News for the Week of September 3 – September 9, 2018

Team Pelfrey relocates Lights program to Indy – “Team Pelfrey is excited to announce that its Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires team will be relocating to its Indianapolis headquarters effective immediately. Having had recent success with its Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires team out of Indianapolis, Team Pelfrey is now focused on re-launching its Indy Lights outfit for the 2019 season, beginning with the Chris Griffis test, September 22-23.” Full release at the link. – Team Pelfrey – (9/7/2018)

Harding officially announces Herta and O’Ward for Sonoma – “Harding Racing will add a second Chevrolet-powered IndyCar to their lineup for the Grand Prix of Sonoma next weekend at Sonoma Raceway. Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires 2018 Champion Patricio O’Ward will pilot the #8, and 2018 Freedom 100 winner and Indy Lights Runner-Up Colton Herta will pilot the #88 in their Verizon IndyCar Series debut. Herta and O’Ward are recent Mazda Road to Indy graduates. In Herta’s two years of competing in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship, Herta earned six wins, ten pole positions and 20 podium finishes. O’Ward finished his tenure of Indy Lights with nine wins, nine pole positions and 14 podiums.” Full release at the link. – Harding Racing – (9/7/2018)

Wickens update from SPM 9/6/18 4:01PM – From Schmidt Peterson Motorsports: “Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens underwent surgeries this week at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to repair fractures to both of his legs and hands from injuries sustained in a crash during the INDYCAR event at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 19. The surgeries were completed without complication. Wickens is expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation center in the coming days to begin the recovery process. The severity of the spinal cord injury he sustained in the incident remains indeterminate and under evaluation. Physicians stress it could take weeks or months for the full effects of the injury to be known.” Full release at the link. – SPM – (9/6/2018)

Alonso enjoys Barber IndyCar test – Fernando Alonso tested with Andretti Autosport at Barber Motorsports Park on Wednesday and based on his comments he enjoyed the experience. “It was a good day, a fun day,” said Alonso. “I love to test new cars and to test the Indy car on a road course is something special. I’ve been lucky enough to test it in wet conditions, in intermediate conditions and in dry conditions, so overall I had a good feeling on every type of track. The weather was good for us today – a little bit of wind in the afternoon but overall a positive day.” Full story at the link. – INDYCAR – (9/6/2018)

Wickens wins ROY – “He made his presence known from his first Verizon IndyCar Series race in March and quickly became a fan favorite. Robert Wickens now carries the honor of Sunoco Rookie of the Year for the 2018 season. Despite being forced to miss the final three races of the year while recuperating from injuries sustained in a crash at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 19, the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver has clinched the top rookie award prior to the season finale at Sonoma Raceway on Sept. 16. Wickens leads Zach Veach by 110 points in the rookie standings with a maximum of 104 available at the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma.” Full story at the link. – SPM – (9/6/2018)

BN Racing to enter Indy Lights in ’19 – “Andersen Promotions is pleased to announce that a new team, BN Racing, will enter the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires fray in 2019. The Chicago, IL-based squad today confirmed plans to enter at least one Dallara-Mazda IL-15, in addition to its existing commitments in both the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda… BN Racing is led by Englishman Bryn Nuttall, who has an extensive background in many areas of motorsports globally, from the engineering side to management and coaching aspects of the sport, with success all around the world.” Full release at the link. – Indy Lights – (9/5/2018)

Miller’s Mailbag 9/5/18 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (9/5/2018)

Trackside podcast 9/4/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 9/4/18 is a great listen as always. Bobby Epstein, Logan Seavey, Chase Briscoe, and Patricio O’Ward are guests on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (9/5/2018)

Pocono announces kids 12 and under will have free admission in ’19 – “Children, ages 12 and under, will receive FREE Admission to 100 and 200 levels of the Grandstand, as well as Fan Fair, for all Friday, Saturday and Sunday events during NASCAR and INDYCAR event weekends in 2019.” Full release at the link. – Pocono Raceway – (9/4/2018)

