RACE REPORT: XPEL Grand Prix at Road America
Race Notes
- Coming off a two-race win streak, the Andretti INDYCAR team came into today’s 55-lap race at Road America with hopes of making it a three-peat for the season on the scenic Wisconsin road course.
- With temperatures reaching over 90 degrees as the green flag waved this afternoon at the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, the field of 27 was in for a hot one in Round 9 of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition.
- In a race marked by five caution periods over 12 laps and difficult track conditions, Kyle Kirkwood led the team with a strong fourth-place finish, while Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson crossed the line in 16th and 21st, respectively.
- Throughout the 55-lap race, nine penalties were issued across the field in a race that was filled with strategy shifts and restarts.
- After back-to-back race weekends, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will take a much-needed one-week break before returning to road course action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on the 4th of July holiday weekend.
Race Results
Colton Herta
No. 26 Gainbridge Honda
P16
| Started | P16 |
| Standings | 10th (184 points) |
- Taking today’s green from Row 8, Colton Herta was able to avoid a multi-car incident on Lap 1, allowing the Gainbridge Honda to quickly move up three positions to P13 and up another spot to 12th just before the second caution of the race on Lap 4.
- Herta was up another spot to 11th before the third yellow flag of the race came out on Lap 10. After pitting under yellow along with the majority of the field, the Gainbridge Honda was shuffled back to 18th with some of the field on an alternate strategy.
- Herta managed to make up a spot on the restart before the field went yellow again for the fourth time on Lap 22. On the Lap 24 restart, Herta was pushed wide in Turn 5 after slight contact with the No. 15, setting Herta back several positions.
- By Lap 36, Herta was running in eighth, and with 10 laps to go, the Gainbridge Honda was in 12th. Unfortunately, the final five laps of the race saw Herta drop to 16th, where the Gainbridge Honda would take the checkered flag.
“That was a crazy day for us in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. We had a little bit of everything going on there, and unfortunately, we just didn’t come away with the results we wanted. So, we’ll regroup and try to do more in Mid-Ohio.”
Kyle Kirkwood
No. 27 Siemens Honda
P4
| Started | P3 |
| Standings | 2nd (293 points) |
- Leading the Andretti INDYCAR team to the green, Kyle Kirkwood took today’s start from his career-best starting position of third at Road America. Despite a yellow on the opening lap, Kirkwood held his position until a few laps later, when he ran wide in Canada Corner to avoid causing an on-track incident, shuffling him back to sixth.
- On Lap 14, Kirkwood pushed the No. 12 car wide in Canada Corner, making slight contact in the process. The incident allowed the No. 10 car to pass the Siemens Honda. However, by Lap 24, Kirkwood had gained the lead before running the Siemens Honda wide and allowing the No. 7 to reclaim the top spot, dropping Kirkwood back to P2.
- As the race continued, Kirkwood maintained a strong presence in the top six. However, an untimely yellow shortly after his second pit stop caused the Siemens Honda to lose valuable track positions.
- Despite the setback and numerous strategies playing out on track, Kirkwood fought his way back into the top five and ultimately took the checkered flag in fourth.
- Today’s result marks Kirkwood’s 12th top-five finish of his career, and his second consecutive top five at Road America.
“That was a good result. I will definitely take fourth with the kind of performance that we had there. I mean, man, that was a crazy race. Especially since the first half of it was a split strategy. It was everyone throwing huge divebombs at each other, which caused that split strategy, but the No. 27 Siemens Honda came out with another top five, so I’m stoked with that. I think that was an overachievement today, so I love to see it. Also, I think we kind of leaned toward the red tires today, but neither tire was bad. Firestone came here with a good product, so I’m happy to be running them.”
Marcus Ericsson
No. 28 Fresh Connect Central Honda
P21
| Started | P14 |
| Standings | 21st (123 points) |
- Making his ninth start at Road America, Marcus Ericsson took today’s green from 14th, and was up to 13th by the time the yellow flag waved for the second time on Lap 4.
- Just over 10 laps in, the Swede was reporting understeer, and by Lap 12 the 28 stand had called the Fresh Connect Central Honda in for the team’s first official pit stop.
- With multiple strategies playing out throughout the field and despite managing tires and fuel effectively throughout the 55-lap race, untimely yellows limited the No. 28 Fresh Connect Central Honda’s ability to gain track position, and Ericsson ultimately finished the day in 21st.
“It was a tough day for us in the Fresh Connect Central Honda. It was a disappointing weekend, so there’s not much positive to say. We need to regroup and test this week to come back stronger. That was a tough race for us.”
Rob Edwards
Chief Operating Officer
“It’s the same story for the last couple of races for the team. It was a good day for the 27 with them finishing P4, but disappointing for the 26 and the 28. The yellow was friendly in some cases and not friendly in others, and, in the end, it didn’t work out. Disappointing day for two-thirds of the group. Now we just get ready and go to Mid-Ohio.”
