IndyCarToyota Grand Prix of Long Beach(April 17, 2016)
Blue skies, a challenging street course, a multitude of talent in the personage of exceptional drivers and a host of respected teams…plus an exceptional race run without a single caution flag waved…all made for a most memorable Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The “who” – as in who eventually won the top spot – reminded us of the Claude Rains line in Casa Blanca, “Round up the usual suspects.” Indeed, the top four finishers – Pagenaud, Dixon, Castroneves and Montoya – are names we are used to seeing on the podium. That all four drove Chevrolets makes us think back to our previous article’s comment regarding the apparent domination of that build over the Hondas. That Team Penske should occupy three out of the top four positions only underscores their expertise in IndyCar racing.
The “how” – as in how the race was won – was somewhat problematic. When exiting the pit after his second (and final) pit stop, Simon Pagenaud in the #22 PPG / Team Penske Chevrolet had wheels over a double yellow line…which, some have said, allowed him to slip into the #1 position ahead of Scott Dixon…and finish with the win. After review, race officials opted for an “official warning” instead of a penalty which would have certainly returned the lead to Dixon. Whether this was the right call will be discussed for the rest of the season…especially if the points race is tight near the end.
The how was also affected by the race strategies of each of the teams. Some had assumed there would be yellow flags which would permit tire changes and refueling without losing positions. In their absence, tire choices and fuel usage / push to pass usage forced extra pits…and loss of positions.
Lastly of notable mention: Congratulations to KVSH Racing driver Sebastien Bourdais who started Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 14th and finished ninth in the No. 11 California Baptist University Chevrolet, tying Bourdais for the best improvement among the 21-car field with Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Max Chilton.
Top 5 Finishers
1. Simon Pagenaud in the #22 PPG / Team Penske Chevrolet earned 51 points
2. Scott Dixon in the #9 Target / Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet earned 41 points
3. Helio Castroneves in the #3 Verizon / Team Penske Chevrolet earned 39 points
4. Juan Pablo Montoya in the #2 PPG / Team Penske Chevrolet earned 32 points
5. Takuma Sato in the #14 ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda earned 30 points
A Personal PS: We noted some comments from others regarding low TV viewership of IndyCar racing. To the sponsors and promoters, we offer an analogy with online games. In those games, the participant is either a first-person driver or can see their vehicles relative to others on the game’s course. The equivalent is direct video feeds from the IndyCars. Picture in a picture those driver’s point-of-view scenes along with the race to hold viewer’s interest. Just a thought.