2013 IndyCar Series / Mazda Road to Indy discussion

Indycar Series Rounds 17 and 18 of 19: Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston

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Venue: Reliant Park, Houston, TX
Track length: 1.68 miles
Race length: 90 laps (151.2 miles)

Overview: From 1998 to 2001, CART held a race on Houston's streets, but the event was not renewed in 2002 due to new construction. In 2005, the Champ Car World Series announced that it would be making a return to Houston in 2006. The 2006 event moved to the Reliant Park complex, joined by ALMS until CCWS's bankruptcy in the 2007-08 off-season. For 2013, Indycar returns to Reliant Park on a slightly modified layout for two races of 90 laps each - race 2 will feature a standing start. USF2000, Pro Mazda, Indy Lights, Pirelli World Challenge and the Mazda MX-5 Cup series will also be racing on the Grand Prix weekend.

Drivers' preview:


Current points standings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IndyCar_Series_season#Driver_standings

Entry list:

http://digbza2f4g9qo.cloudfront.net...-HOU/indycar-entrylist?vs=1&d=20130930T113530

Luca Filippi will make his final 2013 starts in the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport entry. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/08/8-13-Hildebrand-Filippi-complete-season-for-Barracuda)

Mike Conway returns to the #18 car for Dale Coyne Racing. (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/108673)

Spotter guide:

http://digbza2f4g9qo.cloudfront.net...car-spotterguide-final?vs=1&d=20131001T110945

Schedule:

http://www.indycar.com/~/media//Files/2013/IZOD-IndyCar-Series/15-HOU/indycar-weekendschedule

TV coverage:

BT Sport 2 - 20:00 Saturday 5th October (Race 1, live)

ESPN UK - 18:00 Sunday 6th October (Race 2, live); 08:15 Monday 7th October (Race 1, re-run); 10:45 Monday 7th October (Race 2, re-run); 19:00 Tuesday 8th October (Race 1, highlights); 20:00 Tuesday 8th October (Race 2, highlights); 09:30 Wednesday 9th October (Race 1, highlights); 10:00 Wednesday 9th October (Race 2, highlights); 04:00 Friday 11th October (Race 1, highlights); 05:00 Friday 11th October (Race 2, highlights)
 
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Justin Wilson (1:04.4237), Will Power (1:04.8027) and Tristan Vautier (1:04.9946) were fastest across Friday practice.

Full timesheet: http://www.imscdn.com/indycar_media/documents/2013-10-04/HOU-IICS practice combined.pdf

Will Power (01:00.8275) was fastest in final practice, followed by Simon Pagenaud (1:01.3195) and Luca Filippi (1:01.3411).

Takuma Sato took pole position for race 1 with a 1:00.4535 lap. Full qualifying results: http://www.imscdn.com/indycar_media/documents/2013-10-05/HOU-ICS qual results.pdf

Starting grid

1) Takuma Sato
2) Will Power
3) Scott Dixon
4) Simon Pagenaud
5) Simona de Silvestro
6) James Hinchcliffe
7) Luca Filippi
8) Ernesto Viso
9) James Jakes
10) Marco Andretti
11) Mike Conway
12) Justin Wilson
13) Tony Kanaan
14) Sebastien Bourdais*
15) Ryan Hunter-Reay
16) Charlie Kimball
17) Oriol Servia
18) Josef Newgarden
19) Sebastian Saavedra
20) Dario Franchitti*
21) Helio Castroneves
22) Ed Carpenter
23) Tristan Vautier
24) Graham Rahal*

*10 place grid penalty for early engine change
 
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Houston race 1 results

1. Scott Dixon Ganassi-Honda 1hr 54mins 48.3924s/90 laps
2. Simona de Silvestro KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +0.8781s
3. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +2.1432s
4. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +3.5492s
5. Josef Newgarden Fisher-Hartman Racing-Honda +4.2293s
6. James Jakes Rahal-Letterman-Honda +5.4614s
7. Graham Rahal Rahal-Letterman-Honda +6.0983s
8. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon-Chevrolet +6.8946s
9. Ernesto Viso Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +8.1873s
10. Luca Filippi Bryan Herta Autosport-Honda +9.3052s
11. Charlie Kimball Ganassi-Honda +9.9622s
12. Will Power Penske-Chevrolet +10.6455s
13. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +11.1431s
14. Sebastian Saavedra Dragon-Chevrolet +1 lap
15. Dario Franchitti Ganassi-Honda +1 lap
16. Mike Conway Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +5 laps/Accident
17. Takuma Sato AJ Foyt Enterprises-Honda +8 laps/Suspension
18. Helio Castroneves Penske-Chevrolet +10 laps
19. Oriol Servià Panther-Chevrolet +27 laps/Fuel pressure
20. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +33 laps/Electrical
21. Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +56 laps
22. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +58 laps
23. Ed Carpenter ECR-Chevrolet +60 laps
24. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +89 laps/Collision

Fastest lap: Will Power, 1:00.0201s on lap 56

Race highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_g2-L8kJiM

Post-race interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScKwTUdq-lg

Championship standings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IndyCar_Series_season#Driver_standings
 
Houston race 2 will be under way in approximately 3 hours time, with a standing start.

