And will the winner’s prize be enough to fund more
than a One-off entry at Mother speedway?
Although the season’s far from over, with nine
rounds remaining entering Road America, albeit Mid-Ohio’s July 2nd race will be
the Halfway point of the season.
Nonetheless, the Wo’s Next Championship battle’s
currently shaping up to potentially be a two way fight between HMD Motorsports
with Dale Coyne Racing teammates Christian Rasmussen and Nolan Siegel.
As Rasmussen led by a squeaky clean two points
ahead of Siegel; 178-176prior to Road America this weekend. Although Seagal
should have been leading the Championship following Detroit, but I’m Jumping
the Shark here…
Whilst surely Andretti Autosport Boyz’ Hunter McElrea
(138 points) and Lewis Foster, (123 points) currently third and sixth respectively,
will wish to join the Championship conversation over the remaining rounds. With
the pair whom seem magnetized during most races split by Danial Frost (132
points) and Jacob Abel (128 points) P4-5.
Interestingly, Indy NXT has had five different
winners during the season’s first five rounds a la IndyCar’s multiple winners.
With Frost winning at St Pete Wayback’ on March 5th. Followed by Rasmussen at Alabama,
and rookie Matteo Nannini’s breakthrough victory at the first Indy GP. As the
calendar’s now been amended from a Double Header over the “Guns ‘N Roses” Indy
Grand Prix weekend, and will race during the August Brickyard RASSCAR’ IndyCar
weekend instead.
And yes, Matteo’o’s related to former Formula 1
driver Alessandro Nannini. Whose His First cousin Once removed…
Rookie Reece gold took a surprise win during
Detroit’s first race, when Siegel who’d led most of the way saw His Half shaft
break with two corners remaining and limped home a dejected eighth! Yet Siegel
wasn’t to be denied during Sunday’s second race at Detroit. Starting third, He
quickly jumped to the lead and remained Thar until claiming His Debutante Indy NXT
victory!
As the three various HMD Motorsports/Dale coyne
Racing concerns, which comprise nearly Half of the Grid with it’s combined nine
entries. Have won four of the first five rounds. Arse-sumedly much to Andretti’s
and the rest of the field’s dismay! With Nannini winning for Juncos Hollinger
Racing being the lone Non HMD/Coyne win to date…
Christian Rasmussen from Denmark is in his sophomore
Indy NXT campaign. Having won the 2020 U.S. F2000 National and 2021 Indy Pro
2000 championships driving for Jay Howard Driver Development. Before graduating
to the final Indy Lights season last year with Andretti Autosport. Scoring two
victories enroute to sixth Overall.
Whilst rookie Nolan Siegel previously spent
three seasons in the U.S. F2000 National Championship with a best finish of eighth
in 2021 driving for DEForce Racing. Before contesting Indy Pro 2000 last year, also
driving for DEForce. Scoring two wins and finishing fourth overall.
Detroit’s Race-1 saw Jagger Jones, grandson of ‘Ol
Rufas Parnelli Jones score His maiden NXT podium, finishing second. With Ernie
Francis, Jr. doing likewise when finishing third.
As I have to say I’m most impressed with
Francis’s Gritiness! As the Multi-times Trans Am Champion previously drove the
majority of the second round at Barber Motorsports Park with a Broken wrist! And
then only missed the following race at Indianapoli’s road course outing…
Meanwhile, cannot say I’m overly impressed by
either of the two IndyCar Development Drivers Kyffin Simpson (Chip Ganassi
Racing) or Homeboy’ Josh Pierson. (Ed Carpenter Racing) Although Pierson’s only
doing a limited schedule due to His Day Job of driving LMP2 Sports Cars on both
sides of Ye Puddle. Including racing at Le Mans for the second year in-a-row
for United Autosports, whose co-owned by some Mr. Zakery Brown character…
Whilst Pierson’s Stand-in toby Sowery will get
to test an IndyCar for ECR June 8th at Sebring, alongside reigning Indy Lights
Champion Linus Lundqvist. Before Pierson closes out the remainder of the season.
Whilst Lundqvist is still Hoping to become an
IndyCar driver some day after getting Screwed Out of His Indy Lights
Advancement Prize! As way to go Penske Entertainment!
As I’d say it’s anybody’s guess who’ll win at Road America this weekend, or wind-up the Champion by season’s end at Laguna Seca this September…
