Robert Wickens will miss IndyCar iRacing opener at Glen

After briefly seeming he would be able to make the opener of the IndyCar iRacing Challenge, Robert Wickens announced Saturday he is officially out.

Despite a last-scramble to provide him equipment, Wickens tweeted that his Max Papis Innovations steering wheel wouldn’t arrive in time because of a courier problem.

“I can’t thank Max Papis and Cary Bettenhausen enough for all their hard work to try (to) make this happen,” Wickens said in a statement. “I see sim racing as more than a six-race challenge with friends and competitors. I have been working with Arrow McLaren SP to continue to develop what I need to return to racing. Sim racing will be the perfect platform for that.”

RACE INFORMATION: Full details for today’s IndyCar iRacing Challenge

Wickens had put a last-minute call out Thursday night after problems acquiring simulation rig equipment, and it had seemed hopeful Friday.

The IndyCar iRacing Challenge, which will include several NTT Series stars and seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson racing at Watkins Glen International, will begin at 4 p.m. ET on IndyCar.com and several streaming platforms.

The sim was ready to go! Just need to plug the wheel in! @IndySimulation, @SimXperience and @PitFitTraining basically did an all nighter getting the sim calibrated to the wheel base and added electronics of the hand controls for the project. pic.twitter.com/56GINQkoAx

— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) March 28, 2020

The mastermind @maxpapis of @MPI_INNOVATIONS built the wheel in a race against the clock to ship before 6pm last night! Here is what the finished product looked like. I can’t wait to try it out soon. pic.twitter.com/j7ZKvdZFf3

— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) March 28, 2020

Unfortunately I will not be able to make today’s @IndyCar @iRacing event. There was an issue with the courier and the @MPI_INNOVATIONS steering wheel will not arrive in time for today’s race.

Please read a full statement.@IndySimulation @ArrowMcLarenSP @ArrowGlobal @Lucas_Oil pic.twitter.com/qJpV9kes7h

— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) March 28, 2020

With three multiple winners now vying for the championship, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Round 11 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

Chase Sexton earned his second victory of the season in Detroit when Aaron Plessinger fell on the final lap. Though he was penalized seven points for disobeying a flag, Sexton is third in the championship race. The Honda rider trails leader Cooper Webb (two victories) by 17 points, and defending series champion Eli Tomac (five wins) is three points behind Webb in second with seven races remaining.

Tomac won last year in Seattle on the way to his second season title.

Honda riders have a Supercross-leading 20 victories in the Seattle event but none at Lumen Field since Justin Barcia in 2013. Tomac and Barcia are the only past 450 Seattke winners entered in Saturday’s event.

Here are the pertinent details for watching Round 11 of the 2023 Supercross season in Seattle:

(All times are ET)

BROADCAST/STREAMING SCHEDULE: TV coverage of Round 11 will begin Saturday at 10 p.m. ET streaming on Peacock with a re-air Monday at 1 a.m. ET on CNBC. The Race Day Live show (including qualifying) will begin on Peacock at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

NBC Sports will have exclusive live coverage of races, qualifiers and heats for the record 31 events in SuperMotocross. The main events will be presented on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

Peacock will become the home of the SuperMotocross World Championship series in 2023 with live coverage of all races, qualifying, and heats from January to October. There will be 23 races livestreamed exclusively on Peacock, including a SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff event. The platform also will provide on-demand replays of every race. Click here for the full schedule.

POINTS STANDINGS: 450 division l 250 division

ENTRY LISTS: 450 division l 250 division

EVENT SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Here are the start times for Saturday’s Supercross Round 11 in Seattle, according to the Monster Energy Supercross schedule from the AMA:

4:50 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 1
5:05 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:20 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:35 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 1
6:25 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 2
6:40 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 2
7:55 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 2
8:10 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 2
10:06 p.m.: 250SX Heat 1
10:20 p.m.: 250SX Heat 2
10:34 p.m.: 450SX Heat 1
10:48 p.m.: 450SX Heat 2
11:22 p.m.: 250SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:34 p.m.: 450SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:54 p.m.: 250SX Main Event
12:28 a.m.: 450SX Main Event