Good morning! Despite F1’s cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, there was no shortage of exciting racing action across the globe headlined by NASCAR’s successful revival of North Wilkesboro Speedway and an intense bump day at Indy. It was the perfect precursor to the biggest weekend in motorsports. Let’s recap!

What was the first race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

*Answer at the bottom

F1

F1 and Ferrari Support Emilia-Romagna Region after Historic Flooding

Formula One and Ferrari have donated €1 million to the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy to support communities affected by heavy flooding. The region was scheduled to host tehe Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, but the race was postponed due to the critical situation caused by the flooding. Ferrari, whose sportscar and F1 factory are located in the region, made the announcement of their donation, prompting Formula One to also contribute €1 million.

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, who hails from the Emilia Romagna region, expressed his support for the affected communities and praised their resilience and passion. The funds will go towards supporting relief efforts on the ground.

Mercedes’ Monster Campus

Mercedes plans to create a "Silicon Valley style environment" at its factory in Brackley with an $87 million investment. The company has already upgraded its existing facilities, and now it aims to expand the site by purchasing additional land parcels. The expansion will include new facilities for employee health and well-being, improved sustainability infrastructure, and better vehicle flows. The majority of the campus will become pedestrianized, and new buildings will be constructed, including a health and well-being center, a marketing building, and a parking structure equipped with solar power to charge electric vehicles.

The expansion is driven by the team's growth and a focus on creating a high-quality working environment and sustainability. The new buildings will be powered by 100% renewable energy and will support the local community.

de Vries in Danger?

Nyck de Vries is under scrutiny regarding his performance and future with AlphaTauri. Despite trailing behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, de Vries is not currently at risk of losing his seat. The team acknowledges that drivers typically require three years to fully adapt to Formula 1, and Red Bull, which secured de Vries' services, wants him to prove his worth. The challenging performance of the AlphaTauri car and the absence of obvious replacements work in de Vries' favor.

However, he must improve and outperform Tsunoda to fully secure his seat for the next season, as Red Bull is keen on giving opportunities to their junior drivers. Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo aims to regain his form and impress teams, and make a reentry into the grid. The upcoming races will play a crucial role in shaping the future of drivers like de Vries, as strong performances can significantly influence their prospects in Formula 1.

More F1

💰 McLaren calls on the FIA to change cost cap rules in F1… “teams shouldn’t choose between performance or sustainability initiatives”

NASCAR

Larson Completes Weekend Sweep

Kyle Larson dominated the NASCAR All-Star Race at the newly renovated North Wilkesboro Speedway, securing his third All-Star win. Despite an early pit road penalty, Larson quickly made his way through the field to regain the lead and never looked back. The race at North Wilkesboro was Larson's third win in the All-Star Race, tying him for the second most wins in the event’s history with Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt. Tyler Reddick finished third, followed by Chase Briscoe and Chase Elliott.

Larson Takes the Truck Win

In the NASCAR Truck race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Kyle Larson emerged as the dominant winner. Driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, Larson led 138 of the 252 laps. After pitting for new tires during a caution, he had to chase down Bubba Wallace to regain the lead with 13 laps remaining. A late crash forced the race into overtime, but Larson easily held off Ty Majeski to secure his first Truck win of the 2023 season. This race marked the first points-paying race in any NASCAR series at North Wilkesboro since 1996. The track underwent renovations and hosted a week of racing events, including the Truck race and the upcoming All-Star Race.

Wallace’s Strong Run Overshadowed

Bubba Wallace's impressive performance in the NASCAR All-Star Race was overshadowed by an incident where derogatory comments were broadcasted over his team radio channel. Wallace, the only full-time Black driver in NASCAR's premier series, did not hear the comments at the time, but NASCAR officials are investigating the incident. Despite the incident, Wallace's runner-up finish in the race continued his recent streak of strong performances. He expressed some disappointment at falling short of the win in a $1 million event but remained optimistic and focused on carrying the momentum into future races, especially one at his home turf in Charlotte.

More NASCAR

✍️ Shane Van Ginsberg announced as Trackhouse’s newest driver… he’ll make his NASCAR debut at the Chicago Street Course

🤬 McDowell’s statement to Ty Gibbs after run in during the All-Star Open… McDcowell warns “all that stuff comes around” 

IndyCar

Down to Inches in Indy

Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou clinched pole position in the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500, setting some remarkable statistics in the process. Palou delivered four laps with an average speed of 234.217mph, narrowly edging out Ed Carpenter Racing's Rinus VeeKay.

The front row of the grid also set a record for the closest gap between first and third, with Palou and Felix Rosenqvist just 0.103mph apart. This is the second-smallest gap between first and second in Indy history. The front row consists entirely of European-born drivers, a first in Indy 500 history.

Stefan Wilson Sidelined after Practice Crash

During Monday's practice session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a crash occurred involving drivers Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson. Legge collided with the rear of Wilson's car in Turn 1, resulting in both drivers hitting the barrier. Wilson had to be carefully removed from his car and was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Legge, on the other hand, was examined by IndyCar's medical staff and released.

Wilson's team made a statement on Monday afternoon saying he was in stable condition but he suffered a fracture of his 12th thoracic vertebrae and will not be able to compete in this year's Indianapolis 500. A replacement driver is yet to be announced.

GLOBAL MOTORSPORT

Take a trip to far away motorsport lands

🏆 20 year streak broken at the Nurburgring… Ferrari ends two decades worth of German Manufacturer dominance

🥇 Will Brown completes impressive weekend on top… He scores the win in the Tasmania Supercars Finale

😔 FIA President “horrified” at Baja Rally attack… Sulayem speaks on the shooting at Baja California Rally event that left 10 dead

🇵🇹 WRC Points leader crashes out in Portugal… Elfyn Evans crashes out handing over the points lead

The Money Lap Podcast | Episode 3

Episode Three is out NOW! This week, Landon and Parker ponder whether elbows and wild finishes are becoming the norm on the last lap. They dive into Rajah Caruth giving the big dogs a run for their money, almost beating Byron and Eckes in a career-best finish. Meanwhile, they analyze Parker's weekend and Larson emerging victorious in a wild Xfinity race, after sending JHN into the inside barrier like a bowling pin. The two investigate what happened in the late race restarts that resulted in controversy across every NASCAR fan base as Ross finally ends up on the wrong end of a scuff up.

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Memes

ONBOARD OF THE DAY

Mario Andretti 1966 Indy 500 Onboard

Experience the thrill of riding along with racing icon Mario Andretti as he zooms around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1966. Witness this remarkable footage that captures the essence of the legendary 1960s era at the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS

*Answer

The first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway involved balloons filled with gas. The gas-filled balloon race idea was put in place by Carl Fisher. He was the founder and president of the track. The race was a way for the investors to recoup some of their losses.

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