Archive for September 2012

2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Schedule:

Streets of St. Petersburg: March 24 St. Petersburg, Fla., 1.8-mile street course Broadcast: NBC Sports Network

Barber Motorsports Park: April 7 Birmingham, Ala., 2.38-mile road course Broadcast: NBC Sports Network

Streets of Long Beach: April 21 Long Beach, Calif., 1.968-mile street course Broadcast: NBC Sports Network

Streets of Sao Paulo: May 5 Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2.6-mile street course Broadcast: NBC Sports Network

Indianapolis Motor Speedway: May 26 Indianapolis, 2.5-mile oval Broadcast: ABC

Raceway at Belle Isle Park: June 1 Detroit, 2.07-mile street course Broadcast: ABC

Raceway at Belle Isle Park: June 2 Detroit, 2.07-mile street course Broadcast: ABC

Texas Motor Speedway: June 8* Fort Worth, Texas, 1.5-mile oval Broadcast: ABC

The Milwaukee Mile: June 15 West Allis, Wis., 1-mile oval NBC Sports Network

Iowa Speedway: June 23 Newton, Iowa, .875-mile oval Broadcast: ABC

Pocono International Raceway: July 7 Long Pond, Pa., 2.5-mile oval Broadcast: ABC

Streets of Toronto: July 13 Toronto, 1.75-mile street course NBC Sports Network

Streets of Toronto: July 14 Toronto, 1.75-mile street course NBC Sports Network

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: Aug. 4 Lexington, Ohio, 2.258-mile road course NBC Sports Network

Raceway at Sonoma: Aug. 25 Sonoma, Calif., 2.303-mile road course NBC Sports Network

Streets of Baltimore: Sept. 1 Baltimore, 2.04-mile street course NBC Sports Network

Reliant Park: Oct. 5 Houston, 1.7-mile street course NBC Sports Network

Reliant Park: Oct. 6 Houston, 1.7-mile street course NBC Sports Network

Auto Club Speedway: Oct. 19* Fontana, Calif., 2-mile oval NBC Sports Network

* Denotes Night Race

A comeback from a violent crash and a last-minute scramble to make an engine change before qualifications may sound like a carefully crafted TV script, but those were the cards Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) were dealt at the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season finale in Fontana, Calif.

While SFHR worked to overcome the weekend’s challenges, the ‘INDYCAR 36’ production crew was in their shadow to capture the drama. Fans can see the action for themselves on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

Newgarden broke his left index finger in a crash with Sebastien Bourdais in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on August 26th and was forced to sit out the race prior to Fontana while his finger healed.

“In Fontana, we had a huge backstory for the episode with Josef’s finger injury in Sonoma,” said Dan Huber, producer for Newgarden’s ‘INDYCAR 36’ episode. “We were right there with him when he got cleared to drive and saw the physical therapy he had to do to prepare for the grueling 500-mile race.”

The ‘INDYCAR 36’ story continued to unfold when Newgarden climbed into the No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car for the first practice session. A part failure supplied by a third-party in the car’s Honda engine kept Newgarden out of the session and called for an engine change by the team.

SFHR had only three hours to change the engine before qualifications, and Newgarden turned no practice laps before he qualified with the new engine.

“I’m excited to see how much of the crew’s hard work shows up in the episode,” Newgarden said. “Fans should really be able to see how much work the team puts in during race weekends to get a solid finish.”

Newgarden went on to earn his best qualification spot of the season and led the first lap of his IZOD IndyCar Series career in the MAV TV American Real 500.

‘INDYCAR 36’ viewers will also get a unique look at the 21-year-old driver’s rapid ascent to the highest rungs of North American open-wheel racing.

“We took some time with Josef’s parents and got to hear some great stories of how Josef’s career got started on a go-kart track just eight years ago,” Huber said. “I wanted to know how hard it was for his parents to send him to Europe at only 17, but I realized after talking to them that it was similar to sending him off to college to train for his dream career, which is auto racing.”

