A Look at the Indycar Grand Prix from Ims Road Course

The INDYCAR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway isn’t really a bit of hindsight, however, it’s particularly the easygoing, laid-back tantalizing environment to commence May’s proceedings by differentiation to the rich, fragile full main course that is the 101st Indianapolis 500 exhibited by PennGrade Motor Oil.
Furthermore, as the last dress practice for the Verizon IndyCar Grand Prix Series before the ‘500, it presents one final shot at huge points before the monstrous measure of points – and glory – on offer on the oval.

Here’s a portion of the nuggets heading into the end of the week:

Pagenaud’s Legitimate, Yet Calm, Title Defence

On the off chances that it’s conceivable to have a quiet, yet stealthy title defense, Simon Pagenaud is doing that and afterward some in 2017.

What was an extraordinarily quick start in 2016 was punctuated by Pagenaud’s frolic to triumph, at the craftsman some time ago known as the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis? It topped off his fantasy run of three wins and two runner-up completions – and the last time he won three races in succession before that, he won an American Le Mans Series title in 2010.

Presently, in 2017, Pagenaud still has four top five finishes out of the door, and a profession winning at Phoenix last time out to demonstrate he can win on an oval also. He’s likewise driving the standings by 18 points over Scott Dixon, who additionally has four top-five finishes in the same number of races.

In the three earlier Indycar Grands Prix, Pagenaud won in 2014 (drove 6 laps), finished 25th and toward the end in 2015 with a gearbox issue, and won a year ago in the wake of driving 57 of 82 laps.

So will it be blast or-bust again for the driver of the No. 1 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet this year? The truth will surface eventually.

Dixon Searching For An Uncommon First At This Race

Rare would you be able to go to a race and not discover Scott Dixon having had success, but rather the Indycar Grand Prix is that for the four-time series champion. Completions of fifteenth, tenth and seventh are forgettable for Dixon – obviously getting hit by Helio Castroneves at the top turn two or three years prior here did him no favors – however this and Gateway, where he’s just contended once (fifteenth in 2003), which are the top two tracks on the schedule where the 40-time race champ and driver of the No. 9 NTT Data Honda, for which Chip Ganassi Racing does not have a solitary top five finish.

Partner Tony Kanaan is likewise 0-for-3 in scoring top fives this race, while another colleague Charlie Kimball is the top driver in the field who’s a flawless 3-for-3 in top fives at the Grand Prix, having completed fifth every year.

The Juan And The Only Additional Entrant

One of the cool parts about this race in its three-year history has been the additional entries added to the full field rundown. Be that as it may, none has been too arranged or officially balanced as Juan Pablo Montoya, who makes his first IndyCar start of the year in the No. 22 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Chevrolet, in Team Penske’s first race as a five-car team.

Montoya, however, who remains as of late race sharp, is coordinated by his team, and has as of now had two strong tests this year to get ready for the race. Both at Barber Motorsports Park and Gateway Motorsports Park, Montoya’s had an opportunity to crystallize with the new fifth car entry. A win might be excessive to ask, yet a point taking podium run is more than conceivable. Key for him is the manner by which he goes on Firestone’s other red tires this end of the week, as that is a staying point for part-season drivers – even the ones with Montoya’s stunning level of understanding and expertise set.

Incidentally Unpredictable Firestone Fast Six Qualifiers

From the minute Sebastian Saavedra took the 2014 inaugural race’s shaft, on a wet track for KV/AFS Racing with Jack Hawksworth close by for Bryan Herta Autosport, it was evident this race would go into INDYCAR legend as INDYCAR’s “bizarro world.” And that is no thump on either driver, however, few would have wagered on it. After three years, KV is no longer a team, BHA has joined forces with Andretti Autosport, and neither of the drivers is in the series full-time, in spite of the fact that Saavedra was reported for a rebound this week at the Indianapolis 500 with Juncos Racing.

Here’s the Fast Six qualifier in the three past Grand Prix:
• 2014: Saavedra, Hawksworth, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Pagenaud, Will Power, Dixon
• 2015: Power, Dixon, Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Pagenaud, Tony Kanaan
• 2016: Pagenaud, Charlie Kimball, Graham Rahal, James Hinchcliffe, Josef Newgarden, Hawksworth

Some of those names are not shall we say, Fast Six regulars. A year ago’s Fast Six was made significantly more intricate by the reality both Rahal and Newgarden were punished after post-qualifying specialized review and sent to the back of the field.
Imperative, however, is that both pole-sitters have won this race the most recent two years.

Other Pre-Race Notes

• Alexander Rossi had one of his most noteworthy drives of his newbie season here a year ago. Race pace at Barber was sufficient to lift from eighteenth to fifth, and on the off chances that he qualifies better, his first non-Indy 500 win or podium is achievable.
• Josef Newgarden’s most exceedingly awful complete in four races this season is ninth. His best Indycar Grand Prix complete in three races is seventeenth. Something should give there this end of the week.
• There have been seven podium finishers here in three years. Other than Pagenaud and Power, Helio Castroneves, James Hinchcliffe, Graham Rahal, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Hunter-Reay have likewise made excursions to the podium.
• Sebastien Bourdais completed fourth here in 2014 and 2015, however, became involved with a first-lap mishap here a year ago, an indistinguishable issue as applied to him last time out at Phoenix. The Dale Coyne Racing team has been working extra minutes repairing the car from Phoenix.

The Last Word

From Montoya: “I’m so eager to get back on track with the Verizon IndyCar Series. I’ve run some couple of tests, however, will run my first race since last season at the INDYCAR Grand Prix. Indianapolis is one of those unique places in motorsports. The buzz encompassing the entire city for the month can be felt. I figure I ought to feel somewhat behind, yet I don’t. The folks on the Fitzgerald Glider Kits group have been in order and blended in with alternate groups all season, so we have all the information and those tests went truly well. I’m certainly anticipating it.”