Honda IndyCar Report: Recent Episodes
Bruce Martin
Our next guest is closing in on some of IndyCar's greatest names. It's Team Penske driver Will Power, the winner of the 102nd Indianapolis 500 in 2018. Power dominated the Grand Prix of Portland on September 1, leading 52 laps to score the 37th victory of his career. That ties him with four-time Champ Car Series champion Sebastien Bourdais for sixth on the all-time victory list. Next up is Al Unser, with 39 wins. The Portland win was the second of the season, all coming within the last three races.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Power after the race to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is another NTT IndyCar Series great. It's 2014 IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power, the winner of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway on August 18. It was Power's third Pocono win in the last four years and the 36th NTT IndyCar Series victory of his career. Power's No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet was in front 32 laps in the rain-shortened race that was called after 128 laps.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Power after the race to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest has had quite a season in 2019. It's Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden, who has led the NTT IndyCar Series standings for all but one race since the beginning of the season. Newgarden has been able to use a solid first half of the season as he prepares to close out the championship in the second half of 2019.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Newgarden to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest has had quite a season in 2019. It's Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud, the winner of the 103rd Indianapolis 500. Pagenaud dominated the Honda Indy Toronto on July 14, starting on the pole and leading 80 laps in the 85-lap contest. It was Pagenaud's first victory since he won the Indy 500 on May 26. The championship battle was just heating up at Toronto.
RACEDAY'S Bruce Martin caught up with Pagenaud after the race in Toronto to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the winner of the 103rd Indianapolis 500 on May 26. It's Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud of France. Pagenaud has used his Indy 500 victory as a springboard to an outstanding season in 2019 where he continues to be honored for his victory in the biggest race in the world.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Pagenaud at William Behrends' art studio in Tyron, North Carolina after he sat in for a sculpturing session to have his face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy. Pagenaud's face was unveiled in Paris on August 5, the first time the Indianapolis 500 winning driver's image has shown for the first time outside of the United States. Pagenaud talks about the sculpturing process along with the first half of his season on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the NTT IndyCar Series points leader, Josef Newgarden, who drove to victory in the June 1 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Race No. 1. Because the race was delayed nearly 90 minutes because of lightning, it because a 75-minute timed event. And Newgarden pitted at just the right time, when he dove down pit road on Lap 19 get off the rain tires for the racing slicks once the track was dry. Just as he pulled into his pit stall, Ed Jones crashed to bring out a full-course caution. That closed pit lane and when Newgarden returned to the track, and the rest of the field pitted a few laps later, he was in front of Alexander Rossi. The two drivers fought it out over the remainder of the race with Newgarden prevailing for his 12th career victory.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Newgarden after he won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest scored the biggest victory of his career in an epic Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2019. It's Simon Pagenaud of France, who became the first Frenchman to win the "World's Biggest Race" since Rene Thomas in 1914. The Team Penske driver engaged in a dramatic duel with Alexander Rossi, winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, over the final 13 laps. The two drivers daringly traded the lead in the closing stages of the race with Rossi making what he thought was the race-winning pass going into Turn 1 on Lap 198. Two turns later, however, Pagenaud passed Rossi in Turn 3 and held on over the final lap to win the 103rd Indianapolis 500. It was team owner Roger Penske's record-extending 18th victory in the Indianapolis 500. Pagenaud also became the second driver to sweep the "Month of May" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since his teammate, Will Power, accomplished the Sweep in 2018.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Pagenaud after he won the Indy 500 to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest started on the pole and dominated the April 7 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. It's race-winner Takuma Sato of Japan, who had his No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda out front for 74 laps in the 90-lap contest at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Sato defeated fellow Honda driver Scott Dixon by 2.387-seconds for his fourth career NTT IndyCar Series victory.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Sato after his big win at Barber Motorsports Park to talk about his big win and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest became the youngest winning driver in IndyCar racing history. It's Colton Herta of Harding Steinbrenner Racing, who drove to victory in the March 24 INDYCAR Classic at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
By winning the race, Herta broke Graham Rahal's record as youngest winning driver. Rahal was 19 years 3 months and 2 days when he won the 2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Herta was 18 years, 11 months and 25 days when he took the checkered flag at COTA on March 24, 2019.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Herta after his big win at COTA to talk about his big win and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the new leader of Honda Performance Development. It’s Ted Klaus, who takes over for longtime HPD President Art St. Cyr on April 1.
Klaus is currently vice-president of Honda R&D Americas and led the Acura development effort of the car that will participates in IMSA Sports Car Racing. St. Cyr, who also came to HPD from Honda R&D Americas in 2012, completed a seven-year tenure as president of the wholly-owned subsidiary and racing arm of American Honda.
