Chip Ganassi Racing – often in the shadow of Team Penske in media coverage – was in the sunshine this weekend during the Indy Racing League contest at Watkins Glen. Chevrolet benefited too, as all podium winners led by Scott Dixon driving for Ganassi had Chevrolet power behind them. Honda, of course, is the only other choice in the series that runs on Dallara chassis. Whether this is racing – or pro wrestling on rubber – is your call.
Josef Newgarden (left), driver of the #21 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet IndyCar V6; Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet IndyCar V6; and Helio Castroneves, driver of the #3 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet IndyCar V6 celebrate their podium finishes Sunday, September 4, 2016 during the Verizon IndyCar Series race. Dixon won the race, Newgarden finished 2nd and Castroveves finished 3rd.
Ed Carpenter is the only owner/driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series, but he only runs on ovals. Newgarden who drives for Carpenter led the team’s qualifying effort, advancing to the second round of qualifications and taking a 12th place position on the starting grid. When the green flag dropped, Newgarden watched the cars in front of him attempt to go four-wide. Everyone made contact and Newgarden was went wide in Turn 1 to avoid the spinning cars. By the time he was able to re-enter the 3.37-mile, 11-turn permanent road course, he had dropped to 18th.
As racing ensued, Newgarden pitted early on lap 10 switching from the softer red Firestone tires to the harder black tires. Luck was on his side when the caution came out on Lap 15. As other drivers made their first pit stops, Newgarden went to 6th place. Newgarden’s second place finish is sixth Top 5 of the year. On to Sonoma two weeks from now.
