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IndyCar: Looking back at the last (and first) four Indianapolis Grand Prix races

By Kevin Nguyen

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 09: Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia, drives the #2 Team Penske Motorsports Dallara Chevrolet during practice for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 9, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 09: Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia, drives the #2 Team Penske Motorsports Dallara Chevrolet during practice for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 9, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
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IndyCar’s Indianapolis Grand Prix has served as the appetizer to the main course, the Indy 500, since 2014. Will the 2018 race end Team Penske’s domination?

For IndyCar, the month of May revolves around Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis 500 is the main draw and since 2014, Indy 500 fans have an added excuse to converge onto IMS for the duration of May: the Indianapolis Grand Prix.

The road course race uses a modified version of the Formula 1 layout for the United States Grand Prix held at IMS from 2000 to 2007. The 13-turn, 2.439-mile (3.925-kilometer) circuit has become an appetizer of sorts for those attending the Indy 500, taking place two weeks prior to the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

As the 2018 edition gets underway, here’s a refresher of the first four Indy Grands Prix.

2014

The inaugural race was the slowest in the race’s four-year history partly due to the four cautions caused by four separate accidents, including two on the front stretch. The first race was won by Simon Pagenaud, who then driving for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. The Frenchman inherited the race lead with six laps to go, becoming the seventh driver to lead a lap around IMS’s road course circuit. However it wasn’t a clear-cut victory, as Pagenaud held off a hard-charging Ryan Hunter-Reay to win by 0.891 seconds. This was the second closest margin of victory on the road course, bested only by Rubens Barrichello’s 0.011-second margin of victory over Michael Schumacher at the 2002 United States Grand Prix.

2015

The second Indianapolis Grand Prix saw Team Penske’s Will Power dominate from pole position. The Australian led four different times over the course of the 82-lap race, leading 65 total laps. The 2015 race would solidify Team Penske’s grip on the top step of the podium, with Roger Penske’s team winning the next two races at the track as well. Despite three cars making contact on the opening lap and bringing out the race’s only caution, the 2015 race was as clinical and straightforward as could be. Pagenaud, the 2014 race winner, now driving for Team Penske, retired 57 laps in due to a gearbox issue, which was a shocking result for him after he started fifth.

2016

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Pagenaud would bounce back from his 2015 retirement to claim victory in 2016. The victory further cemented the Frenchman’s points lead heading into the 100th Indianapolis 500, putting Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon 76 points adrift. For most of the race, Pagenaud and his Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves worked in concert with one another, with the Brazilian playing the supporting part during pit stops, keeping rival drivers behind. The two Team Penske teammates worked together to bring Dale Coyne Racing’s Conor Daly back into play at the midway point of the race, keeping Castroneves out an extra lap to allow Pagenaud to get a tow prior to pitting and giving the driver of the #22 Team Penske Chevrolet the lead permanently with 20 laps remaining.

2017

The 2017 Indianapolis Grand Prix was one of the few races in which everything worked for Power. Starting on pole alongside Team Penske teammate Castroneves, the two Team Penske cars kept the lead between them and were looking at a strong 1-2 finish possibility until a late pit strategy call put the Brazilian on primary black Firestone tires while the field up front ran with the option red tires. That strategy error dropped Castroneves down to fifth, but Power had all but won the race having regained the lead. He proceeded to pull out a 5.283-second gap in the last 20 laps.

Next: Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time

As the Indianapolis Grand Prix takes the green flag for the fifth time on Saturday with the new UAK18 aero kit proving to be a difference maker in certain conditions, it is unclear whether or not Team Penske’s dominance at the Indy Grand Prix will continue. But if history holds true, look for Team Penske’s three drivers to at least make it interesting.