2021 NTT IndyCar Series - Music City Grand Prix

The streets of Nashville, Tennessee became IndyCar territory as the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series welcomes the first-ever Music City Grand Prix where drivers are greeted with the most challenging battleground ever experienced.

The first-ever Music City Grand Prix kicked off with Colton Herta made his first move. It was a great start but on the second lap, caution is triggered as one car stopped in the middle of a track, then two laps later, as the lights went green, Marcus Ericcson crashed Sebastian Bourdais. Come lap 16, Scott McLaughlin's got spun and stuck. As the race resumes on Lap 19, a massive traffic jam's triggered at the stoppage. The Nashville trouble continues with Lap 41 with Scott McLaughlin got caught with another misery after being nudged by another driver, and then there's Valentino Rossi and Pato O' Ward on Lap 51. As the race reaches Lap 75, Colton Herta's promising day came to an end after a terrible crash.

Screengrab from INDYCAR

The first-ever Music City Grand Prix is met with troublesome first impressions but in the end, emerged from the crash course, Marcus Ericsson wins while Scott Dixon finished 2nd and James Hinchcliffe finished 3rd.

After Nashville, Alex Palou remains on top of the standings with 410 points while Scott Dixon's in 2nd with 368 points and Pato O'Ward's in 3rd with 362 points.

The next race is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course for the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix on the 14th of August, 2021.

2021 NTT IndyCar Series - Honda Indy 200

INDYCAR's own Independence Day celebration is at Mid-Ohio for the Honda Indy 200 race of the 2021 season and the drivers are going all-out to cause some sparks to fly in INDYCAR's own grills and fireworks.

The action in Mid-Ohio begins Josef Newgarden leading the pack until an incident occurred with three cars got caught in a mess. As the race resumes, Newgarden continues to lead. In Lap 21, Will Power and Scott Dixon got caught in an incident and still could be worse, Colton Herta's time in the pits gone worrisome. With 50 laps passed, Josef Newgarden is still leading at Mid-Ohio and as the climax draws near, it's an all-out clash of the best.

Screengrab from INDYCAR

After such an intense 4th of July racing action in Mid-Ohio, Josef Newgarden wins the Honda Indy 200 of the NTT IndyCar Series with Marcus Ericsson finished 2nd and Alex Palou finished 3rd.

Post-Mid-Ohio, Alex Palou now has a 39-point lead against Pato O'Ward, 384 vs. 345, while Dixon's at 3rd with 328 points.

The next race will be at the streets of Nashville, TN, for the first-ever Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the 8th of August, 2021.

2021 NTT IndyCar Series - REV Group Grand Prix

Father's Day weekend is race weekend and IndyCar's no exception as the 2021 season continues at Road America for the REV Group Grand Prix.

The race kicked off with Josef Newgarden led the grid at the start of the race. As the race began, Kevin Magnussen found himself driving through the grass while Patricio O Ward made his nice save, and Jimmie Johnson's accident triggered a yellow flag. As the race resumed, another yellow flag triggered as Ericsson Marcus is involved in an on-track incident. On Lap 31, after being overtaken by Takuma Sato for the lead, Kevin Magnussen's involved in an incident that triggered another yellow flag due to mechanical issues. As the race's end draws near, Ed Jones got involved in a yellow flag mess.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/NBC Sports

After all the action at Road America, Alex Palou nailed his second win of the season with Colton Herta finished 2nd and Will Power finished 3rd. His second win of the season saw Palou took a 28-point lead over Pato O'Ward on the leaderboard.

The next race is at Mid-Ohio for the Honda Indy 200 on the 4th of July, Independence Day.

2021 NTT IndyCar Series - Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

The streets of Motor City roars back to life with two of the biggest motoring events happening in Detroit; there was a two-part IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix, and then there's the IMSA kind of Detroit Grand Prix. Let's focus on the IndyCar two-parter because racing fans are going to find out whether or not the streak of different winners of this season will either remain or broken because before the race starts, this season has about six different winners. Will the streak remain or broken? That is the question.

Screengrab from IndyCar

In the first part of the Detroit Grand Prix, we saw Marcus Ericsson continued the streak of different winners after driving his way towards victory lane for the first time in his career, beating the likes of Rinus VeeKay and Patricio O'Ward.

