Team Penske Verizon IndyCar Series Race Report
August 19, 2018
Team Penske Verizon IndyCar Series Race Report
Track: Pocono Raceway
Race: Pocono 500
Date: August 19, 2018
No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Josef Newgarden
Start: 2nd
Finish: 5th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 200/200
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 3rd (-66 pts)
Notes:
- Josef Newgarden and the No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet team produced a strong effort at Pocono Raceway Sunday that ultimately earned them a fifth-place finish.
- After starting second in the 500-mile race, Newgarden began the race in an enviable position, but before the green flag waved, a collision caused the first of two caution periods of the day.
- The field returned to green-flag racing on lap 7 but after a multi-car accident brought out a red flag that delayed on-track action for two hours on lap 8, the team had to rethink its strategy. The race resumed on lap 13.
- Newgarden's first pit stop came on lap 40 as the Hitachi Chevy was equipped with fresh tires, fuel and a front wing adjustment.
- The second pit stop of the race for Newgarden occurred on lap 71 as the team serviced the car with new Firestone tires, fuel and another front wing adjustment.
- Throughout the race, Newgarden ran consistently in the top-five, including as the race approached the halfway point on lap 92.
- Race strategist Tim Cindric called the No. 1 Chevy back to the pits on lap 104 for fuel and tires only.
- Unfortunately, on lap 117, Newgarden radioed to the team that he felt that the performance of the car had not really improved during the event and it didn't allow him to advance his track position.
- Newgarden pitted again on lap 136 for fuel, tires and a front wing change in hopes of finding some speed with less than 80 laps remaining.
- While running fifth on lap 168, Newgarden pitted for the final time as the Hitachi machine received fuel, tires and yet another front wing adjustment.
- As Newgarden crossed the finish line in the fifth position, it marked his sixth top-five result of the season.
- With the finish, Newgarden remained third in 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series championship point standings, now 66 points behind leader Scott Dixon.
- Next week, Newgarden heads to Gateway Motorsports Park where he is the defending race winner and looks to capture a win to gain valuable championship points for the stretch run in 2018.
Quote: "It was just a tough day. We didn't have anything for anybody. We were scrapping to keep that top five that was the big thing for us. I was trying by butt off. I think the team was trying everything they could to help me and that's just all we had so we'll come back next time. Unfortunately, with the No. 1 Hitachi Chevy we didn't have the speed but Will (Power) looked like he gave (Alexander) Rossi a good run for his money, which was great, just not enough. We'll look at everything. It's always tough right after this type of race. You don't have all the facts, we have to recap and look at all the data to try and figure out where we can do better next time so that's what we'll do. I want to thank all the fans that stuck around and watched us today and we'll work hard for these next three."
No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Will Power
Start: 1st
Finish: 2nd
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 200/200
Laps Led: 16
Points Position: 4th (-81 pts)
Notes:
- Will Power and the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet once again put on a strong showing at Pocono Raceway, as the team finished second for the second consecutive race.
- Power began the race from the pole position, giving him an advantage over the field as the green flag waved for the 500-mile event.
- On lap 8, a multi-car incident that caused a red flag which forced all the cars to pit lane as track workers repaired a damaged part of the fence.
- The race restarted on lap 13 and Power once again began to battle for the race lead.
- On lap 34, Power asked his team for more front wing to help him find more downforce on the track known as the "Tricky Triangle."
- Power's first pit stop of the day came on lap 40 as the Verizon Chevy took on fresh tires, fuel and a front wing adjustment. Following the stop, he radioed to his team that the car was performing much better.
- On lap 72, Power returned to pit lane for fuel, tires and adjustments to both the front and rear wing in order to correct a possible understeer issue.
- Power was able to run much of the race in the second position and he continued to do so when he pitted again on lap 105 for fuel, tires and a front wing change.
- On lap 110, the team was informed by INDYCAR officials that they received a penalty in the form of a monetary fine and a warning after the No. 12 car ran over another team's pit equipment while exiting pit lane.
- Power continued to run second as he pitted again on lap 136 for fuel and tires only.
- The Australian-born driver returned to the pits for a final time on lap 171 as the No. 12 received fuel, tires and a front wing adjustment. The team hoped the changes would improve the car's performance enough to catch Alexander Rossi and regain the race lead at a critical time.
- Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough as Power and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet ended their day in the second position after a very consistent on-track performance. It marked Power's third consecutive top-two finish at Pocono following wins at the track in each of the last two seasons.
- Sunday's result allowed Power to remain fourth in the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series championship point standings.
- Power returns to Gateway Motorsports Park next weekend where he will look for another win to try and gain ground in the championship pursuit.
Quote: "That's all we had. The boys did a great job on the strategy and the Chevy engine gave good fuel mileage and good power. As per usual this time of year, all the contenders finish at the top. You just can't get a break. With the last stop, that's when I actually thought we'd be able to jump (Rossi) again but I got caught up with a lapped car on the out lap. Almost went to the wall and came back, had a mis-shift on the out lap, it was just a terrible exchange altogether. Rossi was very good running in traffic. We just had way too much push so that's all we could do. The guys did a great strategy, we went long, that's how we jumped him then we weren't good enough in traffic but great day for the No. 12 Verizon Chevy guys. Isn't it unbelievable that I've had two really good results and Scott Dixon just keeps finishing behind me. This guy just never has a bad day. I mean in the last few races, I need him to have a bad day to even have a shot."
No. 22 Shell/Chevrolet Marketplace Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Simon Pagenaud
Start: 5th
Finish: 8th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 200/200
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 7th (-162 pts)
Notes:
- Simon Pagenaud and the No. 22 Shell/Chevrolet Marketplace Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet produced a solid top-10 result at Pocono Raceway finishing eighth in Sunday afternoon's 500-mile race.
- Starting fifth, Pagenaud had a relatively strong start to his day but after the multi-car incident on lap 8, which delayed the race's restart for over two hours, the team found itself needing to make adjustments.
- On lap 10, after the yellow flag was waved to resume on-track activity, race strategist Kyle Moyer called Pagenaud and the No. 22 Chevy to pit for a right front toe link replacement. The repair caused the No. 22 to fall to the 14th position in the running order.
- After stating that he was having an understeer issue for several laps, Pagenaud pitted on lap 40 for tires, fuel and a wing adjustment.
- As the race advanced, the Frenchman felt that the car was running much better and he improved his position to 10th-place by lap 40.
- Pagenaud moved into the eighth position by lap 90 and he then pitted on lap 100 for tires, fuel and a front wing change.
- During the team's last stop on lap 165, the No. 22 Chevy took fuel, tires and an adjustment to its rear wing.
- As the checkered flag waved, Pagenaud secured an eighth place finish at the "Tricky Triangle."
Quote: "We got damaged in that first crash and we had to change the tow link which the guys did an amazing job - we didn't lose a lap. We restarted in the back, and it was very, very difficult to move forward. I don't know if there was more damage under the car. We will check at the shop. I think that was the best we could do today with what we had. It was unfortunate without yellows. Just not much we could do. I was so proud to drive the No. 22 Shell Chevrolet Marketplace car. It is what it is, we will go to Gateway to bounce back!"