2016 Firestone 600
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| 9th round of the 2016 IndyCar Series season | |
 | |
| Date | June 12/August 27, 2016 |
| Official name | Firestone 600 |
| Location | Texas Motor Speedway |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 1.455 mi / 2.342 km |
| Distance | 248 laps 360.8 mi / 580.8 km |
| Pole position | |
| Driver | Carlos Muñoz (Andretti Autosport) |
| Time | 24.1148 + 24.1312 = 48.2460 |
| Podium | |
The 2016 Firestone 600 is the ninth round of the 2016 IndyCar Series season, contested over 248 laps at the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The race originally began on June 12, 2016, following an extended series of delays caused by rain. After 71 laps, the race was suspended due to further rainfall, and re-scheduled to continue on August 27, 2016.
Report
The race was originally scheduled to be held on the evening of June 11, for a 7:50 p.m. CT start. The track experienced rainfall throughout the afternoon, which subsided about three hours prior to the race's scheduled start time. However, due to difficulties in fully drying the track because of the high humidity, officials called off the race at 10:30 p.m., and rescheduled it to Sunday afternoon.[1][2] The race began at 1:49 p.m. CT, which itself was delayed from a 1:06 p.m. start in order to address issues with the track's drainage system.[3] Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly were involved in a wreck on lap 42, which resulted in an extended, nearly 30-lap caution period in order to repair a SAFER barrier.[3] Newgarden suffered a fractured clavicle and wrist in the accident.[4] At 2:42 p.m., the race was red flagged on lap 71 due to further heavy rainfall, and ultimately suspended. Under IndyCar Series rules, the race could only be declared official after lap 125.[3]
Due to forecasts calling for more rain on Monday, and logistical issues surrounding driver participation (several IndyCar Series drivers were scheduled to participate in the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans the following weekend) and impact on testing schedules, IndyCar announced that the Firestone 600 would be restarted on the evening of August 27, 2016 at 8:15 p.m.[5] The race will continue from lap 71, with James Hinchcliffe as leader.[3][2][6]
Driver substitutions will not be allowed, and only drivers whose cars were capable of resuming the race at the time it was originally halted will participate. Cars must use the same body configuration they had initially used at the original time of the race, although they do not need to use the same car or engine.[5] All tickets from the original race will remain valid. The track also announced incentives and other promotions for the re-scheduled race, including discounted tickets and food, free t-shirts, free tickets for those who purchase tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' AAA Texas 500, and an autograph session with drivers.[7][2][1]
References
- ^ a b "Rain postpones IndyCar Firestone 600 to Sunday". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. McClatchy Company. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "IndyCar Firestone 600 at Texas postponed until Aug. 27". USA Today. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Texas Motor Speedway's IndyCar race rescheduled for Aug. 27". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ Malsher, David (June 13, 2016). "Hildebrand to sub for injured Newgarden". Motorsport.com. Fort Worth, Texas: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
- ^ a b "Newgarden, Daly won't finish Firestone 600". Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "Texas washout continues bad luck for IndyCar in Texas". ESPN.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "IndyCar's rescheduled race in Texas has perks, discounts". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 July 2016.