Motorsports

Sonsio Grand Prix Fast Facts

Race weekend: Friday, May 9-Saturday, May 10 Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise) Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 85 laps / 207.3 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 35 laps / 85.365 miles or 55 minutes (each race) Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with […]

Published

2 weeks ago

May 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Race weekend: Friday, May 9-Saturday, May 10

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 85 laps / 207.3 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 35 laps / 85.365 miles or 55 minutes (each race)

Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum single duration of 20 seconds. Push to Pass is not available on the initial start or any restart unless it occurs in the final two laps or three minutes of a timed race. | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total push to pass time.

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary (hard) and four sets alternate (soft) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires in the first practice session. Teams must use two sets of primary and two sets of alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Four new sets to be used during the doubleheader weekend with one new set used for qualifying and another new set used during each race. A carryover set from the Barber event may be used during practice.

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YouTube: @IMS, @INDYCAR

Event website: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

NTT INDYCAR SERIES website: www.indycar.com | INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2024 race winners:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Race 1: Jacob Abel (No. 51 ABEL Motorsports)

Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)

2024 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES):

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1 minute, 9.0004 seconds, 127.251 mph

2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:

Race 1: Jacob Abel (No. 51 ABEL Motorsports) 1:14.9358, 117.172 mph

Race 2: Jacob Abel (No. 51 ABEL Motorsports) 1:15.0528, 116.990 mph

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Will Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Ed Jones, 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016

FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 9:30 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 1 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Warmup, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.

Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | INDY NXT By Firestone: Practice 1, 11 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Race 1, 7 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Race 2, 1 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter, while guest analysts Santino Ferrucci (Race 1) and Tim Cindric (Race 2) will join for the race telecasts.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Alex Wolff, Rob Blackman and Rich Nye are the pit reporters.

The Sonsio Grand Prix race (4 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix doubleheader (6:55 p.m. ET Friday and 12:55 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):

Friday, May 9

9:30-10:50 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (split group format), FS2 (Live)

11:05-11:55 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 (Live)

1:10-2 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (35 minutes of green flag – limited guarantee), FS2 (Live)

2:30-3 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, (two groups/12 minutes each), FS2 (Live)

4:35 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), FS1 (Live)

7:01 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 “Drivers, start your engines”

7:06 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (Live)

Saturday, May 10

11:32-11:57 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup (25 minutes), FS1 (Live)

1:01 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 “Drivers, start your engines”

1:06 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (Live)

4:30 p.m. FOX on air

4:45 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

4:52 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), FOX (Live)

“WHAT TO LOOK FOR” AT IMS:

Palou Eyes IMS Three-peat: Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing has won three of 2025’s first four races and leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings by 60 points. He’s also won the past two Sonsio Grands Prix. Palou could become the first driver since Josef Newgarden won three straight races at World Wide Technology Raceway from 2020-2022. Among tracks on the current NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, three in a row has only been accomplished four other times.

Bobby Rahal won four in a row at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (1984-87), Al Unser Jr. won four in a row at Long Beach (1988-91) Michael Andretti won three straight at Portland (1990-1992) and Sebastien Bourdais won three in a row at Long Beach (2005-07).

Penske’s Power Play: Roger Penske may be the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but IMS has long been a Team Penske playground, and that includes races on the road course. Led by Will Power’s five race wins, Roger Penske’s drivers have won eight times on this circuit, including two wins from Simon Pagenaud (2016, 2019) and another from Josef Newgarden (2020).
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the 17th INDYCAR SERIES event conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Active race winners expected to compete are Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Colton Herta, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER

WINS

SEASONS

Will Power

2015, 2017, 2018 (Sonsio Grand Prix); 2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-2); 2021 (Gallagher Grand Prix)

Scott Dixon

2020 (Sonsio Grand Prix); 2023 (Gallagher Grand Prix)

Alex Palou

2023 (Sonsio Grand Prix), 2024

Colton Herta

2022 (Sonsio Grand Prix)