However, in the final part of the Detriot Grand Prix, it's redemption, and of course, the end of the streak of different winners for this season as Patricio O'Ward ended this streak with his second win of the season after beating the likes of Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou, giving him a lead on the championship leaderboard.

The streak is over but the action continues as the next race will be at Road America for the REV Group Grand Prix this 20th of June.

2021 NTT IndyCar Series - Indy 500

Last year, the Indy 500 race carried on without audiences due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, with most of the Americans got fully vaccinated, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway roars back with audiences returned to witness The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Scott Dixon leads the grid to the starting line as the green flag waved to kick off this year's Indy 500. It was a great start until Lap 35 saw Stef Wilson got involved in an incident in pit lane, forcing him out of the race. As the race resumes, plenty of action comes out while Conor Daly leads the race, until another yellow flag triggered when Graham Rahal got involved in a crash.

With 34 laps left on this year's Indy 500, Alex Palou and Helio Castroneves are in a heated fight for the lead and as the climax is fast approaching, Helio takes charge.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/NBC

In the end, Helio Castroneves nailed his fourth Indy 500 win in his career! Palou finished 2nd and Simon Pagenaud finished 3rd.

That is the end of this year's Indy 500 but this season's NTT IndyCar Series continues with the two-part Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix from the 12th to the 13th of June, 2021.

NTT IndyCar Series 2021 - GMR Grand Prix

May is Indy month and the corners of Indianapolis Motor Speedway come alive with the NTT IndyCar Series' GMR Grand Prix, where drivers get a taste of the Indy action before the big one happens at the end of this month.

Former Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean leads the grid to the starting line as the pole sitter and as the race starts, caution is out when Conor Daily is out of the track. Come Lap 25, the leader Grosjean has entered the pits while Scott Dixon's in the lead. Several laps later, Grosjean's back on top until he made his second pit stop on Lap 43. As Grosjean's fight to retain his lead continues, here comes the unexpected surprise blow and that is Rinus VeeKay storming behind Grosjean for the lead. 

Screengrab from INDYCAR

After a thrilling 85-lap action at Indy, Rinus VeeKay defeated Romain Grosjean to gain his first INDYCAR career win while Alex Palou finished 3rd.

The next race is the big one; it's the 105th Indianapolis 500 coming this 30th of May, 2021. Don't miss it!

NTT IndyCar Series 2021 - XPEL 375

The IndyCar action at Texas continues with the XPEL 375 race and things can get pretty hot for the drivers after all the action they've experienced in the previous day.

Scott Dixon, after winning the previous race, served as the leader driving the grid to green at the start of the race. As the race begins, caution is out as multiple cars got involved in a pile-up a la NASCAR. Sebastian Bourdais, Conor Daly, Dalton Kellet, Alexander Rossi, Pietro Fittipaldi, Ed Jones, and Tony Kanaan are involved in the pileup.

As the race resumes and with 100 laps elapsed, Scott Dixon's in the lead. Come Lap 118, Jack Harvey retires from the race after experiencing some issues with his vehicle.

With the green flag back on, Graham Rahal storms into the lead, and then later, Felix Rosenqvist's problems triggered another caution.

205 laps have passed and Takuma Sato's in the lead but as the climax draws near, Pato O'Ward surges to the lead!

Screengrab from INDYCAR/NBC Sports

After Sunday's Texas thriller, Pato O'Ward claimed the first IndyCar win of his career with Josef Newgarden finished 2nd and Graham Rahal finished 3rd.

The next race of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series will be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the GMR Grand Prix on the 15th of May, 2021.

NTT IndyCar Series 2021 - Genesys 300

This year's NTT IndyCar Series continues at Texas Motor Speedway for the Genesys 300 where drivers are going top gear on an oval track situated at the heart of Fort Worth, Texas.

Due to inclement weather, qualifiers are canceled, leaving points leader Alex Palou leading the grid to green in this race. As the race heats up, Sebastian Bourdais was involved in an accident, triggering a caution. As the race resumes, Scott Dixon's in the lead while Rinus Veekay and Felix Rosenqvist are in close-quarters combat on Lap 101. Come Lap 161, James Hinchcliffe crashed the wall and he was therefore out.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/NBC Sports

After an intense Texas thriller, Scott Dixon scored a back-to-back win at Texas Motor Speedway with newcomer Scott McLaughlin nailed his first podium finish by finishing second place and Patricio O'Ward of Arrow McLaren SP finished 3rd.

