Honda Maintains Manufacturers’ Point Lead After Tough St. Louis Race

• Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan finish sixth for Honda
• Championship contenders Alex Palou, Scott Dixon taken out in early crash
• Honda maintains 35-point margin over Chevrolet in Manufacturers’ standings

MADISON, Ill. (Aug. 21, 2021) – A tough race at World Wide Technology Raceway tonight saw three of Honda’s top championship competitors knocked out of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

Honda drivers Graham Rahal and Ed Jones were the first pair of cars to go out, colliding on lap two of the event. They were followed not long after by Alex Palou and Scott Dixon, who were both taken out by contact from Rinus VeeKay on Lap 64.

Palou had been the Drivers’ Championship leader going into the race, and Dixon third. The contact dropped them to second and fourth in the standings respectively. Other notable incidents involving Honda drivers included Colton Herta breaking a drive shaft during his final pit stop, and Alexander Rossi making contact with the wall on lap 200.

Romain Grosjean shone brightly during the opening half of the race, making gutsy passes on far more experienced veterans, in his very first oval start. However, an off-sequence pit strategy would cycle him a lap down and he would ultimately finish in the 14^th place.

Top Honda honors of the day went to Takuma Sato and Rahal Letterman Lanigan in sixth. The Japanese driver was fighting for a potential podium finish when the #30 had an issue refueling during a pit stop and was required to come down pit road again.

Other top-10 finishers for Honda were: Ryan Hunter-Reay for Andretti Autosport, seventh, Marcus Ericsson for Chip Ganassi Racing, ninth, and Jack Harvey for Meyer Shank Racing, tenth.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Honda Race Results

•   6^th Takuma Sato                      Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda   
•   8^th Ryan Hunter-Reay               Andretti Autosport Honda
•   9^th Marcus Ericsson                 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 10^th Jack Harvey                        Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 13^th Tony Kanaan                      Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 14^th Romain Grosjean-R             Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
• 15^th James Hinchcliffe               Andretti Autosport Honda
• 17^th Alexander Rossi                 Andretti Autosport Honda [did not finish – contact]
• 18^th Colton Herta                       Andretti Autosport Honda [did not finish – mechanical]
• 19^th Scott Dixon                        Chip Ganassi Racing Honda [did not finish – contact]
• 20^th Alex Palou                          Chip Ganassi Racing Honda [did not finish – contact]
• 23^rd Graham Rahal                    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda [did not finish – contact]
• 24^th Ed Jones                            Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda [dnf – contact]

R – Rookie

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship (unofficial, after 13 of 16 rounds)

Honda                  1,092 points

Chevrolet              1,057

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers’ Championship Standings

1. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP                               435 points [2 wins]

2. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                     425 [2 wins]

3. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske                                413 [2 wins]

4. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                    392 [1 win]

Quotes

Takuma Sato (#30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with RWR Honda) Started 17^th, finished 6^th: “St. Louis is one of our favorite tracks, we have a really good record here. Today, our qualifying wasn’t great, but we gradually started moving up. Unfortunately, at the last pit stop we had an issue with the refueling hose, so I had to come in again under yellow to top up [the fuel tank].  Without that, I think we would have had a really strong finish, but I think a top six [result] was good for the whole team.”

Alex Palou (#10 Andretti Autosport Honda) Championship leader coming into St. Louis, eliminate in opening lap crash after contact from Rinus VeeKay: “Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish the race here tonight.  We were running the top 10 early, and I think we were doing a really good job, but we got crashed in Turn One [after contact from Rinus VeeKay] and there was nothing we could do.  So, now we just move on to the last three races and keep doing our best for Honda and Chip Ganassi Racing.”

David Salters (President, Honda Performance Development) on tonight’s race in St. Louis: “

“The race started off well for us tonight, and several of our teams and drivers seemed to be in position to contend for the victory.  But then, it seemed as if we did everything we could to not win. There were a variety of reasons, and circumstances, but at the end of the day we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.  On to Portland.”

Fast Facts

• Tonight’s 260-lap contest at World Wide Technology Raceway was the fourth and final oval race on the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar.

• In addition to Helio Castroneves’ historic win at the Indianapolis 500 in May, Honda race winners this year include Alex Palou at Road America in June and at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama; Marcus Ericsson in Nashville and at the first race of the Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader weekend; defending and six-time champion Scott Dixon (Texas Race 1); and Colton Herta (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg).

Next

After races on three consecutive weekends, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES now takes two weeks off before concluding with a three-race swing to the US West Coast, starting with the Sept. 12 Grand Prix of Portland in Portland, Oregon.

