Texas – Qualifications: Power signs his 40th pole

Will Power signs his 4th pole position of the season. He is the fastest IndyCar driver in this exercise this year.

Pagenaud to watch

Simon Pagenaud surprises with his top speed on ovals this year. The switch to Team Penske is not unrelated to this performance. The Frenchman was one of the main contenders at the Indianapolis 500 and he was the fastest during the first free practice session in Texas.

Starting from the first line, he is clearly a contender for victory.

On the other hand, Sébastien Bourdais is only 18th on the grid. The KVSH driver opted for very conservative settings for the qualifications. Tristan Vautier, who was retained by Dale Coyne Racing after his impressive 4th place in Detroit, will start in 16th.

Is IndyCar too dangerous?

A new accident caught attention during testing. Ryan Hunter-Reay lost control of his car before violently hitting the wall. The American driver was very surprised by the abruptness with which his car spun out.

The aerodynamics of IndyCars are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The introduction of Chevrolet and Honda aero kits this year is clearly aimed at enhancing car performance, particularly speed on ovals. In Indianapolis, championship officials had to backtrack following a series of concerning high-speed accidents. They thus decided to lower turbo pressure and indirectly force teams to use a body configuration with more aerodynamic downforce.

This weekend in Texas, IndyCar management forced manufacturers to close the area behind the rear wheels of the car to prevent air from getting in and lifting the car in case of a spin. Chevrolet and Honda also tested various configurations of their aerodynamic kits during Friday’s tests to increase downforce and ensure better handling.

The Dilemma of Texas Motor Speedway

The oval of Fort Worth is one of the most unique Super Speedways. More than elsewhere, the balance between low and high aerodynamic downforce is problematic. With banking up to 24°, the turns on this 2.4 km track allow for average lap speeds over 350 km/h. At these speeds, drivers experience significant gravitational forces, with peaks exceeding 4 G, for 18 of the 22 seconds required to complete a lap.

In 2001, the Texas race in Champ Car had to be canceled due to dizziness and headaches experienced by the vast majority of drivers. The best were completing a lap at an average speed of over 380 km/h and experiencing more than 5.5 G in the turns.

A night race

The Texas Motor Speedway race takes place at night in the United States, with a start on Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. local time. In France, the race will be broadcast on Sunday at 12:35 p.m. on Canal+ Sport.