Advantage Dixon going to Portland

Scott Dixon has a 26-point advantage heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland in Oregon, the penultimate round of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series.

Three title contenders have emerged with just two races left, all on the podium at last weekend’s final speedway (oval) round of the season in Illinois.

Winner Will Power has moved within 68 points of Dixon while Alexander Rossi’s second place reduced his margin on Dixon. Portland and the finale at Sonoma in a fortnight’s time are both road courses that suit Dixon.

None of the three have won at Portland, which hasn’t hosted the series since 2007, while both Dixon and Power have each won three times at Sonoma.

Home GP for Hartley’s team

A favourite amongst F1 fans, this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix is a home event for Brendon Hartley’s Scuderia Toro Rosso team.

Previously known as Minardi, the team was bought by Austrian beverage company Red Bull in 2005 as a junior team to Red Bull Racing. Included in the initial terms of the deal was the clause that the team must keep its headquarters in Faenza, Italy, until at least 2007.

This status of junior team to Red Bull Racing must be taken into account when assessing the season so far, particularly with regard to Hartley’s performance. By comparison with his teammate Frenchman Pierre Gasly, this has been mediocre. Nothing in F1 should be taken at facevalue. This season we have seen Toro Rosso as a strategy developing their Honda engine in preparation for replacing their current Renault power in 2019.

At the Belgium Grand Prix last weekend the Toro Rosso strategy was to help Gasly gain his best result before he replaces Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull next season. Gasly had been in a fight with Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson for a minor place but important championship points.

The team employed a pitstop strategy that when both Gasly and Ericsson pitted, they would emerge with Hartley between them. This gave Gasly breathing room to secure ninth but effectively destroyed Hartley’s race, finishing outside the points in 14th. In some regards Hartley is the journeyman for the team, doing the hard yards without the glory. With Gasly moving to Red Bull Racing, Hartley’s 2019 seat with Toro Rosso is more secure.

McElrea impressive

Three wins from three races was an impressive result for Queensland based Kiwi Hunter McElrea at the new Tailem Bend circuit in South Australia last weekend. The teenager was able to continue his domination of the Australian National Formula Ford Championship, taking his third clean sweep of the year and increasing his lead in the series.

Meanwhile Shane van Gisbergen took over the lead in the Supercar series from Scott McLaughlin while Jaxon Evans continues to lead the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship.

Benjamin Carrell is the online editor of talkmotorsport.co.nz