Honda Racing social media content and video links from St. Louis can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

Bommarito Automotive Group 500

World Wide Technology Raceway

8 p.m. EDT Saturday, August 21

NBCSN and NBC Peacock

IndyCar Radio Network and SiriusXM

Honda at World Wide Technology Raceway

• Defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon scored a milestone 50^th career victory last year at World Wide Technology Raceway, in the opening race of a double-header weekend.  Earlier this year, he scored his 51^st win at Texas Motor Speedway. Dixon’s next victory will tie the six-time champion with Mario Andretti for second on the career win list.

• This weekend’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will mark the 13^th Indy car race to be held in the St. Louis area, and will be the fifth year at the repaved and updated World Wide Technology Raceway.  The track also hosted a seven-season run of Indy car events, under both Championship Auto Racing Team and Indy Racing League sanction, from 1997-2003 at what was then known as Gateway International Raceway.

• Previous Honda winners at WWT Raceway include Takuma Sato in 2019; and Alex Zanardi, who recorded Honda’s first victory in St. Louis in 1998, driving a Reynard-Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Manufacturer Competition

• Honda continues to hold the lead in the 2021 INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, with seven victories from 12 races this season.  Returning to St. Louis, Honda holds a 68-point advantage (1,034-966) over rival Chevrolet. The company is seeking its fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021.

• In addition to Helio Castroneves’ historic win at the Indianapolis 500 in May, Honda race winners this year include championship leader Alex Palou at Road America in June and at the season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama; Marcus Ericsson last weekend in Nashville and at the first race of the Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader weekend; defending and six-time champion Scott Dixon (Texas Race 1); and Colton Herta (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg).

• Palou comes to Indianapolis leading the Drivers’ Championship with two victories and 415 points to 394 for Pato O’Ward.  Dixon, Palou’s teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing is ranked third with 381 points. A third Ganassi Honda driver, two-time winner Ericsson rounds out the top five in the drivers’ championship with 353 points.

• Other Honda drivers in the top 10 include Graham Rahal, sixth with 312 points; and Colton Herta, seventh with 311 points.

• In a tightening battle for series Rookie of the Year honors, Honda’s Romain Grosjean has moved to within seven points of current rookie leader, Scott McLaughlin (213-206).  This weekend’s race will be the first for Grosjean on an oval.  He did not run the events earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway or in the Indianapolis 500.

• Seven wins in 2020 brought Honda the company’s ninth INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, and third consecutive title, with Honda driver Dixon prevailing to win his sixth Drivers’ Championship.  Dixon’s championship total is highest among active drivers in the series, and second all-time behind only A.J. Foyt’s seven titles.

• Honda’s Indy car win total of 259 in 25 years of North American open-wheel racing – including 14 Indianapolis 500 victories since 2003 – is unmatched by any other manufacturer in the same period.

Where to Watch

• Television coverage from the World Wide Technology Raceway on NBC Peacock begins with the opening practice Saturday at a p.m. EDT, and continues through qualifying at 5 p.m. EDT.

• Live network television coverage Saturday night’s 200-lap race starts at 8 p.m. EDT on the NBC Sports Network.  Complete, flag-to-flag race coverage also will be available on NBC Peacock, the INDYCAR Radio Network, and carried by SiriusXM satellite radio.

• Honda Racing social media content and video links from St. Louis can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

• Romain Grosjean scores second podium of rookie season on Indy road course
• Andretti Autosport scores 3-4 finish with Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi
• Honda powers seven of top-10 finishers during Brickyard Weekend

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (Aug. 14, 2021) – Romain Grosjean and Colton Herta scored a double podium finish for Honda this weekend on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – with Grosjean taking second in his #51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda, ahead of Herta’s #26 Andretti Autosport Honda in third.

Grosjean started the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix in the third position, dropping back behind Herta during the first pit sequence. Running third and fourth, Herta and Grosjean would work their way around the #5 of Pato O’Ward during the next stint, utilizing their [softer compound Firestone] “Red” tires to pass O’Ward.

The first full-course caution of the race gave Grosjean his chance to get around Herta on the restart with 14 laps to go. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie, and former F1 driver was able to hold off the charge from the young Californian during a second restart, but neither had the power-to-pass to catch race leader Will Power.

Grosjean would maintain second place at the finish, with Herta third. Herta’s Andretti Autosport Teammate Alexander Rossi also claimed a top-five finish, his second of the season, finishing fourth. 

