Red Bull GRC: Indianapolis round set at Lucas Oil Raceway - MotorSportsTalk

Red Bull Global Rallycross’ trip to Indianapolis on July 9 will see the series race at Lucas Oil Raceway. The release from the series with all the details is below:

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Red Bull Global Rallycross will make its long-awaited debut in Indianapolis on July 8-9 with a brand new event at Lucas Oil Raceway. Red Bull Global Rallycross Indianapolis will kick off the second half of the series’ 2017 schedule, hosting the seventh round of this year’s championship.

“For years, we have been asked when Red Bull GRC would come to Indianapolis, and we’re proud to make our debut in the city this July,” said Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne. “Indianapolis has an incredible racing heritage, and many of our competitors call the area home. We are excited to bring a brand new form of racing to the city, we’re expecting an impressive first event in 2017.”

The Lucas Oil Raceway layout will see drivers start on the backstretch of the oval, charging through oval Turns 3 and 4 and hitting full speed in front of the grandstand. After continuing into oval Turn 1, drivers will cut left into the infield before taking on a left-right combination that sends them the opposite direction up the pit lane.

Here, drivers will take on the series’ signature 70-foot jump and dirt section, following the dirt all the way up the pit access road before a left-hand hairpin returns them to the oval. A dramatic Joker Lap cuts off the entire Turn 1 and infield section, sending drivers directly to the dirt in a move that can save over five seconds per lap.

Opened as Indianapolis Raceway Park more than five decades ago, Lucas Oil Raceway is world-renowned for hosting drag racing’s U.S. Nationals since 1961. The Indianapolis area is also home to multiple Red Bull GRC teams, including two-time defending Supercar champions Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, 2015 and 2016 Supercar race winners Bryan Herta Rallysport, 2016 GRC Lites champions Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and series newcomers Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”