By: Spencer Neff
June 21, 2024

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to action this weekend at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas hosts its 27th INDYCAR-sanctioned event.

This is the first time the 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course hosts an event before September since 2003 and third in track history.

Headlines

Aside from Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren being declared the winner of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season has been dominated by Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing.

\After CGR’s Linus Lundqvist won the pole for the June 9 XPEL Grand Prix of Road America, Will Power led a Penske 1-2-3 and now holds a five-point lead over CGR’s Alex Palou in the standings.

Palou and teammate Scott Dixon have dominated the last two races, leading 138 of a possible 190 with a win for each (Palou in 2022, Dixon in 2023). On a track where starting up front is as critical as nearly any other track on the calendar, both drivers started 11th before going on to win.

Dixon took advantage of a chaotic race on a freshly repaved track en route to victory.

While Luca Ghiotto returns to the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing entry for the fourth time, two drivers make their debut for their respective new teams.

Following an offseason wrist injury and subsequent release from Arrow McLaren, David Malukas makes his first start of the 2024 season aboard the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing entry. He takes over a ride driven by Tom Blomqvist for six races (including Thermal) before Helio Castroneves drove the last two.

The third-year driver will remain in the No. 66 for the rest of the season.

“After a long wait, I’m thrilled to finally start my 2024 season this weekend at Laguna Seca,” Malukas expressed in a Monday press release by the team.

I have received INDYCAR clearance and have been able to spend a lot of time on the simulator and testing with MSR, so I’m feeling ready to get back in the swing of things. While I’m expecting Laguna Seca to be a challenge, I’m eager to get back behind the wheel and focus on the rest of the season ahead.”

After Callum Ilott and Theo Pourchaire split time in the No. 6 entry for Arrow McLaren, that entry will also have a new driver behind the wheel.

Nolan Siegel will forgo the rest of the INDY NXT by Firestone season after signing a multiyear contract with Arrow McLaren.

Siegel filled in for Agustin Canapino in the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing entry at Road America. Canapino will make his return this weekend.

“I’m very excited for my first race with Arrow McLaren at my home event at Laguna Seca,” Siegel remarked on Tuesday.

“It’ll be a special weekend having all my family and friends there, but it’s also exciting also having it be my first weekend in papaya. Coming off of a win at Le Mans is a great way to start this relationship and I’m really looking forward to getting going.”

Fast Facts

Race weekend: Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23

Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a 2.238-mile permanent road course in Monterey,California

Race distance:NTT INDYCAR SERIESFirestone Grand Prix of Monterey: 95 laps / 212.61 miles

INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 & 2: 35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes(each race)

Push to pass parameters:150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation

INDY NXT by Firestone 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activationFirestone tire allotment:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Six sets primary, four sets alternate to be used during the eventweekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wetconditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teamsfielding a rookie driver.

INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryoversets from the Road America event may be used during Friday’s practice sessions.

X: @WeatherTechRcwy, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCARInstagram: @weathertechraceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR

Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXTFacebook: @WeatherTechRaceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR

TikTok: @INDYCAR, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR

YouTube: @INDYCAR

Event website: http://www.weathertechraceway.comINDYCAR website: http://www.IndyCar.comINDY NXT by Firestone website: http://www.indynxt.com

2023 race winners:NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by FirestoneRace 1: Hunter McElrea (No. 27 Andretti Autosport)Race 2: Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports)

2023 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Felix Rosenqvist (No. 6 Arrow McLarenChevrolet), 1:06.6416, 120.897 mph2023

INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners:Race 1: Hunter McElrea (No. 27 Andretti Autosport), 1:12.3117, 111.418 mph Race 2: Christian Rasmussen (No. 6 HMD Motorsports), 1:11.7225, 112.333 mph

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Christian Lundgaard, 1:06.4610, 121.226 mph, Sept. 9, 2023

INDY NXT by FirestoneChristian Rasmussen, 1:11.7225, 112.333 mph,

USA Network race telecast: Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, 6 p.m. ET Sunday, June 23,USA Network (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for USA Network’s coverage of theFirestone Grand Prix of Monterey, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.Georgia Henneberry and Dillon Welch are the pit reporters.Peacock Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying willstream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while the USANetwork’s race telecast of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey will be simulcast on thestreaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey will be streamed onPeacock, with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR LIVE.INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Nick Yeoman are the turn announcers. Michael Young and Dan Rusanowsky are the pit reporters. The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey race (6 p.m. ETSunday), INDY NXT Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader (3:20 p.m. ET Saturday and 3:50p.m. ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices andqualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and theINDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):

Friday, June 211:10-1:35 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, INDYCAR LIVE

2-3:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1, Peacock

3:40-4:05 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, INDYCAR LIVE

Saturday, June 229-9:30 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12-minutes each / Fastest lapdetermines the lineup for Race 1, second fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 2),INDYCAR LIVE

10-11 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45 minutes limited guarantee), Peacock

12:30 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 “Drivers Start YourEngines”12:35 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55minutes), Peacock

2:15 p.m. – Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds ofknockout qualifying), Peacock

Sunday, June 23

Noon-12:30 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock

1 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

1:05 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55minutes), Peacock

3 p.m. – USA Network on air

3:23 p.m. – Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey “Drivers, start your engines