Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Doubleheader Recap

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Doubleheader Recap

RACE 1:

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 United Rentals Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "I'm clearly disappointed with the end result. I thought that after the start, when a lot of our competitors were involved in that crash, I thought that maybe we would have a good day and be able to put our heads down and work through things but, instead, on Lap 29 we had GCU problems. Somehow a napkin got in there and lodged itself in the GCU cooling tube and overheated one and then overheated another. Unfortunately, it was just one of those days that we struggled with the chassis handling but also just had poor luck with sucking up a napkin. It's certainly frustrating and disappointing but there is always tomorrow."

  • FAST FACTS: Started 22nd and moved to 17th after a multi-car crash on the start. He began to have shifting issued early and pit to change the GCU. He rejoined the race a few laps down but the problem surfaced again. Once the team pulled the car behind the pit wall, they found a napkin lodged in the GCU cooling tube. He returned to the race in an effort to collect points in the event of attrition and ultimately retired after completing 124/200 laps… Was his fourth race here. His highest start is seventh and highest finish is 10th - both in 2018. In 2019, he qualified 16th and struggled with tire wear for a good portion of the race like many others but was running ninth late in the race before losing two positions to run 11th. While 11th, he reported a problem on Lap 224 of 248 and ultimately retired after 226 laps in 18th place. A post race inspection showed that his exhaust secondary failed… He has earned three podiums (Indy GP, Iowa, Indy 500) in seven races this season, contended for the win in two others and could have been a podium contender in the other two… Has SIX INDYCAR SERIES wins (2008 - St. Pete street course; 2015 - Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 - Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2) and THREE poles (2009 - St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 - Detroit Race 1 street) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015… Rahal dropped from fourth to fifth in series point standings with a total of 226.


RACE 2:

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 United Rentals Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "Race 2 was disappointing for the United Rentals team just because of where we started. Today is a lesson in how important qualifying is. It was hard to pass on track. The tire is very hard here and it makes it difficult for the drivers but I've got to say it was massively better today. If you look at our fastest lap time, it was as quick as O'Ward who finished second. It's just a shame we started at the back. We never were able to make our way forward. We lost a lap early when we came in the pits with (leader) Newgarden and he just beat us out which put us a lap down and from there we kind of scrambled. But I've got to say the silver lining in all this is yes, this weekend sucked for us but we made great gains today. Twentieth doesn't look like it but I assure you we did. Head down, focus forward and we'll get them at the next one."

  • FAST FACTS: Started 23rd and had a much better handling race car than Race 1 but the lack of caution periods, other than the opening lap due to track cleanup and the last few laps of the race, negated the opportunity to move forward and he finished 20th… Was his fifth race here. His highest start is seventh and highest finish is 10th - both in 2018. … He has earned three podiums (Indy GP, Iowa, Indy 500) in eight races this season, contended for the win in two others and could have been a podium contender in the other two… Has SIX INDYCAR SERIES wins (2008 - St. Pete street course; 2015 - Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 - Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2) and THREE poles (2009 - St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 - Detroit Race 1 street) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015… Rahal dropped from fifth to seventh in series point standings with a total of 236.