Rahal encouraged after post-season test at Barber with new race engineer

Graham Rahal has returned to the track for the first time since the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series finale at the Auto Club Speedway, after completing a one-day test at the Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham. The test for the Rahal Letterman Racing outfit enabled Rahal to work with his new race engineer for 2015, Eddie Jones.

The 25-year-old Ohio-born driver ended the 2014 season 19th overall in the Championship standings, after only one podium finish at race one of the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit back in May. Despite a slightly frustrating season with uncompetitive results, Rahal has his sights firmly set on bouncing back when the new season gets underway next March in Brazil. Throughout his day testing at Barber, Rahal managed to clock 83 laps around the undulating 2.38-mile circuit, and improve upon his overall lap time consistently.

“It was a really good, and extremely productive day,” explained Rahal, who has so far only managed to secure one race victory throughout his Verizon IndyCar Series career. “All things considered, I think the team is having fun again. With the new personnel we have in place, I think everyone is enjoying themselves and I think our teamwork showed it today and I’m excited about that. We were very efficient, we accomplished a lot and we shaved a considerable amount of time, just over a second, off of what was done at the race. I feel like we’re in a good spot.”

Eddie Jones is a renowned member of the Verizon IndyCar Series paddock, and has worked with drivers’ such as Michael Andretti, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick and Formula One ace Rubens Barrichello during his brief stint in the series. During the one-day test Jones was incredibly impressed with Rahal’s concentration and productivity behind the wheel of his DW12 machine.

“The test went very well,” said Eddie Jones, who has worked in both Indy Lights and ChampCar. “It was very productive. We came here with a pretty good plan and we followed it through and made some good strides for a successful day. We gathered some useful data for us to continue our development with so all in all it was a very good test. Graham was impressive as usual with great concentration and ran quickly even though he hadn’t been in the car for a while. It was also important to get out there and run with Graham for the first time and establish a rapport and I am pleased with the result.”

Next season teams will be able to utilise new aero packages from their respective suppliers Chevrolet or Honda, of which the entrants have already submitted a 25 percent deposit already. Although Rahal’s one-day test did not feature the new aero package which will be introduced for the 2015 season, the outfit still managed to enjoy a productive day on their path back to competitiveness after a lacklustre season in 2014.

Image courtesy of John Cote/IndyCar Media Service

Three-Year Extension Confirmed For IndyCar At Barber

It has been announced that the IZOD IndyCar Series will continue to visit the wonderful Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama for the next three years, after a contract extension was reached between IndyCar CEO Jeff Belskus and ZOOM President and CEO Gene Hallman. The agreement was confirmed just several hours before the green flag last weekend.

Once again fans from all over the world attended the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama last weekend, including fans from all 50 states in the United States. These flocking petrol-heads contribute to an annual economic impact of $28 million, and have seen the event voted as the “Best Annual Event” and the “Best Sporting Event” by Birmingham Magazine in recent years. Despite being a relatively new addition to the IZOD IndyCar Series calendar, the Barber Motorsports Park has quickly become a fan favorite with the 2.38-mile circuit winding its way through picturesque green landscapes with the fans viewing the action from naturally wooded and grass-covered banks.

“We are pleased to have agreed to terms to continue the tradition of our fast and versatile racing at Barber Motorsports Park,” explained IndyCar CEO, Jeff Belskus. “Not only is Barber a terrific facility to showcase our close and exciting on-track product, it also gives IndyCar a strong presence in key southeastern markets to further help us grow our sport.”

Last weekend at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, reigning Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay ended Team Penske’s dominance at the Barber Motorsports Park with a superlative victory after a tough race which saw the Andretti Autosport driver battle alongside the likes of Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon. Prior to this year’s event, Team Penske had won each of the three races with Helio Castroneves and Will Power.

Team Penske will be striving to retain their dominance of the Alabama circuit throughout the next three races at the venue, as the IZOD IndyCar Series continues to return to the Barber Motorsports Park. Throughout recent years, the once oval-only Series has gradually added more street circuits and road courses, whilst loosing ovals such as Michigan, Homestead-Miami and Chicagoland.

