News for the Week of August 13 – August 19, 2018

Wickens update from INDYCAR 8/19/18 10:40PM – From INDYCAR at 10:40PM on 8/19/18: “Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens is being treated for injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine following an incident in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. He also sustained a pulmonary contusion. He will undergo an MRI and probable surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest. Further updates on his condition will be provided when available.” – INDYCAR – (8/20/2018)

Rossi dominates to win ABC Supply 500 at Pocono – Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi led 180 of 200 laps to win the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. The rest of the Top 5 was Power, Dixon, Bourdais, and Newgarden. The race was delayed under red flag for almost two hours after a huge incident initiated by contact between Hunter-Reay and Wickens. Wickens was airlifted from the track in “awake and alert” condition according to INDYCAR. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (8/19/2018)

Rain causes cancellation of final practice Pocono – Verizon IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 final practice was called off due to rain at Pocono Raceway on Saturday. – INDYCAR – (8/18/2018)

Power takes pole at Pocono – Team Penske’s two-time defending ABC Supply 500 winner Will Power won the pole at Pocono Raceway with a two-lap average at 219.511mph. The rest of the Top 5 was Newgarden, Rossi, Hunter-Reay, and Pagenaud. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (8/18/2018)

Veach leads Practice 1 at Pocono – Andretti Autosport’s Zach Veach was fastest in Practice 1 for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway with a lap at 217.393mph. The rest of the Top 5 was Newgarden, Rossi, Bourdais, and Dixon. Full results here. – INDYCAR – (8/18/2018)

Coyne adds car for Ferrucci at Portland and Sonoma – “After a promising Verizon IndyCar Series debut with Dale Coyne Racing earlier this season at the doubleheader weekend in Detroit, American Santino Ferrucci will be returning to the team behind the wheel of the #39 Cly-Del Manufacturing car for the final two rounds of the season at Portland and Sonoma. Ferrucci will be racing alongside teammates Pietro Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais in a third DCR entry sponsored by The Cly-Del Manufacturing Company.” See the livery on our No. 39 livery page here. Full release at the link. – Dale Coyne Racing – (8/17/2018)

The Open Wheel’s Pocono preview – The Open Wheel’s Dylan Reynolds’ preview of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway is available at the link. – The Open Wheel – (8/17/2018)

Toyota ends title sponsorship at Grand Prix of Long Beach – The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports Toyota has ended its title sponsorship of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. “We have had a phenomenal relationship with Toyota for 44 years, a record in the racing world,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, in a statement. “In recent discussions, however, Toyota has elected not to renew as the title sponsor.” Full story at the link. – Long Beach Press-Telegram – (8/17/2018)

Andretti Autosport announces US Concrete partnership extension – “The familiar red, grey and white colors of U.S. Concrete will paint the racing machine of Marco Andretti for the future of IndyCar Series competition as the ready-mixed concrete company will serve as lead primary sponsor of the third-generation driver through a multi-year agreement. The partnership will see the Dallas-based company ride on the No. 98 car for seven races each season, including the Indianapolis 500.” Full release at the link. – Andretti Autosport – (8/17/2018)

Pocono spotter guide – The spotter guide for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway is available at the link. – INDYCAR – (8/16/2018)

Pocono entry list – The entry list for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway is available at the link. – INDYCAR – (8/16/2018)

Harding confirms Daly will drive at Pocono – “Conor Daly will return to the Harding Racing stable for the ABC Supply 500 weekend at Pocono Raceway starting on Saturday, August 18. The American will pilot the #88 Chevrolet for 200 laps around the ‘Tricky Triangle’, a three-turn superspeedway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania for 500 miles.” Full release at the link. – Harding Racing – (8/16/2018)

Miller’s Mailbag 8/15/18 – RACER’s Robin Miller’s weekly fan Q&A is a great read as always. – RACER – (8/15/2018)

Trackside podcast 8/14/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show is a great listen as always. – 1070 The Fan – (8/15/2018)

Report: Daly to get Harding drive at Pocono – RACER’s Marshall Pruett reports Conor Daly will drive for Harding Racing this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Full story at the link. – RACER – (8/14/2018)

McLaren announces Alonso will NOT race in Formula 1 in ’19 – “McLaren Racing today confirms that double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso will not race in Formula 1 in 2019.” “After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” said Alonso. “…Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner. I’m having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to go on exploring new adventures.” Full release at the link. – McLaren – (8/14/2018)

CGR announces new multi-year deal for Dixon – “Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today that four-time INDYCAR Champion, 44-time Winner and Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon has signed a multi-year deal with its Verizon IndyCar Series team that will see the 38-year-old Kiwi begin a CGR record 18th season in 2019 behind the wheel of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda.” Full release at the link. – CGR – (8/13/2018)

Detroit GP reaches agreement to continue on Belle Isle for three years – “The Detroit Grand Prix and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) have reached an agreement for the annual motorsports festival to continue on Belle Isle for at least three more years. Under the terms of the agreement, the Grand Prix will return to its home on Belle Isle for three more years beginning in 2019, with an option for extending the agreement two additional years through 2023. The previous agreement to host the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle concluded with the 2018 race. Grand Prix officials listened to public feedback on the future of the race over the past year, consulted with stakeholders and made the decision to submit a proposal to the MDNR on July 13 to continue the event on the island. The MDNR, which manages the operation of Belle Isle Park, responded to the proposal with suggested changes on July 20. The Grand Prix adjusted its proposal and today reached an agreement to secure the future of the event.” Full release at the link. – Detroit GP – (8/10/2018)

Gateway orders up $1M in paving before INDYCAR event – From Gateway Motorsports Park: “Gateway Motorsports Park’s 1.25-mile oval’s pit road receives fresh pavement in preparation for the August 24-25 INDYCAR Weekend, featuring the August 25 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline for the Verizon IndyCar Series. Paving includes the entrance road to pit road (a.k.a. “pit in” in industry jargon) and the exit road from pit road (a.k.a. “pit out”). Paving on the GMP property also will include wider and longer access roads to and from the parking lots to better accommodate traffic flow. The entire project is estimated at $1 million.” Pictures at the link. – John Bisci – (8/10/2018)

Stewart still interest in Indy 500 drive if he can win – NBC Sports’ Nate Ryan reports Tony Stewart is still very much interested in driving in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race if the right opportunity comes along for him to give himself a chance to win. “If I go, I’m not going just to run it,” Stewart told NBC Sports. “I don’t want to be a sideshow like Danica (Patrick) was at Indy this year. If I go, I want to go feeling like I’ve got the same opportunity to win that everyone else in the field does. Full story at the link. – NBC Sports – (8/10/2018)

Pruett’s silly season update 8/8/18 – RACER’s Marshall Pruett has posted an excellent update on some silly season rumors for 2019. Check it out at the link. – RACER – (8/9/2018)

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