Photo gallery: The first IndyCar iRacing Challenge in striking images

By Mar 29, 2020, 3:30 PM EDT
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VIRTUAL WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — OK, let’s start with the full disclosure that this is assuredly not the real thing.

There was a field of 24 real-world drivers, but everything else about Saturday’s opener of the IndyCar iRacing Challenge was virtual. Sage Karam started on the pole position and stomped the field at Watkins Glen International (which had been chosen by fans in online polling).

The six-race virtual series will move to Barber Motorsports Park for an April 4 race that will take place the day before the real-world race had been scheduled — before novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic erupted and scuttled the 2020 schedule.

WHAT DRIVERS SAID: A roundup of the postrace reaction

RESULTS: Where everyone finished

But even though there was nothing real about the 45-lap online event conducted Saturday on the 11-turn, 3.37-mile road course, the images from the race evoked the feelings of a pleasant Saturday drive at the bucolic track in western New York (thanks to iRacing’s realistic details through laser-mapping tracks).

Here’s a collection of computer-generated images (courtesy of Chris Graythen at Getty Images) that were provided by IndyCar as part of its race recap:

Race winner Sage Karam leads the field into the first turn at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Karam’s No. 24 Wix Filters Dallara-Chevrolet takes the green flag in the American Red Cross Grand Prix at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Will Power finished third in his No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet for Team Penske in the IndyCar iRacing Challenge American Red Cross Grand Prix at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Oliver Askew races his No. 7 Arrow Electronics Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet through a turn at Watkins Glen International, which is known for its elevation changes (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Alexander Rossi’s No. 27 AutoNation Dallara-Honda looked pretty in pink alongside Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Indianapolis 500 defending winner Simon Pagenaud’s bright yellow No. 22 Menards Dallara-Chevrolet flashes past the grandstands during the IndyCar iRacing Challenge American Red Cross Grand Prix at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Defending series champion Josef Newgarden leads a group of cars in his No. 1 Hitachi Dallara-Chevrolet (sporting the new aeroscreen for the 2020 season) during the IndyCar iRacing Challenge American Red Cross Grand Prix at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

 

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson finished 16th in his IndyCar “debut” Saturday at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

 

As seen through a thicket of virtual trees, Graham Rahal races his No. 15 United Rentals Dallara-Honda during the IndyCar iRacing Challenge American Red Cross Grand Prix at virtual Watkins Glen International (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

IndyCar Power Rankings: Pato O’Ward moves to the top entering Texas Motor Speedway

By Mar 29, 2023, 6:00 AM EDT
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The NBC Sports IndyCar power rankings naturally were as jumbled as the action on the streets of St. Petersburg after a chaotic opener to the 2023 season.

Pato O’Ward, who finished second because of an engine blip that cost him the lead with a few laps remaining, moves into the top spot ahead of St. Pete winner Marcus Ericsson and Alexander Rossi, who finished fourth in his Arrow McLaren debut. Scott Dixon and St. Pete pole-sitter Romain Grosjean (who led 31 laps) rounded out the top five.

St. Pete pole-sitter Romain Grosjean (who started first at St. Pete after capturing his second career pole position) Callum Ilott (a career-best fifth) and Graham Rahal entered the power rankings entering the season’s second race.

Three drivers fell out of the preseason top 10 after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – including previously top-ranked Josef Newgarden, who finished 17th after qualifying 14th.

Heading into Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, here’s NBC Sports’ assessment of the current top 10 drivers through the first of 17 races this year (with previous preseason rankings in parenthesis):

NBC Sports’ IndyCar Power Rankings

1. Pato O’Ward (5) – If not for the dreaded “plenum event” in the No. 5 Chevrolet, the Arrow McLaren driver is opening the season with a victory capping a strong race weekend.

2. Marcus Ericsson (7) – He might be the most opportunistic driver in IndyCar, but that’s because the 2022 Indy 500 winner has become one of the series’ fastest and most consistent stars.

3. Alexander Rossi (10) – He overcame a frustrating Friday and mediocre qualifying to open his Arrow McLaren career with the sort of hard-earned top five missing in his last years at Andretti.

4. Scott Dixon (3) – Put aside his opening-lap skirmish with former teammate Felix Rosenqvist, and it was a typically stealthily good result for the six-time champion.

5. Romain Grosjean (NR) – The St. Petersburg pole-sitter consistently was fastest on the streets of St. Petersburg over the course of the race weekend, which he couldn’t say once last year.

6. Scott McLaughlin (6) – Easily the best of the Team Penske drivers before his crash with Grosjean, McLaughlin drove like a legitimate 2023 championship contender.

7. Callum Ilott (NR) – A quietly impressive top five for the confident Brit in Juncos Hollinger Racing’s first race as a two-car team. Texas will be a big oval litmus test.

8. Graham Rahal (NR) – Sixth at St. Pete, Rahal still has the goods on street courses, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan remains headed in the right direction.

9. Alex Palou (4) – He seemed a step behind Ericsson and Dixon in the race after just missing the Fast Six in qualifying, but this was a solid start for Palou.

10. Will Power (2) – An uncharacteristic mistake that crashed Colton Herta put a blemish on the type of steady weekend that helped him win the 2022 title.

Falling out (last week): Josef Newgarden (1), Colton Herta (8), Christian Lundgaard (9)