The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series[1] was the 17th season of the IndyCar Series, and the 101st season of American open wheel racing. Its premier event was the 96th Indianapolis 500, held on Sunday, May 27. The series was sanctioned by IndyCar, and took place in three countries on two continents.
Three-time defending IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti entered the season seeking his fourth consecutive championship and fifth overall. Meanwhile, two-time championship runner up Will Power sought his first title. Heading into the final race of the season, Power led Ryan Hunter-Reay by 17 points in a two driver fight for the championship.[2] After Power wrecked on lap 55, Hunter-Reay was able to finish 4th, and claimed the championship by 3 points.[3]
Among the numerous stories going into the season was the departure of Danica Patrick, who left IndyCar to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Joining the series was former Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello. A highlight of the season was the introduction of a new chassis and engine package.
After losing Las Vegas as a venue in the aftermath of the death of Dan Wheldon, the series welcomed the return of such venues as Detroit and Fontana. In addition, midway through the season, the inaugural Indy Qingdao 600 scheduled to take place in China was cancelled by the promoter.[4]
It was a triumphant return for Chevrolet after returning from 6 years absence, and a dismal year for Honda only rescued by an unexpectedly good performance at the 500 after an extremely poor qualifying.
The ICONIC Project
The IndyCar Car ICONIC Project.
The 2012 season saw the implementation of Indycar's new ICONIC Plan (Innovative, Competitive, Open-wheel, New, Industry-relevant, Cost-effective), the biggest change to the sport in recent history. The car used through 2011, a 2003/2007-model Dallara IR-05, and naturally aspirated V8 engines (required since 1997) were permanently retired. The ICONIC committee was composed of experts and executives from racing and technical fields: Randy Bernard, William R. Looney III, Brian Barnhart, Gil de Ferran, Tony Purnell, Eddie Gossage, Neil Ressler, Tony Cotman and Rick Long.[5] IndyCar accepted proposals from BAT Engineering, Dallara, DeltaWing, Lola and Swift for chassis design.[6] On July 14, 2010, the final decision was made public, with organisers accepting the Dallara proposal.[6]
New chassis
Under the new ICONIC regulations, all teams will compete with a core rolling chassis, called the "IndyCar Safety Cell",[6] developed by Italian designer Dallara. Teams will then outfit the chassis with separate body work, referred to as "Aero Kits", which consist of front and rear wings, sidepods, and engine cowlings.[6] Development of Aero Kits is open to any manufacturer, with all packages to be made available to all teams for a maximum price. ICONIC committee member Tony Purnell gave an open invitation to car manufacturers and companies such as Lockheed Martin and GE to develop kits.[7]
The IndyCar Safety cell will be capped at a price of $349,000[8] and will be assembled at a new Dallara facility in Speedway, Indiana. Aero Kits will be capped at $70,000.[8] Teams have the option of buying a complete Dallara safety cell/aero kit for a discounted price.[8]
On May 12, 2011, Dallara unveiled the first concept cars, one apiece in oval and road course Aero Kit configuration.[9]
On April 30, 2011, IndyCar owners voted 15–0 to reject the introduction of multiple Aero Kits for the 2012 season, citing costs.[10] Owners expressed their desire to introduce the new chassis/engines for 2012, but have all participants use the Dallara aerodynamic package in 2012, and delay the introduction of multiple aero kits until 2013. On August 14, 2011, IndyCar confirmed that the introduction of multiple Aero Kits would be delayed until 2013 for "economic reasons,"[11] and furthermore, it was put off for 2013 as well. Chevrolet and Lotus had already announced their intention to build aero kits.[12][13][14][15]
2011 Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon carried out the first official test of the Dallara chassis at Mid-Ohio in August 2011.[16] Following Wheldon's death at the season-ending race in Las Vegas, Dallara announced that the 2012 chassis would be named the DW12 in his honor.[17][18]
Turbocharger returns to IndyCar Series since 1996 season. The engines are 2.2 L V6 turbocharged engines, tuned to produce a range of 550–700 horsepower (410–520 kW) with a 12,000 RPM limit.[19][20][21] All engines will run E85 fuel; from 2007–2011, the series utilized 100% fuel grade ethanol.[13][22]
The turbochargers are provided by BorgWarner.
Suppliers
On November 12, 2010, Chevrolet was confirmed as an engine supplier for 2012 with a twin turbo V6. The initial list of potential suppliers included Ford, Cosworth, and Mazda.[23] Honda announced a 2.2-liter turbo V6 developed by Honda Performance Development.[24] On May 27, 2011, Ganassi and Honda announced their partnership renewal for 2012.[25] On August 19, 2010, Cosworth announced their interest in providing an inline-four engine,[26] however, the plan was eventually scrapped. The Chevrolet engine is built in a joint effort with Ilmor who last time partnered Chevrolet in 1997-2005 (1997-2001 as Oldsmobile) and Honda in 2003-2011, and was introduced in partnership with Penske Racing.[12][27]
The third engine supplier was announced November 18, 2010 at the LA Auto Show, just prior to the league deadline. Lotus announced a twin turbo V6 engine[28] and an Aero Kit.[13] built in a partnership with John Judd and Jack Brabham (Engine Developments Ltd.) Judd engines were used in the CART series and at the Indy 500 from 1987–1992, as well as in sports car racing and F1. Lotus has suffered difficulty in both power and delivery of engines and has since pulled out of the sport.
