Sunday
Oct062024
OCTOBER 9, 2024
Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 09:02AM 
(Photo of Alex Palou by Joe Skibinski for Penske Entertainment)
INDYCAR testing took place on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Though reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou has won the championship three times in the last four seasons, he still seeks his first Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge victory. But Palou led testing on the historic 2.5-mile oval Friday with a top speed of 224.342 mph in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing DHL Honda. "It was a good day of testing," Palou said. "We tried a lot of stuff. Yesterday was Firestone, today was more us, Ganassi and Honda. We're happy. You want to come here, and even if you're testing a bunch of stuff, you want to be first." Right behind Palou on the speed chart was two-time reigning Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, second at 223.973 in the No. 2 Team Penske Shell Powering Progress Chevrolet. Rinus VeeKay was third at 223.383 in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in his first day of testing with that team. Graham Rahal was fourth at 222.650 in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, with 2022 "500" winner Marcus Ericsson rounding out the top five at 222.324 in the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda. Eleven car-and-driver combinations – one driver from each team – combined to turn 1,123 laps in six hours of testing Friday after four drivers tested tires Thursday afternoon for Firestone. A primary area of focus for all teams and drivers was the new hybrid system, which made its competitive debut in July 2024. The hybrid system offers the competitors and their twin-turbo V6 engines an additional 60 horsepower. Previous iterations of the hybrid package were previously tested during the development process, but this test marked the debut of the system as it will race next May. "I think the overtake we get (from the hybrid) is nice," Palou said. "I think it's good enough to set up a pass maybe in the middle of the pack. We'll have to see." (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
(Road America images)
From the Road America release: Road America is saddened to announce the passing of August "Augie" Pabst Jr. on October 9, 2024, at 90. Pabst leaves behind a legacy both on and off the track, celebrated for his remarkable racing career and dedicated service to the motorsports community.
A great-grandson of Milwaukee brewing legends, Pabst embarked on a ten-year racing journey that included two national championships: the 1959 USAC Road Racing Championship and the 1960 SCCA Championship. He quickly became a charismatic and beloved figure in American sports car racing, competing in iconic vehicles such as the Ferrari TR, Birdcage Maserati, and the Meister Brauser Scarab.
Pabst’s illustrious career also saw him race in the legendary Road America 500, securing victories in 1962 and 1963, among many other achievements. After a brief hiatus due to a crash in 1962, Pabst returned to racing, continuing to make his mark on the sport. Following his retirement from professional racing, Pabst remained a significant presence in the motorsports world, contributing to Road America’s growth and success as a Board Member.
Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2011, Augie Pabst’s passion for motorsports never waned. His legacy continues through his family, with his son, August Pabst III, managing the Pabst Racing Team, which recently celebrated the 2024 USF2000 Championship.
The entire Road America family extends its heartfelt condolences to the Pabst family during this time. Augie Pabst will forever be remembered for his extraordinary contributions to racing and his unwavering dedication to the sport.
Further details and his obituary can be found at this link: https://www.pagenkopf.com/obituaries/August-Augie-Pabst?obId=33358940#/obituaryInfo
A great-grandson of Milwaukee brewing legends, Pabst embarked on a ten-year racing journey that included two national championships: the 1959 USAC Road Racing Championship and the 1960 SCCA Championship. He quickly became a charismatic and beloved figure in American sports car racing, competing in iconic vehicles such as the Ferrari TR, Birdcage Maserati, and the Meister Brauser Scarab.
Pabst’s illustrious career also saw him race in the legendary Road America 500, securing victories in 1962 and 1963, among many other achievements. After a brief hiatus due to a crash in 1962, Pabst returned to racing, continuing to make his mark on the sport. Following his retirement from professional racing, Pabst remained a significant presence in the motorsports world, contributing to Road America’s growth and success as a Board Member.
Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2011, Augie Pabst’s passion for motorsports never waned. His legacy continues through his family, with his son, August Pabst III, managing the Pabst Racing Team, which recently celebrated the 2024 USF2000 Championship.
The entire Road America family extends its heartfelt condolences to the Pabst family during this time. Augie Pabst will forever be remembered for his extraordinary contributions to racing and his unwavering dedication to the sport.
Further details and his obituary can be found at this link: https://www.pagenkopf.com/obituaries/August-Augie-Pabst?obId=33358940#/obituaryInfo
(MotoGP.com)
Francesco Bagnaia (No. 1 Ducati Lenovo Team) delivered win number eight of the season at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, adding his name to an illustrious list after he executed the perfect launch off the line before setting a relentless pace from start to finish. The reigning World Champion defeated Jorge Martin (No. 89 Prima Pramac Racing), who charged from P11 on the grid and now had his advantage reduced to just 10 points. It is heating up to be a frantic end to the season, with everything remaining up for grabs. Marc Marquez (No. 93 Gresini Racing MotoGP™) came home a strong third after an incredible ride from the #93, who defended hard in the closing laps. Meanwhile, there was further disappointment for Pedro Acosta (No. 31 Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with the rookie crashing out from the Grand Prix and ending the weekend with zero points scored. Watch the race Highlights here. (Thank you to MotoGP.com)
(IMS)
Penske Entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, the official events partner of the Texas Rangers, have announced a joint venture to establish and operate the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, with the initial race set for March 2026. The 2.73-mile track layout will feature two sporting venues: AT&T Stadium, home of the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, home of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers. The track will weave through Arlington's core sports and entertainment district.
