NTT IndyCar Series

Will Power has had a frustrating weekend behind the wheel during the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix after finishing race one in 20th place and race two in P6.

 

After a disappointing Indy 500 late last month, the Queenslander was hopeful of bouncing back and reigniting his 2021 season after what has been a challenging recent run.

 

For the opening race of the weekend, Power qualified in P7 and did everything right to quickly move to the front of the field – for which he led for a race-high 37 laps.

 

However when former Formula 1 star Romain Grosjean crashed with just six laps to go, Race Control red flagged the session, bringing the field back together and setting up an epic finale to the race.

 

Once the seven and half minute break was over and the cars were green flagged to go back out, Power was unable to start up his car as a result of his engine control unit overheating. By the time he eventually did get back out onto track, he was two laps behind and out of the running. 

 

The determined Team Penske star then improved significantly for the second race, showcasing his pace at the Detroit based circuit to climb from P20 to sixth place and just one and half seconds off the podium.

 

Three-time Supercars Champion Scott McLaughlin also had a tough weekend finishing race one in P19 and race two in P20.

 

The series resumes this weekend with the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America in Wisconsin on 20 June.  

 

The Indy Lights Series’ fourth round of the season saw a mixed bag of results for Alex Peroni as the Tasmanian had two totally different races in Detroit.

 

Following a strong qualifying that saw the 21-year-old pick up a fourth place start in the opening race of the round, Peroni found himself in a thrilling battle with British driver Tony Sowery for the podium place but lost out by just over one second.

 

Although he qualified in P8 for the second race, Peroni was confident of replicating his race one pace, only for his weekend to be flipped on its head as he crashed into the barriers after just seven laps.

 

The lack of points from his second race retirement saw him drop down to sixth on the series’ standings and now 18 points behind the fourth placed Sowery.

 

It’s back-to-back rounds for Peroni as the Indy Lights Series runs at the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America in Wisconsin and once again as an NTT IndyCar Series support category.

 

 

Having only finished in the top 10 once during the season opener last month, Flack started the three-race weekend at Snetterton on a high, qualifying in P5 before being involved in a thrilling battle for fourth place with three other drivers and eventually crossing the line where he started in fifth.

 

Flack then further showed off his talent with a magnificent second race that saw him climb from P18 to P7 by the sixth lap, for which he held onto for the remainder of the race and secured a good haul of points.

 

The 15-year-old then saved his best performance until last with his first podium of the year. 

 

Starting from P3, Flack battled hard with the second placed McKenzy Cresswell for the whole race – eventually pipping his British rival with just four laps to go and holding on until the chequered flag to take out second place by less than half a second.

 

Flack’s successful weekend saw him skyrocket into the top 10 on the standings and just two points off fifth ahead of the third round of the season at Brands Hatch on 26-27 June.