Preview – 2023 PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway
By Dylan Reynolds, OpenWheel.com
INDYCAR returns this weekend with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES 2023 PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. OpenWheel.com will be covering the action all weekend so stay tuned to this site and our Twitter page @openwh33l for all of the latest news.
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Weekend Schedule – Entry List – Spotter Guide – Circuit Map – Tickets
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Preview: PPG 375 – Sunday, April 2, 2023 12:00PM (ET) NBC – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns after nearly a month off after the season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg for what should be an exciting first oval race of the season at Texas Motor Speedway. Previous driver performance at Texas shows seven former winners entered in Scott Dixon (5), Helio Castroneves (4), Will Power (2), Josef Newgarden (2), Graham Rahal (1), Ed Carpenter (1), and Pato O’Ward (1). Newgarden (2022), O’Ward (2021 Race 2), and Dixon (2021 Race 1) are the three most recent winners. Looking at the box scores from 2022, and 2021 Race 2, and 2021 Race 1 only Dixon finished in the Top 5 of all three races. If that’s expanded to the Top 10, Dixon is joined by Newgarden, McLaughlin, Alex Palou, and Simon Pagenaud.
My pick to win: Scott Dixon – Even relative to his own lofty standards, Scott Dixon has been outstanding at Texas over the years. In addition to the five wins and Top 5 streak mentioned above, Dixon has two poles and has started in the Top 5 in each of the last five races at the circuit. This note from INDYCAR says all that needs to be said: “Dixon has led five of the last six race races, 678 of 1,404 laps in all (48.2 percent). That accounts for him being INDYCAR’s all-time leader in laps led at this oval with 1,043 laps, more than double the number of the active driver in second place. His average finish in all races at TMS is 6.7.”
My fantasy.indycar.com picks: Scott Dixon $30, Scott McLaughlin $30, David Malukas $22, & Sting Ray Robb $18 – You know my thoughts on Dixon. This has been one of McLaughlin’s best tracks over the last two seasons as well where he dominated until the last turn of the last lap last year and finished P2 in his first oval race back in 2021 Race 1. Dale Coyne Racing cars have been fast over the years at Texas and Malukas had a solid showing last year. You just have to hope the rookie class will aim to make it to the finish after some tumultuous results at St. Pete and Robb should have the best car of them all. Keep an eye on Takuma Sato’s price for this event as well. At the time of writing it had not been posted yet and he should be one to watch this year with his speed and aggressiveness on ovals in an ultra quick Chip Ganassi Racing machine.
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