Round 9: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Lexington, Ohio. July 1-3.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 9: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Lexington, Ohio. July 1-3.

The 2022 IndyCar season returns this weekend, after its three week break, with Round 9 at Mid-Ohio.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, was the idea of local business man Les Griebling, who convinced a number of friends from the local business community, to invest in a road course for weekend sports car racing. The
course, which followed the contours of the land, was designed by Griebling and was opened in 1962.

From 1970 to 1976, Mid-Ohio became an event on the SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship calendar and from 1977 to 1980, hosted a round of the revived Can-Am series. AOWR returned when CART initially raced at Mid-Ohio in 1980, with Johnny Rutherford taking victory in the Chaparral-Cosworth DFX.

The track was bought by road racing enthusiast Jim Trueman in 1981, the owner of Red Roof Inns and Mid-Ohio underwent its first major renovation. Permanent grandstands, new pit garages with spectator balconies, a media/hospitality center, underground tunnels and a new paddock were built as well as the Goodyear Tower. CART returned in 1983 racing there until 2003.

Mid-Ohio underwent further renovation in 2006, with the whole track and pit lane being completely resurfaced and adding a 75,000 seat grandstand. In 2007, after a 3 year absence from AOWR, Mid-Ohio returned as a venue for the IndyCar series.

In March 2011, the track was purchased from Truesports by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, who promote the IndyCar street races at St Petersburg and Toronto.

More recently, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mid-Ohio was initially rescheduled for August 9 and 10, hosting Round 7 of the then revised 2020 calendar, as well as being the season's fourth double header. It was also to be a ticketed event. However, due to concerns with social distancing the race was initially dropped, though promoters Green Savoree Racing Promotions hoped it would be reinstated at a later date.

On August 1, Ohio governor Mike DeWine decided the race could go ahead on the weekend of Sept 12 - 13, hosting Rounds 10 and 11 of the now updated revised calendar. It remained a ticketed event, though capacity was capped at 6000 for the weekend.

Some Trivia:
Driver with most wins, Scott Dixon: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019.
Team with most wins, Chip Ganassi Racing: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019.

Track Layout:
Mid-Ohio features two track configurations, one of 2.25 miles (3.621 km) and 13 turns, the other of 2.4 miles (3.862 kms) and 15 turns. The track runs clockwise, with the start line located on the back stretch after Turn
3 and the finish line in front of the pits. In 1963 the original sports car course was modified, as drivers were concerned it was too slow. Oak Tree Bend, which literally went around an oak tree, was removed and replaced
by the Thunder Valley section.

In 1990, there were further modifications, with the track being widened, creating the 13-turn, 2.250 mile (3.621 km) layout, adopted by CART and which is now used by IndyCar. During the 2006 renovations, new link roads were added to the track's famous Keyhole section, creating three separate road course configurations.

Original track layout:



1963-1985 track layout:



Current IndyCar track layout:


Length: 2.250 Miles (3.621 km)
Turns: 13

Lap record:
Simon Pagenaud, 30 July, 2016. 1:03.870, 127.271 mph (204.822) km/h.
Team Penske,
Dallara DW12-Chevrolet IndyCar V6.
Verizon IndyCar Series.

Last year's race:
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...ought/6625734/

Pole
Josef Newgarden, 01:06.6739, 121.919 mph ( 196.209 km/h)
Team Penske
Dallara IR18-Chevy IndyCar V6

Winner
Josef Newgarden
Team Penske
Dallara IR18-Chevy IndyCar V6

Laps: 80
Distance: 180.64 miles (290.7119 km)
Race Time: 1:39:58.8551.
Average Speed: 108.405 mph (174.461 km/h)
Fastest lap: Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing. Lap 65, 68.7341 sec. 118.264 mph (190.327 km/h)

Cautions: 2
Lap: 1 - 2, 4 - 7.

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Practice and Qualifications

Practice 1.
Friday, Jul 1. 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM ET

Practice 2.
Saturday, Jul 2. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET

Qualifications - Round 1 Group 1
Saturday, Jul 2. 2:45 PM - 2:55 PM ET

Qualifications - Round 1 Group 2
Saturday, Jul 2. 3:05 PM - 3:15 PM ET

Qualifications - Round 2
Saturday, Jul 2
3:25 PM - 3:35 PM ET

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TV race coverage:
NBC: 12:45pm ET, 4:45pm UTC, 5:45pm BST
Sky Sports F1: 5:30pm BST