Josef Newgarden

2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-1)

Alexander Rossi

2022 (Gallagher Grand Prix)

Rinus VeeKay

2021 (Sonsio Grand Prix)

Six NTT P1 Award winners have won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course from the pole: Alex Palou won the 2024 Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole. Will Power won the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Sonsio Grand Prix and the second Harvest GP race in 2020 from the pole. Simon Pagenaud also won the Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole in 2016.
ACTIVE POLE WINNER

POLES

SEASONS

Will Power

2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 (Sonsio Grand Prix and Harvest Grand Prix-2)

Felix Rosenqvist

2019, 2022 (Gallagher Grand Prix)

Alex Palou

2024

Graham Rahal

2023 (Gallagher Grand Prix)

Christian Lundgaard

2023 (Sonsio Grand Prix)

Pato O’Ward

2021 (Gallagher Grand Prix)

Rinus VeeKay

2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-1)

Four drivers have competed in every INDYCAR SERIES race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Graham Rahal. All are entered this weekend.
Team Penske has eight wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-Race 2, 2020-Race 3, 2021-Race 2). Chip Ganassi has four wins – with Scott Dixon in 2020-Race 1 and 2023-Race 2 and Alex Palou in 2023-Race 1 and 2024.

Andretti Autosport and Ed Carpenter Racing are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Autosport won the Sonsio Grand Prix with Colton Herta in May 2022 and Gallagher Grand Prix with Alexander Rossi in August 2022, while Ed Carpenter Racing won in 2021-Race 1 with Rinus VeeKay.

Three NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year contenders – Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman – are entered and will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on the IMS road course for the first time alongside veteran driver Nolan Siegel. Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 344th consecutive start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record.
INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:

INDY NXT by Firestone will conduct a doubleheader weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend with a pair of 35-lap races. Dennis Hauger continued his dominating season scoring his second straight win on May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park and sits atop the point standings.

Juan Manuel Correa will make his INDY NXT debut in the first of several starts this season with HMD Motorsports. The American / Ecuadorian driver has raced in FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona. Correa demonstrated remarkable resilience, particularly after recovering from a life-threatening crash in 2019. His recovery and return to racing were a testament to his grit and determination.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the home race for second-year driver Jack William Miller, the son of former INDYCAR SERIES competitor Dr. Jack Miller. The younger Miller, who hails from Indianapolis and attends IU Indianapolis, competes for ABEL Motorsport with Miller Vinatieri Motorsports – a team co-owned by Dr. Jack Miller and former Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Group qualifying will decide the starting grids on during the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying segments.

With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded the Race 1 pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.).

The grid for the second race will be determined by each drivers’ second fastest lap, with drivers who finished behind the polesitter, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group for each race.

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Lando Norris wins F1 Monaco GP to close championship gap on Piastri | Motorsports News

Lando Norris wins at Monte Carlo for first time, leading home Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and current drivers’ standings leader and McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris celebrated his first Monaco Grand Prix win from pole position and slashed McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri’s Formula One drivers’ championship lead to just three points in a race more […]

Published

9 minutes ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lando Norris wins at Monte Carlo for first time, leading home Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and current drivers’ standings leader and McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.

Lando Norris celebrated his first Monaco Grand Prix win from pole position and slashed McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri’s Formula One drivers’ championship lead to just three points in a race more about strategy than speed.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished runner-up in the home race he won last year, with Piastri third and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fourth – all four finishing in the order they started.

The Sunday afternoon race featured two mandatory pit stops for the first time, but hopes of more action around the cramped harbourside circuit fell short.

Drivers through the field played a waiting game, with Verstappen holding off his final stop until the penultimate lap and those behind biding their time while keeping out of trouble. Norris ultimately lapped all but four cars.

The win was the Briton’s second in eight races and first since the Australian GP season opener in March, as well as McLaren’s first at Monaco since 2008.

