(Photo by James Black/Penske Entertainment)
Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske PPG Chevrolet) won the rain-interrupted Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway, mastering the race within the race created by the weather delay and pulling even closer to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship lead. The official distance of this race was 260 laps, but the rain delay almost made it feel like a 213-lap race in daylight followed by a 47-lap trophy dash under the lights. Newgarden, from Nashville, Tennessee, drove to his series-leading fifth victory of the season by .4708 of a second over rookie David Malukas, whose spirited charge after the race restarted fell just short in the No. 18 HMD Honda but still resulted in a career-best finish. This also was Newgarden’s third straight victory at this 1.25-mile oval in the shadows of the Gateway Arch. “I was so happy we could finish this race,” Newgarden said. “Scott McLaughlin, he wanted to win, too. I love that about us. We have a good relationship. He drove me super fair there at the end.” Two-time series champion Newgarden pulled to within three points of teammate and series leader Will Power in the race for the Astor Challenge Cup with just two races remaining. Power led a race-high 128 laps but finished sixth in the No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet. Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Team Penske Odyssey Battery Chevrolet, despite leading at the restart with 37 laps remaining after a red flag of two hours, nine minutes due to rain and lightning. The championship race remains taut and tense. Seven drivers are still mathematically eligible to win the title, with just 58 points – only four more than the maximum awarded at one race – separating leader Power from seventh-place Pato O’Ward. Next up is the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Sept. 4, at Portland International Raceway. The season ends with the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, Sept. 11, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Watch the race highlights here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media for the info.)
Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske PPG Chevrolet) won the rain-interrupted Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway, mastering the race within the race created by the weather delay and pulling even closer to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship lead. The official distance of this race was 260 laps, but the rain delay almost made it feel like a 213-lap race in daylight followed by a 47-lap trophy dash under the lights. Newgarden, from Nashville, Tennessee, drove to his series-leading fifth victory of the season by .4708 of a second over rookie David Malukas, whose spirited charge after the race restarted fell just short in the No. 18 HMD Honda but still resulted in a career-best finish. This also was Newgarden’s third straight victory at this 1.25-mile oval in the shadows of the Gateway Arch. “I was so happy we could finish this race,” Newgarden said. “Scott McLaughlin, he wanted to win, too. I love that about us. We have a good relationship. He drove me super fair there at the end.” Two-time series champion Newgarden pulled to within three points of teammate and series leader Will Power in the race for the Astor Challenge Cup with just two races remaining. Power led a race-high 128 laps but finished sixth in the No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet. Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Team Penske Odyssey Battery Chevrolet, despite leading at the restart with 37 laps remaining after a red flag of two hours, nine minutes due to rain and lightning. The championship race remains taut and tense. Seven drivers are still mathematically eligible to win the title, with just 58 points – only four more than the maximum awarded at one race – separating leader Power from seventh-place Pato O’Ward. Next up is the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Sept. 4, at Portland International Raceway. The season ends with the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, Sept. 11, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Watch the race highlights here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media for the info.)
(Photo by Sean Birkle/Penske Entertainment)
David Malukas put the exclamation point on the most thrilling drive of his young career to advance from fifth at the restart to second at the finish. Chicago-area native Malukas reached third place by passing Pato O’Ward on Lap 245 and then set his sights on Newgarden and McLaughlin. “We ended up getting around O’Ward and we ended up getting past a lapped car, and they (pit box) said, ‘You see them in front,’ and I saw two Penskes, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, they’re Penskes!’ They were tough.” While he never challenged Newgarden, Malukas passed McLaughlin for second on the final lap with a brave, full-send outside move in Turn 1, aided by the additional traction of the cooler temperatures and clean racetrack. Malukas’ previous-best finish before this stirring result was eighth last month in the second race of the doubleheader at the Iowa Speedway oval. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media for the info.)
