Dixon, Alonso, Indianapolis and the Triple Crown
Whatever the result of the Indianapolis 500 on Monday morning (NZ time), it will be remembered by many Kiwi motorsport fans for at least two reasons.
It is the third time that Kiwi Scott Dixon has secured the fastest time in qualifying (2008, 2015 and 2017) and he will start from pole position for the 101st running of the great race.
Dixon won in 2008 and clearly has the speed this year with his Honda powered engine. Last year he finished eighth after starting 13th behind winner Alexander Rossi who won on his first attempt at the brickyard.
McLaren-Honda F1 driver Fernando Alonso’s decision to compete in the Indy 500 and forgo the Monaco Grand Prix will also be well remembered.
Twice winner at Monaco (2006, 2007), the Indy 500 rookie has declared his attempt to become the second only winner of the Triple Crown – victory in the Indy 500, Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first being the late Graham Hill.
However, there are two other drivers in a position to attempt the Triple Crown.
Juan Pablo Montoya will also line up for this year’s Indy 500, having already twice won it in 2000 and 2015. He has also won the Monaco GP (2003) driving for the Williams-BMW F1 Team, and 18 months ago tested a Le Mans World Endurance Championship LMP1 car for Porsche.
Current F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 teaming up with Kiwi Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy (UK) for the Porsche Team.
While he hasn’t declared his interest in the Triple Crown, he is in the right position to do so and has youth on his side.
Lawson looks to increase lead
Current NZ Formula 1600 champion Liam Lawson heads to Phillip Island this weekend for the third round of the Australian Formula 4 Championship.
The 15 year old retained his lead in the single-seater category after the latest round in Perth but his margin has been cut to just four points.
Having already won race two, Lawson was on target for another round victory until mechanical gremlins slowed his car in the final race after a safety car restart, dropping him from third to ninth at the finish.
It was the first time Lawson hadn’t been on the podium in nine races.
At this stage it is undecided what category he will compete in back in NZ over our summer season.
Lawson will be too young to compete in the Toyota Racing Series and his F1600 championship winning Mygale single seater has reportedly been sold to 13 year-old karsport champion driver Callum Hedge.
Cassidy’s attention on Super Formula
Nick Cassidy will compete in the second round of the very fast Super Formula single seater Series at the Okayama Circuit in Japan this weekend.
Mechanical issues in the opening round provided Cassidy with a difficult weekend finishing 17th, having qualified 14th.
Also competing in the Super GT Series in Japan, the Kiwi driver and his team-mate Ryo Hirakwa (#37 KeePer TOM’S Racing) have retained their series lead after finishing sixth at the latest round at the Autopolis.