#INDY 500 RACE GEAR DRIVERS#
#INDY 500 RACE GEAR DRIVER#
#INDY 500 RACE GEAR SERIES#

Next up on the testing schedule is another run at TMS Monday, March 7 as a group of veterans get acclimated to the 1.5-mile oval before they race there later this month. As of now, the race on Sunday, March 20 could be anyone’s victory. It was an early look at what we can expect in this year’s XPEL 375 – which is to say that this year’s race will feature a tight field mere inches apart. Had their speeds come during last year’s practice session (qualifying was rained out), they would have been just outside the top 10 on the chart. One of the most exciting pieces of analysis to come out of Wednesday’s test was the closeness of the field, with just two-tenths of a second separating the top four drivers.Įven at that, the bottom two lap speeds set by DeFrancesco and Lundgaard were competitive. Last year, he swept the doubleheader weekend at WWTR to score two of his seven wins. In 2019, Malukas ran at Indianapolis and World Wide Technology Raceway. In fact, of all the rookies at the test, he has competed in the most oval races thanks to his experience in Indy Lights. 18 Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Honda.Ĭhicago-area resident Malukas isn’t completely new to ovals. On Wednesday, Malukas completed 315 miles in the No.

#INDY 500 RACE GEAR SERIES#

While reports indicate that Malukas wasn’t the fastest – settling in the middle of the speed charts – he certainly got the most out of the day by completing 210 laps.įor reference, at last year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader at Texas, the first race was 300 miles and the second race was 375 miles.

#INDY 500 RACE GEAR DRIVER#

Ilott had an edge over fellow rookie Lundgaard, the only other driver at the test who had never ran high-speed laps on an oval. Ilott and JHR also had the expertise of 2012 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, who was on hand in Texas to help coach Ilott. Remember, this is the team that knocked Fernando Alonso out of the Indianapolis 500 field in 2019 with Kyle Kaiser’s dramatic, memorable qualifying run. Plus, any time a single-car team like Juncos Hollinger Racing can compete with the multi-car teams is a good day for the organization. The fact that he picked up on this new style of racing from the get-go says wonders about his talent. Ilott grew up racing in Europe and was on the Formula One ladder until late last year. He finished second in both races at World Wide Technology Raceway.Īrguably the most impressive run to come out of the speedway rookie test was Ilott’s performance, which reports indicate landed him second on the speed charts.īear in mind Wednesday was the first time the Brit has driven on an oval.

He competed in two oval races last year in Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires. While it was his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES outing on an oval, this wasn’t Kirkwood’s first time only turning left. He also had seasoned oval veteran JR Hildebrand on hand to coach him in his first time driving an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on an oval. Before that, reports indicated that Grosjean was pacing the six-car field.ĪJ Foyt Racing’s rookie Kirkwood put down a reported best lap that would have landed him in the top five in practice for last year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader weekend at Texas. Kirkwood clocked a top speed just shy of 220 mph.

#INDY 500 RACE GEAR DRIVERS#

1 came late in the session as teams and drivers ran in a draft. No official times and speeds were released, but media reports indicated that Kirkwood was the fastest driver in Texas as he continues to show he’s already a rising star in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Kirkwood Continues To Show He’s Real Deal Grosjean was not required to participate due to oval testing and racing last year at World Wide Technology Raceway but took the option to do so. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) and Callum Ilott (No. 29 Andretti Autosport), Christian Lundgaard (No. 28 Andretti Autosport), Devlin DeFrancesco (No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing with HMD), Romain Grosjean (No. The six drivers participating in Wednesday’s nine-hour test: Kyle Kirkwood (No. All rookies must complete the Speedway Rookie Program before they can race at Texas and participate in Indy 500 Rookie Orientation Program. This rookie test, March 2 on the 1.5-mile oval, prepared NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookies for the fast and close-quarters competition.

ET, live on NBC and INDYCAR Radio Network), which means it’s time for rookies to get up to speed on circle tracks. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is driving closer to its first oval race of the season – the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 20 (12:30 p.m.

Indy 500 race gear