INDYCAR News for the Month of July 2023

Lundqvist to drive MSR No. 60 at Nashville as Pagenaud not cleared – “As Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) heads to the fourth street circuit on the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar, the Ohio-based team will welcome Linus Lundqvist to its lineup alongside Helio Castroneves for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on Sunday (12:00pm ET, NBC, SiriusXM Ch. 160). Lundqvist is stepping in for Simon Pagenaud, who continues to recover from a practice accident at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier this month. While he continues to improve, he has been advised by the INDYCAR Medical Team to not participate in this weekend’s event in Nashville.” Full release at the link. – Meyer Shank Racing – (7/31/2023)

NBC ratings up 31% over Iowa broadcasts last year – “NBC Sports’ coverage of the NTT INDYCAR Series doubleheader from Iowa Speedway on NBC/Peacock on Saturday and Sunday averaged a combined TAD of 1.121 million viewers, up 31% from last year’s combined doubleheader (853,000 viewers)…Saturday’s Hy-Vee Homefront 250 (2:55-5 p.m. ET) averaged a TAD of 1.145 million viewers to rank as NBC Sports’ most-watched non-Indy 500 race since the season-opener at St. Pete on NBC, and the most-watched Iowa race since 2008.” Full release at the link. – NBC Sports – (7/26/2023)

RACER Q&A 7/26/2023 – RACER’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (7/26/2023)

Trackside podcast 7/25/2023 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 7/25/2023 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (7/26/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend photo gallery – OpenWheel.com’s INDYCAR photo gallery from the 2023 Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/23/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend livery feature – OpenWheel.com’s INDYCAR livery feature from the 2023 Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/23/2023)

Newgarden sweeps Iowa Speedway weekend with Hy-Vee One Step 250 win – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden dominated the Hy-Vee One Step 250 to sweep the Hy-Vee INDYAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway. The Top 5 was Newgarden, Power, Palou, Rosenqvist, and McLaughlin. Palou leads the championship by 80 points over Newgarden. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/23/2023)

Rasmussen takes INDY NXT victory at Iowa – HMD Motorsports’ Christian Rasmussen earned the victory in the INDY NXT by Firestone race at Iowa Speedway. The Top 5 was Rasmussen, Abel, Lindh, Brabham, and McElrea. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/22/2023)

Newgarden wins again in Hy-Vee Homefront 250 at Iowa Speedway – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden won again at Iowa Speedway in Race 1 of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend with a dominant victory in the Hy-Vee Homefront 250. The Top 5 was Newgarden, McLaughlin, O’Ward, Ericsson, and Power. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/22/2023)

Power sweeps pole for both races at Iowa – Team Penske’s Will Power earned the pole for both races at the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway with a qualifying laps at 181.426mph and 181.578mph. He’ll be joined on the front row by McLaughlin in both races. Here are qualifying results for Race 1 and Race 2. – INDYCAR – (7/22/2023)

Rain postpones Iowa qualifying, INDY NXT race moved to Saturday night – Rain has forced INDYCAR to postpone the INDY NXT race at Iowa Speedway to 7:30PM ET. NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying will start this morning as soon as track drying efforts are completed. More details at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/22/2023)

Abel on pole for INDY NXT at Iowa – Abel Motorsports’ Jacob Abel earned the pole position in INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway with a two-lap qualifying average at 162.244mph. The Top 5 was Abel, Rasmussen, Siegel, Roe, and McElrea. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/21/2023)

Newgarden quickest in practice at Iowa – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was quickest in the only practice session of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway with a lap at 176.428mph. The Top 5 was Newgarden, McLaughlin, Ericsson, Herta, and O’Ward. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/21/2023)

Rasmussen leads NXT practice at Iowa – HMD Motorsports’ Christian Rasmussen led the only practice session of the INDY NXT by Firestone weekend at Iowa Speedway with a lap at 161.352mph. The Top 5 was Rasmussen, Abel, McElrea, Francis Jr, and Foster. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/21/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend preview – OpenWheel.com’s preview of the 2023 Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/20/2023)

Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend spotter guide – The official INDYCAR spotter guide for the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway is available at the link. – INDYCAR – (7/20/2023)