Jack Harvey, for Meyer Shank Racing, would come home sixth; with Graham Rahal for Rahal Letterman Lanigan seventh, Marcus Ericsson for Chip Ganassi Racing took the checkers in eighth, and Takuma Sato also for RLL finished ninth.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship leader Alex Palou suffered a mechanical issue, forcing him out of the race with 18 laps to go. However, the two-time race-winner this season maintains a 21-point championship lead.

Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix Honda Race Results

•   2^nd Romain Grosjean-R            Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
•   3^rd Colton Herta                       Andretti Autosport Honda
•   4^th Alexander Rossi                 Andretti Autosport Honda
•   6^th Jack Harvey                        Meyer Shank Racing Honda
•   7^th Graham Rahal                    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
•   9^th Marcus Ericsson                 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 10^th Takuma Sato                      Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda    
• 12^th Christian Lundgaard-R         Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 14^th Ed Jones                            Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda
• 17^th Scott Dixon                        Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 18^th Ryan Hunter-Reay               Andretti Autosport Honda
• 19^th Jimmie Johnson-R              Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 21^st Helio Castroneves               Meyer   Shank Racing Honda
• 22^nd James Hinchcliffe               Andretti Autosport Honda
• 25^th Cody Ware-R                      Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
• 27^th Alex Palou                          Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (did not finish – mechanical)

R – Rookie

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship (unofficial, after 12 of 16 rounds)

Honda                  1,034 points

Chevrolet              966

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers’ Championship (unofficial, after 12 rounds)

1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                     415 points [2 race wins]

2. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP                               394 [2 wins]

3. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                    381 [1 win]

Quotes

Romain Grosjean (#51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda) Started third, finished second:

“It was a good race. We tried everything we could [to win], but Will [Power, race winner] was very fast in front today, and we just couldn’t quite get him. But we had a great race with Colton [Herta, for second]. He’s a driver that you know is going to leave you just enough room so you can go for it and race each other. I’m happy for the team, and as always, proud to be powered by Honda. My kids are here, and got to see me finish on the podium. What could be better?”

Colton Herta (#26 Andretti Autosport Honda) Started fifth, finished third: “Third place was really good for us today. We really didn’t have the pace [to win]. The car was fairly good, but there’s still stuff we can improve on here [at Indianapolis] to win. But it was a really good job by the team. We turned this car around from 26^th in practice to a podium finish today, so that was a spectacular job. Really happy with the result, really happy to be powered by Honda.”

Kelvin Fu (Director Program Management, Honda Performance Development) on today’s podium finishes in Indianapolis: “A double podium finish is always great, and getting three of the top five, seven of the top 10, just shows how strong we have been here at Indy. It was fantastic to see Romain celebrate second with his family, and for Colton to bounce back for a podium finish after Nashville—he had a really strong run. Also nice to see Alexander Rossi battling in the top-five today, really great job by that team. It was disappointing that we let Palou down during the race, it’s not the standard we expect from ourselves at Honda and we will investigate the root cause of the issue. But, that aside, it’s been a great weekend here for Honda and we’re excited to go on to World Wide Technology Raceway.”

Fast Facts

• Today’s second-place result marks back-to-back podiums on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for Grosjean, who also finished at the GMR Grand Prix in May. Grosjean has been making his home at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway [in a motorhome] between races. The Formula One veteran also closes to within seven points of four-time Australian SuperCars Champion Scott McLaughlin (213-206) in the battle for INDYCAR Rookie of the Year honors. Thus far, Grosjean has only competed on road courses in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He will tackle his first oval next weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway.
• The Grand Prix marks the first double-header for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the NASCAR Cup series running on the same course layout in the history of the two series.

• Honda continues to hold the lead in the 2021 INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, with seven victories from 11 races this season.  Returning to St. Louis for the final oval race of the season, Honda holds a 68-point advantage (1,034-966) over rival Chevrolet. The company is seeking its fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021.

Next

Next weekend, NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues with the third of three consecutive race weekends, running at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis Saturday, August 21.

Honda Racing social media content and video links from the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

Rookies Lead the Way for Honda on Indy Road Course

• Romain Grosjean backs up May pole with third-place start at Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix
• Rookie Christian Lundgaard shocks with second-row grid slot on debut
• Honda takes five of top seven in qualifying

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (Aug. 13, 2021) – Dale Coyne with RWR’s Romain Grosjean led the charge for Honda in today’s qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, qualifying third for Saturday’s Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix.

The Grand Prix marks the first double-header for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the NASCAR Cup series running on the same course layout in the history of the two series. It also marks the first race weekend in INDYCAR for Christian Lundgaard, a current Formula 2 driver, making his series debut with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

The young Danish driver set the seventh fastest time in today’s practice session, and backed that performance up with fourth in qualifying.