‘INDYCAR 36’ featuring Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing will air on NBC Sports Network Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET.

Josef Newgarden’s rookie IZOD IndyCar Series season has been a roller coaster ride full of competitive speeds and bad luck, and the season finale MAV TV American Real 500 was no different.

The No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) car got a quick jump off the starting grid from 14th position and climbed to eighth on the first lap.

From there, Newgarden developed rear instability and fell back several positions. He adjusted the No. 67 car’s weight jack from the cockpit and was able to improve the car’s handling before his first pit stop.

On lap 43, Newgarden reported to the team that the No. 67 car had lost power. He coasted into his pit box where it was discovered that an electrical failure had occurred that was outside of the team’s control.

The Tennessee native went nine laps down while the team replaced the part. Due to a series of cautions, he was able to gain three laps back.

Newgarden and the SFHR team then focused on finishing the race and refining the car to gain valuable data for the 2013 season.

“I thought the race was great,” Newgarden said. “The low downforce was tricky, and I wish I could have been part of the front group. It was a shame that we had a problem and were out of the mix early on.”

Newgarden finished the race in 16th having completed 244 of 250 laps.

“It was good that we ran the rest of the race after the problem we had,” he said. “It’s better than not running and it’s great experience for the future.”

Now that his rookie season is in the books, Newgarden and SFHR will focus forward on the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

“It’s been a tough year,” Newgarden said. “I think for the off-season we’ll look to apply everything we learned and come out swinging in 2013.”

Owner/driver Ed Carpenter earned his team’s first victory in the MAV TV American Real 500. He edged out Dario Franchitti of Ganassi Racing when a late caution slowed the field on its final lap.

Scott Dixon of Ganassi Racing, Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport and Helio Castroneves of Team Penske completed the top-five. Hunter-Reay’s fourth-place finish was good enough to earn him the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series championship title.

Fellow championship contender Will Power of Team Penske lost control of his car on Lap 56 and made contact with the Turn 2 wall. Power’s misfortune allowed Hunter-Reay to nose ahead of him and take the championship with only a three-point advantage.

Josef Newgarden returned to IZOD IndyCar Series action for the MAV TV American Real 500 qualifications in Fontana, Calif. and proved that the brace on his broken finger will not slow down his No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda-powered car.

Despite the brace and a bumpy track, Newgarden qualified the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) Dallara/Honda/Firestone car in fourth position with a lap of 215.919 mph.

Newgarden’s qualifying result of fourth is the best of the rookie’s young IZOD IndyCar Series career.

The qualifying speed did not come easily, however. In morning practice the Honda engine of the No. 67 car faltered when a part supplied by an outside party failed. Newgarden only turned one practice lap in the No. 67 car before it returned to the garage for an engine change.

“We were pretty flat out in qualifications, and maybe we could have trimmed out a little more,” Newgarden said. “It was hard for us though because we couldn’t come in too aggressive in qualifying after having an issue in practice. We didn’t want to risk too much.”

The No. 67 car will incur a 10-spot grid penalty for the unapproved engine change, but Newgarden thinks it will do little to hinder his chances in Saturday’s race.

“Coming into this race, the team and I talked about how I didn’t want a car that’s going to sit on pole,” he said. “I want a car that’s going to be comfortable, reliable and consistent for the entire race. That’s what we’re focusing on for tomorrow.”

On the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, the MAV TV American Real 500 is matched in distance only by the Indianapolis 500. Newgarden wants a car that will be strong when the checkered flag waves.

“We want to have a good race car that can run a ton of solid laps,” he said. “If we have that, then we can run up front and compete up front.”

Marco Andretti, of Andretti Autosport, will start on pole for the MAV TV American Real 500. His qualifying average of 216.069 mph narrowly edged out Ryan Briscoe’s two-lap average of 216.058 mph.

