N 26 – Herta, Andretti Autosport Honda, N 5 O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Click for more.
Alex Palou took his third win in four races at the Sonsio Grand Prix of Road America – the fifth win for a Honda driver in eight races. Palou secured the victory on Sunday during the closing laps of 55-laps on a newly repaved track that was lacking much grip – with barely any available millimeters off the racing line. He passed a hapless Colton Herta, also with a Honda engine who had made his final pit stop a lap prior to Palou. Despite leading a race-high 33 laps, Herta’s need to conserve fuel in the closing laps resulted in fifth place.
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, finished second for his third podium of the season including two wins – Texas Motor Speedway and the 107 Indianapolis 500. Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, claimed his fourth podium of the season with a third-place finish in the 55-lap/220.77-mile race on a 4.014-mile track.
“We were able to be consistent, be fast, and we’re going to keep this rolling into Mid-Ohio,” said Alex Palou post-race. “It’s still early, but obviously you want those [championship] points into your account rather than another one. We’re not going to lose the focus, we know we have a great team, we just need to continue being consistent and winning races.” (AutoInformed: Ganassi Racing Honda Wins Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix)
Over at Team Penske, second place Josef Newgarden said “Yeah, it was an okay day. Disappointing for the way it finished for us just because there was a great opportunity in the middle to win this race. I think at the end Alex had the field covered. He was very good on that final stint. I don’t think we were going to make anything happen there. …I’m conflicted because on the one hand it was a great recovery for all of us on Team Penske. We started this weekend in pretty bad shape, were really far off the pace. We chipped away at it, did a lot of work, felt like we got really close in qualifying, had a really good race car. From that standpoint I’m elated, but just disappointed.”
NTT IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship (8 of 17 races)
- Honda – 663 points
- Chevrolet – 628 points
Honda drivers left Road America ranked first, second and tied for fourth in the INDYCAR Drivers’ Championship points standings. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou leads the title fight with 324 points; followed by teammates Marcus Ericsson, second with 250 points, and Scott Dixon, tied for fourth with 226.
Drivers’ Championship Standings (after 8 of 17 races )
- Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 324 points.
- Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda -74 behind Palou
- Josef Newgarden, Team Penske -77 behind Palou
- Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren -98 behind Palou
- Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda -98 behind Palou
The NTT IndyCar Series returns July 2 at the Midwest “home circuit” for American Honda, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, for the Honda Indy 200 presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Road America Kill – Palou and Honda Dominating IndyCar
N 26 – Herta, Andretti Autosport Honda, N 5 O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Click for more.
Alex Palou took his third win in four races at the Sonsio Grand Prix of Road America – the fifth win for a Honda driver in eight races. Palou secured the victory on Sunday during the closing laps of 55-laps on a newly repaved track that was lacking much grip – with barely any available millimeters off the racing line. He passed a hapless Colton Herta, also with a Honda engine who had made his final pit stop a lap prior to Palou. Despite leading a race-high 33 laps, Herta’s need to conserve fuel in the closing laps resulted in fifth place.
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, finished second for his third podium of the season including two wins – Texas Motor Speedway and the 107 Indianapolis 500. Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, claimed his fourth podium of the season with a third-place finish in the 55-lap/220.77-mile race on a 4.014-mile track.
“We were able to be consistent, be fast, and we’re going to keep this rolling into Mid-Ohio,” said Alex Palou post-race. “It’s still early, but obviously you want those [championship] points into your account rather than another one. We’re not going to lose the focus, we know we have a great team, we just need to continue being consistent and winning races.” (AutoInformed: Ganassi Racing Honda Wins Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix)
Over at Team Penske, second place Josef Newgarden said “Yeah, it was an okay day. Disappointing for the way it finished for us just because there was a great opportunity in the middle to win this race. I think at the end Alex had the field covered. He was very good on that final stint. I don’t think we were going to make anything happen there. …I’m conflicted because on the one hand it was a great recovery for all of us on Team Penske. We started this weekend in pretty bad shape, were really far off the pace. We chipped away at it, did a lot of work, felt like we got really close in qualifying, had a really good race car. From that standpoint I’m elated, but just disappointed.”
NTT IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship (8 of 17 races)
Honda drivers left Road America ranked first, second and tied for fourth in the INDYCAR Drivers’ Championship points standings. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou leads the title fight with 324 points; followed by teammates Marcus Ericsson, second with 250 points, and Scott Dixon, tied for fourth with 226.
Drivers’ Championship Standings (after 8 of 17 races )
The NTT IndyCar Series returns July 2 at the Midwest “home circuit” for American Honda, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, for the Honda Indy 200 presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.