JUNE 12, 2024

INDYCAR announced on June 13 that FOX Sports will be the new exclusive home of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the iconic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge beginning in 2025. The new media rights deal provides a massive and unprecedented increase in exposure for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, with every 2025 race airing on FOX and available on the FOX Sports app. FOX Deportes will carry exclusive Spanish-language television coverage, with a schedule to be announced at a later date. FOX will also provide coverage of Indy 500 qualifications on both Saturday and Sunday, bringing the total number of broadcast network windows to 19, a record for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. INDYCAR will become the only premier motorsport in the United States with exclusive major broadcast network coverage for all its races. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Is this good news? It depends on how you look at it. All coverage on the main FOX network instead of the hodgepodge of networks that NBC used to present the series is a very good thing, but I remain skeptical that FOX will cover INDYCAR with the right perspective. After all, it is a NASCAR-oriented network. It remains a giant "we'll see" but I thought NBC did an excellent job, and I will miss their coverage. -PMD

(Photo of Will Power by Chris Owens for Penske Entertainment)

The drought is over for Will Power. He earned his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory since June 2022 at Detroit – a span of 34 races – to lead a podium sweep Sunday by Team Penske at the XPEL Grand Prix of Road America presented by AMR. Power had won at least one race for 16 consecutive seasons from 2007-22 before going winless in 2023. Two-time series champion Power, who started fifth, drove his No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Business Chevrolet to a 3.2609-second victory over teammate Josef Newgarden in the No. 2 Team Penske PPG Chevrolet. Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Team Penske XPEL Chevrolet, 8.0148 seconds behind Power. Power’s 42nd career victory, tying him for fourth with Michael Andretti for all-time INDYCAR SERIES wins, created one of the more emotional, cathartic victory lanes this season in the series. Power was embraced tearfully by his wife, Liz, whom Power cared for during her serious illness last year, and his son, Beau, among other team members and friends. “Massively special,” Power said of the win. “We’ve worked so hard to try to get wins. I worked really hard in the offseason. Obviously, last season was very stressful. Had half a mind at home and half at the track, so it was very difficult to perform at a high level there. Man, I’m just stoked. I’m very happy, man. That was very well deserved for the whole team. We worked so hard for that.” This was the first podium sweep by a team in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since Andretti Global drivers Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi and Ryan Hunter-Reay took the top three spots in September 2020 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Team Penske’s last podium sweep came in September 2017 at Sonoma Raceway with Simon Pagenaud, Newgarden and Power finishing in that respective order. Power also took the championship lead by five points over Alex Palou, who finished fourth in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top five in the No. 27 AutoNation Honda of Andretti Global. Watch the Extended Race Highlights from NBC here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)

(Photo of Josef Newgarden by Chris Owens for Penske Entertainment)

Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske PPG Chevrolet) finished 3.2609-seconds behind teammate Will Power at Road America.

(Photo of Will Power, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin in Victory Lane at Road America by Chris Owens for Penske Entertainment)

(Photo of Jamie Chadwick by Joe Skibinski for Penske Entertainment)

Jamie Chadwick became the first woman to win an INDY NXT by Firestone race since 2010 – and only the third female driver to win in the INDYCAR development series – with her victory Sunday in the Grand Prix of Road America. English driver Chadwick led all 20 laps from the pole in the No. 28 VEXT car of Andretti Global to become the first female winner in INDY NXT since Pippa Mann in September 2010 at Kentucky Speedway. Ana Beatriz is the other female winner in the series, with single victories in 2008 and 2009. Chadwick is the first female to win an INDY NXT race on a road or street course, as Beatriz and Mann won on ovals. “I have no words,” Chadwick said. “Honestly, I’m a bit emotional. We’ve had an unbelievable car this year and just haven’t been able to do anything about it. I’m just so happy we held on there.” Chadwick drove to victory by .8203 of a second over Andretti Global teammate Louis Foster in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies car. Foster edged series leader Jacob Abel in the No. 51 Abel Construction car fielded by Abel Motorsports by .0236 of a second at the finish to hang on to second and cut into Abel’s championship lead. Abel leads Foster by 19 points. “Massive congratulations to Jamie,” Foster said. “She’s done an amazing job. She was the woman to beat this weekend. Really, really fast. More than happy for the team. One-two, you can’t ask for anything more.” (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)

(Formula1.com)

Max Verstappen (No. 1 Oracle Red Bull Racing) returned to his winning ways in an action-packed Canadian Grand Prix, overcoming rain showers, multiple Safety Car periods, restarts and a stern challenge from behind to lead home Lando Norris (No. 4 McLaren Formula 1 Team). Verstappen followed pole-sitting Mercedes driver George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team) in the wet early stages of the race until a charging Norris overhauled them both amid improving conditions, only for an ill-timed Safety Car – brought out when Logan Sargeant (No. 2 Williams Racing) crashed – to drop the McLaren man to third. Having cleared Russell himself, Verstappen mastered the restart and managed further showers to maintain his lead, which he also protected when the track dried up and the field switched from intermediate tires to slicks, and again following a second Safety Car period triggered by Carlos Sainz (No. 55 Scuderia Ferrari) and Alex Albon (No. 23 Williams Racing) colliding. While the reigning world champion ultimately surged towards the checkered flag, Norris took second via a fierce mid-race battle with Russell, and the latter settled for third after some late scrapping with teammate Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team) and Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren Formula 1 Team). Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to Formula1.com)

(Trans Am)

Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang) dominated every lap to win his second-consecutive Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli event at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Menard started the race from the pole and led every lap without challenge, handily claiming his third TA victory of the 2024 season. Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) was second, and Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro) finished third. Menard won the race by a 44.432-second margin of victory and continues to lead the TA point standings, now holding a 27-point advantage over three-time champion Chris Dyson. (Thank you to Trans Am Media)

(IMS)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: We lost another all-time great last week as 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones passed away last Tuesday in Torrance, California, at the age of 90. Read our coverage about the career of Parnelli Jones in this week's installment of the "The Racers" in Fumes. - PMD

A statement from Roger Penske:

"The racing world has lost a great competitor and a true champion. Parnelli Jones was one of the most accomplished racers in history, and his determination and will to win made him one of the toughest competitors I have ever seen. From racing against him on track to competing against him as a fellow team owner, I always respected Parnelli's passion and commitment to the sport he loved. I was proud to call Parnelli a good friend for many years, and our thoughts are with his family as we remember one of the true legends of motorsports."

– Roger Penske

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