Chevrolet Seeks to Continue Momentum on Long Beach Streets
· Reigning series champion Josef Newgarden coming off stirring win
ᴏ Driver of No. 1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet atop standings
· Chevrolet has won two of the past three races on 1.968-mile course
ᴏ Team Chevy notched podium sweeps in 2015 and ’16 races
· Tested Chevy engine is powering the new universal aero kit
ᴏ 2.2-liter V6, twin-turbocharged power plant is up to task
· Fans have opportunities to meet their favorite Chevrolet drivers
DETROIT (April 11, 2018) – With a stirring victory April 8 at ISM Raceway, reigning Verizon IndyCar Series (VICS) champion Josef Newgarden is brimming with confidence entering the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
In the first oval test of the Dallara chassis with the new universal aerodynamic bodywork powered by the 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged direct-injected V6 Chevrolet engine, Newgarden charged from fourth place in the final seven laps in the No. 1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet to claim his eighth career victory.
Newgarden, who has won four of the past eight races bridging the 2017 and ‘18 seasons, vaulted to the top of the championship standings.
“The team, they did such a good job. The car was good. The strategy was better. The pit stops were the best,” said Newgarden, who delivered Team Penske’s 198th Indy car victory. “I was proud to drive the car with Verizon and Team Chevy. We feel that coming off that win we’re going to be strong heading into Long Beach.
“The crew has worked hard on our street course program since St. Petersburg and we’re ready for the challenge. I really want to win and we’re ready to put the No. 1 Verizon Chevy in the best spot to make that happen.”
Chevrolet has won the race twice in the past three years and four times since the Bowtie brand returned to Verizon IndyCar Series manufacturer competition in 2012, including podium sweeps in 2016 and ‘15. Helio Castroneves, driving a Team Penske Chevrolet, reset the track record in earning the Verizon P1 Award in 2017.
Eleven Chevy Racing drivers will seek to find the optimal aero kit balance on the challenging 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit. Newgarden placed third in the 85-lap race last April.
“It’s a technical place with different types of pavement, long straightaways and some very tight turns that requires a lot from the setup of the car and from the driver,” said Tony Kanaan, driver of the No. 14 ABC Supply Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing, who earned his first Indy car pole position in 1999 at Long Beach.
Added Eric Cowdin, AJ Foyt Racing technical director and Kanaan’s race engineer: “(The track) will change constantly through the weekend. The new aero kit has less drag, so the drivers will be arriving at Turn 1 over 10 mph faster than last year. This will put a big emphasis on getting the braking points correct.”
Jordan King returns to the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing for the next three street/road course races. King, 23, of Warwick, England, qualified fourth and led five laps in his Verizon IndyCar Series debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
NBCSN will telecast the race live at 4 p.m. ET Sunday.
With the Verizon IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sharing the Long Beach race weekend, fans can see the best that Chevrolet has to offer on and off the racetrack.
The Chevy Racing and Corvette Racing displays inside the Long Beach Convention Center will inspire fans with passenger cars and products, including the 2019 Corvette ZR1, Corvette Z06, Silverado 2500 HD High Country, Colorado ZR2, Equinox Premier, and Malibu Premier. Additionally, there will be racing simulators for fans to test their skills.
Fans also can meet and ask questions of their favorite Team Chevy drivers Friday and Saturday at the Chevy Racing pit box. Friday: 1-1:15 p.m. – Spencer Pigot and Jordan King (Ed Carpenter Racing); 3:40-3:55 p.m. – Tony Kanaan and Matheus Leist (AJ Foyt Racing); 5:10-5:25 p.m. – Kyle Kaiser (Juncos Racing). Saturday: Noon-12:15 p.m. — Gabby Chaves (Harding Racing).