Colton Herta began the race on the pole at the newly paved 14-turn track that measures 4.014 miles around. Kyle Kirkwood would get into the back of Pato O’Ward who was the other front row starter spinning around and bringing out a yellow flag.
Issues in qualifying resulted in Romain Grosjean, Will Power and Scott Dixon starting at the back of the field. The latter two were involved in a crash with each other during Saturday’s practice session. Those drivers and others who were on alternates would pit during the caution and head back onto the track.
RETWEET if you’re watching the NTT @INDYCAR SERIES at @roadamerica!
Kyle Kirkwood brings out the first yellow.
📺 : @USANetwork and @peacock pic.twitter.com/WqFXWmfj2K
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) June 18, 2023
On the restart Marcus Armstong would pressure teammate Alex Palou for second while the McLaren’s of Alexander Rossi and O’Ward traded positions multiple times. Power, Dixon and Grosjean would all find themselves racing closely in the back of the field as O’Ward was given a two position penalty for his actions on the start dropping him to ninth. Josef Newgarden would work his way up to fourth after forcing Christian Lundgaard wide. Felix Rosenqvist would get spun off the track in turn three on lap 9 by Rinus VeeKay though no penalty was issued to VeeKay.
Rinus VeeKay spins Felix Rosenqvist. #INDYCAR
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— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) June 18, 2023
Grosjean would find himself off the track and into the gravel trap on turn three after a self spin on lap 12. The field would scramble to get to the pits prior a yellow with Herta first off pit road as the caution fell. Palou, Newgarden, Armstrong and Rossi would like up behind Herta. On the lap 16 restart Jack Harvey went off the track to immediately bring out another yellow. IndyCar would give unsafe release penalties from the previous caution to VeeKay and Armstrong. For Armstrong it would be a one spot penalty.
Armstrong found himself under attack on lap 24 dropping from third to seventh. A lap later David Malukas came to a stop bringing out a caution. On pitstops Herta would fall behind Palou out of the pits as Armstrong and Power stayed out and went to the front of the field. Herta would get around Palou on lap 30 while Armstrong would pit two laps later giving Power the lead until he too was forced to make a pitstop cycling everything back to Herta in the No. 26 on lap 34.
Herta would pit on lap 40 giving the lead to Palou in the process as others followed him to the pits. A lap later Palou and the rest of the field would pit with Herta coming out ahead of Palou while Power still needing to make a stop would turn laps up front. Power would pull to the pits with nine to go as Palou began to reel in Herta for the race lead. Palou would take the lead with seven laps to go as Herta would find himself trying to save fuel from the early pitstop. Newgarden would also found his way around Herta.
As Palou won, Newgarden was 4.5 seconds behind in second while O’Ward would hold off Dixon for third with Herta hanging onto fifth.
The win is the second in a row for Palou and his third in four races. Palou now has a 74 point lead over Ericsson, the largest margin in over three years.
IndyCar Road America Results