David Malukas put the exclamation point on the most thrilling drive of his young career to advance from fifth at the restart to second at the finish. Chicago-area native Malukas reached third place by passing Pato O’Ward on Lap 245 and then set his sights on Newgarden and McLaughlin. “We ended up getting around O’Ward and we ended up getting past a lapped car, and they (pit box) said, ‘You see them in front,’ and I saw two Penskes, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, they’re Penskes!’ They were tough.” While he never challenged Newgarden, Malukas passed McLaughlin for second on the final lap with a brave, full-send outside move in Turn 1, aided by the additional traction of the cooler temperatures and clean racetrack. Malukas’ previous-best finish before this stirring result was eighth last month in the second race of the doubleheader at the Iowa Speedway oval. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media for the info.)
(Photo by Sean Birkle/Penske Entertainment)
David Malukas gets a much-deserved hug from his father after driving the race of his young life.
David Malukas gets a much-deserved hug from his father after driving the race of his young life.
(Photo by Sean Birkle/Penske Entertainment)
When the starting field returned to the track under caution after the red flag was lifted, Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Team Penske Odyssey Battery Chevrolet) pulled away as the green flag flew on Lap 224. But Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske PPG Chevrolet) wasted no time tucking under McLaughlin’s gearbox on the back straightaway and dove under his teammate in Turn 3 on Lap 225, the first full lap after the restart, to take the lead for good. McLaughlin stayed within approximately six-tenths of a second of his teammate for the next 34 laps but couldn’t find a way past. Scott finished third. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media for the info.)
When the starting field returned to the track under caution after the red flag was lifted, Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Team Penske Odyssey Battery Chevrolet) pulled away as the green flag flew on Lap 224. But Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske PPG Chevrolet) wasted no time tucking under McLaughlin’s gearbox on the back straightaway and dove under his teammate in Turn 3 on Lap 225, the first full lap after the restart, to take the lead for good. McLaughlin stayed within approximately six-tenths of a second of his teammate for the next 34 laps but couldn’t find a way past. Scott finished third. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media for the info.)
(Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
For the second consecutive day, Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) took his first lead of the race with five laps remaining and held off road-course ace and fellow Californian AJ Allmendinger (No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) for a trophy. Larson completed the rare weekend sweep at Watkins Glen International on Sunday afternoon with a clutch win in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at the Glen. Larson made a dramatic pass on his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) on a restart with five laps to go on the historic road course. As the race leader, Elliott got to choose where to line up alongside Larson for the green flag and chose to start on Larson’s outside, setting up the dramatic contest for position. Larson maneuvered past Elliott in the wide-sweeping first turn with both Allmendinger and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) able to get around Elliott as well. Allmendinger gave chase to Larson, but for the second day in a row, Larson again proved to be too much. It was the second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory for Larson, 30, at Watkins Glen as he finished .882 seconds ahead of Allmendinger. It’s Larson’s 18th career win and second of the 2022 season for the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion. Logano finished third just ahead of Elliott, who could take some considerable consolation in officially securing the 2022 Regular Season Championship – his first – at the end of Stage 1 on Sunday. Watch race highlights here. (Thank you to Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service)
For the second consecutive day, Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) took his first lead of the race with five laps remaining and held off road-course ace and fellow Californian AJ Allmendinger (No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) for a trophy. Larson completed the rare weekend sweep at Watkins Glen International on Sunday afternoon with a clutch win in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at the Glen. Larson made a dramatic pass on his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) on a restart with five laps to go on the historic road course. As the race leader, Elliott got to choose where to line up alongside Larson for the green flag and chose to start on Larson’s outside, setting up the dramatic contest for position. Larson maneuvered past Elliott in the wide-sweeping first turn with both Allmendinger and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) able to get around Elliott as well. Allmendinger gave chase to Larson, but for the second day in a row, Larson again proved to be too much. It was the second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory for Larson, 30, at Watkins Glen as he finished .882 seconds ahead of Allmendinger. It’s Larson’s 18th career win and second of the 2022 season for the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion. Logano finished third just ahead of Elliott, who could take some considerable consolation in officially securing the 2022 Regular Season Championship – his first – at the end of Stage 1 on Sunday. Watch race highlights here. (Thank you to Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service)
