News for the Week of March 12 – March 18, 2018
Sato crashes in testing at Texas – RACER’s Marshall Pruett has a report on Verizon IndyCar Series testing at Texas Motor Speedway on Thursday. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Takuma Sato had a big crash in the session. “Taku’s fine, but the car wasn’t as lucky,” Bobby Rahal told RACER. “It wasn’t what we needed. It got all four corners, but the good thing is he’s OK.” See the damaged car here. Full story at the link. – RACER – (3/15/2018)
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Foyt survives another killer bee attack – “In round two, A.J. Foyt survived yet another attack by Africanized Killer Bees while working on his ranch in West Texas on Wednesday. He was treated at a local hospital and released once his system had stabilized. Unfortunately, this most recent attack will cause him to miss the 12 Hours of Sebring where he was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday night and serve as Grand Marshal of the historic 12-hour endurance race Saturday.” Full release at the link. – AJ Foyt Racing – (3/15/2018)
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Harding Racing installs signage Main Street Speedway shop – Harding Racing has installed new signage on their shop on Main Street in Speedway, IN. “The @HardingRacing88 sign is up at our shop and it feels like the last step in our move is done! So honored being located on Main Street, right next to @IMS and @jdouglas4!” Pictures at the link. – Mike Harding – (3/15/2018)
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New Indianapolis 500 Premium Club Area planned in Turn 3 – “A new premium viewing area will be constructed outside Turn 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, offering an all-inclusive Race Day experience for the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. The Turn 3 Club is being offered in response to increased demand for premium seating and hospitality at IMS. Suites are sold out for Indianapolis 500 Race Day, while limited availability remains in the Hulman Terrace Club. Hospitality and premium sales are well ahead of the pace from 2017, with demand mirroring that from the landmark 100th Running in 2016.” Full release at the link. – IMS – (3/14/2018)
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Miller’s Mailbag 3/14/18 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (3/14/2018)
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Alonso admits he considered change from F1 full-time after last year – BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson reports Fernando Alonso considered a switch to the Verizon IndyCar Series or the World Endurance Championship this past offseason. However, he decided he had unfinished business in Formula 1. “I felt it was not the time for me to step out – not after these results, not with this feeling,” Alonso told BBC Sport. “I knew I’d regret it for the rest of my life and I’d have this bad taste for the rest of my racing career.” Full story at the link. – BBC Sport – (3/14/2018)
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Trackside podcast 3/12/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 3/12/18 is a great listen as always. Anders Krohn is a guest on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (3/13/2018)
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Monday Musings: St. Pete – The Open Wheel’s Dylan Reynolds’ Monday Musings piece on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (3/12/2018)
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ABC’s St. Pete broadcast gets 1.0 overnight rating – Adam Stern reports the ABC telecast of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg earned a 1.0 overnight TV rating. That’s up from 0.9 last year. – Adam Stern – (3/12/2018)
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The Open Wheel’s Sunday St. Pete photo gallery – The Open Wheel’s photo gallery from Sunday Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights action at the 2018 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the Streets of St. Petersburg is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (3/11/2018)
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Bourdais wins again at St. Pete – Dale Coyne Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais won the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for the second straight year in dramatic fashion after Wickens and Rossi collided going for the lead on a restart with two laps to go. The rest of the Top 5 was Rahal, Rossi, Hinchcliffe, and Hunter-Reay. Full race results here. – INDYCAR – (3/11/2018)
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Urrutia wins wild Lights Race 2 at St. Pete – Belardi Auto Racing’s Santi Urrutia won a wild Indy Lights Race 2 on the Streets of St. Petersburg in a battle of attrition. Urrutia took over the lead late after O’Ward went off course with a 7 second lead. Herta crashed out from P2 earlier in the race. Championship contender Telitz was crashed out by Franzoni on the opening lap. The rest of the Top 5 was Blackstock, Norman, Franzoni, and Alberico. Full race results here. – Indy Lights – (3/11/2018)
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Belardi gets car from Carlin for Telitz to race Sunday – Belardi Auto Racing has received a car from Carlin so that Aaron Telitz can race on Sunday on the Streets of St. Petersburg after Telitz’s car was damaged in Indy Lights Race 2 qualifying on Saturday. Telitz missed Race 1 on Saturday due to the damage. – Belardi Auto Racing – (3/11/2018)
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Verizon IndyCar Series liveries from St. Pete – The Open Wheel’s Parker Hall’s collection of livery shots from Verizon IndyCar Series action at the 2018 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (3/10/2018)
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Indy Lights liveries from St. Pete – The Open Wheel’s Parker Hall’s collection of livery shots from the 2018 Indy Lights Mazda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Cooper Tires on the Streets of St. Petersburg is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (3/10/2018)
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Wickens wins shock pole at St. Pete – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports rookie Robert Wickens won the pole for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a Firestone Fast Six lap of 1:01.6643 in wet but drying conditions. The rest of the Top 6 qualifying order was Power, Leist, King, Sato, and Hunter-Reay. Ed Carpenter Racing rookie Jordan King set a new track record of 1.00.0476 in Round 1 Group 1 qualifying. Full qualifying results here. – INDYCAR – (3/10/2018)
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O’Ward leads start to finish to win Lights Race 1 at St. Pete – Andretti Autosport’s Patricio O’Ward started at the front and led the whole race to win Indy Lights Race 1 on the Streets on St. Petersburg. Pole winner Aaron Telitz missed the race due to a damaged car following an incident in Race 2 qualifying on Saturday morning. The rest of the Top 5 was Urrutia, Herta, Franzoni, and Blackstock. Telitz is expected to race on Sunday with a car loaned from Carlin. Full race results here. – Indy Lights – (3/10/2018)
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