Aussie’s real fury after virtual defeat
A second straight victory in virtual racing for Simon Pagenaud and Team Penske, and tempers were hot at the end of this one. Pagenaud, the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner, competed in his firesuit and captured IndyCar’s race Saturday at a simulated Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. A frantic final 10 laps decided the iRacing event.
Essentially, Penske drivers Will Power and Scott McLaughlin were racing each to her for the lead – and probably the win – when they came upon the lapped car of Oliver Askew that caused Power to touch McLaughlin’s car.
Helio Castroneves, driver of the #3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet is launched over the car of Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Picture: Chris Graythen/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP
McLaughlin, the V8 Supercars champion and winner of the virtual race three weeks ago at Barber Motorsports Park, was sent spinning into the wall and out of contention.
The Australian was livid and actively trying to calm himself on his simulator in Brisbane, where he awakened at 2am to prep for the series. “It’s a video game, it’s a video game,” McLaughlin repeated. “I know it’s a game, but I’m still (mad).”
Had a great @IndyCar race today on @iRacing … nice to share the podium with @simonpagenaud and @scottdixon9!
// #INDYCAR / #INDYCARChallenge pic.twitter.com/Zq2rQsxSYL
Power fired off an angry text to Askew, then shared the contents during a post- race Zoom video conference of the podium finishers.
“I had three of the clapping signs … ‘took out the two leaders with a few laps to go. Huge lack of respect for the drivers who worked hard to be there racing for the win at the end, which you will be at some point,”’ read Power. “That’s what I sent to Askew.”
Taking my computer to the shop for a rebuild after this one! ? Passing @12WillPower for the lead and unfortunately we both got hit by a lapped car! Anyway, lots of fun and good to have some speed on an oval! Congrats @simonpagenaud and @PenskeESports ! https://t.co/ZOYrIhOiju
Pagenaud then raced Power wheel-to-wheel and the cars appeared to touch before Pagenaud took the lead. He still had to hold off Scott Dixon’s last-lap attempt to pass him for the win.
“It was very hectic with Will at one point and then Dixon at the end,” Pagenuad said. “I work hard all week to be competitive and I think I’m getting there.” Pagenaud also won last week at virtual Michigan International Speedway, and along with McLaughlin’s victory the Penske drivers have won three of the four IndyCar iRaces.
Simon Pagenaud, driver of the #22 DXC Team Penske Chevrolet, slows after winning the race causing Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and Helio Castroneves, driver of the #3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, to crash. Picture: Chris Graythen/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP
Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and Helio Castroneves, driver of the #3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, wreck following the IndyCar iRacing Challenge Firestone 175 at virtual Twin Ring Motegi. Picture: Chris Graythen/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP
Pagenaud slowed after taking the checkered flag and Dixon ran into the back of his car – contact that sent him spinning into the lapped car of Helio Castroneves. Both Dixon and Castroneves went virtually airborne after the finish.
Dixon finished second, Power was third and Marcus Ericsson, Dixon’s new teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing, was fourth.
IndyCar raced at virtual Twin Ring Motegi, a track the series last visited in 2011 but was selected in a fan vote as the circuit for the fourth round of the iRacing Series started when sports were shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kyle Busch, who has made no secret of his desire to race in the Indianapolis 500, made his IndyCar debut virtually via a league invitation extended to the two-time and reigning NASCAR champion. Busch finished 13th – better than any finish yet in the NASCAR virtual races. He’s a newcomer to iRacing but quickly improving on his simulator.
? Back to back how about that!! Amazing @iRacing #IndyCar Challenge today at Motegi! Awesome strategy again and that was a great drag race with Dixon at the end. Cheers everybody! pic.twitter.com/GlNai90VfO
Busch was joined by newcomers Castroneves, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and Takuma Sato, also an Indianapolis 500 winner, as the field included a series iRacing-high 33 drivers.
Broadcast on NBC Sports, analyst Paul Tracy drew virtual laughs when Sato pitted and Tracy took note of the packed grandstands.
“Look at all the fans in the stands. They are here to watch Sato,” Tracy cracked.
Robert Wickens started on the pole after a qualifying s ession, and James Hinchcliffe’s iRacing struggles continued when technical difficulties knocked him out of yet another race despite logging many hours on his simulator. “A glitch kicked me out of today’s race!” he posted on Twitter. “Super bummed because practice had gone well and thought we could have had a good one. Using my new-found free time to actually go outside. See sun. Breath fresh air.”
Originally published asAussie’s real fury after virtual defeat
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