Will Power, Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Rinus VeeKay, Christian Rasmussen and David Malukas.

ROGER:

This is Roger Penske and you're listening to Pit Pass Indie, sponsored by Penske Truck Rental.

BRUCE:

IndyCar fans, it's time to start your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcast. I'm your host, Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar Series. Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans an insider's view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar Series in a fast-paced podcast featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport. I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR, working for such media brands as NBCSports.com, SI.com, ESPN SportsTicker, Sports Illustrated, AutoWeek and SpeedSport. So let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee, as we continue our fourth season of giving IndyCar fans a behind-the-scenes look at the NTT IndyCar Series and the drivers and teams that compete in the Indianapolis 500. Our friends from Hy-Vee have returned for the month of June as Penske Truck Rental shares the show and the big build-up to the Hy-Vee IndyCar race weekend at Iowa Speedway July 12th through the 14th. This year's schedule includes a night race at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, July 13th, with another full race scheduled for Sunday, July 14th. Four of the biggest names in entertainment will perform before and after each race, including Luke Combs, Eric Church, Kelsey Ballerini, and Post Malone. For Malone, it will be the first time the famed entertainer has performed in Central Iowa. It promises to once again be the biggest racing weekend of the summer for IndyCar because of its big event stature and the debut of the hybrid assist unit for the first time in oval competition, which will increase the horsepower along with the speeds and give the drivers another tool to work with in competition. After a long stretch of action that began the weekend of May 11th with the Sanzio Grand Prix, followed by Indy 500 qualifications, then the 108th Indianapolis 500 on May 26th, followed by the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 2nd, and culminating with the Expel Grand Prix of Road America on June 9th, IndyCar finally has a weekend off. For many drivers and teams, it's a chance to return home and take a break. But for Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Kiffin Simpson, and Nolan Siegel, it's off to Le Mans, France, for the biggest sports car race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We'll talk to Scott Dixon and Alex Pillow in a bit to discuss Le Mans and other topics. For other drivers in the series, they were at the Milwaukee Mile on Tuesday, June 11th for a final test of the hybrid assist unit that will go into action beginning with the July 7th Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and for the rest of the season. Pit Pass Indy was at that test, and we'll have interviews and information on next week's show. On today's show, we will also have two interviews with Team Penske driver Will Power, who won an IndyCar race for the first time in 34 races, with a dramatic win in the June 9th XBEL Grand Prix of Road America. The first interview is before he hit the track in practice, and the second interview will be at the end of today's show after his big victory. Let's get started with my exclusive interview with Will Power on Pit Pass Indy. Joining us now on Pit Pass Indy is an old pal, Will Power of Team Penske. Will? After Road America, everybody gets to go to Milwaukee for a hybrid assist unit test. It also gives everybody laps around a track that they haven't been on in quite some time. You've won races there before, but there's only a couple of you that have ever raced the Milwaukee miles. So how important is that test going to be?

WILL:

It's going to be real important because it's such a big factor in the championship. You know, it's two of the last three races. A lot of points on the table. It's a different car, different system. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to going there and sort of sorting it out, see where we stack up, see what we can improve.

BRUCE:

And also adding the hybrid assist unit to that track. How much is that gonna really add an element? They always say short oval racing is some of IndyCar's best because you're always in traffic, but there have been times that we've seen at Iowa that when Josef Newgarden gets out to the front, there's not a lot of people able to catch him. Do you see that being a different story now with hybrid assist on a flat track like Milwaukee?

WILL:

I don't think it'll change the style of racing. I think the hybrid will be more of a factor at these races. road courses and street courses. I think it will. I mean, you are lifting a lot at Milwaukee, so you will use it, but sometimes it's more about the middle-off speed than the actual power of your car. But yeah, it'll be interesting. I guess it's going to be a learning process for all of us.

BRUCE:

When it comes to miles in hybrid assist testing, don't you have the most laps, or is it someone else? There's only been a couple of veteran drivers that were in on this project from the very beginning.

WILL:

Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think I probably have the most laps, but, you know, a few races in, you've forgotten all that, and you're sort of back on, you know, with the old car. So, I don't think, honestly, it won't make a big difference. It really won't.

BRUCE:

What can fans expect to see with the hybrid assist unit?

WILL:

You know what? I don't think they'll see much outside the car. They really won't. Like, it's not a... It's not a... The power will increase next year and then the year after, but... Yeah, you won't really notice much. What you will notice is you can start the car by yourself. So if the car spins, you can restart it yourself if you stall, which is pretty cool.

BRUCE:

But is it going to take the role of the starter out of it a little bit?

WILL:

That's always one of the... Oh, the starter will have to be there because sometimes it doesn't work.

BRUCE:

Yeah. But just the fact that this is an advancement of technology, I know everybody's been crying for a new car, and IndyCar is looking at a new car. Yes. You probably know more about how that project's going than I do, but just to have more advanced technology, how important is that going to be for the series?

WILL:

It's, yeah, you got to keep moving forward as technology progresses, and I think this is a good step for us. You know, and then eventually when we get a new car, it'll even be, you know, nicely incorporated into the new build. So, yeah, kind of just a progression for us.

BRUCE:

You've clinched championships before at Laguna Seca. This year, the race is going to be in June. Does that seem a little strange?

WILL:

Not really, because, you know, it hasn't been the finale for that long in my career. So it's not like, yeah, not really a big deal. Looking forward to going there, though. See how we go.

BRUCE:

I'm going to do a chart sometime. The finales all throughout your career and where they were at. Fontana. We had Fontana a couple times. I like that. I dig well that. There was all kinds of different places where they had the final race of the season. But wrapping up here with willpower of Team Penske. Dixon's in the lead heading into road America. Alex Polo is chasing him. You're in the battle. You're pretty close. What's the last half of this season going to be like with the hybrid assist coming into play in terms of the championship?

WILL:

It's going to play a big factor. I think just on sort of reliability and. You know, it'd be very tough to build a system that'd be bulletproof straight out of the box. So to me, that will play a part in the championship. You know, I think IndyCar's done a great job of building it, making it reliable. But when you've got 27 cars, it's just inevitable you're going to find some issues.

BRUCE:

Well, Will Power, good luck the second half of the year. We'll catch up later this summer. Thank you for joining us on Pit Pass In. Great. Thanks, Bruce. Two drivers that will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans are Scott Dixon and Alex Pillow of Chip Ganassi Racing. Along with rookie driver Kiffin Simpson, they are three of the five Chip Ganassi Racing drivers that are competing in the biggest sports car race in the world. Here is my exclusive interview with six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and 58 IndyCar Race winner Scott Dixon for Pit Pass Indy. Some people call you brilliantly boring, but you're anything but. You've won 58 races in IndyCar in your career. Scott Dixon, what do you think of that title that PNC Bank has created for their campaign, using you as part of it?

SCOTT:

Yeah, I think it sums what we do. I think just like them, some of the stuff a lot of people think is boring, but it's obviously the building blocks to getting to the brilliantly part. For us, you know, there's a lot of training that goes into it, a lot of simulation, a lot of hard work behind the scenes and, you know, especially looking at data and things these days, which a lot of people don't see and a lot of people would find boring. So I think it's catchy and it's very correct.

BRUCE:

How's this for a description? Some drivers make easy things look spectacular, you make spectacular things look easy.

SCOTT:

Sometimes, not always, that's for sure. So, you know, it's definitely a hard, you know, and fine line to kind of go back and forth on, but, you know, especially in this series right now, it's definitely tough to get it right all the time, especially when, you know, you've got 26 or 27 other great competitors to, you know, kind of do the same thing. So, yeah, we take it as we go, man, and some days are better than others.

BRUCE:

Back in charge of the championship race, you're the leader. You're being chased by your teammate, Alex Pillow. We've seen this before. Last year, only the positions were flipped a little bit. You were chasing him. You've had a lot of points championships where you were involved with your teammate. Are those easy, easier to do than against a rival team? Or sometimes is it easier to really dislike the other guy you're fighting for a championship with rather than being a teammate?

SCOTT:

I don't think it changes too much. Honestly, you're just treating each weekend as your own and trying to maximise it. Some things are out of your control, so you can't really dwell on that, and it's probably not good just to race one person, especially this early in the season. So I think for both Alex and I, we've just got to make the most of it. Last time I led the championship, which I think was going into Barbour, we came out not leading it. So we'll keep our head down and try and make the most of it. If we can keep leading, that's fantastic. If not, we'll reload and keep going.

BRUCE:

They're doing a hybrid assist test at the Milwaukee Mile, but you won't be part of it because you'll be on your way to Le Mans. What is it about competing in Le Mans and to add the name Scott Dixon representing both the United States and New Zealand into that great endurance race? How special of a race weekend is that for you every year?

SCOTT:

I love it, you know, and lucky enough to go with the current team, right, and that makes it a whole lot easier. Obviously, we miss the open test that they have this weekend, which is, you know, alongside Road America, but then we can, you know, jet out straight and obviously we'll be missing the Tuesday test in Milwaukee, which I think us and a few others will be testing at a later date, which is helping supply issues too, I think, with some of the supply with the car. We'll see how that works out. Hopefully, there's no crinkles with that. It's a huge honor to represent America and obviously New Zealand. What's a very cool car too with the Cadillac. Hopefully, we've got a decent shot at a good BOP and somewhere we can really race to try and win.

