Round 10: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Lexington, Ohio. July 3-4.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 10: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Lexington, Ohio. July 3-4.

Last year due to Covid-19, Mid-Ohio was initially rescheduled for August 9 and 10, hosting Round 7 of the revised 2020 calendar, as well as being the season's fourth double header. It was also to be a ticketed event, but 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, holdng Rounds 10 and 11 of the now revised calendar. It remained a ticketed event, though capacity was capped at 6000 for the weekend. Qualifying for Race 1 took place on Saturday afternoon, with qualifying for Race 2 taking place on Sunday morning. The pole sitters for both races, Will Power and Colton Herta, also won their respective races.

This year Mid-Ohio is more or less back in its usual slot on the calendar and will be a single race event.

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.

In 1981, the track was bought by road racing enthusiast Jim Trueman, 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.

In 2006, Mid-Ohio underwent further renovation, 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 and this weekend will see the 10th running of the race as an IndyCar event.

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.

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:

Race 1
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...paign=widget-6

Pole:
Will Power, 01:06.3343, 122.543 mph 197.214km/h)
Team Penske
Dallara IR18-Chevy IndyCar V6

Winner:
Will Power
Team Penske
Dallara IR18-Chevy IndyCar V6

Laps: 75
Distance: 169.35 mi (272.543 km)
Race Time: 1:29:08.90.
Average Speed: 113.978 mph (183.429 km/h)
Fastest lap: Pato O'ward, Arrow McLaren SP, Lap 22, 68.3982 sec, 118.845 mph (191.263 km/h)

Cautions: 0

Race 2
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...alue%5D=268856

Pole:
Colton Herta, 1:26.278, 94.215 mph (151.624 km/h)
Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport
Dallara IR18-Honda HI20R Indy-V-6

Winner:
Colton Herta
Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport
Dallara IR18-Honda HI20R Indy-V-6

Laps: 75
Distance: 169.35 mi (272.543 km)
Race Time: 1:34:17.39.
Average Speed: 107.763 mph (173.427 km/h)
Fastest lap: Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Lap 65 , 68.3089 sec, 119.001 mph (191.514 km/h)

Cautions: 2. Laps 6, 1-3, 16-18.

TV Coverage:
NBC: 12:00pm ET, 4:00pm UTC, 5:00pm BST
Sky Sports F1: 5:00pm BST