News and photos from IndyCar Awards Banquet (Update)

UPDATE

IndyCar boss Mark Miles

Last night's IndyCar Championship Celebration was the best season ending event that has been put on by IndyCar in the last few years. By holding the event in Indianapolis, the local fans who attend the Indy 500 and quite a few of the other races on the schedule, are able to be a part of the festivities. Having the transporters, driver flags, race cars, trophies, free lunch and drivers interacting with fans by serving food, taking pictures and signing autographs in Monument Circle, provided a prefect backdrop for the evening event which was held in The Hilbert Circle Theater. IndyCar Nation members were also able to purchase tickets to the evening celebration and mingle with their favorite drivers.

I spoke with Mark Miles, Chief Executive Officer, Hulman & Company, on the red carpet about the 2016 season. "I think it was a sensational season", Miles replied. " I think you could just feel the paddock and our stakeholders, I feel like we got real momentum. I watched the fans reactions and increased television audience, 55% over three years. That just doesn't happen in a lot of sports. So we are headed in the right direction. I think all the events were up, except for a couple that we just got soaked and even delayed. I think 2017 will be another great year."

I asked Miles about if IndyCar would be adding more races in the Midwest market since the return to Elkhart Lake was so successful and the addition of Gateway in St Louis, MO to next year's schedule. "Well, we are here in the Midwest. We just added another short oval track, and we are excited about that. I don't think this means we will be confined to the Midwest. I think there will still be other opportunities around the country."

I spoke with Bobby Rahal, owner with David Letterman and Mike Lanigan of RLL, about his take on this season. Rahal replied, "I am pretty pleased. Half the races in the top 5. We won and got on podiums. Once again, the little guys, right? Jack the giant slayer. I am very happy with the team. I think on average, we were more competitive this year than we were in 2015. You got to feel pretty good about that. We had some races where we just got caught out on strategy by yellows and that cost us. But if you look at races like Barber, Sonoma and we can't forget Texas, I think Graham was driving beautifully this year. I think we all feel good about how strong we will be in 2017."

I asked if Spencer Pigot will be back with the team next year. "Not at this stage. Not with us. I would assume that Ed Carpenter would keep him. We would love to have a second car but it would have to be the right guy and the right funding. We are kinda jealous about the kind of organization we have right now. We really don't want to tip the apple cart." Lucille Dust reporting from Indy

10/04/16 It was a picture perfect day in downtown Indianapolis this afternoon, as the team transporters lined Monument Circle in preparation for the end of season Celebration happening tonight at the Hilbert theater. The event was well attended by fans who were treated to free lunch from Qdoba. Mark Miles and drivers, Luca Filippi, Conor Daly, Spencer Pigot and champion, Simon Pagenaud, handed food and chips to the fans. The drivers autographed Indy 500 hats that were given out to fans.

I spoke with Conor Daly, who was not the most upbeat he has been over the past season while he drove the number 18 entry for Dale Coyne. "I am not sure where I am going to land", remarked the young Indianapolis native. "Sebastien Bourdais will take my seat at Coyne next year, so I am just waiting for things to shake out at Ganassi before I start to contact teams."

Missing from the event was the Indy 500 winner, Alexander Rossi. The Astor cup was displayed with Rossi's winning car, but no sign of the driver among the crowd. The Andretti Autosport driver announced just yesterday that he was staying with the team for the 2017 season.

Dale Coyne Racing driver Conor Daly is being honored with the TAG Heuer “Don’t Crack Under Pressure" Award this evening at the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship Celebration.

The TAG Heuer “Don’t Crack Under Pressure" award is an honor presented to the driver that advances the most cumulative positions gained over the entire season, receiving one point per position gained.

Daly, with 87 points, moved up 87 positions over the course of the season from his place on the starting grid to his finishing position thanks to race strategy and out right pace. He beat Graham Rahal by six points to claim the honors.

“I have to thank TAG Heuer for being a part of this series and offering this award," shared Daly. “The #18 DCR Honda was always well equipped for the race distance and gave me a chance to move forward. It was always going to be tough to compete for Rookie of the Year after Alex (Rossi) won the Indy 500 but to still come out of the year with an award for our race performance means a lot. That said, my next goal is to improve on my qualifying performance!"

The rookie made 16 starts for Dale Coyne Racing this year and scored a best finish of second at Detroit Race 1 where he moved up 14 positions before taking the checkered flag. In addition to his podium finish, Daly claimed four additional top six finishing positions.

He climbed 16 positions at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis to finish sixth, he gained 15 positions at Detroit Race 2 to once again finish sixth, he started 22nd and finished sixth at Mid-Ohio and moved up 13 spots at Watkins Glen to register a fourth place finish.

Daly also ended the season second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.

Off to the red carpet and tonight's event.

Lucille Dust reporting live from Indianapolis

Pagenaud's car in square	Pagenaud Car	Pagenaud Photos his car
Pre-Celebration	Miles serving food	Miles and Filippi serving food
Conor Daly & Fans	Pagenaud being interviewed	Luca Filippi