The Texas action continues tomorrow for the XPEL 375.

NTT IndyCar Series 2021 - Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

The 2021 NTT IndyCar Series continues on the streets where it was originally the starting point of the modern era, St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

As the green flag waved, the street racing action at St. Petersburg has begun with Colton Herta leading the pack. As the race heats up, it's another bad day for NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson as he went out of track and crashed at Turn 13. As the race resumed, Takuma Sato hits James Hinchcliffe at Turn 1, leaving the latter with a flat tire after the collision. Later, Graham Rahal and Alexander Rossi got involved in a fender bender. As the climax draws near, another unlucky event for Jimmie Johnson as he got involved in the incident at Turn 2 on Lap 73. Seven laps later, Ed Jones is out.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/NBC

After an intense 100-lap campaign, Colton Herta wins the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, having lead 97 out of 100 laps, which is relatively superior for a rookie. Josef Newgarden finished 2nd and Simon Pagenaud finished 3rd.

The next race will be at Texas Motor Speedway for the Genesys 300 on the 1st of May, 2021.

NTT IndyCar Series 2021 - Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

The NTT IndyCar Series returns for the 2021 season with some of the motoring greats joining the grid such as NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson, Formula 1's Romain Grosjean, and Supercars' Scott McLaughlin, among others. This is the IndyCar season unlike any other and it all begins at Barber Motorsports Park for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

70 laps at Alabama is how the season opener runs with polesitter Pato O'Ward leading the grid. As the race starts, Josef Newgarden went out of track and spun while exiting turn 5, triggering a crash that got Colton Herta, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Felix Rosenqvist, and Max Chilton in it. After the crash, another caution triggered at Lap 10 when newcomer Jimmie Johnson spun out.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/NBC

As the action progresses, it became the opening to remember and in the end, Alex Palou nicked his first IndyCar career win after eclipsing the likes of Will Power and Scott Dixon.

What a way to start another IndyCar season! The next race of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series will be at the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the 25th of April, 2021.

INDYCAR iRacing Challenge S2 FINAL

April Fools' Day or Maundy Thursday saw the end of the second season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge, which took place at the virtual Sebring after fans voted online for which venue will the final round takes place.

Before the race, sadly, two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato, wasn't able to took part in the final virtual race of this season due to technical issues. Anyway, the race starts with Alex Palou served as the polesitter of the last virtual race of this season and he was therefore started the 26-race action at the virtual Sebring. However, he was shortly overtaken by Sage Karam at the start. As the race heads on the 13th lap, RC Enerson overtook Karam for the lead, only to be gunned down by Enzo Fittipaldi shortly a lap later. With 12 laps to go, Alex Palou retook the lead and as we thought he's going for the pole-to-win approach, the Supercars titan Scott McLaughlin came out of nowhere and then overtook Palou as the climax draws near.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/iRacing

In the end, Scott McLaughlin wins the final virtual race of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge, 0.801 seconds ahead of Alex Palou, while RC Enerson finished 3rd. Other finishers include Braden Eves, James Davison, Enzo Fittipaldi, Nikita Lastochkin, Benjamin Pedersen, and Conor Daly.

That is the end of the second season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge.

The 2021 NTT INDYCAR Series will kick off at Alabama for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on the 18th of April.

INDYCAR iRacing Challenge S2 - Homestead-Miami

Previously, in the second season of the INDYCAR iRACING Challenge, Alex Palou delivered a pole-to-win performance at the virtual Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after an intense 32-lap campaign in the season opener.

The second season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge continues at the virtual Homestead-Miami oval track for the second part and 100 laps of virtual oval racing action is the main focus for the best drivers taking on this virtual venue as they're pulling all means necessary to win.

Enzo Fittipaldi, who won this year's F1 eSports Virtual Grand Prix title, served as the polesitter of this season. As the race starts, the drivers are going all out to survive 100 laps of white-knuckled virtual oval racing action any way they can while finding out who will win this virtual race.

Halfway through the race, Sage Karam overtook the leader Enzo Fittipaldi on the 43rd lap, only for Enzo to be clawed back to the lead at Lap 52. With 22 laps to go, RC Enerson overtook Enzo Fittipaldi, and with 12 laps left, Enerson took a pit stop while Sage Karam storms into the lead.

