Rossi adopts the right strategy at Mid-Ohio

Alexander Red (Andretti Autosport) had an exemplary weekend at Mid-Ohio. After taking pole on the 3,63km road circuit, the winner of the 100th edition of the Indy 500 tried a two-stop strategy against three for his rivals. The American made his final stop 31 laps from the finish and regained control of the race when Robert Wickens (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports) returned to the pits during the 65th loop.

The driver of the #12 DW27-Honda won with a dozen seconds ahead of the rookie and thus celebrated the 4th victory of his career and his second of the year.

“It was what we needed, confirmed the winner who gave his team its 60th victory in IndyCar and its first Mid-Ohio. We carried out a superb strategy. We knew we could attempt a two-stop race. Fuel consumption from the Honda engine was excellent and the Firestone tires held up very well. »

The Mid-Ohio race was not disrupted by the slightest yellow flag, a first since 2013 on the road circuit.

“We know that we have to be patient in this type of race., added the 2015 GP2 Series vice-champion, but Rob (Edwards, his strategist) knows how to keep calm and he continued to talk to me throughout the ordeal. We studied consumption to see if it was possible to give it a try and it worked. »

The podium was completed by Will Power (Team Penske) who celebrated his 200th IndyCar start and who preceded his teammate, reigning champion Josef Newgarden, to the finish line.

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) celebrated his 300th start with a Top 5. The Championship leader finished precisely half of his races in the first 5 positions. The four-time champion now has a 46-point lead over Alexander Rossi who has become his closest opponent with 4 races remaining in the season.

Sébastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing) made a superb comeback from the back of the grid following his accident in qualifying to take 6th place. This is his best result since his 4th position at the Indianapolis GP last May. His compatriot simon pagenaud (Team Penske) finished 8th behind Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport).

For his return to competition following his accident at the 6h of Spa, Pietro Fittipaldi (Dale Coyne Racing) took 23rd place, finishing penultimate.

Discover the report of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in issue 2176 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.