Thursday, April 3, 2025

ACURA GPLB Celebrates Its 50th Year Of Motorsports Competition & Motor Culture Pageantry

ACURA puts on the display for influencers and invited members of the media to generate interest in the upcoming celebration of a "Rites Of Spring" icon event that happens every year as the poppies begin to bloom in the deserts of Southern California. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

ACURA GPLB Celebrates Its 50th Year Of Motorsports Competition & Motor Culture Pageantry

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (AGPLB) is poised to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking a half-century of motorsports competition and motor culture pageantry with a spectacular weekend from April 11 to April 13. This iconic event, held on the streets of downtown Long Beach, California, will commence its milestone festivities on Thursday, April 10, at 11:00 AM with the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame ceremony. The celebration will conclude on Sunday, April 13, with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES third race of the 2025 season, a gripping 90-lap race starting at 1:30 PM PT. This golden jubilee, themed “50 Years at Full Speed,” promises an exhilarating blend of racing, entertainment, and historical tributes.

Held on the grounds of the Long Beach Convention Center and where soon become the community of the support paddock home for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race 03, the Grand Prix Association Of Long Beach Press Day pace car track ride center brings attention to a very special time that happens every Spring (almost always) in Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame ceremony on April 10 will set the tone for the weekend, honoring motorsports legends Scott Dixon, a six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, and former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill. Held in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue, this free public event will induct these luminaries into the Walk of Fame with commemorative medallions. The ceremony, a tradition since 2006, celebrates the giants who have shaped the Grand Prix and the sport, kicking off the 50th anniversary with a nod to its storied past.


The racing action begins in earnest on Friday, April 11, with the Super Drift Challenge illuminating the night with high-adrenaline drifting from top professional drivers. This event continues on Saturday, April 12, offering fans two nights of sideways spectacle under the lights. The 1.97-mile, 11-turn street circuit, renowned for its challenging layout, will host a diverse array of races throughout the weekend, showcasing the evolution of motorsports over five decades and reinforcing Long Beach’s status as North America’s longest-running major street race.

Acura Meyer Shank Racing W/Curb-Agajanian No. 93 - Acura Motorsports ARX-06. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

On Saturday, April 12, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship takes center stage as the third round of its 2025 season. Featuring high-performance hybrid prototypes from brands like Acura, BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche, this endurance race will thrill spectators with its blend of speed and strategy. Also on Saturday, Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks will debut in a doubleheader format, with Race 1 showcasing gravity-defying jumps, followed by Race 2 on Sunday, April 13, adding a wild, crowd-pleasing element to the weekend.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on Sunday, April 13, remains the headline event, serving as the third round of the 2025 season. Starting at 1:30 PM PT, top drivers like defending champion Scott Dixon, alongside past Long Beach winners Josef Newgarden, Colton Herta, and Will Power, will compete over 90 laps on the iconic street circuit. As the second-oldest continuously running race in IndyCar history, trailing only the Indianapolis 500, this event carries immense prestige, drawing over 190,000 fans annually to witness its high-stakes competition.

Vince Tjelmeland's F5000 Lola T332-Chevrolet, driven by Danny Ongias in the 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix, will join in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the inaugural race, along with other noted racing platforms here in 2025. Held on September 28, 1975, this landmark event took place on a 2.02-mile (3.25 km) temporary street circuit as the 7th race of the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship. An estimated 65,000 spectators watched Englishman Brian Redman take the victory, followed by Australian Vern Schuppan, with Canadian Eppie Wietzes rounding out the podium in third, kicking off a motorsport legacy that continues to captivate fans five decades later. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Adding a historical flair, the Historic Formula Exhibition will feature legendary cars from Formula 5000, Formula 1, and INDYCAR racing in twin 20-minute races on both Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13. This tribute to Long Beach’s racing heritage, which began with a Formula 5000 race in 1975, transitioned to Formula One from 1976 to 1983, and shifted to IndyCar in 1984, will captivate fans with a rolling museum of motorsport history. The exhibition underscores the Grand Prix’s evolution into a Southern California institution.

GT America Powered by AWS will bring GT2, GT3, and GT4 racecars like this No. 69 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2 prepared by JTR Motorsports driven by Anthony McIntosh at Sonoma Raceway last weekend on March 29th, 2025. Image Credit: Brian Cleary via SRO (2025)

The GT America Powered by AWS series will bring additional excitement with GT2, GT3, and GT4 racecars from brands like Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren. Two 40-minute races, one on Saturday, April 12, and one on Sunday, April 13, will showcase these sleek machines, offering a contrast to the open-wheel and prototype racing. Meanwhile, the Mothers Exotic Car Parade on Sunday, April 13, will dazzle attendees with a display of automotive beauty, featuring Ferraris, Porsches, Lotuses, and more parading through the streets.

Saturday post events concerts at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach are legend. In 2017, a supergroup was formed under the name Kings Of Chaos which performed in 2017 - the rotating group, consisted of Cult drummer Matt Sorum, The Cult’s Billy Duffy on guitar and Stone Temple Pilots brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo on bass and guitar respectively for this gig, brought in some A-list rock power to amp up the show. Vocals by Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington and Billy Idol, as well as some extra guitar help from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Chester Benington performs here on the AGPLB stage as a member of the Kings Of Chaos just three months before his passing. Image Credit Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2017)

Beyond the track, the 50th Acura GPLB is a festival of motor culture, enriched by concerts and off-track activities. On Friday, April 11, “Fiesta Friday” will feature a live performance, followed by a Saturday, April 12, concert headlined by the legendary band Foreigner, with VIP packages including a meet-and-greet opportunity. The Lifestyle Expo and Family Fun Zone, running all weekend, will offer interactive displays, automotive exhibits, and family-friendly fun, while a driver autograph session (exact day TBD) will bring fans closer to their racing heroes.

The weekend’s festivities are preceded by Thunder Thursday at The Pike Outlets on April 10, an evening of entertainment and activities that primes the city for the Grand Prix. This event complements the Walk of Fame ceremony, ensuring the celebration begins with a bang. Local businesses will join in, offering special deals, while the Grand Prix Foundation’s 5K run the prior weekend will raise funds for Southern California charities, reinforcing the event’s community impact.

Paul Tracy launched his CART career in 1991 with Dale Coyne and Penske Racing, stepping up in 1992 to race part-time for Penske in 11 events, substituting for the injured Rick Mears and finishing 12th overall. His breakthrough came in 1993 with Penske, where he clinched five victories, including a hometown triumph at the Molson Indy Toronto, before a standout 2003 season with Player’s Forsythe Racing, winning seven of 18 races—highlighted by another Toronto win—and cementing his legacy in the series. Despite stints with Newman/Haas and Team KOOL Green yielding mixed results, Tracy’s seven podiums in 1999 and third-place championship finish showcased his talent, making him a fan favorite over his dynamic career. Image Credit: Paul Tracy via FB/META (2013)

Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr., named co-Grand Marshals for the April 13 IndyCar race, will bring their legendary stature to this milestone event, joined by the recently announced attendance of Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame honoree (2017) Paul Tracy. Andretti’s illustrious career, Unser’s multiple Long Beach victories, and Tracy’s 2003 CART championship - highlighted by his thrilling win at Long Beach that year - embody the Grand Prix’s rich competitive legacy, seamlessly connecting its past and present. Their participation will amplify the event’s pageantry, which has revitalized Long Beach from a struggling city into a vibrant hub, contributing nearly $100 million annually to the local economy.

