The NTT IndyCar Series contested its second short oval of the year on Sunday night, with floodlight towering over the track for the only time of the season.
Just as the sun set, and storm clouds loomed on the horizon, the green flags waved.
Alex Palou led the way for the opening laps, but eventually fell back a bit thanks to a couple slow stops from his crew.
READ MORE: IndyCar Gateway – Full Race Results
A couple short red flags for rain later, and the events threw Marcus Ericsson and Christian Rasmussen at the front of the field.
The two drivers completed an epic battle back and forth that thrilled the fans in the stands.
After one final pit stop, Josef Newgarden added himself to the mix and proved that he actually had the best car as the temperatures cooled down.
The two-time series champion led the way for the final laps, and crossed the line to earn his first win of the season.
He climbed from his car gingerly in victory lane on account of his injured left foot, then re-fit his walking cast before making his way up to the podium
Newgarden now has six wins at World Wide Technology Raceway, more than any other driver.
Marcus Ericsson was second across the line, just 0.6613 seconds behind the #2 car in front.
The Swede led 114 laps on the night, more than any other driver, and labeled his podium as bittersweet when he was setting his sights on his first win in three years.
Christian Rasmussen finished third, and admitted that he had the third best car on the day.
Not only was it Rasmussen’s first podium of the season, it was his first top 10 now nine races into the year. He will use his result as motivation for a longer turnaround heading into the second half of the season.
Rain delays
Just past the halfway point, when all drivers were settling into groove and planning towards the checkered flags, light rain moved over the speedway.
The sprinkles were just enough to maintain a caution period for about 10 laps, but then IndyCar decided to throw a red flag so as not to waste more laps behind the safety car.
After 38 minutes of red condition, the rain moved on and drivers got back to action once again.
Drivers used the clean track and were extra aggressive in the second stanza of the event, creating spectacular three-wide battles throughout the field.
The rain returned on lap 197, but this time the pause in action was even shorter than last time. Scott Dixon was scored as the leader at the time, having saved fuel as only Dixon can.
He had been on track for 57 laps, at the longer end of all pit stop cycles, and that would have worked out perfectly to his advantage if heavy rains had come.
As it was, The Iceman was forced to come to pits immediately after resumption and before the pits were officially open.
Dixon slid down the order immediately, and could only salvage a 12th place result.
His team-mate Alex Palou fared worse. After having a couple slow pit stops earlier in the night, the second red flag caused him to run out of fuel just as he was finally allowed to come down pit lane.
Palou coasted down pit road with nearly 20 of his competitors trying to avoid him as they danced around a busy strip of asphalt.
The reigning champion barely made it to his box, and did so without causing any collisions. He eventually finished the race in 17th, one lap down.
So close to victory
While Ericsson was wishing the race would have been called off during the first red flag, other drivers had the same thoughts.
Rookie Caio Collet was hopeful of a big downpour just past the halfway point as well, as he was running second at the time.
The AJ Foyt Racing crew was doing rain dances in the pit lane, but ultimately those efforts did not work as well as they hoped.
Collet had to pit shortly after to refuel his #4 Chevy, and remained in the top half of the field until larger issues struck.
The final caution of the day was brought out when Collet’s engine expired on the back straight on lap 226, ending his run. He finished in 22nd position.
A couple other drivers retired as well, but their nights were brought to an end by collisions with the barriers.
Nolan Siegel was the first to crash out, having impacted the Turn 1 wall after contact with Alex Palou.
Siegel thought he had left enough room for the Spaniard, but after their tires touched he was unable to save his car from damage.
Graham Rahal also crashed his car during the night, having lost control on his own.
Unlike Siegel, Rahal’s car spun around and he hit the wall with the left side of his car. His good run of fortune ended with the impact, and he finished in 23rd.
Drivers now have a one week break before regrouping in Road America for the longest road course of the year.
Discussion about this post