Picture Copyright © Bret Kelly/IndyCar

Ana Beatriz To Remain With Dale Coyne Racing Until Indianapolis 500

It has been announced that Brazilian female driver Ana Beatriz will remain with Dale Coyne Racing until the Indianapolis 500 next month, as the 25-year-old prepares for her 25th start this weekend at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama around the Barber Motorsports Park. She will continue to compete in the Honda-powered No. 18 machine alongside British driver Justin Wilson.

Ana Beatriz marked her return to the Series last time out around the streets of St. Petersburg, after competing in only two races during the 2012 season. Despite suffering a frustrating mechanical issue on Lap 55, the Brazilian driver will continue with Dale Coyne Racing for the next few races in the IZOD IndyCar Series. This weekend will be Ana Beatriz’s first race around the Barber Motorsports Park, despite contesting in a full season the Series back in 2011 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. The Brazilian driver was forced to skip the race at Barber that season after sustaining a wrist injury at the opening race of the year at St. Petersburg.

“I am very excited to be back and race at Barber and Long Beach,” explained Ana Beatriz. “I didn’t think I would be back in a car until Brazil, but I want to thank Ipiranga and Dale [Coyne] for making it possible for me to drive full time through Indianapolis. We didn’t have the finish we would have liked to in St. Petersburg, but I am confident that we can get a better finish for the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda at Barber this weekend.”

After this weekend’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Ana Beatriz will compete in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, her home event around the streets of Sao Paulo in Brazil and the legendary Indianapolis 500. Her best result at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 21st in both 2010 and 2011, a result she will undoubtedly be striving to emulate this year in the No. 18 machine.

Picture Copyright © Getty Images

Will Power Storms To Victory At Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

Will Power has surprised many by winning the 2012 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at the Barber Motorsports Park, after coming from 9th on the grid to victory in a frantic race which saw many wheel-to-wheel battles up and down the grid. Scott Dixon was able to come 2nd with Helio Castroneves holding off Graham Rahal for 3rd.

  The race had barely completed one lap before the first full course caution was caused after Alex Tagliani ground to a halt halfway around the lap. As the marshals retrieved the stricken Canadian, it was believed by the team that the issue wasn’t engine related. Either way, Tagliani failed to return to racing and became the first retirement of the day.

On lap 4, the race returned to green as Mike Conway was forced onto the dirt resulting in the Brit loosing several positions through turns’ 1 and 2. Sebastien Bourdais started the race in promising fashion as he fought his way around Rubens Barrichello, whereas rookie Simon Pagenaud passed Conway for 7th.

By lap 15, the first pit-stops began as Oriol Servia peeled off into the pits. He was then followed three laps later by reigning Series Champion Dario Franchitti, who was struggling down in 17th position. Ryan Hunter-Reay, J.R. Hildebrand and Ryan Briscoe all pitted in quick succession. Out on the track Marco Andretti was locked in a grueling battle for 16th with Takuma Sato, with the American eventually passing the Japanese driver.

Marco Andretti then set his sights on E.J. Viso, with the two lightly coming together as they battled for 15th. Once again Andretti came out on top and passed the Venezuelan several laps later. Will Power came into the pits on lap 22, taking brand new sticker reds in exchange for his worn black tyres.

On lap 25, Helio Castroneves finally pitted from the lead for scuffed black tyres. Simon Pagenaud momentarily stalled as he pitted, throwing away valuable seconds after an extremely strong first stint. James Hinchcliffe then assumed the lead, until he was forced to pit along with 2nd place driver Scott Dixon on lap 27. Hinchcliffe suffered a disastrous pit-stop, as his mechanics struggled with the left-rear. This awarded track position to Scott Dixon, whose mechanics completed a stunning pit-stop which even gave the Kiwi track position over Helio Castroneves.

As Castroneves, Hinchcliffe and Dixon battled for track position during their pit-stops, Graham Rahal sneaked through into the lead. This came to an end as the American driver pitted on lap 28, gifting the lead of the race to Scott Dixon. Further down the order Will Power continued a strong afternoon’s racing as he passed Tony Kanaan for 5th.