“Monaco baby!” Norris shouted over the radio as the chequered flag finally fell.

“The last quarter was stressful with Leclerc behind and Max ahead, but we won in Monaco,” he said.

“This is what I dreamed of when I was a kid, so I achieved one of my dreams.”

Lando Norris in action. — Lando Norris, centre, locks his brakes as he leads Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, right, into the first corner at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix [Andrej Isakovic/AFP]

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was fifth, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar sixth and Haas’s Esteban Ocon seventh.

Liam Lawson scored his first points of the season for Racing Bulls in eighth place, and Williams completed the top 10 with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.

Mercedes had a dismal afternoon in the Mediterranean sunshine, after a nightmare in qualifying, with George Russell 11th and Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli 18th and the last car still running.

The virtual safety car was deployed on the opening lap when Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto went into the tyre wall at Portier, the turn before the tunnel, as Antonelli passed on the inside.

Bortoleto made it back to the pits and continued.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was the first retirement, the Frenchman crashing into the back of Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull car at the tunnel exit on lap nine and limping back to the pits with the front left wheel hanging off.

“Is he an idiot? What is he doing?” exclaimed Tsunoda.

Gasly, who said he had no brakes, almost took out Argentine rookie teammate Franco Colapinto as he careered through the Nouvelle Chicane.

Aston Martin’s double world champion Fernando Alonso was the second retirement, pulling off on lap 38 with a smoking car to continue his scoreless run for the season.

The Spanish Grand Prix is the next race on the F1 calendar and will take place on Sunday, June 1.

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Full starting lineup for NASCAR’s 2025 Coca-Cola 600

Chase Briscoe became just the tenth driver to earn pole position for both the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same year, besting Kyle Larson by 0.020s in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying on Saturday. Briscoe now has four career poles, but his previous best start in the 600 is only 15th. Larson, who will […]

Published

11 minutes ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Briscoe now has four career poles, but his previous best start in the 600 is only 15th. Larson, who will be excused from driver introductions and the pre-race driver’s meeting while he competes in the Indianapolis 500, has only started from the front row once before in NASCAR’s longest race. That was when he earned pole in 2021, going on to win the Coke 600 that year.

William Byron, who recently signed a four-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, placed third, Chris Buescher was the top-qualifying Ford driver in fourth, and A.J. Allmendinger earned his best start of the 2025 season in fifth.

Jimmie Johnson, who is making his 700th career start, qualified 17th while Ross Chastain was the only driver to not take part after an incident in practice.

Logan Riely / Getty Images

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Logan Riely / Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Complete starting lineup for the 2025 Coca-Cola 600