Confirmed engine suppliers
Rule changes
- Any engine changes for an engine that has run less than 1,850 miles will result in 10-place grid penalty at the next race. Further, full-time entries are limited to 5 engines per season.[29] There will be two exceptions:
- If an engine fails during a race, in which a new engine may be installed for the next event without penalty.[30]
- At Indianapolis, all engine penalties will be served at the next race at Detroit. Further, all full-time season entries will receive a new engine penalty-free between Bump Day & Carb Day.[31]
- Beginning at Long Beach for all remaining road/street course events, the pits will remain open throughout non-emergency full-course cautions periods. Previously the pits immediately closed upon the display of the caution flag. The series hopes this will shorten caution periods to as few as two laps.[32]
- Also beginning at Long Beach for all remaining road/street course events, cars that are not on the lead lap during an upcoming restart in the final 20 laps will peel off and drive through pit lane on the speed limiter and cycle back to the end of the line. The rule was later expanded to oval races as well, where lead-lap cars will simply drive to the front in position order instead. This is similar to NASCAR's restart procedure, where all lapped cars must move to the rear of the field.[32]
- For the races at Indianapolis, Texas, and California, restarts will revert to single-file in response to safety concerns.[33]
Schedule
The 2012 schedule included the following 15 races:
| Rnd |
Date |
Race name |
Track |
Location |
| 1 |
March 25 |
Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
Streets of St. Petersburg (S) |
St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 2 |
April 1 |
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama |
Barber Motorsports Park (S) |
Leeds, Alabama |
| 3 |
April 15 |
38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach |
Streets of Long Beach (S) |
Long Beach, California |
| 4 |
April 29 |
Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestlé |
Streets of São Paulo (S) |
São Paulo, Brazil |
| 5 |
May 27 |
96th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race |
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (O) |
Speedway, Indiana |
| 6 |
June 3 |
Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix presented by ShopAutoWeek.com |
Belle Isle (S) |
Detroit, Michigan |
| 7 |
June 9 |
Firestone 550 |
Texas Motor Speedway (O) |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| 8 |
June 16 |
Milwaukee IndyFest presented by XYQ |
Milwaukee Mile (O) |
West Allis, Wisconsin |
| 9 |
June 23 |
Iowa Corn Indy 250 |
Iowa Speedway (O) |
Newton, Iowa |
| 10 |
July 8 |
Honda Indy Toronto |
Exhibition Place (S) |
Toronto, Ontario |
| 11 |
July 22 |
Edmonton Indy |
Edmonton City Centre Airport (S) |
Edmonton, Alberta |
| 12 |
August 5 |
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio |
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (S) |
Lexington, Ohio |
| 13 |
August 26 |
GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma |
Sonoma Raceway (S) |
Sonoma, California |
| 14 |
September 2 |
Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT |
Streets of Baltimore (S) |
Baltimore, Maryland |
| 15 |
September 15 |
MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships |
Auto Club Speedway (O) |
Fontana, California |
(O) Oval/Speedway
(S) Road Course/Street Circuit
Schedule development
Existing race contracts
New/Returning races
Potential races
- A fifteen-race calendar was announced in December 2011; however, amid speculation of a race being organized in Fort Lauderdale, it was reported in January 2012 that the series needed sixteen races in order to fulfill obligations to sponsors.[48]
- After the cancellation of the China race, it was believed that IndyCar would need to replace it to fulfill sponsorship obligations. Road America, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Michigan, and a second race at Texas were considered.[49] However, on June 25, IndyCar announced that the schedule would remain at 15 races.
Discontinued races
Cancelled race
- The series was supposed to visit China for the first time; the Indy Qingdao 600 was to be held on a 3.87-mile street circuit in Qingdao over the weekend of August 19,[54] with plans to build a permanent road course for future seasons.[55] However, this race was cancelled by the promoter on June 13.[4]
Teams and drivers
All chassis are composed of a Dallara DW-12 "IndyCar Safety Cell" base and aerokit in 2012. All teams will run Firestone tires.
| Team |
Engine |
No. |
Driver(s) |
Rounds |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises |
Honda |
14 |
 Mike Conway |
1–14 |
 Wade Cunningham (R) |
15 |
| 41 |
5 |
| Andretti Autosport |
Chevrolet |
17 |
 Sebastián Saavedra1 |
5, 13, 15 |
| 25 |
 Ana Beatriz2 |
4–5 |
| 26 |
 Marco Andretti |
All |
| 27 |
 James Hinchcliffe |
All |
| 28 |
Ryan Hunter-Reay |
All |
| Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
9 |
Scott Dixon |
All |
| 10 |
Dario Franchitti3 |
All |
| 50 |
| 38 |
Graham Rahal |
All |
| 83 |
Charlie Kimball |
1–11, 13–15 |
 Giorgio Pantano (R)4 |
12 |
| Dale Coyne Racing |
Honda |
18 |
Justin Wilson |
All |
| 19 |
James Jakes |
All |
| Dragon Racing5 6 |
Lotus
Chevrolet |
6 |
Katherine Legge (R) |
1–5, 7–9, 13, 15 |
| 7 |
 Sébastien Bourdais |
1–6, 10–14 |
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing5 7 |
Lotus
Chevrolet |
22 |
 Oriol Servià |
All |
| Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevrolet |
20 |
Ed Carpenter |
All |
| KV Racing Technology |
Chevrolet |
5 |
 E. J. Viso |
All |
| 8 |
Rubens Barrichello[N 1] |
All |
| 11 |
Tony Kanaan |
All |
| Lotus–Fan Force United |
Lotus |
64 |
Jean Alesi (R) |
5 |
| Lotus–HVM Racing |
Lotus |
78 |
 Simona de Silvestro |
All |
| Panther Racing |
Chevrolet |
4 |
J. R. Hildebrand |
All |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
15 |
 Takuma Sato |
All |
| 30 |
 Michel Jourdain, Jr. |
5 |
| Schmidt–Hamilton Motorsports |
Honda |
77 |
Simon Pagenaud (R) |
All |
| 99 |
Townsend Bell |
5 |
| Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing |
Honda |
39 |
Bryan Clauson (R) |
5 |
| 67 |
Josef Newgarden (R) |
1–13, 15 |
| Bruno Junqueira9 |
14 |
| Team Barracuda – BHA5 8 |
Lotus
Honda |
98 |
Alex Tagliani |
1–3, 5–15 |
| Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
2 |
 Ryan Briscoe |
All |
| 3 |
Hélio Castroneves |
All |
| 12 |
Will Power |
All |
- Notes
(R) – Rookie
- 1.^ In conjunction with AFS Racing.
- 2.^ In conjunction with Conquest Racing.
- 3.^ Dario Franchitti drove the #50 car at Indianapolis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of sponsor Target.
- 4.^ Charlie Kimball broke his hand in an accident while testing at Mid-Ohio on July 26.[56] Pantano replaced Kimball for the subsequent race at Mid-Ohio.[57]
- 5.^ Team Barracuda – BHA, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Dragon Racing terminated their Lotus engine contracts prior to the Indianapolis 500.
- 6.^ Dragon Racing was reduced to a single-car team following the Indianapolis 500, as engine supplier Chevrolet could not supply engines for both cars. Bourdais was named to drive on the remaining road and street courses, and Legge was named to drive on the remaining ovals[58] and Sonoma.
- 7.^ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing formed a strategic alliance with Panther Racing prior to the Indianapolis 500, and obtained Panther's second Chevrolet engine contract.[59][60]
- 8.^ Team Barracuda – BHA skipped the São Paulo race to concentrate on preparations for the Indy 500.
- 9.^ Josef Newgarden broke his left index finger in an accident during the Sonoma race. Junqueira replaced Newgarden for the following race at Baltimore.[61]
Team and driver changes
- Team Penske: Team will utilize Chevrolet engines beginning in 2012.[27] The entire three car team returns full-time in 2012.[62] Briscoe will switch numbers from #6 to #2.
