NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
PREVIEW GMR Grand Prix (USA)
Felix Rosenqvist will reach a career milestone this weekend as he makes his 50th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start at the GMR Grand Prix.
Rosenqvist arrived in INDYCAR back in 2019, soon claiming his first pole position later that same year as he powered to the top of the qualifying times at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – incidentally the same venue set to host this weekend’s activities.
The now 30-year-old then went on to clinch his maiden victory at Road America in 2020, becoming the first Swedish driver in 18 years to win at the highest level of U.S. single-seater racing.
Other INDYCAR career highlights include another pair of podium finishes, two fastest laps, a pole position around the Texas oval earlier this season and the Rookie of the Year title in 2019.
“Time flies! Heading into my 50th INDYCAR race this weekend, it would obviously mark a fitting occasion for a strong result,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “I’m keen to hit the track and I’m really motivated to try and turn around the challenges we’ve faced in the recent races.”
Rosenqvist enters the GMR Grand Prix on the back of a difficult race last time out at Barber Motorsports Park, where he once again qualified strongly to make the Firestone Fast Six cut but then slipped back in the race, forced to fuel-save his way through the closing stages.
As the field sets camp at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the last race before the blue-riband Indy 500, Rosenqvist and his #7 Arrow McLaren SP crew are keen to retaliate.
“It was a tough one last time out, but we’ve moved on and we have a pretty clear picture of what happened,” Felix Rosenqvist explains. “I can’t really go into the technical details, but for me personally it was good to know there was nothing I could have done about it.
“We keep fighting and I’m cautiously optimistic, even though the IMS road course hasn’t historically been our strongest track. We’ll try our best to change that this weekend!”
The GMR Grand Prix is a two-day event, staged across Friday and Saturday. Practice and qualifying takes place on the opening day of action, with the 85-lap race then going green on Saturday afternoon.
TIME TABLE
All times local (U.S. Eastern)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
GMR Grand Prix
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA)
Friday 13 May
Free Practice 1: 9:30-10:30 am
Free Practice 2: 12:45-1:45 pm
Qualifying: 4:00-5:15 pm
Saturday 14 May
Warm-up: 10:30-11:00 am
Race (85 laps): 3:20 pm
TIMING: INDYCAR App / racecontrol.indycar.com
ENTRY LIST: view here
TRACK DATA: view here