1		19	Toyota	1	29.532		182.852
2		5	Chevrolet	1	+0.020 29.552	0.020	182.729
3		24	Chevrolet	1	+0.034 29.566	0.014	182.642
4		17	Ford	1	+0.128 29.660	0.094	182.063
5		16	Chevrolet	1	+0.152 29.684	0.024	181.916
6		42	Toyota	1	+0.193 29.725	0.041	181.665
7		54	Toyota	1	+0.215 29.747	0.022	181.531
8		4	Ford	1	+0.277 29.809	0.062	181.153
9		48	Chevrolet	1	+0.282 29.814	0.005	181.123
10		20	Toyota	1	+0.283 29.815	0.001	181.117
11		47	Chevrolet	1	+0.315 29.847	0.032	180.923
12		45	Toyota	1	+0.318 29.850	0.003	180.905
13		7	Chevrolet	1	+0.324 29.856	0.006	180.868
14		2	Ford	1	+0.339 29.871	0.015	180.777
15		71	Chevrolet	1	+0.365 29.897	0.026	180.620
16		22	Ford	1	+0.384 29.916	0.019	180.505
17		84	Toyota	1	+0.394 29.926	0.010	180.445
18		21	Ford	1	+0.438 29.970	0.044	180.180
19		10	Chevrolet	1	+0.456 29.988	0.018	180.072
20		11	Toyota	1	+0.490 30.022	0.034	179.868
21		12	Ford	1	+0.497 30.029	0.007	179.826
22		9	Chevrolet	1	+0.505 30.037	0.008	179.778
23		38	Ford	1	+0.507 30.039	0.002	179.766
24		8	Chevrolet	1	+0.511 30.043	0.004	179.742
25		99	Chevrolet	1	+0.531 30.063	0.020	179.623
26		3	Chevrolet	1	+0.552 30.084	0.021	179.497
27		43	Toyota	1	+0.568 30.100	0.016	179.402
28		60	Ford	1	+0.582 30.114	0.014	179.319
29		41	Ford	1	+0.615 30.147	0.033	179.122
30		88	Chevrolet	1	+0.629 30.161	0.014	179.039
31		35	Toyota	1	+0.690 30.222	0.061	178.678
32		23	Toyota	1	+0.745 30.277	0.055	178.353
33	TrackHouse Racing	87	Chevrolet	1	+0.772 30.304	0.027	178.194
34		6	Ford	1	+0.782 30.314	0.010	178.136
35		34	Ford	1	+0.782 30.314	0.000	178.136
36		51	Ford	1	+1.151 30.683	0.369	175.993
37		44	Chevrolet	1	+1.895 31.427	0.744	171.827
38		66	Ford	1	+2.729 32.261	0.834	167.385
39		77	Chevrolet	1	+6.612 36.144	3.883	149.402
40		1	Chevrolet	0

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Motorsports

NASCAR disqualifies Sammy Smith after the race at Charlotte

The JR Motorsports No. 8 has failed post-race inspection at Charlotte Motor Speedway On Saturday, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Xfinity Series. After the race, cars must pass a post-race inspection. The No. 8 driven by Sammy Smith has failed the inspection. The car failed to meet the weight requirements. JR Motorsports does not […]

Published

39 minutes ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The JR Motorsports No. 8 has failed post-race inspection at Charlotte Motor Speedway

On Saturday, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

After the race, cars must pass a post-race inspection. The No. 8 driven by Sammy Smith has failed the inspection.

The car failed to meet the weight requirements. JR Motorsports does not intend to appeal the penalty.

Charlotte Results: May 24, 2025 (NASCAR Xfinity Series)

JR Motorsports issued the following statement:

“Due to a miscalculation on our end, we failed with our weight in post-race tech with the No. 8. We will not appeal,” the team stated on Saturday evening.

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Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR

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Other IndyCar and NASCAR drivers ponder marathon of driving double

INDIANAPOLIS — NASCAR star Kyle Larson will be taking another shot at “the Double,” one of the most grueling feats in all of motorsports, when he tries to complete every lap of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 today. Tony Stewart is the only driver to have successfully pulled it off, and that was […]

Published

40 minutes ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Tony Stewart is the only driver to have successfully pulled it off, and that was nearly 25 years ago.

But while attempts have been scarce since John Andretti first tried it in 1994, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ambitious drivers interested. Defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin and reigning IndyCar series champion Alex Palou all expressed some desire to give it a go this week.

“Gosh, we could have a huge laundry list of people that should do it,” said Newgarden, who is aiming for an unprecedented third straight Indy 500 win. “You could ask the majority of the field (and they) would want to do the double. It’s so much fun.”

Yet it’s also a massive undertaking, which is why Stewart still stands alone, and not just on the driver who has to complete 1,100 miles around Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway — tracks some 550 miles apart. It also takes some serious financial support, the backing of teams in both IndyCar and NASCAR, tremendous logistical help, and plenty of luck that the weather cooperates, cars hold up mechanically and the driver is able to avoid any wrecks.

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, whose brother Kurt completed the Indy 500 in 2014 but failed to finish the Coca-Cola 600, is among those who have tried to put together a deal to attempt “the Double” but haven’t quite pulled it off.

