NTT INDYCAR SERIES
PREVIEW: RD. 9 – TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (USA)
The last four weeks have seen Felix Rosenqvist live life literally in top gear – perhaps more so than ever before. Taking in a career-first IndyCar pole position, a maiden Indy 500 start and a double-header encounter on the streets of Detroit, a highly hectic period of racing comes to a (temporary) close this weekend with race nine of the season at the Texas Motor Speedway oval.
“I actually did my very first IndyCar oval test at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year, so it’s one of the tracks I do know,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “And it’s right in NTT DATA’s backyard in Plano, Texas – so a home race for them. Adding the full month of May experience at Indianapolis, I have a much better feeling for the ovals now, so it will be interesting to see how that reflects out on track this weekend.”
With Rosenqvist’s only taste of IndyCar oval racing having come at the recent Indy 500, the Swede is aware that he’s still very much a newcomer to the concept of tackling banked high-speed turns, and he is keen to make his pre-weekend homework.
“I think we can expect a very different kind of race to what we had in Indy,” Rosenqvist continues. “Texas normally seems to produce closer pack racing with lots of overtaking, and I hear the tyres can go off massively around there. Strategy, and making it through traffic, should be key factors for success this weekend. I can’t wait to take it on in the NTT DATA car!”
This weekend’s race takes place on Saturday evening local time (US Central). It will run for 248 laps around the 2.3 km Texas Motor Speedway, giving a near-600 km race distance.
GUIDE: IndyCar – rules and information
LIVE TIMING: racecontrol.indycar.com
TIME TABLE
NTT IndyCar Series – Texas Motor Speedway
All times local (US Central)
Thursday 6 June
Free Practice 1: 7.00-9.00 pm
Friday 7 June
Free Practice 2: 2.00-3.00 pm
Qualifying: 5.45-6.45 pm
Saturday 8 June
Race (248 laps): 7.40-9.40 pm
STANDINGS (TOP FIVE)
NTT IndyCar Series
After 8/17 races
1: Josef Newgarden (USA), 316 p.
2: Alexander Rossi (USA), 301 p.
3: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), 291 p.
4: Scott Dixon (NZL), 264 p.
5: Takuma Sato (JPN), 255 p.
—
11: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), 163 p.