Felix Rosenqvist clinched the first win of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career in dramatic fashion in Sunday’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America, emerging on top from a late-race battle for victory on the penultimate lap.
Rosenqvist had run second behind Pato O’Ward in the closing stages of the race, but chased down the Mexican to eventually draw alongside on lap 54 of the 55-lap event. Committing to a bold around-the-outside move, Rosenqvist snatched the lead in spectacular style and went on to seal an emotional first victory in America’s premier single-seater series.
Underlining his pace, Rosenqvist also set the fastest lap of the race.
28-year-old Rosenqvist becomes the first Swedish INDYCAR race winner since Kenny Bräck took victory – also for Chip Ganassi Racing – in Mexico City back in 2002.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have won an INDYCAR race – I’m absolutely thrilled,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “It’s been my main target for a while and we’ve come close before with a few podiums – but this is what I really wanted. This race was for my crew on the #10 car, and also for Honda. I’m so glad we had the John McCain tribute on the car, and to be able to do this for NTT DATA and the entire family really means a lot to us at the team.”
Rosenqvist’s victory came as he bounced back from a technical issue that restricted him to 18th in the first race of the Road America double-header on Saturday. With team-mate Scott Dixon winning the Saturday race, and Rosenqvist repeating victory on Sunday, Chip Ganassi Racing remain undefeated in the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES so far.
Rosenqvist’s Race 2 win was not without drama, however, as a first-lap strike from the spinning Graham Rahal inflicted damage on the Swede’s car and made life extra difficult – especially for the pit stop crew.
“We’ve worked so hard for this, and I’m so happy for all the guys on the #10 crew,” Felix Rosenqvist reiterates. “We had some damage to the car after that clash on the first lap, so the guys really had to dig deep even to get the tyres off the car in the pit stops. It was an heroic effort from them and I’m glad I could deliver to their level out on track today. I think this is the first of many more to come for us; big thanks to everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing.”
Thanks to his win, Rosenqvist now improves to eighth in the drivers’ standings.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues at full throttle in less than a week, with another double-header event set to take place at Iowa Speedway on July 17-18.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 4
REV Group Grand Prix – Race 2 | Road America
1: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, 55 laps
2: Pato O’Ward (MEX), McLaren SP, +2.869s
3: Alexander Rossi (USA), Andretti, +8.616s
4: Marcus Ericsson (SWE), Ganassi, +14.223s
5: Colton Herta (USA), Andretti, +32.416s
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 3
REV Group Grand Prix – Race 1 | Road America
1: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, 55 laps
2: Will Power (AUS), Penske, +2.538s
3: Alex Palou (ESP), Dale Coyne, +3.192s
4: Ryan Hunter-Reay (USA), Andretti, +3.984s
5: Colton Herta (USA), Andretti, +7.249s
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18: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, +1 lap (technical)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 4/14 races
1: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, 173 p.
2: Colton Herta (USA), Andretti, 119 p.
3: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), Penske, 110 p.
4: Pato O’Ward (MEX), McLaren SP, 110 p.
5: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, 106 p.
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8: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, 88 p.