BRUCE:

You're one of the biggest names at the Rolex 24 at Daytona with multiple victories in that race. You're one of the biggest names in IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500. And you get to go to Le Mans and all these fans that have heard about Scott Dixon get to see him race for themselves on their turf. How special are those weekends? How do you compare each of those weekends in terms of what they mean for motorsports?

SCOTT:

They're iconic, right? They're part of a very steep history in motor racing and some of the races that I first grew up and watched. So it is truly a privilege to go to them. I think, and especially when you look at the amount of drivers that can possibly go, you look at Le Mans, it's extremely tight. Maybe, what is it? less than 60 cars, three driver restriction, that all have manufacturing backing. It's hard to be one of those three in each car. So for me, it's a real privilege and love doing it. Sat on the podium once. Obviously, I would love to try and go for an outright victory and maybe this year we can be a contender. But yeah, it's huge, man. Very, very blessed to be a part of of those races.

BRUCE:

And then in July, the first weekend of July, there's going to be new rules in IndyCar. You're going to get the hybrid assist unit for the rest of the season. How much is that going to change the dynamic of racing in IndyCar?

SCOTT:

I guess a lot of that's kind of unknown. I think as they've started to set some of the energy targets for mid-Ohio, you're maybe looking at two-tenths of lap time from the hybrid. The car's going to be fairly different to drive just with the weight of it, which some of us have got to test a little more than others. But now we're on a kind of different tire. So I guess the easy answer is that there's a lot of unknowns. You know, you're just going to have to keep your mind open for change and hopefully react well. But it could change, you know, maybe the success of some of the teams for the latter part of the year.

BRUCE:

And getting back to your sponsor, for the longest time you were so identifiable with Target. All those years you were the Target car, you had the Target uniform, looked like a perfect match. But now when we look at you, you've seamlessly transferred over as the PNC bank guy. And to make that transition of identity as easily as you have with the sponsors, how important is that?

SCOTT:

You know, it's huge, you know, without sponsors and without fans, you know, we wouldn't be able to do what we do. And, you know, we were, you know, obviously a great partnership with Target for, you know, I think 20 plus years with Chip and his team. And then, you know, we've had PNC for, you know, kind of since 2018, you know, so it's, they've been a, you know, a smaller partner, I think, you know, for five years previous to that, but, you know, to have them and what they do as a brand and, It's just what is so recognisable in the paddock and what's on TV and you know for everybody is the PNC Bank number nine so you know it's a huge privilege and very honoured to be a part of you know their success is what they've done outside of racing and hopefully we put on a good show and represent them as well.

BRUCE:

And one final question, a couple of days ago we lost one of the greats Parnelli Jones, you got to know Parnelli throughout your career thanks to Steve Schunk and some people who Made sure that they always brought Parnelli Jones along. He used to show up at the Indy 500 every year. I know that Dario Franchitti always revered him. What was Scott Dixon's relationship like with Parnelli Jones? I also know he was very important to your team owner, Chip Ganassi.

SCOTT:

Yeah, Parnelli was huge, I think, for, you know, the motorsport industry and what he did. And, you know, what I really loved about people like Parnelli is that he raced so many different platforms and excelled and dominated. And he was a true pioneer in many ways. But honestly, he's just a super nice guy. You know, you'd get you know, back to the bus and he'd be sitting out there with, you know, with Wad or Steve Shank and, you know, just, you know, conversating over old stories and that was the best part, you know, to listen to those things. But, yeah, it's a huge loss. Obviously, he lived, you know, a great life and got to achieve many things and things that a lot of us won't ever get close to. But, yeah, big loss and, you know, what a guy.

BRUCE:

He was a true racing hero to all of us that got to know him. But Scott Dixon, you're a true racing hero also and there'll be a lot of people 40, 50, 60 years from now that'll talk about the great Scott Dixon. Hey, good luck out at Le Mans on your trip to France in 24 hours. Good luck the rest of the season and thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Thanks, Mike. Two-time and defending IndyCarSeries champion Alex Palou promises to be in the battle most of the season for the 2024 IndyCarSeries Championship. He joins me to tell me why in this exclusive PitPass Indy interview. It's the always popular Alex Palou once again in a points race with your teammate Scott Dixon. When you think of that, both guys are on the same team and you're fighting each other for a championship. Do you feel good because you know that he's not going to race you dirty, but in some ways is it tough because he's your teammate?