St. Cyr will return to American Honda’s corporate offices in Torrance, California, where he will assume new duties as a vice president and business unit head of auto operations for American Honda, responsible for product planning, public relations and logistics. During his time at HPD, St. Cyr oversaw the company’s IndyCar Series program transition from single engine supplier to multi-manufacturer competition; the return of Acura to endurance sports car racing; and the success of the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck off-road racing effort.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Klaus last week at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to talk about his now role and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest won the season opening NTT IndyCar Series race for 2019, the March 10 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It's 2017 IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske. Newgarden led 60 laps in the 110-lap street race, including the final 19 laps to score the 11th IndyCar win of his career. The 28-year-old from Hendersonville, Tennessee who now lives in Davidson, North Carolina is determined to get back to championship form in the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season.
RACEDAYS' Bruce Martin caught up with Newgarden after the race to talk to him about his big victory and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is one of bright, young talents of the NTT IndyCar Series. It's 2017 IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske. Newgarden finished fifth in the 2018 IndyCar championship but had some success through last year's campaign. He won three races and four poles, but did not have the consistency to match eventual champion Scott Dixon and runner-up Alexander Rossi throughout the year.
Newgarden drove to victory at Phoenix, Barber Motorsports Park and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. He was third in points entering the season-finale at Sonoma Raceway, but an eighth-place finish in the double-points race knocked him down to fifth in the championship.
The 28-year-old from Hendersonville, Tennessee who now lives in Davidson, North Carolina is determined to get back to championship form in the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season.
RaceDay's Bruce Martin caught up with Newgarden on the phone to talk to him about those topics and what to look for in 2019 on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the man who oversees Honda’s racing efforts as well as the Team Acura program in IMSA. It’s Honda Performance Development President Art Sty Cyr. After its great season in 2019, the hopes remain high at Honda and with the Honda teams in the NTT IndyCar Series season.
RACDAYS's Bruce Martin caught up with St. Cyr at INDYCAR’s Spring Training at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas to talk about the Honda effort and the upcoming 2019 season, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the winner of the 102nd Indianapolis 500. It's Will Power of Team Verizon Team Penske. Power, was honored for his big win in the Indy 500 last May. Both were honored at the recent Automotive News World Congress Banquet as part of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 16. It was Power's first "Baby Borg" and team Roger Penske's 17th as Penske continues to his record as the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history with 17 wins in the "World's Biggest Race."
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Power to talk about that prestigious honor, and a look ahead to 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."
Our next guest is not only one of Honda's most successful drivers, he's also one of IndyCar's biggest stars. It's the winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500, Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport. The 27-year-old Rossi continued to emerge in 2018 with three victories including wins in the prestigious Long Beach Grand Prix as well as the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. Rossi was a serious contender for the 2018 IndyCar crown before falling just short in the season's final race at Sonoma Raceway.
Look for Rossi to once again contend for the Indy 500 win and the NTT IndyCar Series championship in 2019 in the No. 27 NAPA Auto Parts Honda.
RACEDAYS's caught up with Rossi to talk about his accomplishments in 2018 and his outlook for 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."
Our next guest is one of Honda's most successful drivers. It's 2012 NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winning driver Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport. With 18 race victories and seven career poles, Hunter-Reay knows all about success. He finished fourth in last year's IndyCar Series championships and is primed for a run on another title in 2019
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Hunter-Real to talk about his accomplishments in 2018 and his outlook for 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is one of the future drivers for Honda. It's 24-year-old Zach Veach, who begins his second full season as the driver of the No. 26 Honda at Andretti Autosport. In 2018, Veach finished fourth in the Long Beach Grand Prix, fifth at Gateway Motorsports Park, sixth at Pocono and seventh in the Honda Indy Toronto.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Veach to talk about his accomplishments in 2018 and his outlook for 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."
Our next guest on the Honda IndyCar Report is always looking toward the future. It’s INDYCAR CEO Mark Miles, who never has an offseason as he continues to move the series forward.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Miles on the phone from his office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest plays an important role for one of IndyCar's most successful drivers at Team Penske. It's longtime race engineer David Faustino, who helped guide driver Will Power's effort to victory lane in the 102nd Indianapolis 500. Power and Faustino have worked together for most of Power's career, dating all the way back to the Champ Car Series in 2007.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Faustino at the team's shop in Mooresville, North Carolina to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest plays a very important role at Team Penske. It's Ron Ruzewski, who was promoted from his role as technical director to managing director back in October. In Ruzewski's new role, he is in charge of both the Team Penske IndyCar team and the Acura Team Penske Sports Car team.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Ruzewski at the team's shop in Mooresville, North Carolina to talk about his new role and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest plays an important role in one of Honda's two-car operations at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's chief mechanic Donny Stewart, who oversees the preparation and crew for Graham Rahal, a six-time winner in the IndyCar Series.