- Chip Ganassi Racing: Team will utilize Honda engines in 2012.[63] The entire four-car team will return in 2012.[64]
- Andretti Autosport: The team will utilize Chevrolet engines in 2012.[65] Marco Andretti will be in the third year of a 4-year contract with the team in 2012[66][67] Ryan Hunter-Reay signed with Andretti Autosport through the 2012 season.[68] 2011 driver Danica Patrick will leave the team to compete in the Nationwide series full-time along with limited Sprint Cup Schedule.[69] The team announced on August 26, 2011 that GoDaddy will return as a primary sponsor through 2013.[70] Andretti confirmed that Dan Wheldon had signed a deal with Andretti to replace Patrick in the #7 GoDaddy car, but was killed at Las Vegas. James Hinchcliffe will drive the GoDaddy car, and the number will switch from #7 to #27, the same used by fellow Canadian drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve. The team confirmed Sebastian Saavedra and Ana Beatriz for the Indy 500.[71]
- Newman/Haas Racing: The team announced that it will not contest the full 2012 season on December 1, 2011. Jean Alesi will drive for the team at the Indianapolis 500.[72] The entry was later withdrawn.
- Sam Schmidt Motorsports: The team will run Honda engines in 2012.[73] The team announced Simon Pagenaud as its first driver on December 8 and that a second full-time car was "likely",[74] but Pagenaud was the team's lone entry to start the season. On May 3, 2012, the team confirmed that Townsend Bell would drive the #99 car for Schmidt Pelfrey Motorsports.[75]
- A. J. Foyt Enterprises: Mike Conway[76] replaces Vitor Meira[77] as the team driver. The team will run Honda engines in 2012. The team confirmed Wade Cunningham for the Indy 500.[78]
- Panther Racing: J. R. Hildebrand signed a multi-year deal in 2011 to drive the #4 National Guard car for the team.[79]
- KV Racing Technology: The team will run Chevrolet engines in 2012. Driver Tony Kanaan has signed a multi-year contract to return to the team in 2012.[65] The team confirmed the return of E. J. Viso, switching to the #5 car.[80] Rubens Barrichello was confirmed to be driving the full season with the team at a press conference in Brazil on March 1.[81][82]
- Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: In November, the team announced that they have signed on as a Lotus works team for 2012. Oriol Servià has signed to be one of the team's drivers,[83] but efforts to field a second entry are not yet complete.
- HVM Racing: Simona de Silvestro will return as a full-time driver for the team in 2012.[64] The team will be the anchor team for the new Lotus engines in 2012.[84]
- Dale Coyne Racing: Owner Dale Coyne confirmed that the team will return with two cars in 2012, with Honda engines.[85] Justin Wilson[86] and James Jakes both return.
- Conquest Racing: Éric Bachelart stated the team will have at least one full-time car in 2012.[64] Difficulties securing an engine lease and a subsequent American Le Mans Series LMP2 program will keep Conquest's IndyCar plans on hold.[87]
- Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: The team has already purchased two DW12 chassis.[88] The cars will be powered by Honda engines.[89] The team confirmed Takuma Sato as one of their drivers in early February 2012. The team confirmed a second car at the Indy 500,[90] to be driven by Michel Jourdain, Jr.
- Bryan Herta Autosport: The team has budgeted money to buy two Dallara DW12 chassis.[64] The team confirmed Alex Tagliani on January 9, 2012.[91]
- Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing: Driver Ed Carpenter has left to form his own team. 2011 Indy Lights champ Josef Newgarden will be the team's driver for 2012.[92] The team will be powered by Honda engines. The team confirmed Bryan Clauson for the Indy 500.[93]
- Dragon Racing: The team will run two full-time cars, with drivers Sébastien Bourdais and Katherine Legge.[94] The team will be powered by Lotus engines.[94] Legge has signed a multi-year deal with the team to drive the #6 car.[95]
- MSR Indy: The team is owned by Mike Shank, A. J. Allmendinger, and Columbus area businessman Brian Bailey. The team will use Lotus engines.[96] The team has purchased a DW12 chassis with the goal of running a full-time IndyCar program in 2012, and took delivery of their chassis on December 15.[97] Unfortunately, the team did not secure the necessary funding to begin the season with often rumored, but never confirmed, driver Paul Tracy. The team originally confirmed Jay Howard for the Indy 500,[98] but Shank released Howard in early May due to the inability to get an engine.[99]
- Ed Carpenter Racing: Driver Ed Carpenter and his stepfather Tony George have formed a new team, Ed Carpenter Racing. Carpenter will be the full-time driver in 2012. The team confirmed a second car for the Indy 500, but the entry was later withdrawn.[100]
Testing
The first official test of the Dallara DW12 chassis was carried out by Dan Wheldon at Mid-Ohio on August 8, 2011.[16][101] Phase I of testing involved Wheldon, and was planned to involve three road courses and three ovals, over a total of about twelve days. The second test was held August 18 at Barber,[102] and the third was held on the USGP road course at Indianapolis on September 1.[103] Oval tests took place in September at Iowa[104] and Indianapolis.[105]
Honda (Scott Dixon) and Chevrolet (Will Power) began Phase II of on-track testing at Mid-Ohio in early October.[106] A scheduled test at Las Vegas was cancelled after the fatal crash of Dan Wheldon. Testing resumed in late October and continued through February at several venues including Sebring,[107] Fontana,[108] Homestead,[109] Phoenix,[110] and Sonoma.[111] Lotus first took to the track on January 12 at Palm Beach,[112] and testing by individual teams began on January 16.[113]
A full-field official open test took place on March 5–6 & 8–9, 2012 at Sebring International Raceway.[114]
Full-field oval open tests are scheduled for April 4, 2012 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway[115] and for May 7, 2012 at Texas Motor Speedway.[116]
Race summaries
Round 1 – St. Petersburg
| Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
|
|
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Helio Castroneves won the season-opening event,[117][118] snapping a winless streak that dates back to Motegi in 2010. It was the first race for the new Dallara DW-12 chassis, and the new turbocharged engine package. Castroneves' victory marked the first win by Chevrolet in the IndyCar Series since 2005. It also marked the first race since the fatal accident of Dan Wheldon.
Will Power took the lead from the pole position at the start, but during the first yellow, he ducked into the pits in order to gamble on a fuel strategy. The strategy backfired, and Power was not a factor during the remainder of the race.
During the final sequence of pit stops, Castroneves and Scott Dixon were running 1st–2nd. Dixon pitted first on lap 72, and Castroneves pitted on lap later. As the rest of the leaders shuffled through their final pits stops, Castroneves made a bold pass of Dixon on the outside of turn 1 for second place. After the sequence of pit stops was over, Castroneves led the final 26 laps to claim the victory.