Aside from Newgarden in fourth, the top-five in qualifying was rounded out by Will Power in third and Scott Dixon in fifth.

The green flag will drop on the MAV TV American Real 500 at 5:50 p.m. PT on Saturday. The race will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

That’s the question an injured Josef Newgarden asked himself from the sidelines of the Grand Prix of Baltimore while he watched racing veteran Bruno Junqueira drive the No. 67 car for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR).

After sitting out for a full race weekend, the 21-year-old rookie driver is ready to reclaim the wheel of the No. 67 car and punctuate his first IZOD IndyCar Series season with a solid result at Auto Club Speedway in Sunday’s MAV TV American Real 500.

Newgarden broke his left index finger in a frightening crash with Sebastien Bourdais on Aug. 26 in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. The injury required surgery, and he had to hand over the reins of the No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car for the next race in Baltimore.

“It was really hard to watch Bruno drive my car in Baltimore,” Newgarden said. “I’ve never been injured inside a race car before and had to sit out while someone else drove my car. It was tough but I learned a lot and can’t wait to get back in.”

After the crash in Sonoma, Newgarden described his finger as “crushed.” Post-surgery, his left index finger has seven screws holding it together.

Despite the extra metal, he says that he and his finger will be ready for the MAV TV American Real 500.

“I think my finger will be fine,” Newgarden said. “It’s been getting better each day, and I think I should be fine in the car to hold on for the oval. That’s not saying ovals are easier than road courses, but it should be easier on my finger.”

It won’t be smooth sailing at Auto Club Speedway, however. Newgarden experienced the track’s bumpy surface in August at a test, and he will test again at the track this Wednesday.

“Auto Club Speedway is very, very bumpy, and the seams of the track are difficult to navigate when you’re changing lanes,” he said. “It’s a really difficult track, probably one of the most difficult ovals I’ve ever been to. It’s going to be a long 500 miles.”

He hopes testing at Auto Club Speedway will give him the extra preparation he needs to ready his car and his finger for the 500-mile race.

“I’m really glad we’re testing this week because we need the track time,” Newgarden said. “A lot of guys have had more testing time than SFHR has this season so, we need to get caught up. Hopefully it will help us have a better result during the race weekend.”

The MAV TV American Real 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., will air live on NBC Sports Network, Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

• Bionic Man: Josef Newgarden underwent surgery August 28th in Indianapolis to repair his left index finger after crashing with Sebastien Bourdais in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Newgarden’s left index finger now has a bone graft, a plate and seven screws. While he has been cleared to drive in the MAV TV American Real 500, his biggest challenge may be clearing airport security with a finger full of metal.

• SFHR’S Good Luck Charm Turns One: Zoey O’Gara, daughter of SFHR co-owner Sarah Fisher and husband Andy O’Gara, will turn one on Thursday, Sept. 13. Zoey will spend her first birthday traveling to Fontana, Calif. with her mom and dad for the MAV TV American Real 500 race weekend. At just two weeks old, Zoey attended her first-ever race last October at Kentucky Speedway where SFHR scored its first win with driver Ed Carpenter. Could Zoey’s milestone birthday be good luck for SFHR in the 2012 season finale?

Bruno Junqueira’s 19th-place finish in his first IZOD IndyCar Series race in two years at the Grand Prix of Baltimore may have had enough drama to hold him over for another two years.

Driving for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing in the No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car, Junqueira encountered wet and dry track conditions, sustained contact from other drivers and witnessed eight on-track incidents for 17 caution laps.

“It was a crazy race with conditions that were dry, wet and then dry again,” Junqueira said.

While rain loomed in the initial stint of the race and teams contemplated switching to wet tires, the No. 20 car driven by Ed Carpenter sustained contact on the front straight that brought out the first caution of the day. On the resulting restart, Junqueira’s No. 67 car received contact from the No. 4 car driven by JR Hildebrand.