RACEDAY'S Bruce Martin caught up with Stewart at the team's shop in Brownsburg, Indiana to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest plays an important role in one of Honda's two-car operations at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's crew chief Derek Davidson, who oversees the preparations of the car and crew for drivers Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500. Although Rahal was winless in 2018, Sato got the team into victory lane with an impressive win at Portland on Labor Day Weekend. Those two drivers return in 2019 and will be joined in the 103rd Indianapolis 500 by young driver Jordan King of England.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Davidson at the team's shop in Brownsburg, Indiana to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."
Our next guest plays an important role in one of Honda's two-car operations at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's team manager Rico Nault, who oversees the operation that includes drivers Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500. Although Rahal was winless in 2018, Sato got the team into victory lane with an impressive win at Portland on Labor Day Weekend. Those two drivers return in 2019 and will be joined in the 103rd Indianapolis 500 by young driver Jordan King of England.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Nault at the team's shop in Brownsburg, Indiana to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."
Our next guest won the biggest race of the season. It's Team Penske driver Will Power, who won the 102nd Indianapolis 500 on 27. Power will be honored at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on December 5 when his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy is officially unveiled.
Bruce Martin of RACEDAY caught up with Power to talk about that honor when he was at sculptor William Behrends' studio at the end of September to talk about the effort that goes into making the sculpture that is attached to the trophy. Power also talks about other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is always looking toward the future. It’s INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations Jay Frye, who never has an offseason as he continues to move the series forward.
Our next guest on the Honda IndyCar Report is always looking toward the future. It’s INDYCAR CEO Mark Miles, who never has an offseason as he continues to move the series forward.
And now, Honda has one more championship to celebrate. It's Scott Dixon's fifth career Verizon IndyCar Series championship. Dixon won the 2018 IndyCar title in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda with a second-place finish to fellow Honda driver Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport in Sunday's INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma. Dixon entered the double-points paying season finale at Sonoma Raceway with a 29-point lead over Honda's Alexander Rossi.
After Rossi was involved in contact with teammate Marco Andretti at the start of Sunday's race and ultimately went one lap down to the field, Rossi was able to fight his way back to the lead lap and got to as high as fifth place before he ran out of fuel on the final lap and finished seventh. Dixon's second-place finish combined with Rossi's seventh-place gave Dixon a 57-point margin the final championship standings.
RaceDay's Bruce Martin caught up with Dixon to talk about his latest championship and how it adds to his legendary status as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."
"Today's Honda IndyCar Report celebrates Honda's 2018 INDYCAR Manufacturer's Championship. This year, Honda power has been the choice of race winners and champions as Honda clinched the 2018 INDYCAR Manufacturer's Cup Championship with two races remaining in the season. Their lead in the constructor's title was so large, Honda clinched the title, simply by having its cars start the August 25 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park. Once again, all of us at RACEDAY want to congratulate Honda and its teams for winning the 2018 INDYCAR Manfacturer's Championship.
"Our next guest is the man behind that effort. It's Honda Performance Development President Art St. Cyr. He leads the HPD and its various racing programs.
"RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with St. Cyr before the September 2 Grand Prix of Portland to talk about those topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest continues to move INDYCAR forward with some very positive developments. It's Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles, who serves as INDYCAR CEO. Miles recently completed INDYCAR's new television contract that begins in 2019 where the entire series will be on NBC and NBCSN. The NBC network will televise eight race on "over-the-air" broadcast. Currently, ABC televises five on its network. The remainder of the schedule will continue to be on NBCSN. The deal also includes a streaming package with NBC Gold that will allow fans to watch all practices and qualifications live as well as other packaged content for an annual fee. The three-year-deal means the 103rd Indianapolis 500 will on NBC, breaking a streak of 54 years the race was televised on ABC. Now that the TV deal is in place, Miles continues his search for the next series sponsor for INDYCAR. Miles joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin to talk about those topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is one of the greatest names of all the Honda drivers. It's four-time Champ Car Series champion Sebastien Bourdais, who drove to victory in last Sunday's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for the second-straight year. The driver from Le Mans, France lives in St. Petersburg and was able to celebrate an emotional victory in his adopted hometown. It was his first win since a massive crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the second lap of his qualification attempt for the 101st Indianapolis 500 left him with multiple fractures of his pelvis and legs on May 20, 2017. Some thought Bourdais' career might be over at that point, but he returned to action for the final three races of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Bourdais' comeback is complete as he has now returned to victory lane. It was the 37th IndyCar win of his career, placing him sixth on the all-time victory list and just four wins behind Scott Dixon for fourth on the all-time list.
Bourdais joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is one of the biggest names in the series and a driver who has spent his whole career with Honda. It's Takuma Sato of Japan, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500 has returned to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the first time since the 2012 season. Sato joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest works behind the scenes with driver Graham Rahal. It's his chief mechanic, Donny Stewart, who began his career with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing by working on Graham's go-kart in 2002. Since that time, he has worked with such drivers as Danica Patrick, Oriol Servia and Takuma Sato. This year, Sato is back and along with Graham Rahal that gives Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing a two-driver effort for the first time since 2013.