On his victory lap, Castroneves stopped in turn 10, climbed from his car, and performed his customary "Spider-Man" celebration, climbing the catch fence. He climbed the fence which displayed the street sign "Dan Wheldon Way," which had been designated days earlier by the city of St. Petersburg in the memory of Wheldon.[119]
- Pole position: #12 Will Power, 1:01.3721 sec, 105.585 mph (169.923 km/h)
- Lead changes: 9 between 7 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–11: #12 Power
- 12–20: #2 Briscoe
- 21–36: #9 Dixon
- 37–46: #15 Sato
- 47: #10 Franchitti
- 48–68: #9 Dixon
- 69–70: #3 Castroneves
- 71: #15 Sato
- 72–74: #4 Hildebrand
- 75–100: #3 Castroneves
- Weather conditions: 77 °F (25 °C), partly cloudy
- Attendance: 125,000 (4-day weekend attendance)[120]
- Cautions: 3 for 15 laps
- Caution Periods
- 13–16: #6 Legge stalled on frontstretch
- 20–27: #19 Jakes contact in turn 10
- 46–48: #3 Castroneves & #20 Carpenter contact in turn 14
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| Television in the United States |
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Round 2 – Barber
| Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama |
|
|
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Scott Dixon led 38 laps and was leading on lap 66 when he made his final pit stop. A slow pit stop caused by trouble on the left rear tire, as well as traffic in the pit lane, allowed Will Power to pass him going into turn one. After all the leaders shuffled through their pit stops, Power took the lead, and held off Dixon over the final laps to win.
- Pole position: #3 Hélio Castroneves, 1:10.4768 sec, 117.485 mph (189.074 km/h)
- Lead changes: 9 between 5 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–24: #3 Castroneves
- 25: #27 Hinchcliffe
- 26: #38 Rahal
- 27–47: #9 Dixon
- 48–49: #3 Castroneves
- 50–65: #9 Dixon
- 66–67: #3 Castroneves
- 68–73: #12 Power
- 74: #9 Dixon
- 75–90: #12 Power
- Weather conditions: 82 °F (28 °C), partly cloudy
- Attendance: 52,879 (race day), 81,378 (weekend)[124]
- Cautions: 2 for 10 laps
- Caution Periods
- 1–3: #98 Tagliani stalled in turn 4
- 67–73: #6 Legge spun in turn 9
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| Television in the United States |
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Round 3 – Long Beach
| 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach |
|
|
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Just days prior to the race, Chevrolet announced that all eleven of their entries would change engines, in violation of IndyCar's 1,850 mileage requirement rule. As a penalty, all of the Chevrolet entries would incur a 10-position grid penalty after time trials. In qualifying Chevrolet cars swept the top three spots, and 5 of the top 6. However, after the penalties were assessed, Honda driver Dario Franchitti was elevated to the pole.
At the start, Dario Franchitti and rookie Josef Newgarden battled into turn one. Newgarden tried to take the lead on the outside, but the two cars clipped slightly, and Newgarden smacked the tire barrier and crashed out of the race. Franchitti took the lead for the first four laps, but quickly faded with handling problems, and was not a factor in the remainder of the race.
Late in the second half, the race became a contest between rookie Simon Pagenaud and Will Power, with Takuma Sato also strong all afternoon. Power made his final pit stop on lap 64, and attempted to stretch his fuel over the final 21 laps. Pagenaud pitted on lap 70, and seemingly had plenty of fuel to charge to the finish. As Power held the lead, Pagenaud dramatically charged to catch Power, gaining 1–2 second per lap. The cars were nose-to-tail in the hairpin as they approached the white flag. Power held off on the final lap to win by 0.8 second.
On the final lap, Sato lost his chance at a podium finish, as he suffered contact from Ryan Hunter-Reay and spun out into the wall. Hunter-Reay crossed the finish line third, but was penalized 30 seconds for "avoidable contact" in the Sato incident. The penalty elevated James Hinchcliffe to third in the official results. After the leaders took the checkered flag, a four-car melee occurred in the hairpin, involving Helio Castroneves and Rubens Barrichello, among others.
Despite all eleven of the Chevrolet entries being penalized 10 starting positions due to the engine changes, Chevrolet-powered cars swept 8 of the top ten finishing positions.
- Pole position: #2 Ryan Briscoe, 1:08.6089 sec, 103.264 mph (166.187 km/h)
- Lead changes: 9 between 7 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–4: #10 Franchitti
- 5–19: #18 Wilson
- 20–27: #15 Sato
- 28: #28 Hunter-Reay
- 29–33: #2 Briscoe
- 34–47: #77 Pagenaud
- 48–55: #15 Sato
- 56–58: #28 Hunter-Reay
- 59–70: #77 Pagenaud
- 71–85: #12 Power
- Weather conditions: 61 °F (16 °C), partly cloudy
- Attendance: 170,000 (3-day weekend attendance)
- Cautions: 3 for 12 laps
- Caution Periods
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| Television in the United States |
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Round 4 – São Paulo
| Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 Presented by Nestle |
|
|
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Will Power led 63 laps en route to his third straight IndyCar victory in 2012, and third consecutive win in São Paulo. Power took the lead at the start and led the first 51 laps. The early parts of the race were clean, but two multi-car pileups occurred on restarts in the tight chicane segment. On one of the final restarts, Takuma Sato aggressively moved into third place, taking his first podium finish in IndyCar competition. Power held off Ryan Hunter-Reay over the final 12 laps to secure the victory.
Despite concerns about possible rain during the race, the skies cleared, and the race was dry, with only trace drizzle that did not affect the track.
- Pole position: #12 Will Power, 1:21.4045 sec, 112.151 mph (180.490 km/h)
- Lead changes: 5 between 5 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- Weather conditions: 79 °F (26 °C), partly cloudy
- Attendance: 31,000 grandstand seats sold out
- Cautions: 5 for 15 laps
- Caution Periods
- 23–25: #2 Briscoe crashed in turn 10
- 27–28: #10 Franchitti & #14 Conway contact in turn 1
- 30–32: #78 de Silvestro crashed in turn 2, #7 Bourdais, #14 Conway, #19 Jakes, #67 Newgarden & #83 Kimball involved in contact
- 63–66: #67 Newgarden crashed in turn 6
- 68–70: #9 Dixon, #11 Kanaan, #14 Conway, #19 Jakes, #25 Beatriz, #26 Andretti, #38 Rahal & #77 Pagenaud contact in turn 2
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Round 5 – Indianapolis
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: The first oval race for the new Dallara DW-12 chassis saw an all-time Indy 500 record 34 lead changes during a highly competitive event. On the final lap, second place Takuma Sato attempted to pass Dario Franchitti for the lead in turn one. As the two cars were side-by-side, Sato pinched the car down too low, spun, and crashed into the outside wall. Franchitti slipped by unscathed to take the victory. Franchitti's teammate Scott Dixon finished second, sweeping a 1–2 finish for Chip Ganassi Racing.
