It's the traditional The Race IndyCar Podcast post-season rankings episode, but did Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand get the top 10 right? Jack and JR offer their top 10s and had some pretty big disagreements in terms of where they placed some drivers (including Pato O'Ward and Scott Dixon) and both had drivers not included in the other's 10 on their list. Jack also discusses the last seats remaining in silly season to be filled. You can contact the show with questions (in a voicenote, if you prefer) and suggestions, via our email address: [email protected]. Let us know your top 10 drivers of the season and where we went wrong. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace to activate your 7-day free trial Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freshly-crowned IndyCar champion Alex Palou pauses his breakfast to chat with The Race IndyCar Podcast about his latest title success. Palou discusses some of his standout stats this year, sticking with Ganassi, how his analytical skill fits IndyCar so well, and his next goal of winning on an oval and an Indy 500. He also addresses his future, and talks about his previous efforts to get to Formula 1 and where he stands on that now - he says he is “not knocking on doors” to get there anymore. Co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon also discuss Palou’s position as one of the IndyCar greats, Herta’s breakthrough oval win and title credentials and Jamie Chadwick joins to discuss her upcoming IndyCar test. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace to activate your 7-day free trial Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a packed episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast ahead of the series finale, with champions, podium breakthrough drivers, strategists and more all packed in. Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand preview what a Nashville oval IndyCar race might be like and look at the championship decider between Alex Palou and Will Power. Those drivers' respective strategists are also featured ahead of a big weekend for Penske and Ganassi. Elsewhere, the scorer of Juncos Hollinger’s first podium, Conor Daly, discusses that feat and being parachuted in mid-season, while seven-time Indy NXT winner Louis Foster also joins the show to discuss his amazing championship season and what could be next for him. To view the full IndyCar championship permutations, click here. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace to activate your 7-day free trial Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything from a lack of a race in Mexico to a brilliant Milwaukee double-header featuring a huge championship missed opportunity make up this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast. JR Hildebrand is on hand for fascinating insight into how drivers bounce back from missed opportunities within their control after Will Power spun while looking set to erode the ailing Alex Palou’s points lead. Both drivers’ weekends are investigated. While talking about the race winners and Pato O'Ward, Hildebrand and Jack Benyon examine the furore over NASCAR getting a race in Mexico before IndyCar, with debates over getting the most out of a diverse driver base and if IndyCar really needs to focus closer to home rather than looking further afield. The fight for $1 million for the top 22 cars in the series also heated up and took a huge swing in Milwaukee as the event returned for the first time since 2015, while one team got its first podium ever and another got its first top fives of the year. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace for your free 7-day trial Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A shock first-time polesitter and a rare instance of Alex Palou's championship lead being reduced give The Race IndyCar Podcast plenty to review from Portland last weekend. More race control decisions in the spotlight, a much more traditional style of race and how that worked out strategically in race winner Will Power's favour, plus the changes made at AJ Foyt recently that made Santino Ferrucci's pole possible are all discussed by Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand. The duo also look ahead to the return of the Milwaukee Mile, home of this weekend's IndyCar double-header after which only one race will remain this season. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An under-the-radar wildcard who's impressing team owners makes a guest appearance on this week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, which also looks back at the Gateway round - where Penske team-mate drama and more issues for Alex Palou's title rivals made for a brilliant race. Jack Benyon is joined by JR Hildebrand to discuss the main talking point from Gateway: a controversial late-race restart. Hildebrand evaluates what he learned from seeing the data, which exonerates winner Josef Newgarden of any wrongdoing on a slow restart late on that resulted in a crash and eliminated title contender and Newgarden's team-mate Will Power. The pair also assess Linus Lundqvist's second podium and what that could mean for the rookie's IndyCar future as he battles to stay on the grid, Colton Herta's rollercoaster weekend and more. Joining the episode is Toby Sowery, the Brit who got a shock IndyCar debut at Mid-Ohio earlier this year and equalled Dale Coyne Racing's best result of the year. He has the best average finish of any rookie in 2024 after two starts and will be back racing this weekend at Portland. Sowery discusses his need to be adaptable, how his talks for next year are coming along, and how vital it is for his hopes that he performs well at Portland. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the driver move nobody saw coming, as David Malukas joins The Race IndyCar Podcast to discuss his blockbuster decision to switch to the AJ Foyt team for 2025. Malukas has his third team in a year - after being dropped by McLaren after his wrist injury and returning to action with Meyer Shank - and he outlines the reasons for his decision to switch. He also addressed rumours about this being a ploy to get to Team Penske - linked to Foyt - in the future, and answers those who think this is a backwards or sideways move, as well as discussing his strong form on his return. Kyle Kirkwood - and Malukas - preview this weekend’s race at Gateway, too. Andretti Global's Kirkwood also discusses his incredible consistency this year - something he’s been criticised for a lack of in the past - and talks about the adaptation to IndyCar from a successful junior career. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got a bonus episode in the feed this week, from our sister podcast Bring Back V10s. Glenn Freeman and Matt Beer are joined by longtime IndyCar reporter Curt Cavin to look back at the 1995 Indy 500 - a race won famously by Jacques Villeneuve - which was the last before US single-seater racing's dreaded CART vs IRL 'split' that changed the racing landscape in North America. But this episode isn't just a celebration of Villeneuve's incredible victory after getting a two-lap penalty. We also look at the pre-race shock of the Penske team failing to qualify, Firestone's stunning return to the Speedway for the first time since the 1970s, Honda's recovery from a humiliating 1994 attempt, and the moment that decided the race, when Villeneuve's fellow Canadian Scott Goodyear passed the pace car on the final restart, getting himself black flagged while leading.  With 'the split' on the horizon, we also look at the political landscape in IndyCar racing in May 1995, when nobody realised just how bad the battle between CART and the IRL was about to become.  Want MORE BBV10s? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon and get bonus episodes, including the 1997 Revisited Series! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar commentator Kevin Lee joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast to analyse Colton Herta's two-year win drought coming to an end in Toronto, and a shock call-up for Theo Pourchaire at the McLaren team which sacked him. Lee joins The Race’s Jack Benyon to discuss Herta’s path to redemption, plus the excitement in the paddock when it became clear Pourchaire would be flying from Nice to Canada to qualify and race for McLaren. The huge crash triggered by Pato O’Ward’s spin prompts discussion about the development of car safety in IndyCar, and the guys also chat about what to expect next from the title race after almost all of Alex Palou’s rivals stumbled while he went from 18th to fourth. Lee also explains how he came to be a commentator in IndyCar, discusses the new perspective he's got since his son Jackson started racing, and gives his take on what the new hybrid has done both for IndyCar and for him as a commentator. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A controversial Iowa double-header where overtaking was tough and an interview with race winner Will Power make up this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Power won race two and discusses his journey to being a better oval driver, a first win at Iowa (and the rebound that required), plus his chances of taking a third title with just six races in the series remaining.  He also discusses how he feels about his long-term IndyCar future after questioning whether he should race while his wife was ill last year. Elsewhere hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand assess Scott McLaughlin’s claim he felt he wasn’t an IndyCar driver before winning on oval, Penske’s dominance at Iowa, and what transpired to make one of the most exciting oval races become such a poor spectacle in terms of on-track passing. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward joins this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast in a special interview after his race win at Mid-Ohio on Sunday. O'Ward discusses the weight being lifted of his and the team's shoulders following the end of a near two-year winless streak, talks about his rollercoaster season so far, and describes how he feels about his championship chances after vaulting into third in the standings. He also discusses McLaren's fight to catch Ganassi as IndyCar's top dog and the impact of Tony Kanaan as the team's sporting director this year. Elsewhere, regular hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand break down the Mid-Ohio race and have a very detailed look at how the debut of IndyCar's hybrid unit really went. They also look ahead to this weekend's Iowa double-header where a repaved track alongside the hybrid's oval debut creates plenty to get stuck into. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A ranking of the top 10 drivers in IndyCar so far this year and what to expect from its new hybrid unit are the big talking points on this week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. JR Hildebrand is on hand to dissect Jack Benyon's top 10 rankings and ask some crucial questions of where Benyon has gone wrong, and pin down some of the areas he has right. Elsewhere the duo outline some key things to watch as IndyCar's hybrid unit makes a mid-season debut, and react to the news that Alexander Rossi will leave McLaren and be replaced by Christian Lundgaard. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Palou destroying the opposition, a wild weekend for record-breaking Romain Grosjean, and a controversial yellow flag trend make up the talking points of this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon are back together to analyse IndyCar's latest round in Laguna Seca, and how Palou came out on top again at a track he's made a habit of dominating at. They also assess Palou's title credentials, and who might be favourite with a host of ovals and the new hybrid unit ready to shake things up. Grosjean’s rise up the order to deliver Juncos Hollinger’s best IndyCar finish is also on the agenda, as is the trend of IndyCar delaying a yellow flag to avoid cars being caught out and not allowed to pit. The hosting duo also assess how David Malukas, returning from a wrist injury, and his 'replacement' Nolan Siegel (via Theo Pourchaire) got on in their new homes. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a huge episode as a driver dropped from McLaren discusses his return and an ace rookie talks his first pole position in exclusive interviews with The Race IndyCar Podcast. In our first episode since Road America, The Race’s editor Matt Beer joins to discuss that event and Will Power’s win and under-the-radar bid for a third title. He also gives his thoughts on Colton Herta’s amazing highs and disappointing lows and an ace comeback from Romain Grosjean. Linus Lundqvist was one of the stories of the weekend bagging his first pole, and he joins to break down that pole and how he’s feeling about what on paper might look like a poor season - even if so much has happened that's outside of his control. Meyer Shank Racing's new signing David Malukas is also interviewed, jumping on to explain his recovery from a wrist injury, how last week’s Milwaukee test went, and what comes next for him before and after his series return at Laguna Seca next week. Host Jack Benyon also brings us up to speed on all the big headlines that have happened in the last couple of weeks, including a new TV deal and 2025 calendar, the Agustin Canapino/Theo Pourchaire saga and intriguing information from Alex Palou’s lawyers in his legal defence from McLaren. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/therace Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last weekend’s wild Detroit race is the subject of this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Was it a good race? It was certainly entertaining, but co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon reckoned it crossed a line. They assess driving standards (and how drivers need to do better), how the race was officiated, Dixon’s winning strategy, and how Alex Palou’s incredible 23-race streak came to an end. Angst in the paddock is also discussed after tempers flared between Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood. Note: This episode was recorded before it was announced that Theo Pourchaire had received death threats from fans after a crash with Agustin Canpino during the race, so we’ll address that in the future. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/therace Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special bonus episode features a heartfelt interview with 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud, who drove his late mentor Gil de Ferran's car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week. Pagenaud raced for 2000-2001 CART champion de Ferran, who died in late 2023, when the former first came to America, and through the rest of his career de Ferran was a close friend and confidant Pagenaud could always lean on. Speaking to The Race, Pagenaud discusses the origins of that relationship, and how Gil's family asked him to run demo laps of de Ferran's Penske car at The Brickyard. Pagenaud even wore de Ferran's suit and gloves from 2003 and ran a special helmet design. The weather on race day robbed Pagenaud of doing a proper demo run in front of a full crowd as was the plan, so bear that in mind while listening, but we still wanted to bring you the interview recorded on Thursday of race week because of Pagenaud's honest and emotional insight into de Ferran. We won't be discussing Pagenaud's 2023 crash in this episode as we respect his right to privacy during his recovery, and wish him all the best in that continued journey. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Less than a couple of hours after his Indianapolis 500 win, Josef Newgarden joins The Race to discuss defending his title with a spectacular move on Pato O'Ward for the win. Newgarden discusses the move that won it, what it means given the controversy surrounding him and the team after he was disqualified at St Petersburg earlier this year, and how qualifying laid the foundations for the success. After that, JR Hildebrand joins Jack Benyon to analyse the key moments of the race with more detail on Pato O'Ward, NASCAR star Kyle Larson and more. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our annual Indy 500 retro special episode features special guest Kenny Brack, looking back on his landmark 1999 Indy win, 25 years ago. Brack explains how, after failing to get on the F1 grid, he landed in the newly formed Indy Racing League, first with Galles Racing in 1998, and then with Foyt, for whom he won the IRL title and the Indy 500 the following year. He recalls the 1999 race, what it did for his career generally (and in Sweden especially), and also packs in some other key career events like the 2003 Texas crash he was lucky to walk away from, and how his comeback in 2005 was enough for him to call time on his career. That comeback came with Rahal, a team he has joined again as a consultant in 2024 - and he explains that move, too. Ahead of the interview, host Jack Benyon is joined by The Race's Matt Beer, to provide background on the unusual racing landscape in the US at the time of Brack's victory, when top-level single-seater racing was split between the IRL and CART (and top teams like Ganassi and Penske weren't racing at the 500). Jack also speaks to journalist, podcaster and media ace Mattias Persson, a Swede who explains how important Brack’s win was for helping the country fall in love with motorsport again after a tough period, and how Brack helped inspired the current crop of Marcus Ericsson and Felix Rosenqvist. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features an interview with the winner of the fastest-ever four-lap pole run in the history of the Indianapolis 500, Scott McLaughlin. The Team Penske driver talks about how a change of line helped unlock speed, his journey from tin-tops to single-seater superstar in just over four years, and gives some insight into his race car for Sunday’s 108th running of the Indy 500. Tune in for more from McLaughlin. Elsewhere, co-host JR Hildebrand has been sleuthing in the paddock over the last week, identifying some of the key reasons for Chevrolet’s apparent gains over Honda and how a suspension part has been causing plenty of intrigue. Kyle Larson’s stunning run to fifth on his Indy 500 debut and Marcus Ericsson’s fight to make the race as he was under threat from going home after a crash on Thursday as part of the ‘Bump Day’ drama are also analysed. We’ll be back before the race day with a special annual retro episode featuring an interview with an Indy 500 winning driver on a special anniversary. To join The Race Members' Club, click here to sign up, or you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Palou’s Indy road course win, a host of expletive-filled spats and a look at the Indy 500 starting this week makes up this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Hosting duo JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon look at Alex Palou starting May in the same way as last year, with a pole and a win on the Indy road course, what that means for his title rivals and how Christian Lundgaard was hard done by. Of course, Colton Herta calling his team-mate Marcus Ericsson an “ass” and Romain Grosjean and Santino Ferrucci’s unusual wheel-banging feud are also analysed. After that, Hildebrand explains some intricacies of how Indy 500 qualifying works, and gives his thoughts on how badly impacted reigning winner Josef Newgarden will be after some of his crew have been suspended ahead of the event. There’s also a run through the schedule this week and some things to look for as practice unfolds. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a bumper episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast as Theo Pourchaire discusses his new deal with McLaren, and points leader Colton Herta is also interviewed. Pourchaire will do all of the remaining IndyCar races for McLaren this season apart from the Indy 500, replacing David Malukas who was released after a hand injury. Pourchaire discusses missing out on an F1 seat (so far at least), the crazy month where he went from “sitting at home” to becoming a full time IndyCar driver, how he's adapting to American culture, and more on his oval test at Gateway earlier this week. And in our second interview, Colton Herta discusses being the IndyCar championship leader for the first time. He outlines how that’s influencing his approach, the impact of Andretti dropping to three cars for 2024, and what it was like to drive his dad’s 1998 Reynard at Laguna Seca last year. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a lot to get into on this episode, with two of the biggest IndyCar stories in recent memory sandwiching a race weekend. Jack Benyon and co-host JR Hildebrand give their thoughts on the scandal engulfing the series last week as Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were disqualified from the season opener for illegal push-to-pass usage. McLaughlin rebounded in the perfect way to give Penske victory last weekend at Barber and the episode breaks down how he did it, as at one point it was certain his unassailable lead had been taken away from him. Elsewhere this week, the situation surrounding David Malukas being dropped by Arrow McLaren is addressed as he exits without having started a race and without a publicised recovery time. How the situation has been handled and what is next for Malukas and McLaren forms part of the discussion. Also from Barber, there’s chat about McLaren’s tough start to the year, how its old driver Felix Rosenqvist has scored top 10s in every race and is ahead of Pato O’Ward in the championship, and why a rejuvenated Colton Herta has jumped into an early points lead. If you want to join The Race Members' Club, click here to sign up, or you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand discuss Scott Dixon’s genius and how it led to a stunning victory in Long Beach. Dixon’s outrageous victory on the streets of California - underpinned by his insane fuel-saving abilities - drew praise from all corners of motorsport at the weekend. As well as discussing how he won and the qualities that mean Dixon can do things his peers can’t, Hildebrand outlines some memories of racing wheel-to-wheel with Dixon and what makes him great in the process. Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire’s excellent debut for Arrow McLaren is also analysed, along with his prospects for a repeat performance at Barber this weekend, plus the guys dive into how IndyCar officiated the Josef Newgarden/Colton Herta incident that impacted the finish of the race. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up or join in Apple Podcast app Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A crucial test for the Indy 500, an extended injury delay opening the door for the reigning F2 champion and an F1 feeder series juggernaut entering a new two-car team left plenty to discuss on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon are back to discuss Josef Newgarden and Team Penske’s form after topping the Indy 500 Open Test, and break down NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s second-fastest time performance with some key insight into how he’s approaching advice for his IndyCar debut as well. Prema Racing’s two-car team for 2025 is outlined with Hildebrand impressed with how well previous drivers and employees speak of the team. And of course, who to watch in this weekend’s Long Beach Grand Prix, with F2 champion Theo Pourchaire looking likely to replace David Malukas adding to the storylines. Hildebrand explains why he thinks this is more of a long-term move by the team. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up or join in Apple Podcast app Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Thermal $1 Million Challenge non-points race has been widely panned by fans, so The Race IndyCar Podcast does a deep dive into the event this week. JR Hildebrand joins Jack Benyon to discuss the things we liked and disliked from the event. Of course, the fact that it was so seemingly universally disliked - at least on social media - triggers a worry for Benyon that IndyCar will be scared to try new things - something it has been criticised for not doing recently. The venue, heat format, push-to-pass in qualifying, the prize money not being enough and addressing some of the wider problems with the event’s messaging all make up parts of the analysis. Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden joins The Race IndyCar Podcast to discuss his perfect start to the year with a pole and a win in the IndyCar season opener, and victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona with Porsche. Speaking to hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand, Newgarden goes into more detail than he has before on the mental struggles he went through last year, even admitting there were times that he didn’t want to get into the car. He also talks about the intricacies of his win in St Pete, and what that might mean for the rest of a campaign in which he's aiming for a first championship win since 2019, despite winning more races than any other driver in that period. With the Thermal $1 million Challenge event taking place this weekend, Newgarden gives a driver’s insight into the event, while Benyon explains the event’s unusual format with two heat races and a final dash for cash where the winner should earn $500,000. Finally, Newgarden discusses the ‘bittersweet’ travails of his native IndyCar round at Nashville, which has been moved from its downtown street circuit location to an oval further out of the city. Click here to take our quick survey about your podcast habits and you could win £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast is back to what it does best - analysing races - after the 2024 IndyCar season got underway in St Petersburg last weekend. Indy 500 regular and Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand joins The Race’s Jack Benyon to provide some fascinating insight into Josef Newgarden's victory, and the American driver's comments about how he's struggled to enjoy his racing and the steps he has taken to fix that. Chevrolet and Penske’s strong starts are also discussed, as are terrible starts to the season for different reasons for two big marquee signings in Marcus Ericsson and Romain Grosjean. A starring rookie at Ganassi is also name-checked amid a rollercoaster race for that team, while Hildebrand gives his take on what Benyon called a disappointing race from an excitement perspective, and how IndyCar’s current ideological crisis might have been the root cause. Join The Race Members Club and have a free month on us! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Hinchcliffe and Jamie Chadwick are the star guests on this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, which previews the 2024 IndyCar season-opener at St Petersburg. After a long off-season, the series is back and as a former race winner at St Pete and one of the series' TV commentators, 'Hinch' is the perfect person to help preview the race alongside hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand. Hinch analyses the track, paying special attention to Turns 3 and 14, and also talks about what winning at St Pete in 2013 - his first IndyCar victory - meant for his career. Hinchcliffe also picks out some of the storylines he’s most looking forward to covering this year in the 2024 IndyCar Series. Following that, Jamie Chadwick drops in for a chat ahead of her second season in IndyCar feeder category, Indy NXT. Chadwick discusses the areas of focus for her off-season, her goals for this year and beyond, and also the new karting programme she has launched to try and get young girls into karting. And finally, Jack breaks down some of the recent IndyCar driver moves, including three drivers being announced in the week leading up to the event, a new contract for one of its stars, the latest on a court case for another and more in a news round-up. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're delighted to welcome a special guest to The Race IndyCar Podcast this week, as Indianapolis 500-winning engineer Angela Ashmore of Chip Ganassi Racing joins the show. From watching short-track racing as a child to engineering in NASCAR, Ashmore has a diverse resume that most recently led her to winning the 500 with Marcus Ericsson as his assistant engineer, before being promoted to lead engineer for Marcus Armstrong at the team in 2024. Ashmore discusses how well the job of assistant prepares you for the lead engineering role, and looks at some of the key areas where there’s big gains to be made as an engineer. She also explains what she expects from IndyCar Rookie of the Year Marcus Armstrong and the team this year. Ashmore also speaks passionately about becoming (according to the series) only the fourth female lead engineer in IndyCar history, including being a visible role model for women wanting to get into motorsport, and what the IndyCar paddock is like to work in. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] FEBRUARY IS FREE! Join The Race Members Club and have a free month on us! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the start of the 2024 IndyCar season a little over a month away, it's time for us to pick out five things to watch this year. Indy Lights champion and Indy 500 regular (and hopeful for 2024) JR Hildebrand is back alongside The Race’s Jack Benyon to break down some of this year’s most interesting storylines, including whether anyone can stop reigning champion Alex Palou. They also get into Andretti shrinking to three cars and Marcus Ericsson’s title hopes, a superstar debut at the Indy 500, what Romain Grosjean can do with his second shot at a rebirth in IndyCar, and whether Rahal Letterman Lanigan match its championship-contending road course form with a big step up on the ovals. You can leave feedback, ask questions and get in touch with the show via our email address, [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast is back for 2024 with an interview with one of the surprises of the silly season and more listeners’ tech questions answered. At one stage Alex Palou looked nailed on to drive for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar this year, but a change of heart meant McLaren had to move quickly to snap up a replacement. They turned to young prospect David Malukas, who joins the show for the first time as a McLaren driver. He talks about what is expected of him at McLaren given he is Palou’s replacement, discusses where he needs to step up in 2024, and even cons co-host Jack Benyon with his photoshop skills. Plus, plenty more. Ace engineer Charlie Ping re-joins the show to follow-up on the special episode we did on listeners’ questions about tech to answer the remaining queries. We discuss what is a shaker rig, the difference in approach between an F1 engineer and an IndyCar engineer, pack racing and how to approach a new track in IndyCar. You can leave feedback, ask questions and get in touch with the show via our email address, [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast brings you a mega episode full of your questions relating to tech, and no stone is left unturned in the present or hypothetical future of the series. Of course, questions about IndyCar’s recently delayed hybrid unit dominate, but JR Hildebrand and our very special guest, engineer Charlie Ping, also take questions on a range of other topics including the 12-year-old chassis, while Hildebrand even outlines his future for what he thinks IndyCar should do to avoid stagnating in an impassioned plea for change. It’s not just tech itself we’re talking about, it’s why certain areas of tech are allowed to be developed or not in what is a spec-chassis series. How dampers came to be open to development and where the series engine regs could be improved to lower costs also form part of the answers. Ping also gives a full explainer of dampers - the most open area for development outside of the engine on an IndyCar - what they control in the IndyCar machine and how they impact set-up philosophy, with Hildebrand explaining what it’s like as a driver to be at an under-funded team trying to outsmart the bods at the well-funded top outfits. We’ve still got some questions left over to answer in a future episode, so if you have a question for our hosting team, email [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From sitting on the sidelines with less prize money than previous Indy Lights champions to scoring a “unicorn” IndyCar seat, Linus Lundqvist’s epic tale is the basis of this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. After being “petrified” he'd miss his chance, Lundqvist put what little money he had into an audition which fired him to stardom and a seat at the Chip Ganassi Racing team that won the title this year, and which he’ll drive for in the 2024 season. Lundqvist joins the show and speaks honestly about the ups and downs of his last 12 months, gives some drivers’-eye detail into what it’s like trying to strike a contract in IndyCar, and discusses balancing the relief of finally landing a drive with the immediate weight of expectation that comes with driving for a team like Ganassi. JR Hildebrand also joins to discuss the biggest news story of the moment: Andretti shrinking to three cars in 2024. JR will be back with a special guest for an upcoming tech special talking all things dampers, aero and more. If you'd like to submit a question for that episode, email [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a mammoth episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast this week as Romain Grosjean’s IndyCar reprieve at Juncos after being dropped by Andretti is analysed in detail. Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand is back alongside The Race’s Jack Benyon, as they assess Grosjean’s time in IndyCar and if he did enough to earn this second-chance opportunity. Could it be that he’s found the perfect level here? How Grosjean might adapt to his new team off-track and how the social media abuse Callum Ilott received during his stint there might impact him are also discussed. Hildebrand also goes into detail on what it’s like to have to alter your inherent driving style, with some fascinating behind-the-visor insight, amid the question of whether the understeer-averse Grosjean will be able to adapt to Juncos’s car. Callum Ilott leaving Juncos is also addressed, along with how the big move impacts the rest of the seats still available in silly season. Follow The Race on Twitter to take part in The Race F1 Cup! Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got an interview double header on this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, as host Jack Benyon (without regular co-host JR Hildebrand!) chats to both former Indy 500 champion Marcus Ericsson and IndyCar newcomer Juri Vips. First up, Ericsson discusses his big off-season switch from Ganassi to Andretti, explaining why he's so excited about the move, how his strengths could help Andretti’s perceived weakness, and the possibility of one day driving an Andretti F1 car. The Swede also gives Jack a brilliant behind-the-visor insight into what IndyCar’s new hybrid package is like at 240mph on the Indianapolis oval, after running the system recently ahead of its 2024 introduction. Following that, Jack chats to Juri Vips about being parachuted into RLL for the final two races of 2023, with the Estonian discussing his transition from F2, his stunning Laguna qualifying performance, and being thrust into a battle for nearly $1 million in the championship. He also discusses how he hopes to learn from the second chance he's been given, following a turbulent 2022 in which he was axed from Red Bull's F1 programme for using a racial slur, meaning the Portland IndyCar race in September was his first competitive outing in over a year. Jack rounds off the episode with a news round-up, bringing listeners up to date on the latest on Romain Grosjean's arbitration process with Andretti, amongst other topics. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast features a double-header: A rundown of the top 10 drivers of the season and an interview with the new Indy NXT champion, Christian Rasmussen. Indy Lights champion and Indy 500 regular JR Hildebrand co-hosts as usual alongside The Race’s Jack Benyon as they create a combined top 10 driver ranking. They highlight the key stats that support their decisions, and look back at their mid-season rankings to see which drivers moved around and why. Following that, Jack speak to Indy NXT champion Christian Rasmussen. The five-time race winner joined us ahead of a maiden IndyCar test with Ed Carpenter Racing earlier this week, and will race in the Indy 500 and one other IndyCar race as part of his Indy NXT prize. Rasmussen discusses his racing background, how he ended up in America in the first place as a Dane, how his title-winning season came together and his opinion on his chances of a 2024 IndyCar drive. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Read Jack's article ranking all 23 regular season drivers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast wraps up all the awards, battles and fights from the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca, with plenty to discuss on and off the track. With JR Hildebrand alongside host Jack Benyon, the pair discuss the contentious penalties and how they perhaps reflect a wider problem with officiating this year, with eventual winner Scott Dixon’s shunt with Rinus VeeKay and Colton Herta’s rocket start being used as case studies. There’s also a look at whether this was a good race or not, as it descended into a farcical mess at times but also delivered the kind of unpredictability a Formula 1 fan could only dream of.  There’s also the manufacturers’ championship, Rookie of the Year, Indy NXT title, Leaders’ Circle ‘winner’ and the latest from the silly season to get into. Finally, the pair describe where the introduction of the hybrid unit for IndyCar is, with some whisperings that getting it ready for 2024 is going to be a struggle for the series. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Send us an email via [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freshly-crowned 2023 IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou joins this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast within hours of sealing his second title. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver discusses his evolution as a driver and how he didn't want to win this title through consistency alone - something he's certainly managed, with his fifth win of the season in Portland sealing the title. Palou also addresses the fact that he could have been at a different team if his move to McLaren had come off last year, and admits, while he wishes things had played out differently, he wanted to win the title to reward his Ganassi team. JR Hildebrand joins Jack Benyon to break down more from the Portland race, including a rare Scott Dixon rant, whether IndyCar's caution rule is correct, if Palou should have had a blocking penalty, and more backmarker questions. There's also a silly season update with McLaren and Meyer Shank set for moves, news of a very special CART car test this week involving Bryan and Colton Herta, the latest on Indy NXT, and what to watch for in the nearly $1 million contest that's still to be decided at a resurfaced Laguna Seca. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Send us an email via [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A stunning Gateway drive gave Scott Dixon a second win in a row and left his rivals marvelling at his untouchable skills, making sure The Race IndyCar Podcast has plenty to talk about on this week's episode. Why more people didn't go for Dixon's three-stop strategy, and what it means for his title charge are discussed by co-hosts, The Race's Jack Benyon and Indy 500 regular JR Hildebrand. Whether Pato O'Ward is outperforming his car or he's a lost title contender after a rollercoaster year is also debated, while Hildebrand gives a fascinating insight into how drivers analyse and try to improve when they are proving inconsistent like Josef Newgarden and Team Penske have been this year. Outside of Gateway, there's news on Marcus Ericsson, Juri Vips and Tom Blomqvist amid a busy silly season. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Send us an email via [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the race where he earned his best IndyCar result last year, and amid rumours over his future, David Malukas joins The Race IndyCar Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation. The 21-year-old discusses his decision to leave Dale Coyne Racing and the reasons behind it, why this year has been a struggle for the team, and his belief that his talent could secure a better seat for 2024. He also talks about the changes he's made to his physical training and diet, and why he's using a mental coach as he looks to improve his performance in his sophomore campaign. Following the interview, host Jack Benyon brings you a round-up of the latest IndyCar news, including McLaren initiating legal proceedings with Alex Palou over his future, the latest 2024 hybrid engine test, and what's going on in the driver market silly season. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Send us an email via [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Scott Dixon pulled off a win from crashing on the first lap and the restart of the Alex Palou/Ganassi/McLaren fight headline this The Race IndyCar Podcast episode. There's only so many ways drivers can save fuel and yet Dixon is the absolute master, combining that with brilliant tyre management to shock everyone and deny Graham Rahal victory on the Indianapolis road course. JR Hildebrand gives you a behind-the-visor look at how and why Dixon's so impressive in these scenarios. Is Rahal underappreciated, or underrated? The hosts debate that, looking at his six years without a pole or win, the former being broken this weekend, and also examine Josef Newgarden's title chances after his nightmare weekend. Finally, the blockbuster news that Zak Brown claims Alex Palou has gone back on an alleged contract with the McLaren team and won't race for it in 2024, and the chaos that ensued in the aftermath, is well covered. We answer how and why this has all happened, some of the reasons behind it, and what might be next for McLaren which seemingly needs to find a new elite driver ASAP. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast looks back on Kyle Kirkwood’s second win of the year in Nashville and features an in-depth interview with debut star Linus Lundqvist. Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand debate Kirkwood’s progression in the series after his second win, discussing his sometimes questionable racecraft but also his outstanding pace that has put him above ace team-mates Colton Herta and Romain Grosjean this season. Lundqvist, meanwhile, gives his first interview since being confirmed in the Meyer Shank car in place of the concussed Simon Pagenaud for a second week. He discusses some of the reasons behind his fast start, doing his first ever pitstop, how the weekend has impacted his chances of a 2024 drive, and how racing under that pressure impacts his mindset and performance. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Right now, you can get $50 off your purchase of $500 or more with code THERACE at bluenile.com To get 15% off go to mudwtr.com/therace to support the show and use code THERACE for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The winners of the last three IndyCar races are guests on this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast , which sees hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand in conversation with Josef Newgarden and Christian Lundgaard. Newgarden completed a sweep of the Iowa double-header the weekend before last, and joins to talk about that weekend, his winning of eight of the last 10 oval races, and joining an amazing club of three drivers to win five-straight oval events. He also discusses how tough in-season development is in IndyCar and how likely a title fight is with Alex Palou given the 80-point gap. Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Lundgaard, meanwhile, shares his thoughts on his first-ever IndyCar race win at Toronto, how it's impacted what people think about him as a driver, and what it means for the second half of the season. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast reflects on Josef Newgarden's Iowa double and how it impacts his title fight with Alex Palou. Ace oval racer JR Hildebrand breaks down the skills that have taken Newgarden to six career victories at the circuit, and gives his take on Newgarden’s post-race outburst about traffic. JR and co-host Jack Benyon also discuss Palou’s podium recovery and how he managed it with a “bad” car. The hosting duo also look at what it takes to come from Europe and excel on ovals, as a pair of sophomores starred, and give their verdict on a late Felix Rosenqvist charge and the pair of disqualifications in race two. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A wet qualifying made for a jumbled order, but even in the dry the Toronto IndyCar street race provided plenty of talking points for this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, including a maiden win for Christian Lundgaard. Can Lundgaard now be considered one of IndyCar's elite drivers? And how much will the momentum from this win impact his peaky Rahal Letterman Lanigan team? Those are two questions expertly answered by Indy Lights champion, Indy 500 regular and our co-hoist JR Hildebrand. JR and co-host Jack Benyon also analyse Alex Palou’s 15th-to-second drive through the field, and bring listeners up to speed on the latest silly season rumours - including how Palou represents 'the cork in the bottle'. The guys also discuss how Tom Blomqvist faired on his maiden IndyCar weekend after being thrown in at the deep end, and preview the Iowa double header, debating whether track specialist Josef Newgarden might use the event to erode Palou’s championship advantage. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast delivers its annual top 10 drivers of the season at the championship’s mid-way point, with one enormous twist. This year co-hosts Jack Benyon of The Race and Indy 500 regular JR Hildebrand have gone for a top 11 to reflect the foregone conclusion of runaway championship leader Alex Palou being the most obvious number one in racing ranking history. The co-hosts pick their top 11 of the season - or their top 10 without Palou, if you prefer - and then an average of the two is taken, with tie-breaks being decided by number of wins. Among the biggest surprises are the co-hosts picking different 'number 1s' behind Palou, putting Pato O’Ward four-places apart in their rankings, and also managing to place a driver who is behind Marcus Ericsson in the points standings ahead of him in their rankings. You can also contact the show via [email protected] where you can send written or voice note questions for the hosts, request special guests and tell us more of what you want to hear. NOTE: This episode was recorded before Simon Pagenaud was ruled out of racing in Toronto. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Right now, you can get $50 off your purchase of $500 or more with code THERACE at bluenile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another The Race IndyCar Podcast, another Alex Palou win, but still plenty to dissect from the Mid-Ohio race, including the key trick underpinning the Spaniard's recent success. Away from Palou, hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand also discuss the other big story of the race: Backmarkers and blue flags, with Benjamin Pedersen copping a torrent of abuse for holding up multiple drivers during the race. Should the rules around blue flags be changed? That's just one topic up for discussion. And there's also time to chat about another unconverted pole for Colton Herta and Simon Pagenaud’s weekend-ending somersault crash. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Go to grammarly.com/GO to download and learn more about GrammarlyGO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver and ex-Formula 1 racer Alexander Rossi joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast to talk about his strong maiden year with his new team. Rossi has been one of the under-the-radar stars of the year and could be as high as fourth in the championship had two other results not gone against him, netting four straight top 10s heading into this weekend's race in Mid-Ohio - traditionally one of his strongest tracks. Rossi tells hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand about his preconceptions joining McLaren, gives his take on how well his team have handled expanding to three cars, and discusses managing the weight of expectation that comes from being someone who has previously been a regular championship contender. He also gives a fascinating insight into what it’s like to be managed by his father, discusses what race and car he wants to drive next after Baja and Australian Supercars outings in the past, and explains why he doesn’t have a bet with boss Zak Brown to drive one of the cars in his collection, despite his team-mates having such deals. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A third Alex Palou win in four races, a win slipping away for Colton Herta, and shenanigans with a sewage truck - they're just three of the topics discussed by hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand in our Road America review episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. The hosting duo assess Palou’s rivals' claims that not much has gone wrong for the Spaniard this season, and that he’s still catchable in the title race, while Jack explains his theory as to why Palou’s success could prove a distraction when it comes to Chip Ganassi’s driver market moves. Herta’s disappointing final race stint is also discussed, as Jack asks if this is a time to celebrate Herta’s return to form rather than over-analysing why the win slipped away from him. JR gets a few things off his chest as he talks about why IndyCar needs to move to 1000bhp cars, before the guys get into the matter of the crash and shoving match between Will Power and Scott Dixon, after their big coming together in practice. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A thrilling new street course venue in Detroit and a dominant win by runaway points leader Alex Palou gave hosts Jack Benyon and Indianapolis 500 regular and Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand plenty to discuss on this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast. JR gives his suggestions for how he would alter the new track, which produced a good race but is extremely short, narrow and features plenty of surface changes. Jack and JR also discuss how the track allowed IndyCar to display a rawness not seen in other racing seires, with onboards showing drivers having to tame their cars with opposite lock on nearly every lap. They also debate whether anyone can halt Alex Palou’s title charge after the Spaniard took another victory, discuss why Romain Grosjean hasn't picked up more points this year, pick apart ace rookie Agustin Canapino's season-to-date, and look ahead to the upcoming race at Road America. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2023 Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden is our very special guest on the latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. The Team Penske driver talks about the weight of relief he feels after finally winning the 500 at the 12th attempt. After two years with two new engineers and personnel moving around, Newgarden a;sp discusses what it was like to prove they were capable all along, and also addresses his newborn son’s impact on his life and how having a child has helped him to prioritise his time and become more focused. And of course, he also provides an in-the-helmet breakdown of the last restart and how he made the winning move that gave him a victory by less than a 10th of a second. Co-hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand assess the controversial red flag at the end of the race, Pato O’Ward and Marcus Ericsson’s crash, and run through the field to pick out some of the most interesting storylines. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the eve of the Indianapolis 500, Jack Benyon and co-host JR Hildebrand, an Indy 500 runner-up, discuss all of the big talking points ahead of this year's race at The Brickyard. As cars circulate behind them, they recap qualifying, go over Graham Rahal's late call-up to replace the injured Stefan Wilson (with JR explaining how close he came to the ride), pick their dark horses and favourites for race victory, and much more... Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Palou, the fastest ever Indianapolis 500 pole-winner, is our star guest for this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. The first Spaniard to win an Indy 500 pole is in good form, discussing why securing pole led to such an emotional celebration, how his analytical nature helped him capture P1, and his motivation and desire to score more poles, this being his first on an oval. The 2021 IndyCar champion also looks at how his team-mates - especially Scott Dixon - helped him to win the pole, and how the changing conditions meant he thought his chance for pole on Sunday had slipped away before turning it around for the final showdown. Co-hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand also break down the bump day drama, where Graham Rahal was expelled from the event by RLL team-mate Jack Harvey, who we also hear from. And finally, Juncos Hollinger's Callum Ilott stops by to explain his remarkable qualifying journey, which saw him dramatically switch to a backup car that he had just 12 laps in before delivering a run that got him in the field. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast Jack Benyon and co-host JR Hildebrand analyse Alex Palou beating the McLaren team he’s been linked to joining in the GMR Grand Prix on the Indy road course. Plus, with the build up now well underway, we preview the start of action at the Brickyard ahead of the Indy 500. How will Palou winning so early in the season impact his assault on his year’s title? That's one of the key topics for debate, as is whether McLaren’s rise in performance has made Palou’s previous attempts to leave Ganassi for their rivals look more reasonable. JR talks about what it is going to be like to miss his first Indy 500 after 12 consecutive attempts, and is also on hand to tell you how to view Tuesday to Friday’s Indy 500 practice action, without being duped by the time sheets. He also discusses how Indy’s ride height conundrum will be affected by new aero parts, and how teams will look to manipulate and capitalise on set-ups to find an edge on the opposition. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar championship leader Marcus Ericsson is our guest on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast as we officially kick off the famous 'Month of May'. Before getting to the Indy 500, Ericsson discusses his season so far, makes a promise to improve his out-laps, talks about Chip Ganassi Racing’s improved qualifying form, and explains how it feels to be leading the championship at this stage of the year. Fresh from attending the Kentucky Derby, the 500 is, of course, a big topic of conversation for Ericsson as we are mere days from practice starting. Ericsson, who will not benefit from being under the radar like he was last year, weighs up the likelihood of even more competitive rivals, the pressure to win again versus the peace that comes from winning already, having continuity in the personnel in his team, and how winning the race changed his everyday life beyond recognition. We also ask him for the latest on his future, as he is in a contract year at Ganassi and the list of other suitors appears to be growing by the day... Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a rematch of the Romain Grosjean/Scott McLaughlin on-track warfare and a fascinating strategy chess game, the Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber raised plenty of talking points to debate on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. The Race’s Jack Benyon and IndyCar podium finisher JR Hildebrand analyse Grosjean’s drive, discuss whether his Turn 5 error gave McLaughlin what was already an inevitable win, and explain how he’s excelled in saving fuel in multiple races this year. They also chat about McLaughlin’s habit for seizing an opportunity, whether that's looking dominant in the lead of the race or making a win seem inevitable when coming from behind. The hosts also explain why they aren’t ready to hit the panic button for Josef Newgarden - fresh off of a starring role in IndyCar’s new documentary series - after another troublesome weekend, and wax lyrical about Christian Lundgaard’s ace overtake and why it was even more important than it looked. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar’s latest race winner Kyle Kirkwood is our special guest on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Andretti Autosport's Long Beach victor had a best finish of 10th prior to that race, but with a calm and assured drive in what was a complicated event, Kirkwood emerged victorious - and he reflects on the experience in the show. On the agenda, Kirkwood takes questions about his rollercoaster rise to the top, and how he handled the criticism, pressure, and expectation that came while trying to lead a struggling AJ Foyt team last year. He also breaks down what the switch to Andretti has done for him, as well as discussing the “sanity check” benefit that comes from having experienced team-mates. And of course there's a deep-dive into how he won at Long Beach and how leading and fighting for a win is easier than being in the mid-pack. There’s also some off-piste questions about whether Kirkwood has considered an F1 future, and if he could compete in any event or series, what would it be? Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast digs into several spicy storylines coming out of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, including a driver claiming the gloves are off after a crash that the other party refused to apologise for, a breakthrough win for a long-touted racer, and a driver wanting his crash damage to be paid for. After an action-packed Long Beach race even by IndyCar standards, co-host JR Hildebrand charts his former team-mate Kyle Kirkwood’s rise culminating in last weekend’s win, how criticism of him has been unfair, and what this win might mean for his future. JR and co-host Jack Benyon also unpick the clash between Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward, leading Hildebrand to question whether the racing code has changed and if O’Ward’s move might have been deemed unacceptable in the past, which could make Dixon more feisty in the future. Jack also praises the performance of Marcus Ericsson, as the Ganassi driver picked up the points lead after another podium, and finally, the hosting team round-up what to look for at this week’s Indianapolis 500 two-day test. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]  Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A ‘hate-mail’ inducing pit stop crash, Pato O’Ward’s mindset after heartbreak and success to start 2023 and the reasons for a brilliant Texas oval race punctuate the latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Back after a short break to become a Dad for the first time, co-host and former Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand breaks down the Kyle Kirkwood and Alexander Rossi crash in detail, as well as looking at some of the reasons this Texas race was so good after multiple poorer races have been the norm recently. Josef Newgarden’s status given his first win with another new engineer is discussed, while the hosting team also round up some of the key stories from through the field. Don't forget, if you have a question for Jack or JR, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]  Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast provides an inside view on what it’s like preparing a rookie for their oval debut, with Agustin Canapino’s race engineer Charlie Ping joining the show. Ping has worked for a broad range of IndyCar teams as well as the engine manufacturers and has also spent time in tin-tops in the Australian Supercars series, so is the perfect fit as Canapino’s race engineer having also worked with the show’s co-host JR Hildebrand in the past. On the agenda for this week’s show is assessing Canapino’s adaptation and his somewhat surprising but welcome trait in one key driving area, as well as looking at the team culture Ping works in under boss Ricardo Juncos. Ping also outlines how to prepare a rookie for ovals and some of the traits he looks for in oval newcomers - with Texas marking the first oval race of the season this weekend - as well as some of the key challenges rookies face in the unusual nature of racing in circles. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected].  Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a bumper interview edition of The Race IndyCar Podcast, the series' most recent winner Marcus Ericsson and its latest breakout star Callum Ilott join to discuss their fast starts to the season. Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing gives a unique insight into his St Petersburg victory, before delving into details of his new mental coach for this year, how that’s helped improve his performance and perhaps how speaking about it could break down the stigma associated with drivers getting help from professionals in this area. Ericsson also discusses his post-race comments that he feels he hasn’t been in enough people’s minds for being a title contender this year. F2 runner-up in 2020, Ilott, went from 22nd to fifth at St Pete having scored an incredible front row qualifying start in the last race of the previous season, keeping up his forward momentum. Ilott’s performance in a new, one car team last year meant he was linked to bigger teams for the future and he discusses the team’s upward trajectory, how he’s been able to extract the most from Juncos Hollinger Racing, whether this race is a sign of things to come and a transition from European-based series to racing in the States. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]  Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two airborne crashes, incidents galore and two drivers who had victories stolen from their grasp make up the talking points of this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast after a frantic St Petersburg opener. Regular hosts Jack Benyon of The Race and IndyCar podium finisher JR Hildebrand start with the race’s key incident, as Scott McLaughlin clashed with Romain Grosjean while fighting for victory, which eventually went to Marcus Ericsson. Grosjean hasn’t always been given the respect of his peers in wheel-to-wheel combat Stateside, but this incident was different and the hosting duo look at why. Andretti’s strong start to the season with pole might feel like yet another false dawn after all four of its cars - plus its two affiliated entries at Meyer Shank, including last week’s guest Simon Pagenaud - hit trouble and retired or finished laps down.  But the hosting duo explain why this year feels different for a resurgent Andretti, which has waited 10 years for a title. There’s also discussion on Ericsson’s claims that he and his team aren’t given the credit they deserve, where Arrow McLaren stands after Pato O’Ward was robbed of victory thanks to a plenum fire, and how one of IndyCar’s newest and smallest teams, Juncos Hollinger Racing, excelled with an ace sophomore and shocking rookie onboard. With so much to discuss, the podcast will return next week with special interviews to cover off more of the stories from St Pete. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]  Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode previewing the season commencing in St Petersburg this weekend, The Race IndyCar Podcast is joined by an ace rookie in a race-winning seat and a series champion turned Indy 500 winner. Simon Pagenaud has a big year ahead with 2021 Indy 500 winners Meyer Shank who were brilliant on road courses last year but struggled with tyre wear. The engineering-minded Pagenaud gives a fascinating insight into the ground-up evaluation the team went through in the off-season, his leadership role and some of the trials and tribulations of refining a current IndyCar team into a regular contender without much testing in the off-season. Also joining the episode is Marcus Armstrong, the F2 ace who will drive the road and street courses for Chip Ganassi Racing this year. The last rookie at Ganassi racing at St Pete qualified in the top three, and Armstrong certainly has the ability to ruffle some feathers this season. As a Kiwi, he discusses watching Scott Dixon growing up to being his team-mate, his transition in moving to the States, and how his style matches up against Alex Palou and the other Ganassi drivers after a pre-season test where he excelled.  Co-host JR Hildebrand also weighs in to discuss what he’s expecting in terms of big storylines at St Pete, mainly can Honda fightback against the drivability upgrade Chevrolet brought and dominated with last year, alongside Team Penske.  Send us a question to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast ranks the top five teams by driver line-up, and wraps up IndyCar’s first pre-season test at the $270 million Thermal Club track in Palm Springs. Co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon use The Race’s recent feature ranking the IndyCar team’s by driver line-up to assess the top five in greater detail.  Who was number one? Why has one of IndyCar’s ‘big three’ fallen to fourth, and who got the top spot between Penske and Ganassi? Tune in to find out. Standout performances from the Thermal test are also analysed, with Kyle Kirkwood on the pace in his new seat at Andretti, rookie Agustin Canapino surprising onlookers and Marcus Armstrong matching the pace of his new Ganassi team-mates. READ MORE: Ranking IndyCar's 2023 driver line-ups from worst to best Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NASCAR champion and new McLaren IndyCar signing Kyle Larson joins The Race IndyCar Podcast this week for an exclusive interview on the news he will race in the 2024 Indy 500. Larson is known for his desire and ability to jump in any machinery and go fast quickly, although he’ll face some unique challenges making his IndyCar debut at the Indy 500. He joins hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand to discus what some of those challenges might be, the relevance of the fact he’s already won the NASCAR race - the Coca Cola 600 - that takes place on the same day, what he remembers about watching McLaren growing up, and the involvement of Jeff Gordon in making this deal happen. There’s also talk of what other challenges Larson might want to take on - including testing and even racing an F1 car - and how he adapted to the new Cup Series car in 2022 for the NASCAR fans of the show. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected] Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

