IndyCar holds a non-championship round at the exclusive Thermal Club track in California from March 22-24. The event, known as the Thermal $1 million Challenge, will feature qualifying races and a final race with a break after 10 laps. The winner will receive a cash prize of $500,000. This unique race will provide entertainment as some drivers are competing for money for the first time, instead of points.
The grid for the final will be determined by two qualifying races, with teams decided by draw. Qualifying sessions will then determine the starting order on the grid. The top six drivers from each qualifying race will advance to the final, creating a grid of 12 cars for the Sunday night final. Testing will be held on Friday and Saturday, followed by qualifying on Saturday night. The two qualifying races and the final will take place on Sunday.
Here is the event schedule:
Friday, March 22:
– Open test 1: 09:00-11:00
– Open test 2: 14:00-17:00
Saturday, March 23:
– Open test 3: 09:00-11:00
– Open test 4: 13:00-15:00
– Qualifying group 1: 17:00-17:12
– Qualifying group 2: 17:27-17:39
Sunday, March 24:
– Qualifying race 1: 09:31
– Qualifying race 2: 10:05
– Final: 10:59
The prize distribution for the final is as follows:
– 1st place: $500,000
– 2nd place: $350,000
– 3rd place: $250,000
– 4th place: $100,000
– 5th place: $50,000
– 6th-27th place: $23,000 each
In a novelty for IndyCar, the push-to-pass overtaking system will be available during qualifying sessions. Drivers will have 40 seconds to use this tactical advantage. The 20-lap final will be divided into two parts, with a break after 10 laps. Teams will have the opportunity to make adjustments to the car, including adding fuel, adjusting wing angles, and changing tire pressures. Drivers will start the final with 40 seconds of push-to-pass, which will be replenished at the interval. Only tires used during the qualifying race will be allowed in the final, and any tire changes must be approved by IndyCar.
The Thermal Club is an exclusive club in California that offers a race track, car parking, hotels, restaurants, and luxury residences. This weekend’s event marks the first time it will be open to the public on a large scale. Tickets initially started at $2000, but have since dropped to $500. IndyCar tested on the track last year, and drivers were impressed with its variety of corner profiles, resembling a test track. The Thermal Club is located near Palm Springs, California.
The participating drivers and teams are as follows:
– AJ Foyt: Santino Ferrucci, Sting Ray Robb
– Andretti Global: Marcus Ericsson, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood
– Arrow McLaren: Callum Ilott, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi
– Chip Ganassi: Marcus Armstrong, Scott Dixon, Linus Lundqvist, Alex Palou, Kyffin Simpson
– Dale Coyne: Nolan Siegel, Colin Braun
– Ed Carpenter: Christian Rasmussen, Rinus VeeKay
– Juncos Hollinger: Agustin Canapino, Romain Grosjean
– Meyer Shank: Tom Blomqvist, Felix Rosenqvist
– Rahal Letterman Lanigan: Pietro Fittipaldi, Christian Lundgaard, Graham Rahal
– Team Penske: Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, Will Power
2024
Shocking events in the world of sports! Last night, an exciting football match took place between rival teams. It was an intense battle that left fans on the edge of their seats. The game started with an impressive goal in the first minute, which left the crowd in ecstasy. But the excitement didn’t stop there.
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