“It’s just very difficult to get that lined up,” Newgarden said. “Doing what Kyle (Larson) is doing right now, it’s harder than it looks. What I mean by that is just putting the program together. You would have a lot of people doing it if it was simple, I can promise you that. I think Kyle Busch has spoken publicly about trying to get something off the ground. That’s Kyle Busch. It should seem like it’s pretty likely for him to put a program together. It was quite difficult.”

So who else could be in line to try?

Ryan Blaney has contemplated it, and he presumably would have plenty of synergistic support given Team Penske has established NASCAR and IndyCar programs. But it would take the convincing of team owner Roger Penske, who also owns the IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 — a race he has won a record 20 times.

“I would love to see Blaney do it at some point,” Newgarden said.

Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing, was close to a deal years ago when that team still had a NASCAR program. Dixon pointed out that there are also conflicts of interest to overcome, such as when an IndyCar driver whose team is powered by Honda has the chance to drive a Cup Series car that might have a Chevrolet engine.

“It’s not an easy thing to do,” Dixon said. “Really admire the people that do it.”

Dixon paused, before telling Palou sitting next to him: “Alex, you should do it.”

“I would love to do it,” he replied. “I would do it.”

McLaughlin, another Team Penske driver with extensive stock car experience, was asked about trying to tackle both Memorial Day weekend races. Before jumping to IndyCar, McLaughlin was one of the most dominant drivers in the history of the Supercar Series in Australia and New Zealand, winning 56 races and three series championships.

Those races take place on road courses, though, and the Coca-Cola 600 is on the Charlotte oval. So, McLaughlin said, all those years of stock car experience Down Under might not translate so easily to a Cup Series car.

“The only reason you’d think that is is if it was road course-to-road course,” he said. “But I think the oval is a completely different kettle of fish. If I was to do ‘the Double,’ I would like to do an (oval) race before Charlotte.”

Larson’s attempt is once again a joint effort of Hendrick Motorsports on the NASCAR side and Arrow McLaren on the IndyCar side.

He had high hopes of completing all 1,100 miles last year, but rain wreaked havoc with his schedule. Larson managed to finish the rain-delayed Indy 500, then do the entire helicopter-plane-helicopter trip to Charlotte, only to be greeted there by more rain upon his arrival. It ultimately washed out the rest of the NASCAR race before he ever got a chance to turn a lap.

The forecast for today? A bit chilly but most likely dry.

“I feel like the Hendrick aviation side does a really good job with logistics and working with motorsports to make sure all the timing’s right on everything and everything operates smoothly,” Larson said. “Yeah, we had the weather delay for the Indy 500 last year, but aside from that, the travel side of it was all smooth. So, as far as I know, nothing is different this year.”

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British MotoGP: Bezzecchi wins after Quatararo fail, red flag drama | Motorsports News

Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi takes first MotoGP win in 20 months after leader Fabio Quartararo exits with a technical issue. Marco Bezzecchi has won a chaotic British Grand Prix for Aprilia’s first victory of the 2025 season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill as riders crashed or retired while in the […]

Published

56 minutes ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi takes first MotoGP win in 20 months after leader Fabio Quartararo exits with a technical issue.

Marco Bezzecchi has won a chaotic British Grand Prix for Aprilia’s first victory of the 2025 season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill as riders crashed or retired while in the lead, including pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo.

The victory was a first for Aprilia since the Grand Prix of the Americas last year. LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco came second on Sunday and Ducati’s Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the riders world championship.

Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while Yamaha’s Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire on lap 12 due to a technical issue with his bike.

Bezzecchi’s victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix, and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the past 11 races.

“It’s amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. … Aprilia trusted in me, and we worked really hard,” Bezzecchi said.

“The team made a wonderful job. … I was waiting for a day like this since my last win.”

On the first start, sprint winner Alex Marquez had a perfect launch to take the lead from Quartararo, but just as he leaned into turn one, he lost control and crashed, allowing Marc Marquez to take the lead.

