Engine issues hamper Patron ESM's quest for U.S. three-peat - MotorSportsTalk

Tequila Patron ESM returned to the U.S. shores with a vengeance and a winning streak on the line in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, but unfortunately an old gremlin returned.

Engine issues took the No. 2 Ligier JS P2 Honda – the same chassis that won the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with ESM and then finished 14th overall, ninth in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Michael Shank Racing – out of contention in Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.

It was a shame after the team overcame both power steering and seat belt issues earlier in the race. Johannes van Overbeek also delivered the overall pole at 1:35.207, a new track record at Watkins Glen International.

Honda still banked a key podium though with the trio of Ozz Negri, John Pew and Olivier Pla third overall in the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda – and with a clear pace advantage on the Corvette DPs which ultimately ended up first and second.

Alas, with necessary points banked for the Patron Endurance Cup at the halfway point of the six-hour race, ESM remains in contention for that title before Petit Le Mans in October, both the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Patron Endurance Cup season finale.

“What a great team effort after the issue we had with our power steering,” Derani said in the team’s release. “We were so lucky to be able to fix it during the full course yellow. We were back in the fight, and unfortunately something happened with our engine. We don’t know exactly what yet. When I jumped out, there was a lot of oil. It’s just a shame. The car was really good and we had a real shot of victory at this one. But we’ll bounce back.”

The team has several FIA World Endurance Championship races in the interim at the Nürburgring (July 24), then Mexico City and Circuit of The Americas (Sept. 3 and 17), before their next IMSA appearance later this year.

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The NTT IndyCar Series will head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for its first oval race of the season and a preview of its biggest race.

After Sunday’s PPG 375 at Texas, the next oval on the schedule is May 28 with the 107th running of the Indy 500. Chip Ganassi Racing dominated last year’s 500-miler at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after placing all four of its Dallara-Hondas in the top 10 at Texas.

The Dallara-Chevrolets of Team Penske also will be heavy favorites at Texas. Josef Newgarden passed teammate Scott McLaughlin on the final lap for the victory last year as Penske took three of the top four (with defending series champion Will Power in fourth).

Texas marks the first of five oval races for IndyCar, which also will visit Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. There are 28 drivers entered for the 36th IndyCar race at Texas, the series’ most at the track since 30 in June 2011.

Scott Dixon has a series-high five victories at Texas, mostly recently in May 2021. Helio Castroneves (four wins), Newgarden (two) and Power (two) also are multiple winners at Texas.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the PPG 375 race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway (all times are ET):

INDYCAR PPG 375 TEXAS START TIMES

TV: Sunday, noon ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe (whose first career IndyCar victory came at St. Petersburg 10 years ago).

Marty Snider and Dave Burns are the pit reporters. Telemundo Deportes on Universo will provide a Spanish-language telecast. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying and Indy NXT races. (Click here for information on how to sign up for Peacock.)

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 12:10 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 12:15 p.m. ET

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after the race ends.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for practices and qualifying.

INDYCAR RADIO NETWORK: The IndyCar and Indy Lights races and all practices and qualifying sessions will air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the IndyCar app.

PRACTICE: Saturday sessions at 9 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (Peacock Premium), 1:45 p.m.

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session I l Session II

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 12:15 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

STARTING LINEUP: Click here for the grid at Texas

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 250 laps (375 miles) on a 1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth, Texas

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Eleven primary sets to be used during practice, qualifying and the race. An extra set will be available to cars in the high-line practice session.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 67 degrees with a 71% chance of rain at the green flag.

ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 28 cars entered