Tower Motorsports Out, Ford In

As what’s that ‘Ol ABC Wide World ‘O Sports saying, Eh?

 

On the very same morning, I awoke to the news via the Daytona Beach News Journal that “We’ve” got a new Rolex 24 winner! As the winning No. 8 Tower Motorsports LMP2 Class winner that saw le Hamburgular’, nee Sealmeister B’, aka Sebastien Bourdais taking the chequered flag 40-plus seconds ahead of the second place finisher has been DSQ’ed! (Disqualified)

 

The team’s Oreaca 07 chassis was found in a late post race technical inspection to have worn one of it’s skid blocks below the maximum wear allowance of five millimeters and thus, was stripped of it’s victory and demoted to last place in class. (12th)

 

The team’s subsequent protest was denied and the final results now see the No. 22 United Autosport entry of Paul di Resta, Rasmus Lind, Daniel Goldburg and James Allen declared as the Rolex 24 LMP2 winner.

 

Meanwhile the Detroit News had an article detailing Ford’s announcement to go Sports Car racing in 2027 with a LMDH-spec “Hypercar” entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship. (WEC)

 

As the story touted this news as Ford V Ferrari 2.0, with no word on whether or not the Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDH) entry would cross thoust Bloody Puddle and also race in IMSA GTP or not?

 

Although Racer’s Marshall Pruett notes that Ford plans to join IMSA either a year or two after the “Weckity Wec” debut, a la Hyundai’s Genesis Sports Car prototype project… 

Rolex 24 Postscript

As the 63rd Rolex 24 once again, was another Barn Burner!

 

First off, very cool for Jamie Chadwick to be the race’s Grand Marshall! Although part of me feels like this is some sort of consolation prize for Her. As hope Chadwick’s Sports Car career blossoms like Jack “Achey Breaky” Aitken’s has…

 

Tuned into IMSA Radio’s “Countdown to The Green”, and was super happy to hear the voice of my Numero Uno IndyCar Radio pit reporter Ryan Marin. Along with the return of Jamie Howe. With my apologies to Peter Mackay, as initially I thought that ‘Ol EO Speedwagon’ Dario Franchitti was in the announce Booth…

 

Even better yet, Marin got copious amounts of time in the announce Booth,  most notably alongside lead Announcer John Hindhaugh…

 

Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3’s swept the front row of GTD Pro, with Rocky’, aka Mike Rockenfeller on pole in the #64, followed by it’s #65 stablemate. Being Rocy’s first pole position since March, 2006 at Homestead, Miami, Youza!

 

BMW Team RLL, ergo Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing bookended the GTP grid. With Dries Vanthoor taking Pole in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V-8. While the #25 started last, P12 due to hybrid electrical issues.

 

Meyer Shank Racing two Acura ARX-06’s were quick off the bat. With comment made about the No. 93 being a nod to Honda’s history in IMSA Sports Car racing. Although Nick Yelloly reported a vibration, and then slid off at the west Horseshoe, dripping to seventh…

 

Pfaff Motorsport, fondly known as the “Plaid” Lamborghini had a miserable first pitstop, unable to remove the front left wheel. Needing a chisel to take the wheel off, then suffering a speeding penalty. Before being involved in a six car pile-up in Hour Eight!

 

As Louie’ Deletraz spun out of control on a race restart in the No. 10 Waynte Taylor Racing Cadd-Oh-lac’ V-Series.R GTP machine, before ricocheting back onto track and ultimately causing six cars, including the No. 9 Pfaff Lamborghini to retire from the race!

 

Much noise was made over the weather conditions, most notable the thirteen hours and sixteen minutes duration of darkness. Along with expected very cold overnight temperatures. As Sunset set at 5:58PM and Sunrise was at 7:15AM. (Eastern) Leaving me wondering if we’d once again have reports of frozen Iguanas falling out of the Palm trees. Or was it Geckos?

 

The race ultimately was one of attrition, with somebody in the announce Booth mentioning that eventually 21 of the 61 starters failed to finish! Which I won’t even try attempting to recap these, or the entire race…

 

Other than taking note early of the #11 TDS Racing LMP2 entry, with Hunter McElrea at it’s keyboard when initially having trouble on-track. Having been in it’s garage for two hours with a gearbox issue, but hadn’t retired as of 3PM Pacific.

 

(2:50PM Pacific) The first of the IMSA GTP Contendahs’ suffered Heartbreak. As Alex Palou in the  #93 suffered a left rear suspension failure and had to return to the garage via Flatbed.

 

The race’s restart saw K-Squared Harem Scarem’ vs. Colin Brown! As John Hindhaugh says I want to have whatever Kamui Kobayashi had for dinner! As He pulls out 8.5 second lead vs. Brown!

 

Listened to the majority of the first ten hours via IMSA Radio before getting sleepy, but failed to record who was leading at that point? Although it didn’t really matter, since the race has a history of totally changing complexion overnight…

 

Then listened to Hour number 13? Tuning in as the Eighth full course yellow for Charlie Eastwood’s No. 36 DXDT Corvette catching on fire was thrown! Pulling into an orange fire zone expertly at Speedway Turn-2! Just past the halfway point of the race; listening for another hour before calling it quits for the night…

 

Awaking before the alarm clock went off, I listened to the final three and one-half hours, which I’d say had more drama then the race’s first 3.5 hours! Beginning with nobody apparently wishing to claim LMP2 class honours. As first the leading No. 88 AF Corse entry ground to a halt on-track with mechanical woes.

 

Then Spike-the-Dragon’, the #99 AO Racing entry which had inherited the lead, failed to restart following one of it’s final pitstops! As its battery had run out of charge and refused to refire the Gibson V-8 lump!

 

With just a half hour remaining? The leading #18 Era Motorsport got drilled in the Keister’ by the trailing #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports entry! Both coming to the pits, with the #52 receiving a Drive-thru penalty. All the while seeing le Hamburgular’, nee Sebastien Bourdais who’d been watching the scrum ahead of Him steal another victory aboard the No. 8 Tower Motorsports entry…

 

The GTD Pro battle was even more chaotic! As the #4 Corvette of Tommy Milner was leading with the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 Evo hot on His tails when they came upon the second #48 Paul Miller Racing entry, being several laps down in 12th place. Yet the #48’s Agusto Farfas decided to play Blocking Back for the Seester’ No. 1 a little too aggressively! Slowing in the corners and essentially blocking the Vette’s progress. Before the No. 1 hit the left corner of the Vette’ when trying to overtake for the lead.

