Holy crap, this weekend’s IndyCar race is going to be fast. IndyCar is back at a track they never should have left in the first place—Watkins Glen—and that track has a nice, fresh repave that’s apparently good for multiple seconds under IndyCar’s previous track record there from 2009.
2015 IndyCar champion and bird fan Scott Dixon set an absurdly fast time during practice today of 1:22.8740, according to Racer. This annihilates Ryan Briscoe’s former IndyCar track record of 1:29.1322 by over 6 seconds.
Best of all, this is only after the first two practice sessions of the weekend. Folks aren’t even running balls-out for the fastest lap times yet. They’re getting a feel for a track that’s been off the IndyCar schedule for a while. Qualifying is tomorrow.
With the stickier red-sidewalled Firestone tires coming out tomorrow for qualifying, Dixon told Racer that he expects to see that 2009 track record smashed by well over six seconds this weekend.
Welcome back to the Glen, IndyCar. Hold on to your butts.