McLaren’s new blockbuster Indianapolis 500 driver-signing Kyle Larson has triggered a special episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast this week. NASCAR champion Larson is known for his ability and desire to race in as many different series and disciplines as possible, and that portfolio will expand as he and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick team up with McLaren for a 2024 Indy 500 entry. Regular co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon break down what we know about the move so far, discussing what Larson could achieve in the event given his unique skillset. The duo also discuss what Larson's biggest challenges might be racing in IndyCar - especially given he'll also race in NASCAR on the same day as the Indy 500 - and how his results might affect future crossovers. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new Formula 1 campaign may still be a while away, but international motor racing returns with a bang this weekend with the start of the 2023 Formula E championship. Season 9 brings with it many things: A new generation of car, new tracks, new driver line-ups - and a new host for The Race Formula E Podcast!  Hit like, follow or subscribe in your podcast player of choice to join The Race Formula E Podcast for an electric season of racing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics like driver pay, the series' recent engine delay and a new documentary for the Indy 500 get a driver’s insight on the latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Host Jack Benyon is joined by Rahal Letterman Lanigan driver Graham Rahal, who brings his 15 years of top-level experience to the podcast, as he discusses some of the series’ biggest topics right now. He also sheds a light on the rollercoaster season 2022 proved to be for RLL, which was one of IndyCar’s best teams in 2021 but started last year with a troublesome car and a lack of leadership which led to a winless season full of struggles. Rahal also discusses his “pathetic” five-year winless streak, and how adding personnel like ex-Red Bull and McLaren engineer Stefano Sordo and a brand new factory should help the team moving forward in 2023. Don't forget, if you have a question for our hosting team, you can email text and/or voice notes to be included on the podcast by sending them to [email protected]. LISTEN: Jack joins The Race F1 Podcast to discuss Andretti's F1 bid with Cadillac Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the new year looming, this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast is dedicated to five topics that have our hosts excited already for the 2023 season. IndyCar regular and regular podcast co-host JR Hildebrand joins The Race’s Jack Benyon to take an in-depth look at some of the key storylines for next year, including Arrow McLaren SP’s ascent and its signing of Alexander Rossi and Gavin Ward, how Alex Palou’s return to Chip Ganassi will go after their infamous lawsuit battle, and the emergence of Scott McLaughlin and his 2023 title chances. The duo also pick over the exciting resumption of the Chevrolet vs Honda battle for engine supremacy, especially at the Indy 500, and give their thoughts on Andretti’s bid to end a 10-year run without a title As well as assessing these 2023 talking points, there’s also a news round-up including Marcus Armstrong’s move to Ganassi, Josef Newgarden and McLaughlin’s link up at the Daytona 24 Hours and IndyCar’s latest engine and documentary updates. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Indianapolis 500 winner and ex-Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson is here to answer your questions on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver took questions from the podcast’s audience from Twitter. Obviously the Swede’s Indy 500 victory is a big topic of conversation, including what he felt when he crossed the line, the ‘craziest’ moment since and what it was like taking his trophy back to Sweden. However, the Brickyard success isn’t the only thing on the agenda. IndyCar’s lack of a new chassis to join a new engine in 2024, more ovals on the calendar, what the series can do to get more viewers and his favourite track to drive are all questions that Ericsson answers. He also discusses how much involvement he has in the design of the livery on his cars, his take on fan interaction in the F1 paddock, the number of races on the F1 calendar and even what is his favourite pizza topping. Regular hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon face a grilling as well, taking questions on how much testing there is in IndyCar and how it fits into a season, and also if the Indy 500 is marketed to the detriment of the other races on the calendar. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast asks if you could choose any personnel, how would you construct your perfect IndyCar team to take on the championship regulars? Co-hosts Jack Benyon and Indy 500 podium finisher JR Hildebrand pick a team they would takeover if they could choose any, and then select two engineers, two strategists, a team boss and two drivers to make a perfect Fantasy IndyCar team. The co-hosts have to pick realistic personnel for the roles, and there’s a rich selection to choose from including one person who isn't currently in the IndyCar Series. Hildebrand also gives an update on his plans for 2023 amid movement in the AJ Foyt team he has recently raced for, and the hosting duo discuss some of the news topics from the week. Thanks to podcast listener Marty Troiano for suggesting the idea we’ve used on this episode. Do you agree with the hosts' Dream Team selections? Why not make your own fantasy team using the same rules and send it in to the hosts on social media or via our email, [email protected]. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar’s rookie of the year Christian Lundgaard joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast to discuss his rollercoaster season in which he beat fellow star newcomer David Malukas. Lundgaard reckons no other driver could have extracted more from his Rahal car at the start of the year and discusses the journey the team has undertaken to find competitiveness in the second half of the season after a rocky start to the year, with a second at the Indy road course being his top result. The team’s anticipated development next season, which will be overseen by ex-McLaren F1 engineer Stefano Sordo, is also a big topic of conversation as Lundgaard outlines whether he thinks the team can return to fight for wins in 2023. Having come from a European-based single-seater background, Lundgaard also broaches the tricky topic of junior racing in Europe and America, and the super licence points on offer which hasn’t allowed Colton Herta to make an F1 switch. He also discusses settling into American life while holidaying back home with friends in Denmark. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast introduces some of the stars of tomorrow, featuring interviews with the drivers that will benefit from around $1.5 million in scholarship money in 2023. With three tiers that award money to step up to the next series, there's a lot on the line for these drivers and regular host Jack Benyon is joined by US junior single seater writer Tony DiZinno of Trackside Online to discuss each champion. Indy Lights champion Linus Lundqvist joins the show and offers to swap Colton Herta his Andretti IndyCar seat for the super licence points that he has amassed on his unusual route to the top.  Lundqvist's lack of funding, improved consistency, and future chances are discussed, while Benyon and DiZinno discuss the shock revelation that Lundqvist's scholarship funding has been slashed at what appears to be the last minute. Aiming to follow in Lundqvist's footsteps and win next year’s Indy Lights Championship is Louis Foster, who joins to talk about his Indy Pro 2000 title win, which came in the Brit’s first season of racing in the States. He won an oval and a street circuit having never raced on those styles of track, and joins Andretti for 2023. Finally, USF2000 champion Michael d’Orlando discusses his wild comeback, from 22 points back before the season finale to win the championship at Portland. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race’s now traditional top 10 driver rankings returns on this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast with Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand. The format is simple: Jack and JR independently rank their top 10 drivers of the season and then the two rankings are averaged out to create the ultimate top 10. They discuss the reasoning behind where they’ve placed each driver, with a five-way fight for the championship in the last race providing a really difficult challenge to order the series’ top stars from a competitive season. Who will end up at number one? And will the boys agree on who gets the top spot? Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Less than 24 hours after sealing his second IndyCar Series title, Will Power sat down with The Race IndyCar Podcast to discuss his phenomenal 2022 in an exclusive interview. Co-hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand delve into a multitude of topics with a relaxed and talkative Power, including on his new mental approach for 2022 which he is keen to guard, but did open up on details of what makes it work. He discusses where his 2022 title ranks compared to his earlier successes, and how he might have won many more championships in a series like F1 for example that weights qualifying more heavily in terms of results, off the back of breaking Mario Andretti’s all time pole record last weekend. His desire to give his new crew chief and many of the crew who have been on his car for over 10 years a title having missed out on opportunities before also clearly means a lot to Power, which he discusses here. Following the interview with Power, JR Hildebrand opens up on his own journey to alter his mental approach and explains how tough that is, especially for someone like Power who has already performed at an elite level throughout his career. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Power won the IndyCar championship in a five-driver shootout at the season finale at Laguna Seca, triggering a busy week for The Race IndyCar Podcast. Later this week Power is scheduled to appear as a special guest on the show, so co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon used this episode to break down the events of the championship decider itself. There's a look at the mental strength of Power and how his pole position pointed to why he deserved the championship, and a look at Josef Newgarden's drive through the field and why it wasn't quite enough amid the context of his rollercoaster season. Outgoing champion Alex Palou's dominating victory (his first of the season) is dissected against the backdrop that he could be set for a dramatic U-turn, with suggestions he could stay at Ganassi Racing next season picking up pace. And finally there's time to discuss a pair of outstanding rookie performances, with Jack and JR suitably impressed by a superb second in qualifying for Callum Ilott and his one-car Juncos Hollinger team, as well as Christian Lundgaard sealing rookie of the year honours for a buoyant Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our brand-new app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a busy episode for The Race IndyCar Podcast which has the Portland race to review, a look ahead at the Laguna Seca season finale and one of its drivers edging closer to an F1 chance to consider. Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand look back on a less eventful than expected Portland race, running out of superlatives for touring car convert Scott McLaughlin who netted his third win of the season, and examining the strategy call that could end up costing Josef Newgarden the title. Will Power’s post-race comments on wanting to win this year’s title for his crew are also contextualised in his new mental approach for this season. Jack and JR also give their takes on who is favourite to clinch the title in California this weekend with five drivers still in the hunt for the Astor Cup trophy heading to Laguna Seca. And there's still time for the duo to discuss Colton Herta, with Red Bull having given its most obvious intention yet that it wants the American to be its next protege at AlphaTauri, if he can gain an F1 super licence. But is Herta the best driver to pick from the current IndyCar grid? Our hosts assess his credentials... Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got something a little different for you on this week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, as hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand are joined by former F1 and CART ace Mark Blundell to reminisce on one of the all-time great open-wheel races in North America: The 1997 Grand Prix of Portland. Long-term fans might remember that Blundell won that race by just 0.027s from Gil de Ferran, with Raul Boesel just 0.055s back in one of the series' closest and most dramatic finishes. On this episode Blundell tells Jack and JR about how he was able to emerge victorious in the wet-dry race, where the win ranks on his all-time list, and why he cherishes the time he spent racing for PacWest in the United States. He also describes what it was like to race the fearsome CART machines of the day on ovals - without the use of a spotter! Jack and JR also look ahead to this coming weekend's penultimate round of the 2022 championship in Portland, and whether Ganassi or Penske will steal a march in the title race. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast features a chat with rookie sensation David Malukas, fresh off the back of his barnstorming run to second place at Gateway. The Dale Coyne Racing driver shares his thoughts on his incredible last stint, what it was like to be on the podium with Josef Newgarden as a fan of IndyCar, and the effects of being linked with the top teams he has dreamed of driving for in the silly season. He also discusses some of the trials and tribulations he's endured in his maiden year in the series, what he has learned, what he has been surprised by, and the battle for rookie of the year, which he currently trails Christian Lundgaard in. Aside from chatting to Malukus, hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand round up all the action from Gateway, including giving their thoughts on the championship picture after Penske’s Josef Newgarden’s re-ignited his title charge with a well deserved and brilliantly executed victory. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast delves into controversial crashes, a winner from a lap down with a broken car and Nashville’s place on the calendar with the divisive kind of racing it produces on this week’s episode. Co-hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand analyse how Scott Dixon went from being hit and losing a significant chunk of his downforce to winning the Nashville race, and the context of how impressive that is given everything impacting the Chip Ganassi Racing team this year. Hildebrand breaks down the Josef Newgarden/Romain Grosjean controversy from a driver’s eye, as the hosts also discuss how this incident may be a result of how IndyCar is policed week-to-week. Some of the pros and cons of the race are also broken down in a bid to look at how good a Nashville IndyCar race is, because the exciting and unpredictable racing is offset by crashes, many cautions and some questionable driving standards. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s pod looks back on an exciting weekend at Indianapolis which saw Alexander Rossi finally ended his win draught and mixed fortunes for this year’s title contenders. Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand discuss how Rossi and his Andretti Autosport team were finally able to pull together a whole weekend without bad luck or mistakes to deliver a popular win. They also outline why the victory leaves a nagging sense of what might have been for Rossi, based on the potential he's shown over the past two years but not always been able to deliver. The duo also discuss the fortunes of Will Power and Marcus Ericsson, with the championship rivals both going from back to front in what was an unusual weekend in the context of the title battle. There's also chat on the impressive performances of several rookies, including 2022's first rookie podium finisher Christian Lundgaard. And finally, recorded before Alpine and Oscar Piastri stole their thunder, JR and Jack give the latest on the Alex Palou/Ganassi/McLaren situation. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josef Newgarden's rollercoaster win and crash, Alex Palou being sued by Ganassi and who is the best racer in the IndyCar Series? These are all topics investigated by The Race IndyCar Podcast this week. After a double-header weekend in Iowa, co-host JR Hildebrand outlines the procedure drivers have to go through to return to action after race one winner Newgarden crashed out heavily from the second race. JR and co-host Jack Benyon also bring listeners up to date on the factors determining whether Newgarden will be fit to race in Indianapolis this weekend - and what Penske will do if he can’t. As the Alex Palou saga rumbles on, Benyon delivers the breaking news that the Spaniard is being sued by his current team Chip Ganassi Racing, before he and JR discuss what might happen next, including who could drive the number 10 car in 2023. Palou's Ganassi team-mates are also discussed after Jimmie Johnson delivered one of his best and most exciting IndyCar weekends yet and Will Power declared Marcus Ericsson 'the best racer' in the IndyCar series. And finally, the hosting duo discuss mid-western supermarket chain Hy-Vee’s enormous impact on the Iowa Speedway, with the race track hosting concerts from Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton and others alongside the racing action. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast examines the latest in the Alex Palou saga, as McLaren and Ganassi continue to fight over his services in 2023, and provides reaction to Scott Dixon’s composed Toronto victory - a win which gets his season back on track. Coming into the weekend, Dixon had finished in the top 10 in all but one race this year but it wasn't until Sunday that he finally reached the top step of the podium again, capturing the 52nd victory of his career to equal Mario Andretti on the all-time list. Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand discuss the New Zealander's topsy turvy season to date and what this victory will do for him going forwards. Colton Herta’s fresh start is also assessed as he delivered a second-place in the kind of scenario he’s lost out before through mistakes, while Graham Rahal, David Malukas and Callum Ilott are also discussed after interesting weekends. And of course there's plenty of chat about Alex Palou, including reaction to the Spaniard's pre-race comments on his contract situation, plus debut IndyCar podium finisher Felix Rosenqvist’s comments after the race that Palou may not even race next year. And finally, Jack and JR reflect on the previous episode which ranked the top 10 drivers of the first half of the season. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast is a busy one, with our annual episode ranking the top 10 drivers of the season so far, an interview with Marcus Ericsson, plus the latest on the Alex Palou saga. Both Palou’s current team Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren have laid claim to the Spaniard for 2023, with Ganassi announcing a contract extension this week shortly before McLaren and Palou countered suggesting he would be moving there at the end of the season.  Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand explain the complexity of the situation and what could happen next before they dig into their top 10 drover of the year at the halfway point of the season. Listen in to see if you agree with where the hosts have placed this year’s drivers - and who walks away with the coveted number one spot. Palou’s current Ganassi team-mate Marcus Ericsson wasn’t happy when he missed out on the rankings last season, but the points leader and Indy 500 winner is very much included this time as he joins the pod to talk about his year and the aftermath of his Brickyard win. He says - perhaps in jest - that missing out on last year’s The Race IndyCar Podcast top 10 in the first half of the season provided the motivation to become the highest points scorer in the series since, and that he’ll have to find new motivation for the remainder of the season... READ MORE: Jack's article on Scott McLaughlin Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andretti’s on-track team-mate collisions, Scott McLaughlin’s brilliant victory and another masterclass drive in 2022 from Will Power make up the key topics of this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast. Co-host Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand break down the turmoil suffered by Arrow McLaren SP which had a good chance to win with either of its drivers before a double retirement, and marvel at Scott McLaughlin’s ability to win in one of the toughest open-wheel championships in the world despite his single-seater inexperience. Power’s drive from the back of the field to a podium is outlined and explained, while Alex Palou’s latest runner-up finish is contextualised in the sense of how desperate should he be to get a victory over the line this season. But our hosts save the biggest topic for last as they talk about Romain Grosjean and Alexander Rossi’s three on-track collisions, as well as Grosjean’s clash with Colton Herta and Rossi’s with Devlin DeFrancesco. They discuss how the team might move forward from this dark day, and try to make sense of where the blame lay. READ MORE: Andretti's surreal demolition derby threatens toxic end to 2022 Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCars at Pikes Peak, which international races should be added to the calendar and lap records at the Indy 500 are among some of the queries answered on a special listener questions episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. The Race’s IndyCar correspondent Jack Benyon and driver-turned co-host JR Hildebrand were on hand to answer all manner of questions relating to the series, and even took a question from double IndyCar champion and series star Josef Newgarden, although that question was in turn criticised for being too boring. Many questions related to the calendar, double headers, why it is the length it is, which races make sense to add to the current calendar and even IndyCar’s option to promote more of its own races, all of which the hosts get into. Obviously the Indy 500 is a big talking point and opposing questions suggested whether the cars should be pushed to break records or slowed in the interest of closer racing. Both are considered in this episode. JR Hildebrand gives arguably his frankest insight yet into his dream of driving a current IndyCar up the Pikes Peak hill climb, the genesis of the idea and the issues that have plagued the programme achieving its aim - yet. The more lighthearted topics included Hildebrand’s favourite post-race meal, how many Orbeez fit in an IndyCar cockpit and the suggestion Scott McLaughlin should have a cow pattern on his aeroscreen - you’ll have to tune in to find out why… Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it’s winning three of eight races and $1 million, having his first baby or helping to rebuild his #2 Penske team back up almost from scratch, it’s been a wild year for Josef Newgarden who joins this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Newgarden earned the $1 million - with $500,000 going to charity - for completing the trifecta of wins on a road course, street circuit and an oval over the first eight races, before any other driver even managed to win more than one race. However, he discusses the “deflating moments” that have hamstrung his 2022 as despite his impressive wins - including the last race at Road America - he still sits third, 32 points off the lead. How he turns that around is a big part of Newgarden's focus which he discusses in detail. He also delves into the interesting 2022 of his team-mates, discussing resurgent Will Power’s mental approach to the year and how he operates in this space, plus Newgarden provides some behind the scenes detail on Scott McLaughin’s barren run and how hard he can be so hard on himself despite his relative inexperience. There’s also some playing down of Newgarden's chances going into the next two races, Mid-Ohio where he won last year and Iowa where he is often dominant, as we look forward to the return of IndyCar action in just over a week’s time. As always with Newgarden the chat often goes off-topic, so the trio also discuss what defines Fast Food, and how Newgarden's new YouTube show Bus Bros with team-mate Scott McLaughlin came about. Finally, there’s the news that The Race IndyCar Podcast will feature a listeners’ questions special on next week’s episode.  You can tweet the hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand or email [email protected] with your voice note to be included on the episode, or just an old school written question for us to read out. READ MORE: Feast or famine makes Newgarden's 2022 status unclear Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you interested in what makes the most sophisticated racing cars on the planet tick? Then our new podcast The Race F1 Tech Show could be for you. Each week, host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson dive headfirst into the wonderful world of F1 technology, discussing the sport’s big technical talking points, getting into the nitty gritty of car design and engineering, and answering fans’ burning tech questions. So far we've had episodes on copycat F1 car designs, whether the new-for-2022 Pirelli tyres are working as planned, and this week we have an exclusive interview on the role of the race engineer, featuring Kimi Raikkonen's former right-hand man Julien Simon-Chautemps. Just search for The Race F1 Tech Show in your preferred podcast app and then like, subscribe or follow the feed to join our growing community of tech-loving F1 fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Road America IndyCar race offered lots of overtaking, multiple crashes (including one between the points leader and his team-mate), and a $1 million winner in Josef Newgarden. Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand are here to look back on all the action in the latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, as Newgarden earned a huge prize for taking victories on a road course, street circuit and oval in just eight races this season.  The duo ask whether the American is now the title favourite, and analyse the Penske driver's inconsistent but simultaneously brilliant season so far. The big clashes between Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson and Will Power and Devlin DeFrancesco also go under the microscope, before Jack and JR share their thoughts on the latest silly season rumours. Jack also shares his impressions of Road America after his first trip to the Wisconsin circuit - but does it earn the status of best track he's ever been to? Tune in to find out... READ MORE: Why Ericsson clash and reaction shows different side to Palou Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Power’s mindset is the big talking point in this week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, which looks back on the Aussie's superb victory in the Detroit Grand Prix. Power’s 16th to first drive is just another example of him overcoming adversity this year, and co-hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand analyse what Power’s said about his approach and how it’s enabling him to succeed in 2022 as he reclaimed the championship lead. Hildebrand also discusses Power's revised outlook some thought from a driver’s perspective, as well as relaying how tough it can be to rebound from your own struggles as the podcast takes a look at some troubling spates of form for multiple drivers in the field. Alexander Rossi is not one of those after his resurgent drive to second, and Jack and JR discuss whether he is ‘back’ and how well he fits in with the Arrow McLaren SP he’ll join next year. READ MORE: The winners and losers from IndyCar's jumbled Detroit race Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freshly-crowned Indianapolis 500 winner and new championship leader Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing joins this week's The Race IndyCar Podcast. With just a couple of hours sleep after the night of the race, Ericsson outlines how he celebrated the biggest victory of his career, before detailing how his team have supported his success and what he was thinking in the closing stages when he made a crucial victory push overtaking three key cars. There's more joking about Ericsson's omission from The Race's 2021 mid-season driver rankings from previous shows, and how host Jack Benyon is now a lucky charm for the Swede, after enjoying his first Indy 500 on the ground at the event. As always co-host JR Hildebrand provides the perfect drivers'-eye guide to the Indy 500 in which he finished 12th for AJ Foyt Racing despite the strategy struggles he explains in more detail. He analyses why Ericsson's defence was so impressive in the closing stages and why driving Turn 2 at the Speedway - which caught out Jimmie Johnson and Romain Grosjean among others - is just so difficult in the podcast's general race debrief. Pato O'Ward and Arrow McLaren SP's bittersweet second, Penske's third sub-par Indy 500 win in a row and Andretti's struggles are also part of the breakdown. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the 30-year anniversary of his last Indianapolis 500, Penske legend Rick Mears joins The Race IndyCar Podcast for a special episode. The four-time Indy 500 winner discusses his dirt-racing roots and how that helped him carve out almost immediate success at the Speedway, winning just three years after his first attempt in which he failed to qualify for the race. He discusses turning down Bernie Ecclestone's offer to race for Brabham in F1, his wait for a second Indy 500 win and how the burns he received in pitlane at the 500 impacted him in 1982. Of course, his 1991 victory is also covered, Mears’ favourite win given it helped him join the four-time club, but also how he rebounded from his first Indy 500 crash - that wasn’t his fault - the day before qualifying. Mears also describes his role as a driver advisor at Penske which he has held since retiring, how that stacks up in satisfaction against his own Indy 500 wins, and Scott McLaughlin’s rapid IndyCar rise under Mears’s tutelage.  Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fastest Indianapolis 500 pole winner ever Scott Dixon joins this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast to recap his stunning qualifying run. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dixon breaks down the feeling behind the wheel going 243mph, how he knew the pole laps would be fast and what he did after the day was done, which included Taco Bell. He also discusses the challenges of the first half of the season, having five poles but only one win at the 500, and how he feels about the Ganassi team's chances after having four of its five entries making the Fast Six for pole. JR Hildebrand is also on deck to discuss the wider qualifying picture with host Jack Benyon together in person for the first time, looking at the new qualifying format and some of the teams that missed the mark and start far back in what has been a track-position race in recent years. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got a double header for you in this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast, with a lookback on the tumultuous Indy road course race in the wet followed by a special drivers’ eye insight into the Indy 500 schedule. With Colton Herta taking an audacious win in changeable conditions, many title contenders hitting trouble, and strategy calls deciding the end result, host Jack Benson enlists the help of The Race’s F1 correspondent Edd Straw - immersed in the Indy paddock all weekend - to look back on the action.  