Charlie Kimball had a dodgy moment on lap 40, running extremely wide and into the gravel as he battled for track position. He lucky to keep the car going as he eventually rejoined the track. 

As the race wore on, the second series of pit-stops began to take place as Will Power pitted on lap 42, who was subsequently followed by many other drivers’ on the same lap. Ryan Hunter-Reay suffered a disastrous pit-stop on lap 43 as he stalled his car, making is afternoon’s work all the more difficult as he eventually rejoined the race.

On lap 48, Charlie Kimball became the second retirement of the race as he peeled off the track with what looked like mechanical issues. Scott Dixon pitted on lap 49 and suffered a slow stop, as his mechanics were slow with the right-rear, a recurring issue for many teams up and down the paddock.

As the battles’ for position on the track increased, Takuma Sato became the third retirement as he suffered a mechanical issue on lap 54. This caused only a local caution as the race remained under green flag conditions. Tony Kanaan was forced to pit on lap 59, the team reporting a rear shock issue on the car. The Brazilian was left stranded in the pits as his mechanics began work on the car.

British driver Justin Wilson suffered a torrid race, which included a spin. He was able to rejoin the track, albeit after loosing several places. Debris was then spotted on the track, the culprit being rookie Josef Newgarden who made contact with the rear of Ed Carpenter. 

A second full course caution was caused late on in the race as Katherine Legge spun and embedded her car into the gravel. Just before this occurred, Scott Dixon suffered another disastrously slow pit-stop, awarding the lead to Will Power. As the race returned to green, Dixon momentarily got his nose ahead of Power, but the Aussie had the racing line and retained the lead.

On the closing laps Sebastien Bourdais continued a highly successful race passing J.R. Hildebrand and Marco Andretti, however at the sharp end of the field Will Power crossed the line to win his first race of 2012, followed home by Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves. 

There is now a two week gap before the IZOD IndyCar Series rolls up at the famous Long Beach street course for the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Results - 90 laps:

Pos Driver Team/Car Gap
 1.  Will Power           Penske DW12-Chevrolet
 2.  Scott Dixon          Ganassi DW12-Honda            + 3.3709s
 3.  Helio Castroneves    Penske DW12-Chevrolet         + 19.1150s
 4.  Graham Rahal         Ganassi DW12-Honda            + 19.3395s
 5.  Simon Pagenaud       Schmidt-Hamilton DW12-Honda   + 20.1050s
 6.  James Hinchcliffe    Andretti DW12-Chevrolet       + 23.3093s
 7.  Mike Conway          Foyt DW12-Honda               + 24.5552s
 8.  Rubens Barrichello   KV DW12-Chevrolet             + 25.4023s
 9.  Sebastien Bourdais   Dragon DW12-Lotus             + 27.1815s
10.  Dario Franchitti     Ganassi DW12-Honda            + 32.7377s
11.  Marco Andretti       Andretti DW12-Chevrolet       + 33.5038s
12.  Ryan Hunter-Reay     Andretti DW12-Chevrolet       + 35.8730s
13.  Oriol Servia         Dreyer & Reinbold DW12-Lotus  + 37.8944s
14.  Ryan Briscoe         Penske DW12-Chevrolet         + 41.6742s
15.  JR Hildebrand        Panther DW12-Chevrolet        + 44.5059s
16.  James Jakes          Coyne DW12-Honda              + 54.5343s
17.  Josef Newgarden      Fisher DW12-Honda             + 1m00.6182s
18.  EJ Viso              KV DW12-Chevrolet             + 1 lap
19.  Justin Wilson        Coyne DW12-Honda              + 1 lap
20.  Simona de Silvestro  HVM DW12-Lotus                + 1 lap
21.  Tony Kanaan          KV DW12-Chevrolet             + 1 lap
22.  Ed Carpenter         Carpenter DW12-Chevrolet      + 2 laps
23.  Katherine Legge      Dragon DW12-Lotus             + 5 laps

Did not finish:

     Takuma Sato          Rahal DW12-Honda              52 laps
     Charlie Kimball      Ganassi DW12-Honda            45 laps
     Alex Tagliani        BHA DW12-Lotus                0 laps

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