- Pole position: #2 Ryan Briscoe, 2:38.9514 sec, 226.484 mph (364.491 km/h) (4-lap)
- Lead changes: 34 between 10 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1: #27 Hinchcliffe
- 2–4: #2 Briscoe
- 5–6: #27 Hinchcliffe
- 7–15: #2 Briscoe
- 16–17: #27 Hinchcliffe
- 18–19: #2 Briscoe
- 20–21: #26 Andretti
- 22: #2 Briscoe
- 23–44: #26 Andretti
- 45–46: #98 Tagliani
- 47: #9 Dixon
- 48–49: #83 Kimball
- 50–73: #26 Andretti
- 75–78: #9 Dixon
- 79: #83 Kimball
- 80–90: #26 Andretti
- 91–118: #9 Dixon
- 119–123: #15 Sato
- 124–125: #8 Barrichello
- 126–146: #15 Sato
- 147: #9 Dixon
- 148–152: #15 Sato
- 153–159: #50 Franchitti
- 160: #9 Dixon
- 161–162: #50 Franchitti
- 163–171: #9 Dixon
- 172–173: #50 Franchitti
- 174–176: #9 Dixon
- 177: #50 Franchitti
- 178: #9 Dixon
- 179–186: #50 Franchitti
- 187–193: #11 Kanaan
- 194: #50 Franchitti
- 195–198: #9 Dixon
- 199–200: #50 Franchitti
- Weather conditions: 91 °F (33 °C), partly cloudy
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 8 for 39 laps
- Caution Periods
- 14–17: Spin: #39 Clauson in Turn 2
- 80–86: Contact: #12 Power & #14 Conway in Turn 2
- 90–94: Contact: #25 Beatriz in Turn 2
- 146–151: Stall: #17 Saavedra in Turn 2
- 164–170: Stall: #67 Newgarden in Backstretch
- 181–183: Spin: #20 Carpenter in Turn 1
- 188–193: Contact: #26 Andretti in Turn 1
- 200: Contact: #15 Sato in Turn 1
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Round 6 – Detroit
| Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix presented by ShopAutoWeek.com |
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| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Scott Dixon led wire-to-wire at Detroit, IndyCar's return to the Belle Isle circuit for the first time since 2008. Around lap 40, a tar patch of the track broke up, with chunks of pavement creating debris on the track. James Hinchcliffe ran over some of the debris, and crashed hard into the tire barrier. The race was red flagged in order to make repairs to the track surface. After over two hours, the race resumed, but race officials shortened the duration to 60 laps (down from 90). Scott Dixon led the rest of the way, while Dario Franchitti charged up to second place at the finish. The checkered flag fell just minutes before a downpour.
- Pole position: #12 Will Power, 1:21.4045 sec, 112.151 mph (180.490 km/h)
- Lead changes: none
- Lap Leaders
- Weather conditions: 79 °F (26 °C), cloudy, rain
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 3 for 10 laps
- Caution Periods
- 40–44: #27 Hinchcliffe contact in turn 7, #15 Sato contact in turn 12
- 45: Red flag for track repairs
- 45–46: Restarting from red flag
- 48–50: #3 Castroneves and #20 Carpenter contact in turn 6, #67 Newgarden spin
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Round 7 – Texas
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: After experimenting with the Twin 275s race format in 2011, the event reverted to a single 550 km (342 mi) race. The event marked the first race of the new Dallara DW-12 chassis on one of the high-banked 1.5 mile circuits. Though there was a level of apprehension entering the week (in the wake of the Las Vegas tragedy), series officials took measures to reduce downforce, lower speeds, and break up the "pack racing." The result was a highly competitive race and yielded overall positive results.
Scott Dixon dominated most of the first half, leading 133 laps, and seemingly passing and pulling away at will. His Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti, however, suffered from poor handling and after an unscheduled pit stop, fell behind and was never a factor. On lap 170, Dixon's handling started to go away, and lost the lead to Will Power. A few laps later, he got too low in turn four, and was caught up in dirty air, which caused him to spin and crash out in the exit of turn four.
After the restart, Will Power led Ryan Briscoe and Tony Kanaan. Down the backstretch, the cars went three wide, and Power swerved to block the inside line. He made contact with Kanaan's front wing, and the broken wing required Kanaan to pit for repairs. A few minutes later, race director Beaux Barfield issued a blocking penalty to Power, and he was forced to serve a "drive-through" penalty in the pit lane.
Graham Rahal took the lead on lap 200, and appeared on his way to his second-career IndyCar victory. He held a lead of several seconds over Justin Wilson. With three laps to go, however, Rahal slid high exiting turn four, and smacked the outside wall with the right side of the car. Rahal continued, but slowed enough that Wilson passed him for the lead down the backstretch. Wilson led the final two laps, and scored his second career IndyCar victory, and Dale Coyne's second victory as a car owner. Rahal held on to come home second.
- Pole position: #98 Alex Tagliani, 48.5695 sec, 215.691 mph (347.121 km/h) (2-lap)
- Lead changes: 9 between 7 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1: 1–20: #98 Tagliani
- 21–116: #9 Dixon
- 117–125: #18 Wilson
- 126–133: #9 Dixon
- 134–141: #27 Hinchcliffe
- 142–170: #9 Dixon
- 171–194: #12 Power
- 195–199: #2 Briscoe
- 200–226: #38 Rahal
- 227–228: #18 Wilson
- Weather conditions: 88 °F (31 °C), partly cloudy
- Attendance: 69,000
- Cautions: 4 for 32 laps
- Caution Periods
- 31–39: #83 Kimball contact in turn 4
- 65–70: #15 Sato crash on backstretch
- 131–137: #5 Viso stalled
- 174–183: #9 Dixon crash turn 4
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Round 8 – Milwaukee
| Milwaukee IndyFest Presented by XYQ |
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| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Dario Franchitti sits on the pole at The Milwaukee Mile, he led eventual race winner Ryan Hunter Reay to the green flag. The race got delayed 90 minutes due to rain. We ran the first 66 laps without a caution, until the 1st caution came out on lap 67 when Simona de Silvestro crashed in turn 4, the first restart came on lap 79. The 2nd caution came on lap 94 when Justin Wilson lost an engine in turn 1, the next restart came on lap 103 and Scott Dixon gets black flagged for jumping the restart. The 3rd caution came out on lap 108 when Takuma Sato and James Jakes crashed in turn 2, the next restart came on lap 122. The 4th caution came out when there was a couple raindrops falling on the racetrack. The next to final restart came on lap 192, and the 5th and final caution came on lap 195 when polesitter Dario Franchitti crashed in turn 3. The final restart came on lap 201. Ryan Hunter Reay wins by 5 seconds over Tony Kanaan and James Hinchcliffe gets his best finish on an oval, he ties his career best finish. Hinchcliffe finished 3rd at the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 15, 2012. Hunter Reay gets his first win of the season, and first win since the 2011 MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on August 15, 2011.
- Pole position: #10 Dario Franchitti, 43.3100 sec, 168.737 mph (271.556 km/h) (2-lap)
- Lead changes: 5 between 5 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- Weather conditions: 84F
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 5 for 51 laps
- Caution Periods
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Round 9 – Iowa
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Ryan Hunter-Reay won for the second weekend in a row, and for the second weekend in a row on a short oval. Hunter-Reay passed his teammate Marco Andretti for second place on lap 234, then took the lead from Scott Dixon four laps later.
In a new format, the starting lineup was determined by three heat races. Dario Franchitti won the third and final heat race, which secured the pole position. However, he suffered an engine failure on the pace laps, and dropped out before the green flag.
- Pole position: #10 Dario Franchitti - Won qualifying heat race: REPORT
- Lead changes: 10 between 8 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–51 #3 Helio Castroneves
- 52–70 #27 James Hinchcliffe
- 71 #8 Rubens Barrichello
- 72 #19 James Jakes
- 73–154 #3 Helio Castroneves
- 155–156 #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
- 157–176 #9 Scott Dixon
- 177–178 #2 Briscoe
- 179–181 #26 Marco Andretti
- 182–237 #9 Scott Dixon
- 238–250 #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Weather conditions: 86F
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 6 for 64 laps
- Caution Periods
- 1–9: Stalled cars #10 Franchitti & #98 Tagliani
- 68–83: Contact #5 Viso & #12 Power in turn 2
- 98–110: Contact #4 Hildebrand in turn 1
- 179–194: Contact #2 Briscoe & #67 Newgarden in turn 2
- 197–203: Contact #27 Hunchcliffe in turn 4
- 248–250: Contact #6 Legge in turn 2
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Round 10 – Toronto
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Dario Franchitti wins his 3rd consecutive pole in the Indycar Series, he was followed by Will Power, Justin Wilson, Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon, and Ryan Hunter Reay. We ran the first 23 laps without a caution until Graham Rahal crashed in turn 1 and lap 24. The first restart came on lap 28. We had a 52 lap green flag run, the 2nd caution came on lap 80 when rookies Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden got together in turn 3, Newgarden got the worst of it, and Pagenaud eventually got a penalty for avoidable contact. The final restart came on lap 82. The 3rd and final caution came on lap 83 when Sébastien Bourdais, Rubens Barrichello, and Alex Tagliani made contact in turn 1, Dario Franchitti got into Ryan Briscoe in turn 3, and then Ed Carpenter got into Simon Pagenaud and got into Marco Andretti. The race end under caution and Ryan Hunter Reay picks up his 3rd consecutive win the season. Hunter Reay leads by 34 points over Will Power and 46 points over Helio Castroneves. Hunter Reay holds off Charlie Kimball, who picks up his first podium of his career, and Mike Conway, who picks up his best finish of the season. Conway gives AJ Foyt Enterprises their first podium since Vitor Meira at the 2010 Sao Paulo Indy 300.
- Pole position: #10 Dario Franchitti, 59.3510 sec, 106.451 mph (171.316 km/h)
- Lead changes: 6 between 5 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–5 #10 Dario Franchitti
- 6–25 #12 Will Power
- 26–48 #77 Simon Pagenaud (R)
- 49–55 #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
- 56 #4 J.R. Hildebrand
- 57–85 #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Weather conditions: 82 °F (28 °C), clear skies
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 3 for 8 laps
- Caution Periods
- 24–27: Contact #38 Rahal in turn 2
- 80–81: Contact #67 Newgarden in turn 3
- 83–84: Contact #7 Bourdais in turn 1; 2 Briscoe, 10 Franchitti, 20 Carpenter, 26 Andretti & 77 Pagenaud in turn 3
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Round 11 – Edmonton
| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Helio Castroneves held off Takuma Sato to win the Edmonton Indy, in a race that went flag-to-flag without a caution. On the final round of pit stops, Castroneves pitted on lap earlier than Sato, and when Sato exited the pits, Castroneves slipped by to take the lead in turn one.
With the victory, Castroneves moved into second place in the season points standings behind Ryan Hunter-Reay. Championship contender Will Power started 17th, and notably charged all the way up to third at the finish. Power, however, slipped down to third in the season standings.
- Pole position: #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay, 1:07.2338, 103.664 mph
- Lead changes: 5 between 4 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–25: #98 Alex Tagliani
- 26: #2 Ryan Briscoe
- 27: #12 Will Power
- 28–51: #98 Alex Tagliani
- 52–53: #12 Will Power
- 54–75: #3 Helio Castroneves
- Weather conditions: 79F
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 0 for 0 laps
- Caution Periods
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Round 12 – Mid-Ohio
| Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio |
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| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Will Power picks up the pole at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, he was followed by Dario Franchitti, Simon Pagenaud, Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe, and Sébastien Bourdais. For the 2nd consecutive race in row, the race goes caution free. Scott Dixon picks up his 2nd win of the season, and 4th at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Dixon was followed by Will Power and Simon Pagenaud. Will Power leads the championship by 5 points over Ryan Hunter Reay, 26 points over Helio Castroneves and 28 points over Scott Dixon.
- Pole position: #12 Will Power, 1:05.6474 sec, 123.825 mph (199.277 km/h)
- Lead changes: 2 between 3 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–57: #12 Power
- 58–59: #27 Hinchcliffe
- 60–85: #9 Dixon
- Weather conditions: 93F
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 0 for 0 laps
- Caution Periods
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Round 13 – Sonoma
| GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma |
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| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Will Power picks up his 3rd consecutive pole at Sonoma Raceway, 2nd consecutive pole of the season. He was followed by Ryan Briscoe, Sébastien Bourdais, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, and Dario Franchitti. The green waved and Championship Contenders Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon got together in turn 7, Dixon got the worst of it, and Castroneves gets a drive through penalty for avoidable contact. We ran the first 64 laps without a caution, until lap 65 when Sébastien Bourdais and Josef Newgarden crashed in turn 8. The next restart came on lap 74, and on lap 75 the 2nd caution came when Alex Tagliani spun Ryan Hunter Reay in turn 7, Tagliani eventually would get penalized for avoidable contact. Ryan Hunter Reay would get penalized for avoidable contact on EJ Viso. Oriol Servia would get penalized for avoidable contact on Mike Conway. Ryan Briscoe holds off Will Power and Dario Franchitti to pick up his first win since the 2010 Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 5, 2010. Will Power leads the championship by 37 points over Ryan Hunter Reay with 2 races left in the season.