(Audi)
Audi has announced that it will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with a specially developed power unit beginning in 2026. The project will be based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt. This is the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 power train will be built in Germany. Editor-in-Chiefs Note: Remember, folks, we're talking 2026 here. Even though Audi offered several images, we're only posting one, because we can't imagine the machine will look anything like this image by then. This just underscores F1's problem. A new rules package three-and-one-half years from now? How do they plan on maintaining interest for that long? More Bush League Bullshit from the powers that be currently running F1. - PMD
Audi has announced that it will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with a specially developed power unit beginning in 2026. The project will be based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt. This is the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 power train will be built in Germany. Editor-in-Chiefs Note: Remember, folks, we're talking 2026 here. Even though Audi offered several images, we're only posting one, because we can't imagine the machine will look anything like this image by then. This just underscores F1's problem. A new rules package three-and-one-half years from now? How do they plan on maintaining interest for that long? More Bush League Bullshit from the powers that be currently running F1. - PMD
(Photo by AE Special Contributor Whit Bazemore, taken at COTA earlier this year)
It’s three wins in a row for Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) as Fabio Quartararo runs him close at the Red Bull Ring. For the first time in his career Bagnaia is a hat-trick hero after leading from start to finish in a tense CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. In the end, Pecco’s win advantage was just 0.4s to World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who produced a phenomenal ride to finish P2 ahead of third place Jack Miller (No. 43 Ducati Lenovo Team). Watch the race highlights here.
It’s three wins in a row for Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) as Fabio Quartararo runs him close at the Red Bull Ring. For the first time in his career Bagnaia is a hat-trick hero after leading from start to finish in a tense CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. In the end, Pecco’s win advantage was just 0.4s to World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who produced a phenomenal ride to finish P2 ahead of third place Jack Miller (No. 43 Ducati Lenovo Team). Watch the race highlights here.
MOTOGP IN AUSTRIA.
By Whit Bazemore
Bend. Austria’s Red Bull Ring, one of the most beautiful, modern, and dramatic racing circuits in the world, is steeped in racing history, both good and bad. Built in 1969, and known then as the Osterreichring, the track featured several super-fast, almost flat-out high-speed curves with no room for error, with zero runoff or guard rails and forest lining the track. It was daunting and dangerous, with several fatalities, including that of our American racing hero, Mark Donohue, who died there in 1975.
By the mid-90s, and after several more fatalities, track designer Hermann Tilke was brought in to redesign the track and update it to current safety standards. He shortened the track by one mile, from 3.68 to 2.68 miles, and replaced the ultra-fast right-hand sweepers with three much sharper and slower corners. Despite Tilke’s “neutering,” the new layout surprisingly proved to still be exciting for both racers and spectators. In 2004, Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz bought the circuit, which had fallen into disrepair. The first F1 race at the once again rebuilt and now state-of-the-art Red Bull Ring was held in 2013, with MotoGP returning in 2016.
MotoGP excitement in the form of thrilling last lap - and even last corner - duels between Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso in both 2017 and 2019, as well as Brad Binder’s crazy victory in a sudden downpour on slicks - on the national Austrian race bike KTM in 2021 - has created the Red Bull Ring’s reputation as one of the best circuits - with the best racing - on the MotoGP schedule. What would this year bring? To fully appreciate this year’s race, it is necessary to understand at least one of several important back stories playing out in this MotoGP season.
Italian manufacturer Ducati has the best bike on the grid, but has not won a championship since 2007 when Aussie sensation Casey Stoner was the sport’s fastest rider. Ducati also has the most bikes on the grid: the two factory bikes, plus three satellite teams, each with two bikes, for a total of eight - a whopping 33% of the grid. Two incredibly talented racers in Italian Enea Bastainini and Spaniard Jorge Martin, each on different Ducati satellite teams, are fighting for the one open Ducati factory seat for 2023. After last season, Jorge Martin was a shoe-in for the promotion, but this year has seen Enea win three races (to Martin’s zero), lead the championship, and show his maturity as a “Sunday racer” - preserving his tires early in races while slicing through the field to come on strong in the last third. Martin, by contrast, is ultra, ultra quick, but is less consistent, and has been known to crash a time or two. And while having to pick just one of these two future champions to join 2021 Championship runner up Pecco Bagnaia on the factory team is a good problem to have, it is nevertheless a problem. With only eight races left, each race is becoming more and more important for the two. Who will it be?