ALEX:

I would say I prefer to have it as a teammate just because I can see everything he does, everything he Yeah, tries and get from the car. And it's a little bit less frustrating than when it's another team. It's still early on, but he's always in the mix. Like, I've always said it. And I think it's going to be... He's been really tough this year. Like, he's stepped it up. He's been really, really fast. He's had better luck than last year. Last year, I think he had a lot of bad races. So, yeah, looking forward to fighting.

BRUCE:

He's obviously the master of going faster with the least amount of fuel. Yeah. How would you compare your ability to save fuel compared to his? Because I can't think of anybody in the history of IndyCar racing who's done it better than Scott Dixon.

ALEX:

No, I would agree. I mean, he's a 10 doing that. I would say when I joined the team, I was a three. Probably I'm a six now, thanks to him and seeing what he does. Still a lot of room to improve. We've seen how he does it last year, this year, like he's the master and the ability he has to go as fast, like you don't think that he's saving fuel. So yeah, hopefully we can learn a little bit more from him.

BRUCE:

His sponsor has started a campaign, Brilliantly Boring, But whenever I watch Scott Dixon, I usually think it's exciting how he's able to do it. Can he make it to the end? What do you think of that slogan, brilliantly boring?

ALEX:

Um, yeah, I mean, I, I would say that also his, uh, his driving style is the same way. Like it's not, he doesn't dive bomb people. He doesn't collide with other drivers to try and make crazy passes. He just does the right thing every time. So it's actually brilliantly boring sometimes, but, um, I think it's a great slogan. I think it's with the best driver. And yeah, I'm looking forward to have some boring battles with him on track.

BRUCE:

One of those places where you will likely have a pretty good battle with him has been Ohio, where you're the defending race winner. Going back to last year, that was really the one race where you took control of the championship. Never really let it go. I believe that was your third victory in a row, fourth in a five-race period. You ended up winning five races last season. But what do you recall about how important that mid-Ohio victory was for you?

ALEX:

Oh yeah, it was huge and we had an amazing car. I remember that that just... I don't know, to win one race is good, but to win two in a row was like, oh my god, it's happening. But three in a row, it just felt like we were on a bubble. And we actually were. It was an amazing time. So I remember the confidence we got from that race and how special it felt to do it at the Honda GP was pretty awesome.

BRUCE:

A lot of drivers love mid-Ohio because it is a challenging track.

ALEX:

How do you feel about it? Yeah, it's super challenging. It's really fast. It's really busy. You cannot really rest much. And I heard that it's going to be even one step busier this year with the repave. It's a lot faster. We're going to have also the hybrid. So it's going to be a lot of unknowns, which I'm looking forward to. But it's one of the best tracks that we have for sure.

BRUCE:

And because of where it's located, an Amish country in Ohio, you'll see horse and buggies on your way to the race course, but also a lot of farms. Does it remind you a little bit of Spain in some regards in terms of the farmland? I'm not quite familiar with the area of Spain you're from, but what does mid-Ohio and that region remind you of?

ALEX:

Well, actually, where my parents live is really close Like, it's all green, you don't really have many, many people living. There's very big spaces between houses, a lot of farms, so it's actually pretty close. We're not used to living on the center, on downtown cities and anything like that. So, yeah, it's always great to be there. I remember I tried an amazing honey from an Amish farm last year, and hopefully I can get some more this year.

BRUCE:

And what else do you love about that area? Because it is almost like spending a weekend at Boy Scout camp.

ALEX:

Yeah, it just feels like everybody there is happy to be there. I think the feeling and the atmosphere that everybody with the campers or just with the tents that they have there. I always take time in the afternoon or at night once we're done from work to just do a lap around the the tents and all that stuff and you just see that everybody's enjoying their time there.

BRUCE:

And as far though, is the track itself tight track? What's the number one thing that you need to do there in order to achieve victory?

ALEX:

Honestly, to be able to be really, really aggressive, especially on the really high speed and tight turns that we have. Turn one, it's going to be probably super, super quick this year with a repave. But I would just say executing and being able to be on the limit, but without making mistakes.

BRUCE:

This year it'll be turn the page because that's when the hybrid assist unit's going to be run for the rest of the season. It's going to start at the Honda Indy 200 in mid-Ohio. So to add that dynamic to it, how important will that race be this year?

ALEX:

Yeah, it will be huge. We will see, I expect to see a really busy practice with everybody running as quick as we can just to get information, data. Everybody will have a little bit of experience with a hybrid. at that point, but nobody knows how the car is going to handle going as fast as possible and trying to get the fastest lap time, so it'll be interesting and I'm sure that the fans will enjoy it.

BRUCE:

And last question with Alex Blow of Chip Ganassi Racing. The Honda support that you get at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, a lot of workers from the Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio were there. How much do you get to interact with them and how special is that as a Honda driver to get to know the people that build Honda cars?