- Pole position: #12 Will Power, 1:17.2709 sec, 111.116 mph (178.824 km/h)
- Lead changes: 6 between 3 drivers
- Lap Leaders
- 1–17: #12 Power
- 18–19: #2 Briscoe
- 20: #28 Hunter-Reay
- 21–40: #12 Power
- 41–43: #2 Briscoe
- 44–63: #12 Power
- 64–85: #2 Briscoe
- Weather conditions: 79 °F (26 °C), overcast
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: 2 for 11 laps
- Caution Periods
- 65–73: #7 Bourdais, #67 Newgarden crash in turn 8
- 7–76: #28 Hunter-Reay, #98 Tagliani contact in turn 9
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Round 14 – Baltimore
| Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT |
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| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: Will Power picks up his 3rd consecutive pole of the season. We went the first 8 laps without a full course caution. The first caution came out on lap 9 when Ed Carpenter crashed on the frontstretch, the first restart came out on lap 13. The 2nd caution came out on lap 14 when Helio Castroneves, JR Hildebrand, Mike Conway, and Bruno Junqueira crashed in turn 6, the next restart came on lap 17. The 3rd caution came on lap 19 when Marco Andretti crashed in turn 1, the next restart came on lap 21. The 4th caution came on lap 22 when Dario Franchitti and Simona de Silvestro crashed in turn 1, the next restart came on lap 24. The 5th caution came on lap 33 when James Jakes crashed in turn 12, the next restart came on lap 36. The 6th caution came on lap 37 when James Hinchcliffe crashed in turn 2, the next restart came on lap 39. The 7th caution came on lap 40 when Simona de Silvestro crashed on the frontstretch, the next restart came on lap 42. The 8th caution came when Charlie Kimball had a drivetrain issue in turn 3, the next to final restart came on lap 69. The 9th and final caution came on lap 70 when Mike Conway, Justin Wilson, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, and Graham Rahal crashed in turn 4. Ryan Hunter Reay held off Ryan Briscoe and Simon Pagenaud to pick his 4th win of the season, closing the championship gap to within 17 points behind Will Power with one race left in the season.
- Pole position: Will Power, 1:07.9750, 94.185 mph
- Lead changes: {{{leadchanges}}}
- Lap Leaders
- Weather conditions: 84F
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: {{{yellows}}}
- Caution Periods
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Round 15 – Fontana
| MAVTV 500 INDYCAR World Championships |
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| Race Summary and Statistics |
- Race Summary: The Indycar Series broke the record for the most hottest race in the series, which it dated back the 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19, 2009, 64 races ago. Marco Andretti picks up his first pole since The Milwaukee Mile in June of 2008, 77 starts ago. Ryan Hunter Reay and Will Power are the only 2 drivers that can win the 2012 IZOD Indycar Series championship. We ran the first 55 laps without a caution until Championship Contender Will Power crashed in turn 2. The first restart came on lap 65, the 2nd caution came out when Katherine Legge and Justin Wilson crashed in turn 3. The next restart came out on lap 85, the 3rd caution came out on lap 108 when Rubens Barrichello lost an engine in turn 2. The next restart came out on lap 115, and the 4th caution came out on lap 182 when Ryan Briscoe crashed in turn 4. The next restart came out on lap 189, the 5th caution came out on lap 230 when Alex Tagliani crashed in turn 4. The next restart came on lap 235, the 6th caution came on lap 241 when Tony Kanaan crashed in turn 4. The final restart came on lap 244, and the 7th and final caution came on lap 250 when Takuma Sato crashed in turn 2. Ed Carpenter passed Dario Franchitti to pick up his first win since the 2011 Kentucky Indy 300 at the Kentucky Speedway on October 2, 2011, which it dated back 15 races ago. Scott Dixon came home in 3rd place. Ryan Hunter Reay wins the championship by 3 points over Will Power, Hunter Reay became the first American champion since 2006 with Sam Hornish Jr.
- Pole position: #26 Marco Andretti, 216.069 mph (347.729 km/h)
- Lead changes: x for x laps
- Lap Leaders
- xx–xx: #xx xxx xxx
- xx–xx: #xx xxx xxx
- Weather conditions: 98F
- Attendance: TBA
- Cautions: x for x laps
- Caution Periods
- xx–xx: #xx xxx xxx
- xx–xx: #xx xxx xxx
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Season Summary
Race results
Final driver standings
|
|
| Color |
Result |
|---|
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th & 5th place |
| Light Blue | 6th–10th place |
| Dark Blue | Finished
(Outside Top 10) |
| Purple | Did not finish |
| Red | Did not qualify
(DNQ) |
| Brown | Withdrawn
(Wth) |
| Black | Disqualified
(DSQ) |
| White |
Did Not Start
(DNS) |
Race abandoned
(C) |
| Blank | Did not
participate |
|
| In-line notation |
| Bold |
Pole position
(1 point)
Exception: Indianapolis 500 |
| Italics |
Ran fastest race lap |
| * |
Led most race laps
(2 points) |
| DNS |
Any driver who qualifies
but does not start (DNS),
earns half the points
had they taken part. |
| RY Rookie of the Year |
| R Rookie |
|
|
- Extra points awarded for qualifying at Indianapolis based on drivers performance.
- Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc.
Manufacturers' Championship
|
|
| Color |
Result |
Points |
|---|
| Gold | 1st place | 9 |
| Silver | 2nd place | 6 |
| Bronze | 3rd place | 4 |
|
- Manufacturers' Championship points are awarded based on the finishing position of the highest finishing car of each respective manufacturer at each round.[125]
Broadcasting
For 2012, as in recent years, the IndyCar Series schedule split its television coverage between ESPN on ABC and NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus). The season finale returned to NBC Sports Network after airing on ABC in 2011.
As a result of logistics, NBC Sports Network aired 2012 Summer Olympics coverage during the time and ESPN's broadcast and production crew were working the NASCAR Nationwide Series U.S. Cellular 250 during a split race weekend for the two NASCAR national series), the August 5 race at Mid Ohio that aired on ABC used the NBC Sports Network crew.[126]
In addition to qualifying and race broadcasts, NBC Sports Network aired IndyCar 36, a documentary series based on NBC's 36 format. Each 30-minute episode features a driver's race weekend. The drivers selected were:
No shows were produced at São Paulo, Detroit, Milwaukee or Edmonton, whereas frontrunners Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon were not featured.
- ↑ Not considered a series rookie. He was only considered an Indy rookie.
- ↑ Briscoe, the fastest qualifier from the Fast Six shootout, was assessed a 10-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change. Dario Franchitti, who qualified 4th, was the highest-placed driver not to have a penalty, and thus started the race from pole position. Briscoe earned the pole-winner's championship point.
- ↑ Hunter-Reay, the fastest qualifier from the Fast Six shootout, was assessed a 10-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change. Dario Franchitti, who qualified 2nd, started the race from pole position. Hunter-Reay earned the pole-winner's championship point.