“I was hit from behind early on in the race and lost a lap to the leaders when I spun and couldn’t restart the car,” Junqueira said.

Junqueira dug in and began ticking off solid lap times as a plethora of caution flags slowed the race.

“When the track dried and I got back on slick tires I was able to set a good pace and had several good laps,” he said.

However, the tide turned for Junqueira and SFHR on lap 66 of 75.

“Unfortunately near the end of the race, I brushed the wall after going through the chicane. My left rear suspension was broken and we couldn’t continue on in the race. I felt very sorry and frustrated because I had been making up distance all afternoon,” Junqueira said.

While Junqueira’s 19th-place finish was not what he had hoped for in his IZOD IndyCar Series return, he was happy with the work of the SFHR team.

“I have to thank the entire SFHR team,” he said. “They gave me a great opportunity in a fast race car this weekend.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport led 13 laps to capture his fourth win of the 2012 season at the Grand Prix of Baltimore.

Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske and Simon Pagenaud of Sam Schmidt Motorsports rounded out the podium with second and third-place finishes.

The race was slowed by nine caution periods for a total of 24 laps, and had an average speed of 71.136 mph.

Will Power sits atop the 2012 championship standings with 453 points, but Ryan Hunter-Reay is nipping at his heels with 436 points.

The championship will be decided at the MavTV American Real 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. on Sept. 15.

In his first IZOD IndyCar Series race weekend since 2008, Bruno Junqueira qualified the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) Dallara/Honda/Firestone car in 10th position for the Grand Prix of Baltimore.

Junqueira’s quick lap of 91.363 mph becomes even more impressive when you consider how much ground he had to cover before he even set foot on the track.

Junqueira is the only driver in the Grand Prix of Baltimore competing in American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón action in addition to the IZOD IndyCar Series race. He put his RSR Racing car on pole position for the Prototype Challenge race and backed it up with a solid qualifying result for SFHR in the No. 67 car.

“I’m on the pole for the ALMS race that starts two hours after IndyCar qualifying ended, so it’s a busy weekend,” Junqueira said after IndyCar qualifications. “But I’m ready and I love to do this.”

If there was any doubt about whether Junqueira would adapt easily to the new DW-12 Dallara chassis in IndyCar, he has removed all doubt. His solid qualifying effort came after he missed out on much of his planned practice time.

“This weekend has been a big challenge because it’s been several years since I’ve driven a single-seater IndyCar,” Junqueira said. “In the first practice session I only got two laps because of the bumps on the track. In the second session, I only got half an hour and in the third session I finally got some laps in. So I had much less time in the car than I thought I would this weekend.”

Junqueira was pleasantly surprised with his qualifying results in the No. 67 car.

“I managed to push hard in the first two laps of qualifying and ended up in tenth after advancing to the second round,” he said. “Who would have thought the team and I would be in tenth with having so little time together? I’m pretty happy with our results.”

Due to an unapproved engine change in the No. 67 car after the most recent race in Sonoma, Junqueira will incur a 10-spot grid penalty on the starting grid of the Grand Prix of Baltimore.

“It’s a shame we have to go back 10 spots tomorrow, but I know we’ll be fine because SFHR has given me a great race car,” Junqueira said.

Will Power of Team Penske earned the pole for the Grand Prix of Baltimore with a quick lap at 94.184 mph. It was Power’s fifth pole of the 2012 season, and he won the Grand Prix of Baltimore in 2011.

Mike Conway of AJ Foyt Racing qualified second with a lap of 93.494 mph and Scott Dixon of Ganassi Racing qualified third at 93.433 mph.

Sebastien Bourdais of Dragon Racing and Dario Franchitti of Ganassi Racing rounded out the top five in qualifying.

The green flag will drop on the Grand Prix of Baltimore Sunday, September 2 at 2:47 p.m. ET. The race will air live on NBC Sports Network, Sunday, Sept. 2 at 12:30 p.m. ET.