Auto Racing 2026

Weather forecast is suggesting a repeat of 2024. A 4 or 5 PM race start seems quite possible. Rain chances are reportedly (NWS) highest 10 AM to 2 PM. Chances before and after aren't as likely. Could end up putting Indy on the far side of the Canadian Grand Prix... a race that F1 had a stoke with and decided to line it way too close to Indy.
 
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A 4 or 5 PM race start seems quite possible.
This nixes any possibility of a double header with the Coke 600 (where a weather suspension may be on the table due to an incoming front).
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Rough time right now. Stealth shower is sprinkling too much now and a race ending deluge appears about 40+ minutes out.

Had Veekay and/or Rasmussen stayed out, they might have won this race. Though "win" would be quite a bit of a shallow one. Hopefully they can get out shortly, but this might be a disappointing end. Shorter race seems very likely. Three hours to dry track after rain ends. So that puts one at 3:30 / 4:00 to stop raining at the very latest for the end of the race tonight.
 
Red flag with this in the area?! Lightning presumably going to be in area very shortly. Rosenquist getting screwed here.

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One of the better races and what a finish. Malukas was my pick to win, and he came so close. Glad to see Rosenquist pull it out in the end though. Honda and its ability to use less fuel than Chevy was the difference in the end. Veekay, Ferucci, O'Ward were in the same general situation, but Rosenquist was given the green light a bit sooner on fuel. Balance of the universe wise, Rosenquist should have won, and did, so that is all good.

Incredible finish by Veekay, skipping up from 9th to 6th in two turns when he had some serious talent and engines behind and in front of him. The crew told him they cleaned the track except turn 4 and they trusted him to go anywhere. 6th place finish, driving for Juncos. Hopefully a sign of a step up to McLaren or Penske next season. They tried a split strategy on the first yellow of the race, but the second yellow came out quickly and really bonked that idea. So they pitted then, moved way back, but pitted under yellow unlike Collet and Grosjean who would pit under green. They recovered and then slipped late into a deep save strategy to pit just one more time and thanks to the extra yellows, gave Veekay an opportunity to do what he does on restarts.

Marcus Armstrong was remarkable. He hasn't finished remotely well in the Indy 500, and was up front at the very end. Finished in 5th, but overall, incredible job to keep his head in the game.

Feel for Katherine Legge. Hunter-Reay spins and is going inside, she chooses outside and then he slips the other direction. Hopefully Collet is alright after the hard contact with the wall.
 
I can see them getting into Formula E, but I'm not sure why they would venture into F1 with all of those silly ICE bits.

Same reason most of the others do - for the exposure. Outside of the US they're an explosively growing brand, and even in the US I don't think we'll be able to stop leakage via other products just because we block their cars from being imported via high tariffs. I was looking at something the other day and it was boasting that it was using 'BYD batteries' lol.

There's a massive fan base in China for F1, this would essentially give them a home team / rooting interest, so a benefit for the sport also.

They've been in the mix in Formula E in recent years (largely marketing related activations) but to date not part of a team or anything.

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I was looking at something the other day and it was boasting that it was using 'BYD batteries' lol.
BYD is one of the few companies behind sodium-ion batteries, the latest darling technology that promises 10,000 recharge cycles as well as operating temperatures down to -40F(-40C).
 
Detroit was quite something. The track sucks for passing, except quickly when the green flag goes. Will Power did a wheelie when McLaughlin made what apparently Indycar felt was suitable contact. Ferucci spun Veekay around, who then did quite the spin to get back going, but probably hurt the tires in doing so, going from 10th to 12th in the final laps, where he felt awful in doing so.

Some Spaniard won the race. After winning the pole. Dixon isn't remotely controversial, but he passive aggressively took a shot at the hybrid system which just continually has problems for someone every week. He hasn't been the only one. ECR racing had a bad day with Rasmussen crashing out and Rossi inexplicably getting lucky with a yellow, and then getting a pit penalty and then having his day ending earlier than the checker flag. Newgarden was Spartan in his finish at 10th despite the pain of his foot/ankle. Kirkwood finished second while Arrow McLaren had two in the top five, I think.

For a Detroit race, it had some interest.

Michelin Pilot Challenge is this weekend. I might miss Friday though. And rain looks possible on the weekend. Last year, it rained race day, but in the morning. As long as they are on the track, and I can get out of the office, I'll be there!
 
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Been to Six IMSA events. It has rained at four of them. Thankfully right now it is a lunch break, and I pay attention to the weather and waa back at my car prepping lunch just before it opened up like at Watkins two years ago.

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Ned Jarrett, 2 time Cup Champion passes away at 93