FACTOID: preparations for the 50th anniversary began on February 20, 2025, with crews installing over 24 million pounds of concrete blocks, four miles of fencing, and 17,000 bolted-together tires to craft the temporary circuit. Led by Grand Prix Director of Operations Dwight Tanaka and supported by LIUNA Local 1309, this effort transforms downtown streets into a world-class racetrack. Acura, the title sponsor since 2019, will provide pace cars like the 2025 Integra Type S, aligning its innovation with the event’s legacy.

FOX Sports will broadcast the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on April 13, its first year as IndyCar’s exclusive home, bringing the 90-lap showdown to a national audience. The coverage will capture the race’s intensity and the weekend’s spectacle, from jet flyovers to the checkered flag. With former ChampCar owner Gerald Forsythe’s 2024 investment in the Grand Prix Association, the event’s future looks robust, ensuring its continued evolution.

The 50th Acura GPLB has been a proving ground for talent, with first IndyCar wins for drivers like Michael Andretti and Kyle Kirkwood etched into its history. Young stars like Pato O’Ward and 2024 Rookie of the Year Linus Lundqvist will aim to join them in 2025. The challenging circuit, with tight corners and long straights, demands precision, making victories here a career-defining achievement.

In its 50th year, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach stands as a motorsport festival unlike any other, weaving together world-class racing, historical tributes, and vibrant entertainment. From April 10’s opening ceremonies to April 13’s thrilling conclusion, it celebrates “50 Years at Full Speed” with a legacy that resonates far beyond the track. As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars roar past the finish line, the echoes of five decades will herald a milestone etched in speed and community spirit. (schedules are tentative; fans should check the official Grand Prix website for final details).

... notes from The EDJE






TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Formula Drift, #formulad, 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, #AGPLB, Rites-Of-Spring, Formula 5000, Formula 1, The EDJE

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Formula DRIFT 2025: Long Beach Round 1 Kicks Off The Season In Style

Professional drift car driver and high performance entrepreneur Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis catches the middle of the first turn, Turn 9, found in the Formula DRIFT challenge track found through turns 9, 10, and the hairpin at 11, while practicing his moves in his company sponsored FEAL Suspension Nissan. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (20250

Formula DRIFT 2025: Long Beach Round 1 Kicks Off The Season In Style

The roar of engines and the scent of burning rubber will once again fill the air as Formula Drift returns to the Streets of Long Beach for Round 1 of the 2025 season on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5. Entering its 24th year, Formula Drift continues to solidify its reputation as North America’s premier professional drifting championship, captivating audiences with its unique blend of precision, power, and flair. Judged on execution and style - much like ice dancing or gymnastics - this motorsport prioritizes skillful control over raw speed, delivering a spectacle often likened to the freestyle chaos of Monster Truck rallies, snowboarding, skateboarding, and motocross.

Formula DRIFT #GRIDLIFE Camera Car - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Held in conjunction with the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Formula Drift has been a staple of the event for nearly half its storied history. As the first official drifting series in North America, it has grown into a global leader, drawing fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life. Professional drivers and teams will compete in eight championship rounds throughout 2025 (seven confirmed, one pending), showcasing their ability to push high-powered machines into controlled sideways slides at breakneck speeds through meticulously marked courses.
 
Formula DRIFT #GRIDLIFE Camera Car sets up next to the FEAL Suspension Nissan of Aurimas "Odi" Bakchis. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

A High-Octane Start to the Season

The Long Beach opener promises two days of adrenaline-pumping action, with a packed schedule designed to thrill both onsite spectators and viewers tuning in via livestream. On Friday, April 4, the event kicks off with practice sessions from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, giving drivers a chance to fine-tune their runs on the challenging street circuit. The venue opens to the public at 10:00 AM, offering fans an up-close look at the cars and teams. An autograph signing session from noon to 1:00 PM provides a personal touch, while a warm-up from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM sets the stage for the main event. At 3:30 PM, the livestream begins at formulad.com/live, broadcasting the Seeding Bracket until 6:00 PM, where drivers battle to secure their positions for Saturday’s showdown.

Formula DRIFT #GRIDLIFE Camera Car captures video of a run being laid down through Turn 10 by the Papadakis Racing built Rain-X GR Toyota Corolla driver Ryan “Hampshaa” Tuerck. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Saturday, April 5, ramps up the intensity. Warm-ups run from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM, with the venue welcoming the public at 8:00 AM. The livestream resumes at 10:00 AM, covering the Main Event: Top 32 until 1:00 PM, followed by a halftime break. Fans can join the Track Walk Experience at 1:30 PM, offering a rare chance to explore the course. The Opening Ceremony at 2:30 PM signals the start of the Main Event: Top 16, streaming live until 6:00 PM. The day concludes with the Trophy Ceremony from 6:15 PM to 6:45 PM, crowning the weekend’s standout performers.
 
RTR Vehicles' Drift Team crew warms-up Ben Hobson's 2025 Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD at the 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach Press Day. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

A Sport of Skill and Showmanship

Formula Drift’s appeal lies in its emphasis on artistry over outright speed. Drivers are scored on their ability to maintain precise lines, aggressive angles, and seamless transitions while sliding through the course, all under the watchful eyes of judges. This high-stakes ballet of horsepower and control has made it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, blending technical mastery with edge-of-your-seat excitement.


For those unable to attend in person, the livestream at formulad.com/live ensures no one misses a moment of the action. Additional details, including the full 2025 schedule, are available at formulad.com/schedule/2025/long-beach.


Long Beach: Where Legends Are Made

The Streets of Long Beach, with its tight corners and unforgiving barriers, remains an iconic venue for Formula Drift. As Round 1 unfolds, the 2025 season promises to deliver the high-skilled, high-energy competition that has defined the series for over two decades. Whether you’re a die-hard gearhead or a casual spectator, Formula Drift’s season opener is set to ignite Southern California with a display of motorsport mastery unlike any other.

... notes from The EDJE

EVENT UPDATE:


Fredric Aasbo wins Round 1.

Streets of Long Beach announced as venue for Final Round of 2025 PRO Championship season.

Larry Chen inducted into Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame.





TAGS: Formula Drift, #formulad, 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, #AGPLB, Rites-Of-Spring, Fredric Aasbo, Rockstar, KENDRA, The EDJE

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Expectations Run High For Competition On The Streets Of The 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach

Pato O'Ward leads the field of 27 Dallara DW12 Hybrid-Powered NTT INDYCARs through Turn 1 in the beginning of 65 laps on the combined South Palm (where Pitlane and the front straight away are located) and North Palm courses create a decent 3+ mile challenge. In this image, Alex Palou who had qualified P3 seems to be getting the best of Christian Lundgaard who qualified P2 following in just behind Pato O'Ward, the P1 Pole sitter. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Expectations Run High For Competition On The Streets Of The 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach

As the 2025 17 Race event NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship season heads into its third race, the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend held from Friday, April 11 through to raceday Sunday, April 13, here's what to expect from the top drivers based on their performances in the first two races of this season.

