Right now’s query: What’s your greatest takeaway from the stretch of 5 races in 4 weeks just lately accomplished by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES?
Curt Cavin: Doesn’t it must be Scott Dixon surging from sixth to second within the standings? He received the Honda Indy Toronto and the Huge Machine Music Metropolis Grand Prix whereas posting a pair of top-five finishes within the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Weekend at Iowa Speedway and ending eighth within the Gallagher Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway highway course. That’s a mean end of three.8 throughout that stretch, a championship-level efficiency by any definition. Oh, positive, there have been many notable performances, like Will Energy taking the factors lead from Marcus Ericsson after which holding it, and the emergence of rookie Christian Lundgaard has been spectacular. Pay attention to Alexander Rossi ending his three-year victory drought, as nicely. However these 4 weeks have featured two road races, two brief oval races and a everlasting highway course occasion, and it ought to shock nobody that the most effective driver of his era was the most effective of the bunch. Dixon’s sights are on a record-tying seventh collection title, and I wouldn’t guess in opposition to him getting it.
Paul Kelly: Scott Dixon’s ascent by way of this summer season stretch is a effective alternative by Curt. However I’ll transcend the headlines and say I’ve been very impressed by the resurgence of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing throughout this stretch. Full candor: I assumed this season could be a complete write-off for one among INDYCAR’s longest-running and marquee groups. In any case, drivers Graham Rahal, Christian Lundgaard and Jack Harvey mixed to provide simply six top-10 finishes within the first 9 races. Within the final 5 races, they’ve piled up eight top-10s, with 4 by Lundgaard, three by Rahal and Harvey’s first prime 10 in a gradual run final Sunday at Nashville. None of these drivers nor this crew will contend for a title this season, however they’re setting the desk properly for a much more aggressive 2023 season. Qualifying stays this crew’s Kryptonite, as solely Lundgaard certified within the first three rows of a race in the course of the five-race summer season stretch. If RLL can clear up that downside, it should trouble the ability groups at Penske, Ganassi, AMSP and Andretti and will contend for a victory within the final three races of the season. RLL is placing it collectively properly after a really rugged first half of the season.
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