 

As a disgusted Milner said after climbing out of the damaged Corvette that it was just plain dirty pool and they should be embarrassed! Having given Farfas the you’re Number One salute who received a Drive-thru for His antics…

 

Thus I clapped estatically when in the closing minutes of the race, the No. 1 BMW M4 suddenly found itself the meat in a Pratt Miller Corvette sandwich! As the team’s #3 entry was hounding Dennis Olsen leading in the No. 65 Ford Mustang, who I had two sets ‘O fingers crossed for! As all of a sudden, WHAM! The #4 Vette’ tagged the BMW! Also receiving another Drive-thru. Yet All of this Argie-Bardgie allowed Olsen relief with a sudden 2.7-seconds lead, before taking the cheqered flag for Ford!

 

Being the Mustang’s maiden GT3victory, not to mention Sebastian Priaulx coming home third in the Seester’ No. 64, which gave Ford it’s first GTDPro pole position earlier…

 

The GT Daytona class was just as exciting, with the lucky No. 13 AWA Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Matt Bell at the wheel taking the win by 1.4 seconds. As Bell had also played the bump ‘n run game with one of the Aston’s, albeit the Aston Martin Vantage doing the bumping…

 

With 22mins remaining, Felipe Nasr said “Playing Thru” as He and Matt Campbell in the Seester No. 6 Porsche touched! Whilst the announcers had spent hours repeating how Porsched hadn’t finished 1-2 at Daytona since 1987. Which Tom “The Bomb” Blomqvist ensured didn’t happen again. As the MSR HotSchue’ passed Campbell with five minutes remaining to finish Vice Champion, Err runner-up…

 

Thus Nasr scored back-to-back wins aboard the No. 7 entry, the same Porsche 963 He’d won the year before aboard with Campbell, Dane Cameron and Josef Schlick’ Newgarden.

 

And there’s more I wanted to scribble about. But I’ll save it for another meandering No Fenders post… 

ROLEX 24: 2023 Postscript – Race’s Final four Hours

With some Dancin’ Fool once again doing a victory Jig, Sigh!

 

Returned to the Rolex 24 via IMSA Radio with Four Hours and Eight minutes remaining, with Scott Dixon leading in the Chip Ganassi Racing #01 Cadillac V-LMDH by 52 seconds over Simon Pagenaud in the Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) Acura ARX-06, with the #02 Cadillac close behind in third. But it seemed All for naught. Since the nearly six hours og Green flag racing came to a Halt when going Full course Caution once again.

 

And the No. 60 MSR Acura never looked back again, Sigh! With Pagenaud “Jumping” Sebastien Bourdais who’d taken over the #01 Caddy’ during the Pit stops, as the MSR Acura just seemed to be able to pull away from the field every time there was a race restart, especially when Tom Blomqvist was at it’s controls…

 

This made for a somewhat Dull race for the Overall win. Yet it certainly wasn’t that way in the LMP2 and GT Daytona Categories.

 

Having resigned Thyself to Helio Castroneves scoring a Three-peat, I switched focus instead to my Homeboyz’ Heart of Racing’s No. 27 entry.

 

As the #27 Aston Martin Vantage had been leading for a long time, although Marcel Sorenson said He’d been Scared to Shit during a Pitlane interview when needing to recycle the Car’s electronics during one of His shifts. Nah, No Lucas Electronics Jokes Here, Hya!

 

As it was Fantastic having the No. 27 Heart of Racing not only win it’s first ever Rolex 24, but finished first Overall of All the GTD’s and GTD Pro entries!

 

As team Boss Ian James said it was a Dream after His 21st Rolex 24! May be my last? But what’s that saying about Old Racers who Never know when to Quit, Ahem Helio! As Heart of Racing led an Aston Martin 1-2 finish in GTD, ahead of the No. 44 Magnus Racing entry.

 

Although I’d been Rootin’ for the No. 35 TDS Racing in the LMP2 Class because Homeboy Josh Pierson was part of it’s Driving line-up, and they were leading in the late stages. Unfortunately “Guido the Dutchman,” Aka Giedo van der Garde got penalized for Speeding in the Pitlane and Had to serve a Drive-thru penalty, which essentially knocked them out of contention.

 

Thus I began Rootin’ for the new leader, the No. 04 Crowdstrike LMP2 entry. Since former DragonSpeed IndyCar Driver Ben Handley was part of it’s Drivers Quartet. Yet IMSA Radio’s lead Announcer John Hindhaugh Broke in upon Joe Bradley’s victory celebration with Mike Shank who was heard yelling Fuck Yeah On Air as His Car took the Chequered Flag!

 

With Hindhaugh noting how the “Double Nickel” #55 Proton Competition with James Allen behind the wheel had snatched away the LMP2 Class win from Ben Handley in the #04 Crowdstrike by 0.016 seconds at the Flag!

 

Whilst it was Jules Gounon bringing the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo home First in the GTD Pro Class after a Hard fought battle against the #3 CorvetteRacing C8.R and the Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Lexus RC F GT3, which I think was the finishing order for GTD Pro.

 

Tom “The Bomb” Blomqvist led by a fairly svelte 4.2 seconds at the Stripe over Felipe Albuquerque for an Acura 1-2 Sweep. With the Full season IMSA #01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac leading the #02 Home, after being instructed to finish in that order.

 

As Here’s Racer’s Marshall Pruett and Graham Goodwin talking with Mike Shank, plus a Class-by-Class rundown video recap from last year…

 

https://racer.com/2023/01/29/video-michael-shank-on-rolex-24-victory/

 

As should we really have been surprised that the two manufacturers who’ve been racing in IMSA for several years now, i.e.; Acura and Cadillac went 1-2, while the Newcomers Porsche and BMW had New Car Teething issues…

 

As the No. 25 BMW suffered worst of All with it’s early race MGU Failure, finishing 131-laps behind! While it’s Seester Car, the No. 24 also had some mechanical maladies late race. But it was the Porsche’s that Had the most dramatic problems, at least the No. 6! As Nick Tandy had a race to forget! As I believe it was Him who spun during the Wee Hours and damaged both ends of the Porsche 963? And then Tandy brought out a late race Full course Caution when He suffered what was deemed a Gearbox failure. Which would explain His Not being able to Whoa the Porsche down two laps in-a-row on the Turn 1 High Bank! As the No. 6 did finish the race, albeit some 34-laps behind. 

ROLEX 24: 2023 Postscript – Roaring Thru the First Four-plus Hours

As Thars’ nothing quite like the sounds of internal combustion racing engines to get the Juices Ah-flowin’

 

Once again, decided to “watch,” Err listen to the first few Hours of the 61st Rolex 24 on Thy Telie’, since I’ll have plenty of time to get up during the relentless commercial breaks! And I haven’t Heard Leigh Diffey or any of the other Talking Headzz’ since last May’s Indianapolis 500! Since I now prefer listening to IndyCar races via IndyCar Radio, which provides a better “Picture” for your Blind Word Butcher to follow the Action…

 

So much for getting “Revved Up” over going motor racing! Although it was nice hearing Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish and (Townsend) T-Bell’s voice in the Broadcast Booth

 

Still Nothing But Commercials, be it Big NBC or Seester station USA Network. Seriously? Five minutes here, six minutes there, Urgh! Along with the obligatory six minute interview with that ‘Ol Dancin’ fool Hulio’, who’s going for a Hat Trick of victories this year, BOO!

