Team Penske INDYCAR Managing Director and race strategist to Will Power in the No.12 Verizon Business Chevrolet, Ron Ruzewski, says that oval races are part of INDYCAR’s DNA.
Alex Palou and Will Power are in the running for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, with Palou holding a 33-point lead over Power heading into this weekend’s season-ending Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Super Speedway.
Speaking to Paddock Eye during media availability ahead of this weekend’s race, Ron Ruzewski commented saying:
There’s variability in both road and street course and oval racing, but I love the fact of finishing on an oval just because I think ovals are part of the INDYCAR DNA, and it’s really a unique opportunity and generally close racing.
If there was more contenders in it, it gets really interesting. Especially gets dicey at the end. Strategies, different things that play into it.
I’m really excited about it being an oval. I love finishing on an oval, and Nashville is a great venue for us.
Barry Wanser, Managing Director of Chip Ganassi Racing and chief strategist to Alex Palou in the No.10 DHL Honda, believes that the Spaniard will claim his maiden INDYCAR oval victory this weekend in Nashville. Should he win the championship on Sunday, Palou will become the first back-to-back INDYCAR SERIES champion since Dario Franchitti in 2011.
Speaking to Paddock Eye during the same conference call, Barry Wanser said:
Chip Ganassi Racing, we love ovals. We’ve already talked about Alex hasn’t won on an oval, but we’re not disappointed it’s an oval. We’re happy just having a very unique series with a variety of racetracks that we get to race on. It makes INDYCAR racing unique.
To be able to finish at a place like Nashville, I think it’s pretty special.