ALEX:

Oh yeah, we actually interact quite a lot. I think we have, at least in the last couple of years, we had meet and greets during the weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. And obviously we get an amazing support from them, so it's great to have them there.

BRUCE:

Alex Below, driver of the number 10 DHL Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing. Good luck the rest of the year, good luck at MET Ohio, and thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

JOSEF:

Hey, everyone, this is two time Indy 500 winner, Josef Newgarden, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

BRUCE:

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy. Rinus VeeKay and rookie Christian Rasmussen race for Ed Carpenter Racing. VeeKay runs the full season in the number 21 Chevrolet, while Rasmussen competes on the street and road courses of the schedule, with owner and driver Ed Carpenter taking over the number 20 Chevrolet for the Ovals. The two drivers have had some good moments this season, but can always do better, as they tell me in these two interviews for PitPass Indy. First up is Rinus VeeKay. Stopping in now is Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing. Rinus, how would you assess the way things have gone this season? You've had some very good runs and then you've had a few moments that didn't end up quite the way you wanted them to, such as the Indianapolis 500.

RINUS:

Yeah, I mean, I think we've made improvements compared to last year this season. It's just, so far, I feel like we've been running really good in the races, but haven't maximized the strategy one time. It is a very tough series to be quick. You need to take risks, but we haven't really maximized so far. But I feel like, yeah, coming up, Road America has always been my favorite track. I think we roll in really good. but a really good package that has proven to be quick in other places, so I'm pretty excited.

BRUCE:

Before you get a break, there's going to be a hybrid test at the Milwaukee Mile. How interested are you to see how far the development has come on that, since it's going to be ready to go into the racing at Mid-Ohio?

RINUS:

Yeah, I'm pretty excited. It's really sneaking in on us, the whole hybrid era. Yeah, I'm excited for that. That's going to be fun. And also, it's my first time in Milwaukee, so that's going to be exciting, seeing how that works. And also, the only experience I have with the hybrid is in any road course, so interesting to see how it's going to work in the oval.

BRUCE:

How valuable is that break going to be next week when a couple of the guys leave to go to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but most of the IndyCarSeries drivers are going to get the weekend off finally.

RINUS:

Yeah, I'm excited to have a weekend off. I'm starting to get pretty tired too. Everything with, you know, simulated time. We also do in Charlotte, so... We're traveling non-stop, so I'm pretty happy to have a few days just at home.

BRUCE:

And then after that, it's going to be a trip to Monterey in June, which seems kind of odd since we always go there in September. It's not going to be the championship race. It's going to be a race in June. So how interested are you to see what the vibe is going to be like and how that track races when the weather is probably a little bit different in June than it may be in September?

RINUS:

Yeah, I heard it's going to be a bit colder and a bit, like, very foggy in the morning, so we'll find out how it is, but I think, you know, any time in Monterey is a good time. I always love that place.

BRUCE:

And then after that, the hybrid assist unit is going to be on the cars for the rest of the season. How interested are you to see how that performs in the heat of racing?

RINUS:

I'm interested to see also the strategies that people are going to use and people coming up and drivers coming up with different ways of using it, so I think it's pretty open and, like, there's many possibilities how you can use the whole hypersystem. So, yeah, curious to see what will end up being the fastest thing.

BRUCE:

And then after that is the Hy-Vee IndyCar race weekend at Iowa Speedway. Doubleheader, big event, lots of fans, lots of entertainment, two races back to back. One of them is going to be a night race this year. How excited are you and how important will that weekend be to determine who's going to finish where in the title race?

RINUS:

Yeah, I love I.O.I. I think it's, you know, a doubleheader is always important. It's important to be consistent over the two races. And I heard I.O.I. is being repaved, so that's going to be quite interesting, too.

BRUCE:

Brinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing. Good luck the rest of the season. We'll catch up with you later this summer. And thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Yeah, thank you. Next, it's Christian Rasmussen's turn to talk about his rookie season in IndyCar. Joining us now on Pit Pass Indy is IndyCar Series rookie Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing. We're almost at a halfway point of the season. How would you assess things so far as a first-year driver going up against some of the biggest names in racing?

CHRISTIAN:

Unlucky is the first word that comes to mind. We've had some good runs and we have been on track for some good results, but Sometimes, you know, stuff out of our control has happened and it's kind of taken that away from us. So it's been a learning experience for sure. We had a good run at the 500, which I'm very happy about. But I feel like we're due for a little bit of luck to go our way and have a good finishing result.

BRUCE:

How do you believe your improvement level has been from the start of the year to now?