 

Lap-1 and John Farano got His No. 8 Tower Motorsports LMP2 entry stuck in third gear, bringing out the first Full course Yellow.

 

Nice interview with ScottyMac’, aka Scott McLaughlin saying He wanted to drive nights; But I Didn’t mean 3AM Guys! With the Kiwi’ saying His first stint was 9-11PM. then two hours of sleep before getting back in for I’m guessing an 1-3AM stint.

 

Also said they were 10-laps down due to a ECU issue. Whilst I Didn’t get the Joke about the water bottle until later reading it had leaked onto the ECU, OOPS!

 

Pipo Derani Tags Nick Tandy’s Porsche in left rear diving into Turn-1, with Tandy saving His Porsche! But No Harm, No foul says Race Control…

 

First GTP issue was the BMW #25 before the end of Hour 1, with Kevin The Werewolf! Lee later reporting that it was a MGU issue. Which was followed by Felipe Nasr having an issue aboard His No. 7 Porsche 963.

 

Pipo Derani needing to take evasive action as we went to another Freakin’ commercial, Come On Guys! And Put A Sock in It Jeff Burton! Yuhs know I’m a NASCAR Guy; No Shit Sherlock!

 

And I’d already Arse-sumed that Jimmie Johnson would be in the RASSCAR G56 entry. Joined by Mike “Rocky” Rockenfeller whose been doing much of it’s development work. But I certainly Didn’t “See” the third “Cog” being former F1 Champion Jenson Button.

 

At the 2.5Hr mark and on Commercial No. 69, WTF! Seriously Comcast, How Greedy Are You? Uhm, now I can’t remember what riveting detail I was gonna type here… Oh yeah, believe somebody said that the No. 25 BMW was 49-laps down.

 

And as much as I was enjoying listening to Brian Till in the Booth. I finally turned off Thy Telie and switched over to listening to the race uninterrupted on IMSA Radio for the rest of the evening, before I called it an early night, since John Hindhaugh’s voice was making me sleepy…

 

The MSR #60 with Colin Brown at it’s wheel came in to change it’s rear bodywork which had gotten a big Hole punched into it by somebody’s Bodywork? As they made the change I believe during the race’s second caution period and resumed in P6. Taking the damaged Bodywork back to the “Garage” to repair it, since spares were crucial during this inaugural GTP race.

 

Think Symone’, nee Pageantry’, aka Simon Pagenaud was a bit Naughty! And should have gotten a Drive-thru penalty, since poor John Farano is having the race to forget. With the Hapless Farano getting Hip-checked by Pagenaud, and then in turn leaving Scott Dixon No where to go! With Dixon spinning and damaging His rear wing, for which a large carbon fibre part fell off when He finally came to Pitlane to replace it. Yet remarkably He got away with No further damage and resumed the race.

 

Uber’ Funny how I missed Castroneves spinning entering Turn-1, having gone off to make dinner. As it was weird how Nobody beside the two Acura’s had led the race. With the exception of a Porsche leading for a lap during Pit stop exchanges. As I marveled after dinner how it was so different to Hear that the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Caddy’ with Jack Aitken was leading. And from Hours 7-10 the Cadillac’s of Whelen and Chip Ganassi Racing ran 1-2 and I think they also played Leapfrog with each other? Actually CGR ran 1-2 at Hour 8 and then one of Cheeps’ Cadd-Oh-lacs’ led at Hour 9, with MSR’s Tom “the Bomb” Blomqvist charging hard.

 

Third Full course Caution for the Turner BMW M4 GT3 #96 entry that suddenly had No Power. As thought I heard one of it’s Driver’s say it had a Driveshaft issue during a later interview. Noting how they were just out on track circulating after repairing it…

 

And then like I said above, I decided to callit an early night. For which I’m always amused typically How much the race’s complextion changes over night. As I signed off with the following leaders in class: #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-LMDH with Jack Aitken in GTP. Although the Hard Chargin’ Colin Brown in the Meyer Shank Racing #60 Acura ARX-06 was nipping at “Achey Breaky’s” (Aitken) Heels! And the #60 has been the Quickest GTP racecar since the Roar Before the 24 began…

 

The No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports with Nicolas Lapierre behind the Keypbaord led the way in LMP2.

 

Pole sitter Nico Pino at the controls of the #33 Sean Creech Motorsports led in LMP3. While not surprisingly, Jordan Taylor in the iconic #3Corvette led the GTD Pro Class.

 

While the NO. 70 McLaren 720s of Inception Racing led the GTD Class, albeit it was off sequence. Meaning the Hard luck No. 57 Windward Racing Mercedes was actually leading. But we still Had more than over Half the race to go… 

ROLEX 24: 2023 Qualifying Recap

As so much for a Quiet “Buildup” to the Race’s Main Event!

 

Strange, how much another elongated Offseason can make you suddenly Crave some Motor Racing, Eh? Since it had only been just over Two and-a-Half months since I’d last “watched,” Err listened to the (2022) Brazilian Grand Prix Wayback’ on November 13th. While I won’t even belabour How Stupendously long Indy Cars Off season is! Seriously, One Half of a Gory Year, Yikes!

 

Thus for Humour, I decided to try seeing if I could pull-up Friday’s second practice session via Ye Intrawoods’, nee internet, which I did via IMSA Radio. And it was G-R-R-R-Reat! Hearing John Hindhaugh’s voice once again. Whose definitely my Numero Uno Announcer!

 

Then I listened to Sunday’s Qualifying session in it’s entirety, including the extra 20mins “Warm-up” session for the GTP runners preceding Qualifying. As I’m really not sure why they needed the extra 20mins? But IMSA seemed overly intent on giving them every opportunity to work out potential Bugs prior to Thar maiden race outing…

 

First out was All 33 GTD racers, i.e.; GTD Pro and GTD, for which the first four positions were filled by Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo racecars! With the No. 57 Winward Racing entry with Philip Ellis taking the overall Pole. As three GTD Mercs’ led the way, with the “Heinz 57” followed by the #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports and #75 SunEnergy1 Racing entries ahead of the fastest GTD Pro entry in P4, the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing entry.