Alex Palou, the reigning champion, has kicked off the 2025 season in dominant fashion, becoming the first driver since teammate Scott Dixon in 2020 to win the opening two races. With victories at St. Petersburg on March 2 and The Thermal Club last Sunday, Palou is the man to beat. Despite leading just 39 of 165 laps, his ability to maximize results has him firmly atop the Drivers To Notice list. Expect Palou to be the favorite at Long Beach, where his consistency and racecraft could extend his unbeaten streak, especially if tire compound strategy comes in to play. At The Thermal Club, Chip Ganassi Racing decided to start the race on used Alternate soft compound REDS, then Black Primary, Black Primary, and finish on a set of new Alternate REDS - passing both Arrow McLaren drivers in the final stint..

Pato O’Ward has emerged as Palou’s closest challenger. After a stunning drive from P23 to P11 at St. Petersburg and a commanding performance at The Thermal Club - where he earned pole, led 51 laps, but finished P2 with four tire stints of REDS, Blacks, Blacks, and Blacks - O’Ward is hitting his stride. His momentum and raw speed make him a serious threat at Long Beach, where he could challenge Palou for the win and solidify his case as the series’ second-best driver.


Christian Lundgaard, in his first season with Arrow McLaren, has shown immediate promise. A P5 to P8 run at St. Petersburg and a P2 to P3 effort at The Thermal Club, including 23 laps led, signal his potential. Long Beach’s tight streets could suit his precision, and a podium - or better - feels within reach as he adapts to his new team.

Felix Rosenqvist brings confidence into Long Beach after a P3 to P7 result at St. Petersburg and a P9 to P5 charge at The Thermal Club. Having earned pole at this event last year, Rosenqvist knows how to navigate the iconic circuit. Expect him to be in the mix for a top-five finish, if not a podium.

Colton Herta has the pace but needs execution. A front-row start at St. Petersburg yielded only P16 after a slow pit stop, but he rebounded with a P4 finish from fourth on the grid at The Thermal Club. Long Beach has historically been kind to Herta, and if his team sharpens its strategy, he could be a contender for the podium.

Scott Dixon, the defending Long Beach winner, remains a factor despite a quieter start. A runner-up P2 finish at St. Petersburg showed his championship pedigree, though an P11 to P10 run at The Thermal Club was less inspiring. With six titles and a knack for Long Beach success, expect Dixon to drive his focus and challenge for a top finish on a track he knows well.

Kyle Kirkwood has been steady, opening with a P9 to P5 drive at St. Petersburg and holding a P8 at The Thermal Club. His consistency is notable, but he’ll need a breakout performance to crack the elite at Long Beach. A top-five is possible if he capitalizes on his strong starts.

Team Penske's "Thirsty Threes" ended up parched in the desert sun as Scott McLaughlin (and the rest of Team Penske) never got out of Round 1 in Knock-Out Qualifications and in the race suffered from failures in the new Hybrid-Powered Chevrolet engine unit. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Scott McLaughlin’s season has been a tale of two races. He led 40 laps and finished fourth at St. Petersburg - losing the lead based upon the timing of the mandatory tire usage change - but struggled mightily at The Thermal Club, qualifying an uncharacteristic P25 and finishing P27 (last) as the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) began to overheat. Long Beach offers a chance to rebound, and his qualifying prowess could put him back in contention if he avoids trouble.

Will Power's drive from P21 to P6 was masterclass and a potential season saving weekend for his chances of being in the Championship conversation by season's end. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Will Power’s resilience stands out after a first-lap crash left him P26 at St. Petersburg. Team Penske's poor qualifications at Thermal had his car start P21, but a caution-to-the-wind tire strategy of Blacks, REDS, REDS, and REDS had him climb his way back challenging for P5 but ran out of laps to settle at P6. This drive by Will at The Thermal Club was Team Penske’s best result so far two races in. Power’s experience at Long Beach could see him climb higher, likely targeting a top-five to kickstart his season.

ECR's Alexander Rossi, on REDS, leaves the pits with a FOX Sports TV drone chasing in upper left of the image, with the grandstands in the far South background. Rossi's No. 20 JAVA HOUSE liveried Dallara DW12 Chevrolet may be the most pleasing on the grid this season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Alexander Rossi, new to Ed Carpenter Racing's newly financed and restructured team (follow link to 2/3rds down in article of ZOOM Call press conference), has started solidly with a P10 at St. Petersburg and a P9 at The Thermal Club. His consistency is encouraging, and while he’s not yet in victory contention, a top-10 finish at Long Beach seems a realistic expectation as he builds with his new team.

With Palou setting the season's pace and a hungry field behind him, the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach promises extreme Hybrid-Powered intense competition. Tune in at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 13, on over-the-air FOX TV (check local listings), the Fox Sports app, or the INDYCAR Radio Network to see who can rise to the challenge on this concluding West coast swing weekend.

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach, #AGPLB, #INDYCAR, 50th Anniversary, #OTA, FOX Network, #FOXSports Christian Lundgaard, Alexander Rossi, Colton Herta, Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, Thirsty Threes, The EDJE

Saturday, March 22, 2025

HYROX Invades The NTT INDYCAR SERIES As 2025 Race 2 Weekend Begins At The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix Event


The Thermal Club pitlane just before Knockout Qualifications - a 3 Round 4 session process - with all of the pitbox NTT INDYCAR Officials out at the barrier as part of the timing alert for pre-release of the first session. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

HYROX Invades The NTT INDYCAR SERIES As 2025 Race 2 Weekend Begins At The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix Event

The Thermal Club was as welcoming as usual given the fact this is a private motorsports themed playground of the first order. The grounds were filled with race goers and were treated to many walk-up, no-pay food service trucks and confection servers including a mobile IN-N-OUT operation much to everyone's delight.

A press gaggle, which is customary, was held with many of the competitors on Friday, a couple of hours before the drivers took to the track for the first practice, for the first points paying race on the West coast and the first ever The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix. The expectation is that this new venue will work out to be a perfect lead up to America's "Rites-Of-Spring" motor culture street race event - the 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach. So begins INDYCAR's pre-INDY500 West coast swing.

Of the dozen or so drivers scheduled to participate in this bullpen Q&A process with about 30 members of the credentialed media was Team Penske Driver, 14 year competition veteran, two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion (2017, 2019) and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2023, 2024) Josef Newgarden (pictured below) had a most interesting exchange with the members of the new broadcast partner FOX Sports - lead announcer Will Buxton, color commentator James Hinchcliffe, and pit lane interviewer/commentator Jack Harvey. Josef had discovered a new workout regimen and was excited to share his discovery with his former fellow competitors Jack Harvey and James Hinchcliffe - the conversation went something like this:


Paraphrased Conversation Begin
Josef Newgarden leaned in with a grin spreading across his face as he addressed Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe, and Jack Harvey during the pre-practice press gaggle at The Thermal Club. His energy was high, fresh off a discovery he couldn’t wait to share.

“Guys, I’ve ditched CrossFit for something way better ... and shorter to say - HYROX,” he started, his confident command presentation style cutting through the chatter of Media interviewing about a half-dozen drivers in the room. “It’s this fitness race that’s like endurance, strength, and pure mental stubbornness rolled into one. Five miles of running mixed with eight stations that’ll test every inch of you. They call it torture, and yeah, it feels like it - but man, it’s a rush.”

