NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 4
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (USA)
Felix Rosenqvist recovered from last on the opening lap to score a top ten finish in this weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.
Lining up in eighth, Rosenqvist made contact with two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden on the approach to Turn 2 immediately after the start in Sunday’s race, tagging the right rear of the Penske driver.
As a result of the clash, Rosenqvist’s Arrow McLaren car was pitched into a spin right in the midst of the first-lap congestion, although thankfully he avoided damage as the rest of the field came storming past.
Rejoining dead last down in 27th, what followed next was a significant recovery – enabled via an opportunistic strategy change. A more conventional two-stop approach was aptly swapped into a more aggressive three-stopper, which ultimately paid off handsomely as Rosenqvist charged all the way back up to ninth by the chequered flag.
“That was a really strong race,”says Felix Rosenqvist. “I’m sorry about the contact with Josef on lap one – I braked too late into Turn 2, so that was on me. It obviously screwed us in the beginning as we came out in last, but it set up a really fun first two stints, passing a lot of cars and running in clear air. The #6 car was on rails today.
“The way the race turned out, changing to a three-stopper proved the right way to go. Thanks to the team on pit wall for being so flexible on strategy. The only thing that went against us was a mid-race caution; without that it could have been a top five as the two-stoppers would have really struggled on fuel. Still, it’s a great recovery, and a solid day for the entire team as we move into the month of May.”
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns in two weeks’ time with the GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (May 13), leading up to the famed Indy 500 at the end of the month.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 4
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
Barber Motorsports Park (USA)
1: Scott McLaughlin (NZL), Penske, 90 laps
2: Romain Grosjean (FRA), Andretti, +1.785s
3: Will Power (AUS), Penske, +3.269s
4: Pato O’Ward (MEX), Arrow McLaren, +20.574s
5: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, +20.976s
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9: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Arrow McLaren, +25.510s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 4/17 races
1: Marcus Ericsson (SWE), Ganassi, 130 p.
2: Pato O’Ward (MEX), Arrow McLaren, 127 p.
3: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, 121 p.
4: Scott McLaughlin (NZL), Penske, 119 p.
5: Romain Grosjean (FRA), Andretti, 115 p.
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15: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Arrow McLaren, 66 p.