The elder Marquez also lost control, however, and crashed out of the lead – but the Marquez brothers earned a reprieve when the red flag came out for an oil spill in the final sector after Franco Morbidelli and Aleix Espargaro collided and crashed.

Fabio Quartararo in action. — Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, right, exits the race after a mechanical failure during the MotoGP British Grand Prix [Adrian Dennis/AFP]

Race restarted

Since three laps had not been completed, all riders were eligible for the restart. Quartararo took the lead from Francesco Bagnaia and streaked away to a full second’s lead on the opening lap.

Both factory Ducatis suffered on lap three at Copse corner when they went wide as Marc Marquez and Bagnaia dropped to ninth and 10th place.

Bagnaia’s race ended on the following lap when he crashed while Bezzecchi moved up to third behind Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller.

Behind them, Marc Marquez was a man on a mission as he methodically picked his way through the pack, and by lap 11, he had moved up to fourth.

Yamaha’s dreams of taking the chequered flag went up in smoke as Quartararo signalled he had a problem with his bike, and the Frenchman relinquished his lead of nearly five seconds as his ride-height device had failed.

Quartararo stopped by the side of the track, hopped off his bike and sank to his knees with his head on the tarmac as the shell-shocked Yamaha garage looked on.

“When I saw Fabio with a technical problem, I even thought about a victory,” said Zarco, the first Honda rider to take back-to-back podiums since Marc Marquez in 2021.

Bezzecchi held on to win, though, while Marc Marquez swapped places with VR46 Racing’s Franco Morbidelli several times on the final lap before taking third in a photo finish.

“Today we were lucky because I made a mistake,” said a fuming Marc Marquez, who now leads his brother by 24 points in the world championship.

Marco Bezzecchi in action. — Aprilia Racing team’s Marco Bezzecchi leads during the MotoGP British Grand Prix [Adrian Dennis/AFP]

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Coca-Cola 600 start time, TV, live stream, lineup

Kyle Larson to race Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Kyle Larson talks hydration, preparation, and the physical toll of racing the “Memorial Day Double” The NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday evening to close out the most exciting day in motor sports. Following Formula One’s Monaco Grand Prix and IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500, […]

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57 minutes ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday evening to close out the most exciting day in motor sports.

Following Formula One’s Monaco Grand Prix and IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500, the Coca-Cola 600 takes center stage for NASCAR’s annual Memorial Day weekend event and the series’ longest race of the year at 600 miles.

All eyes will be on Kyle Larson, who is attempting the motor sports double for the second consecutive year. Larson will begin his day at Indianapolis, where he starts 19th in the Indy 500 in the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Following his afternoon at Indy, he will immediately fly to North Carolina and hop into his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the Coca-Cola 600, as he seeks to become the first driver since Tony Stewart in 2001 to race 1,100 total miles and complete the Indy-Charlotte double.

Larson won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2021 en route to his first Cup Series championship. Can he do it again this year? Here’s all the information you need to get ready for the race:

What time does the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 start?

The Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on?

There is no national TV broadcast for Sunday’s race. Amazon Prime Video is broadcasting the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, the first of five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races on the streamer. Prime will air a pre-race show at 5 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the Coca-Cola 600?

The race can be live streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

How many laps is the Coca-Cola 600?

NASCAR’s longest race is 400 laps around the 1.5-mile track for a total of 600 miles. The race will feature four segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 100 laps; Stage 2: 100 laps; Stage 3: 100 laps; Stage 4: 100 laps.

How will Kyle Larson get from Indianapolis to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600?

As soon as Larson’s day is done in the Indy 500 – pending any possible weather delays – the Hendrick Motorsports driver will immediately board a helicopter at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then get on a plane to fly to Charlotte. Another helicopter will take Larson to Concord, North Carolina, for the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Who won the Coca-Cola 600 last year?

Christopher Bell led 90 of 249 laps, including the final 18, in the rain-shorted race on May 26, 2024. Bell was declared the winner under red-flag conditions with Brad Keselowski finishing second and William Byron third.