"Think about driving in the INDY500 and you are getting a little weak, you can not stop to take a break, you just gut it out, the whole race through - like that!", Josef continued.

Will raised an eyebrow, smirking through his British accent, “Torture, Josef? You’re selling it real well.”

Josef chuckled. “Hear me out. You kick off with a half-mile run, then hit the SkiErg - a movement that imitates cross-country skiing - for about 3,300 feet - arms and lungs screaming right away. Next, you’re pushing a sled, what, 330 pounds or so, 50 yards through pure grit. Then you pull it back with a rope, shredding your grip. By the time you get to burpee broad jumps - 100 yards of ‘em - you’re wondering why you signed up.”

Hinchcliffe winced. “Burpees after all that? You’re a madman.”

“Oh, it gets better,” Josef shot back. “Rowing about 3,300 feet when your legs are toast, farmer’s carry with kettlebells that make your hands cry, lunges with a sandbag that turn your quads to mush, and then - boom - 100 wall balls to finish. You’re squatting, throwing, counting to 100 while your whole body’s begging to quit.”

INDYCAR on FOX station where Lead Announcer Will Buxton holds court with (clockwise) James Hinchcliffe, Graham Rahal, and new RLL team driver, Canadian Devlin De Francesco. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Jack Harvey leaned in, curious, with another British accent. “So why’s it beat CrossFit for you?”

“No downtime,” Josef said, eyes lighting up. “It’s relentless - run, station, run, station, eight times. No hiding. Cumulative fatigue hits hard, and it’s not just one thing - cardio, strength, everything gets smoked. But crossing that finish line? It’s a high you can’t fake. Takes me 90 minutes, elites do it in under an hour, but either way, you’re in the grinder - and you feel alive.”

Buxton grinned. “Sounds like racing prep disguised as torture.”

“Exactly,” Josef nodded. “It’s not just physical. It’s mental. Keeps me sharp for the car. You guys should try it - see if you can hang with an INDYCAR champ.”

Hinch laughed. “I’d be lucky to survive the sled. You’re on your own, mate.”

Josef shrugged, still smiling. “Suit yourselves. But I’m telling you - this is the real deal. HYROX, look it up!”
Paraphrased Conversation End

Will Buxton, a native of Portsmouth, UK, joined FOX Sports as the play-by-play voice for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for 2025, the inaugural season for broadcasting this dynamic open-wheel racing series on FOX. Will has been pursuing a career in Motorsports Journalism since 2002 where he began as a staff writer covering Formula One and the series that led to driving in F1. In the booth, he will be joined by former INDYCAR drivers Canadian James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion (2021, 2023, 2024) and Chip Ganassi Racing driver of the No. 10 DHL Honda Alex Palou took Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell on an introductory ride-along of the combined North Palm and South Palm tracks upon which The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix was to be held.

Click-Image to launch video of The Thermal Club trackride - Alex Palou with Will Buxton, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe of FOX Sports

The major noticeable difference with this innaugral private pavements points paying event and other races held throughout the season is shown through the fact that the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only event track activity that spectators will be able to engage in. There are no other racing series or parade activities of a broad or annual motor culture/motorsports event activity scheduled. The weekend includes only all NTT INDYCAR SERIES two practices, Knock-Out Qualifications (pitlane pictured above), a pre-race warm-up then Race 02 of a 17 race championship season.

Love the venue, love the event, love the engagement shown by drivers, media and broadcast personnel, and the dedicated fans willing to purchase a three day ticket in order to immerse themselve in the rareafied aire of a private motorsports park where BMW, TruSpeed Autosport, GMG Motorsports, and a member of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with Cusick Motorsports call home.

Will this points-paying race be the lead-in first of many for the 50 year history of the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach? Only time will tell. We, at Motorsports Journal, say BRING IT! - with HYROX style.

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED ARTICLE >>>











TAGS: The Thermal Club, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Race 02, The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix, FOX Sports, HYROX, Will Buxtin, Josef Newgarden, James Hinchcliffe, Jack Harvey, Townsend Bell, Alex Palou, 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach, The EDJE

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Famed Former INDYCAR Driver Robert Wickens To Co-Pilot The DXDT Corvette With Tommy Milner At 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach

Corvette Z06 GT3.R drivers Robert Wickens and Tommy Milner met with members of the media via Zoom on Thursday afternoon. The pair discussed Wickens’ initial test and upcoming race debut with Corvette at the Grand Prix of Long Beach alongside Corvette Racing factory driver Milner in a DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R equipped with Bosch’s state-of-the-art hand-control braking system. Image Credit: DXDT Racing (2025)

Famed Former INDYCAR Driver Robert Wickens To Co-Pilot The DXDT Corvette With Tommy Milner At 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach

Robert Wickens will race the No. 36 DXDT Racing Corvette for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with Corvette factory driver Tommy Milner confirmed on Wednesday as his co-driver for the 100-minute contest. RACER revealed last November that Wickens would be running the IMSA WeatherTech Championship sprint races this season with DXDT. The first of these at Long Beach will also be Wickens’ first on a street circuit using hand controls.

The following ZOOM Call with Robert Wickens and Tommy Milner was conducted and this is what each driver had to say about their prospects. FULL TRANSCRIPT >>>


This Excerpted and Edited from SportCar 365 -

WeatherTech ChampionshipWickens: ‘Not a Single Hiccup’ During Sebring Test
Robert Wickens ‘comfortable straight away’ aboard DXDT Racing Corvette at Sebring
By: Davey Euwema - March 20, 2025

Robert Wickens hailed the Bosch hand-control system aboard the DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R as “a massive step forward” after sampling it during a two-day test at Sebring International Raceway ahead of his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship return at Long Beach next month.

Wickens will race the No. 36 Corvette for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with Corvette factory driver Tommy Milner confirmed on Wednesday as his co-driver for the 100-minute contest.

It will only be Wickens’ second WeatherTech Championship appearance, following eight years after contesting the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona in a Starworks Motorsport Oreca FLM09.

At Long Beach, Wickens will make use of the latest version of the Bosch hand-control system, with a newly developed braking system that was debuted on the Canadian’s Hyundai TCR car in the final two rounds of last year’s Michelin Pilot Challenge season.

The new system that Wickens will be working with was developed using Bosch’s existing electronic brake system module from the LMDh platform, but has been adapted to feature a brake-by-wire system on the No. 36 Corvette.
----
“There hasn’t been a single hiccup,” he said. “It’s like when they designed the Corvette Z06 GT3.R it was always in the plan. It looks like it belongs in the car. It feels like it belongs in the car.

“Immediately I felt way more comfortable with the braking feeling and braking sensation than I had in my past racing in TCR with the Bosch EBS.

“It was a massive step forward so hats off to all the men and women at Bosch, Pratt Miller, GM and DXDT Racing for collaborating in making this all possible.”