Screengrab from INDYCAR

After an intense 100-lap virtual campaign, Sage Karam wins the second round of the INDYCAR iRACING Challenge Season 2, followed by second placer Conor Daly, and Enzo Fittipaldi finished 3rd.

Watch: https://youtu.be/-KocCcHHQ-8

The second season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge concludes on the 1st of April with the final venue set to Sebring after fans voted online for which venue will the final round takes place. Don't miss it!

INDYCAR iRacing Challenge S2 - Montreal

Last year, when the global pandemic put motorsports to a standstill, most motorsport series ventured through the virtual racing world to pass the time until the right time comes to return racing in this "new normal." 

INDYCAR is one of them when they pulled off their first-ever INDYCAR iRacing Challenge, where numerous big names in motorsports come together and clash themselves through virtual racetracks to see who is the best. No championship points for those who won and finished. It's a kind of virtual exhibition motorsport seen round the world.

Screengrab from INDYCAR/iRacing

Following the success of last year, the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge returns for the second season and they kicked off their series of three virtual exhibition races before the real one begins next month. With familiar names on the grid, this three-race virtual series can get even more noticeable from start to finish.

The second season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge kicked off at the virtual Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Alex Palou leads the 32-lap virtual race in the Canadian Grand Prix venue and after numerous dramatic overtakes behind the pack and no sign of mayhem involved, the pole-sitter Palou maintained his lead to become the first winner of this season with Braden Eves finished 2nd and last year's IIC champ, Scott McLaughlin, finished 3rd.

Watch:

The second season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge continues at Homestead-Miami on the 25th of March, 2021.

2020 NTT IndyCar Series - Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. What's meant to be the start line for every IndyCar season, now became the finish line for the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series. As Scott Dixon aims for his sixth IndyCar title, this season finale will decide whether Dixon will nail this title for the sixth time of his career.

Pole position Will Power leads the grid to start the race until problems arise in Lap 6 that caused him to be overtaken by Alexander Rossi, and if that wasn't enough Power hit the wall at Lap 36. Lap 47 saw guest driver Scott McLaughlin and Marcus VeeKay got involved in an accident. In Lap 53, Jack Harvey almost colliding with Pato O'Ward. Lap 64 saw Colton Herta went out of bounds and in Lap 70, Alexander Rossi's lead is toast after a crash. After several incidents later, the race resumes on its 80th lap and Josef Newgarden charges to the lead. 

Screengrab from IndyCar

Josef Newgarden crosses the checkered flag to win the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg while Patricio O'Ward finished 2nd but third  placer Scott Dixon is crowned as the 2020 INTT IndyCar Series champion.

Congratulations, Scott Dixon, for his sixth IndyCar title!

And that concludes the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series. See you next season!

2020 NTT IndyCar Series - Harvest GP

The 2020 NTT IndyCar Series returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first-ever Harvest GP as drivers are going all-out in the road course for what is known to be the penultimate leg of this season. Two races really made a huge difference as the climax draws near.

Screengrab from IndyCar

Two races, one heck of a race weekend at IMS. This is what the inaugural Harvest GP is all about and with this season draws to its conclusion, everything's on the line for the best of the best.

In the first race, Josef Newgarden is named the winner while Alexander Rossi finished 2nd and rookie driver Rinus VeeKay got his first podium finish with a third place finish. In the final race, meanwhile, it's Will Power that took down Colton Herta and Rossi for the win.

After Harvest GP, Scott Dixon leads with 502 points while Josef Newgarden's in 2nd with 470 points and Herta's at third with 401 points.

The 2020 NTT IndyCar Series concludes at the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the 25th of October. Don't miss it!

2020 NTT IndyCar Series: Honda Indy 200

After a COVID-19 delay, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio race of the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series is back in action and what a way for the IndyCar drivers to start fall with a two-race thriller that gets intense from start to finish.

Screengrab from IndyCar/NBC

In the first race of the Mid-Ohio action, Team Penske scored a 1-2 finished with Will Power named as the winner while Josef Newgarden finished 2nd. Alexander Rossi, meanwhile, finished 3rd. In the final race, meanwhile, it's a full sweep for the Andretti team with the rookie Colton Herta crowned victor while Rossi finished 2nd and Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 3rd.