Honda also claimed the fifth, sixth and seventh positions, with Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta, Chip Ganssi Racing’s Alex Palou, and Meyer Shank Racing’s Jack Harvey, respectively.

Last week’s Nashville race winner, Marcus Ericsson will start 11^th, just behind Alexander Rossi, who rounds out the top 10.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Honda Qualifying Results

•   3^rd Romain Grosjean-R           Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
•   4^th Christian Lundgaard -R     Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
•   5^th Colton Herta                     Andretti Autosport Honda
•   6^th Alex Palou                        Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
•   7^th Jack Harvey                      Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 10^th Alexander Rossi                Andretti Autosport Honda
• 11^th Marcus Ericsson                Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 13^th Ryan Hunter-Reay             Andretti Autosport Honda
• 16^th Takuma Sato                    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda    
• 17^th Graham Rahal                  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 18^th Ed Jones                           Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda
• 22^nd Jimmie Johnson-R                        Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 23^rd Helio Castroneves             Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 24^th James Hinchcliffe              Andretti Autosport Honda
• 26^th Scott Dixon                                   Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 27^th Cody Ware-R                    Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda

R – Rookie

Quotes

Romain Grosjean (Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda) Qualified third: “Yeah, it’s amazing to be coming here for a second time. Finishing in the top three in qualifying is always great. I think I had a pole lap [time] on my last lap, but I chickened out in Turn 8-9. I took them a little bit too carefully. That’s my mistake, but I think we’ve got a good base for tomorrow, and that’s what matters now.”

Christian Lundgaard (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda) Qualified Fourth, Making INDYCAR Debut: “At the moment, I’m very confused! I wasn’t quite ready for qualifying to be over, as I thought we had a “Fast Six” [final qualifying round, not used this weekend]. But we are P4, and let’s just say I did not expect to [qualify this well] when I learned I was coming here to race! This [Indy car racing] is amazing. It is so different from Europe. So many people! [in the paddock and grandstands]. I’m really happy to be here.”

Fast Facts

• Honda continues to hold the lead in the 2021 INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, with seven victories from 11 races this season.  Returning to Indianapolis, Honda holds a 119-point advantage (959-840) over rival Chevrolet. The company is seeking its fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021.

• In addition to Helio Castroneves’ historic win at the Indianapolis 500 in May, Honda race winners this year include championship leader Alex Palou at Road America in June and at the season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama; Marcus Ericsson last weekend in Nashville and at the first race of the Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader weekend; defending and six-time champion Scott Dixon (Texas Race 1); and Colton Herta (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg).

Where to Watch Saturday’s Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix

Live NBC Sports Network race coverage of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix begins at 12:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, August 14.  Additional coverage can be found on the INDYCAR Radio Network and on Sirius/XM satellite radio.

Honda Racing social media content and video links from this weekend can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

12:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, August 14

NBCSN and NBC Peacock

IndyCar Radio Network and SiriusXM

Manufacturer Competition

• The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix, the second race of the season to be held on the 2.439-mile infield road course at IMS.

• Honda continues to hold the lead in the 2021 INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, with seven victories from 11 races this season.  Returning to Indianapolis, Honda holds a 119-point advantage (959-840) over rival Chevrolet. The company is seeking its fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021.

• In addition to Helio Castroneves’ historic win at the Indianapolis 500 in May, Honda race winners this year include championship leader Alex Palou at Road America in June and at the season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama; Marcus Ericsson last weekend in Nashville and at the first race of the Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader weekend; defending and six-time champion Scott Dixon (Texas Race 1); and Colton Herta (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg).

• Palou comes to Indianapolis leading the Drivers’ Championship with two victories and 410 points to 368 for Dixon, his teammate and the defending series champion, as Chip Ganassi Racing drivers hold three of the top-five places in the title chase. Two-time winner Ericsson rounds out the top five for Honda with 331 points.

• Other Honda drivers in the top 10 include Graham Rahal, sixth with 286 points; Colton Herta, eighth with 275 points; and Sato tenth with 231 points.

• Seven wins in 2020 brought Honda the company’s ninth INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, and third consecutive title, with Honda driver Dixon prevailing to win his sixth Drivers’ Championship, highest among active drivers in the series.

• Honda’s Indy car win total of 259 in 25 years of North American open-wheel racing – including 14 Indianapolis 500 victories since 2003 – is unmatched by any other manufacturer in the same period.

Where to Watch

• Television coverage from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on NBC Peacock begins with the opening practice Friday at 3 p.m. EDT, and continues through each practice and qualifying of the race weekend.