The Long Beach event will be Wickens’ first racing appearance at the wheel of a rear-wheel-drive car since his NTT IndyCar Series career was cut short by his Pocono crash in 2018.
(Reference Here)

... notes from The EDJE








TAGS: IMSA AGPLB, Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach, 50th, Robert Wickens, Tommy Milner, DXDT Racing, Corvette, The EDJE

Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix: Alexander Rossi Shares Thoughts On New Race & New Team

Alexander Rossi in his new Ed Carpenter Racing No. 20 Chevrolet rounding Turn 10 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Image Credit: James Black - NICS (2025)

Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix: Alexander Rossi Shares Thoughts On New Race & New Team 

A year ago, NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers competed at The Thermal Club in Southern California in an exhibition event featuring smaller groups of cars over shorter runs, with some of them traveling at slower speeds. That won’t be the case this weekend.

In the track’s first full points-paying event, expect the Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix to be full throttle over a full race distance by a full field. Alexander Rossi, who drove for Arrow McLaren last year, who ran well in his home-state event, reached the finals and finished seventh in the nose-to-tail Heat Race format of 2024. 

Much will be different about this trip to the private motorsports club near Palm Springs for the individual tuning in. For starters, a standard three-day road course schedule will be utilized.

The first practice is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday. Saturday’s lineup will feature the weekend’s second practice at 1 p.m. ET and qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 5 p.m. ET, with all three sessions airing live on FS1.

On Sunday, there will be a morning warmup at 11 a.m. ET (FS1) followed by the race at 3 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Sports App, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Alexander Rossi sat down with many of his familiar ZOOM Call friends from the Motorsports Press in anticipation of his performance in a new format, with a new team, with a calm and positive demeaner. 

 

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Alexander Rossi

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season resumes with a return to the Thermal Club and the first Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix. Alexander Rossi heads there after advancing to the finals of the Million Dollar Challenge, finishing eighth.

The driver of the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet joins us this afternoon.

Alex, thanks for doing this.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: My pleasure. Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: You had a chance to take part in the opener, a test at Barber Motorsports Park. How would you characterize how things have come together for you and this team?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Good. Very good. It's obviously a constant evolution. It takes a lot to make small gains. But I think we're progressing forward at a race that kind of far exceeded my expectations.

I think there's a lot of positivity around the team right now. The morale is pretty high. The moment is kind of tending to shift towards the positive in a lot of ways on and off the track for ECR. It's good to be a part of. Can't wait to get back on the track this weekend.

THE MODERATOR: Third time in the last four years that a new track has been added to the championship. Back to the streets of Nashville, new layout at Detroit. What do you think Thermal has to offer this coming weekend?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: It's a whole bunch of unknowns. Obviously we had a test there in '23, and we had the Million Dollar Challenge thing, whatever you want to call it, last year, which was obviously a unique format and pretty different to a normal race weekend. You're not going to see people, i.e., myself and Colton driving around 15 seconds off the pace to try to save tires.

I think the track, it's one of the longer tracks we go to. It's got a huge mix of corners. It doesn't obviously have the history of a Road America, but it's got a lot of the same characteristics in terms of you get a little bit of everything.

It's pretty condition-sensitive as well. Ultimately it's in the middle of the desert, so dust can play a pretty big role in the overall just ultimate lap time you're going to get during the session.

Then in addition to that, obviously last year we were there without the hybrid, we were there with the alternate tires, obviously without pit stops.

I think as much, as well, we all are familiar with the track, all of us are going into Sunday kind of with a guesstimate of what the race is going to be like.

Those types of events are super exciting because there's really no preconceived notion who is going to be strong, what's worked before. It's really anyone's ballgame in terms of having success come Sunday afternoon.

THE MODERATOR: Begins at 3:00 eastern on FOX. We'll open it up for questions.

Q. What can you take from last year that can help you this year, or is there nothing?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: I mean, we know the kind of direction it goes. You have an idea of the corners that are the most challenging, the areas of the track where you can win or lose the most amount of lap time.

As we saw at the Barber test, for those of us that were there, the hybrid is a big X factor in terms of it's not necessarily plug and play with preexisting setups. I think that's an unknown.

Obviously Firestone this year is bringing different tires to all these events to create a bigger separation between the primary and the alternates. That's an unknown.

You can take the fundamental concept of the track and apply it to this year. In terms of all the finer details, everyone is going to be kind of experiencing it for the first time.

Q. Does a potential 20 degree or more difference between the morning warm-up and the race mean anything?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, very good question.

I don't think many people put any stock into warm-up because of that, whether it's this weekend. We'll see when we get into the summer months. Sunday morning warm-up is pretty early in the morning, so the tires behave very differently. Track conditions behave very differently.

The warm-up in a lot of ways is a systems check, you're doing practice pit stops. You might take a used alternate 10, 11 laps to get a preview of what is that is going to be like. Ultimately if you're trying to do wholesale setup changes after qualifying going into Sunday, you're pretty much behind the eight ball anyway.

I don't think there's a lot of stock that's put into warm-up from anyone. It's just kind of more getting the reps in, making sure the car doesn't have any issues, and going racing.

Yes, it does have an impact. I wouldn't say that is unique to this weekend.

Q. Do you like the idea of Thermal being a points paying race? Is it a track that you believe should be given a chance on the points paying calendar?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, 100%. There's no reason why it shouldn't be. I was one of the proponents last year to make it a championship race.

I would say it makes way more sense for it to be a real race versus what we did last year. It's obviously more open to the fans this year, as well. I think that was one of the big hurdles to overcome in terms of having an INDYCAR event, is you obviously don't have an INDYCAR event behind closed doors. 2020 is far behind us. We don't want to revisit that.

I think it has every aspect that a track would need to have to be a proper event on calendar. I'm looking forward to seeing the kind of show and racing it can produce.

Q. You've had your first race weekend with ECR. What were the big positives? On the flipside, did you pick up on anything that might need to be worked on?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: The positives were, it was just a well-executed weekend for the most part. I think we're pretty realistic in the sense we know street courses are not going to be our strong suit. Obviously you're always hoping to find the big breakthrough and to be able to say that you can go into a weekend expecting to fight for a podium and a win.

I think we realize that permanent road courses, obviously Thermal, Barber, Indy GP, heading into Indianapolis, those are the races that we have on our calendar that are races we know we can be competitive at and fight for something pretty cool.

I think that St. Pete was one of those ones that as a group you want to get through together, kind of understand everyone's roles, just diagnose things that need to be improved upon.

I think going into Thermal, for sure, there's a lot more emphasis on trying to get a result and seeing what we can do.

Q. A bit of insight into how this dynamic is different for you at ECR. You've been used to being with front-running teams. They have not been that. You're kind of in the veteran role. How does that make your role different as a driver?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, I can see why you would see that.

I don't know that in 2023 the team that I was with... I think we made a big step from '23 to '24. 2023, it wasn't a front-running organization, unfortunately.

I think that your job doesn't change. You go in and provide the most amount of information you can to the people around you. You try and leverage the skills of those around you.

It doesn't matter if it's an F1 team, if it's a sports car team, it's all the same dynamic. It's just varying scales. Whether you're going from Andretti, Penske, McLaren, to an ECR, it's all pretty much the same. It's just the number of people really is the biggest difference.

For me all that means is trying to provide them with as much past knowledge as possible to try and make our list of questions smaller. At the same time there's incredibly talented individuals at this organization. There's a reason that they've had success in the past. There's a reason why they're as competitive as they are at some tracks throughout the year. It's just more of how do we get that sort of result throughout the rest of the season.

