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| Penske Racing's Josef Newgarden leads eventual Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach winner Andretti Autosport's Colton Herta as he passes Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon while navigating Turn 6 on the backside of the course. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
Long Beach - 2021 NTT IndyCar Finale
Words & Images By:
Brandon J. O'Brien
There were to be three distinct honors handed out. The foremost was for who
would be the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series Champion. Going into the race
weekend the points leader was Alex Palou. Following him were Pato O'Ward (-35
points) and Josef Newgarden (-47 points). Only O'Ward and Newgarden had any
mathematical chance of besting Palou. This is the 16th consecutive season
where the Championship has been decided in the final race.
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Alex Palou in the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Honda DW-12 Mk
III in the Fountain Curve at Long Beach. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
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Pato O'Ward in the #5 Arrow McLaren SP-Chevrolet in the
Fountain Curve at Long Beach. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
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Josef Newgarden in the #2 Penske Racing Dallara-Chevrolet DW-12 Mk
III on Pine Avenue At Long Beach. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
Vying for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Rookie of the Year award was former F1 driver
Romain Grosjean and New Zealander Scott McLaughlin.
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Scott McLaughlin in the #3 Team Penske Dallara-Chevrolet DW-12 Mk
III in the Fountain Curve at Long Beach. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
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| Romain Grosjean in the #51 Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing Dallara DW-12 Mk III exiting the Fountain Curve at Long Beach. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
Coming off a solid win at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca the previous weekend
Colton Herta was attempting to end his season with two wins in a row. In
practice he showed that he had the car that could go the distance for the
win.
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Colton Herta in the #26 Andretti Autosport w/Curb Agajanian
Dallara DW-12 Mk III between turns 1 and 2 at Long Beach. Image Credit:2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
Long Beach has never been a forgiving track and during qualifying many cars
accelerating out of Turn 8 would brush the outside wall. Herta did this one to
many times damaging the suspension putting him out of contention for the pole.
Josef Newgarden was able to top the "Fast Six" taking the pole and gaining one
extra point toward the Championship.
The first two rows were filled by Newgarden, Dixon, Castroneves, and Pagenaud.
Herta would start mid-pack in 14th. After the start of the race, having the
fastest car all weekend, Herta was able to carve his way through traffic and
by the 15th lap he was solidly in fifth-place and the race for the lead was
truly on. Newgarden, Dixon, and Castroneves were still holding the first three
positions.
On lap 31 Herta made his pass on Dixon and followed that two-laps later by
passing Newgarden who was technically in second due to pit stops. After a full
course yellow on lap 66 Herta was able to get a jump on the restart holding
off Newgarden.
From that point to lap 85 Herta stayed in front while diligently holding off
his charging rivals. This was made more difficult as he was on the harder
compound "Black" tires while the others were on newer softer compound
"Reds".
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2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Winner Colton Herta Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
It was electrifying to watch him skillfully charge to the front of the field
and take the checkered flag for the second straight weekend and his sixth
IndyCar win.
The Championship went to Alex Palou who finish the race in fourth and Rookie
of the Year honors went to Scott McLaughlin.
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2021 NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou with his trophy
talking with the media after the Long Beach Grand Prix. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
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2021 NTT IndyCar Rookie of the Year honors went to Scott
McLaughlin. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images |
Next year
the "Rites Of Spring" Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will return to its normal
place and times April 8-10, 2022.
TAGS: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Alex Palou, Brandon O'Brien, Colton
Herta, Dallara, DW-12, IndyCar, Josef Newgarden, Motor Driven
Images, MotorSports Journal, NTT IndyCar Series, Pato O'Ward, Romain
Grosjean, Scott McLaughlin
