The month of May in Indianapolis is back. The sights and sounds of Indy cars turning laps inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway facility and the flocks of fans gathering to watch signal the Greatest Spectacle in Racing is near.
Before the 500-mile Memorial Day Weekend event, however, is the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indy Road Course. Since its inaugural event in 2014, the lead-up to the Indy 500 has been a staple on the NTT IndyCar Series circuit.Â
After three races, Andretti Global’s Colton Herta holds a one-point lead over Team Penske’s Will Power in the standings with a crucial month ahead.
Here’s what we’re watching for this weekend:
How Does Newgarden Respond?
No Team Penske driver has been affected by the recent push-to-pass penalties more than Josef Newgarden.
Following his disqualification from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Fla.), Newgarden finished a dismal 16th at Barber (Ala.) Motorsports Park.
Now entering the most crucial month of the season, the defending Indy 500 winner will be without race strategist Tim Cindric and race engineer Luke Mason for three races, including the Indy 500, after their suspension was announced on Tuesday.Â
With everything going in the wrong direction for the No. 2 Chevrolet team, it’ll be a major question mark as to how the team will perform.Â
Newgarden has one previous victory on the 2.439-mile road course (Harvest GP, 2020) and has an average finish of 12.1.
Ferrucci RisingÂ
Perhaps the surprise of the season thus far has been Santino Ferrucci and A.J. Foyt Racing. The driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet has positioned himself 10th in points after two top-10 finishes in the first three races of the season.
While Ferrucci’s prowess in the Indy 500 will be one to watch as he looks to one-up his stellar third-place result last year, the road course presents challenges.
In two starts on the 14-turn road course last year, Ferrucci placed 23rd in both events. However, the technical alliance with Team Penske, along with a surging team, may be the catalyst for a solid drive in Saturday’s race.Â
Palou’s Time To Heat Up?
It was in this event last year that Alex Palou began his bid for a second championship as he dominated the Indy GP by leading 54 of the 85 laps en route to victory.
Now with a second title under his belt, the Spaniard finds himself third in the standings, only three points out of first.Â
While the Chip Ganassi Racing driver is technically winless on the season, he scored a win in the $1 Million Challenge at The Thermal Club in California earlier this year.Â
Palou has an average finish of 12.3 in nine previous starts on the Indy Road Course.Â
A Better Start At Indy For RLL?
With the one-year anniversary of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s blunder in Indianapolis 500 qualifying approaching, the three-car team looks to begin their month at IMS on a positive note.Â
The fall race on the Indy Road Course was perhaps Graham Rahal’s best shot at reclaiming glory since his last trip to victory lane in 2017 on the streets of Belle Isle (Detroit). Rahal won the pole, led the most laps (36) before finishing runner-up to Scott Dixon.
Rahal’s teammate Christian Lundgaard placed fourth in the race. Entering the event this season, only one of their three full-time drivers (Lundaard, sixth at Barber) has earned a top 10 this year.
The pressure will certainly be on the trio of Rahal, Lundgaard and Pietro Fittipaldi to perform as they look to counteract their slow start to the season.
A Breakthrough For Rosenqvist?
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist has quietly logged one of the more consistent starts to the season out of any driver on the grid.
Tallying three top-10 finishes and a best result of fourth at Barber, Rosenqvist is solidly fifth in the standings.Â
On top of that, the Swede boasts an average start of 2.66, highlighted by a pole position at the Long Beach Grand Prix in California.Â
Rosenqvist may be one to watch as he’s notched two poles at the Indy Road Course, as well as a best finish of fifth (twice).Â