JHR adds Brabham for NXT No. 75 at Iowa – “The iconic Brabham name will make a sensational return to the open-wheel racing paddock this weekend as Matthew Brabham joins Juncos Hollinger Racing for the eighth round of the INDY NXT Series at Iowa Speedway. The 29-year-old was a front-runner in the race for the Indy Lights title in 2022, winning two races and finishing on the podium seven times. His return to the official INDYCAR feeder series will be for one race only and he replaces Matteo Nannini in JHR’s #75 machine.” Full release at the link. – Juncos Hollinger Racing – (7/20/2023)

Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend entry list – The official INDYCAR entry list for the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway is available at the link. – INDYCAR – (7/19/2023)

INDY NXT Iowa entry list – The official INDYCAR entry list for the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway is available at the link. – INDYCAR – (7/19/2023)

INDYCAR Strengthens Rear-Wheel Bearing Retaining Nut – “INDYCAR, along with longtime partner Dallara, is providing an update to improve the overall strength and retention of wheel hubs on NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars. The updated rear-wheel bearing retaining nut is being distributed to all entries in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and will be mandated for use beginning at this weekend’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader at Iowa Speedway. The strength of the rear-wheel bearing retaining nut has increased by 60 percent over the previous design. Revisions to the existing component came after a meticulous review of the incident at the 2023 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge involving the No. 27 car of Andretti Autosport and the No. 6 car of Arrow McLaren, which resulted in the loss of the left rear wheel assembly on the No. 27.” Full release at the link. – INDYCAR – (7/19/2023)

RACER Q&A 7/19/2023 – RACER’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (7/19/2023)

Trackside podcast 7/18/2023 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 7/18/2023 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (7/19/2023)

Daly to drive MSR No. 60 at Iowa as Pagenaud not cleared – “Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is prepared for the only double-header INDYCAR SERIES event of the season at Iowa Speedway this weekend after a quick turnaround following a tough team weekend on the streets of Toronto on Sunday. Following further evaluation, MSR full-season driver Simon Pagenaud has not been cleared by the INDYCAR Medical Team to compete in the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway.” Full release at the link. – Meyer Shank Racing – (7/18/2023)

JHR parts ways with Nannini – “Juncos Hollinger Racing has decided to part ways with Matteo Nannini for the remainder of the 2023 season. This has been a team decision to terminate the contract effective immediately.” Full release at the link. – Juncos Hollinger Racing – (7/18/2023)

Lundgaard wins Honda Indy Toronto from pole – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard won his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at the 2023 Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place. The Top 5 was Lundgaard, Palou, Herta, Dixon, and Newgarden. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/16/2023)

Dixon quickest in morning warmup at Toronto – Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon’s lap of 1:01.3208 was quickest in the morning warmup for the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place. The Top 5 was Dixon, Kirkwood, Newgarden, Herta, and Palou. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/16/2023)

Lundgaard earns pole position at Toronto – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard earned the pole for the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place with a Firestone Fast Six lap of 1:04.1567 in rapidly drying conditions after a wet session. The Firestone Fast Six order was Lundgaard, McLaughlin, O’Ward, Ericsson, Rosenqvist, and Power. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/15/2023)

Herta leads Practice 2 at Toronto – Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta led Practice 2 for the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place with a lap of 1:00.5657. The Top 5 was Herta, Kirkwood, Ericsson, Palou, and O’Ward. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/15/2023)

Kirkwood tops Practice 1 at Toronto – Andretti Autosport’s Kyle Kirkwood topped the charts in Practice 1 for the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place with a lap of 1:00.8075. The Top 5 was Kirkwood, Grosjean, Rosenqvist, Herta, and McLaughlin. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/14/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Honda Indy Toronto preview – OpenWheel.com’s preview of the 2023 Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/13/2023)

Honda Indy Toronto spotter guide – The official INDYCAR spotter guide for the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada. – INDYCAR – (7/13/2023)

Honda Indy Toronto entry list – The official INDYCAR entry list for the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada. – INDYCAR – (7/13/2023)

Trackside podcast 7/12/2023 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 7/13/2023 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (7/13/2023)

RACER Q&A 7/12/2023 – RACER’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (7/12/2023)

Blomqvist to drive MSR No. 60 at Toronto as Pagenaud not cleared – “When Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) found itself in need of a replacement driver for the injured Simon Pagenaud this weekend in Toronto, the team just walked through the doors of its IMSA program and tabbed another experienced champion to take the wheel. Two-time defending and reigning Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner Tom Blomqvist will make his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut this weekend, taking the reins of the No. 60 AutoNation / Sirius XM Honda. The move was made necessary Tuesday after the series’ medical staff did not clear Pagenaud to compete this weekend as the Frenchman continues his recovery from the effects of a dramatic barrel-rolling crash that took place in Saturday’s practice at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.” Full release at the link. – MSR – (7/11/2023)

Trackside podcast 7/5/2023 – 107.5 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 7/5/2023 is a great listen as always. – 107.5 The Fan – (7/6/2023)

RACER Q&A 7/5/2023 – RACER’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (7/6/2023)

Palou wins third straight race in Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio – Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for his third consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES win. The Top 5 was Palou, Dixon, Power, Lundgaard, and McLaughlin. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/2/2023)

Foster grabs first INDY NXT victory at Mid-Ohio – Andretti Autosport’s Louis Foster earned his first INDY NXT victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday. The Top 5 was Foster, Simpson, Rasmussen, McElrea, and Gold. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/2/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio photo gallery – OpenWheel.com’s photo gallery from the 2023 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/2/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio livery feature – OpenWheel.com’s INDYCAR livery feature from the 2023 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (7/2/2023)

Daly to drive MSR No. 60 at Mid-Ohio – “Conor Daly will race the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda in Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid following a practice incident that has sidelined Simon Pagenaud…Pagenaud was evaluated and released by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES medical team, but required to be signed off per protocol to return to action. A follow up test did not provide the clearance for the 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner to race Mat Mid-Ohio on Sunday.” Full release at the link. – MSR – (7/2/2023)

Herta makes it back-to-back poles with NTT P1 award at Mid-Ohio – Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta earned his second consecutive NTT P1 award this time at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a Firestone Fast Six lap of 1:06.3096. The Firestone Fast Six order was Herta, Rahal, Kirkwood, Palou, Lundgaard, and Dixon. Pagenaud was not cleared after his Practice 2 crash and will be re-evaluated between qualifying and the Sunday morning warmup. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/1/2023)

Rasmussen earns INDY NXT pole at Mid-Ohio – HMD Motorsports’ Christian Rasmussen earned the pole in INDY NXT qualifying at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a lap of 1:11.4998. The Top 5 was Rasmussen, Foster, Simpson, McElrea, and Gold. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/1/2023)

Power leads Practice 2 at Mid-Ohio – Team Penske’s Will Power led Practice 2 for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a lap of 1:06.4905. The Top 5 was Power, Palou, Herta, O’Ward, and Dixon. Pagenaud had a scary incident in the session but did walk away. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/1/2023)

Simpson quickest in INDY NXT Practice 2 at Mid-Ohio – HMD Motorsports’ Kyffin Simpson’s lap of 1:11.3899 was quickest in INDY NXT Practice 2 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Top 5 was Simpson, Gold, McElrea, Foster, and Abel. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (7/1/2023)

O’Ward fastest in Practice 1 at Mid-Ohio – Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward was fastest in Practice 1 for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a lap of 1:06.4935. The Top 5 was O’Ward, Palou, Ericsson, Lundgaard, and Kirkwood. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (6/30/2023)

Abel tops INDY NXT Practice 1 at Mid-Ohio – Abel Motorsports’ Jacob Abel’s lap of 1:11.3899 topped the charts in INDY NXT Practice 1 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Top 5 was Abel, Rasmussen, Siegel, Foster, and Simpson. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (6/30/2023)

OpenWheel.com’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio preview – OpenWheel.com’s preview of the 2023 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is available at the link. – OpenWheel.com – (6/29/2023)

Kanaan joins Arrow McLaren as “special advisor” – “Following Tony Kanaan’s final NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500, McLaren Racing today announces Tony’s role as special advisor with the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team. Tony, the 2004 series champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, brings a wealth of championship experience to the team to provide guidance and strategy for on-track and off-track advancement. In this new formalized role, Tony will travel with the team to races and tests, serving as a driver mentor while also working with the team’s commercial partnerships and business development.” Full release at the link. – McLaren – (6/29/2023)

INDYCAR News From Last Month