The 2021 REV Group Grand Prix at Road America was the ninth race of the 2021 IndyCar Series season. The race was held on Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin at Road America, a 4.048 miles (6.515 km) permanent road course. The race went to the scheduled 55 laps to completion. At race's end, Álex Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, would take advantage of a disaster-stricken Josef Newgarden to win his second career IndyCar Series win and his second of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Colton Herta, driving for Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian, and Will Power, driving for Team Penske, would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| 9th round of the 2021 IndyCar season | |
 | |
| Date | June 20, 2021 |
| Official name | REV Group Grand Prix at Road America |
| Location | Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 4.014 mi / 6.460 km |
| Distance | 55 laps 220.55 mi / 354.94 km |
| Pole position | |
| Driver |  Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) |
| Time | 01:46.0186 |
| Fastest lap | |
| Driver |  Álex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Time | 01:48.5653 (on lap 43 of 55) |
| Podium | |
| First | Álex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Second | Colton Herta (Andretti Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian) |
| Third |  Will Power (Team Penske) |
Background
editRoad America is a motorsport road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NTT Indycar Series, NTTWeatherTech SportsCar Championship, SCCA Pirelli World Challenge, ASRA, AMA Superbike series, IndyCar Series, and SCCA Pro Racing's Trans-Am Series.
Numerous driver replacements would occur for the race. Former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen, who would make his IndyCar debut, would replace Felix Rosenqvist, who suffered injuries at the 2021 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.[2][3] Oliver Askew would also replace an injured Rinus VeeKay, who suffered injuries in a cycling incident.[4]
In addition, NASCAR driver Cody Ware would make his IndyCar debut.[5]
Entry list
edit| Key | Meaning |
|---|---|
| R | Rookie |
| W | Past winner |
Practice
editFirst practice
editThe first practice session was held on Friday, June 18, at 5:00 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[6] Romain Grosjean, driving for Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, setting a time of 1:47.6781.[7]
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Lap Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 |  Romain Grosjean R
|
Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Honda | 01:47.6781 |
| 2 | 26 | Colton Herta
|
Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian | Honda | 01:45.4730 |
| 3 | 2 | Josef Newgarden W
|
Team Penske | Chevrolet | 01:47.8417 |
| Full first practice results | |||||
Second practice
editThe second practice session was held on Saturday, June 19, at 11:10 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[6] Josef Newgarden, driving for Team Penske, would set the fastest time in the session, setting a time of 1:45.3399.[8]
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Lap Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Josef Newgarden W
|
Team Penske | Chevrolet | 01:45.3399 |
| 2 | 28 | Colton Herta
|
Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian | Honda | 01:45.4730 |
| 3 | 15 | Graham Rahal
|
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | 01:45.6515 |
| Full second practice results | |||||
Third and final practice
editThe final practice session was held on Saturday, June 19, at 5:30 PM EST. The session would last for 30 minutes.[6] Colton Herta, driving for Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian, would set the fastest time in the session, setting a time of 1:47.6312.[9]
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Engine | Lap Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Colton Herta
|
Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian | Honda | 01:47.6312 |
| 2 | 9 |  Scott Dixon W
|
Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 01:47.6457 |
| 3 | 15 | Graham Rahal
|
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | 01:47.6707 |
| Full final practice results | |||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was held on Saturday, June 19, at 2:30 PM EST.[6] The qualifying format was a three-round knockout elimination format. For round one, the field is divided into two groups based on the odd and even positions of drivers in the final pre-qualifying practice session. The fastest driver in that session decides which group the odd-positioned drivers will be in with the even-positioned drivers in the other group. The fastest six drivers from each group would move onto round 2. Then, the fastest six drivers in round 2 would move onto to the third round, also known as the Firestone Fast Six. The fastest driver in Round 3 would win the pole.[10]
Josef Newgarden, driving for Team Penske would win the pole after advancing from both preliminary rounds and setting the fastest lap in Round 3, setting a time of 1:46.0186 in the third round.[11]
Full qualifying results
editRace results
editStandings after the race
edit
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Note: Only the top five positions are included.
References
edit- ^ "Palou makes late surge to win at Road America". ESPN.com. 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ "Magnussen to make IndyCar debut subbing for Rosenqvist at Road America". RACER. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
- ^ "Rosenqvist to remain in hospital overnight following Detroit crash". RACER. 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
- ^ "RINUS VEEKAY UNDERWENT SUCCESSFUL SURGERY TO REPAIR CLAVICLE FOLLOWING CYCLING ACCIDENT - Ed Carpenter Racing". 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ Brown, Nathan. "Cody Ware to make IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing at Road America". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ a b c d "REV GROUP GRAND PRIX". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ^ "Grosjean tops field on 1st day of IndyCar practice". ESPN.com. 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ "Newgarden leads second Road America practice". RACER. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ "Road America IndyCar: Herta tops final practice". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ "Breaking Down the Ins and Outs of IndyCar Qualifying". FanBuzz - Sports News - NFL | NCAA | NBA | WWE. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ Brown, Nathan. "Josef Newgarden grabs second-straight pole, says strategy for Sunday at Road America crucial". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2022-05-30.