 

Next up in what seemed sort of stupid! Like why couldn’t they have combined the LMP2 and LMP3 categories together? Yet instead the LMP3 Class got 15mins alone. In what became a massive back “n forth Scrum for Pole. Which finally went to 18yr Old Chilean Nico Pino in the No. 33 Sean Creech Motorsports Ligier. Which was Pino’s Debutante Pole position.

 

Ditto for the LMP2 Class, having 15mins on the Day-Toner’ High banks All to themselves. As Ben Keating in the #52 PR1/ Mathiasen Motorsport entry took Pole ahead of His Arch-nemesis Steven Thomas in the #11 TDS Racing entry, which includes Rinus VeeKay.

 

As I enjoyed Keating’s Aw Shucks I’m Talkin’ Smack Texas Drawl during the Pole winner’s interview. With Keating claiming that Thomas wouldn’t let Him go ahead of Him ON-track, so He just used Him for a “Tow” to Claim Pole!

 

But the Big News was the massive crash that Tower Motorsports No. 8’s Team Boss John Farano suffered at the Bus Stop Chicane. To which Keating said He wasn’t surprised by. Noting that the first two days they’d had a 10mph Headwind which Had suddenly switched to a 20mph Tailwind there!

 

Yet Farano wasn’t the only driver to crash at the Bus Stop. As it was kinda Funny Hearing Hindhaugh muse how Nick Tandy in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport’s 963 was the first to Officially Crash a GTP entry during Thar 20mins Qualie’ session.

 

As Tandy was supposedly on a Flyer that was headed towards Pole before losing the car Arse-sumedly due to the Mega’ Tailwind, bringing out the Day’s second Red Flag. Followed by Tom “the Bomb” Blomqvist in Meyer Shank Racin’g #60 Acura ARX-06 claiming Pole position on a single lap “Flyer!”

 

Obviously both of these Prototype chassis were completely rebuilt before practice kicked off four days later. When unfortunately  things got serious during Thursday morning’s first practice session before the race.

 

As Lucas Auer lost control of the No. 57 Windward Racing’s GTD Pole sitting Mercedes and Slammed Head-on into a Concrete Wall, writing off the Mercedes!

As Auer had to be extracted thru the roof hatch with major injuries to His Back.

 

As later that night I caught Racer’s Video recap with Marshall Pruett, Graham Goodwin and Sebastien Bourdais. With Bourdais saying it looked like a compression fracture to Him, albeit it wouldn’t be as Bad as His Nasty Accident at Mother Speedway since you’re at least sitting upright in the GTD Cars…

 

As this Had to be the story of the eventual race for Mwah. When the Winward Racing team amazingly got it’s spare Mercedes-AMG GT3racecar out to Daytona from it’s Houston Shop

Lickidly Split! As I thought I’d heard that the team’s Spotter – Who also serves as it’s (Semi) Hauler’s Driver had flown back to Houston. And then drove the team’s spare chassis to Daytona. For which the backup chassis happened to be a previous race winner.

 

As GT4 racer David Morad substituted for Auer, who reportedly broke His Back.

 

As Auer is the nephew of somebody named Gerhard Berger, who you may recall once was a Ferrari and McLaren Formula 1 Driver. Along with previously owning some racing series called DTM.

 

As here’s a No Fenders tome I scribbled about Herr Berger a long, long time ago…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2008/07/bit-berger.html

 

As the Winward’s Fairytale Dream of redemption came up just 35 minutes short! After having been forced to start last in the GTD Field due to replacing it’s entry, the team ran as far as second in class for periods of time. But then on a final restart it All went Pear Shape! As Pilip Ellis who was trying to pass the GTD Pro Corvette for a shot at the eventual winning GTD No. 27 entry collided and suffered Driveshaft damage I believe… 

Rolex 24 Postscript: 2022 Race’s Hours 3-11, 19-24

As Usual, the Race goes Down to the Wire for most of the Five Classes…

 

Welcome to the (2022) USA Network’s era of Motorsports. Y’all know, when you begin the first segment of the Rolex 24 12 Freakin’ minutes Late because of some third string Junior Varsity Men’s college Basketball game between Saint Bonaparte, Err Bonaventure and Saint Joseph’s. With the latter trailing by 11 points but still Dishing out Fouls with 21 seconds left, Ralf! And who knew that ‘Ol Napoleon was a Saint, Eh?

 

Nice intro segment interview with Alexander Rossi, musing over being Bored. Since He won’t get into the cockpit until some 9 hours later!  Tried playing Call of Duty, but He’s really Bad at it!

 

Hinchcliffe is so Silky smooth as a Colour Commentator, Er Driver Analyst!

 

3.5Hr mark; 3^rd Full course Caution, Multiple cars involved including #23. Clapping loudly over Hulio’ cutting a tyre on the #10 Acura. As Mike Shank sez’ will probably go down 2 laps but Not worried ‘bout it. Hulio’s a wonder to be around, full of energy, Eternally Young and usually talking in Portuguese first!

 

Dave Burns and Brian Till in Booth replacing lead Announcers Leigh Diffey and Calvin Fish.

 

Good Jimmie Johnson interview, claiming K-Squared’ aka Kamui Kobayashi is Thar Main Man and he’s No where Maximum Attack! After having put on another Passing Clinique! Taking the lead back twice!

 

Cheep’ says JJ’ will win an IndyCar race this year, to which JJ’ says playfully; I’m Glad Chip (Ganassi) said that instead of Me. Especially since we All know how that worked out…

 

The GTD #32 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo has Part-time IndyCar Driver James Davison as part of it’s Driving Crew. Not sure if All Aussie’ Driver lineup? As I’d really like to see more of Davidson in action. As He seems like a really Decent Bloke!

 

Made it nearly to Hour 11 of the race, or was that Hour 12? Since ironically being nearly 11PM Pacific on Ye Oregon Coast would have been twelve Hours for Mwah. Although I was “Pacing” Thyself, meaning I probably stopped round 10PM? As I was planning on getting up to listen to the last 3+ hours in the morning.

 

As Tristen Nunez, Remember Him Y’all? In the #31 Whelen engineering Cadillac led the race at the end of Hour 11, following it’s ninth Caution. With the No. 8 Tower Motorsports Oreca/Gibson leading LMP2. And the No. 74 Riley Motorsports Ligier/Nissan led the LMP3 Class.

 

The Saloons’ category saw Patrick Pilet leading GTD Pro in the #2 KCMG Porsche 911 GT3 R. With the No. 32 Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo leading the GTD Class when I signed off for the evening.

