Kirkwood’s win at Long Beach — a runaway performance — was the first of the season for Andretti, and his second, secured in tricky conditions at Nashville that saw him keep polesitter Scott McLaughlin and championship leader Alex Palou in check with ease, was another testament to the strong technical bond he’s formed with Milless in just 13 races.

“From the start, we understood each other on the road and street courses,” Milless added. “We’re still learning each other on the ovals, so I think that’s where we need to button things up a little better. But we’re making progress for sure. On the roads and streets, he knows what he wants so it’s really easy to give him what he wants. Whereas on the ovals, he’s still learning exactly what he needs to have a good race car and qualifying car. So as he learns that, we can do a better job of giving him what he needs.”

Paired with the No. 27 Honda’s former driver, Alexander Rossi, Milless was a frequent race winner before a dry spell kept the car out of victory lane for nearly three years. Taking two wins with Kirkwood — the only triumphs for an Andretti IndyCar driver to date in 2023 — feels wonderful, but like most racers, Milless is greedy.

“It’s good,” he said, looking ahead to Saturday’s race on the Indianapolis road course. “But the best thing is to do two in a row. I would like to do that again.”

Street savant Kirkwood secures second IndyCar win in Nashville

Kyle Kirkwood drove a masterful race and Bryan Herta delivered a perfect strategy to beat Nashville pole-winner Scott McLaughlin and points leader Alex Palou to the checkered flag after a late-race restart. The young Floridian, who scored his first …

Kyle Kirkwood drove a masterful race and Bryan Herta delivered a perfect strategy to beat Nashville pole-winner Scott McLaughlin and points leader Alex Palou to the checkered flag after a late-race restart.

The young Floridian, who scored his first win at Long Beach this year, spent 34 laps in the lead of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, and was able to keep McLaughlin at bay following the red flag in a largely crash-free event. Palou, on an alternate strategy to those around him, was saved by a yellow, meaning he didn’t have to make a third pitstop and cede his third place to his closest championship pursuer, Josef Newgarden, who came home fourth, just ahead of 2022 Nashville winner Scott Dixon.

Team Penske Chevrolet’s Will Power had a panicked pre-race moment as he discovered he was missing his earbuds on the grid so was late getting away from pitlane. He was allowed to resume his seventh place on the grid, second of the drivers – behind Romain Grosjean – to start the race on Firestone’s primaries.

As in the Indy NXT race in the morning, the original start was waved off as the 27-car field was packed up, but next time by, Penske’s Scott McLaughlin made a good start to stave off Pato O’Ward, while Colton Herta understeering at the first turn forced Alex Palou to back off a little, allowing David Malukas into fourth for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Honda.

On lap 3, Kirkwood passed Power for seventh, while Newgarden – like Power and Kirkwood, running on primaries – couldn’t prevent Lundgaard passing him for ninth at Turn 8.

By lap 6 of 80, McLaughlin held a 1.8s lead over O’Ward who had pulled 2s on Herta, who was 1s ahead of the Malukas-Palou-Grosjean-Kirkwood battle, which saw Palou slip ahead of the Coyne driver on lap 7.

Alexander Rossi pitted from 11th on lap 10, switching from alternates to primaries, the same lap on which Grosjean passed Malukas for fifth, signaling the primaries coming into their sweet spot. Lundgaard and Felix Rosenqvist (Arrow McLaren) stopped next time by, while Malukas lost a further spot to Kirkwood before pitting.

McLaughlin had a 2.7s lead over O’Ward who had pulled 5s on Herta before the first caution flew. Malukas’ rear wing collapsed and gearbox seized shortly after leaving the pits.

When the pits opened, Palou came in to swap his alternates for primaries, but his principal rivals did not. When the field went back to green on lap 15, McLaughlin retained his advantage over O’Ward who had nudged him under yellow, but Herta suffered, losing out to teammates Grosjean and Kirkwood, and also Power, before being ushered down an escape road by Dixon. Herta then pitted.

The highest runner who had already stopped was Rinus VeeKay, up to sixth place for Ed Carpenter Racing, splitting Power from Newgarden.

What was most alarming for the opposition was that leader McLaughlin had pulled 4s on O’Ward in just five laps since the restart, the No. 3 Penske proving exceptionally kind on its alternate tires. O’Ward, by contrast, was working hard to hold off Grosjean and Kirkwood, and he lost out to both of them on lap 22 after a huge lock-up as he came off the bridge. After Power and VeeKay got him, O’Ward got the hint and made his first stop.

McLaughlin’s lead was ebbing away when he stopped on lap 25 as Grosjean and Kirkwood were charging on their primary tires. Grosjean and Kirkwood ran 1s apart, 5s clear of Power, VeeKay (stopped already), Newgarden, Dixon and Marcus Ericsson.

On lap 28, Grosjean and Power pitted from first and third, and then it was time for Kirkwood, Newgarden and Dixon to stop. Grosjean came out ahead of McLaughlin, while Power lost out to VeeKay, Newgarden and Dixon, yet was ahead of O’Ward.

With everyone having stopped at least once, early stoppers Ericsson and Rossi were out front, and Palou, who had stopped under caution, was third. Third became first, when Ericsson and Rossi stopped on lap 33. Points leader Palou now held a 1.6s lead over Kirkwood, with Meyer Shank Racing’s IndyCar debutant Linus Lundqvist in third (he also stopped under the caution) until Grosjean and McLaughlin passed him.