I think my experience can be beneficial, but at the same time I'm learning from them, as well. It's really a group effort. In summary, it's really no different. It's just the amount of people you're working with is smaller, which in some ways makes it quite a bit easier.

Q. You're a huge Patriots fan. You have a new broadcast, INDYCAR has a new broadcast partner, with FOX. What did it mean to you as a person when you saw your boy doing commercials, Tom Brady, for INDYCAR? Did that mean something to you?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Like, I was shocked. I thought that was incredible. Like what a gift for INDYCAR.

Listen, Josef has two 500s. He has a championship. Two championships? I don't know. He's got a couple of everything. He's got a cool, cool life. Whatever. Never been jealous of Josef. That 30-second commercial made me jealous of Josef.

Yeah, listen, everything that FOX has done from a broadcast partner standpoint has gone above and beyond what I think any of us could of ever imagined. That's just a huge boost for all of us involved. It's a huge testament of their belief in this championship, which we've all been talking about for the past decade.

I think it is a very encouraging sign of things to come. Obviously there's still a lot of work to be done. It's not going to be an easy road to get to the place where we all believe that we can. Certainly I think that it couldn't have started any better. I'm just excited to see how this kind of momentum carries throughout the rest of the year.

Q. You mentioned earlier about Firestone making a differentiation between the primaries and the alternates. How do you feel about the way that went at St. Pete? Some drivers thought they were a little too soft.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, I mean, it's hard to argue with that. I think they were very soft.

Listen, it's a hard job because I don't envy what they're having to do in terms of INDYCAR has requests to make a bigger differentiation between the primary and the alternate which in principle I don't have any disagreement with.

They're trying to do it at tracks that we haven't had the hybrid before. I think people underestimate - not saying Firestone - but everyone globally underestimates how much of an impact adding that sort of weight, that sort of torque on corner exiting, regen capabilities under the braking zones, there's a lot of longitudinal demand that wasn't there before, on top of the weight.

In a lot of ways I think the separation would have come without the tire change. So what you saw in St. Pete was an alternate that was already fairly fragile in certain scenarios, burdened with extra weight. The result is what you got.

Did it change the show? I don't think so. I think it would have been very interesting had that first yellow not happened, how the race would have unfolded. I think if the guys that started on the alternate had to do a pit stop under green on that 10 to 15, I think it would have certainly advantaged the primary guys way more than it ended up doing. Ultimately the alternate tire starters got a free stop.

I don't know. I will hold further opinion until Long Beach. Hopefully it's a race that doesn't have a yellow at the start, and we can have a better understanding of how the primary versus alternate starters fare throughout the race.

Q. Thermal has an abrasive track surface. Do you expect the tires will wear out much quicker than St. Pete?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Different tire, so I don't know.

Q. The chalets, the houses, villas that exist at the Thermal Club. A lot of money out there. Have you had discussions, there's been interest with people with money to be involved with INDYCAR?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: I have not personally. If anyone does, may Email is... No, I'm kidding (smiling).

I think the interest is maybe not as - what's the right word - I don't know that it's as forward and public as you may think it should be or would be or whatever.

The fact that we're going back there, the fact that we're kind of opening the gates, and there is a huge amount of support from all of the owners of the homes and the management of the facility, that goes to show that there's a lot of interest and there's a lot of support and belief in the championship.

Whether or not you hear it from an individual, I think the underlying support is pretty clear.

Q. We talk to drivers in the paddock. You're one of the most respected drivers. They have a lot of good things to say about you. 150s start. Some say it means as much as a win. Having the respect of your peers, how much weight does that hold for you as a race car driver?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: I don't know. I don't know that I've ever really thought about that. It certainly doesn't mean as much as a win. I can promise you that.

I think when I came into the championship, it wasn't a secret that this wasn't my career trajectory as a kid. I didn't know a whole lot about the history of INDYCAR or the 500 or things like that.

I think what a lot of people see is my passion for this championship and this sport has grown over my time here. I think I love it just as much as a Tony Kanaan who has been here for two and a half decades. I think that carries a lot of weight.

I will do everything in my power to continually help grow and promote this championship. For me, that's something that comes easily just because I do love it and care for it.

In terms of how others view me, it probably won't be a surprise, but it's not at the top of my list of concerns.

Q. When you came in 2016, 24-year-old, now you are married, have a dog, a horse, as your life has changed and grown, the comfort of becoming an INDYCAR driver, how has that evolved over the last 10 seasons? Do you know when the momentum, that pendulum swing, the passion for INDYCAR, wanting to stay happened? Have any memories of that?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: No, not at all. I mean, I think I knew that I wanted to be in this championship after round one in St. Pete in 2016, even though I got smoked. So I think that even despite that result, I loved every bit of the on-track challenge of this championship, and I love the fact that as much as business and money and all of these things that we often hear about and talk about are discussion points in motorsports and in INDYCAR, it's so much less than I feel like most of the other championships out there, that it makes you just want to have the opportunity to show up year in, year out, and compete with people that are like-minded and also just want to go racing.

Yeah, all of the other stuff is nice and neat, but it's all racers and they're just trying to win as much as they can while they still have the opportunity.

Q. You made a great point last week about the Barber test, you got there a day early, but felt you needed to be there with the guys. Where do you see ECR compared to your previous three stops? How is the culture? Where did you become a natural leader? Where did you learn that from?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Again, I don't know that I can pinpoint that. I think a lot of it's common sense in the sense that the men and women on the team have a much harder job than we as race car drivers do. The least that you can do is try and be there at the same time, for the majority of the hours they are.

It doesn't matter who you are as a race car driver, as a person, you're not going to have any sort of success without the individuals around you.

Where do I compare them to? What's really cool about being such a small team is we can make adjustments and we can change development paths, trajectories where we think we need to be different very, very quickly. That's something certainly new from previous experiences.

THE MODERATOR: That begs the question, 150 starts, a milestone. Has it flown by? Feel about right?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: It goes by. Yeah, I wouldn't have thought that I was there yet. That's interesting.

Again, it's a number in my mind. It's cool. Obviously you have to be grateful for having that amount of opportunity and to have that career longevity. At the same time, as any athlete or competitor will tell you, when you're in the middle of it, you're just thinking about how you're going to perform better the next weekend.

We all probably should look back on the positives and the good things more often than we do. That's not the way it works. There's a time and place for that later on.

THE MODERATOR: Not the nature of the beast at all.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Huh-uh.

Q. A couple weeks ago with the Sebring test, you mentioned it's going to be a building year for Ed Carpenter Racing, not everything is going to be easy. Did St. Petersburg offer a bit of an expectation reset? The weekend went pretty well even though you said street courses haven't been y'all's thing.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: No. I mean, we're one race in. I think this team has been afforded the opportunity over this off-season to really make some positive dents into things that maybe they couldn't have touched in the past. That is all great and that is all super exciting.

Also that doesn't mean immediate results in any way, shape or form. So yes, to get to the level that we as competitors and people that want to win, it's going to be a project and it's going to take time. Nothing happens overnight.

