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Fastest Motorcycles Vs. Fastest Private Jets

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SM
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Photo by revac film's & photography

Why Are Motorcycles So Fast?

Motorcycles are quick because they are both powerful and light. Motorcycles have a higher power-to-weight ratio and superior traction, allowing them to accelerate faster than many cars. Despite the fact that there are some extremely fast motorcycles on the market, they are not as quick as some sports automobiles.

What Is the Maximum Speed of a Motorcycle?

Motorcycles may travel at speeds ranging from 31 mph (50 km/h) to 240 mph (380 km/h), depending on their type and purpose. Sportbikes can easily reach speeds of 200 mph or more, and mopeds can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. With average speeds of up to 150 mph, sport-touring, touring, cruisers, and dirt bikes fall somewhere in the middle.

Why Are Jets So Fast? 

To protect planes from flying too fast, they have two basic control methods. The industry refers to them as thrust and drag. The airplane’s speed is increased by this air pressure, whereas dragging diminishes it. Thrust and drag are the forces that the plane encounters as it travels ahead.

What Is the Maximum Speed of an Engine in a Jet?

At 35,000 feet, the speed of sound is 660 miles per hour; on average, jetliners fly at 575 miles per hour, with the fastest supersonic jet flying today at 660 miles per hour.

The rest linger about Mach 1 at the end of the range of 50,000 feet, roughly 1,400 mph.

When jet engines blow up massive amounts of air, they burn more fuel, which gives them greater power. They can improve fuel economy by heating fuel (approximately 50 parts air to one part air).

Some of the Fastest Motorcycles in the World

Motorcycles are faster than vehicles on average due to their power-to-weight ratio. If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, 25 mph feels like 100. They continue to accelerate even when traveling at 100 mph due to their tiny frame, which provides less wind resistance and a low drag coefficient. Modern motorcycles have become some of the world’s fastest vehicles as a result of developments in design and powertrains.

2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2R: 249 mph

The H2R looks like an extraterrestrial spacecraft and flies down a track like one, too, without having to comply with any road rules. The supercharged inline-four produces 326 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque, which is powerful enough to hit 250 mph in a straight line.

The H2R is not just insanely fast, but it’s also designed to obliterate race tracks. The H2R has such things as cornering management function, launch control, brake control, etc. The H2R outperforms practically every other motorbike on a track because of its completely adjustable suspension, MotoGP-inspired transmission, and slick Bridgestone tires.

2017 MTT 420RR: 273 mph

The MTT 420RR has a gas turbine engine instead of a classic internal-combustion engine. The MTT 420RR would be as crazy as any of the motorcycles we drew as kids if they ever made it to manufacture. The Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20 Series gas turbine engine has 420 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, which is extremely high for a motorcycle.

The MTT 420RR, “Race Ready”, features lightweight carbon-fiber fairings, light 17-inch carbon-fiber wheels, and an aluminum alloy frame in addition to the gas turbine engine. The MTT 420RR is capable of reaching a top speed of 273 mph.

Ducati Superleggera V4: 200 mph

Ducati may not produce the fastest motorcycles on the market, but it does produce some of the most unusual models. The Ducati Superleggera V4 is the company’s most forceful and technologically advanced motorcycle, according to the company. The 998cc V4 engine has 234 horsepower, which is loads of power for a carbon-fiber heavy body that weighs 335.5 pounds with the race equipment.

This isn’t the first time Ducati has given a motorcycle the Superleggera moniker. The term refers to something that is extremely light, which perfectly defines the V4. The motorcycle has a carbon-fiber subframe, wheels mainframe, and swingarm below the carbon-fiber bodywork. The V4 Superleggera employs titanium bolts because Ducati is concerned about reducing weight.

The Fastest Private Jets in The World

Private planes have grown in popularity in recent years as globalization has resulted in an increase in the number of high-level business executives, celebrities, and world leaders going internationally. Private jet charters are expanding their private jet offerings at a breakneck pace to meet the rising demand for speed, comfort, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. 

Bombardier Challenger 650 (554mph)

The Bombardier Challenger 650 has a top speed of 554 mph and can fly 4,000 nautical miles at 554 mph. Its steep approach certification allows it to access London City Airport as well as difficult airports like Aspen and Lugano. Its widest-in-class cabin accommodates 12 passengers, and its low direct operating expenses make it the preferred aircraft of many corporate flight departments and private jet charter companies. The Challenger 650’s cockpit features next-generation technology, and its cabin management system uses Ka-band technology to provide one of the world’s quickest in-flight internet connections.

Cessna Citation X+ (610mph)

The Cessna Citation X+ is Cessna’s direct response to consumers who desired a faster Citation model – and they delivered; with two dual-channel FADEC-controlled Rolls-Royce AE3007C2 turbofan engines, this amazing aircraft has a maximum operational speed of Mach 0.935. If you want to buy a plane like this, it will set you back roughly $23 million.

Aerion AS2 (1000mph)

This 12-passenger private jet, which is still in development, is intended to break the mold in private air travel. The prototype is expected to fly in early 2019, with hopes to certify the plane in 2021. The Aerion AS2 is planned to reach a top speed of Mach 1.6, which translates to 1,217mph, and a flying time of less than three hours from London to New York. Until FAA restrictions preventing supersonic flight over the United States are amended, the plane will have to cruise at 754 mph once it enters US airspace, but will be free to extend its legs fully overseas.

Easy Steps to File a Claim for Car Theft Motor Insurance

By
SM
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Photo by George Sultan

Imagine you had a very tiring day at work. But after going through all of that stress, you finally make it to the end. While you walk towards the parking lot, picturing a cold can of beer and your favorite show on the telly, you realize that your car is not in the spot where you left it. The first few minutes would be confusing but then the reality settles in; your car has been stolen. This scenario easily qualifies as one of the worst nightmares for many. So what do you do? 

Getting your car stolen is an awful thing to happen, but what’s even worse is if you don’t have insurance to cover it. This is why it is always recommended to get an auto insurance policy that covers theft. More on that later. First, let’s look at the easy steps to file a claim for a car theft motor insurance policy. Before anything, remember to stay calm and composed if you encounter such events.

Contact the Cops

No matter what happens or how stressful the situation gets, the very first step that you need to take is to call 911. But before you call the cops make sure your vehicle is stolen and not towed due to wrong parking. Getting the cops involved is the first step, not only for your safety but for insurance claims as well. No insurance company in the US will accept the claim if an official police report about the theft is not made.

So make the call, let the cops come, and then explain to them whatever happened. If you are lucky, the cops might find your car and you’ll be saved from the hassle. Once the cops are involved, it’s time to move to the next step. 

Contact the Insurance Company 

The next call should go to the insurance company or the insurance agent. Let them know what happened and usually, every insurance company has a 24/7 service for such cases. But before you call the company, make sure that you have a theft protection policy. 

Liability coverage and collision coverage do not cover theft. If you have a comprehensive insurance policy (which usually includes theft protection), only then you’ll be reimbursed for the loss. This policy does not cover anything that was inside the car. 

But what if you don’t have comprehensive coverage? While you won’t be insured against theft, it is still advisable to contact your insurance company just in case the thief damages another car or property. No matter what coverage you have, let the insurance agent know about the theft. From the most expensive insurance to the cheapest car insurance available in the market, there is some sort of help you’ll get in the case of vehicle theft. 

Documents for Claim

After the claim has been filed, you’ll have to submit some documents. This could differ from one company to another, but there are some common documents needed by all companies. For example, you’ll have to get:

  • Vehicle papers
  • Location of all the keys before and after the theft
  • A detailed description of your vehicle
  • Name and address of people who had access to the vehicle. 

Apart from the documents, the insurance agent might ask you a few questions regarding the theft and everything you know about it. Do note that the questions can sound a little accusatory and personal. But do not be offended as the company must get all the information needed to ensure it is an actual theft and not insurance fraud. It is best to answer everything sincerely so that the company can process the claim and you can get the money. 

Filing the Claim

What kind of claim you can file depends on the policy. Since comprehensive insurance offers a total loss claim for theft, you should file for it. Remember that if you don’t have any additional depreciation protection plan, the amount of the claim would be calculated based on the current market value of your vehicle. This will be done after you pay the deductible. You might also have to submit the police report to the company. After the agreement has been made and you are okay with the coverage, the claim can be filed. 

It is also advisable to install anti-theft devices in your vehicle. This makes stealing your vehicle very difficult and even in the case of theft, your vehicle can be recovered easily. The other benefit is many insurance companies offer great discounts if your car has anti-theft features installed. But what happens if your car is found after you have filed for a claim? 

If the car is found, you will not be reimbursed for the market value of the car. But comprehensive insurance will cover all the costs of repairing the damage done by the thief. Any damage to the body, door, or interior will be covered by comprehensive insurance, while if the car hits something, it will be covered by collision insurance. 

So that’s how you can easily file a claim for car theft insurance. It might be very difficult for you to think straight immediately after you have discovered that your car has been stolen. But the key is to stay calm, act quickly and make sure you follow these steps properly. Filing for such claims has become very easy, as it can be done over a call or online. Insurance companies have also made the theft claim process very simple and easy, so there’s nothing to worry about. Just follow the steps and make your claim. 

Wright Motorsports Returns Victorious to Podium, Reclaims WeatherTech Points Lead

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Official Release
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MONTEREY, Calif., (May 1, 2022) – Wright Motorsports closed out a successful race weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday afternoon, returning the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R to victory circle for the second time this season. With their California victory, the driving duo of Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen reclaimed their championship points lead in the GTD class, creating valuable momentum heading into the next rounds of the championship.

The 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R rolled off the team transporter ready to race, finishing in the top two positions in both of the weekend’s two practice sessions and pre-race warm up. Driver Ryan Hardwick struggled to get the perfect lap together during Saturday’s short qualifying session, putting the Porsche in a tenth place starting position in a GTD-class field of 14 cars.

The field took the green flag in sunny but chilly weather conditions, and Hardwick enjoyed a clean start, staying tucked behind the No. 28 of Michael de Quesada. He settled in, and the No. 28 spun on track shortly into the race, allowing Hardwick to assume the position, and focus forward on the No. 32 of Stevan McAleer running 7.9 seconds ahead. By the first full-course caution 30 minutes into the race, Hardwick ran eighth, with a clean stint behind McAleer. The team pitted Hardwick under caution, putting new tires and full in the Porsche with fuel. The expert stop by the Wright crew launched the Porsche up from eighth place to fifth place.

As the caution continued on, the team strategists in the pit box made an unusual call for Hardwick to pit as soon as his mandatory drive-time was complete, the team called him to come back into pit lane. He pitted from fifth position and Jan Heylen took over, ready to race the Porsche to the end, joining the event in twelfth place.

The race went back to green and Heylen charged forward, picking off the competition one by one. For several laps, the Belgian found himself stuck behind the No. 39 of Jeff Westphal. Keeping a careful eye on the fuel strategy, the team pitted Heylen for a final stop with an hour remaining, again giving the Porsche a new set of tires and a full tank of fuel to run to the end of the race. He rejoined in fourth, eager to get past the Pro class entry of Ross Gunn in the No. 23 car and resume his battle with Gunn. He eventually got by, and the Porsche came alive, charging for that final podium spot currently occupied by the No. 1 of Bryan Sellers, then Westphal. He quickly closed in on the No. 96 of Bill Auberlen, making a sweeping pass in turn five, taking the class lead.

From there, Heylen sailed to the checkered flag, claiming the class win on his 42nd birthday. The win marks Wright’s second win of the season, following the team’s victory in round one at the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team had a mechanical issue in round two at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, racing from the rear to earn a top-ten finish, and then a monumental drive through the field at the Grand Prix of Long Beach secured the points of a top-five result. Sunday’s win brings the team back to the points lead heading into the next swing of the 2022 season.

Next up on the schedule is the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio, May 13-15 at Lexington, Ohio, Wright’s home track. The team’s Batavia-based shop is located 171 miles southwest of Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course, the site of the next round in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The race will take place on Sunday, May 15 at 2:10 PM Eastern, and run for two hours and forty minutes, airing live on the USA Network and Peacock. For more information, visit WrightMotorsports.com.

Ryan Hardwick
What a great race. This race really comes down to our entire team. I was able to take a couple cars in my stint, but the real gains came in the pit stops. I believe we overtook four cars in the pit lane and Jan was able to overtake four more cars during his stint. I really want to thank our entire Wright Motorsports team and Jan Heylen. I think this was a good birthday present to him. This was a great win for our team. We’re now leading the championship and going into a few races that I feel real comfortable at myself. I really like how this season is coming together for us.

Jan Heylen
This is one of the Porsche tracks. I have to say that we were all looking forward to coming here after Long Beach. It was a great team effort. Really understanding the track and the tire degradation is important here. I think that is what gave us the speed at the end, together with some great driving by Ryan and a really good strategy from the team again. I had to constantly tell myself to be patient and keep with the tires. This was the perfect race for us with the yellows. If the yellow comes out in the middle of that stint, I think you see a very different race. But the fact that we were out there the whole stint and able to look after the tires is what made us come out on top.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands
Wright Motorsports Porsche Carrera Cup driver John Goetz had his strongest weekend to date this season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, earning a second-place finish in race one, and following up the strong result with a third-place finish in race two. He currently stands second in the 2022 championship standings for the Am class. Varun Choksey and Hutton McKenna each drove to earn a tenth-place finish, each both moving closer to their first top-five results of the season. Fans of Wright Motorsport can rewatch both races on the IMSA YouTube page. The Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands next races June 23-26 at Watkins Glen International Raceway in support of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. Both races will stream live on imsa.tv, on Friday, June 24 at 1:25 PM Eastern and Saturday, June 25 at 11:05 PM Eastern, respectively.

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Hardwick | Journey To The Rolex 24 at Daytona

1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

Hardpoint Earns Fourth Consecutive Top 10 Finish to Open IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Season

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Official Release
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Hardpoint’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Team Continued to Show Promise While Raising Money For Racing To End Alzheimer’s

MONTEREY, California (May 1, 2022) – Hardpoint leaves WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a tenth-place finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and a 19th place finish in Saturday’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race, with positives in both program’s runs. Both teams climbed into the top five positions at various points in their respective races.

The No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R of Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge earned their fourth consecutive top-10 finish to open the IMSA season, earning them in a variety of circumstances – endurance races, street circuits and sprint contests.

On Saturday, the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport and co-drivers Nick Galante and Sean McAlister earned a hard-luck 19th place finish, running from the rear of the field up to fifth in the opening hour before falling back to mid-pack at the checkered flag.

No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R Race Notebook

  • The result is the fourth-consecutive top 10 finish for Hardpoint to open the season. Only three other teams in the GT Daytona class can claim that feat.
  • Those finishes have come in a 24-hour classic at Daytona, the grueling 12 hours at Sebring, a temporary street circuit sprint race and, now, a sprint race on a traditional road course at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
  • Ferriol began the race in 12th position but moved into the top 10 on a pit stop under yellow 40 minutes into the race. Those two positions earned by the crew included a four-tire change and full fuel.
  • The team dove to pit lane later during that full-course caution period, just past the 45-minute minimum drive time required for Ferriol. Unfortunately, time spent in pit lane does not count toward the time, meaning Ferriol was just short of the minimum based on the first pit stop. He would finish the final 40-minutes of the race, with Legge taking the middle stint.
  • Off sequence to some of the class competitors during her stint, Legge nonetheless climbed as high as second place on the track before handing the car back to Ferriol.
  • Ferriol’s sequence of laps on fresh tires with 30 minutes remaining made him the quickest car on track for a series of five laps.

No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race Notebook

  • Nick Galante may have provided the drive of the day, moving from 28th and last in the GS class all the way to fifth place. Galante picked up four positions on the opening lap and was running 17th at the full course caution just 20 minutes into the race. When several other cars pitted during that stop, Galante climbed to 8th and was running as high as fifth during his stint.
  • The most impressive part of the run was that Galante was running off sequence of many of the class leaders. While running fifth, he was forced to keep a train of four cars on quicker tires behind him. Though three eventually came through, Galante put notice on the field in the stint.
  • Galante started from the rear of the field despite qualifying with the 10th quickest time in the GS class due to a post-qualifying penalty that disallowed his qualifying times. IMSA rules require each team to turn in a data stick within a designated time frame, with rules stating that failure to comply “may result in qualifying times disallowed.”
  • McAlister exited pit lane in 19th position following the team’s lone pit stop with just about an hour to go in the two-hour race.
  • He also made up a handful of positions and was locked in a battle of his own when he spun exiting the Corkscrew. McAlister quickly rejoined, but ended the race in 19th position.
  • Despite not beginning the season until round two at Sebring, the No. 22 Hardpoint entry sits 24th of 37 point scoring teams in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class team championship. That tally puts them ahead of two full-season efforts and in position to continue to climb the standings beginning in two weeks at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Rob Ferriol, Owner and Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “We made a big step this week in getting a handle on the Michelin tire and how it works with the GT3 R and the tire guidelines we have this year. The car was good in the race. It’s a double edged sword to finish lower than you had the potential to finish because of small errors that have an effect on the race. When you’re to the point where small errors are making a difference, it’s a good place to be. I personally enjoyed finishing the race for once, it was my first opportunity to finish a sprint race. Granted, it was because we were off by about five seconds in drive time but the guys gave me a good car. I was able to hold station and do a little bit of racing and finish in a top 10 spot. I can hold my head high, the team can hold their head high, and we’ll go off to the next one.”

Katherine Legge, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “The car was good and we could have done a lot more with it. We made some unfortunate errors during the race, but we had good pace. Rob showed some good pace after the errors to finish the race. But everybody on the team keeps improving, so as long as we don’t make the same mistakes again we can learn and move on, and I know we will.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “Nick handed off the car and did a hell of a job from where we started. It was hectic on the first restart with cars bombing into the brake zones, so I just tried to keep it clean and I think we ended up about the same spot at the end as when I got in. We each had a really good run, I got past a couple of cars and a late mistake cost us a couple of positions. But I was able to keep it off the wall and was working my way back but just needed some more time”

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “When you have that extra boost of friends and family at your hometown race, it helps. On paper maybe it shouldn’t, but it really does provide a home field advantage. And I was so happy to see the car filling up with all the names for Racing To End Alzheimer’s. Having that support helps, too, because I know we’re racing for something bigger. The car was great, I was so happy to see Hardpoint give me a perfect car. Sean McAlister did a great job powering through a stout field, and we’re on the verge of a great result very soon. I can’t wait to get to Mid-Ohio.”

About Hardpoint:
Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. In 2022, Hardpoint has added the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Nick Galante and Sean McAllister in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS). More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Return to the Top Step of the Podium in Style

By
Official Release
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Monterey, Calif. (May 1, 2022) — The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team achieved a well-deserved victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday afternoon, leading the second Acura one-two finish of the season. The win is the team’s first of the year, and crucial in their quest for the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title. The team is now tied for the lead in the overall standings with their sister Acura, the No. 60 MSR Acura team, with 1,325 points apiece.

For the driver pairing of Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor, the triumph marks their second Laguna Seca victory in a row for the team. Individually, it’s Ricky Taylor’s third consecutive victory at the Northern California road course.

“A great day for Acura, first of all,” said Ricky Taylor. “It’s their second one-two finish of the season and their fourth straight win at Laguna Seca. We knew it would be a strong one for us and we knew that having Acura finish one-two and maximize the points was the goal. It’s nice that we had the Konica Minolta Acura leading the charge. I can’t say enough about the team executing. All we needed to do this weekend was execute and do what we knew the car was capable of. To come away with maximum points and really close the gap in the championship was good.”

Taylor looked unimpeachable from the off, widening the gap to five seconds before an early caution bunched the field and he handed the controls to Filipe Albuquerque under yellow.

Albuquerque ran the bulk of the race, constantly under pressure from the sister Acura from behind. He fell to second place after a pit stop with an hour and fifteen minutes remaining, but wasted no time retaking the lead. In the end, the two Acuras were separated by a second—a dominant performance for the brand and a statement victory for WTR.

“I’m happy and relieved at the same time,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “We came to Laguna with a sense of duty. This is our best race track and it suits our car the best. We needed maximum points. It’s always easy to say, but knowing that we have that responsibility, doing it is a different thing. There was a weight of a lot of pressure on top of us. I was just happy that Ricky did an amazing job in qualifying, securing pole by eight one-hundredths of a second. Taking off, it seemed like we were in control, but whenever I was pulling away, traffic was pushing me back. I was frustrated for a good portion of the race. When I was P2, I was really mad. I couldn’t believe it. I’m happy that I found a little gap to put the car through and get the position back. Again, I was managing the race with the following car in my mirrors, but he never had a move to make on me. I’m glad those laps are over, but the car was great and the team did an amazing job.”

“I’m so proud of this team,” said team owner Wayne Taylor “These two drivers are incredible. The strategists are incredible. The mechanics, the support from HPD and Acura, our partners at Konica Minolta and Harrison Contracting—they make this happen. There’s no one person that makes this happen. It’s the whole group and we’re now tied with the No. 60 Acura ARX-05 for the lead of the championship.”

The 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season continues for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 in two week’s time with another sprint race, the Lexus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio. Practice 1 begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on May 13th. Green flag for the two-hour and 40-minute sprint waves at 2:10 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 15th. Full coverage, starting at 2:00 p.m. ET, can be streamed on Peacock or viewed on USA Network.
ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fourteen consecutive years, and received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports, Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

Cadillac secures third place at Laguna Seca

By
Official Release
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No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R finishes third for the fourth year in a row

MONTERREY, Calif. (May 1, 2022) – Pipo Derani is in a rut at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The reigning IMSA DPi champion has finished third, co-driving the No 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R, in the race on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural-terrain road course for four years in a row. But, for accruing championship points anyway, he’ll take it and move on.

Derani, splitting seat time with first-year teammate Tristan Nunez in the 2-hour, 40-minute race slowed by one full-course caution for 18 minutes, led the Cadillac DPi contingent in the fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

“I’m really happy to come out of this race with the best Cadillac,” said Derani, who also co-drove to third place in the 12-hour race at Sebring International Raceway in March.

”I think we did the best we could. It’s a good points day for the team. We had to work hard on the Whelen Engineering car during the weekend. But come race day, it was very good. I’m really happy. To keep the No. 31 car on the podium here for the fourth year in a row is quite positive.”

The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R, co-driven by Tristan Vautier and Richard Westbrook, finished fourth overall after earning podium spots in each of the first three races. The No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R, with Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber sharing duty behind the wheel, finished fifth.

The No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R co-driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van de Zande, which came into the race weekend off a victory on the streets of Long Beach last month, developed a power supply issue early in the race that affected major systems. The crew spent considerable time attempting to address the problem but eventually the car was retired.
Felipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor co-drove the winning Acura.

Another 2-hour, 40-inute race is next up for Cadillac teams and drivers on May 13-15 on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R has finished second the past two years at the natural-terrain road course in Lexington.

USA Network will telecast the race live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, May 15, with streaming on Peacock. IMSA Radio will broadcast the race at IMSA.com along with XM 207.
Cadillac Racing results and quotes

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R
Pipo Derani, Tristan Nunez
Finish: Third Start: Sixth
Pipo Derani: “After we had the yellow flag and I was stuck behind the No. 5, the team pulled me in early (for a pit stop). Then, I had a really good out lap. Eventually, that helped us get ahead, and from there, we could do our own race. I’m really happy to come out of this race with the best Cadillac. I think we did the best we could. It’s a good points day for the team. We had to work hard on the Whelen Engineering car during the weekend. But come race day, it was very good. I’m really happy. To keep the No. 31 car on the podium here for the fourth year in a row is quite positive.”

Tristan Nunez: “The start was definitely difficult. I just tried to keep the rears underneath me. We had a good pit stop and we made some adjustments. We’ll take it. It feels like a win to us. We started in the back, and with a little bit of strategy and a major out lap by Pipo, we got into this position. To bring the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac to the podium is a good day.”

No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R
Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook
Finish: Fourth Start: Fifth
Tristan Vautier: “We made the most of the opportunity. It was a rough weekend for us. We kind of struggled finding our way but hit it in the race, so we’re happy about that. Some things didn’t play out for us strategy-wise, but if somebody would have told us this morning that we would finish fourth, it would have been fine. A massive job from the team getting us to that point because last year we finished a lap down. We struggled on pace, but this year I think we were the strongest Cadillac over the last stints of the race.”

Richard Westbrook: “I think we absolutely maximized what we have. We had a really tough Saturday and a really tough warmup. We scraped it together and had a competitive car. We probably had a fourth-place car and we got fourth. I was surprised by how close all the Cadillacs were and all in all I’m really happy. We’re in a good spot.”

No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R
Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn
Finish: Fifth Start: Third
Earl Bamber: “I think we had a good car today and think we had a car for the podium. But, we didn’t execute well and we got some damage on the nose. So, we just had to bring it to the end to grab some points. It’s a shame to see those ones go away, but that’s motor racing. We will rebuild as a team and come back stronger for the next one in Ohio.”

Alex Lynn: “Not the day we dreamed of today. I thought we had a very strong car, but we didn’t make it happen. We will move on to the next one in Mid-Ohio.”

No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R
Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais
Finish: Sixth in class (32nd overall) Start: Fourth
Steve Eriksen (team manager): “During the race, we had an intermittent power issue which causes the whole electrical system to shut down, including the power steering. We took it back to the garage, switched out a couple of components to see if that would make a difference. We were able to get the car started again and it had the same problem, so the more time we spent on it the more we realized we just need to take it back and diagnose the problem.”

About Cadillac
A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES: GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA – PATO O’WARD PUTS CHEVROLET IN VICTORY LANE/KEEPS TEAM CHEVY PERFECT THROUGH FOUR EVENTS IN INDYCAR

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA
BARBER MOTORSPORTS
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE RECAP WITH QUOTES AND TRANSCRIPT
MAY 1, 2022

PATO O’WARD KEEPS CHEVROLET PERFECT IN 2022 WITH AN EXCITING WIN AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK

POLE WINNER RINUS VEEKAY FINISHES THIRD TO GIVE CHEVY TWO SPOT ON PODIUM AT ALABAMA GRAND PRIX

BIRMINGHAM – For the third time in his NTT INDYCAR Series Career, Pato O’Ward took his No 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet to Victory Lane. As has been his trademark so far in his career, he made an exciting move to pass for the lead on lap 61 overtaking pole sitter and race leader Rinus VeeKay in turn five after both had pitted and VeeKay won the race off pit lane. The young driver originally from Monterey, Mexico never looked back.

On the way to keeping Chevrolet perfect so far this season in the NTT INDYCAR Series, O’Ward led 27 laps in a race that saw one caution flag for a total of three laps. With four races in the books, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin won the first followed by Josef Newgarden capturing the next two, and now adding O’Ward to the list.

The victory is the 99th for Chevrolet since returning to the Series in 2012 as an engine supplier with the 2.2 liter twin turbo direct injected V6 purpose built engine.

Pole winner and top lap leader with 57 completed from the wave of the green flag, Rinus VeeKay in the No. 21 Sonax Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet finished third to give the Gold Bowtie drivers two of the three podium positions . Alex Palou finished second.

Next on the schedule is the start of the month of May with the GMR Grand Prix on the Road Course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

DRIVER QUOTES
PATO O’WARD, NO. 5 ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET, RACE WINNER:
WHAT A SMOOTH WEEKEND FOR THE 5 BUNCH. NICE TO SEE YOU IN VICTORY LANE PATO! WIN NUMBER THREE, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU HAD TO PLAY THAT PASS ON VEEKAY TO GET THE LEAD. AT THE MOMENT DID YOU KNOW THAT MAYBE THAT WAS THE PASS FOR THE WIN?
“Yeah, Taylor told me we are fighting for the win. We almost got them in the pit stops, so I said no this is your chance man. It’s so tough to follow just because it’s such a fast and flowing circuit. I knew if I would have the opportunity, it would have been right then and there. I got on my button and got around him into (Turn) five and then I knew if he would get into clean air, we can kind of control the thing. Once we did that it was a cruise to victory lane.”

THERE WAS A LOT OF TURMOIL AROUND THIS TEAM JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. YOU CAME INTO LONG BEACH SAYING I’M PUTTING IT ALL BEHIND ME. HOW MUCH DID THAT MENTAL SHIFT HELP YOU BEHIND THE WHEEL?
“Man, it sucks to be at war within your own team. I’m glad there’s been very positive talks for the future and man I wanted to do it for these guys. I wanted to do it for Arrow McLaren SP, Team Chevy. They’ve swept this year so far, so I think it’s great for them. Yeah, man I was just tired of being 10th and 11th and fifth. I said let’s get a win under our belt so we can claw our way back to this championship fight.”

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 SONAX ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, FINISHED 3RD:
“It was going really well. The car was really super fast even saving fuel. Then that last pit stop I was a little too on the brakes turning into five and that’s where he (Pato O’Ward) got me. Then I lost some time and Alex Palou got me and we dropped to third. Normally I should be the happiest guy on earth with a podium, but now…but we are headed to the Indy Road Course and that’s been good for us, and then the 500. I feel ready and excited to get there.”
WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON 5G TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, FINISHED 4TH:
As the race was winding down, I did my very best to take advantage and make those moves early on and get by Dixon and all those guys as quickly as possible. We made some dive bombs to get there. I’m so happy to have this Verizon Chevy up there. I honestly didn’t expect it.
“We just have to keep doing the same thing this year, finishing near to top. We have to qualify better, it will make it a lot easier on us during the race. But this team is working hard. We had better tires near the end and great strategy. I’m just trying to enjoy this as I go along. I’ve been here 17 years. Ready for Indy.”

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 2 PPG TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, FINISHED 14TH:
“We could just never gather much traction today with the No. 2 PPG Chevy on the three-stop strategy. Obviously, not testing here like the other teams did a few weeks ago put us a bit behind but I felt that we made great gains throughout the weekend. To tell you how well our team is working right now, we completely switched over to the 2 car’s setup yesterday – and it was a much better feel for me – but the two-stop strategy was the way to go in the end. At the end of the day, two wins and a very solid start to the year heading into the month of May. We’re in a good spot, for sure.”

FELIX ROSENQVIST, NO. 7 VUSE ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET, FINISHED 16TH :
“It was a disappointing race. It was a really good first stint that was positive with good pace on the Firestone red tires, but then we had a miscalculation on the fuel. That made us pit way too early, and we had to save a bunch of fuel for the rest of the race. We have to analyze everything to see if our fuel numbers are correct. We were quick, but couldn’t really do anything because of the fuel situation. Congrats to Pato, that is really good for him and the team. Just wish we could’ve been there with him, but we will push to be there next time.”

CONOR DALY, NO. 20 BITNILE ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, FINISHED 19TH:
: “It was a tough race today. Obviously qualifying yesterday hurt us as it would have been good to start farther up. But now we’ve got the month of May coming up and we’ve been fast on both the road course and the oval at IMS, so we’ll focus on that now and get this BitNile Chevy back towards the front!”
KYLE KIRKWOOD, NO. 14 ROKIT AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET, FINISHED 22ND:

DALTON KELLETT, NO. 4 K-LINE AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET, FINISHED 23RD

CALLUM ILOTT, NO. 77 JUNCOS HOLLINGER RACING, FINISHED 25TH::
“I honestly don’t even know what to say about that one. We had a great start. Moved up to eighth. We had a good pit stop and I was just pjshing slightly too hard trying to defend from Helio on cold tires. I went a little wide and after that I was just a passenger. It’s a shame to end a good weekend like that, I feel sorry for myself, for the team. It’s just a shame. Will take the positives. We had lots of pace. So we will take the positives and move toward the Grand Prix in Indy.”

We have to qualify better, it will make it a lot easier on us during the race. But this team is working hard. We had better tires near the end and great strategy. I’m just trying to enjoy this as I go along. I’ve been here 17 years. Ready for Indy.”

TATIANA CALDERON, NO. 11 ROKIT AJ FOYT RACING, FINISHED 26TH:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES News Conference
Rinus VeeKay, Pato O’Ward, Taylor Kiel
Press Conference Transcript

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon. We are joined by the third-place finisher, Rinus VeeKay.
Tell us about your day and maybe after that second pit stop coming back out the battle you had in turn five.
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, actually the weekend has been pretty good. We started out the first two-thirds of the race very strong, leading, saving a lot of fuel. Very happy with that.
Unfortunately I got held up a little bit before getting into my second pit stop, so Pato was on me, really on me. I did beat him out of pit lane. Coming into turn five, I just took it a little bit too conservative, and he got around me. Yeah, he drove away basically. Lacked a little bit of pace on the last set of tires. Pato and Alex were a little bit too fast for me to hang with.
Yeah, I think third place is pretty good still.
THE MODERATOR: It was a 1.8 second gap going into the pit stop. I think I heard you say you were caught up behind Jimmie.
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, Pato was really on my tail coming into the pit box. He was right in front of me in the box. Yeah, I did beat him out so we can a pretty good pit stop.
Yeah, unfortunately I didn’t push enough on that out lap. Another lesson learned. Unfortunately the hard way.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Rinus, why do you think you were so conservative?
RINUS VEEKAY: Well, I have screwed myself a few times in the past braking a little too deep, locking a tire, yeah, basically destroying my whole last stint.
I did not know Pato was going that deep. Yeah, I was looking in my mirrors a lot. Maybe that distracted me a little bit. Yeah, I don’t know. If I could go back, I would go way deeper and stay ahead of him. I was also struggling a little bit more on my last set of tires.
Yeah, he was definitely faster on that last stint. Deserved win for him. Fortunately I still got a podium out of it.
Q. Considering how you went like this after your injury last year, this weekend, do you feel like this is your first full, complete weekend?
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, no, I feel like we’re definitely back. I felt like that at St. Pete already, qualifying fourth, finishing sixth. That was a great way to bounce back. Leading in Texas. Definitely running out of fuel, still finishing 10th.
I think we started out really well already. This weekend really, yeah, was the cherry on the cake with the pole position and having a car to win the race, all race.
Q. Rinus, the two laps where Pato gets you for the lead, then all of a sudden the very next lap the guy next to you gets in between you and Pato, takes over second, at that point what did you think…
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, you feel bummed at that moment. There’s still so many laps left in the race, you never give up and you kind of reset and try to make the best out of it still.
Definitely still surprised by how Alex got between us. Yeah, I think I could have made a run for him. I came out of turn five fully sideways, that’s kind of where I lost touch with him.
Yeah, I did not really expect that to happen. It’s INDYCAR. Anything can happen. Level is extremely high. You weaken a little bit for one second and you’re being passed from the lead.
Q. Today’s podium, we talk so much about the young drivers in INDYCAR, it’s like today youth wasn’t only on display, it was showcased. What is it like to have that all young podium this week?
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, I think it’s great for the youth movement now. All the young guys, of course, Alex has done it a few times last year, and already this year. Same with Pato.
I’m happy to get there with those guys. I think it really shows that young guys are coming through, the new generation is kind of taking over.
THE MODERATOR: I want to say we’ve had eight different drivers, podiums, in the four races we’ve had so far. It’s a growing number, competitive as ever certainly.
Q. Rinus, the first half of the race, two stints, were you managing the gap or is that everything you had? Could you have gone bigger?
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, I was managing the gap a little bit, especially on the reds. I tried to keep it around two, two and a half seconds. Yeah, I think also that second run I felt very good just saving fuel. I was all the time saving a little more than the team asked me to. We always had a little bit of a buffer if we needed to go an extra lap or anything. I felt pretty good, good rhythm.
Yeah, I was in my element there.
Q. Did either of you guys get to spend any time around Romain today?
RINUS VEEKAY: No, I think he was behind me at one point just before the caution. But it’s hard to see a different car now. I was always looking at the purple car. Now it was the DHL car, now it’s the blue car.
I think it was him behind me at one point, yeah.
Q. Rinus, is there a really big confidence booster going into the month of May?
RINUS VEEKAY: Yeah, it’s a big confidence booster. Of course I struggled a little bit in Long Beach with pace. That was a tough race. Then coming here, first road course of the season, yeah. Just very happy. We were very fast in qualifying. Just in the race also we had the pace to win the race.
Yeah, I’m happy. I think coming into the month of May I know Indy road course is going to be good for us, Indy 500. I think we’re in a good position.
THE MODERATOR: Obviously joined now by the champion of this year’s race, Pato O’Ward.
Pato, a lot of momentum heading into the month of May. A good ‘W’ for you guys.
PATO O’WARD: Thanks, man.
Yeah, it was a great day for us. I think it was a very slow-paced race, at least where we were at. Last year we did the strategy that we didn’t do today. Today was a bit different in terms of really seeing where these tires would take us in terms of blacks to reds, reds to blacks.
But it was good. I think we managed it. We stayed very patient. Rinus was very quick. Alex was, as well. I think it was definitely kind of like a follow-the-leader type of situation.
When the opportunities came, we were able to take advantage of that, yeah, challenge these guys for the lead of the race.
THE MODERATOR: Follow the leader was after the pit stop, the scrap between you and Rinus.
PATO O’WARD: I knew the only opportunity I was going to have was then and there. Like I said, it’s such a fast and flowing circuit where you stay within probably a second and you can probably get within maybe 7/10ths of the car in front once their tires are heated up. It’s really hard to strike, especially if they are also on the same strategy of fuel saving, ‘push to pass’, et cetera.
Yeah, it was a good scramble. I think it was really nice to race along someone where I feel like we’ve always respected each other when we race. I think that’s fantastic to have whenever you’re fighting for the lead.
THE MODERATOR: We’ll continue with questions.
Q. You ended up with 120 seconds of ‘push to pass’ remaining. Was that a plan going into the race to help fuel saving?
PATO O’WARD: I couldn’t use it, man, because I was handicapped by the fuel. I would have loved to use them. I used them whenever they counted.
Yeah, I was traveling — I was trying to hit a number, and it was a pretty big number. Obviously when you use the ‘push to pass’, it eats through this mileage of fuel that you have pretty quickly.
Yeah, that’s probably why I ended with so much ‘push to pass’ left.
Q. The average age of the three guys on the podium is 22.7. I don’t know if that’s one of the younger ones, but I’m assuming it is. What is it like to be part of this youth movement?
PATO O’WARD: It’s great, man. I think we’ve seen it not just this year but the past two years. I think it’s awesome to see the young ones coming to the series and giving the veterans a hard time.
At the end of the day these guys that we’re racing against, Dixon, Power, Newgarden, we’ve been watching them for so many years. They’re basically idols of all of us when we were coming through the ranks trying to get to INDYCAR.
It’s really cool to be able to battle with them. Ultimately what you want to do when you get to race against them, you can have your fan boy moment for a couple seconds, but then you want to beat ’em.
THE MODERATOR: Also fortunate to be joined by the president of Arrow McLaren SP, Taylor Kiel. A big win for you heading into the month of May.
TAYLOR KIEL: It’s huge for us. We knew we had this potential all year long. We had a rough start to the season. It’s nice to get back on track, perform how we know how to, ultimately bring a win back home for everybody that works at Arrow McLaren SP and our extended family at McLaren. I think it’s a big boost for us heading into the month of May as Pato said.
THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on the battle with Rinus?
TAYLOR KIEL: I told him in Victory Lane that pass into five was everything. It was huge for us to be able to clear Rinus, ultimately take the lead. Also it was huge to us to defend against Alex on the overcut as well.
The boys did a great job in pit lane to do their job, execute. Pato did what he needed to do. Ultimately it ticked both boxes. We were able to advance our position and defend against Alex who did a great job certainly closing the gap to us.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Pato or Taylor.
Q. Pato, I know last year you were bummed out to say the least after starting on pole, finishing fourth. Did you know because of how last year played out that that’s what you were going to shoot for, see how things played out, or was there anything in the race that made you pick that strategy?
PATO O’WARD: I think ultimately what allowed us to do it was the pace was honestly super slow. Everybody was doing that. I think that was for sure the fastest way to get around for the 90 laps. Obviously not for the fastest lap, but we wanted to win the race.
Last year I think we got fastest lap but we crossed the finish line in fourth. I think it was all about how can we save as much fuel and also we were a bit into the mercy of how long are we going to make the reds last? I think that was probably the biggest thing, just making sure that we can make the reds last up until lap, I don’t know when I pitted, 28 or 30 or something. I think that was the biggest thing, just making sure we didn’t just overshoot the tire in the first 10 laps because we weren’t going to make it to do the two-stopper.
I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. Whenever you’re saving so much fuel, it makes the saving of the tire a lot easier.
TAYLOR KIEL: I’d say looking, I think the biggest threats to us on that strategy were Newgarden, Herta and Grosjean. We did that last year. It’s really hard to make it work. It’s hard to pass, especially Pato talked about it in our strategy brief this morning. A full fuel car, you can be pushing it, but it’s difficult.
To do what you have to do to make that work, you have to make up the pit loss time, pass a lot of cars. It’s just a difficult way to go about it. Our thought was, Let’s make it easy, as easy as we can on ourselves, let’s take advantage of being out front. He had the pace to do it, the tires lasted. He drove in a way that we were able to maintain pace and keep the tires under us. For us it was kind of a no-brainer to stick to that.
Q. Pato, you said you were in this great rhythm, your mindset on and off the track had changed completely closing in on your new contract extension. Was today and this weekend’s performance feeding off that or was this just a great race weekend?
PATO O’WARD: I think the shift that we kind of felt was in Long Beach actually. I just think we had a great race there. I think a top-five finish in this series is pretty stellar because it’s so competitive, there’s so many factors that have to go right in order to be up there.
I just think this weekend was the perfect weekend to do it. I love this place. We had a great car here. No reason why we wouldn’t have had a good car here this weekend, which we just proved that we were the guy to beat. We missed it just by a little bit in qualifying, but I knew I had the pace, I knew the car had the pace. It was just kind of playing a bit of a waiting game.
These races are so long where it’s not a sprint race. If would have started, it’s 30 or 40 laps, you maybe approach it a bit different. But it’s 90 laps. It’s so, so long. I wasn’t really stressing. I was just managing my fuel, my tires, and just taking care of everything. Whenever the opportunity would come to us, I was sure to be ready to take advantage of it.
Q. Taylor, as someone who is as close as anyone to Pato, have you been able to notably see that mental shift on and off the track?
TAYLOR KIEL: Well, I think just as an entire group of people, certainly Pato and our whole team, I think we’ve kind of hit the reset button. As he said, Long Beach was a catalyst for us to show that we can perform at a high level again after last year to back it up.
For me, I want to give him the tools to succeed, and the rest is up to him. He takes advantage of it. Certainly when we have a good car to compete at the front, we compete at the front. That’s the goal for us, is to continue to put in the work and put in the effort and make sure we have a car, a team and a group of people that can support Pato. The rest is up to all of us to execute.
I think today proves that we can do that and we’ll continue to do that. That’s where we’re at.
Q. Did the 5 team need the driver’s mindset to change to reach its potential?
TAYLOR KIEL: I don’t know if it needs a mindset. I’ve said to him before, the driver in our team, I don’t know how it is with everybody else, is the quarterback, right? As the quarterback goes, the rest of the team goes. As the driver goes, the rest of the team goes. He has such an infectious spirit, such an energy, that it’s impactful to what we do in a very good way.
I think there’s kind of two things there: he’s a very important part of what we do, but as a team you have to be able to compartmentalize things, too. We’re moving from race to race, different circuit type to different circuit type, testing, racing. We’re doing so many things, we have to focus on what we’re doing today.
I would say the drivers in our organization are certainly impactful to the general aura of what we’ve got going on. Ultimately us as a team, we have to be able to withstand whatever might happen. That’s kind of where we’re at with that.
Q. When he gets out of the car at Long Beach, he is Pato. He’s Pato again here. Do you feel like you can win this week?
TAYLOR KIEL: I always feel like we can win honestly.
PATO O’WARD: Angry Pato can win, too (smiling).
TAYLOR KIEL: I always feel like we can win. That’s the beauty of having Pato drive one of our cars, is that we’ve now won at a road course, we’ve won at a street course, we won at a superspeedway. If we had —
PATO O’WARD: I also needed to make sure Josef didn’t win that award.
TAYLOR KIEL: I’m just saying, ultimately for us, I think we’ve got a driver that can compete and win at any circuit type. We put a good car together. If we come prepared, roll off the truck in a good window, it’s hard to beat.
Q. Pato, I asked you Friday if happy Pato is dangerous to the rest of the field. You said you didn’t know.
PATO O’WARD: What do you think?
Q. I thought you were a little dangerous going through turn five. Not dangerous bad.
PATO O’WARD: Patient Pato (smiling).
Q. Now you head into a very important month. What do you got planned?
PATO O’WARD: Yeah, the big boy. Everybody wants to win that one. It’s the massive cookie that everybody wants to have in their room, looking at it, thinking about it.
I’m pumped. I’ve never been able to do an Indy 500 with a bunch of people. Last year there was a bunch, but this year I think it’s going to be double or something. I’m really excited to see that.
There’s nothing like it. It’s just crazy. I tell everybody that you need to go and experience it in person for you to be able to, like, grasp what an event that is. Obviously I can’t even imagine what it would be like winning it.
Q. Can you win it?
PATO O’WARD: Sure as hell the plan (smiling).
Q. Talking about the younger guys coming up, who have you fan boyed over on track?
PATO O’WARD: I remember like it was yesterday actually. I was in Sonoma, my first INDYCAR test. I usually look at Dixon, Power and Newgarden. I think I spun four times, so I caused four red flags in the span of like 35 minutes in the chicane in the Sonoma. Every time I spun, Josef come around looking at me, shaking his head. I was like, Shit (laughter).
Yeah, but then I had a good race there, which made it a lot better.
Q. Oval, road course, street circuit, you checked the box, the bingo card. Did you think you could do all those that quickly from the diversity standpoint?
TAYLOR KIEL: Did you just ask him if he thinks he has the talent to win (smiling)?
Q. He did those three things that quickly.
PATO O’WARD: I was pretty bummed we didn’t win a road course last year. Man, I love this place. I also wanted to complete it because I’ve had the chance to win here in Mazda and in Indy Lights. I really wanted to win in INDYCAR to kind of complete the three formulas that I’ve raced around here.
It’s a great circuit. Like ever since the first time I came, I loved it. It’s super well taken care of. It’s just a beautiful facility. I think today was a great turnout, beautiful day, very different than what the rose in the morning like, which was cool to not have a very overcast, cloudy day.
Yeah, great day to go racing.
Q. Let me ask it a different way. Of the three different circuits you run, would you have thought a road course was first or an oval first or street course?
PATO O’WARD: Oval was the last one I think I would have won. It was the first one. First one I think would probably be a street course, then a road course. Kind of switched around. I don’t mind it, though.
Q. Pato, you’ve won here in Pro Mazda, Indy Lights, now here. How great is it to say you won in all three of those now?
PATO O’WARD: It’s awesome, man. It’s just a track that I really enjoy driving. You can really feel out the limits of whatever car you’re driving, which make it extra fun in terms of just the physical aspect, from a racing standpoint. It’s not an easy track to pass. I think whenever you do see a pass around here, it’s somewhat exciting. I hope that pass was somewhat exciting because I feel like the rest of the race was pretty boring, at least for me up there.
Was there a lot of action behind us? That’s good stuff. I can’t wait to watch the race again.
Q. (No microphone.)
PATO O’WARD: What happened with them? I’ll watch. Two egos going at it (laughter).
Q. Rinus had a two-second gap on you before the pit stop. Where did you gain the time where you got the pass on him?
PATO O’WARD: I (indiscernible) it on the brakes.
Q. Taylor, about a dozen laps left in the race, you told Pato he was free to take overtake. Pato said, I got it, don’t stress. Did your stress level go down after that?
TAYLOR KIEL: My stress level is pretty much down all the time.
PATO O’WARD: That’s a lie.
TAYLOR KIEL: I just try to stay like that.
Honestly, when you get feedback like that, it makes you feel comfortable that everything is in our control, which is all you can ask for when you’re leading the race.
At that point I would say, yeah, honestly a little bit. But you never know. You never know what he’s experiencing in the car, so… Felt under control. Looked under control. It was.
Q. Pato, over the last two, three months, do you feel like you’re in a better place as a person and driver than you were at the end of last season?
PATO O’WARD: Yeah, I feel great, man. I think what last year gave us as a group was kind of that year of fighting for a championship under our belt. We obviously didn’t come out on top, but we fought for it until the end of the season. And that’s huge.
We had the championship mindset all year, and I think it helps when you have it into your memory bank and going through the calendar, the year after that, and I think sometimes it helps you be patient. I think that’s the best way I can put it. I think you mental-ize and you realize what is needed to win a championship.
A lot of the times it just matures your patience levels, which ultimately pay off at the end of the race.
Q. I wanted to know how close you are to confirming your contract.
PATO O’WARD: I’d say it’s close. But honestly, you know, we’re into the season already, so I’m kind of — I don’t want to worry about it. I think things will shape up. There’s been very positive conversations. I think the vibe in the team is fantastic. I think that’s what we need going into the month of May. The rest I think will take care of itself.
I don’t have a date for you. I guess whenever it’s signed, you’ll probably see it in the media somewhere. Probably be one of the first ones to know actually.
Q. Taylor?
TAYLOR KIEL: Yeah, what Pato said. We’re in a good place.
Q. What’s the situation with Felix?
PATO O’WARD: All smiles and unicorns, man.
TAYLOR KIEL: Situation with Felix? Ultimately for us, I think we want to take our time with any driver decision. His situation, as I’ve talked about it quite a bit, for us, we want to get through a lot of the season, just kind of understand where we’re at. I want to take more of a sample size than what we’ve got.
We’ll make that decision when the time’s right and you guys will know.
Q. Where do you feel the balance between Chevy and Honda is at at the moment?
PATO O’WARD: Do you want to take it?
TAYLOR KIEL: I’ll speak.
I don’t know where Honda is at. All I know is that Chevy has put a tremendous amount of work into their package in the off-season. I can sit here and say they’ve given us everything that we’ve asked for. They’ve worked relentlessly to close any perceived gaps that they thought they had.
We certainly as a team have felt a huge shift in performance from year to year. I think we did a lot in the backcourt as a team to improve car performance. Chevy has done a fantastic job as well.
At this stage in the engine game, as far advanced as we are, for them to find the gains they have is remarkable. Kudo to everyone at Chevy, Pratt & Miller, Ilmor, all the work they’ve done.
PATO O’WARD: I’ll just add to that.
I think they’ve done a great job. They have really brought it to us this year. I think it’s great that they’ve been so open to our suggestions and to all the Chevy teams’ suggestions to making us go faster, to helping us in every way they can.
Yeah, I mean, it’s been fantastic. I think it’s a Chevy sweep for all the races so far. That’s awesome. Hopefully we can keep it rolling into the month of May.
Q. (Question about the road package.)
PATO O’WARD: Like Taylor said, we’re coming into the end of an aero package, the end of these engines, in this specific second. It’s so hard to make gains. The little gains you make make a big difference.
We identified our issues last year where we lacked and we’re getting better. We’re getting better. From my side, I think I’m doing the best job that I can in order for us to make those steps.
Whenever you make those steps, it just opens your strategy windows. When the races are so long, like here in INDYCAR, it’s all about your strategy. Ultimately it pays off to qualify up front. As we saw today, it was a lot about track position.
At the end of the day if you can just open up the decisions that the team can do at certain times in the race to make critical decisions for a pass for the lead or whatever it may be, those little bits and pieces make a big difference.
Q. Taylor?
TAYLOR KIEL: Yeah, not much else to add to that other than that last year I would say road courses were our biggest weakness. Based on today I would say they’re a strength of ours. That’s really just a testament of identifying what the priorities were in the off-season and tackling those and making sure that we don’t sit on deficiencies, making sure as a team we continue to improve and move forward. Proud of that.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, everyone.

ABOUT CHEVROLET
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Tony Stewart Racing: Charlotte Event Recap for the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

By
Official Release
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Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
April 29-May 1 | Charlotte

Event Recap

Leah Pruett, driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster:

● Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.730 ET at 319.29 mph).
● Earned No. 2 qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.686 ET at 327.51 mph).
● Scored two bonus points for second-quickest run of the session.
● Maintained No. 2 qualifying position from Q2. Pruett’s Q3 run on Saturday was a 3.773 ET at 326.40 mph.
● Secured No. 2 qualifying position based off Q2 run on Friday. In Q4 on Saturday, Pruett ran a 3.734 ET at 329.10 mph.
● Round 1: 3.741 ET at 323.89 mph, lost to Brittany Force (3.732 ET at 329.67 mph) and Spencer Massey (3.749 ET at 323.27 mph). Tony Schumacher (3.753 ET, 320.89 mph) was also defeated by Force and Massey.
● Currently 13th in the Top Fuel championship standings, 268 points behind points leader Force.

Matt Hagan, driver of the Shelor Motor Mile Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car:

● Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.890 ET at 329.42 mph).
● Earned No. 2 qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.867 ET at 330.55 mph).
● Scored two bonus points for second-quickest run of the session.
● Maintained No. 2 qualifying position from Q2. Hagan’s Q3 run on Saturday was a 7.052 ET at 96.43 mph.
● Secured No. 2 qualifying position based off Q2 run on Friday. In Q4 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 3.921 ET at 328.70 mph.
● Scored one bonus point for third-quickest run of the session.
● Advanced to Round 2 on Sunday:

●  Round 1: 3.895 ET at 331.69 mph, defeated Blake Alexander (5.652 ET at 127.04 mph) and Paul Lee (13.325 ET at 62.51 mph). Mike McIntire Jr., also advanced to Round 2 (3.966 ET at 316.01 mph).     

