The Verizon IndyCar Series is scheduled to make its annual trip to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course natural terrain road course. The race was added to the schedule in the 1980 season and has been on the schedule in each season since the adoption of the DW12 chassis. What sorts of things might we have to look forward to in this season’s race?
For the eighth consecutive season and 33rd season overall, IndyCar will race around the 13-turn, 2.258-mile natural terrain Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course road course located in Lexington, Ohio. Let’s take a look back at the past five races at Mid-Ohio as we prepare for the race on Sunday, July 30th, 2017.
2012
In a caution-free race, Scott Dixon edged out Will Power for the win by way of faster pit stops. The win was his second consecutive win at Mid-Ohio and the fourth of his career, all since 2007.
2013
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In the second consecutive caution-free race at Mid-Ohio, Charlie Kimball banked on an extra pit stop so that he did not have to save fuel. Other drivers, such as the defending Mid-Ohio race winner Scott Dixon, tried to save fuel to make it to the end of the race with one less pit stop. Kimball’s strategy paid off, and he won the race, which to this day is his lone career IndyCar victory.
2014
After starting in dead last, Scott Dixon pit before a caution flag came out and cycled to the front of the field as a result. He continued his dominance at Mid-Ohio by winning his fifth race at the venue in eight seasons.
2015
Scott Dixon led the race early on before getting caught out by a caution. Juan Pablo Montoya cycled to the lead having pit before the caution. Then, another caution flag came out before Montoya came to the pits. Graham Rahal cycled to the lead and held on for just his second victory since 2008 after holding off the late Justin Wilson, who finished in 2nd place.
2016
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Mikhail Aleshin appeared to have the race won after cycling to the front and dominating after he came to the pits before a caution flag came out. However, a crash in the pits with Josef Newgarden took Aleshin out of contention, and Simon Pagenaud and Will Power battled for the lead late in the race. Pagenaud came out on top for his fourth victory of the 2016 season en route to his first career IndyCar championship.