Bastianini, typically not as good a qualifier as Martin, showed his intent, and talent, by winning his first-ever MotoGP pole on Saturday, just ahead of Bagnaia. Martin ended up fourth. Championship leader Fabio Quartararo on the sweet handling but still-down-on-power Yamaha ended up fifth, which sounds ho-hum, but was actually a visibly 110% effort, pushing himself and the bike seemingly just past the edge, but somehow, not crashing. (The next best Yamaha was down in 16th.) Fabio is fascinating to watch.
The most important plots for Sunday were these: Pecco, coming off of two straight wins, had to finish ahead of Quartararo to reduce his 49 point deficit (after being as far back as 91 points just three races ago), and Martin and Bastianini each had to beat the other, and be mistake-free while doing it. Aleix Espargaro (2nd in the championship) had to find a decent setup for the race after struggling for much of the weekend. He would start down in ninth, so the challenge of having a great result and staying in the championship hunt was large.
92,000 fans jammed into the Ring under somewhat ominous skies to see Bagnaia lead into turn one. It was a lead he would not relinquish, although Quartararo, after aggressively fighting his way up to second, was closing fast enough on the last lap to certainly move all the TV viewers around the world to the edge of their seats. Quartararo was mistake-free and again, visibly on the ragged edge, saying afterwards that “every lap was like a qualifying lap.” It looked like it too. He ended up second, which was no doubt as good as a win. Aleix was unable to engage the “hole shot device” at the start and fell back to 10th. He fought back to finish 6th, doing damage limitation in what ended being a tough weekend for the Aprilia rider.
And what of the Bastianini - Martin dual? By lap three, they were in third and fourth, respectively, and they traded places twice on the third lap alone. Martin then moved past Bastianini at the end of the fifth lap, then Quartararo did as well. Bastianini was quickly falling off the pace, and a few corners later, ran straight on, seemingly unable to brake. He retired a lap later, with a dented front wheel. Afterwards, it was determined that a curb strike in the first laps (every rider, every lap rides over the curbs exiting nearly every corner) had bent the rim, which was slowly deflating the front tire. It was a cruel fate for Enea who no doubt was in a very strong position for his fourth win of the season.
Martin stayed in third until lap 17 when he ran ride, letting Quartararo into a podium position. Martin was unable to challenge and stayed in fourth until the last lap, when he lost the front and crashed while trying to pass third-place Jack Miller. It probably did not help his potential factory job prospects, despite being one of the sport’s great future talents.
Ducati has said that it will confirm their 2023 rider lineup during the Misano weekend (two weeks away). The needle has been swinging back and forth between the two, and certainly they will have a difficult decision, despite the fact that the “losing” rider will still be on a fully supported Ducati bike and team, Pramac Racing. Maybe the bigger challenge facing Ducati is to convince both riders that no matter who gets to ride the red bike next year, both of them will have absolute equal support and opportunity to fight for a championship.
In the meantime, after winning three in a row (and his 5th race of the season), and barring the odd mistake, Pecco Bagnaia is on a roll and looks in control to win his first Championship, despite still being 44 points behind with seven races to go. Quartararo will have to ride at 11/10’s to contend with Bagnaia, and is no doubt capable of doing just that. But being mistake-free while on the ragged edge for seven races is something very difficult to achieve, even for him.
It all makes for a fascinating next three months of racing and we are the lucky ones who get to watch it play out.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Special AE contributor Whit Bazemore - the Renaissance Man and superb photographer - is continuing to give us updates and his insider's perspective on the MotoGP season. To have someone with Whit's talent share his visual art and deep knowledge of MotoGP is truly special for us, and we really appreciate it. By the way, you may recognize Whit's last name. Bazemore began making a living from drag racing when he was sixteen years old, and he is a two-time U.S. Nationals winner and still the fifth-fastest Funny Car driver ever at 333.25 MPH.-PMD
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG