America is where New Zealand motorsport fans will turn their attention to this weekend as our IndyCar and Road to Indy stars hit Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This weeekend kicks off a big month of May at the hallowed oval circuit, with the 105th running of the Indy 500 set to go ahead in only a few weeks.
Elsewhere, Kiwi GT racer Jaxon Evans will be making a guest appearance in the Porsche Carrera Cup French championship.
Here is a quick guide to it all this weekend.
Scott Dixon & Scott McLaughlin
- What: GMR Grand Prix
- Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, United States
- When: SUN 6.30 am
- How to follow: Sky Sport
Scott Dixon is out to defend his Indianapolis Grand Prix crown and extend his IndyCar championship lead this weekend.
The six-time series champion has been a dominant force after the opening four races of the season.
He has finished inside the top-five in every race, with a victory coming at Texas Motor Speedway a fortnight ago in ‘that’ incredible Kiwi 1-2.
Dixon has either finished first or second in the Grand Prix the last four races, and his current form suggests you wouldn’t bet away from him continuing that streak this weekend.
Scott McLaughlin, meanwhile, enters perhaps the most exciting month of his motorsport career.
The Grand Prix serves as a curtain-raiser to the Indy 500 and begins an intense few weeks at the venue.
This weekend is McLaughlin’s debut outing on the Indy road course.
Though he does benefit from knowing Penske have won all but two Grands Prix since the event began in 2014.
Hunter McElrea
- What: Indy Pro 2000
- Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, United States
- When: R1 SAT 3.45 am | R2 SUN 12 am | R3 SUN 3.40 am
- How to follow: YouTube/Indypro2000.com
Hunter McElrea has had a solid start to his sophomore Indy Pro 2000 championship.
Third in the championship and already a race winner this year has McElrea buzzing.
The young Kiwi finished third and fourth in the last round at St Petersburg.
Read more: First win of the season a ‘mega feeling’ for Hunter McElrea
Last year, Indy proved to be one of McElrea’s most successful weekends.
He claimed two second placings and a sixth from the three races, giving his championship ambition a much-needed rejuvenation.
Indianapolis is the spiritual home of IndyCar racing, and there is no better stage than for McElrea to prove he can be a future star in the top-tier category.
Billy Frazer & Peter Vodanovich
- What: USF2000
- Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, United States
- When: R1 SAT 2.40 am | R2 SAT 7.15 am | R3 SUN 1.40 am
- How to follow: YouTube/USF2000.com
Frazer and Vodanovich will be living out a boyhood dream this weekend when they also head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The third round of the USF2000 championship is expected to be just as hotly fought as the first two, with four different winners coming from the first four races.
Frazer enjoyed his best result to date at the last round in St Petersburg.
He crossed the line fourth in race one after a weekend he later told Velocity News as being “the most intense weekend of my life.”
Read More: St Pete the most intense weekend ever
Vodanovich had a challenging St Petersburg event. He was involved in a lap one collision in race one, which left him with a difficult recovery drive in race two.
The former Toyota 86 champion is yet to unleash his full potential this season but has demonstrated glimpses of promise this season.
Jaxon Evans
- What: French Porsche Carrera Cup
- Where: Circuit Paul Ricard, France
- When: Race times TBC
- How to follow: YouTube
A guest driver for the weekend, but Jaxon Evans comes into the second round of the French Carrera Cup as the defending series champion.
Evans snared the 2020 title from the brink of defeat.
He came into the final round of the season fifth in the standings.
However, victories in both of the weekend’s races in Spain lifted him the championship.
This year, Evans is racing in the Mobil 1 Supercup and the World Endurance Championship.
Evans is racing with the Martinet by Almeras team this weekend, the same outfit he will be with for the Supercup season.