As well as a race breakdown, Straw delves into Romain Grosjean’s reputation from F1 - having covered most of Grosjean’s career - and whether Graham Rahal was right to criticise Grosjean last time out. And of course it wouldn’t be The Race IndyCar Podcast without co-host JR Hildebrand, who breaks from his busy schedule preparing to race in the Indy 500 to preview the unique schedule awaiting him and the Brickyard. He outlines how a driver and team look to extract the maximum from the on track sessions and how they manage the hours of down time to ensure top performance. Jack and JR also look ahead to this week’s Indy practice sessions, as well as previewing this year’s new two-stage battle for pole and how that might impact the order. READ MORE: Grading IndyCar's rookies ahead of the Indy 500 Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Graham Rahal and Romain Grosjean’s collision and subsequent post-race spat is the main topic of conversation on this edition of The Race IndyCar Podcast, which looks back on an epic weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. JR Hildebrand breaks down Grosjean and Rahal’s wheel-banging incident from a drivers’ perspective, while co-host Jack Benyon gives his view on why Rahal went too far in his post-race comments - even if more rivalry between drivers in IndyCar is welcome. The boys also discuss Arrow McLaren SP’s start to the season in the wake of a tide-turning victory for Pato O’Ward, who’s triumph comes off the back of headlines about going to 'war' with his team in trying to agree a new contract. The podcast also looks at Penske’s decision not to test pre-race, Rinus VeeKay’s pole and where he compares to Josef Newgarden who previously won races for Ed Carpenter, plus there's an explanation of the two key strategies that defined the race. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got another special guest for you this week, as reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou joins the latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast. Despite winning last year's championship, Palou tells hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand how he and his Chip Ganassi Racing team redoubled their efforts to improve in the off-season.  He addresses why some may have underestimated the start of his title defence - he sits third in the standings after big improvements at tracks he didn't perfect last year - and how the relationship has (or hasn't) changed with his team-mates after his title win. Palou - who has 10 podiums in 19 starts for Ganassi - also reflects on his first career IndyCar win last year, which came at the next stop on this season's calendar: Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a jam-packed edition of The Race IndyCar Podcast, hosts Jack Benyon and IndyCar racer JR Hildebrand look back on a great weekend of action at the iconic Long Beach street course.  They discuss how Josef Newgarden was able to secure a second consecutive win for Penske, despite sustained late pressure from ex-F1 man Romain Grosjean, whose own performances for new team Andretti Autosport are also evaluated. The team also give their thoughts on whether Colton Herta can rebound from another street course error, and cast an eye over reigning champion Alex Palou’s title defence - and absence from the headlines - so far. And fresh from the race, California-native JR provides some colour from an enjoyable weekend in the paddock, including what makes Long Beach the storied and atmospheric event it is, and his view on ace rookie Kyle Kirkwood’s start after his top-10 finish. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott McLaughlin's story was already one of the most incredible motorsport career change tales in modern history. But now he's winning IndyCar races and putting himself firmly in championship contention, it's become another step more remarkable. The three-time Supercars champion turned Penske IndyCar star joins Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand on The Race IndyCar Podcast for a very open chat about his story so far. In particular McLaughlin talks about the mental challenges of 2021, as he went from absolutely dominating the Australian scene to a season of much more struggle than success as he tried to get to terms with IndyCar, all in the shadow of the pandemic separating him from his family. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube For IndyCar news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas podium finisher Marcus Ericsson joins The Race IndyCar Podcast to break down all the action from IndyCar’s first oval of the year, where Ericsson sealed his 11th top 10 in his last 12 series starts. Ericsson is bullish about his #8 Chip Ganassi Racing team taking a step up this year and discusses Texas and his season opener at St Pete. He also discusses oval rookie team-mate Jimmie Johnson’s excellent sixth place finish and what that might mean moving forward to the Indy 500. Regular podcast co-host JR Hildebrand also gives you a behind the scenes look of what it’s like to race on an IndyCar oval weekend after he returned to action outside of the Indy 500 for the first time since 2017. Hildebrand and host Jack Benyon also discuss some of the other major stories of the race - including Texas and ovals' future in IndyCar - and the bombshell announcement that Pato O’Ward is potentially looking at other options beyond Arrow McLaren SP in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the breakout stars of IndyCar and a driver consistently linked to a Formula 1 drive, Colton Herta, joins The Race IndyCar Podcast this week. The 21-year-old driver has recently been connected to practice outings with McLaren in F1 and addresses his chances of jumping in the top-level machinery. Herta is also constantly linked to F1 through Andretti's dedication to racing in the series, now set on scoring a new team for the 2024 season, but this hasn't phased Herta or distracted him from IndyCar success. He explains what makes his form so dominant on any given Sunday after some crushing performances in 2021, becoming a team leader at Andretti and a debrief of his fourth place in St Petersburg and what that means for 2022. Of course, the movie Dodgeball, where to get the best tacos in California and ‘bullsh*****g’ new team-mate Romain Grosjean is all part of the fun when it comes to the laid-back Herta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast is back as the championship’s hotly anticipated new-season kicked off with drama aplenty last weekend at St Petersburg.Whether it was falling out of his car in victory lane, doing a shoey or tearfully praising his parents who he hasn’t seen since January 2020, Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin was an endearing maiden winner and forms the crux of the podcast.Overcoming an eventful rookie year and the gravity of his achievement coming from tin-tops to one of the world’s most hotly competitive racing championships is all covered by self-labelled ‘Mr Driver Man’ JR Hildebrand and his co-host from The Race, Jack Benyon.The duo outline the key talking points of the race, including struggles-to-redemption for Ganassi and its champions Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, the “best ninth place I’ve ever seen” for Marcus Ericsson and Arrow McLaren SP’s weekend of disappointment after an off-season of promise.A contentious rule that played a role in Romain Grosjean’s practice crash on his Andretti debut and his team-mate Alexander Rossi’s poor start to the season also make the cut for debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're getting excited for another year of IndyCar racing with a special episode on everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 season starting at St Petersburg this weekend.Co-hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand run through the driver and team changes, evaluating some of the most interesting swaps and moves.Rule changes and bargeboards are also part of the run-down, while the drivers desperate for a strong year ahead of being on the market in 2023 form part of the discussion.Hildebrand and Benyon also assess the Honda vs Chevrolet battle and briefly outline their drivers' title favourites for the year.The Race IndyCar Podcast will be back next week to break down the action from St Pete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast returns from a short winter hiatus with double series champion and Team Penske star Josef Newgarden headlining this episode.Having narrowly missed out on the last two championships to Chip Ganassi Racing rivals, Newgarden joins The Race American Editor Jack Benyon and podcast co-host JR Hildebrand to assess his chances this season.Newgarden is quizzed on the loss of his engineer Gavin Ward to rivals Arrow McLaren SP, the Penske squad shrinking from four cars to three and about the chances of an American driver reaching Formula 1 and how that might be best achieved.He also addresses his development in areas like confidence and dealing with adversity in order to become a more well rounded driver, and gives a fascinating insight into the inside workings of the Penske team synonymous with success in US motorsport.The Race IndyCar Podcast will return before the season kicks off at St Petersburg to break down IndyCar’s off-season changes and preview the upcoming year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode is all about you, with a special episode dedicated to answering listeners' questions from the world of IndyCar and American motorsport.JR Hildebrand and The Race’s American Editor Jack Benyon take on topics like ‘which drivers are not in IndyCar that should be’, ‘what should IndyCar do to stop the demise of ovals’ and JR talks about what it feels like to race in the Indy 500 and the emotions building up to it.More of the topics on this week’s episode:-Blue flag rules which cost Grosjean earlier in the year-How to keep IndyCar on its current trajectory, and should it race abroad?-NASCAR champion Kyle Larson and the rumours about him in the Indy 500-What’s next for James Hinchcliffe after his Andretti exit?-If there was an IndyCar race in the UK, where would you have it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having both revealed their rankings for the top 10 drivers of the year, The Race IndyCar Podcast hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon explain their respective orders on this week's special episode.Each host’s top 10s are merged and averaged out to create a joint top 10 ranking for the season.Hildebrand and Benyon explain their respective rankings, what impressed them (or didn’t) about the drivers in the list, and they debate about the performances of the drivers that excelled this season.Do you think we got our rankings wrong, had a driver in the wrong place or omitted a worthy driver altogether? Let us know what you would have done differently.The Race IndyCar Podcast will return with more news, interviews and insight through the off-season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're joined by David Salters, the ex-Ferrari Formula 1 engineer now heading up Honda’s American motorsports division.Salters, who became President of Honda Performance Development in late 2020, joins to reflect on a second straight season of the firm winning the IndyCar title and the Indianapolis 500 in the same year, extending its series streak of manufacturers' title wins to four in a row.Salters outlines what he has brought to this role from his past experience at Cosworth, Ilmor, Mercedes and Ferrari, while also explaining what the current IndyCar engine manufacturers are working on behind the scenes amid a long period of stagnant rules in the series.Alex Palou and Romain Grosjean are also assessed as Salters has seen them up close and personal on the marque’s simulator which all of the Honda teams use.Salters also declares the Indy 500 the best event he has done - even better than the Italian Grand Prix or Monaco with Ferrari. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast features a frank and honest interview with Al Unser Jr following the release of his book A Checkered Past, while newly crowned Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood is also featured.Unser Jr - joined by his book's author Jade Gurss on this episode - addresses some of the high moments of his career, along with the low points which included mental health battles, substance abuse, arrests and he even contemplating suicide on his 50th birthday.Having found religion, recently remarried and now working on helping young drivers break into motorsport, Unser Jr is in a better place but has still revealed all in his book with the goal of helping other people in similar situations.Kirkwood joins American Editor Jack Benyon to discuss wrapping up the Indy Lights championship at Mid-Ohio last weekend, earning Kirkwood over $1.1 million towards three races in an IndyCar seat including the Indy 500.He discusses his record as one of the most successful junior drivers ever - winning three consecutive titles as a rookie - picks his best moment from his journey and contemplates what’s next in 2022.The Race IndyCar Podcast will continue during the off-season with more interviews and insight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s show we look back at a dramatic Long Beach series finale, and new IndyCar champion Alex Palou joins to give one of his first interviews since claiming the crown.Speaking the morning after his fourth-place sealed a maiden IndyCar championship in his second season and first with Chip Ganassi Racing, Palou discusses his journey to the title, the role of his team, his friendly rivalry with Pato O’Ward and how he made it through the season without using one of his best traits.Elsewhere in the podcast Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand analyse the weekend's action, from Arrow McLaren SP and O’Ward’s clash with IndyCar in qualifying to his on-track collision with Ed Jones in the race, and Colton Herta winning from 14th on the grid.The pair also discuss the spat between (kind of) team-mates Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi, and Romain Grosjean's and Simon Pagenaud’s team moves for 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special crossover episode with The Race F1 Podcast, Jack Benyon joins Edd Straw to discuss Romain Grosjean's newly-confirmed move to Andretti Autosport and his prospects for 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Romain Grosjean’s starring performance at Laguna Seca and a narrowed-down title fight between Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward at Long Beach are the key talking points on The Race IndyCar Podcast this week.Two-thirds of the way through a rapid-fire IndyCar showdown on the west coast, hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand detail Colton Herta’s win, how he has the ability to be dominant on certain weekends and the way he’s able to develop his car set-up to suit his style.With O’Ward’s late-race Laguna slump, he trails Palou by 34 points heading to Long Beach; Hildebrand is a double top five finisher in IndyCar at the venue and outlines what he expects from the title battle and the challenges the drivers will face at this circuit.Grosjean’s outstanding overtaking was the obvious story of the race, but Hildebrand spotted something impressive in Grosjean’s driving which he explains, adding that he believes the established series veterans will be trying to find out the secrets of his braking style which is so aggressive.JR and Jack also round up the latest news and speculation around the driver market for 2022, with Grosjean among the drivers expected to be switching seats over the winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lap one chaos that sent the leaders to the back and led to crashes, diverse strategies and a come from behind winner made for an epic IndyCar race at Portland.Hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon assess the decision making behind sending drivers who had done nothing wrong at the start to the back because of a rule prioritising those who made Turn 1 and 2, and whether it is the right thing to do.The duo take a look at the championship implications after a woeful race for Pato O’Ward meant Alex Palou’s win catapulted him back into the points lead and 25 points clear of O’Ward with two races to go while Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson fell further back.Jimmie Johnson’s strong development, Callum Ilott’s debut, Graham Rahal’s bad luck and Oliver Askew’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan bow are all featured, too.Hildebrand also tells you what to look for at this weekend’s race - the penultimate event of the season - at the famed Laguna Seca, home of the Corkscrew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast features an interview with comeback star Oliver Askew and a preview of this weekend’s Portland race, the first of a three race stint to end the season.Askew tells host Jack Benyon about his journey, through losing his Arrow McLaren SP drive last year and battling through a concussion, to nearly 12 months on when he has earned a comeback to race the last three races in a plumb seat with Rahal Letterman Lanigan.JR Hildebrand joins Benyon to discuss Ferrari test driver Callum Ilott’s one off IndyCar race at Portland, noting that it’s good for IndyCar that it is not only attracting ex-Formula 1 drivers but also people like Ilott at the start of their careers.As perhaps one of the lesser known IndyCar circuits, Hildebrand and Benyon discuss the key parts of the Portland track and where to expect action to occur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marcus Ericsson joins this week’s episode to discuss his breakthrough season that has yielded two wins, 10 top-10s in 13 races and a genuine shot at the championship with three races left.Ericsson jokes with podcast co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon that they are due credit for his “extra motivation” in the second half of the year after they left him out of their mid-season driver rankings top 10.With Ericsson and his crew forming a new team within Chip Ganassi Racing for 2020, the evolution of this group and its progress impacting recent results is also outlined.The trio discuss what Ericsson’s best moment of the season is, the emergence of Alex Palou and Ganassi’s pace this year, plus whether Ericsson would rather win an IndyCar title or the Indianapolis 500.At their first opportunity to do so, Benyon and Hildebrand also pay tribute to the late journalist and broadcaster Robin Miller, discussing his impact on the sport as well as IndyCar itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast takes a look at a bonkers Gateway round where driving standards were in the spotlight and Romain Grosjean made his oval debut.Regular host and strong short oval driver JR Hildebrand is joined by The Race’s American Editor Jack Benyon, as the pair assess Scott Dixon’s claims that driving in 2021 has been “crazy and erratic” at times.The race was littered with crashes and contact, one of which wiped out Dixon and erstwhile points leader Alex Palou. Hildebrand and Benyon assess the title picture after Pato O’Ward took over the lead with three races remaining.Hildebrand breaks down the enormity of the task facing Grosjean with a driver's-eye view, particularly being impressed with Grosjean’s car control when the he made errors that could have put him in the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The driver with the IndyCar points momentum, Arrow McLaren SP's Pato O’Ward, joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.As part of our review of last weekend’s Indianapolis road course event, O’Ward gives his take on a race where he couldn’t convert pole position and stumbled to fifth, but did cut Alex Palou’s points lead from 48 to just 21 points.Joining American Editor Jack Benyon and co-host JR Hildebrand, O’Ward also talks about becoming the talisman of the Arrow McLaren SP team, and his chances for an IndyCar title with four races remaining and heading into an event at Gateway he really enjoys.JR and Jack also analyse the Indianapolis race in further detail, assessing Will Power's turbulent journey back to success, his criticism of IndyCar backmarker rules and another impressive Romain Grosjean performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bizarre and exciting debut of the Nashville street circuit is the hot topic on this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast.JR Hildebrand and The Race’s American Editor Jack Benyon assess Marcus Ericsson’s drive from a crash, stop-go penalty and then on to victory with a sublime drive holding off weekend standout Colton Herta. Ericsson especially has impressed the hosting team with his recent form.Herta’s late crash and his approach to the end of the race is also looked at, as is the interpretation of whether the crash-strewn race - 33 of the 80 laps of which were run under caution - was a thriller or whether it was just too bonkers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following his oval test debut and amid strong silly season rumours about his future, series rookie Romain Grosjean joins The Race IndyCar Podcast this week.Dale Coyne Racing driver Grosjean has emerged as the most coveted star on the free agency market for 2022 after the strong start to his IndyCar career, and he gave The Race the inside track on all of the intricacies behind his decision making for next year.Going full-time is not totally decided yet as he continues to discuss if doing ovals and moving to the States full-time works with his family, and he also said it was “incredible” to be targeted by the big teams in IndyCar but he hasn’t ruled out sticking with Coyne. He does want to feel he is in a championship winning car as part of his 2022 deal.He talks about his dizzying oval test and just how different it is to what he’s done before, including the physical toll it took which included driving with a wonky steering wheel and defying his engineer over interior padding, which he then put back.Grosjean also talks about his latest US road trip with his family in his RV christened Raoul, addresses this weekend’s new-to-IndyCar Nashville race, and talks about where he and Coyne can improve across the second part of the season in which he'll contest his longest run of races with six. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josef Newgarden’s title chances after finally breaking his and Team Penske’s 2021 winless streak is the main topic of this week’s episode looking back at IndyCar action from Mid-Ohio.Hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon look at the numbers behind the remaining races for Newgarden, and if finally breaking his run of bad luck brings him into the title picture.Chip Ganassi Racing had three cars in the top four at Mid-Ohio and has Alex Palou leading the points and Scott Dixon in third. Could that be a decisive factor in the championship as it hits full stride - with Marcus Ericsson stalking Newgarden for the win - while Penske’s team-wide struggles for the year may not be over?Andretti, which had a 1-2-3 at Mid-Ohio last year, is also part of the discussion as two of its drivers who are fighting to keep their seats crashed into each other on the first lap amid some of their best starting positions of the year.All four Andretti cars qualified in the top 10 but after Colton Herta was robbed of a front-running place by pitstop drama, and only Alexander Rossi took a top 10 in fifth.Don’t forget to rate and review the new-for-2021 podcast on your favourite listening platform of choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou joins us for the first part of this week's episode, before JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon debate the top 10 drivers of the season so far.Palou joins Jack to discuss his meteoric rise from Europe through Super Formula and now IndyCar where he has been one of the standout drivers of the year in his first season with the team.JR and Jack then count down their joint top 10 of the best drivers of the year so far, with each person taking a slightly different approach to judging the stars of 2021 so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With exciting debuts and stand-ins, a dramatic finish where the long-term leader suffered and Penske again failed to break its 2021 winless streak, there’s plenty to discuss from IndyCar’s Road America round.Regular co-host JR Hildebrand breaks down what he thought was the weekend’s stand out performance from ex-F1 driver Romain Grosjean, assessing his learning curve with the latest development being his opportunistic braking leading to multiple overtakes.Hildebrand and American Editor Jack Benyon discuss Penske driver Josef Newgarden’s issues that led to Alex Palou’s victory, and also look at Kevin Magnussen’s debut for Arrow McLaren SP and what NASCAR driver Cody Ware’s debut means for Jimmie Johnson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was an explosive weekend of drama in the Detroit double-header, with Pato O’Ward storming through to win race two after a controversial ending led to a first IndyCar win for ex-F1 driver Marcus Ericsson. Through all the drama, series powerhouse Team Penske came close on both days but still failed to get a first win on the board in 2021.JR Hildebrand - after being on the ground in Detroit - joins The Race American Editor Jack Benyon to discuss some of the key topics like Will Power’s outburst after losing a race win, and whether Arrow McLaren SP driver O’Ward is the most explosive talent IndyCar has seen since the 1990s - and possibly before.Ericsson’s journey from junior single-seater race winner through F1 midfielding to now finally winning an IndyCar race is covered, while Hildebrand also breaks down Felix Rosenqvist’s horrifying crash with some behind the scenes info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast goes behind the scenes of the upstart team that won the Indianapolis 500, Meyer Shank Racing, with its co-owner Mike Shank, who also helps with listeners' questions in this special episode.Shank discusses the celebrations from the Indy 500, what the result means to the team, how its technical tie-up with Honda and Andretti Autosport was crucial for success and what direction the squad is set to take in the future.What’s next for four-time winner Helio Castroneves is also discussed, while the team’s co-owner Jim Meyer and its backing from Formula 1 owner Liberty Media is probed in greater detail.Regular co-host JR Hildebrand answers questions with his perspective from behind the visor with AJ Foyt Racing in this year’s Indy 500, while The Race’s Jack Benyon also takes listeners' points on the season so far.With Detroit coming up this weekend, the duo also talk about the street circuit double-header, and how hard that is to adapt to following a month of May at Indianapolis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race IndyCar Podcast takes a look at the 105th Indianapolis 500 with JR Hildebrand bringing his perspective from the race where he finished in the top 15.The Race American Editor Jack Benyon quizzes co-host Hildebrand on driving for AJ Foyt and Tony Stewart, how the new aero package impacted the racing and his take on how the race played out from the cockpit.The duo talk Helio Castroneves and his young team Meyer Shank Racing in detail, as well as assessing the ‘claiming victory from defeat’ story of runner-up Alex Palou, who actually has plenty to be happy about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, Al Unser Jr stars to talk about his and Penske's 1994 Indianapolis 500 victory. The event is significant mainly due to the shock the Ilmor-built Mercedes-badged engine produced. Built in secret, it exploited the rulebook with bigger displacement and turbo boost than its rivals. Whether its parts being flown on a World War 2 fighter jet and Concorde to reach Penske, a scuba-diving holiday that helped trigger an engineering breakthrough or the 'Taj Mahal' factory where the engines were rebuilt before being wheeled in the dead of night to Penske's race shop, it's a fascinating tale. Helping to tell the story, the manager of Penske's Indy 500 engine programme Kevin Walter and author of the critically acclaimed book called Beast - Jade Gurss - add to Unser Jr's memories of testing the car and, among other things, learning of the fact that its 1000bhp+ turned the wheels inside the tyres. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar racer JR Hildebrand and The Race's American racing correspondent Jack Benyon look back on qualifying for the Indy 500, and look ahead to how the race could play out on Sunday. JR also gives his insights into his own programme with AJ Foyt Racing, having successfully qualified for the race! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the IndyCar Podcast, co-host JR Hildebrand gives you an expert preview ahead of what will be his 11th attempt to qualify for the Indy 500.Ahead of starting practice this week, Hildebrand gives you some insider tips in what to look for, how to asses the practice order and how to gain the most from the week’s action as a viewer, also helping to explain the complicated schedule of the 500.As ever Hildebrand is joined by American Editor Jack Benyon and the duo also look back on the Indianapolis road course race last weekend where Romain Grosjean took a stunning pole and Rinus VeeKay completed the unrivalled quartet of winning at every level of the Road to Indy and now in IndyCar where he became its sixth youngest winner at just 20.Hildebrand expertly breaks down the blue flag situation which Grosjean said cost him the race having been on both sides of that story, after that incident became a talking point for fans of F1 watching Grosjean as IndyCar doesn’t always enforce blue flags like its fellow series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Romain Grosjean joins The Race IndyCar Podcast this week ahead of his return to the championship at Indianapolis this weekend.After two races in America, Grosjean confirmed to the podcast that “if you ask me right now what I think, I think that I'm going to stay” in IndyCar beyond his one-year deal.He outlines in detail how he’s changed his driving style and training to adapt from Formula 1 to IndyCar, the standard of the opposition and if any of them deserve a Formula 1 chance, and his love of racing with lower-fuel loads and more durable tyres in the States compared to F1 where it was “heavy” on him in recent years.Grosjean also discusses the emergence of his all-conquering esports team, and the “class” shown by Mercedes to award him a one-off Formula 1 test later this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pato O’Ward’s drive to Texas victory provides the main talking point for this episode of The Race’s IndyCar podcast, which also bagged the driver a Formula 1 test courtesy of Zak Brown.Indianapolis 500 regular JR Hildebrand joins co-host and The Race’s American Editor Jack Benyon to break down an exciting double header on the 1.5-mile oval, after which half of the series' oval races are now complete with Scott Dixon being the other race winner.The hosts assess who was to blame for some of the key incidents including a start crash in race two, examine how the rain-cancelled qualifying affected proceedings and how drivers like Dixon and Josef Newgarden are able to overcome adversity to maintain championship charges.Hildebrand also talks about his preparation for his first outing with AJ Foyt Racing at the Indy 500 as we reach the month of May, and he also discusses his 2009 Force India F1 test in the wake of O’Ward scoring a similar opportunity.While there is no race this weekend, The Race IndyCar Podcast will return next week with a special guest ahead of the Indianapolis road course race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar rising star Colton Herta dominated the Grand Prix of St Petersburg, and even the series' most established stars are picking him out as a fierce championship rival in the future. IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand joins The Race’s Jack Benyon to break down the storylines from St Pete and answer listeners' questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar driver JR HIldebrand and The Race's Jack Benyon look back on the 2021 IndyCar season opener from Barber Motorsports Park, including a detailed analysis of how ex-F1 driver Romain Grosjean performed on his first weekend in the series.IndyCar lead commentator Leigh Diffey also stops by to discuss the health of the series and its direction of travel under the leadership of Roger Penske. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IndyCar podium finisher and Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand has joined The Race to co-host its new IndyCar podcast in 2021.The Race’s American Editor Jack Benyon will join Hildebrand each episode to follow the key storylines emerging from the championship.In this instalment the duo take on the changes in the off season and how any behind the scenes alterations might impact the championship’s big three teams, which always start the season as favourites.Andretti Autosport's intriguing driver line-up, Chip Ganassi Racing’s distractions and Team Penske's rebounding from a poor season in terms of titles are all on the agenda.Of course, the addition of ex-Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean, treble Australian Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been a big talking point this off-season - JR and Jack explore the background there too.As an avid viewer of many racing series, Hildebrand’s own section ‘JR’s World’ also debuts to investigate NASCAR’s unusual appearance on dirt at Bristol last week, and also discussions of why there aren’t more ride swaps in motorsport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New for 2021: The Race Indycar Podcast. Join us for the latest news, views and reviews as hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand discuss all matters Indycar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices