{"id":14720,"date":"2023-06-15T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T12:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=14720"},"modified":"2023-06-14T15:16:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T19:16:39","slug":"indycar-road-america-predictions-and-how-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2023\/06\/15\/indycar-road-america-predictions-and-how-to-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"IndyCar: Road America Predictions and How to Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Two weeks removed from the chaos of Detroit, the IndyCar Series returns to Wisconsin’s Road America, the longest track on the calendar.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Alex Palou\u00a0<\/strong>dodged the chaos at the Motor City’s brand-new street circuit<\/a> earlier in the month, capturing his second win in just three races. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver extended his lead in the points standings to 51 over teammate\u00a0Marcus Ericsson<\/strong>. Indy 500 winner\u00a0Josef Newgarden\u00a0<\/strong>sits 19 points behind Ericsson in third, followed by Scott Dixon\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0McLaren’s\u00a0Pato O’Ward<\/strong>.<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
\"Alex<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/article>\n
\n
\n
Newgarden and Dixon lead all active drivers in wins at Road America with two apiece. Newgarden claimed last year’s race, breaking a streak of three CGR wins at the track<\/a>. Sunday’s race will see the debut of\u00a0Ryan Hunter-Reay\u00a0<\/strong>as the new driver of Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 entry, following the “parting of ways” between the team and\u00a0Conor Daly\u00a0<\/strong>last week.<\/p>\n

The Track<\/h3>\n

Built during the post-WWII era in the early 1950s, 4+ mile Road America has hosted many different racing series in its history, from the NASCAR Cup Series all the way to Stadium Super Trucks. Starting in 1982, the track began hosting IndyCar, then known as CART, and continued to do so until 2007. After a nine-year break, IndyCar returned to Elkhart Lake, reestablishing the track as a fan favorite.<\/p>\n

The narrow front straight at Road America measures over three-quarters of a mile, giving drivers the rare chance to reach speeds in excess of 200 mph on a road course. Turn 1 is a 90-degree right-hander with some extra concrete runoff area to allow for two and three-wide battles. Turn 2 is actually just the small straight between Turns 1 and 3, which sends drivers downhill before sending them 90 degrees to the right once more.<\/p>\n

Drivers then make their way through the small kink that is Turn 4 down the “Moraine Sweep”, a lengthy straight ending in a big opportunity at Turn 5. It’s a hard left through 5 and a quick trip uphill to Turn 6, another left-hander. After a short straight, Turn 8 sends drivers back to the left before the long arc that is Turn 9. Better known as the “Carousel”, drivers must control their cars around the famously flat turn.<\/p>\n

Turn 10 is the exit of the Carousel, and prepares drivers and their cars to roar through the Wisconsin forest. Perhaps the most famous turn on the entire circuit, Turn 11 is a high-speed kink known for its treacherous past. Turn 12, also known as “Canada Corner” sends drivers to the right towards the front straight. After that, drivers will win through Turn 13 into Turn 14, a right-hander that spits drivers back out to the finish line. Right before the finish line, a large hill presents the final obstacle before the completion of a four-mile lap of Road America.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
\n
\n

Championship Standings<\/h3>\n

With another dominant victory at Detroit, Alex Palou extended his championship lead to 51 points.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing \u2013 273 points<\/li>\n
  2. Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing \u2013 222 points<\/li>\n
  3. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske \u2013 203 points<\/li>\n
  4. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing \u2013 194 points<\/li>\n
  5. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren \u2013 191 points<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Race Predictions \u2013 Road America<\/h3>\n

    Still winless on the season but coming off of a solid Month of May and an impressive run at Detroit, I think\u00a0Alexander Rossi\u00a0<\/strong>cashes in for his second win at Road America on Sunday. Josef Newgarden will come just short of a repeat victory, and Ganassi rookie\u00a0Marcus Armstrong\u00a0<\/strong>will grab his first career podium.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren<\/li>\n
    2. Josef Newgarden, Chip Ganassi Racing<\/li>\n
    3. Marcus Armstrong, Chip Ganassi Racing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      How to Watch (All Times in EST)<\/h3>\n