• Live network television coverage Saturday’s 85-lap opening race starts at 12:30 p.m. EDT on the NBC Sports Network.  Complete, flag-to-flag race coverage also will be available on NBC Peacock, the INDYCAR Radio Network, and carried by SiriusXM satellite radio.

• Honda Racing social media content and video links from Indianapolis can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

• Marcus Ericsson goes from last to first as Honda drivers dominate
• Scott Dixon completes 1-2 finish for Chip Ganassi Racing
• Honda powers top seven finishers, increases Manufacturers’ Championship lead

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 8, 2021) – Honda’s Marcus Ericsson turned a spectacular start-line crash into an incredible victory Sunday on the streets of Nashville Tennessee, as Honda NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers and teams dominated the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

In the first of many incidents in the 80-lap contest, Ericsson hit the back of Sebastien Bourdais’ A.J. Foyt Racing Indy car, with Ericsson’s Chip Ganassi Racing machine rising high in the air after making wheel-to-wheel contact with Bourdais.  Ericsson was assessed a stop-and-go penalty for avoidable contact, but came back to hold off a previously-dominant Colton Herta and score his second career INDYCAR victory.

Honda drivers and teams swept the top seven finishing positions today, with every Honda team featuring at least one driver in the top 10.  Behind Ericsson, teammate and defending series champion Scott Dixon moved to second in the drivers’ championship standings with a second-place finish.  Andretti Autosport teammates James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay finished third and fourth, respectively; and Graham Rahal rounded out the top five for Honda. 

In addition to Hinchcliffe, Ed Jones also had his best finish of 2021 in sixth for Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan.  Championship leader Alex Palou ran seventh in a third Chip Ganassi Honda; while Helio Castroneves, in his first Indy car race since winning the Indianapolis 500, finished ninth for Meyer Shank Racing.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Honda Race Results

•   1^st Marcus Ericsson                 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
•   2^nd Scott Dixon                        Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
•   3^rd James Hinchcliffe               Andretti Autosport Honda
•   4^th Ryan Hunter-Reay               Andretti Autosport Honda
•   5^th Graham Rahal                    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
•   6^th Ed Jones                            Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda
•   7^th Alex Palou                          Chip Ganassi Racing Honda*
•   9^th Helio Castroneves               Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 11^th Santino Ferrucci                  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 15^th Jack Harvey                        Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 16^th Romain Grosjean-R             Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
• 17^th Alexander Rossi                 Andretti Autosport Honda
• 19^th Colton Herta                       Andretti Autosport Honda
• 20^th Cody Ware-R                      Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
• 25^th Takuma Sato                      Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda   
• 26^th Jimmie Johnson-R              Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

R – Rookie

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship (unofficial, after 11 of 16 rounds)

Honda                  959 points

Chevrolet              838

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers’ Championship (unofficial, after 11 rounds)

1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                     410 points [2 race wins]

2. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                    368 [1 win]

3. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP                               362 [2 wins]

Quotes

Marcus Ericsson (#8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Race winner, his second win of 2021 and second career Indy car victory: “It’s unbelievable.  It just goes to show that anything can happen in INDYCAR.  You can never give up.  If you have a good team, and a good car, you can get to Victory Lane.  This one is for all my guys.  They repaired my car beautifully [after a start-line crash with Sebastien Bourdais].  The Honda engine was awesome, the power was great all day.  I just can’t believe it.  Colton [Herta] was so fast all weekend.  To keep him behind while also saving fuel, I think was honestly one of my best performances.  I’m sorry he [Herta] ended up in the fence there [in a late-race single-car crash], because he should be on this podium.  But I’m just so proud of my whole team, I’m so proud and thankful.”

Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Finished second, moves to second in the Drivers’ Championship after 11 of 16 races: “Mentally, I think this was one of the most draining races on the schedule.  With all the cautions, and even two red flags, it was really tough to focus on what you needed to do, strategy wise.  Kudos to Honda, [teammate] Marcus [Ericsson, race winner] the Chip Ganssi team, and my guys in the pits.  We did almost 50 laps on that last set of tires. It was good call, and gained us a bunch of positions, but definitely made the car difficult to hold onto at the end of the race.”

James Hinchcliffe (#29 Andretti Autosports Honda) Finished third, first podium result of 2021: “Thanks to all the fans coming out today, and sticking it out through the cautions and red flags.  By the end, it was getting hard to see with the sun going down and a dark visor!  But for us, after we got caught up in that early [multi-car collision], my guys called a great strategy to pit when we did.  We’ve had a rough year, and have had a lot of things go against us.  So I’m really happy things went our way today here in Nashville. It’s nice to be back on the podium.”

