Chevrolet IndyCar Drivers Line Up for Championship Showdown
· Chevrolet drivers occupy the top six spots in standings
ᴏ Penultimate race at Watkins Glen will be critical in title quest
· Simon Pagenaud continues grip on No. 1 position
ᴏ Team Penske teammate Will Power is 28 points behind
· Chevrolet drivers prepare for quick lap times on repaved track
ᴏ The 3.37-mile, 11-turn road course is fast and challenging
· Title contender Scott Dixon is three-time winner at the racetrack
DETROIT (Aug. 31, 2016) – It’s been a long time since Scott Dixon recorded victories in three consecutive years on the flowing 3.37-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course. Recapturing that magic this weekend in the INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen couldn’t come at a more opportune time for the four-time Verizon IndyCar Series (VICS) champion.
Dixon, driver of the No. 9 Target Chevrolet, is only 19 points behind second-place Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Tony Kanaan (No. 10 NTT Data Chevrolet) as drivers of the Chevrolet IndyCar Aero Kit with integrated 2.2-liter, V6 engine occupy the top six places entering the penultimate race of the season.
With more than 150 points available through the two races, Dixon and Chevrolet compatriots Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet), Josef Newgarden (No. 21 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet), and Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Hitachi Chevrolet) still have a shot at overtaking points leader Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske.
The Verizon IndyCar Series last competed at Watkins Glen International in 2010, and the flowing road course has been repaved in the interim. The race was a late replacement for the canceled Labor Day weekend event in Boston. The Glen event also is on the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule released this week.
“Watkins Glen is one of those old-school, traditional road courses. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the INDYCAR circuit,” said Dixon, who won at The Glen in 2005-07. “The layout is really a driver’s track. I think every driver was excited when they announced we were going back. It’s a place where Indy car racing belongs.”
Pagenaud, driving the No. 22 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Chevrolet, increased his advantage to 28 points over Power with a fourth-place finish Aug. 14 in the 177-lap conclusion of the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway red-flagged by rain in June. Power, who has four wins in the past seven races, finished eighth.
The margin between first and second place is the fourth-largest with two races remaining since 2010.
“The track is great; the competition is close. All the ingredients are there and the fans will have a great time as it is a beautiful area,” said Pagenaud, who with four victories this season has equaled his win total of the previous 85 races. “There are just two races left and the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Chevrolet team is out in front. We’ll continue to focus and execute with our head down until we cross the finish line.”
The double-points, championship-deciding race is Sept. 18 at Sonoma Raceway. All entrants are scheduled to test Sept. 8 on the road course.
“I liked Watkins Glen a lot when we went there a few years back. Now, it’s just amazing with the new surface. The speeds are incredible with the grip that we have with these cars,” said Power, who won the last race at the racetrack. “We’ll try to keep the Verizon Chevy in good position throughout the weekend.
“We’re down to two races left. Everything we do will be critical. We’ll stay focused and see at the end what’s left to do.”