 

And that’s as far as I got with this riveting Postscript last year Ladies and Germs’. Meaning I’ll just try wrapping up below instead…

 

From Dawn until Race’s End

From my No Fenders story’s title, those apparently were the Hours I partook of the 2022 Rolex 24, not including the first Hour’s NBC Stint. Equaling a total of some 14 Hours, meaning I made it more than Halfway thru the race…

 

Remember that I couldn’t Sleep so I got up sooner than expected and resumed during Hour 19 of the race Me Thinks? But it’s all definitely a Blur now nearly a year later. Thus instead of trying to recap the final five Hours, I’ll just cut to the chase…

 

Mike “Ice Ice, Baby!” Conway led in the #31 whelen Engineering Caddy’ at Hour’s end, after Hulio’ had led for most of Hour 19 in the Meyer shank Racing No. 60 Acura. The #8 Tower Motorsports still led in LMP2, and ditto for Riley Motorsports #74 in LMP3.

 

The Saloons now saw the No. 9 Phaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R leading. And the Wright Motorsports #16 led GTD, giving Porsche a Clean Sweep of the GT3 Tintops’ classes.

 

And whilst most Attenzione focused upon the Fireworks occurring on the race’s final lap between the two GTD Pro Porsche’s Beatin ‘N Bangin’ for the win! It was the Meyer Shank Racing #60 Acura winning outright with Gasp! That ‘Ol Dancin’ fool Helio Castroneves as part of it’s winning Drivers Quartet, Sigh! With Tom “The Bomb” Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis and Oh Yeah, don’t forget Me! Simon Pagenaud…

 

As ironically, it was Mike Shank’s second 24 Hours of Daytona win, which came a Decade after that most memorable win with A.J. “Bigshot” Allmendinger, the late Justin BIG UNIT” Wilson, Ozz Negri and John Pew at the controls of it’s #60 Riley/ford Daytona Prototype. Which Racer’s Marshall Pruett  wrote about following MSR’s second Rolex 24 victory.

 

https://racer.com/2022/01/29/retro-shanks-breakthrough-2012-rolex-24-win/

 

The No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R was victorious in GTD Pro. With Mathieu Jaminet Holding Serve vs. Laurens Vanthoor in the #2 Porsche. Whose Racin’s Rubbin’ antics saw Vanthoor fall to third, when the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 said Thank You very Mucho! Playing Thru, and scooted into P2 in Class.

 

Colton Herta put on an amazing pass during the closing stint of the race to bring the No. 81 Dragonspeed with Co-Drivers Pato O’Ward, Devlin De Francesco and Eric Lux the LMP2 win!

 

The No. 74 Riley Motorsports team won Back-to-Back in LMP3 with it’s second, consecutive Class victory.

 

Whilst the #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Ryan Hardwick, Jan “Van Hagar” Heylend, Zacharie Robichon and Richard Lietz won the GTD Class.

 

And now it’s almost time for this year’s Rolex 24 to commence on January 28th… 

Rolex 24 Postscript: 2022 Race’s Opening Segment

Which surely will be Déjà vu Du, as ‘Ol Yogi Berra would say again this year…

 

Had a Funny thought this morning, (January 29th) awaiting the Green Flag Dropping upon last year’s Rolex 24 motor race. Thinking how it kind of reminded me like being a kid on Christmas morning. Although the Dawning of another motor racing season can never compare to the Sheer Excitement of waking up to go discover what presents Santa’s left Yuhs underneath Ye tree!

 

Nonetheless, I did get momentarily excited before the Deafening, Sleep Disrupting Nonstop Outdoor “Generator” Noise started at Bloody 7AM, Sigh!

 

Whilst it’s funny how here on the opposite coast in Ye Utter’ Florence, we were experiencing our own Cool weather, albeit warmer than Daytona Beach, with Friday’s High of an unseasonably warm 58 degrees and an expected Drop of 25 degrees Mercury overnight, Crikeys!

 

While it was GURR-REAT! To Hear Leigh Diffey’s voice once again, cannot say I was Happy over the RASSCAR’ Centric NBC Announce Crew! With Junior’, nee Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining Diffey and Calvin Fish in the Broadcast Booth. With ex-RASSCAR’ Crew Chief Steve LeTart roaming the grounds.

 

But I have to say a Smirk came across my face when Kevin “the Werewolf!” Lee got Drowned Out by the noise of the racing cars! With Parker Kligerman also on Pitlane. And then reportedly 12-feet “High” in the Peacock Pit booth was Marty Snidely Whiplash Snyder with Ye Mayor ‘O Hinchtown (James Hinchcliffe) and (Townsend) T-bell  

 

As Once again it was Nothing But commercials! During Big NBC’s One Hour Teas! With their TV coverage starting at 10:30AM Pacific. Beginning with a three minute Intro US Bank Sports Desk segment. Then the first of six three minute commercial breaks; having recorded the following “Racing” segments: 10:36-45AM, (9mins) 10:48-57AM, (9mins) 11:00-04AM, (4mins) 11:07-19AM (12mins) and 11:22-27AM (5mins) before Disappearing to that Freakin’ El Stupidio Peacock Paywall Cock Ah-little DuDu’ Streaming service, Barf!

 

Which contrary to what the Bloggosphere tries spinning, really is a Paywall, No matter How you Slice It! But I digress…

 

Somebody noted Thar were a total of 235 Drivers competing in the Mondo’ 61 car field, the largest since 2014. Whilst Junior claimed that the Prototypes would be lapping the GT Daytona Saloons’ every 15 minutes!

 

Really nice segment of Hinch’ interviewing one of his Best Friends Robby Wickens, a la Thee Young Wicky’ as James once called him a Zillion Years ago. Following Wickens and Co-Driver Mark Wilkens finishing third overall in Wickens comeback race. As Kudos to Townsend Bell for not only pointing out the obvious over Wickens Grit, Determination and Desire to return, but also giving A shout Out to Memo Gidley who’d also made his Prototypes return earlier in the IMSA Prototype Challenge race.

 

And somewhere  later on, during the multiple hours of Broadcasting. I learned that Ford will return to Factory Sports Car racing with it’s brand new IMSA Mustang GT3 racecar in 2024! And go Head-to-Head with Corvette’s new Z06 GT3 racecar, amongst the other GT3 competitors.

 

https://racer.com/2022/01/28/ford-to-revive-imsa-factory-program-with-gt3-mustang-in-2024/

 

Whilst I’ll Arse-sume that this year’s January 28-29 61st running of the Rolex 24 will look virtually the same, with NBC using much of Thar Roundy round Taxicab Bomber personalities as possible, Drat! 

Another Petit Le Mans Closes Sports Car Season on a High

As it was the typical Donnybrook, Firecracker fisticuffs Multi-class racing Us Sports Car Fans have come to Enjoy…

 

Gorged Thyself over thoust weekend, “Watching,” Whale’ actually listening to most of the Petit Le Mans, for which I partook All 10 Hours of, Zoinks!

