Author: Mike Haag

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series TORONTO – For the second time in three years, Josef Newgarden was the winning beneficiary of fortunate pit stop timing at the Honda Indy Toronto. Newgarden seized the lead by making his first stop just before a full-course caution flag waved on the streets course at Exhibition Place. The Team Penske driver led 58 of the last 61 laps to win the Verizon IndyCar Series race by 1.8704 seconds over Alexander Rossi. HONDA INDY TORONTO: Box score It is Newgarden’s second win of the 2017 season – following his April victory at the Honda Indy…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series SIMON PAGENAUD (No. 1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet): “The DXC Technology Chevrolet was tremendous all weekend. We just didn’t get that first stop in before the yellow like Josef (Newgarden) did. Overall, it was a good weekend for us. We made up some ground in points and it’s always great to visit Toronto. Congratulations to the No. 2 team and all of Team Penske.” JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 2 DeVilbiss Team Penske Chevrolet): “I think that is twice I have had good calls and got into the pits at the right time. Thank you to the…

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service LOUDON, N.H. – The relief was palpable. In a thrilling finish fraught with suspense, and in a backup car after a Friday crash in practice, Denny Hamlin held off a charging Kyle Larson to win the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Before the race, Hamlin and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization was in desperation mode, but when Hamlin took the checkered flag .509 seconds ahead of Larson, the picture changed dramatically. Hamlin secured a spot in the 10-race postseason playoff, which is now…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series TORONTO – Simon Pagenaud has put himself in the thick of the hunt for a second straight Verizon IndyCar Series title without earning the pole position for a race in 2017. Until today, that is. The reigning series champion set a track record for the current layout on the streets of Exhibition Place to capture the Verizon P1 Award and first starting position for the Honda Indy Toronto. The driver of the No. 1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet will lead the 21-car field to the green flag in Sunday’s 85-lap race on the…

SIMON PAGENAUD (No. 1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet): “It was a really good lap, one of the best I’ve ever put together. Certainly, there is not much more in it, but the whole qualifying I worked on details and driving. My teammates, they are tremendous. It’s such a good atmosphere when we work together. Each practice we talked about how we manage the corners and we keep improving each other. I feel like I really extracted the best out of my car, the best out of my setup today. It’s obviously the most satisfying thing and that is what…

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service LOUDON, N.H. – Kyle Busch’s celebratory burnout produced a cloud of smoke over the frontstretch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but Ryan Preece’s first run in top-of-the-line equipment made an even bigger impression in Saturday’s Overton’s 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race. After a major snafu on pit road took a potential win away from Brad Keselowski, who had arguably the fastest car at the Magic Mile, Busch cruised to a 10.425-second victory, collecting his third win in six starts this season, his sixth at NHMS and the 89th of his career, extending his series…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series TORONTO – Simon Pagenaud says his fortune has not been that good in the past at the Honda Indy Toronto, so the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion looks at being fastest in today’s practices as a positive sign. Pagenaud turned the quick lap of the day in this afternoon’s 45-minute session on the streets of Exhibition Place. Driving the No. 1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet, Pagenaud circled the 1.786-mile temporary circuit in 1 minute, 0.2573 of a second (106.702 mph). HONDA INDY TORONTO: Practice 1 results; Practice 2 results; Combined practice results In eight previous Toronto…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series SIMON PAGENAUD (No. 1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet): “The car has been phenomenal all day. I feel very comfortable. It’s great to be back in Toronto. This track is so much fun to drive on because it’s different to other tracks. Here it’s very low grip, you slide around in the corners. The tarmac changes throughout the corner, and it’s giving you a great challenge. I really enjoy that, I really do. You need to change your driving corner-to-corner. It’s not boring, I can tell you that. I’m excited. Again, the DXC car is…

Honda Indy Toronto Fast Facts Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series Race weekend: Friday, July 14 – Sunday, July 16 Track: Streets of Toronto’s Exhibition Place, an 11-turn, 1.786-mile temporary street course Race distance: 85 laps / 151.81 miles Entry List: Honda Indy Toronto (PDF) Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. Firestone tire allotment: Six sets primary, four sets alternate. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in the race. Twitter: @HondaIndy, @IndyCar, #IndyTO, #IndyCar Event website: www.HondaIndyToronto.com ; INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com 2016 race winner: Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) 2016…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series NEWTON, Iowa – The victory drought is finally over for Helio Castroneves. Now his chase toward a first Verizon IndyCar Series championship is in high gear. The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner ended a three-year, 54-race streak without a win by taking the checkered flag today in the Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. In the process, the driver of the No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet closed within eight points of the championship lead after 11 of 17 races. “We’ve been close (to winning) so many times, and finally luck was on our…