• Latest
  • Trending

Lights-to-flag victory for McElrea at Laguna Seca

September 10, 2023

Bewley and Robb show speed and resilience in action-packed Porsche Sprint Challenge weekend at The Bend

September 6, 2025

Ferrari shine at Monza, Hamilton fastest, Lawson 13th in FP1

September 6, 2025

Bewley takes Pro Class victory as Robb fights hard in Porsche Sprint Challenge Race 1 at The Bend

September 5, 2025

Christchurch Dad’s artwork chosen for Liam Lawson’s F1 helmet

September 5, 2025

Angus Fogg Mustang returns to Australia for double-header

September 5, 2025

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

September 6, 2025

Bewley aims to close the gap at the penultimate round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge championship

September 4, 2025

Will Power to leave Team Penske after 17 years, Scott McLaughlin set to race alongside rumoured new teammate for 2026

September 3, 2025

Matt McCutcheon: From Speedway to Supercars and back again

September 3, 2025

Mad Mike Whiddett tackles 2025 Polaris World Championship at Crandon

September 3, 2025

Record 36-car grid launches SS Cup’s 10th season

September 3, 2025
Saturday, September 6, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Lights-to-flag victory for McElrea at Laguna Seca

by Matthew Sampson
September 10, 2023
in Road to Indy
0

Hunter McElrea has stormed to a lights-to-flag victory in this morning’s penultimate race of the 2023 Indy NXT season at Laguna Seca, keeping championship leader Christian Rasmussen at bay over all 35 laps for his second win of the season and fourth of his career.

The Kiwi Andretti Autosport driver set a best lap of 1:12.3117 in qualifying to take pole, topping his rival by nearly two-tenths of a second.

That set the scene for a commanding win, with McElrea cruising to a lead of over six seconds before the first of four caution flags flew.

Rasmussen kept the pressure on following the third restart, sitting within half a second of the lead, but ran out of time to make a pass when a fourth intervention was called following a crash between Jamie Chadwick and Nolan Siegel on the penultimate lap, which saw the race finish behind the Safety Car.

“What a crazy race,” McElrea said. “I was driving like 90 per cent and built like a six-second lead. The car was phenomenal. The restarts weren’t easy, weren’t making my life easy, but I knew we had the speed. That’s it: I just have to win two races and hope for the best.”

Victory for McElrea sees him reduce the gap to Rasmussen to 51 points, however, the latter starts on pole in tomorrow morning’s race and only needs to make the start to clinch the title.

“I did what I needed to do,” Rasmussen said. “Hunter was super quick all race long, and I knew I really didn’t have anything for him. It was a lonely race for me. I was just sitting in second. I had a big gap in front and a big gap behind.

“I was bringing it pretty good at the end,” Rasmussen said. “I could keep close to Hunter because I think I saved so much through the race. I don’t know if I would have had something for him on that last lap, but very satisfied with P2.

“I just have to start the race. Just going to be full enjoyment. Starting on the pole position, and we’ll see what happens.”

Danial Frost finished the race third, while Siegel retains third in the standings despite crashing out, 47 points adrift of McElrea.

Tomorrow morning’s Indy NXT season finale begins at 4.50 am.

Header Image: Penske Entertainment/ IndyCar

Tags: Hunter McElreaIndy NXT

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

error:
No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.