Stewart joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest was Takuma Sato's team owner this past year and at the Indianapolis 500. It's Michael Andretti, whose team was very competitive but scored just two wins in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series. One of those two wins, however, is the biggest race on the plant, the Indy 500. Among the positives, Alexander Rossi gave Andretti Autosport a second victory in 2017 when he won at Watkins Glen International and finished seventh in the standings. Sato finished eighth in the standings for Andretti and teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay ninth. Marco Andretti finished the year 12th in the standings. Sato has moved on to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and his place on the team is filled by rookie driver Zach Veach. Andretti joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about a variety of topics on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest finished second in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series championship. It's 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Simon Pagenaud, driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet for Team Penske in 2017. Although Pagenaud did not win the championship in 2017, he won two races, including a decisive victory in the season finale at Sonoma, and one pole to finish second in the championship, just behind his Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden. Pagenaud was a threat at most of the races on the schedule but a 14th place in the double-points paying Indianapolis 500 and a 16th place at Detroit proved costly at the end of the season. Those were the only two races Pagenaud finished outside of the top 10 in 2017. Pagenaud joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about a variety of topics on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest played a key role in Will Power's 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series championship. It's Team Penske race engineer David Faustino. Although Power did not win the championship in 2017, he won three races and a series high six poles to finish fifth in the standings. With Faustino engineering the No. 12 Chevrolet, Power was a threat at most of the races on the schedule but a slow start to the season including a crash and 23rd place finish in the double-points paying Indianapolis 500 put Power in a points hole he couldn't climb out of. Faustino joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin to talk about a variety of topics on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Rolando Coronado of Colombia is the chief mechanic on the No. 26 Honda at Andretti Autosport and worked with Sato during the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season including the big win at the Indianapolis 500. Coronado talks about working with Sato and engineer Garrett Mothershead last season as Sato moves on to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2018. Coronado also talks about his path from go-karting in Colombia brought him to the Verizon IndyCar Series. Coronado joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is one of the key members of Andretti Autosport. It's Technical Director Eric Bretzman, who is in charge of the technical aspects for all of Andretti Autosports racing platforms including the Verizon IndyCar Series. Bretzman also served as the race engineer for two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso in the 101st Indianapolis 500 for the McLaren Andretti team.
Bretzman joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about a variety of topics on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
The man who called Takuma Sato's race strategy all season is Andretti Autosport team manager Ziggy Harcus, who is a longtime crew member in the IndyCar paddock and has enjoyed tremendous success throughout his career. Harcus is quite a character and has a few interesting stories to tell, especially how well the team worked together with Sato and how much they will miss the Japanese driver as he moves on to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2018.
Harcus joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
There's always plenty of news with our next guest. It's Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles, who is in charge of INDYCAR as its CEO. The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule is out and it's time to make those reservations for Portland, Oregon for Labor Day Weekend 2018 as that popular venue returns to the schedule for the first time since it was a Champ Car Series race in 2007. Miles breaks down the entire 2018 schedule and talks about a few other topics as he joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
"You can call our next guest -- the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series champion.
"It's Team Penske's Josef Newgarden, who capped a spectacular season with the championship when he finished second to defending series champion and teammate Simon Pagenaud in the September 17 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. Newgarden won four races this season -- the most of any driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2017.
"The new champion joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report."
the season has come down to this -- one race and a virtual winner-take-all for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series championship with five drivers having a legitimate chance at the championship heading into Sunday's Go Pro Grand Prix of Sonoma. One of those five drivers is 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power of Team Penske. Power is fifth in the championship, 68 points behind his Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden. Power realizes he must score maximum points and then have a little help on his side in the form of poor finishes by some of the drivers ahead of him in the championship. Power isn't giving up, however.
The Team Penske driver joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
One of the big rewards for Sato is seeing his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy, which was first presented in 1936 when Louie Meyer became the first three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. That is also the first race where a bottle of milk made its first appearance in Victory Lane after the Indy 500 because buttermilk was Meyer's drink of choice.
Sato was in Tryon, North Carolina on Tuesday meeting with famed sculptor William Behrends, who showed the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500 the life-sized clay sculpture of his face in the first process to adding it to the Borg-Warner Trophy. From there, Behrends will ultimately create a sterling silver sculpture about the size of a small egg of Sato's face that will be added to the trophy and unveiled at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on October 17.
RACEDAY's Bruce Martin was with Sato on Tuesday at Behrend's studio. Sato joins Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest was the major story of the weekend for both Honda and the Verizon IndyCar Series. It's Alexander Rossi, winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016 who won his second Verizon IndyCar Series race in the September 3 INDYCAR Grand Prix at the Glen. Just one day after winning his first pole and two days after announcing he had signed a contract extension to remain with Andretti Autosport for 2018 and beyond, led 32 laps in the 60-lap race at Watkins Glen International to score his second career Verizon IndyCar Series win.
The 25-year-old Rossi joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest has some big news involving Honda. It's Michael Andretti, the team owner at Andretti Autosport who announced earlier this week he would remain with Honda by signing an extension with the manufacturer beginning in 2018 and for many years to come.
Andretti talks about that and many other topics including Fernando Alonso as he joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest has some big news involving Honda. It's Alexander Rossi, winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500, who announced on Friday that he would be returning to Honda with Andretti Autosport and sponsor NAPA. He signed a multi-year agreement to remain with the team beginning in 2018. Rossi has shown tremendous improvement in his second season in the Verizon IndyCar Series and has quickly become one of the stars of the series.
Rossi joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin, on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the man who thrilled the huge crowd at Saturday night’s Verizon IndyCar Series return to Gateway Motorsports Park. It’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline race winner Josef Newgarden. The Team Penske driver gave teammate Simon Pagnaud the old “Bump and Run” to make the race winning pass with 31 laps to go bringing the large crowd of race fans to their feet with a thunderous roar.
“Newgarden went on to win the race by 0.6850-of-a-second to Scott Dixon with an angry Pagenaud finishing third. It was Newgarden’s fourth victory of the season and it increased his lead in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings to 31 over Dixon, 42 over Helio Castroneves and 43 over Pagenaud, who said after the race he lost trust and respect to teammate Newgarden.
Newgarden joins me, RACEDAY's Bruce Martin, on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Will Power winner of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. It was the 32nd IndyCar win of Power's career and that breaks a tie for ninth place that he held with the legendary Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy. Power is fifth in points, 42 points behind Newgarden as the series heads to Gateway Motorsports Park for the first time since 2003 for Saturday night's Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline.
Power joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Graham Rahal enters Sunday's ABC Supply 500 sixth in points, 56 out of first place and only six out of the top five in the battle for the Verizon IndyCar Series championship. He starts seventh in the Pocono race after qualifying with a two-lap average of 218.099 miles per hour in a Honda.
Rahal joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
"The Verizon IndyCar Series returns from a two-weekend break in Sunday's ABC Supply 500 at Pocono. It's the second 500-mile race of the season and Sato hopes to sweep both 500-mile events in 2017. It's also a bit of a homecoming for our next guest who lives 45 minutes away from the triangle-shaped race course. It's Marco Andretti of nearby Nazareth, Pennsylvania, who will be driving the same Honda in Sunday's Pocono race that Fernando Alonso used in the 101st Indianapolis 500 this past May.
"It's been another disappointing season for Andretti, who enters the Pocono are 13th in points with just one top-five and four top-10 finishes this season. The grandson of IndyCar racing legend Mario Andretti and the son of Michael Andretti hopes to push away some of that disappointment with a top finish at Pocono.
"Andretti joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report."
"There's always plenty of news with our next guest. It's Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles, who is in charge of INDYCAR as its CEO and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Verizon IndyCar Series had last weekend off so Miles and his staff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway were conducting the 24th Brickyard 400 NASCAR race. The Verizon IndyCar Series is back in action this weekend with the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at the famed Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Miles has been very busy with this season and preparing for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. And that includes the new universal aero kit that hit the track for the first time in testing on Tuesday, July 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Juan Pablo Montoya driving the Chevrolet and Oriol Servia the Honda. Testing is scheduled to continue on July 25 at Indianapolis followed by a road course test at Mid-Ohio on Tuesday, August 1. Additional tests are scheduled for Aug. 10 at Iowa Speedway for the short oval package and on September 26 at Sebring International Raceway for street-course simulation; brakes and cooling test.
"Miles joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Helio Castroneves of Team Penske scored his first victory since June 1, 2014 when he dominated last Sunday's Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. The victory ended a 54-race winless drought for the three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver, who has been the source of speculation over the weekend that this may be his final full-time Verizon IndyCar Series season. It was reported over the weekend by our own Bruce Martin in a report for Autoweek.com that Team Penske is considering switching Castroneves to a full-time sports car ride next season. Castroneves took some time out before Sunday's Honda Indy Toronto to talk about his season -- and his future -- as the popular driver enters the race just eight points behind Scott Dixon in the battle for the Verizon Indy Car Series championship. Castroneves joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Helio Castroneves of Team Penske scored his first victory since June 1, 2014 when he dominated Sunday's Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. The victory ended a 54-race winless drought for the three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver, who has been the source of speculation over the weekend that this may be his final full-time Verizon IndyCar Series season. It was reported over the weekend that Team Penske is considering switching Castroneves to a full-time sports car ride next season. He would also get to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Team Penske sources have yet to officially announce its entry into Sports Car racing and that is expected soon.
"Castroneves was able to put the speculation aside and drive with remarkable determination in a spectacular drive at Iowa Speedway. Although Castroneves won't talk about his future on the record, the popular driver from Brazil has plenty more to talk about, including the 30th victory of his Verizon IndyCar Series career, as he joins RACDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the man in charge of Team Penske's powerful four-car Chevrolet team. It's Team Penske President Tim Cindric. The long-time veteran of the sport helps oversee the effort that includes defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion Simon Pagenaud, talented newcomer Josef Newgarden, 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power and three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Helio Castroneves. In addition, Cindric also watches over the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series programs as well as all of Team Penske's other racing ventures. Plus, he is the father of young racing talent Austin Cindric, who has shown speed in any type of racing car that he has competed in. Cindric offers his thoughts on the season so far as he joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest is the man in charge of Team Penske's powerful four-car Chevrolet team. It's Team Penske Competition Director Kyle Moyer. The long-time veteran of the sport helps oversee the effort that includes defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion Simon Pagenaud, talented newcomer Josef Newgarden, 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power and three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Helio Castroneves. Moyer offers his thoughts on the season so far as he joins RACDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Scott Dixon drove to an impressive win in last Sunday's Kohler Grand Prix, his 41st career victory in impressive style at the 4.014-mile, 14-turn Road America race course in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin. Dixon is now just one victory behind Michael Andretti for third-place on the all-time victory list. The victory also boosts Dixon's lead over Simon Pagenaud to 34 points in the battle for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series championship as the series takes the weekend off to celebrate the Independence Day holiday.
Dixon joins RACDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
We're celebrating the arrival of our next guest. It's Esteban Gutierrez, who completed a deal with team owner Dale Coyne last Thursday to complete the remainder of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season in the No. 18 Honda. That car was previously driven by four-time Champ Car Series champion Sebastien Bourdais, but that driver continues to recover from injuries suffered from a crash during his qualification run for the 101st Indianapolis 500. Gutierrez made his IndyCar debut at the beginning of June in the Chevrolet Dual at Detroit doubleheader but did not compete the following week at Texas Motor Speedway because INDYCAR was unable to schedule his oval test. Gutierrez has never raced on an oval before and will have his first oval test next Tuesday. Gutierrez was part of the Haas Formula One team along with Romain Grosjean in 2016 -- the only team from the United States that competes in the Formula One World Championship.
"Gutierrez joins RACDAY's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest won a thrilling race at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday night. It's Team Penske driver Will Power, who scored the 31st victory of his Verizon IndyCar Series career in the Rainguard Water Sealers 500 at the 1.44-mile TMS oval. That win ties him with the great Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy on the all-time victory list. Power joins RaceDay Nation's Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our next guest who owns the hottest team in the Verizon IndyCar Series, it's Bobby Rahal, who won three CART Series championships and the 1986 Indianapolis 500 as a driver and one of the team owners at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Rahal also won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as a team owner with Buddy Rice as the driver. Rahal reflects on his son, Graham's, doubleheader sweep in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and how that sets his team up for a run for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series championship.
Our next guest had a spectacular weekend on the streets of Belle Isle in Detroit. It's Honda driver Graham Rahal, who swept both races in the Chevy Dual in Detroit at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. It's the first time the same driver has won both races of a weekend doubleheader since Scott Dixon won both race in the "Honda 2 in TO." Graham Rahal joins Bruce Martin on Today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our guest this week is Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti, who won his fifth Indianapolis 500 as a team owner with Sato's big win on May 28. Andretti's cars also won the Indy 500 in 2005 with Dan Wheldon, 2007 with Dario Franchitti, 2014 with Ryan Hunter-Reay and 2016 with Alexander Rossi. Ironically, Andretti never won the big race as a driver despite being a dominant competitor in so many Indy 500s in his career. Andretti joins RaceDay Nation's Bruce Martin on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Today's Honda IndyCar Report celebrates a great achievement by one of Honda's longest drivers. It's the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500, Takuma Sato of Japan. The Andretti Autosport driver from Tokyo became the first driver from Japan to win the Indianapolis 500 when he was involved in a thrilling duel with three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves in the final 10 laps of the race. Once Sato was in the lead, he had the Honda horsepower to help him stay in the lead and defeat Castroneves by 0.2011-of-a-second. It was a great finish to a wild and thrilling Indianapolis 500 that featured 35 lead changes among a race-record 15 different drivers. Sato led two times for 17 laps to score the second victory of his career.