Kelvin Fu (Director Program Management, Honda Performance Development) on today’s Honda sweep in the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix: “It was a great inaugural event here in Nashville.  I think everyone really enjoyed it and the fan turnout was fantastic.  Congratulations to Chip Ganassi Racing for a well-earned one-two finish and to Marcus Ericsson on his second win of the season.  Thanks to all our Honda teams, really, as every one of our five teams had at least one driver in the top 10 at the finish on a tight and very challenging course.  We were glad to be back racing after a four-week break in the schedule, and we look forward to the Indy road course event next week.”

Fast Facts

• Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the city streets of downtown Nashville was the inaugural running of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.  Previously, INDYCAR conducted eight races on the 1.33-mile Nashville Super Speedway oval in Lebanon, Tennessee, from 2001-2008.  Honda drivers and teams won five of the six races the manufacturer contested from 2003-08.

• Previous Honda winners at Nashville Speedway included Tony Kanaan in 2003, and Dario Franchitti in 2004.  Scott Dixon won three consecutive races on the Nashville oval, from 2006-08, in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Next

Next weekend, NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues with the second of three consecutive race weekends, returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the August 14  Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix.

Honda Racing social media content and video links from the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

Honda, Herta Dominate Qualifying for Inaugural Music City Grand Prix

• Colton Herta crushes large field in Nashville for second street circuit pole of 2021  
• Defending INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon completes front-row sweep for Honda
• Honda drivers take five of top six starting positions in frantic NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 6, 2021) – Colton Herta dominated NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying today on the downtown Nashville temporary street circuit that will be the site of Sunday’s inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, scoring his sixth career pole and second of the season in his Andretti Autosport Honda.

Herta’s qualifying edge of just over a half second in his Andretti Autosport Honda was huge by INDYCAR standards, and came after he also led the opening round for Firestone “knockout” qualifying.  Herta’s other pole this season came on the St. Petersburg, Florida, street circuit and his run today was the sixth pole of the season for a Honda driver.

Fellow Honda driver Scott Dixon will start on the outside of the front row, second, in his best qualifying effort since he qualified on the pole for the Indianapolis 500 in May, and is the third front-row start of the season for the six-time champion for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Dixon’s teammate, Alex Palou, qualified third fastest today. But the current championship points leader will start ninth after an issue in pre-race testing resulted in an “unapproved” engine change, resulting in a six-place grid penalty at the next event.

Alexander Rossi now will start third in his Andretti Autosport Honda; with fellow Honda drivers Romain Grosjean (Dale Coyne Racing with RWR) and Jack Harvey (Meyer Shank Racing) completing the top six on the grid.  The 27-car field for Sunday’s 80-lap race is the largest of the season outside of the Indianapolis 500.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Honda Qualifying Results

•   1^st Colton Herta                      Andretti Autosport Honda
•   2^nd Scott Dixon                       Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
•   3^rd Alex Palou                        Chip Ganassi Racing Honda*
•   4^th Alexander Rossi                Andretti Autosport Honda
•   6^th Romain Grosjean-R                       Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
•   7^th Jack Harvey                      Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 10^th James Hinchcliffe              Andretti Autosport Honda
• 13^th Graham Rahal                  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 14^th Ryan Hunter-Reay             Andretti Autosport Honda
• 15^th Helio Castroneves             Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 17^th Santino Ferrucci                Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 18^th Marcus Ericsson                Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 24^th Takuma Sato                    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda    
• 25^th Jimmie Johnson-R             Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 26^th Ed Jones                           Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda
• 27^th Cody Ware-R                    Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda

R – Rookie

* —  Qualified third, but will start ninth due to a penalty

Quotes

Colton Herta (Andretti Autosport Honda) Pole qualifier, his sixth career INDYCAR pole and second of 2021: ““I mean, it was a good lap but what we did in Q1 [the first qualifying round] really helped us there with being able to transfer [to Round 2, by only using the harder compound] ‘Black’ (primary) tires. “That was the biggest thing, is being fast on the blacks. It was really just made it a lot easier for the rest of the way. Great job by everybody; great job by the team. The car is fantastic. As you can see what we’re able to do on the black laps compared to everybody, we’re really in a league of our own. So, it felt amazing. A good car to take into the race tomorrow, too. Nice and stable. So, yeah, really excited [for the race tomorrow].”

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) Qualified Second: “I knew the PNC Bank #9 was super-fast; the Honda’s have been super-fast all weekend with drivability and just power, I think. That’s been a positive. The car was just really fast.  We knew Herta was going to be fast because he was the only guy with new [softer compound ‘Red’] tires, and he’s been quick all weekend. He definitely deserved [the pole], so kudos to that group. We’ll see how tomorrow plays out, but starting on the front is fantastic for us.” [How do you win on this track tomorrow?] “Go fast, take chances.”