Starting grid

1) Helio Castroneves
2) Scott Dixon
3) Simon Pagenaud
4) Marco Andretti
5) Ryan Hunter-Reay
6) Justin Wilson
7) Dario Franchitti
8) Will Power
9) James Hinchcliffe
10) Charlie Kimball
11) Tony Kanaan
12) Ernesto Viso
13) Sebastien Bourdais
14) Josef Newgarden
15) Takuma Sato
16) Mike Conway
17) Simona de Silvestro
18) Ed Carpenter
19) Graham Rahal
20) James Jakes
21) Oriol Servia
22) Tristan Vautier
23) Luca Filippi
24) Sebastian Saavedra
 
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Scott Dixon comes close to winning both Houston races but Will Power holds on for the win in race 2.

Takuma Sato got sideways directly in front of Dario Franchitti on the last lap, causing a three-car crash also involving Ernesto Viso. Franchitti reported feeling sore and is currently undergoing medical evaluation.
 
OUCH!


Catch fencing failed too and chunks of that ended up near/in the crowd according to some of the photo's on twitter. :eek:
15 spectator injuries - mainly minor.

Quick google brings up this - http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9276983

Franchitti has a concussion, fracture in a vertebrae and an fracture in his right ankle. Spinal fracture will not require surgery.
 
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Indycar medical director Dr. Michael Olinger stated that Franchitti will be held overnight at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center, after suffering a concussion and minor fractures.

Going back to the on-track incident, Sato has an uncanny tendency to create or involve himself in trouble doesn't he?

Edit: Seems ALMS had a flying car too.

 
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Just seen about the Franchitti crash :eek: Glad to hear he is going to be ok, could have been very nasty.

Have yet to watch the second race, was hoping to watch that tonight but now I know the results :p

Enjoyed the first race was happy with that podium, interesting that Dixon is on a charge now and takes the championship lead.
 
Guerrilla said:
Just seen about the Franchitti crash :eek: Glad to hear he is going to be ok, could have been very nasty.
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This came to mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kNZzqqdhM0 except that in Webber's case he hit the Lotus in the middle of the track.

Dario was injured in a couple of non-Indycar accidents a while back, don't know if those left him more susceptible.

Guerrilla said:
Have yet to watch the second race, was hoping to watch that tonight but now I know the results :p
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Sorry :p

Guerrilla said:
Enjoyed the first race was happy with that podium, interesting that Dixon is on a charge now and takes the championship lead.
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5th or higher at Fontana clinches the championship for Dixon, should be a good race.
 
Indy500 said:
This came to mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kNZzqqdhM0 except that in Webber's case he hit the Lotus in the middle of the track.

Dario was injured in a couple of non-Indycar accidents a while back, don't know if those left him more susceptible.
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Nasty accidents, it still impresses me that drivers can walk away (relatively) unhurt from these things.



Indy500 said:
Sorry :p
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Oh no problem :) I'd normally avoid reading up on it but after hearing about Franchitti's crash came looking :p



Indy500 said:
5th or higher at Fontana clinches the championship for Dixon, should be a good race.
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Quite the turn around, thought his chance was gone after those couple of bad results, but now Castroneves having the bad run has turned it on it's head!
 
Guerrilla said:
Oh no problem :) I'd normally avoid reading up on it but after hearing about Franchitti's crash came looking :p
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Turn 5 at Houston is like a wider, less level version of Suzuka's 130R. I expect Lanigan (the promoter) to create some run-off there and move the grandstand before Indycar comes back in 2014, although COTA may replace this race anyway.

Guerrilla said:
Quite the turn around, thought his chance was gone after those couple of bad results, but now Castroneves having the bad run has turned it on it's head!
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He and the Penske team looked very strong at the Fontana test last month, but winning the race by itself won't clinch them the title.
 
Houston race 2 results

1. Will Power Penske-Chevrolet 1hr 52mins 28.9525s/90 laps
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi-Honda +0.8286s
3. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +4.3629s
4. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +5.0234s
5. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon-Chevrolet +8.012s
6. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +11.0712s
7. Oriol Servià Panther-Chevrolet +14.0815s
8. Charlie Kimball Ganassi-Honda +15.1566s
9. Mike Conway Dale Coyne Racing-Honda +15.5568s
10. Simona de Silvestro KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +31.3618s
11. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Motorsports-Honda +32.946s
12. Sebastian Saavedra Dragon-Chevrolet +38.3799s
13. Josef Newgarden Fisher-Hartman Racing-Honda +1:19.5633s
14. Takuma Sato AJ Foyt Enterprises-Honda +1 lap/Collision
15. Dario Franchitti Ganassi-Honda +1 lap/Collision
16. Ernesto Viso Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +1 lap/Collision
17. James Jakes Rahal-Letterman-Honda +1 lap
18. Graham Rahal Rahal-Letterman-Honda +2 laps
19. Luca Filippi Bryan Herta Autosport-Honda +2 laps
20. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +2 laps
21. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport-Chevrolet +3 laps
22. Ed Carpenter ECR-Chevrolet +29 laps/Clutch
23. Helio Castroneves Penske-Chevrolet +37 laps
24. Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology-Chevrolet +58 laps/Accident

Fastest lap: Luca Filippi, 59.1215s on lap 86

Highlights\post-race interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qZO9oc8UOk

Championship standings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IndyCar_Series_season#Driver_standings

Scott Dixon enters the final round at Fontana with a 25 point advantage over Helio Castroneves.