INDYCAR releases ’19 schedule and confirms COTA addition – INDYCAR has announced the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule highlighted by the addition of the Circuit of the Americas. Full release at the link. – The Open Wheel – (9/4/2018)

Report: COTA will be on ’19 IndyCar Series schedule – RACER’s Robin Miller reports Circuit of the Americas will be on the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule. Full story at the link. – RACER – (9/4/2018)

Trackside podcast 9/3/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 9/3/18 is a great listen as always. – 1070 The Fan – (9/4/2018)

Report: Harding to field both O’Ward and Herta at Sonoma – RACER’s Robin Miller reports Harding Racing will field cars for both Patricio O’Ward and Colton Herta in the Verizon IndyCar Series finale at Sonoma Raceway. Full story at the link. – RACER – (9/3/2018)

The Open Wheel’s Grand Prix of Portland photo gallery – The Open Wheel’s photo gallery of the Verizon IndyCar Series action at the 2018 Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (9/2/2018)

Sato wins the Grand Prix of Portland – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Takuma Sato won the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway. The rest of the Top 5 was Hunter-Reay, Bourdais, Pigot, and Dixon. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (9/2/2018)

The Open Wheel’s Portland Verizon IndyCar Series livery page – The Open Wheel’s photo gallery of all the liveries from the 2018 Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (9/2/2018)

O’Ward finishes Lights championship season with Race 2 win at Portland – Andretti Autosport’s Patricio O’Ward finished Indy Lights championship with a Race 2 win and weekend sweep at Portland International Raceway. The rest of the Top 5 was Telitz, Urrutia, Herta, and Franzoni. Full results here. – Indy Lights – (9/2/2018)

The Open Wheel’s Portland Lights livery page – The Open Wheel’s photo gallery of all the liveries from the 2018 Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Portland Powered by Mazda at Portland International Raceway is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (9/2/2018)

The Open Wheel’s Portland Lights photo gallery – The Open Wheel’s photo gallery of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires action at the 2018 Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Portland Powered by Mazda at Portland International Raceway is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (9/1/2018)

INDYCAR confirms Alonso test for next Wednesday – INDYCAR.com has confirmed Fernando Alonso will test a Verizon IndyCar Series car with Andretti Autosport next Wednesday at Barber Motorsports Park. The test will be closed to fans and media. Full story at the link. – INDYCAR – (9/1/2018)

Power takes pole at Portland – Team Penske’s Will Power won the pole for the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway with a lap of 57.3467. The rest of the Firestone Fast 6 starting order will be Newgarden, Rossi, Bourdais, Hunter-Reay, and Veach. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (9/1/2018)

O’Ward wins Lights title with Race 1 win at Portland – Andretti Autosport’s Patricio O’Ward sealed the Indy Lights championship with a Race 1 win at Portland International Raceway. The rest of the Top 5 was Herta, Franzoni, Urrutia, and Norman. Full results here. – Indy Lights – (9/1/2018)

Wickens update from SPM 8/31/18 9:59AM – From Schmidt Peterson Motorsports: “Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens was transferred to IU Health Methodist Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 30 to continue treatment in his home of Indianapolis. He will soon undergo further surgery on his lower extremities. Wickens had been in the care of Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest since his Aug. 19 incident during the INDYCAR event at Pocono Raceway. The Wickens family and SPM organization want to thank the surgeons, nursing team and the staff at the LVHN facility for their care of Robert the last 12 days.” – SPM – (8/31/2018)

SPM officially announces Munoz to drive No. 6 at Portland & Sonoma – “Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has announced that the No. 6 Lucas Oil SPM Honda has been entered for the final two races of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. While Robert Wickens continues to recover from his injuries following an incident at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 19, Carlos Muñoz will compete at Portland International Raceway and Sonoma Raceway for SPM.” Full release at the link. – SPM – (8/29/2018)

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