(Photo by Chris Owens)
From the INDYCAR Release:
Alex Palou was honored for his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the past four years during the Victory Lap Celebration on Sept. 30, the headline of an incomparable 2024 season for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Palou won two races in the No. 10 DHL Honda and scored 13 top-five finishes in 17 races to become just the 13th driver in history to earn at least three INDYCAR SERIES championships. He is just the seventh driver to win three titles in four years and first since Dario Franchitti won three straight from 2009-11 – also for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Spanish driver Palou won the Astor Challenge Cup for the title by 31 points over Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian’s Colton Herta, earning the 16th INDYCAR SERIES championship for Chip Ganassi Racing and the organization’s fourth in the last five seasons. Palou was one of four members of Chip Ganassi Racing to receive special honors at the ceremony, which took place in the Gallagher Pavilion at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team owner Chip Ganassi accepted the Championship Owner Award, and Palou’s chief mechanic, Ricky Davis, was presented the Pennzoil Chief Mechanic Award. Additional season honors for the Ganassi team included the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Manager award to Blair Julian and Mike LeGallic.
Linus Lundqvist of Sweden received the Rookie of the Year Award as the top-finishing first-year driver in the standings. The 2022 INDY NXT by Firestone champion recorded a pole, two podiums and four top-10 finishes in the No. 8 The American Legion Honda to surpass Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyffin Simpson by 97 points in the standings.
The awards haul was a reward for a dominant year by Indianapolis-based Chip Ganassi Racing. The team took the top spot in the driver standings and the Rookie of the Year title in the same season for the second straight year.
Much like the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and Rookie of the Year, the Manufacturers Award race had a familiar result. Chevrolet edged Honda by just 132 points to win its third consecutive engine manufacturer title and ninth overall since it returned to the series in 2012.
Team Penske took home a pair of end-of-season awards. Scott McLaughlin claimed the season-long NTT P1 Award, while Will Power accepted the Firestone Pit Performance Award on behalf of his No. 12 Team Penske crew.
INDYCAR’s development series was also recognized at the Victory Lap Celebration, as Louis Foster of Andretti Global was honored as 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, capping a dominant season.
Foster won a series-high eight of the 14 races this season in the No. 26 Copart / Novara Technologies entry. He led the series in wins, poles, podiums, laps led and completed every lap of competition to beat Abel Motorsports’ Jacob Abel to the title by 122 points.
HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet was named INDY NXT by Firestone Rookie of the Year. Collet, from Sao Palou, Brazil, finished third in the series standings with a victory.
From the INDYCAR Release:
Alex Palou was honored for his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the past four years during the Victory Lap Celebration on Sept. 30, the headline of an incomparable 2024 season for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Palou won two races in the No. 10 DHL Honda and scored 13 top-five finishes in 17 races to become just the 13th driver in history to earn at least three INDYCAR SERIES championships. He is just the seventh driver to win three titles in four years and first since Dario Franchitti won three straight from 2009-11 – also for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Spanish driver Palou won the Astor Challenge Cup for the title by 31 points over Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian’s Colton Herta, earning the 16th INDYCAR SERIES championship for Chip Ganassi Racing and the organization’s fourth in the last five seasons. Palou was one of four members of Chip Ganassi Racing to receive special honors at the ceremony, which took place in the Gallagher Pavilion at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team owner Chip Ganassi accepted the Championship Owner Award, and Palou’s chief mechanic, Ricky Davis, was presented the Pennzoil Chief Mechanic Award. Additional season honors for the Ganassi team included the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Manager award to Blair Julian and Mike LeGallic.
Linus Lundqvist of Sweden received the Rookie of the Year Award as the top-finishing first-year driver in the standings. The 2022 INDY NXT by Firestone champion recorded a pole, two podiums and four top-10 finishes in the No. 8 The American Legion Honda to surpass Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyffin Simpson by 97 points in the standings.
The awards haul was a reward for a dominant year by Indianapolis-based Chip Ganassi Racing. The team took the top spot in the driver standings and the Rookie of the Year title in the same season for the second straight year.
Much like the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and Rookie of the Year, the Manufacturers Award race had a familiar result. Chevrolet edged Honda by just 132 points to win its third consecutive engine manufacturer title and ninth overall since it returned to the series in 2012.
Team Penske took home a pair of end-of-season awards. Scott McLaughlin claimed the season-long NTT P1 Award, while Will Power accepted the Firestone Pit Performance Award on behalf of his No. 12 Team Penske crew.
INDYCAR’s development series was also recognized at the Victory Lap Celebration, as Louis Foster of Andretti Global was honored as 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, capping a dominant season.
Foster won a series-high eight of the 14 races this season in the No. 26 Copart / Novara Technologies entry. He led the series in wins, poles, podiums, laps led and completed every lap of competition to beat Abel Motorsports’ Jacob Abel to the title by 122 points.
HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet was named INDY NXT by Firestone Rookie of the Year. Collet, from Sao Palou, Brazil, finished third in the series standings with a victory.
Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG