IndyCar News: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Preview
Can he do it again? Last year Ganassi veteran Scott Dixon pulled off another win after starting 16th in the 2023 IndyCar Bommarito Automotive Group 500, fending off Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward who finished 2nd.
The Kiwi started 16th in the 2023 Gallagher Grand Prix two weeks earlier and won that race on strategy as well.
Saving fuel while leading a race high 123 laps of 260 laps, Dixon won in decisive fashion, nearly doubling the track record for margin of victory (22.2256 seconds; previously 11.804 by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000).
He only needed three pit stops by saving fuel, one fewer than the other 27 drivers in the field.
“It’s all these guys, man,” Dixon said about his Chip Ganassi Racing crew. “Chip steers the ship. We took a pretty good grid penalty today. We had to go the alternate route, and it worked out perfectly. This team was perfect. They gave me the (fuel) number I needed to be getting, so massive thank you to everybody on the PNC Bank No. 9 crew.”
2024 Race Fast Facts
Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 16 – Saturday, Aug. 17
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway, a 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois
Race distance:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline 260 laps / 325 miles
INDY NXT by Firestone
OUTFRONT Showdown 75 laps / 93.75 miles
Entry List
|
CAR |
DRIVER |
HOMETOWN |
CAR NAME |
TEAM |
ENGINE |
|
|
1 |
2 |
Josef Newgarden |
Nashville, Tennessee |
PPG Team Penske |
Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
|
2 |
3 |
Scott McLaughlin |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
DEX Imaging Team Penske |
Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
|
3 |
4 |
Kyffin Simpson (R) |
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
4 |
5 |
Pato O’Ward |
Monterrey, Mexico |
Arrow McLaren |
Arrow McLaren |
Chevrolet |
|
5 |
6 |
Nolan Siegel (R) |
Palo Alto, California |
Arrow McLaren |
Arrow McLaren |
Chevrolet |
|
6 |
7 |
Alexander Rossi |
Nevada City, California |
Arrow McLaren |
Arrow McLaren |
Chevrolet |
|
7 |
8 |
Linus Lundqvist (R) |
Stockholm, Sweden |
American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
8 |
9 |
Scott Dixon |
Auckland, New Zealand |
PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
9 |
10 |
Alex Palou |
Barcelona, Spain |
DHL Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
10 |
11 |
Marcus Armstrong |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
11 |
12 |
Will Power |
Toowoomba, Australia |
Verizon Business Team Penske |
Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
|
12 |
14 |
Santino Ferrucci |
Woodbury, Connecticut |
Bommarito Automotive Group |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
Chevrolet |
|
13 |
15 |
Graham Rahal |
New Albany, Ohio |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
|
14 |
18 |
Jack Harvey |
Bassingham, England |
Dale Coyne Racing |
Dale Coyne Racing |
Honda |
|
15 |
20 |
Ed Carpenter |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
GuyCare |
Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
16 |
21 |
Rinus VeeKay |
Hoofddorp, Netherlands |
Ed Carpenter Racing |
Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
17 |
26 |
Colton Herta |
Valencia, California |
Gainbridge |
Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian |
Honda |
|
18 |
27 |
Kyle Kirkwood |
Jupiter, Florida |
AutoNation |
Andretti Global |
Honda |
|
19 |
28 |
Marcus Ericsson |
Kumla, Sweden |
Delaware Life |
Andretti Global |
Honda |
|
20 |
30 |
Pietro Fittipaldi |
Miami, Florida |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
|
21 |
41 |
Sting Ray Robb |
Payette, Idaho |
Goodheart Vet/Pray.com |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
Chevrolet |
|
22 |
45 |
Christian Lundgaard |
Hedensted, Denmark |
Hy-Vee |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
|
23 |
51 |
Katherine Legge |
Guildford, England |
e.l.f. Cosmetics |
Dale Coyne Racing |
Honda |
|
24 |
60 |
Felix Rosenqvist |
Värnamo, Sweden |
AutoNation/SiriusXM |
Meyer Shank Racing |
Honda |
|
25 |
66 |
David Malukas |
Chicago, Illinois |
AutoNation/Arctic Wolf |
Meyer Shank Racing |
Honda |
|
26 |
77 |
Romain Grosjean |
Geneva, Switzerland |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
27 |
78 |
Conor Daly |
Noblesville, Indiana |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
All cars use fourth-generation NTT INDYCAR SERIES chassis (Dallara IR12) with universal IR-18 aerodynamic bodywork, Chevrolet or Honda engines and Firestone tires. |
|
(R) – Denotes Rookie of the Year candidate |
Hybrid energy deployment parameters:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 120 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Eight sets for use through the doubleheader weekend.
INDY NXT by Firestone
Two new sets to be used during the event weekend.
X: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Threads: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @WWTRaceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @WWT_Raceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.wwtraceway.com/
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2023 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports)
2023 NTT P1 Award winner: Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet), 49.1936 seconds, 182.951 mph (two laps)
2023 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports), field set by points after qualifying was rained out
One-lap qualifying lap record:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Will Power, 23.7206, 189.709 mph, Aug. 25. 2017
INDY NXT by Firestone
Juan Piedrahita, 27.8890, 161.354 mph, Aug. 26, 2017
USA Network race telecast: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline, 6 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 17, USA Network (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry and Dillon Welch are the pit reporters.
Peacock Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while USA Network’s race telecast of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown will be streamed on Peacock, with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR LIVE.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query and Michael Young are the pit reporters. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (6 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (3:50 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, Peacock
2:15-3 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, INDYCAR LIVE
3:20 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT P1 Award qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), Peacock
5:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), INDYCAR LIVE
6:45-7:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES high-line session (two groups/15 minutes each), Peacock
7:30-8:30 p.m. –NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
3 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown “Drivers Start Your Engines”
3:05 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown (75 laps / 93.75 miles)
5 p.m. – USA Network on air
5:25 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
5:30 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps/325 miles), USA Network (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Facts:
- Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with five races to go for the third time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. He also led the 2021 and 2023 championships with five races to go, winning the title in each of those seasons. Palou, who has led the point standings after seven of the 12 rounds this season, took the point lead at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in June.
- There are 18 drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward, Scott McLaughlin, Kyle Kirkwood, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Santino Ferrucci, Christian Lundgaard, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong, Rinus VeeKay, Romain Grosjean, Graham Rahal and Linus Lundqvist. Any driver who trails the points leader by 217 points or more following this race will be eliminated from contention.
- Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship three times: Alex Zanardi (1998), Josef Newgarden (2017) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the championship leader with five races to go has won the championship nine times. Those drivers were: Scott Dixon (2008, 2018, 2020), Dario Franchitti (2011), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Simon Pagenaud (2016), Josef Newgarden (2019) and Alex Palou (2021, 2023).
Point differential: The 49 points that separate Alex Palou and Will Power is the seventh-largest point margin with five races remaining since INDYCAR SERIES racing was unified in 2008. Before this season, the average lead with five races remaining was 43.9 points.
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FIVE RACES TO GO
| YEAR | LEADER | SECOND | LEAD | CHAMPION |
| 2008 | Scott Dixon | Helio Castroneves | 58 | Scott Dixon |
| 2009 | Ryan Briscoe | Scott Dixon | 8 | Dario Franchitti (-11) |
| 2010 | Will Power | Dario Franchitti | 41 | Dario Franchitti |
| 2011 | Dario Franchitti | Will Power | 62 | Dario Franchitti |
| 2012 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Will Power | 34 | Ryan Hunter-Reay |
| 2013 | Helio Castroneves | Scott Dixon | 31 | Scott Dixon |
| 2014 | Helio Castroneves | Will Power | 28 | Will Power |
| 2015 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Will Power | 46 | Scott Dixon (-49) |
| 2016 | Simon Pagenaud | Josef Newgarden | 73 | Simon Pagenaud |
| 2017 | Scott Dixon | Helio Castroneves | 3 | Josef Newgarden (-23) |
| 2018 | Scott Dixon | Josef Newgarden | 62 | Scott Dixon |
| 2019 | Josef Newgarden | Alexander Rossi | 29 | Josef Newgarden |
| 2020 | Scott Dixon | Josef Newgarden | 96 | Scott Dixon |
| 2021 | Alex Palou | Scott Dixon | 42 | Alex Palou |
| 2022 | Marcus Ericsson | Will Power | 8 | Will Power |
| 2023 | Alex Palou | Josef Newgarden | 80 | Alex Palou |
| 2024 | Alex Palou | Will Power | 49 | ? |
Race Notes:
- There have been seven winners in 12 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2024 season. Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course), Scott Dixon (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway-1), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca), Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500), Will Power (Road America, Iowa Speedway-2) and Colton Herta (Streets of Toronto) have all won in 2024. The modern record (1946-present) for the most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.
- The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the 16th INDYCAR SERIES race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Scott Dixon won at WWTR for the second time in 2023. Paul Tracy won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WWTR in 1997. Dixon, Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018) are the former winners entered in this year’s race.
| ACTIVE RACE WINNER | WINS | SEASONS |
| Josef Newgarden | 4 | 2017, 2020-Race2, 2021, 2022 |
| Scott Dixon | 2 | 2020-Race 1, 2023 |
| Will Power | 1 | 2018 |
- The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be the fourth of seven oval races during the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Team Penske drivers have won the previous three races. Josef Newgarden won the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May while Scott McLaughlin and Will Power split the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader at Iowa Speedway last month.
- Three drivers have won at World Wide Technology Raceway from the pole – Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Gil de Ferran (2002) and Helio Castroneves (2003).
- Team Penske has won eight times at World Wide Technology Raceway. Penske’s winning drivers are Paul Tracy (1997), Gil de Ferran (2002), Helio Castroneves (2003), Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020-Race 2, 2021, 2022) and Will Power (2018). Chip Ganassi Racing has three wins at Gateway with Alex Zanardi (1998), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000) and Scott Dixon (2020-Race 1).
- Twenty-four drivers have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at World Wide Technology Raceway. Scott Dixon has nine starts, most among the entered drivers. Rookies Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson will make their first start at WWTR. Thirteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Josef Newgarden 582, Scott Dixon 374, Will Power 333, Pato O’Ward 159, Colton Herta 134, Scott McLaughlin 12, Alexander Rossi 8, David Malukas 4, Felix Rosenqvist 4, Marcus Ericsson 3, Romain Grosjean 2, Graham Rahal 2 and Conor Daly
- Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 335th consecutive start, extending his NTT INDYCAR SERIES record streak.
INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:
- Andretti Global’s Louis Foster returns to World Wide Technology Raceway looking to solidify his grip on the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. The 21-year-old English driver leads Jacob Abel of Abel Motorsports by 77 points heading into the pivotal championship stretch of four races in five weeks.
The INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown will be the series’ 14th race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at WWTR include Lee Bentham, Townsend Bell, Dan Wheldon, Jeff Simmons, Oliver Askew, David Malukas and Christian Rasmussen.