Fast Facts

• This is the sixth pole of the season for a Honda driver.  Other poles this year include Colton Herta at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg; Alex Palou in the first race of the Texas Motor Speedway doubleheader, and Scott Dixon in the second race; and Romain Grosjean at the Indianapolis GMR Grand Prix.

• Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the city streets of downtown Nashville will be the inaugural running of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

• Previously, INDYCAR and the Indy Racing League conducted eight races on the 1.33-mile Nashville Super Speedway oval in Lebanon, Tennessee, from 2001-2008.  Honda drivers and teams won five of the six races the manufacturer contested from 2003-08.

• Honda winners at Nashville Speedway include Tony Kanaan in 2003, and Dario Franchitti in 2004.  Scott Dixon won three consecutive races on the Nashville oval, from 2006-08, in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Where to Watch Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

Live NBC Sports Network race coverage of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix begins at 5:30 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 8.  Additional coverage can be found on the INDYCAR Radio Network and on Sirius/XM satellite radio.

Honda Racing social media content and video links from Nashville can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on the Honda Racing/HPD YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV).

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
Nashville Stadium Street Circuit
5:30 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 8
NBCSN and NBC Peacock
IndyCar Radio Network and SiriusXM

Honda at Nashville

• Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the city streets of downtown Nashville will be the inaugural running of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. 

• Previously, INDYCAR and the Indy Racing League conducted eight races on the 1.33-mile Nashville Super Speedway oval in Lebanon, Tennessee, from 2001-2008.  Honda drivers and teams won five of the six races the manufacturer contested from 2003-08.

• Honda-powered winners at Nashville Speedway include Tony Kanaan in his 2003 championship season; and his Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti in 2004.  Scott Dixon won three consecutive races on the Nashville oval, from 2006-08, in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Manufacturer Competition

• Honda drivers have scored six victories in the first 10 races this season, and leads the Manufacturers’ Championship 863 points to 790 for rival Chevrolet. Honda is seeking its fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021.

• In addition to Helio Castroneves historic win at the Indianapolis 500, Honda race winners this year include Alex Palou at Road America in June and at the season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama; Marcus Ericsson in the first race of the Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader weekend; defending and six-time champion Scott Dixon (Texas Race 1); and Colton Herta (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg).

• Palou comes to Nashville leading the Drivers’ Championship with 384 points to 345 for Pato O’Ward.  Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Scott Dixon, is third with 328 points.

• Seven wins in 2020 brought Honda the company’s ninth INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, and third consecutive title, with Honda driver Dixon prevailing to win his sixth Drivers’ Championship, highest among all active drivers in the series.

• Honda’s Indy car win total of 258 in 25 years of North American open-wheel racing – including 14 Indianapolis 500 victories since 2003 – is unmatched by any other manufacturer in the same period.

Where to Watch

• Television coverage from Nashville on NBC Peacock begins with the opening practice Friday at 4 p.m. EDT, and continues through each practice and qualifying of the race weekend.

• Live NBC Sports Network race coverage of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix begins at 5:30 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 8.  Additional coverage can be found on the INDYCAR Radio Network and on Sirius/XM satellite radio.

• Honda Racing social media content and video links from Nashville can be found on Instagram (www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Twitter (twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD).  Additional features and long-form videos can be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

Honda IndyCar Drivers Use HPD Simulator to Prepare for Nashville Challenges

• Romain Grosjean latest to run virtual Nashville laps on simulator
• Honda drivers, teams, all use Indianapolis-based simulator
• HPD simulator recreates turns, bumps of Nashville street circuit

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 2, 2021) – Formula One veteran – but INDYCAR rookie – Romain Grosjean is the latest driver to utilize Honda Performance Development’s Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulator to run virtual laps of the challenging Nashville street circuit in preparation for this weekend’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

          https://youtu.be/WqXc__Tu_DE

The HPD simulator offers Honda teams and drivers the opportunity to replicate on-track situations – such as changing track and ambient temperatures, tire grip and wind speed/direction — and test chassis setups, aerodynamics, engine mapping and development paths in a cost-effective environment. All to assist drivers to learn this newest race track in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and prepare for the inaugural Nashville event.

            “For me this year, as a rookie in INDYCAR, having the Honda Simulator has been hugely important.  It’s helped me to learn the tracks, setup the car and understand what it takes to go fast – and to get there quickly!  The days we’ve had on the simulator have been quite valuable for us.”