CHRISTIAN:

I think it's been good. We're definitely moving closer and closer on those consistent, right at the brink of transferring into the Fast 12. We've been there a few times now, so I'll just be looking to continue that progress, get better and better on the green tire, and being able to maximize our results on each weekend.

BRUCE:

You've raced at Road America before. You're going to get a weekend off and then go to Monterey in June, which is a little bit different because usually IndyCar goes there in September. But to have two of the most famous road courses in North America in a row. How cool is that?

CHRISTIAN:

It's awesome. It's a testament of how great IndyCar is to put the schedules together and we get to race on some awesome tracks. So, definitely two of my favorites on the calendar. I love coming here at Road America and love going to Laguna Seca as well. So, I'll be looking very much forward to getting on these tracks in IndyCar.

BRUCE:

Okay, as far though as when the hybrid assist begins at Mid-Ohio in July. It's going to be that way for the rest of the year, so how do you see drivers adapting to that? The ones that adapt the quickest can make up a lot of ground on the points, but usually the best teams adapt the quickest.

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, that's right. But, you know, we'll see. It's the same for everyone. So, like you say, it's just about who, you know, adapts the best and gets the most out of it to start with and learn, you know, the fastest. So we'll see. I mean, we're working nonstop at figuring it out and with the limited time that we have. So it's, yeah, we'll see. We'll figure it out.

BRUCE:

Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing. Good luck the rest of the season. We'll catch up with you later this year. Thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you. On April 29th, David Maloukis was notified by Arrow McLaren officials that his contract was being terminated after he missed his fourth race of the season because of a fractured wrist sustained in a mountain biking crash during the off-season. On Friday, June 7th, Maloukis was announced as the newest driver for Meyer Schenck Racing, replacing rookie Tom Blomquist, who is no longer on the IndyCar team. Malukas is scheduled to make his IndyCar return at Monterey, California on June 23. Here is my exclusive interview with Malukas for PitPass Indy. You could call him the Phoenix because he's back. It's David Malukas. A couple of weeks ago we thought we... Might not see you for a while, but a couple of weeks later, now here you are at Meyers Schenck Racing, taking over a ride there. So just what's the last couple of weeks been like for you?

DAVID:

Oh, it's been amazing. I mean, well, it was also been stressful trying to get it all done. But once everything got done, I've been super ecstatic. And today was my first day with the team. It's amazing. Everybody there, it's a good atmosphere, very family oriented. And obviously coming from Felix, I have very good relationship with him. So I've loved my first day here, and I'm super excited to get in the car.

BRUCE:

But if you roll the clock back to early May, you had to be pretty devastated at getting the news that what could have been a ride of a lifetime at Errol McLaren was you weren't even going to get a chance to drive that car in competition because of how many races that you had missed. How difficult was that to accept that news that day?

DAVID:

You know, that was, yeah, it was very tough. But, I mean, at the end of the day, it was an injury that I did myself, so it was my mistake, and we had to own up to it. So it was definitely tough, but, you know, I have good people around me and good support from my family and everybody that we pushed through, and, you know, we went through it with a smile. You know, greatness comes to those who wait. We waited, we kept working out the hand, did a bunch of content with IndyCar for the month of May, show myself around and be happy, and just know that good opportunities will come, and here we are.

BRUCE:

Did Gavin and Zach or anybody at Errol McLaren help you in the transition in terms of maybe letting you hear what they've heard about a possible opening?

DAVID:

Of course. I mean, they've been super open. You know, they, I mean, at the end of the day, like I said, it's just from the business side, but when it comes to the emotional side, I mean, it's all there. I mean, they're good people and they're still letting me use the trainer. They're still letting me, I mean, TK has been helping me from the simulator side. So it's been very good. A lot of support from them. And it just makes me feel very good that they just want to see me at a hundred percent back in the car.

BRUCE:

At Arrow McLaren, you've got Gavin Ward, who's pretty energetic, but at Meyers Schenck Racing, you have Michael Schenck, who's really energetic. What's it like to be involved and supported by team owners, team principals, or management that are as gung-ho about their race team as the drivers are?

DAVID:

Oh, it's amazing, you know, because, I mean, even I was just talking with Mike Schenck. He has his motorhome at the tent, you know. He's like, I want to be here. I want to be a part of it. That just means a lot coming from a driver's standpoint. It's, you can kind of get that connection with them. You see that they're very energized in it, that they want to get the results, they want to be there. And just coming from a driver's side, we all agree to it. So from overall, from a, like I said, from an environment standpoint, it's the best on both parties.

BRUCE:

So you've got calm, cool, laid back Felix Sabatis as your teammate. You've got Elio Castroneves, who's almost like watching a cartoon character. You've got a lot of people involved with the team. You've got Michael Schenck, you've got Jim Meyer. So how much does it feel like a family already?

