Photo – Kyle Magda
The Verizon IndyCar Series returns to the 2.5 mile Pocono Raceway for the second straight year this weekend. After not racing on the Tricky Triangle since 1989, IndyCar made its return last July with Chip Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) Scott Dixon picking up the win and leading a 1-2-3 finish for CGR.
Andretti Autosport driver Marco Andretti shattered the track qualifying record with a two-lap average of 221.273 mph. Andretti dominated the Pocono IndyCar 400 before fuel issues relegated him to a tenth-place finish and hopes for a better result in Sunday’s race.
“Hopefully better fuel mileage in my case,” Andretti said at the Pocono IndyCar test June 19. “We did learn a bit. I don’t think it’s too smart to go out and dominate and pull everyone behind you.”
Andretti’s rookie teammate Carlos Munoz led flag-to-flag in last year’s Indy Lights race at Pocono and will run an IndyCar this time around.
“It was great for me,” Munoz said. “I have to refer to my teammates and this time (in IndyCars) is going to be complicated because each corner is different and will be everything new for me.”
There are some different changes at Pocono this time around, including Munoz being behind an IndyCar. Andretti Autosport also switched from Chevrolet to Honda in the off-season and CGR switched from Honda to Chevrolet. The highest finishing Chevrolet driver in last year’s race was Penske Racing driver Will Power, who came home in fourth as Hondas took six of the first seven spots.
“The Hondas had better fuel mileage last year,” Power said. “I think it’s pretty even this year to be honest. It’s hard to get a read, but I think it is similar.”
A few IndyCar teams came to test Pocono two weeks ago to gain some valuable information for Sunday’s race. Teams who tested there were: Andretti Autosport, Penske Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, and Dale Coyne Racing (DCR). KV Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing also showed up but didn’t stay for their day of testing due to a long rain delay.
DCR rookie Carlos Huertas backed his car into turn three during the Pocono IndyCar test. On Saturday, he found himself in victory lane in Race 1 at the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston .
Another rookie making noise in Race 2 was Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) driver Mikhail Aleshin. He finished runner-up behind his teammate Simon Pagenuad for a 1-2 finish for SSM.
Will Power leads his Penske teammate Helio Castroneves by 39 points in the standings heading to Pocono. Power finished runner-up in points from 2010 to 2012 and now says his approach to points racing is different.
“I just don’t care and don’t care about points and race to win,” Power said. “It’s race to race. Try not to think about it and race to win.”
Before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono 400 in June, the track removed the curb and no Cup drivers tried to pass on it, but that could all change in Sunday’s race.
“Our series is always unpredictable,” Penske Racing driver Helio Castroneves said in a teleconference June 25. “I guarantee someone is going to try it. Might be me.”
Coverage of the Pocono IndyCar 500 will air live at noon ET with the green flag scheduled to drop at 1 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.