TRACK: World Wide Technology Raceway (1.25-mile, oval) DISTANCE: 200 Laps (250 Miles)
WEATHER: RAIN 10-20%, low to mid 80’s highs both days

Weekend schedule

Friday:

4:30-6 p.m. ET – Practice NBC Gold

Saturday:

12 p.m. ET – Qualifying (single car, Lap 1 for Race 1, Lap 2 for Race 2) NBC Gold

3 p.m. ET – Race 1 NBCSN

3:40 p.m ET – Command

3:45 p.m. ET – Green Flag

Sunday:

3 p.m. ET – Race 2 NBCSN

3:40 p.m. ET – Command

3:45 p.m. ET – Green Flag

Spotter Guide

Gateway Preview

The busy month of August wraps up with no one, but two races at the World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend near St. Louis. With two races at Mid-Ohio next month and coming off of a double points event in Indy last weekend mixed with two races now on the 1.25-mile Illinois race track this weekend, the championship will be on everyone’s minds in the paddock.

See, normally when we leave Indy, it goes into championship mode. Typically, the ‘500 is run in the Month of May and early in the schedule. So, the first few races are just learning the season with the action in May all about winning the Indy 500. It’s too early then to be thinking championship. That’s why when the victory banquet checks are given the next day after the ‘500, is when championship mode usually starts.

Well, with a weird year we’ve had, championship mode is already underway. Plus, there’s only three race weekend’s left, including this one, so championship conversations are already taking place. Now, factor in two races in as many days and you can get some tense action this weekend at the World Wide Technology Raceway.

Penske has two drivers right in the thick of things in Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden. They’re all chasing Scott Dixon. Dixon, holds an 84 point advantage over Newgarden and did finish on the podium here in 2017 and 2018 but also had a parts failure last year and finished 20th. Plus, Penske was a perfect 4-for-4 in this race until Takuma Sato stole the win for Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing last year. They swept another short oval at Iowa last month, so they have to be the favorites to land in victory lane in both races this weekend.

Newgarden, won this race in 2017 but was only seventh in each of the last two years. Pagenaud, has a top five finish in all three tries at Gateway but just one podium, a third in ’16.

Could this open the door for someone else?

Will Power won this race in 2017 but was only 20th and 22nd in his other two starts, both ending in crashes.

Alexander Rossi was sixth in 2017 and second in 2018 but just 13th last year as they lacked pace. Andretti even lacked pace at Iowa in July too with none of them finishing on the podium there.

Tony Kanaan may be the sleeper as he will be making what might be his final two IndyCar starts of his career. He was second in his first Gateway start and third last year. He had a top 10 car at Iowa last month.

Key Stat

The last five winners of this race have come from a top five starting position.

Favorites To Bet On

Scott Dixon (+400)

The points leader, five top two finishes in seven starts this season and two podiums in his last three Gateway tries.

Josef Newgarden (+400) 

Worth a shot here. He said he learned from things for Indy to apply for the Gateway doubleheader. He won this race in 2017 and while seventh the last couple of years, he had a quick car last year in leading 50 laps but an ill timed late caution hurt him from winning two of the three years back to World Wide Technology Raceway. He won one of the two races at Iowa as well last month.

Simon Pagenaud (+550)

Three top five finishes in as many tries at Gateway plus a win from last (23rd) at Iowa last month. Penske swept the two doubleheader races at Iowa in July and was 4-for-4 at Gateway prior to last year.

Long Shots To Bet On

Takuma Sato (+1400)

He’s coming off of an Indy 500 win. He won this race last year. Worth a shot.

Santino Ferrucci (+1600)

He has four top 10 finishes in his last six starts on the season including a fourth place run in the Indy 500 last Sunday. Last year, he led 93 laps in Gateway en route to a fourth place run as well.

Pato O’Ward (+2800)

He’s third in the points. He has five top eight finishes in his last six starts on the season including a sixth place run and Rookie of the Year Honors last Sunday in Indy. O’Ward was fourth in Race 1 at Iowa and had a top five run going for Race 2 before a costly last pit stop.

Oliver Askew (+2800)

He was third and sixth respectively in the two short oval races at Iowa last month. Look for another solid weekend out of him this weekend.

Conor Daly (+3300)

He’s at his best on short ovals. He had a top three starting spot including a pole in both races at Iowa last month. In two Gateway tries, he’s finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Tony Kanaan (+4000)

He has two podiums in three Gateway tries incluiding a third place run last year.