 

Began by Tuning into the first two hours plus on Big NBC enjoying hearing Leigh Diffey with his Sports Cars Sidekicks Calvin Fish and Townsend Bell before switching over to ESPNews for another McQuackery’ Joker Quack-Quack F1 Sprint qualie’ race. Then spent the next six and three quarter Hours listening to John Hindhaugh and Company on IMSA Radio…

 

Yeah, I know that the Dreaded BoP (Balance of Performance) plays a large part in the close racing. Nevertheless, how can you not marvel over the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship’s Season Finale coming down to the last 21mins of another epic 10 Hour race!

 

As I was Pullin’ for the little Mazda that could All race long, even when they went three laps down, Yikes! Since it would simply be a Fairy Tale ending to Mazda’s Prototype’s tenure running the smallest motor on the grid, i.e.; 2.0 litre Inline Four Banger’ (4 cylinder) turbo, which always makes me think of those All conquering IMSA GTP AAR Eagles of years past!

 

Yet with my Talking Keychain Clock chiming 6:49PM Pacific when Harry Tincknell put a brazen pass upon Felipe Nasr for the lead and eventual win, how could you not be Happy for Mazda in Thar Swan song, Eh? Especially since the Double Nickel #55 was adorned with scores of Fans John Hancock’s, including IMSA Radio’s Pit Reporter Shea Adam upon it.

 

Whilst it was apparent that Nasr in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac was completely focused upon claiming the DPi Prototypes Championship title since he backed out of a few potential lunges for the lead whilst trailing Tincknell, instead keeping a fleeting, scant 1.8 second lead ahead of Ricky Taylor in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura. The two protagonists for the Prototypes title, with whichever car finished ahead being crowned Champion!

 

As I was Rootin’ for Nasr to hold off Taylor, who attempted Dive Bombing the Brazilian on the final lap to No avail! As Nasr leaes the team for Audi, and Co-Driver Pipo Derani who lost the title to Taylor and Hulio’ (Castroneves) last year were worthy Championship winners this season!

 

In the words of RASSCAR’, The big One occurred when seven GT Cars were ultimately taken out of competition upon one of the multiple restarts, being victums of what ‘Ol Hobbo’, aka HobbsCapp’, nee David Hobbs would call the Concertina effect, when the trailing pack sped up, slowed down and Whamoe! As the ensuing Full Yellow Caution would last for a Half hour-plus.

 

Very Happy over my Team Seattle Homeboyz’ Heart of Racing’s No. 23 Aston Martin being victorious in the GT Daytona class, with team leader and Endurance “Specialist” Ian James saying after the race that Ross Gunn was simply On Fire and No One was gonna Catch Him! Although obviously Roman DeAngelis did his part during the race.

 

The final GT Le Mans race seemed sorta Anti-climatic, especially with the leading #97 Weathertech Porsche 911 RSR-19 gifting the win to it’s Seester No. 79 full Season entry.

 

And I was Pullin’ for the #30 JR III Racing LMP3 entry after the #36 Andretti Autosport entry had multiple issues, but it was another ex-Indy Lights Driver atop the Class Podium instead, when Gar Robinson led the way aboard his #74 Robinson Ranch riley Motorsports entry.

 

And the Fireworks didn’t end there, since the leading #52 LMP2 entry was Docked a Post-race Drive-thru time penalty at the races end for Avoidable contact, seeing the No. 8 Tower Motorsports winning the class instead, with another obscure, forgotten ex-Indy Lights driver James French as part of the winning Driver’s trio.

 

As usual, it was a totally gripping race for ten solid hours, never knowing who would win the race outright, since many of the Big boyz DPi runners spent time leading, before deservably the ‘lil Car that Could won it’s final race! As not even could it’s suffering a broken Spark plug keep it out of Victory lane… 

IndyCar West Coast Wrap: Laguna Seca

So I guess it really is the Herta’s House After All, Eh?

 

Perhaps it’s just Mwah, but I find myself more ‘N more interested over how the IndyCar grid progresses over the weekend, in what many drivers denote how they “rolled Off the Hauler.” Although thought it was Rookie Romain Grosjean who said you Don’t want to start off P1 since then you Don’t have any room to improve? Yet , being P1 All weekend long at Portland wasn’t too Shabby for Alex Palou!

 

Interesting first practice session results on Friday, with Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden topping Ye Charts, followed by Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta nipping at his Heels. Herta led Mikey A’s three top 10 runners with team-mates Alexander Rossi fifth and James Hinchcliffe seventh. Chip Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) Alex Palou was third with team-mate Marcus Ericsson P10, while CGR runners Scott Dixon was P11 and Jimmie Johnson P24.

 

Ed Jones of Dale Coyne/Vasser Sullivan was a surprising P4., with his Coyne-Ware Racing team-mate Romain Grosjean ninth.

 

Oliver Askew led the way for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in sixth, whilst Graham Rahal was 17^th and Takuma Sato 19^th. With A.j. foyt Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais being the Meat in the RLLR Sandwich in P18.

 

Jack Harvey led the way for the Meyer Shank Racing’s duo, with Helio castroneves P13, one place ahead of Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward, who obviously won’t be happy being 14^th! With O’Ward’s “Wingman” Felix Rosenqvist P16.

 

Ed Carpenter Racing didn’t have a great session, with Rinus VeeKay P21 and Conor Daly P23, the latter just one position ahead of Jimmie Johnson!

 

Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was 12^th, will Power was P15 and Simon Pagenaud was 20^th. And Andretti’s Ryan Hunter-Reay did little to impress in 22^nd.

 

Rounding out the 27 Car field was Juncos Hollinger Racin’s Callum Ilott last, beaten out by Carlin’s Max Chilton and A.J. Foyt’s Dalton Kellett respectively.

 

Saturday Practice

Colton Herta sat atop the time sheets until Scotty McLaughlin bolted on a set of Firestone’s Alternate Red Rubber and stole P1 away from Herta! Alex Palou did likewise and vaulted to third. Simon Pagenaud jumped to P4 with Will Power behind him in fifth. Felix Rosenqvist took sixth with Alexander Rossi P7 and Ryan Hunter-Reay P8. Whilst Ed Jones slid to ninth with Josef Newgarden rounding out the Top 10.

 

Romain Grosjean dipped to 16^th while Callum Ilott (P19) was the meat filling between surely two disappointed title Contendahs’, with Scott Dixon 18^th and Pato O’Ward 20^th, Yikes!  

  

Qualifying

Whale’ Lookie Thar’ folks, another Bleepin’ Roundy round race making us wait until 8:30PM (Pacific) for the Canned qualie’ replay, SPEW! Not to mention my P.O.s. ISP Crapping Out when typing this, telling me the programme isn’t responding, WTF! And now it’s done it again; Urgh, but I digress!

 

According to IndyStar’s Nathan Browne; Of the 23 previous IndyCar races held at Laguna Seca, the winner has come from Outside the Top 3 Starters only twice! The Pole sitter has won an amazing 15 times and only finished Off the Podium five times! Of the total 69 Podium finishers, only 14 have come from outside the Top 6 Starting positions. Thus  making It into the Fast Six Shootout Uber Imperative!

 

So wadda Yuhs know? The Taxicab bombers Show ran late with the Canned IndyCar Qualifying TV Broadcast starting at 8:37PM Pacific, Thanks NBC Sports! Since they Chopped 5mins out of IndyCar’s allotted 90mins Broadcast, BOO!

 

And the massive exploding thunder clap over ye bungalow By the Sea at 8:30PM seemed like an ominous sign of what laid ahead at Laguna Seca! Since perhaps it was a warning for what Colton Herta would do Race Day?

 

Group 1 saw Pato O’Ward advance in 3^rd and Scott Dixon P6 with Romain Grosjean seventh and Josef Newgarden Knocked Out in ninth by Three Hundreds of a second! And will start a lowly P17 on a track notoriously difficult to pass upon.

 

Group 2 Saw Points leader Alex Palou barely scrape in at sixth quickest, with Conor Daly missing knocking out Palou by Five One-hundreds!

 

The Fast 12 saw both Palou and O’Ward having Scruffy laps but ultimately advancing to the Fast 6 Shootout, while Marcus Ericsson and Dixon would ultimately miss the Cut. As the Swede’ waited to see if he’d been impeded? Impressively Oliver Askew made the Fast Six Shootout, while Ericsson and Dixon wound up P7-8 respectively.

 

O’Ward was penalized for bringing out a yellow when spinning in the Corkscrew, and ends up P6 with Palou starting directly ahead of him on Row 2 in fourth. Will Power loses second place for not slowing down enough during Pato’s Yellow Flag and ends up third, whilst Askew ties his career best Qualie’ position with fifth.

 

Alexander Rossi moves up to start second after Power’s infraction, alongside Pole sitter Colton Herta, giving Andretti Autosport a Front row lockout. With Colton wryly noting how Mario’s sitting on Pit Wall and I’m sure He’s Happy about Power Not getting another Pole position…

 

Romain Grosjean and Scott McLaughlin both failed to advance to the Fast 12 Qualie round from their respective Groups, as Grosjean will roll off 13^th and McLaughlin P16. As the Kiwi’ currently sits 13^th Overall in the points standings on 268 markers to Grosjean P15 on 230.

 

Race Day

While I enjoyed Pato O’Ward’s answer to Kelly Stavis Pre-race when asked how he was going to attack the start and get around Alex Palou; “Uh, guess I’ll Have to Send It! I’m kinda in a Chip Ganassi Sandwich…” As Pato was directly behind Palou and had Marcus Ericsson and Scott Dixon starting directly behind him on Row 4.

 

Yet O’Ward’s other answer was more telling, when he said they’d gotten the maximum out of the car in P6 after finishing 20^{th in practice. Which was a sign of things to come as Pato started on the Primary Black tyres with everyone else on the softer Alternate Reds and summarily plummeted down the order! And never once during the entire race got ahead of title rival Palou.}

 

^{Colton Herta’s two biggest challengers took themselves out of the running, albeit Herta and Alexander Rossi touched on lap-2 with Rossi then spinning off track and going a lap down. Will Power had an engine problem on lap-3 and think he went two laps down? Whilst we’ll never know how much Palou truly had  in his tank? Since the Spaniard Harried Herta  all day long, but eventually settled for second, en route to widening his points lead over O’Ward to 35 points.}

 

^{Driver of the race Hands Down was romain Grosjean who put on a passing Clinique where you’re not supposed to be able to pass! Rocketing from 13th to eventually the final step on the podium. (3rd) As two of his numerous 27 “Victims” were eventual fourth place Graham Rahal and O’Ward soldiering home in fith.}

 

^{Scott Dixon probably had the worst day of all, first faltering to many while trying to survive on the primary Black Firestone tyres before being Hit by a backwards Takuma Sato, who’d spun ontrack, and didn’t manage to stop his car from rolling into Dixon’s path! As both Dixon and (CGR) team-mate Marcus Ericsson were mathematically eliminated from the championship Sunday.}

 

^{Josef Newgarden had a pretty rough day, but made a four stop strategy see him finish seventh after starting 17th. Yet Newgarden fell to 48 points behind Palou and is virtually eliminated from the title fight also.}

 

^{Jimmie Johnson had his career best finish in P17 and provided some of the races “Best” action late going when he was instructed to make Grosjean “Earn it!” And try to hold up the Hard Charging Frenchman who was trying to track down fellow Ganassi team-mate Palou running second. As the pair momentarily collided in the Corkscrew but both soldiered on to finish the race.}

 

But make no mistake, Colton Herta put another Beatdown on the IndyCar field at Laguna Seca, leading 91 of 95 laps, following his 2019 rout of leading 83 of 90 laps! Having now won Back-to-Back victories in Monterey, and has now won one more IndyCar race then his Pops Bryan “High speed Hurdles” Herta did during his IndyCar career, with Colton claiming his 5th W’. 

IndyCar West Coast Wrap: Portland

Like Ain’t Everyone still ah-Talkin’ about that Crazy Race in the Rose City?

 

Obviously Y’all know that IndyCar has commenced it’s final three races with it’s West coast Swing beginning at Portland International Raceway on September 12^th, a track I know very well from spending copious amounts ‘O time at over two decades during the CART/Champ Car era. For which a tiny part of Mwah still wishes I was attending…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2009/06/portlands-centennial.html

 

Arse-sumedely’, it had been gone over Ad Nausea that Arrow McLaren SP’s (AMSP) Patricio Pato’ O’Ward led the Championship with 435 points, 10 ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) Alex Palou, who’s had dreadful luck the previous two races. Third in the title fight was Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden 22 points behind, whilst CGR team-mates Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson were 43 and 60 points adrift respectively, which seem the most likely candidates to win the championship entering the Portland weekend.

 

Saturday Highlights

Will try not digressing about having to wait until 8:30PM Pacific to “Watch,” Err listen to 43 Glow In the Dark $19.95 Heli’ Commercials and the Delayed, Canned Qualifying TV coverage. Oh wwait, is Thar some Roundy round race at Bristol coming up next week? As it’s Uber Annoying having to go “Dark” waiting All Freakin’ Day!  Uhm, Aren’t we Doin’ that again this weekend? Oops, think I got that outta my system, Eh?

 

Saturday’s first Practice session involved three Red flag periods and the Top 9 being just 0.2 seconds apart. As Alex Palou finished P1 with a surprising Helio Castroneves and Jack Harvey P2-3 respectively. Pato O’Ward and Josef Newgarden were fourth-fifth, while Will Power was seventh. With Scott Dixon 11^th and Marcus ericsson 14^th.

 

Alexander Rossi led Andretti Autosport’s charge in eighth, with team-mate Colton Herta ninth. Both being Pipped by Coyne-Ware Racing’s Rookie Romain Grosjean in sixth, with Rookie Of the Year Points leader Scott McLaughlin P12.

 

Graham Rahal led the way for RLLR in 10th, with new #45 team-mate Oliver Askew ending up P16.

 

Amazingly, Jimmie Johnson who wound up 20^th, finished ahead of Conor Daly, (21^st) Simon Pagenaud (23^rd) and five places ahead of Dalton Kellett!

 

While IndyCar Debutante Callum Ilott “Cruised” home for Juncos Hollinger Racing P24. Rinus VeeKay (17th) will get a 6-place Grid penalty for an engine change, and possibly ditto for Takuma Sato, who ground to a Halt early on. Whilst once again, the dreaded Cartoon Anvil Hit Ryan Hunter-Reay Yuhs Know Where! With a reported wiring loom issue curtailing his practice.

 

As Sato took an unapproved engine change and garnered a 6-place Grid penalty, with Hunter-Reay also expected to and thus, look for VeeKay, Sato and Hunter-Reay rolling off P25-27 respectively.

 

Qualifying

Yeah, I know that if you’re watching TV then it’s Arse-sumed You can See the Bloody screen! And the various Graphics, Hence the lack of true Verbal information on who’s in the respective Qualifying Groups or who gets shuffled out, leaves your Blind Word Butcher in Ye Dark, literally!

 

Thus All that came across during the first group was how Pato O’Ward had a really loose racecar with massive rear-end Drift and barely clawed his way forward by just surviving in sixth! With Leigh Diffey calling him the Ninja when going to commercial break and saying look at those Hands!

 

Group 2 also seemed a blur, other than Alex Palou began to stamp his authority on Qualie’ by being P1 in this group which saw Josef Newgarden failing to advance. As I loved the interview afterwards where the Team Penske driver was completely Baffled over his lack of speed and qualifying 18^th!

 

Oh Yeah, think it was Group 1? Where afterwards they showed Romain Grosjean’s apparent infraction of holding up his Rookie Of the Year opponent Scott McLaughlin to which the typically blunt Paul Tracy said he didn’t think it was a penalty, even though Romain was given one, especially since McLaughlin actually got “Blocked” twice by two different cars, the other being Oliver Askew who didn’t get a penalty…

 

Conor Daly admitted making a mistake on his final lap and wryly noted starting in the back with Newgarden, Power and Uhm? They’re All trustworthy Guys to be around who won’t do something stupid, so we should be Ok.

 

For which the other “big Name” must be Castroneves, (17^th) since Power was the Quickest Penske in 14^th with McLaughlin behind him on Row 8 in 15^th with Daly P16.

 

IndyCar Rookie Callum Ilott will start a respectable 19th with Jack Harvey alongside in 20^th, while Grosjean who lost his fastest two laps rolls off P21, directly behind Ilott.

 

Then the biggest news of the Top 12 round had to be O’Ward  getting knocked out by his AMSP team-mate Felix Rosenqvist by some scant 0.013 seconds! With the Swede advancing and Pato finishing P7. Also impressively, Graham Rahal made it to his first Fast 6 Shootout appearance of the year, but once again it was Palou on top.

 

Have to say I was rootin’ for Alexander Rossi to take Pole, but Silly Me, Palou Owned the Day and captured his Debutante IndyCar Pole with Rossi second. Dixon took a quiet third with Rosenqvist fourth. And Rahal was P5 while Colton Herta’s gamble as the only car on the primary Black Firestone’s backfired as he ended up sixth.

 

Oh Yeah, shoutout to Oliver Askew who put the #45 RLLR entry ninth on his debut for the team, while Marcus ericsson will start alongside him him 10^th.

 

 Race Day…

This simply has to be the most Insane race of the year! As I cannot ever remember a Start at Portland where the first two rows go Offtrack and Miss the first turn! Having to go thru the Chicane’s Runoff area whilst Pato O’Ward who’s starting seventh becomes the race’s leader! Whilst Romain Grosjean earned Racer’s Marshall Pruett’s “Golden bowling Ball Award” with a Direct Strike! As the Frenchman was described being like a Torpedo by Castroneves and James Hinchcliffe, who’s had even worse luck than Andretti team-mate Ryan Hunter-Reay, said Grosjean’s Turn 1 Shenanigans were Comical!

 

And at one point with the IndyCar Race Stewards throwing the Hammer down upon the first four starters, O’Ward was suddenly leading the Championship by 48 points, Aye Karumba!

 

As Pole sitter Alex Palou, Second place Alexander Rossi, Third place Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist in P4; Instigator of the Blown First Turn when Nudging Dixon, were All sent to the back of the Grid in positions 16^th thru 20^th, WTF! Although little did we know how this would benefit them eventually…

 

O’Ward led for awhile before Graham Rahal in second performed the Overcut on O’Ward and then comfortably settled into the lead. But it was all for nought, as a Full course Caution for two cars stranded Ontrack, i.e.; Callum Ilott and Dalton Kellett brought out the first of multiple Yellow Flag periods, for which O’Ward seemingly got Hosed by.

 

And I still don’t completely understand how they did it? But Pole sitter Palou who’d been sent back to P16 or whatever managed to cycle his way to the front by having pitted on lap 9. Having switched to a three stop strategy during the race’s first 11 laps being run under Caution, as IndyCar Officials scrambled to reset the order correctly, not going Green until lap 11, Say What?

 

And even though Alexander Rossi had two restarts to try passing Palou, he simply couldn’t get the job done, as Palou held off Rossi and the rest of the field to score his third win of the season! And in doing so see a 35 point swing in his favour, and now leads O’Ward  by 25 points heading to Laguna Seca, who had dreadful luck and finished a lowly 14^th.

 

Scott Dixon finished third, now 49 points behind. As remarkably, the Top 3 starters finish in their same positions, which seemed impossible after lap 1! While Rossi had to be disappointed finishing second! Although it’s his first podium of the season, and do I Dare “Curse” Him by saying He’ll win Long Beach…

 

Josef Newgarden salvaged a 5^th place finish from starting P18 and now sits 34 points adrift of Palou. Whilst Marcus ericsson now seems out of the Hunt, falling 75 points behind Palou with a Ho Hum 7^th place finish.