Update on the final lap incident: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9276983

A total of 13 spectators were injured in the accident. Eleven of them were treated at the scene, but two fans were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, along with Franchitti, a four-time IndyCar champion, and an official with IndyCar. As of this morning, only Franchitti remained in the hospital.
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Franchitti will be taken to an Indianapolis area hospital for further evaluation after surgery to repair his ankle. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/10/10-7-Franchitti-update-after-surgery)
 
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Franchitti is expected to miss the season finale at Fontana while he recovers from injury. (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110461)

Mazda Road to Indy news:

Sage Karam took his third Indy Lights victory of the season at Houston, with Gabby Chaves second and Conor Daly third. Karam (425 points) has a 16-point lead over Chaves going into the final round at Fontana. (http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.co...restone-indy-lights-at-houstons-reliant-park/)

Matthew Brabham concluded his dominant Pro Mazda season by winning both Houston races. He ends the season on 466 points, followed by runner-up Diego Ferreira on 357 and Shelby Blackstock on 297. (http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/10/07/brabham-finishes-another-win-mazda-series/)

Brabham, who carried the #83 made famous by his dad to a spectacular season for Andretti Autosport, was presented with his Mazda Road to Indy champion’s prize package of a scholarship from Mazda worth over $636,000 to advance to Indy Lights competition next year.
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Scott Hargrove secured the USF2000 championship with a third place in race 1 at Houston. For winning the series title, Hargrove will receive a $383,000 scholarship to advance to Pro Mazda next year. (http://www.theprovince.com/Surrey+r...on+with+third+place+finish/9002936/story.html) Top three in the final standings: Hargrove 294, Alberico 277, Grist 215.
 
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The top competitors in USF2000 and Pro Mazda this season received honours and over $1.2 million in prize money at the awards banquet in St Regis of Houston. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/10/10-9-Drivers-honored-in-Pro-Mazda-and-USF2000)

Dario Franchitti left Houston after earlier surgery on his injured ankle, and will travel to Indianapolis for further evaluation. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/10/10-10-Franchitti-up-and-around)

The Ganassi team announced Alex Tagliani will be the substitute driver of the #10 car at Fontana. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/10/10-9-Tagliani-to-sub-for-Franchitti-in-finale)

Anthony Allmendinger has been confirmed in a third Penske entry at Fontana. Having been replaced in the #47 JTG Daugherty Nascar Sprint Cup car by a returning Bobby Labonte for Talladega, Allmendinger will no longer have a schedule conflict. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/10/10-9-Allmendinger-to-compete-in-season-finale)

GP2 title contender Sam Bird has expressed interest in joining an Indycar team. He is unlikely to be offered a seat at Mercedes F1, who are retaining their existing line-up, and GP2 champions cannot continue in the category. (http://www.autoballa.com/2013/10/ro...ntender-interested-gp2-sam-title-move-indycar)
 
Indy500 said:
GP2 title contender Sam Bird has expressed interest in joining an Indycar team. He is unlikely to be offered a seat at Mercedes F1, who are retaining their existing line-up, and GP2 champions cannot continue in the category. (http://www.autoballa.com/2013/10/ro...ntender-interested-gp2-sam-title-move-indycar)
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Would be cool to see Bird end up in Indycar, it'd be nice to see him have a shot at F1 as he has put in the ground work, but can't see it happening.

Also saw that Karun Chandhok exploring IndyCar options, Chandhok seems a great guy so wish him all the best, would miss his occasional commentary though :p
 
Indy500 said:
Heh, he wasn't nearly as good as Sam Bird has been in GP2. On the other hand, there'd be financial and potentially commercial benefits (eg Indian audience) to hiring him.
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No, Karun wasn't/isn't the greatest talent but he is a nice bloke :) You never know he may find a good fit in Indy but Sam is definitely the more exciting prospect.
 
The US National Guard have moved to their title sponsorship to Rahal-Letterman's Indycar team. (http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...will-be-backed-by-the-national-guard-in-2014/)

The additional funding, crucial for midfield teams that typically do not attract Indycar's more high-end sponsors such as Target, HP, DHL and Microsoft, could lead to RLL expanding to 3 cars.

Dario Franchitti has successfully undergone final surgery to repair his ankle. He is still under contract at Ganassi for 2014 and is likely to return to racing in the off-season. (http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/10/10-14-Franchitti-has-second-surgery-on-ankle)
 
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