NASCAR Xfinity Series: Cindric Nets The Captain's Car Victory in Saturday's Stock Car Event

Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images

untitled

While the elite NASCAR Cup Series raced for their first time on the road course of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Xfinity Series car already had experience battling on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit with Chase Brisoce winning the inaugural event. With Briscoe focused on his hunt for NASCAR Cup Series rookie of the year honours in 2021, a different driver would be the Saturday’s Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard would fight for claim the win.

The #16 Chevrolet of A.J. Allmendinger started on the pole for the 62-lap race but his third place starting Kaulig Racing teammate Justin Haley’s #11 car leaped into the lead into the first corner as Allmendinger ran wide. Action on the road course quickly turned chaotic as the 36-car field exited turn six of the opening lap. Several drivers including Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones, Kevin Harvick, Alex Labbe and Josh Bilicki hopped a curb that was placed on the exit of the sixth corner resulting in considerable damage to their cars. Jones retired his #19 Toyota on the opening lap while Harvick completed just one lap in the #99 Unibet Official Sportsbook Ford Mustang.

When racing resumed, Haley continued to lead through the first stage. A.J. Allmendinger took that second stage of the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard that ended under caution due to the #24 Toyota of Will Rodgers’ stopping on track as a fire started beneath his vehicle.

On the third stage, Penske Racing’s Austin Cindric pulled off a race-winning move passing Ty Gibbs on lap 45. The #22 PPG Ford Mustang maintained a healthy gap on second place that changed hands between Gibbs, Myatt Snider and finally A.J. Allmendinger as Cindric led the field to the checkered flag. Through the cool-down lap, the victorious driver sang the Indianapolis 500 pre-race staple “Back Home Again in Indiana” celebrating on his car owner Roger Penske’s track.

A.J. Allmendinger and Justin Haley finished second and third place for Kaulig Racing ahead of JR Motorsports #1 Chevrolet driven by Chase Elliott. Elliott did not intend to race in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at the start of the race weekend. He received an early morning phone call to substitute for the #1 car’s regular driver Michael Annett who was suffering from lingering pain while recovering from a leg injury. Noah Gragson, Austin Dillon, Myatt Snider, Riley Herbt, Harrison Burton and Andy Lally rounded out the top-10 with the completion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Finishing the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard outside of the top 10 in 11^th place, Justin Allgaier had his race spoiled by misfortunate timing. When the caution came out for Rodger’s stopped #24 machine ending the second stage, Allgaier proceeded to take his #7 BRANDT Chevrolet to the attention of his pit crew. Just before Allgaier reached the pit road commitment line, the full-course yellow closed the pits resulting in the #7 car being sent to the rear of the field on the third stage. Also having a tough final stage was Watkins Glen Xfinity race winner Ty Gibbs who fell from the lead to ultimately finish 19^th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road race.

A Canadian Star Car: Red Green's Possum Van

Clip of Possum Van during a Red Green Show season 1 scene transition. It could be argued that the car someone regularly drives can be reflective of their personality. The level of character traits found in our automobiles can range from subtle to flamboyant as practicality, style, power, brand loyalty and other details are factors influencing our vehicle affection. On the big screen and silver screen, an automobile (frequently popularized as a Star Car) can be used to affirmatively to expand on a human character. Batman’s Batmobile, the Dodge Charger called the ‘General Lee’ in Dukes of Hazzard, the Volvo P1800 featured in the 1960s television version of The Saint, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in some of the most famous spy movies are some popular examples where vehicles play a major role in reinforcing the appearance of fictional individuals. Due to the budgetary constraints of Canadian media productions, the presence of native Star Cars is rare. However, one success...

Honda’s Secret 30th Anniversary In Indy Car Racing

Photo Credit: Engine Developments Ltd. Too many times, forgetting an anniversary would end with someone spending time in the proverbial doghouse. This has apparently happened this year as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season concluded with no major celebrations or recognition for what is 30 years since a major current partner of American open wheel racing began participation in the sport. The following article is a collection of the details I’ve learned as well as some insight from engine builder John Judd on what was a quiet 30th anniversary in the Verizon IndyCar Series. During the week where the 30th running of the Canadian street race now known as the Honda Indy Toronto, I was compelled to capture the flavour of the inaugural event. The viewing experience provided me some insight into a period of time where I was too young to absorb auto racing in the manner I do today. A race that featured television coverage with no regular onscreen statistics, the league used a local ...

The 1967 Indy 500: When An STP-Sponsored Turbine Almost Changed Racing

Photo Credit: Uncredited Photographer/IMS LLC Racing has always been the ultimate proving ground for automobiles. Not only has competition promoted innovations big and small, race cars have also influenced overall vehicle appearance. At the 1967 Indianapolis 500, the STP-Paxton TurboCar fielded by the late Andy Granatelli provided a shocking example of how much racing at the speedway evolved over 56 years. Ever since the first 500-mile event was held at the 2.5-mile rectangular oval Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911, the winning Marmon Wasp with a rearview mirror paved the way for what would be a grand showcase of automotive development. Accompanying “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” advancements in automobile technology showed greater sophistication with every passing decade in the quest for more speed. During the 1920s and 1930s, American race car designer Henry Miller offered groundbreaking engines to the Indianapolis 500. Miller also gave front-wheel drive technology it...

Car FYI

Search This Blog