In sixth ran rookie Agustin Canapino of Juncos Hollinger Racing and Jack Harvey (both also lap 14 stoppers), although the Argentine pitted on lap 37.

Kirkwood (alternates), Grosjean and McLaughlin were pressing Palou hard at half distance in this 80-lap race, but Palou didn’t need to stop until the end of lap 44 and he rejoined in 17th.

The Andretti Autosport driver was now able to eke out a small gap over teammate Grosjean who was watching his mirrors for his old foe McLaughlin. Three seconds covered the next six — Newgarden, Dixon, Ericsson, VeeKay, Rossi, Power and O’Ward, but it was Grosjean who felt the pressure first, running wide under braking for Turn 9 and McLaughlin was up into second. Dixon, meanwhile, chose that same lap to stop, and the following lap Newgarden stopped, while Rossi and VeeKay sideswiped on the run to Turn 9, and Power got around the pair of them. Race control would blame VeeKay for the collision and penalize him.

Kirkwood reported his tires were done, and pitted on lap 51, leaving McLaughlin out front. When the Andretti Autosport driver emerged from the pitlane, it was ahead of Palou. When McLaughlin stopped on lap 52, he came out behind Kirkwood but he, too, was ahead of Palou. Grosjean and Power stopped on lap 53, leaving Kirkwood out front, 2.5s ahead of polesitter McLaughlin. Palou in third was needing to run slow or hope for cautions to get to the end of the race. Newgarden was still just ahead of Dixon. Ericsson, Grosjean, O’Ward, Lundgaard and Harvey completed the top 10 ahead of Power and Helio Castroneves. Grosjean slipped ahead of O’Ward on lap 56, and the following lap the front-row starter also fell victim to Lundgaard.

Power passed Harvey for 10th on lap 59 and started homing in on O’Ward, while nearer the front, teammate McLaughlin remained 2.5s adrift of Kirkwood with 20 laps to go. With a dozen laps to go, that gap was out to 3.5s, but the desperately fuel-saving Palou had fallen some 18s down before being informed he should give up trying to run in economy mode – a third stop would be necessary. Or would it?

Out came the second caution on lap 70; debutant Lundqvist had struck the wall terminally. This was a blessing for Harvey who had lost his front wing on a wall and was able to pit under caution.

The restart on lap 74 between Turns 9 and 10 saw Kirkwood get a good jump on McLaughlin, but toward the back there was a collision between Rosenqvist, Canapino and Benjamin Pedersen of AJ Foyt Racing who all ran long at Turn 11.

With 75 laps complete, the race was red-flagged, the drivers boiling in their cockpits in hot and humid conditions, and they readily welcomed the fans and water bottles from their teams.

With one warmup lap before the restart, the drivers had four racing laps remaining, potentially. Grosjean was sent around Ericsson for sixth under yellow, race control’s response to Ericsson blocking the Frenchman on the previous restart. Grosjean was the only driver on alternates for the restart, but they were worn.

At the green flag, Kirkwood immediately pulled away from McLaughlin to the tune of 1.4s, the polesitter having to keep his eye on Palou. Further back, Castroneves demoted his former teammate Power for 10th. Next time by, O’Ward demoted Lundgaard, and Power regained 10th.

Kirkwood got his lead out to 2s, but McLaughlin pegged it back next time by while being chased hard by the revitalized Palou. The Long Beach winner held firm to win by 0.7633s, with Palou easily holding off his closest championship pursuer Newgarden to claim third. Dixon was fifth, untroubled by Grosjean, Ericsson, O’Ward, Lundgaard and Power.

Having not scored a top five this year besides his Long Beach win, Kirkwood is now a two-time victor, while Palou’s lead over Newgarden is out to 84 points with four races to go.

RESULTS

Andretti plans to continue with four Indy NXT entries

Andretti Autosport expects its Indy NXT by Firestone program to stay at its current size when the next championship kicks off in 2024. “Could we add a couple of cars? We probably could, but that’s not on the on the cards for next year,” Andretti COO …

Andretti Autosport expects its Indy NXT by Firestone program to stay at its current size when the next championship kicks off in 2024.

“Could we add a couple of cars? We probably could, but that’s not on the on the cards for next year,” Andretti COO Rob Edwards told RACER. “We will continue with four cars, and what the lineup will look like will depend on which of the current drivers want to come back or are able to come back, because we’re going to give the first listen to the current crop. And then we’ve got some interesting conversations going with two or three others based upon what happens with the current drivers.”

Edwards says the interest received for its NXT program has been remarkable.

“Last year, all the conversations about NXT really started at Mid-Ohio and picked up steam over the following six weeks to the point that we probably had everyone locked in by the time we went to Portland and Laguna,” he explained. “This year, they started about four weeks earlier and we probably could have four drivers signed up probably right now, if that was what we wanted to do. But we want to maintain the quality of what we’re doing so there’s no rush to do so.”

Based on the volume and quality of inquiries the team has fielded, it could easily expand to five or six NXT entries, but growth in another area of Michael Andretti’s empire has influenced the decision to remain at four.

“We’re also working on building out the sports car team,” Edwards said of the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport factory Acura IMSA GTP effort, which will double in size and run two cars in 2024.

“The biggest challenge for any team right now is recruitment. And when you when you look at the need to hire 16 people for sports cars, you don’t want to dilute the IndyCar or NXT programs. So we’re sticking with four. But I love it for the NXT series that there’s so much interest.”