Fortunes change fast in racing, but a bad weekend for one driver can spell redemption for another.
One word hangs over this past weekend of racing like a dark cloud – “controversy.” NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1 all featured some degree of controversy which, for the most part, overshadowed the performances of the actual race winners. It was also a solid reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in motorsport. Last week, Penske Racing won both IndyCar races and the NASCR Cup series race. This weekend? They were close, but nearly everything that could have gone wrong did. Let’s dive right in with IndyCar.
IndyCar – Honda Indy Toronto – Streets of Toronto – July 21, 2024
In the eyes of many, Indycar sets itself apart from Formula 1 by racing on ovals. What’s often forgotten is just how entertaining IndyCar racing is on tight street courses such as St. Petersburg and the Long Beach Grand Prix. This weekend was no different, with a thrilling race on the streets of Toronto. Fan favorite Colton Herta broke a two-year winless streak to notch his 8th victory in the series overall. He celebrated with a burnout that would make any NASCAR fan proud. He led 81 of 85 laps after starting on the pole, finishing just over three tenth of a second ahead of teammate Kyle Kirkwood.
The controversy, however, has to deal with some unrest in the Penske camp, with their day ruined in just a single corner. A crash on lap 73 sent Santino Ferrucci airborne into the catch fence, thankfully with no injuries. The ensuing restart on lap 75 saw last week’s winners, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, battle for a position in the top five. Power drove to the inside in what McLaughlin would refer to as a “low-percentage move,” which sent McLaughlin into the tire barrier. The ensuing stack-up led to a tire puncture for Josef Newgarden, who was also in the top ten. A subsequent penalty assessed to Will Power dropped him back to 12th, with Newgarden finishing 11th and McLaughlin finishing 16th.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series –TSport 200 – Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park – July 19, 2024
While the Cup series and Xfinity series returned to the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returned to nearby IRP for a race on the 0.686 mile oval. For the second year in a row, Christian Eckes would finish second to Ty Majeski after a hard-fought battle. The rest of the top five was made up of Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, and Layne Riggs. Cup series regular Ross Chastain ran the Craftsman Truck Series race for the second week in a row, finishing 11th.
NASCAR Xfinity Series – Pennzoil 250 Presented By Advance Auto Parts – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – July 20, 2024
For all that can be said about Stewart-Haas Racing’s recent performance in the Cup series, their Xfinity program is on point. This past weekend, Riley Herbst drove his Mustang to victory lane, with teammate Cole Custer close behind. The silly season rumor mill is in full swing, and rumor has it that Herbst may be in line for a seat at 23XI racing for a potential third seat. Given that he shares a sponsor with potential teammate Tyler Reddick, the rumor makes sense. Regardless, it’s certain that his Cup stock went up after this past weekend. Oh yeah, apparently nobody told Shane van Gisbergen that we were back on the oval this year instead of the road course, so he finished in the top five anyway.
NASCAR Cup Series – Brickyard 400 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – July 21, 2024
The long-awaited return to the legendary Indianapolis oval made for an excellent race, with the Next Gen cars snaking the straightaways and blocking like the IndyCars. In the end, it turned into a fuel mileage race, and a late crash for Kyle Busch necessitated an overtime finish. Fuel was a concern for the leaders even before the caution, and just before the green and white flag, leader Brad Keselowski ducked down pit road, having run out of fuel. This allowed Kyle Larson to take his place, easily passing Ryan Blaney for the lead on the restart. Blaney, notoriously animated on the radio, accused NASCAR of giving the win to their “golden boy.”
Larson was strong all day, however. As usual, the combination of his incredible car control and crew chief Cliff Daniels‘ next-level strategy meant that the #5 Chevrolet was exactly where it needed to be at all times. Larson winning at Indianapolis in a car painted like his Indy 500 car from earlier this year felt like a sort of redemption arc. Larson, who attempted to run the Memorial Day Double in May, missed the Coke 600 completely due to rain at both race tracks. The disappointment we saw in his face is not the kind of thing you expect to see – or want to see – from one of the greatest drivers of their generation. Regardless of how you feel about Larson as a fan, this was a feel-good win.
Formula 1 – Hungarian GP – Hungaroring – July 21, 2024
Since I don’t follow Formula 1, I enlisted the help of my close friend Giuseppe Bellomo (I swear on Dick Trickle that’s his real name) to break down the weekend’s events for you.
McLaren qualified 1-2, with Lando Norris on the pole ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen qualified third with a redesigned engine cover and some subtle aero updates throughout. When the green flag dropped, Norris dramatically squeezed Piastri, allowing Verstappen to enter turn 1 three wide with the two McLarens. It was all downhill from there, as radio messages revealed the breakdown of the McLaren teammate relationship in real time. The entire race was a back-and-forth between the two, both on track and on the radio. Eventually, Norris obeyed team orders and relinquished the lead to his teammate. Piastri won his first Formula 1 Grand Prix, and McLaren got what was probably the messiest one-two finish in their team’s history.
Thanks, Giuseppe!
With a two-week break for NASCAR and IndyCar, we’ll still have plenty to talk about as silly season rumors swirl. Stay tuned!
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