By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Warp speed was the norm at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during a “Fast Friday” practice session that saw the 230 mph barrier battered. Led by reigning Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden, Team Penske’s three-car juggernaut topped the four-lap/10-mile chart as 33 of 34 entrants posted single hot laps in excess of the “magic” 230 mph mark around the 2.5-mile IMS oval. Penske teammates Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power ranked 1-2-3 during simulated qualifying runs as the focus shifted to PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying today and Sunday. The 108th edition of “The Greatest…
Author: John Sturbin
John Sturbin
John Sturbin is a Fort Worth-based journalist specializing in motorsports. During a near 30-year career with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he won the Bloys Britt Award for top motorsports story of the year (1991) as judged by The Associated Press; received the National Hot Rod Association’s Media Award (1995) and several in-house Star-Telegram honors. He also was inaugural recipient of the Texas Motor Speedway Excellence in Journalism Award (2009). Email John Sturbin at jsturbin@hotmail.com.
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Arrow McLaren ace Pato O’Ward drove to the top of Thursday’s speed chart during Day 3 of practice for the 108th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the forecast for more rain loomed over the pivotal “Fast Friday” session. O’Ward led the overall chart at 228.861 mph in his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, a lap turned with the help of an aerodynamic two from leading cars around the famed 2.5-mile oval. Meanwhile, Colton Herta led the “no-tow” speeds in fourth at 226.828 mph in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda fielded by Andretti…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Surviving another rain-delayed morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway via a steady diet of Netflix, Scott McLaughlin began preparing for his fourth Indianapolis 500 by pacing Wednesday’s practice for the race’s 108th edition. McLaughlin led three Team Penske cars in the top four on the speed chart after a second consecutive rain-interrupted day of practice for INDYCAR’s premier event. A 30-year-old native of New Zealand, McLaughlin posted a hot lap of 229.493 mph around the 2.5-mile IMS oval in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet during a session that started five hours, five minutes late…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Eight former winners _ including reigning champion Josef Newgarden and four-time champ Helio Castroneves _ will continue preparations this week for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. INDYCAR’s official entry list for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 26, around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval also features five NTT IndyCar Series champions. Thirty-four entries will vie for the race’s traditional 33 starting spots. Tuesday’s Opening Day practice was curtailed by persistent rain after only 23 minutes of track time. Practice is scheduled to resume today through “Fast…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio From pole position to Victory Circle to the top of the championship standings, Alex Palou had the NTT IndyCar Series field blanketed this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A two-time/reigning series champion, Palou began the quest for the only item missing from his brilliant INDYCAR resume _ victory in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 _ with a repeat win in the Sansio Grand Prix on the IMS Road-Course. Palou drove the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a calculating 6.6106-second victory over Will Power in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio First bragging rights for the “Month of May” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway belong to Alex Palou, who qualified on-pole Friday as defending champion of today’s Sonsio Grand Prix. Palou earned his fourth career NTT P1 Award and first since the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear last June. The two-time/reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion, Palou’s best lap during the Firestone Fast Six was 1-minute, 9.0004-seconds/127.251 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. The pole-clinching lap on the 2.439-mile/14-turn IMS Road-Course admittedly ranked as a mild upset after Palou placed…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio The Americanization of Frenchman Theo Pourchaire will continue during the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season, courtesy of Arrow McLaren. Pourchaire, the reigning Formula 2 champion, will make his third start in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in Saturday’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course _ lead-in event to INDYCAR’s all-important “Month of May.” Two rounds of practice today will be followed by three rounds of knockout qualifying for the NTT P1 Award Friday afternoon around the 2.439-mile/14-turn layout. Saturday’s race is scheduled for 85-laps/207.3-miles. Pourchaire will sit-out the 108th running…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio INDYCAR chairman and team-owner Roger S. Penske has suspended Team Penske President Tim Cindric and three others for two races – including the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 – in the aftermath of the cheating scandal hovering over the sport as it rolls into the all-important “Month of May” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden – the reigning Indy 500 champion – had his victory in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg disqualified last month for illegal use of the series’ push-to-pass regulations. Teammate Scott McLaughlin’s result in…
Scott McLaughlin won the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst for the second consecutive year on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park,
Scott McLaughlin earned his first NTT P1 Award of the season and his sixth career NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole with his final lap of 1 minute, 5.9490 seconds during the Firestone Fast Six session in the No. 3 Good Ranchers Team Penske Chevrolet.