●  Round 2: 8.168 ET at 91.59 mph, lost to Ron Capps (3.954 ET at 323.89 mph) and Mike McIntire Jr. (4.031 ET at 312.64 mph). J.R. Todd was also defeated in Round 2 (10.389 ET at 89.36 mph).

● Currently leads the Funny Car championship standings with a 22-point advantage over Robert Hight.

Notes of Interest

● Hagan was selected as the NHRA’s Funny Car “Marquee Matchup” for Round 1 of eliminations against Alexander, Lee and McIntire.

● Pruett’s No. 2 qualifying position was her highest start through the first six events of 2022.

● Pruett was selected as the NHRA’s Top Fuel “Marquee Matchup” for Round 1 of eliminations against Force, Massey and Schumacher.

● Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) hosted nearly 400 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) guests throughout the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. SHR is the NASCAR team Stewart co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. SHR is just nine miles north of the track in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

● Hagan will make his milestone 300th career Funny Car start in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ next event May 13-15 at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster

“I think determination is our key factor here. Having five plain runs down the track and chipping away at it, we are a product of the short end of the stick of a really good race. We missed it by just a couple thousandths to advance. Going into Richmond, we will take a lot away from this weekend from the warm track to our warmup and setup. I started out really hitting the tree well in qualifying. As I tried to work on it, I actually graduated the other way. I didn’t have the peak performance that I wanted on Sunday, but it was almost enough to get the job done. I will be right back on my Christmas tree every day and we will be making sure all eight of our Mopar cylinders are lit. The execution of this team has been impeccable, and that’s why we have the consistency that we have. We will continue that and look forward. My consolation prize is that I get to spend a lot of time with the fans here in Charlotte. In between this weekend and Richmond, we’re working on a spare car, so a lot is happening between now and then.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Shelor Motor Mile Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“I’m glad the four-wides are behind us. I would’ve loved to have won it, but it’s a chaotic event. It’s a great show for the fans, but what we normally do is repetition, doing the same thing every time. Swapping lanes, trying to figure out who did what, who to pick and who did what is a lot going on. At the end of the day, we still leave here with the points lead. We’ve gone some rounds, we’ve been qualifying well, and the car is running good. There will be peaks and valleys with drag racing, that’s just part of it. There will be a lot of highs and a lot of lows and a little in between. I would’ve loved to have won for Shelor Motor Mile and my family’s company. Maybe we will get them in Richmond. I’m looking forward to crawling back in a racecar and keep what we’re doing going.”

Next Up

The next event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the Virginia NHRA Nationals May 13-15 at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond.

Learning curve continues, Conway takes 10th for Irish Mike’s Racing at Laguna

By
Official Release
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MONTEREY, CA (1 May 2022) – Craig Conway came through with a 10th-place finish in Sunday’s second race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, highlighting a challenging weekend of IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Visit Cayman Islands competition.

It was the best finish of the season for Conway, driving the No. 97 Diamond Suzuki Porsche 992. The Floridian finished 11th in the Pro-Am category in the Saturday race. His best result had been 15th in the season-opener at Sebring, while Conway missed Round 2 on the streets of Long Beach due to travel cancellations.

“We’re still working on learning this car, and we’re getting better,” Conway said. “It’s going to be a learning curve. We didn’t have any problems this weekend. I was trying to use every session, every race, to improve what we’re doing. We’re getting closer on a lot of things, but there’s a bit of a hole we’ve got to climb to get where we want to run.”

Irish Mike’s took delivery of the all-new Porsche machines shortly before the start of the 2022 season, and has taken every opportunity to grow the notebooks on for the new platform to continue to gain speed in the highly competitive category.

“It’s going to take a few races to get sorted out,” added the Edgewater, Florida driver. “I’m just trying to keep it on the road and finish it off, and learn as we go.”

Involved in an accident during Friday’s opening practice, teammate Conor Flynn was forced to park the No. 95 FlynnCo Cars / Chillout Systems Porsche 992 for the remainder of the weekend.

Next up on the Porsche Carrera Cup North America season will be historic Watkins Glen International, with 40-minute races on June 25-26.

Lundqvist Holds Off Teammate Pedersen in Wet Barber Thriller

By
Official Release
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Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama- Barber - Motorsports - Park

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sunday, May 1, 2022) – Linus Lundqvist withstood a late-race charge by teammate Benjamin Pedersen and contact coming off the final turn to score a dominating Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires victory Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.

Swedish driver Lundqvist led the entire 45-minute race from the pole and held a strong lead for most of the race in the No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car. The race was run on a wet racetrack due to morning thunderstorms, forcing teams to compete on rain tires.

As the track dried and the treaded tires lost grip, Lundqvist saw his lead, which was nearly three seconds at one point over Pedersen’s No. 24 Global Racing Group with HMD car, shrink quickly.

Pedersen caught Lundqvist coming to the white flag and got a run entering Turn 17 on the final trip around the 17-turn, 2.3-mile circuit. Pedersen made contact with the rear of Lundqvist’s car and attempted to pass him coming to the line, falling just .1782 of a second shy at the checkered flag.

“First, I got to say good job to my teammate Benjamin,” Lundqvist said. “That was one of the closest fights I’ve had in a very long time. I knew that it was the last lap, so I didn’t have to hold back, but obviously Benjamin gave me a good run for my money.

“I’m super happy, and a massive thank you to my HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing team. It’s just fantastic.”

Lundqvist’s fourth career Indy Lights win vaulted him into the Indy Lights championship lead after two races so far this season. It’s also gives him two wins in the last three Indy Lights races as Lundqvist won the 2021 finale at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which was also a wet race.

Pedersen’s runner-up result tied his career best finish. The Danish driver has finished second four times during his Lights career, including last year at this track to Lundqvist.

“We touched on the last corner, but I think one more lap and I would have had him,” Pedersen said. “It was just a matter of managing the tires the whole race. Nevertheless, it’s a great team result.”

Sting Ray Robb rounded out the podium with a third-place finish in the No. 2 Sekady car fielded by Andretti Autosport. Danial Frost came home fourth in the No. 68 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car, and Kyffin Simpson was the highest finishing rookie at fifth in the No. 21 TJ Speed Motorsports car.

The race began roughly 20 minutes after the scheduled start time due to weather and was moved from a 35-lap race to a 45-minute race. While the race was packed with action as drivers learned how to race in the wet conditions or worked overtime to keep their car on track, there was just one caution.

Eight minutes into the race, Christian Bogle spun entering Turn 16 and went off track in the No. 7 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car, getting stuck in the gravel trap.

The action only heated up from there. With 19 minutes remaining, last year’s Indy Pro 2000 champion Christian Rasmussen was locked in a fierce duel with Manuel Sulaiman for fifth.

As Sulaiman sought to defend his position in the No. 59 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car, the front of Rasmussen’s No. 28 Road to Indy/Stellrecht car hit the rear of Sulaiman’s car. Rasmussen lost his front wing and went off course. His Andretti Autosport team repaired the car and he finished 11th, while Sulaiman finished 10th.

As the race was nearing its end, Andretti Autosport teammates had contact that nearly brought the race under caution again. Entering Turn 5, rookie Hunter McElrea attempted to pass St. Petersburg race winner Matthew Brabham on the inside with just over two minutes remaining in the race.

McElrea’s No. 27 Andretti Autosport car lost grip and slammed the left rear of Brabham’s No. 83 Andretti Autosport car. Both drivers went off track. Brabham continued to finish seventh, while McElrea’s day was done, and he finished 12th.

The series will be back in action Friday, May 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for Race 1 of a doubleheader weekend on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile track that kicks off the Month of May action at IMS. Lundqvist won Race 1 of the IMS doubleheader last season.

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