DAVID:

Like I said, it's been my first day here and already I feel like I've been a part of it. They've welcomed me with open arms and all the different personalities, they mesh very well. And I'm just very excited to actually be a part of it, to be racing. I think it's a good environment for me to perform.

BRUCE:

What's it like to have Elio Castroneves as not only a team partner, but as a mentor, because you grew up watching this guy win Indy 500s.

DAVID:

I know. I literally was just thinking of this. I ended up with both the Brazilians. I worked with TK, and now we're going with Elio. So I'm getting a lot of good training. And I'm excited to work with him. I mean, I've heard a lot of good stuff. And for him to be my trainer, going from looking at him on the TV and just aspiring to be him one day, to now actually being able to be trained by him. So it's a special moment.

BRUCE:

You're gonna be speaking Portuguese before we know it. Yes, sir. What is the timetable for your return and for your wrist? Where does your wrist stand at the moment?

DAVID:

So wrist has been healed for quite some time now. I've just been working on the PT side, building up the strength and the movement. Right now, we're at a good state to where I can be back in the car. So we'll be doing the Milwaukee test on June 11th and then doing the first race at Laguna. So obviously still going to be working these next few weeks until then to make sure that we can be as ready as we can be. I mean, it's not going to be 100%, but it's going to be more than enough to be able to drive.

BRUCE:

So you're going to be, your first race of the season, you're going down the corkscrew at speed. Exactly.

DAVID:

That's really testing out the wrist. Exactly. You know, we might as well go 100%.

BRUCE:

Well, David Maloukas, congratulations on getting hired at Meyers Schenck Racing. Good luck the rest of the season. And thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

WILL:

This is Will Power of Team Penske and you're listening to Pip Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

BRUCE:

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy. Will Power's victory in the June 9th XBEL Grand Prix of Road America was special for many reasons. It was his first win in 34 IndyCar races, and it was the 42nd IndyCar win of his career, putting him in a tie with Michael Andretti for the fourth most in IndyCar history. Only Mario Andretti's 52, Scott Dixon's 58, and A.J. Foyt's 67 are more than Power. With the three Team Penske drivers firmly in control of the race, Power went one lap longer than Josef Newgarden or Scott McLaughlin to make his final pit stop with 10 laps to go. By doing so, he was able to get in and out of the pits ahead of Newgarden and maintain the lead to the checkered flag over the final nine laps. The end of a two-year drought for Power proves the 20-year veteran is still among IndyCar's very best. Power defeated New Garden by 3.2609 seconds. All three Team Penske drivers have won races in 2024. It was 736 days since Power last won an IndyCar race before he scored the victory at Road America. It was also special for another reason, as his wife, Liz, along with son, Bo, and mother-in-law, Kathy, were there to celebrate with Power in Victory Lane. Liz Power nearly died from a staph infection in January 2023. Power's victory was his first win since the family endured that health scare. Power joined me after his big victory for this exclusive Pit Pass Indie interview. He's a frequent guest on Pit Pass Indy, but today, it's the first time in 736 days that we get to visit with you after an IndyCar Series race victory. It's Team Penske driver Will Power, who won his 42nd career victory in the X-Spell Grand Prix at Road America. Will, a lot has gone on over those 736 days, and when you reflect back on it, just how special is this victory?

WILL:

Very special. Any victory in IndyCar is very special, but extra special when you haven't won for so long. Very happy for the team. I think they've worked really hard. They've done a great job all year. And we've been quick all year. I mean, we've been on the podium a few times and it's very strong.

BRUCE:

The thing about today's victory is it took some veteran savvy to win the race with Ron Rzewski making the decision on the overcut, have you go one lap longer than your two teammates. And that really seemed to be the key to victory. Why was the overcut so successful?

WILL:

Yeah, I sat back and looked after my tires so I could really push on the two laps that my teammates pitted on and I knew that that was going to be my potential, that that potentially could be a win. I knew it would be tough to fight Josef on the out lap, but if I did a really good in lap, I'd have enough space to get the tire temp and that's what happened. Yeah, it was a good It's a good team day, honestly. I don't know how much we won by as a group, but I think we were miles ahead.

BRUCE:

You were. It was a really decisive victory. The three of you over fourth place. But it's also the first time Team Penske's gone 1-2-3 since 2017. And that was the first year Josef Newgarden joined the team. Of course, you were on that team that year, and when you think that it's been that long for a 1-2-3 sweep, it just really underlines how difficult it is to do that in IndyCar.

WILL:

It is very difficult to do it in IndyCar these days. As you've seen over the last few races, I mean, just the competition is so tough, but really enjoyable. I mean, you get so much satisfaction out of this series, even when you, you know, obviously, I went winless for a while. I wasn't that frustrated because I was enjoying the racing.