That does not mean that I don't think we can be extremely competitive and win races this year at tracks that suit us. So we have to go in with the mindset that if we show up at a track and we're able to roll off the truck in a really strong way, we have to execute that weekend because we're not at the place, I don't think, of a Ganassi or Penske where you can know every single weekend you're going to show up and be in the top five and have a shot to win.

Q. Looking at your transition to Ed Carpenter Racing, Arrow McLaren, how has that process been different? A lot less names to learn.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Still a lot of names to learn.

I think it's been much easier because the big thing with McLaren is they're adding a car. They were adding all the staff for a third car. This has been pretty much plug-and-play. A two-car team. Still two cars. Yes, there were some personnel that shifted between the 20 and 21, but ultimately it's all the same group.

I would say it's been exponentially easier than what I went through in '23.

Motorsports Journal - Edmund Jenks - BEGIN

Q. I remember you saying last year that you wanted it to be an actual race. What do you see will be an improvement to your experience from last year by having it a race with pit stops?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: You're just going to have the strategy element in play, right? I think last year it was very clear that tire deg was a big thing. Without a pit stop, there was no way to take advantage of someone that was having tire deg problems. If you were having tire deg problems, to rectify that situation by coming in and switching strategies, whatever, right?

I think the track lends itself to having comers and goers throughout a stint in terms of being maybe really strong to start, struggling to finish, or vice versa. Whenever you have a track like that, it creates a great race.

Yeah, I mean, I think just being able to have a different strategies and not being assigned when halftime is and that sort of thing will make for a great show.

Q. Given the layout of a track, do you have a favorite section? They are two different tracks even though they're blended together.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: I did not know that. Still I wouldn't know how to answer that.

Q. The north is north of the clubhouse, the south is where the pit stops and the straightaway is.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Okay. So probably the south.

Q. That's more amenable to your style?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: No, I think just that part of the track has way more high-speed corners and such.

Q. With ECR you're with a sponsorship group that's involved with consumer products. Has that relationship with the sponsors been different than previous sponsor interface?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: No. I've certainly been with consumer products before, as early as last year.

I think what's amazing about this group is it's not a sponsorship. They are invested in the ownership of the team. They very much care about the progress and giving us the tools that we need in order to be successful.

A sponsor, slapping a sticker on a car for B-to-B opportunities, TV numbers, a tax write-off, whatever, maybe doesn't have the same amount of care that Ted and Heartland has in terms of what is to be expected at ECR.

I don't view them as a sponsor, even though they very much are. I view them as my boss and also people that I can go to with questions, comments, concerns on how we improve and how we can get better.

It's a pretty unique opportunity to be a part of from that standpoint. Their excitement and passion for ECR and INDYCAR is unmatched. They're at every event, test. Ted was on my timing stand I think for every lap of every single session in St. Pete. It's pretty cool to have someone that's as important to our success be as involved as he is.

Q. Congratulations on getting a top 10 first race, new team. How do you think you might do here at Thermal? Now you're in your backyard.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Well, going to try and win, man. We're going to see. There's a lot of unknowns, as I discussed before. I think the team had a very, very good test there in November-ish time, maybe December. We're going in with pretty high expectations.

Motorsports Journal - Edmund Jenks - ENDS

Q. Now that the season opener is in the books, how do you feel about your overall performance and where the team stands?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Sunday was good. I didn't do a very good job on Saturday in qualifying. I think the team gave me a much better car than I qualified. Sunday was a recovery from that.

I think we are an eighth- to 12th-place car all weekend. I made a mistake. We qualified 20th. That we finished 10th on the strategy ended up being the bad one was something that we were all pretty happy with.

Obviously never happy to finish 10th, but considering all of the factors that were ultimately stacked against us in terms of we only had basically a half day of testing, a poor qualifying because of me, and all working together for the first time, to come away with a 10th was a good thing.

I think the team has a lot of potential, specifically at Thermal this weekend. Barber, as well. I think we're very excited for the next six to eight weeks leading into the 500 in May.

Q. You mentioned what happened in qualifying. What is the biggest lesson you're taking away from St. Pete that you will apply going forward?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Try and suck less (smiling).

I think the big thing that caught a lot of people out, but it was the same for everyone, so it's not really an excuse, but ultimately the alternate tire had a very narrow operating window. I did not come anywhere close to maximizing that.

While we're going to have a different tire in Thermal, it's not going to be the -- I don't believe the alternate is going to behave like it did in St. Pete. I will say that's a lesson I will take with me to Long Beach.

In terms of this weekend, it's the first time we're seeing the road course tire, so it's a little bit of an unknown as to how it's going to behave in qualifying and what the best way to maximize it will be.

Q. Last year was an exhibition event. Now there's championship points on the line. How does that change your approach going into this weekend?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: It doesn't change the approach. I wouldn't say you have to even take it more seriously. Last year everyone wanted to win. It's a million bucks. I truly don't think it changes.

I think you will spend a little bit more time in practice maybe trying to understand tire life performance instead of just looking at ultimate lap time. Other than that, I would say it's going to be exactly the same.

Q. I want to look forward to the month of May. You said there are some tracks that you anticipate ECR will perform better. You had a very good run in May, very good speeds. Do you think your experience in INDYCAR generally but winning the Indy 500 brings something extra to the team to convert that speed to maybe a podium or even better?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, I would hope so. I don't want to say yes because I don't really know all of the ins-and-outs as to why they were so good in qualifying or have been so great in qualifying, and it hasn't necessarily translated into a result in the race.

I certainly know that the 21 car the past couple of years has been running really strong in the race, and has had some bad luck and some just things go against them that have prevented a result. It wasn't from a lack of performance or pace.

Certainly I feel very comfortable at the Speedway. I've seemingly started from everywhere at this point for that race. Always find a way forward.

I think I'll be able to bring a little bit to the table in just how I run a race and manage the 500 miles. Ultimately I think the team has every ability to do that with or without me. I think they've just had some bad luck over the past couple of years.

It's exciting to be a part of an organization that I know can win the 500. That was a very big bullet point in the pros list for ECR this past off-season because I truly believe that.

I think we are without a doubt one of the top three teams that can go into that weekend and show up and get someone's face on a BorgWarner trophy.

Q. You talk about pros and cons. You raced 10 races with the hybrid system. Do you have any pros and cons on the hybrid thus far?

ALEXANDER ROSSI: I have a list of cons (smiling). The pros are it starts itself. You can start yourself. The biggest thing is, I truly believe this, this isn't a marketing PR line, it lays the foundation for future manufacturers to come into the sport.

It's no secret that the car market, the automotive market, the world market, in terms of automobiles has changed over the past decade. With the current format of engine that we have, it also makes perfect sense that a manufacturer wouldn't want to necessarily come in and try and catch up to 10-plus years of development of an existing power train, right?

The hybrid, while might not be that attractive in its current guise, I think in terms of what we've done from a reliability standpoint is pretty impressive. What we did last year in terms of implementing a hybrid mid season and the honestly lack of failures, you're going to have failures in race cars in every capacity. There wasn't mass hybrid failures in the championship season. That was a huge win.

You bring that forward to this year, and because the reliability has been so robust, we can start to incrementally increase the performance, increase the load and duty cycle on it throughout a lap and get more power, which we already saw at St. Pete. St. Pete, it was already a much more effective tool than it had been at any point in 2024.