Next race is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the two-part IndyCar Harvest GP on the 2nd to 3rd of October, 2020.

2020 NTT IndyCar Series - Bommarito Automotive Group 500

The two-part Bommarito Automotive Group 500 event of the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series, held at the World Wide Technology Raceway, is what their way to end the summer season with a quick two days of intense oval racing action to wrap the last days of summer.

Screengrab from IndyCar

In the first part of the race, Scott Dixon made headlines by nicking his 50th career win after successfully fended off the likes of two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato and Pato O'Ward. In the final part, meanwhile, Josef Newgarden wins while O'Ward finished 2nd and Will Power finished 3rd.

After the action at the World Wide Technology Raceway, Dixon still leads the leaderboard with 416 while Newgarden's at 2nd with 320 points and O'Ward's at 3rd with 297 points.

Next race is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the two-part IndyCar Harvest GP on the 2nd to 3rd of October, 2020.

2020 NTT IndyCar Series - Indy 500

After a three-month COVID-19 delay that went wondering what might have been, this year's INDY 500, held at the prestigeous Indianapolis Motor Speedway has arrived and due to "new normal" procedures, it was held behind closed doors, which saddens many racing fans who can't wait to see who gets the milk at the Brickyard, but despite stringent protocols, this year's Indy 500 is a dream come true for F1 great Fernando Alonso because he gets his first chance to experience what's like to be in the Indy 500 ever since his plan was foiled last year by a rookie.

Needless to say, while adhering to "new normal" procedures, the world's fastest motorsport event became one of the most chaotic racing events to end the summer season because of the crashes that sent the unfortunate packing with some luckily survived the horrifying ones.

First, Dalton Kellett's incident triggered a yellow flag which cost Scott Dixon's massive lead in the race. Then, Oliver Askew is involved in a massive crash but later survived. After that, rookie Alex Palou's Indy 500 day is well and truly over after a crash. After Palou, Alexander Rossi faced his biggest misfortune in his Indy 500 life. First the missed pitstop, then the unsafe release that slapped him with a penalty, and then ended with a crash in Lap 144.

After several horrifying crashes later, the race became a one-on-one clash between Takuma Sato and Scott Dixon, even after Zach Veach's pitstop gave these two a fighting chance to see who will emerge victorious. As the clash between the two intensified, Spencer Pigot's near-climax crash triggered the last caution of the race and with that, it's victory for Takuma Sato as he won his second Indy 500 race.

Screengrab: INDYCAR/NBC

This year's Indy 500 is well and truly over but the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series continues at World Wide Technology raceway for the two-part Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on the 29th to 30th of August, 2020.

INDYCAR postpones 2020 season's Mid-Ohio race due to COVID-19

Originally set for next weekend, the IndyCar organizers as well as the Mid-Ohio organizers announced that next weekend's Mid-Ohio race has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Screengrab via IndyCar

According to the statement, INDYCAR and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course have agreed to postpone this season's Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio race until a date to be determined to September or October, citing COVID-19 situations.

URL: https://www.indycar.com/2020/ScheduleUpdates

With the Mid-Ohio race postponed to this autumn, the next race of the 2020 NTT INDYCAR Series will be the 104th Indy 500 on the 23rd of August.

The 2020 NTT IndyCar Series kicked off last June 6th (June 7th, Manila time) after three months of COVID-19 delay. So far, Scott Dixon leads the driver leaderboard with 244 points while Simon Pagenaud's in 2nd place with 195 points and Josef Newgarden's at third place with four points behind Pagenaud's.

2020 NTT IndyCar Series - Iowa IndyCar 250s

Another week, another two-parter of the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series and this time, they're at Iowa Speedway for the two-part Iowa IndyCar 250s race where drivers go flat out in this intense oval course where all of the unexpected made this two-parter very interesting to witness in the midst of the new normal.

Screengrab from IndyCar

In the first part of the race, last year's Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud wins while Scott Dixon finished 2nd and Oliver Askew tasted his first podium with a third place finish. In the second part of the race, Josef Newgarden, thanks to his pole position, wins while Will Power's in 2nd place and Graham Rahal's at 3rd.

Next race is at Mid-Ohio for the Honda Indy 200 on the 9th of August.