It was the biggest day in motorsports, starting with the streets of Monaco, where they have been racing since 1929. Then, to Indianapolis, where they have been logging 500 miles this time of year since 1911. Finally, the long way home, the World 600 at Charlotte for the boys and girl with fenders.
“I’m proud of this Steak ‘n Shake team. We pushed as hard as we could. I keep saying to the guys that the biggest thing is to keep coming home in the points. If we can be the top finishing Honda and gain some points then we’ve had a successful day. Obviously the three guys we are trying to keep up with in the championship all finished ahead of us but still I feel very good about it.'
Molson Coors is returning to the Indy. Organizers of the Honda Indy Toronto today announced a new partnership with Molson Coors Canada to serve as the official beer and cider of Ontario’s largest annual sporting event, through 2017.
Over the course of the final 14 laps, the lead would change hand on six different occurrences, including the top-three running three-wide for the top spot at one point. In the end, though, Juan Pablo Montoya would power by Will Power on the outside going into turn one with three laps to go, holding off Power the rest of the way to the checkered flag.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 2 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET - RACE WINNER
YOU HAD TO DO THIS HARD WAY TODAY COMING FROM 30TH. “Yeah, it was fun. Our Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet was good all day. These guys at Team Penske did an amazing job. When I came through the field, I knew I had a good car. That fight there at the end… that was awesome.”
“I think the Steak ‘n Shake car is very consistent. I felt extremely good about it off the bat but I think we just need to find a little bit more ultimate pace. It’s going to be a battle but we’ll be okay. We’ve got to look at the drag numbers to figure out the downforce level we want to be at but we feel like we were in the zone and it was off the ultimate pace a little bit.”
In the final practice for the Indianapolis 500, it'd be Will Power topping the charts behind the wheel of the No. 1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. He recorded the best lap of the session at 229.020 mph. He will start the 500 mile event from the second spot behind Scott Dixon.
Dale Coyne Racing announced late Thursday night that Tristan Vautier will substitute for Carlos Huertas in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing entry in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
Over the past five years, Kevin Harvick has won more races, at three, than anybody else has at this track. Harvick is fast every single week and is slowly putting up one of the greatest statistical seasons in NASCAR history; a top 10 on Sunday has Harvick on track to have 33 total top-10s at season's end, far and away the best in generations.
The two-time Cup Series champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, clocked in a pole-winning lap at 183.651 mph in 49.006 seconds to become the 47th competitor to achieve the pole position for the Great American Race.
Hendrick Motorsports has signed defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and majority sponsor HendrickCars.com to matching five-year contract extensions, solidifying one of the most successful partnerships in modern NASCAR through the 2031 season.
RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Kroger/Viva Towels Ford Mustang Dark Horse – BRAD SAID IF HE NEEDED ONE GUY TO USE A HACKSAW TO CUT OFF HIS LEG, IT WOULD BE YOU. COULD YOU DO THAT, IF HE ASKED?