Sato joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
"Today's Honda IndyCar Report celebrates the arrival of one of Honda's greatest drivers -- the legendary two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso of McLaren, who will skip this year's Grand Prix of Monaco to compete in the 101st Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport. The driver from Spain is one of the world's best race drivers and has won 54 times in the Formula One World Championship. By competing in this year's Indianapolis 500, the 2004 and 2005 Formula One World Champion will achieve one of his lifetime dreams.
He starts fifth -- the middle of Row 2 -- after qualifying his McLaren Honda Andretti machine into the field with a four-lap average of 231.300 miles hour during last Sunday's Pole Day. Honda driver and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon starts on the Indy 500 pole for the third time in his career with a four-lap average of 232.164 miles per hour -- the fastest four-lap average for the Indianapolis 500 in 21 years.
There are seven Hondas starting into top 10 in the 33-car lineup for the Indy 500.
Sunday's 101st Indianapolis 500 can be seen on ABC with the telecast beginning at 11 am Eastern Time and the green flag waving shortly after 12 noon. It can also be heard on the Advance Auto Parts Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network with that broadcast coming on the air at 11 a.m. as well as on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Time to celebrate the latest outstanding achievement of our next guest. It's four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winning driver Scott Dixon, who won the pole for the 101st Indianapolis 500 Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Dixon's Honda blistered the 2.5-mile IMS oval with four-lap average of 232.164 miles per hour. That's the fastest four-lap average in Indy 500 qualifications since Arie Luyendyk the the track record in 1996. Dixon's second lap of 232.135 miles per hour was the fastest qualifying lap since Luyendyk set the one-lap record of 237.498 miles per hour on May 12, 1996. He is the fastest Indy 500 pole sitter since Scott Brayton in 1996 because Luyendyk's original speed was disqualified and he came back the following day to set the current one-lap and four-lap records that remain today.
It's Dixon's first Verizon IndyCar Series pole position of 2017 and the 26th pole of his IndyCar career. And, it's Dixon's third Indianapolis 500 pole. His first was in 2008 -- the year he won his only Indy 500 -- and his second came in 2015.
Shortly after he won this year's pole for the 101st Indianapolis 500 RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with the IndyCar legend for today's Honda IndyCar Report."
Rick Mears, one of only three drivers ever to win the Indianapolis 500 four times in his career. He also holds the Indianapolis 500 record with six career poles. With qualifications for the 101st Indianapolis 500 beginning Saturday and running through Sunday with the "Fast Nine" Mears is the perfect person to explain what it takes to win the pole at the massive 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mears, who is a key member of Team Penske, also believes the team's five driver lineup is a potent force in the 101st Indianapolis 500 on May 28. Mears joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about his latest triumph on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Today's guest is 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power, who won Saturday's INDYCAR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second time in his career. Power was fastest in every practice session, won the pole on Friday after breaking the previous track record two times in qualifications and won Saturday's race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course by 5.2830 seconds over Honda driver Scott Dixon.
Power led a whopping 61 laps in the 85-lap contest to score the 30th win of his career, breaking a tie in career wins with legendary four-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Rick Mears and three-time Indy 500 winner and current teammate Helio Castroneves.
Power joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about his latest triumph on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
This week on the Honda IndyCar Report Bruce Martin joins Rob D'Amico to discuss the IndyGP and the 101st Indianapolis 500.
It's 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Simon Pagenaud, who won the Desert Diamond West Valley Grand Prix of Phoenix on Saturday night, April 29 at Phoenix Raceway. Pagenaud started fifth, led a race-high 116 laps and scored the 10th victory of his Verizon IndyCar Series career and his first win on an oval. It was the 189th Indy car victory for cars owned by Roger Penske and the 450th in Team Penske history. The win puts Pagenaud into the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series lead with an 18-point lead over Honda driver Scott Dixon, who finished fifth. Pagenaud joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about his latest triumph on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
With the addition of Fernando Alonso and another Indy 500 only driver, Jack Harvey of England, team owner Michael Andretti will field six cars in this year's Indianapolis 500. Andretti joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about how Alonso joined his team, how he will manage six cars in the race and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report
Zak Brown, the executive director of McLaren, joins RACEDAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about his desire to have McLaren compete in the Indianapolis 500 every year, what he expects out of Fernando Alonso at the Indianapolis 500 and possibly a full-time McLaren team in the Verizon IndyCar Series on today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Honda driver Alexander Rossi, who drove to a shocking victory in the 100th Indianapolis 500 last May, has much to look forward as he returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the defending winner of the "World's Greatest Race. One of Rossi's five Andretti Autosport teammates this year is McLaren Formula One driver Fernando Alonso. The two-time Formula One World Champion made the stunning announcement on April 12 that he would skip the Grand Prix of Monaco to compete in the 101st Indianapolis 500.
