NTT IndyCar Series Race Preview: Rev Group Grand Prix at Road America

     



     After an exciting two-race stretch in Detroit, the stars of the NTT IndyCar Series head to one of the most beautiful race tracks in the country, and one of the most popular races on the schedule each year as the series heads to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the Rev Group Grand Prix at Road America.



Track History & Facts: Road America is a 4.048 mile, fourteen turn road course that has been hosting IndyCar since 1974 with USAC. CART raced at the track from 1982 to 2004, with a brief hiatus until 2006. Since 2008, IndyCar did not return to the track until 2016, and now returns annually to the track. Road America has long straights with great passing opportunities in Turns 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 12. Expect side-by-side racing and fast speeds exceeding 190 miles per hour. Josef Newgarden has the qualifying record at the track with a 1:43.4651. There are five former race winners in the field. Drivers include, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden and Sebastian Bourdais.


Driver Changes: While last year's race two winner Felix Rosenqvist is on the mend from a nasty wreck in race one of the Chevrolet Grand Prix last week, former Hass F1 driver Kevin Magnussen will be making his IndyCar debut with Arrow Mclaren SP. Oliver Askew will also be coming back again after Rinus Veekay suffered a collarbone injury on a bike ride earlier this week when he returns to Ed Carpenter Racing.

Championship Standings: Top 3 Drivers

1. Pato O'Ward - 299 points

2. Alex Palou -1

3. Scott Dixon -36

2020 Event: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was rescheduled to July 11-12. Josef Newgarden won the pole and led 25 laps of the 27 lap green flag run. During a pit stop on lap 30, Newgarden stalled his engine. He fell back to finish 14th. Scott Dixon went on to win the race which was his thrid win of the year. In race two, it was a duel between the now teammates at Arrow Mclaren SP in Pato O'Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. Felix saved his tires and passed O'Ward with two to go and went on to a first career victory in the IndyCar Series.

Race Predictions: After the horrible weekend for Team Penske last week in Belle Isle, look for them to come in to Road America with something to prove as they look for a first team win in the 2021 campaign. For Arrow Mclaren SP and Pato O'Ward, they have something to prove from their last time here. Coming so close to a win and not being able to close out the deal. Graham Rahal has had a very quiet season and would be a good darkhorse pick for the weekend. But I am going Joesf Newgarden to bring victory to Penske this weekend.


Weekend Schedule: 

IndyCar Practice: Friday at 5:00 P.M. EST on Peacock

IndyCar Practice #2: Saturady at 11:00 A.M. EST on Peacock

IndyCar Qualifying: Saturday at 2:30 P.M. EST on Peacock

IndyCar Final Practice: Saturday at 5:30 P.M. EST on Peacock

Rev Group Grand Prix (55 Laps/220.55 Miles): Sunday at Noon EST on NBC Sports Network




    

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