BRUCE:

At what point in the race did you realize that it was going to be one of the three of you that won the race?

WILL:

Yeah, when we were able to pull away from Palou as a group, I was like, okay, yeah, it's going to be potential one, two, three for the team, which Roger must be so happy about.

BRUCE:

Well, you're certainly sending him off to France, a happy guy, because he's leaving on Tuesday to 24 hours of Le Mans, a race, about the only race on earth he hasn't won. So what's it like when you give Roger Penske an achievement like this?

WILL:

Oh, he told me before the race, you know, be smart. You're in the championship. You know, we got to beat these guys. And I said, yeah, I'll be smart. Don't worry. So I'm glad I gave him away and he must be over the moon.

BRUCE:

There seems to be times where you are like Roger's favorite driver. Do you feel that way sometimes? Oh, I don't know.

WILL:

I don't know. I mean, you know, I think when you're winning, you're Roger's favorite driver. So anytime you're winning, he's... He likes you. I mean, Roger's great either which way. He really is. He just loves racing.

BRUCE:

When you won your second championship two years ago, he told you, go out and win one for the old guys. So in a lot of ways... Yeah. He's put you in that category with Rick Mears and some of the other drivers that have been with the team for a very, very long time. Now that title belongs to Will Power.

WILL:

Yeah, I actually think he really loved that championship I won in 22. He really wanted to see me win it, just for my career. I've had a lot of wins and a lot of up and downs, so I think he was generally really happy that I won it, although we had two guys going for it.

BRUCE:

So reflecting back, this is your first victory since your wife Liz had her health issue. So how special does that really make it for not only yourself, but for her? Because the two of you were in tears in Victory Lane afterwards.

WILL:

Yeah, Lizzie, it was great to see her in Victory Lane. You know, I just... I could see how much that meant to her, actually, her and her mother, with everything that's happened, and with her with the little guy Beau. So, yeah, she was in tears, very emotional with everything that's happened, and I think she was just so happy that I was able to get a win.

BRUCE:

Earlier you reflected on when she first had her health issue you contemplated hanging up the helmet. Yeah. Getting out of racing so that if something had happened to her that you didn't want your son Bo to be without a parent. Yeah. So do you look at racing now as every victory, every lap, every race is a bonus for willpower?

WILL:

I have looked at it like that for a while, actually. As you get further into your career, you realize you've really got to enjoy it and make the absolute most out of it every time, which is what I try to do. Yeah, very enjoyable series. It really is. When you're firing on all cylinders, it is a great series.

BRUCE:

42nd career victory ties you with Michael Andretti for fourth on the all-time list. When you first showed up, the most striking thing about willpower was your name, because everybody thought that can't be his real name. But when you think you showed up in America around 2004, and you've become one of the all-time great drivers in IndyCar history, how do you reflect on that?

WILL:

Oh, you know, as you know, it unfolds very slowly over time. So, you know, it's not a shock when you get there because I've been lucky with the team and, you know, you see the winds coming and, um, yeah, it's not something that's, uh, yeah, I just feel fortunate to be in the position to have equipment and cars that win races, wins championships, win Indy 500. It's just, um, I've been in a great position and it's allowed me to do that. So yeah, but I would never in a million years have dreamt that I would have this many wins, this many polls. I would never have dreamt I won an Indy 500. So just, yeah, I feel privileged.

BRUCE:

And while you're at it, why not a third championship? You're the championship leader now. Why not go out the rest of the year and close it out with a third IndyCar Series championship?

WILL:

Yeah, that would be very nice. And that's the goal. You know, we'll work very hard for that and enjoy it while I do it.

BRUCE:

Well, Will Power, it was certainly enjoyable watching your victory today at Road America. Good luck the rest of the season. Good luck in that championship chase. And thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Thanks, Bruce. And that puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee. We want to thank our guests, XBEL Grand Prix of Road America winner Will Power of Team Penske, six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, and two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing's Rinus VeeKay and Christian Rasmussen, and David Maloukas of Meyer Shank Racing, for joining us on today's show. Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests helped make Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee, your path to victory lane in IndyCar. On the highways, the raceways, and every pit stop in between, Penske Truck Rental keeps you moving forward. Gain ground with Penske. And for all your shopping needs, be sure to visit your local Hy-Vee, where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at Twitter at BruceMartin, one word, uppercase B, uppercase M, underscore 500. This has been a production of Evergreen Podcast. A special thanks to our production team, executive producers are Bridget Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin, and final mixing was done by Dave Douglas. Learn more at evergreenpodcast.com. Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.