Rossi joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin to talk about defending his Indianapolis 500 victory from 2016, what Alonso's appearance in this year's race will mean and his thoughts on Sunday's Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama in today's Honda IndyCar Report
Racing in the Indianapolis 500 has long been a dream for Fernando Alonso and thanks to the help of today's guest that dream will be realized this year. Honda Performance Development President Art St. Cyr, who along with INDYCAR CEO Mark Miles, McLaren Executive Director Zak Brown and team owner Michael Andretti was able to provide an 18th Honda engine to the lineup for this year's big race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin caught up with Art St. Cyr over the weekend at Long Beach and before the big announcement involving Fernando Alonso for today's Honda IndyCar Report.
It was May 18, 2015 when James Hinchcliffe was nearly killed in a heavy crash into the Turn 3 wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 99th Indianapolis 500. A suspension rod impaled Hinchcliffe and he nearly bled to death at the scene of the crash. Less than two years later, Hinchcliffe has returned to victory lane as the winner of one of the world's greatest street races. Hinchcliffe won Sunday's 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Honda driver defeated fellow Honda driver and three-time Long Beach Grand Prix winner Sebastien Bourdais by 1.4940 seconds with Team Penske's Josef Newgarden finishing third in a Chevrolet. Hinchcliffe joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report.
Our guest today is the defending winner of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and the defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion. It's Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske, who will have to drive his way from the last starting position in Sunday's race after he was penalized by INDYCAR Race Control for qualifying interference in the first round of Saturday's knockout round of qualifications. The race can be seen on NBC Sports Network beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Pagenaud joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report
Our guest today is hoping to add to his family's impressive legacy at this weekend's 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. It's Marco Andretti of Andretti Autosport -- the second fastest driver in Friday's Verizon IndyCar Series practice session when he drove his No. 27 Honda to a time of 1:07.3576 around the 11-turn, 1.968-mile street course. Andretti Autosport cars have won twice with Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2010 and Mike Conway in 2011.
Marco Andretti joins RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report
Our guest today is a young driver who hopes to one day achieve some of the same things Dixon has accomplished. It's Spencer Pigot, who shares the No. 20 Chevrolet with team owner Ed Carpenter at Ed Carpenter Racing. The young Pigot drives on the street and road course races on the schedule while Carpenter is in that ride on the ovals including the Indianapolis 500. Pigot has won in every series he has competed and hopes to achieve a win in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Pigot was one of 22 drivers that took part in an Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama on March 21. RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin caught up with Pigot for today's Honda IndyCar Report
Another great Verizon IndyCar Series driver has returned to Honda and to victory lane as the great Sebastien Bourdais scored his 36th career in last Sunday's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg -- the season-opening race for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Bourdais, who drives for Honda team owner Dale Coyne, started last on the grid after crashing in Saturday's qualifications and was able to drive from "worst to first" in the race. RACE DAY Nation's Bruce Martin caught up with winning ream owner Dale Coyne after the race. Coyne tells us how they did it on today's Honda IndyCar Report
Another great Verizon IndyCar Series driver returning to Honda is our guest as Sebastien Bourdais returns to Dale Coyne Racing. The four-time Champ Car Series champion returned to the series in 2011 with Coyne after two seasons in Formula One. Winner of 35 combined IndyCar Series races Coyne is preparing to start the season on the streets of his hometown in Sunday's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. That race can be seen on ABC beginning at 12 noon Eastern Time. Bourdais joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin on today's Honda IndyCar Report
JR Hildebrand makes his return to full-time Verizon IndyCar Series duty as the driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing. Hildebrand replaces Josef Newgarden, who has moved over to Team Penske. Despite being out the series on a regular basis since he left Panther Racing after the 2013 Indianapolis 500, Hildebrand has competed in the past three Indianapolis 500s for Ed Carpenter Racing. He makes his full-time return this season.
One of the most exciting drivers for Honda is Mikhail Aleshin of Russia. The driver from Moscow is back for his third season at Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports after an exciting 2016 season where he nearly won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono in August. He's back for a second season in a row and is prepared to get into victory lane in 2017. Aleshin joins RACEDAYS' Bruce Martin on today's Honda IndyCar Report
Tino Belli is the Director of Aerodynamic Development for INDYCAR and is helping design the universal aero kit that will be used on all cars beginning in 2018. Belli has spent much of the past year working on that project as INDYCAR gets close to choosing the final design of the kit and the manufacturer that will make the universal kit that will dramatically change the appearance of next year's Indy cars.
Rob Edwards played a key role in Alexander Rossi's victory in the 100th Indianapolis 500. He is the man in charge of all of Andretti Autosport's racing efforts. That includes many more series than the Verizon IndyCar Series. As the Chief Operating Officer of Andretti Autosport Edwards has helped solidify the team's effort for 2017. Edwards joins RACEDAY's Bruce Martin for today's Honda IndyCar Report