Turns: 13
Length: 2.258 miles (3.634km)
Laps: 75 each
Fastest Lap: Simon Pagenaud – 1:03.870 – 2016
Most Wins: Scott Dixon (6)
2019 Winner: Scott Dixon
Rounds 10 and 11 of the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series will see the championship finally arrive at Mid-Ohio after the two races were reinstated to the schedule at the last moment.
The event had originally been postponed after a spike in COVID-19 cases in the surrounding areas, but IndyCar had been working tirelessly with the state in order to get the race back on the schedule with fans permitted to attend under strict conditions.
With the double-header now back on the schedule, there are five races remaining which could keep Chip Ganassi’s Scott Dixon waiting for a potential sixth IndyCar title given his 96-point lead over Josef Newgarden.
An eventful double-header at the season’s final oval at Gateway saw victories for Dixon and Newgarden, solidifying them as the main championship contenders. However, Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward is now just 23 points behind Newgarden and is hungry for his first IndyCar victory in his first full season in the series.
The Mid-Ohio circuit was first used by IndyCar in 1980 where Johnny Rutherford went on to claim victory in his Chaparral-Cosworth as part of his title-winning campaign.
The weather on Saturday could bring the season’s first wet weather running, as a storm system is set to push through in the afternoon. The rain should clear out by Sunday morning, with dry conditions expected for the second day of action.
2019 Recap
Team Penske’s Will Power led the field away with 2018 winner Alexander Rossi alongside him on the front row.
As the race strategies panned out, Newgarden became the race leader but his race was hampered by a slow pitstop on lap 40 left him back in the pack.
Chip Ganassi’s Felix Rosenqvist went on an aggresive four-stop strategy to try and make his way through the pack.
In the final laps, Dixon had been struggling with a lack of grip and had to do his best to fend off his Swedish team-mate who was chasing his first IndyCar victory.
The five-time champion crossed the line first, but by only a nail-biting 0.093 seconds. It may have not been the win for Rosenqvist, but he did claim his first IndyCar podium.
Newgarden collided with third-placed Ryan Hunter-Reay at the Keyhole on the final and ended up in the gravel trap, a feat he cannot afford to make again given his current points gap to Dixon this season.
The two races are set to get underway at 17:00 EDT on Saturday with the second race Sunday starting at 13:00 EDT.