References
- ↑ Cavin, Curt (November 3, 2009). "IndyCar lands Title Sponsor". The Indianapolis Star. Michael G. Kane; Gannett Company. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (2012-09-03). "Series championship comes down to the wire -- again". www.indycar.com. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
- ↑ Associated Press. ".Ryan Hunter-Reay wins IndyCar title". ESPN.com. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- 1 2 "INDYCAR's scheduled August race in China canceled". IndyCar Series. IndyCar. June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Technology ICONIC Advisory Committee". IndyCar.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "2012 car strategy embraces innovation". IndyCar.com. July 14, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ↑ "Purnell challenges future constructors". autosport.com. July 14, 2010.
- 1 2 3 "Dallara named IndyCar chassis supplier for 2012". AutoWeek.com. July 15, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ↑ "Divergent 2012 car concepts match schedule". IndyCar.com. May 10, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ↑ "INDYCAR: Owners Reject Aero Kits For 2012". SpeedTV.com. May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave. "Alternative aero kits postponed until 2013". IndyCar.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- 1 2 "ECONOMAKI: Chevrolet To Make Welcomed IndyCar Return". National Speed Sport News. November 16, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "Manufacturer competition blooms with Lotus". IndyCar.com. November 18, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- 1 2 "Lotus to manufacture engines for IndyCar Series beginning in 2012". Sports Illustrated. November 17, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- 1 2 "IndyCar: Lotus to badge engines in 2012, will compete against Honda and Chevy". AutoWeek. November 17, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- 1 2 O'Leary, Jamie. 2012 Dallara makes test debut, Autosport, August 8, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-07
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave. Test pilot Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine., IndyCar, October 17, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-07
- ↑ Lostia, Michele and Pablo Elizalde. 2012 Dallara to be called DW12, Autosport, October 26, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-07
- ↑ Pruett, Marshall (August 13, 2011). "INDYCAR: Inside The 2012 Dallara". Speed TV. p. 2. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ↑ Pruett, Marshall (January 12, 2011). "INDYCAR: Greater Relevance with Smaller 2012 Engines". SpeedTV.com. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- ↑ "INDYCAR: 2012 Engine Rules Announced". SPEED. June 2, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ↑ Cavin, Curt (July 15, 2010). "IndyCar unveils new chassis for 2012". Indy.com. Star Media. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ↑ "INDYCAR: 2012 Engine Has Manufacturers Listening". SPEED. June 2, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- 1 2 "Honda adopts new engine formula for 2012". IndyCar.com. August 7, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ↑ "INDYCAR: Ganassi Goes With Honda For 2012". Press release. SpeedTV.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ↑ "INDYCAR: Cosworth 2012 Q&A". SPEED. August 19, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Chevrolet revs up new engine for 2012 car". IndyCar.com. November 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 17, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ↑ Pruett, Marshall. 2012 Engine Testing Plans Revealed, Speed, August 2, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-07
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- 1 2
- ↑ "IndyCar eliminates double-file restarts at 3 ovals". CNN. February 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Event Extension". indycar.com. April 6, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
- ↑ "Grand Prix is a winner for St. Petersburg". indycar.com. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
- ↑ "Indy Car race coming to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama". al.com. July 26, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ↑ Oreovicz, John (April 16, 2008). "Champ Car finale signals new start for Long Beach Grand Prix". ESPN. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ↑ Cavin, Curt (March 12, 2010). "Brazil and its drivers pumped as IndyCar invades Sao Paulo". usatoday.com. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Honda Indy Toronto renews important contracts, secures core features of the event through to 2014". Honda Indy Toronto. May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ↑ "Indy Race Stays in Edmonton". City of Edmonton. January 11, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
- ↑ "Series roars into Baltimore in 2011". indycar.com. June 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Details of Baltimore Grand Prix expected Wednesday". baltimoresun.com. June 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Race On in Baltimore after new GP deal". SportsPro Media. May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ↑ Andretti Helps IndyCar Revive Milwaukee
- ↑ Fleming, Leonard N. (October 12, 2011). "It's official: Grand Prix on way to Belle Isle". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave. "Series returning to Fontana in 2012". IndyCar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Mark 2012 calendar for Sept. 15". IndyCar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- ↑ Cavin, Curt (January 6, 2012). "IndyCar season may conclude in Fort Lauderdale". The Indianapolis Star. Karen Crotchfelt; Gannett Company. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ Vega, Michael (October 14, 2011). "IndyCar Series not returning to New Hampshire in 2012". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (February 9, 2011). "Sayonara, Twin Ring Motegi". IndyCar Series. IndyCar. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Hoffman, Craig; Douglass, Scott (October 13, 2011). "No Indy Cars at Kentucky Speedway". The Courier-Journal. Arnold Garson; Gannett Company. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑ "IndyCar wo.n't race Las Vegas in '12". ESPN.com. ESPN. Associated Press. December 8, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Konrath, Amy. "IZOD IndyCar Series Announces First-Ever China Race". WhoWon.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Most Popular E-mail Newsletter". USA Today. November 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Kimball suffers fractured finger during Mid-Ohio test". IndyCar. July 26, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ↑ "Pantano will substitute for the injured Kimball". IndyCar. July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ↑ "INDYCAR: Dragon To Split Single Entry For Bourdais And Legge". speedtv.com. Speed. May 30, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Panther, DRR form strategic partnership". IndyCar. May 7, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ "Junqueira to Substitute for Newgarden in Grand Prix of Baltimore". Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. August 28, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (November 3, 2011). "Team Penske trio returns for 2012". IndyCar. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (May 27, 2011). "Ganassi teams align with Honda for 2012". IndyCar Series. IndyCar. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "INDYCAR: 2012 Season Starting To Take Shape". Speed.com. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- 1 2 "Andretti Autosport and Chevrolet Confirm IndyCar Series Partnership". Andretti Autosport. September 23, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Venom Energy Drink Signs Multi-Year Sponsorship With Andretti Autosport". PR Newswire. Venom Energy. December 3, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Marco Andretti, the Twitterview". Pressdog. Pressdog. June 17, 2010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
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- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (February 23, 2012). "'Yeahs' have it for PIR return". IndyCar.com. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
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- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (March 25, 2012). "Castroneves starts year with exuberant victory". IndyCar.com. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Helio Castroneves wins opener". ESPN. March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Street in St. Petersburg named for Dan Wheldon". AP. Fox News. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ "TV Ratings: 600K Watch ESPN’s ‘First Take’ Special (Also: IndyCar on ABC, Local NCAA Ratings)". Sports Media Watch. March 26, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- ↑ "Final TV Rating for IndyCar St. Pete Slides to 0.9". Pressdog.com. March 29, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
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