            The driver is immersed in the simulator – from wearing his racing gloves and boots, to seeing a laser-scanned, 180-degree image of the circuit on the console, to feeling the undulations of the Nashville course, to hearing engine notes rise and fall and he accelerates and brakes through his headset. HPD engineers implement and monitor programs requested by teams or drivers, with real-time data.

            “Here’s a funny story, Grosjean says, recounting his preparations for the Indianapolis Grand Prix [on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course]. “Before the Indy GP, on Thursday morning I was on the simulator here, working on the setup for the Indy road course for the race, and then on Friday afternoon we scored our first pole!  So it was quite valuable for us that weekend.”

            “Nashville looks like a super-challenging track, but also super exciting. It’s tight, it’s bumpy, but then you have a super flat-out section where you go over the bridge, and then a very flowing section next to the stadium.  It’s a very complicated layout, but once you get into the rhythm, I think it’s going to be an incredible event.”

• HPD supplying NXG with Honda kart engines for youth motorsports program
• Honda engines will assist in NXG’s expansion into new markets
• Part of INDYCAR’s Race for Equality and Change

Santa Clarita, CA (July 7, 2021) – Honda Performance Development (HPD) is expanding its support of NXG Youth Motorsports (NXG) by providing a fresh supply of 30 Honda karting engines for the program’s expanding efforts to bring motorsports to minority students and underrepresented communities.

Headed by co-founder and chief instructor Rod Reid, NXG (Nexgeneracers), and its programs feature science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), to create opportunities and experiences for its youth participants through motorsports while focusing on minority students from underrepresented communities. 

Honda’s GX series engines are legendary for superior reliability and performance. The Honda GX200 engine delivers reliability and performance, and is utilized in the NXG racing series. Advantages of the Honda GX200 include lower noise levels, lower vibration, and lower emissions – without sacrificing power output or performance.

“HPD and Honda have long been supporters of youth in motorsports,” said John Whiteman, HPD’s manager of commercial motorsports. “As NXG Youth Motorsports continues to grow and expand into new markets, we’re pleased to be able to assist them by providing Honda engines for their racing karts.”

After building a successful Indiana-based program over the last 15 years, NXG became an official partner with INDYCAR and Penske Entertainment Corp. through its Race for Equality & Change initiative in 2020. The academy has targeted the Detroit community as it expands its reach in 2021, and NXG hosted its inaugural Detroit program June 5-6 at Belle Isle Park, site of the annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES race weekend.

“We’re very grateful to Honda and HPD for their continued support of our efforts, and we’ll be putting these new engines to immediate use,” Reid said. “The Honda engines have proven to be an excellent teaching tool for us, with performance and reliability that far exceeded our expectations.”

NXG program includes five levels –  MA100, MA200, MA300, MA400, and MA500 – to progressively introduce boys and girls to the fundamental aspects of racing that include advanced driving techniques, track geometry, understanding mechanical equipment and self-control – each transferable to their future daily lives.

All five levels include STEM-related education and English and critical thinking assignments revolving around motorsports. Each level takes place over 2-days on the weekend, providing eight hours of classroom and on-track instruction.

“The program is designed for a boy or girl who hasn’t driven anything, not a go-kart, not a mini-bike,” Reid said. “We take them from 0 to 45 mph, as that’s the maximum speed of our karts. We pride ourselves on being very patient, very tolerant and very safety-conscious.” 

NXG Academy participants who want to continue into advanced competition then are reviewed by Reid and his crew. Up to 10 competitors are selected to race in the NXG Grand Prix series, which consists of eight to 10 races from April through September on temporary road courses at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Purdue University.   

About NXG Youth Motorsports

NXG Youth Motorsports (NXG), an experiential academy for life-skill development, and its programs featuring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), create opportunities and experiences for its youth participants through motorsports while focusing on minority students from underrepresented communities.

Please visit the NXG Youth Motorsports website for program applications, requirements and more information: www.nxgyouth.org.

About Honda Performance Development:

Honda Performance Development, Inc., (HPD) has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since 1993.  From pinnacle racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMSA Sports Cars to commercial racing programs, HPD powers the dreams of professional and amateur racers from age 4 to 40+. HPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura’s high-performance racing programs in North America.  HPD specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. HPD offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsport racers, and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of pro racing.

For more information about HPD and the company’s racing product lines, please visit: http://hpd.honda.com.

About Honda Power Equipment
Honda Power Equipment, a business unit of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., markets a complete range of outdoor power equipment, including outboard marine engines, general purpose engines, generators, walk-behind and robotic lawn mowers, pumps, snow blowers, tillers and trimmers for commercial, rental and residential applications.

For more information about Honda Power Equipment, visit: https://powerequipment.honda.com