While I think the list of pros now from a performance standpoint is short, I think it's going to grow. I think for the long-term future health of the series, it doesn't matter what the cons are at this point because it's pretty clear that manufacturers want hybrids to be involved.

THE MODERATOR: Alex, thanks for doing this. We're going to leave it there for now.

ALEXANDER ROSSI: No worries. Have a good one.
(ht: FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports)

... notes from The EDJE









TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, The Thermal Club, The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix, Alexander Rossi, ECR, Ed Carpenter Racing, No. 20, Chevrolet, The EDJE

Monday, March 10, 2025

Firestone Grand Prix Of St. Petersburg: New Pairings Set Stage In NTT INDYCAR SERIES Opener



Firestone Grand Prix Of St. Petersburg: New Pairings Set Stage In NTT INDYCAR SERIES Opener

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES roared to life on March 02, 2025, with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, kicking off a 17-race season filled with anticipation. The Motorsports Journal team spotlighted several intriguing driver-team combinations poised to disrupt the established order, bringing fresh dynamics to a grid dominated by titans like Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti Global. As the streets of St. Petersburg came alive with the sound of engines, these pairings hinted at a season of surprises.

Key Driver-Team Pairings to Watch in 2025

Alexander Rossi now carries his veteran savvy to Ed Carpenter Racing, marking his latest chapter under Chevrolet power after stints with Andretti Global and Arrow McLaren. Known for his 2016 Indianapolis 500 triumph, Rossi’s ability to adapt to new machinery and team cultures positions him as a driver to watch. His experience could prove pivotal, especially when the series rolls into Indy in May.

Christian Lundgaard stepping into Rossi’s former seat at Arrow McLaren, arrives with a point to prove. The Danish driver flashed potential during his Rookie of the Year campaign with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing but struggled to convert starts into podiums. With Arrow McLaren’s resources and Chevrolet backing, Lundgaard might finally unlock the consistency needed to challenge the frontrunners.

Rinus VeeKay trades Ed Carpenter Racing for Dale Coyne Racing, stepping into a lead role at a team hungry for results. The Dutchman’s occasional brilliance—highlighted by a win at Indianapolis in 2021—has yet to translate into sustained success. If Dale Coyne Racing can harness VeeKay’s raw speed, 2025 could mark his breakout year.

Callum Ilott returns to INDYCAR with PREMA Racing, a powerhouse stepping into the series for the first time. With 38 starts and five top-10 finishes from his earlier tenure, Ilott brings a knack for guiding new teams, honed during his time with Juncos Hollinger Racing. PREMA’s pedigree in junior formulas suggests they could hit the ground running, and Ilott’s steady hand might steer them toward early success.

David Malukas joins AJ Foyt Racing alongside Santino Ferrucci, eager to rewrite a career narrative interrupted by misfortune. A rising star in INDY NXT, Malukas saw his Arrow McLaren opportunity slip away last year after a wrist injury from a bicycle accident sidelined him. Now healthy and paired with a team looking to climb the standings, he aims to showcase the talent that once marked him as a future star.

These drivers, each with a blend of untapped potential and fierce determination, entered St. Petersburg ready to challenge the status quo. Could they upset the dominance of Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti? The season opener offered the first clues.


Scott Dixon, Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden - Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Image Credit: Chris Owens via Penske Entertainment (2025)

Race Recap: Drama Unfolds in St. Petersburg

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg wasted no time delivering chaos. On the opening lap, a Turn 3 pileup set the tone: Arrow McLaren’s rookie Nolan Siegel collided with Team Penske’s Will Power, whose car then collected Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s debutant Louis Foster. The incident underscored the tight margins of street-circuit racing and left teams scrambling to adjust strategies.

While the top nine cars - led by the likes of Team Penske's pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin, Meyer Shank Racing's teammates Felix Rosenqvist, and Marcus Armstrong - opted to stay out during the ensuing caution, a group including Herta, Newgarden, Dixon, Alex Palou, Kyle Kirkwood, Rinus VeeKay, and Marcus Ericsson dove into the pits. Swapping their mandatory soft-compound Firestone tires for the harder primary compound, these drivers banked on early stops to gain track position later. The split strategies hinted at a tactical chess match unfolding across the 100-lap race.

For the spotlighted pairings, the opener provided a mixed bag. Rossi’s experience with Ed Carpenter Racing kept him in contention among the leaders, while Lundgaard navigated the chaos at Arrow McLaren with a steady debut. VeeKay’s early pit call at Dale Coyne Racing showed promise, though he’d need to claw back positions. Ilott and PREMA Racing avoided the Turn 3 mess, quietly building momentum, while Malukas at AJ Foyt Racing fought to stay in the midfield pack, shaking off rust from his time away.

As the checkered flag loomed, the race tested these new alliances under pressure. All the while, established teams asserted their early dominance - Penske’s Newgarden and Ganassi’s Dixon looked poised for strong finishes - the fresh pairings offered glimpses of what might come. The St. Petersburg streets, unforgiving as ever, served notice: 2025 could be a season where new names will have trouble rising to the fore.

Despite early shake-ups and strategic plays, the established stars prevailed. Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou, after 138 days since his 2024 season Championship victory, kicked off the season with another dominant win - setting the stage for an unprecedented fourth season championship in the title march of three-time and two-time defending series champion Alex Palou.

His Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon followed in P2 with a last lap pass due to Josef Newgarden's car was falling short of fuel, while Team Penske’s teammates Josef Newgarden and pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin finished P3 and P4, respectively.

Andretti Global drivers Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top six, solidifying their team’s competitive standing early in the season.

Key Driver-Team Pairings Opening Race Finishes

P8 - Christian Lundgaard - No. 7 Arrow Mclaren Chevrolet
P9 - Rinus VeeKay - No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
P10 - Alexander Rossi - No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
P13 - David Malukas - No. 4 AJ Foyt Chevrolet
P19 - Callum Ilott - No. 90 PREMA Racing Chevrolet


While these established young challengers with new teams showed promise, the season opener proved that the established frontrunners remain the teams to beat. With 16 races still to go, will this new wave of talent find their breakthrough moment? Stay tuned.

... notes from The EDJE




Post Script:
The numbers are in for FOX’s first INDYCAR Series broadcast, and the audience who watched Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden battle for victory was measured at 1.417 million viewers, a steep increase from last year’s race. Using the previous St. Petersburg race as a guide, the live 2024 broadcast with previous network partner on NBC generated an audience of 974,700 combined viewers using the TAD (Total Audience Delivery) metric that includes live streaming. FOX does not use TAD.

In the move to FOX, INDYCAR received an audience increase of 442,300 viewers, and according to the broadcaster, this ranks as the most-watched INDYCAR race on network television (outside the Indy 500) in 14 years. Minus streaming info, FOX Sports also reported Friday’s airing of opening practice on its FOX Sports 1 cable channel had 95,000 viewers. The strong viewership signals a promising start for INDYCAR’s new broadcast era, amplifying the spotlight on both its established stars and rising talents.

The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on Sunday, March 23 at Thermal, California (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).



TAGS: NTT, INDYCAR SERIES, Firestone Grand Prix Of St. Petersburg, FOX Sports, Christian Lundgaard, Rinus VeeKay, Alexander Rossi, David Malukas, Callum Ilott, The EDJE