Verizon IndyCar Series 2015 – The Indy Grand Prix of NOLA
That it takes a team to win at an event like the Verizon IndyCar Series at NOLA Motorsports Park was again proved this April 11th. Let us explain.
The number one obstacle each team had to overcome was the weather. Heavy morning rains had left several significant wet “spots” on the track. Under these conditions, teams employed Firestone rain tires (which have grooves) to provide the grip each car needed to navigate the circuit. All was good up until the 11th lap when drivers were signaled to pit for a tire change…to slicks. With 15 laps of the proposed 75 lap race completed, the drivers were itching to push their cars to the limit.
Unfortunately, the combination of enthusiastic drivers, dry-track tires and the stubborn persistence of wet track areas led only to spin-outs and collisions – which brought out the yellow flag for the majority of the remainder of the race. Under yellow flag conditions, the drivers are forced to reduce their speed and remain in their rank positions until the track can be cleared of debris. In all, there would be only six more green flag laps in the final 32 laps of the race (which was cut short by an agreed on 1:45 time limit).
Now for the team aspect on lap 33 of the mostly under-caution race, all of the cars who were ahead of the eventual winner, James Hinchcliffe, were directed to pit. Hinchcliffe’s race strategist Robert Gue had other ideas. Looking at the performance of the car via his pit screens, the astute Gue determined that Hinchcliffe had just enough fuel to finish the race. Gue directed Hinchcliffe to remain on the track…and in doing so, to claim the lead. It was a bold gamble but one which paid off for the No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Honda team…which later crossed the finish line under caution and took the victory. It was Hinchcliffe’s fourth career Indy car victory and fifth for his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team.
The number two spot went to Helio Castroneves in the No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet. Had he not pitted with the rest on lap 33, he would have been the leader at the checkered flag. In the number three spot, Hinchcliffe’s teammate, James Jakes, piloting the No. 7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda. Simona de Silvestro placed fourth in the No. 25 Andretti Autosport Honda. Juan Pablo Montoya ended up fifth in the No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.
In post-race comments, Hinchcliffe gave credit to his pit crew and their call which had won the race.
He remarked that he started holding his thumb over the fuel gauge…because he didn’t want to see how low he was getting.
Of particular note under the heading “sportsman-like conduct”, we recognize Simon Pagenaud. With only a few minutes left in the race, Ryan Hunter-Reay attempted to squeak past Pagenaud on a wet turn…which pushed Pagenaud off track. When Pagenaud returned to the track he collided with Hunter-Reay…and in the next step of the chain reaction, they both collided with Sebastian Bourdais…and all three slid into a race wall. Once outside his car, Pagenaud’s first instinct was to check on the state of Bourdais. It was a small thing, but we noticed.
IndyCar racing’s season continues at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach