The 2020 Genesys 300 was an IndyCar Series event that was held on June 6, 2020 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. It was the opening event of the 2020 IndyCar Series, due to race cancellations and postponements tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| 1 round of the 2020 IndyCar Series season | |
 | |
| Date | June 6, 2020 |
| Official name | Genesys 300 |
| Location | Texas Motor Speedway |
| Course | Oval 1.5 mi / 2.4 km |
| Distance | 200 laps 300 mi / 482.803 km |
| Pole position | |
| Driver | Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) |
| Time | 24.0227 + 24.0351 = 48.0578 |
| Fastest lap | |
| Driver | Felix Rosenqvist (Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Time | 24.1088 (on lap 189 of 200) |
| Podium | |
| First | Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Second | Simon Pagenaud (Team Penske) |
| Third | Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) |
Background
editOn May 7, 2020, it was announced that the season would commence with a condensed, one-day event format at Texas Motor Speedway. Although intended to be run without spectators, Sonic Automotive (which owns the circuit under their Speedway Motorsports subsidiary) followed protocol in use at their NASCAR weekend at Charlotte by allowing owners and tenants of the Turn 2 Lone Star Towers office and condominium complex to have tickets and parking passes to watch the event from their units. Drivers and crew members were subject to social distancing and health screening protocols, and use of face coverings was mandated. Practice, qualifying and the race took place on the same day,[1] requiring it to be shortened from 248 laps or around 600 kilometres (370 miles), to 200 laps (300 miles).[2]
As the pandemic prevented Firestone from manufacturing new tire compounds for the race, existing compounds were used instead. The right-hand tires had originally been manufactured for tests at the track in 2019, simulating the effects of the new aeroscreen introduced to all vehicles for the 2020 season. The left-hand tires were originally manufactured for the 2019 Indianapolis 500. Due to these tire variances, Firestone and IndyCar required that these tires be replaced after 35 laps of use, with each car provided with nine sets of tires to use across the day.[3][4]
Entry list
editIn May 2020, DragonSpeed revealed that it planned to prioritize an entry for the rescheduled Indianapolis 500, so that it could initially focus on its core European Le Mans Series operations.[5] On June 2, Carlin withdrew its entry for the race in the #31, citing economic impacts of the pandemic in Europe.[6]
All cars ran a Dallara safety tub utilizing the IndyCar mandated Universal Aero Kit 18. All cars also utilized Firestone tires.
Withdrawn
edit| Car No. | Driver Name | Owner/Team | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Unnamed | Carlin | Chevrolet |
| 81 | Ben Hanley | DragonSpeed | Chevrolet |
| Key | Meaning |
|---|---|
| R | Rookie |
| W | Past winner |
Full Results
edit| Key | Meaning |
|---|---|
| R | Rookie |
| W | Past winner |
Practice
editPractice ran on race day from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT
| Pos | No. | Name | Lap Time | Avg. Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 24.0006 | 215.995 mph (347.610 km/h) | |
| 2 | 88 | 24.1689 | 214.491 mph (345.190 km/h) | |
| 3 | 5 | 24.1875 | 214.326 mph (344.924 km/h) | |
| 4 | 26 | 24.1906 | 214.298 mph (344.879 km/h) | |
| 5 | 98 | 24.1945 | 214.264 mph (344.824 km/h) | |
| 6 | 30 | 24.2437 | 213.826 mph (344.120 km/h) | |
| 7 | 1 | 24.3029 | 213.308 mph (343.286 km/h) | |
| 8 | 22 | 24.3128 | 213.221 mph (343.146 km/h) | |
| 9 | 15 | 24.3179 | 213.176 mph (343.074 km/h) | |
| 10 | 10 | 24.3974 | 212.482 mph (341.957 km/h) | |
| 11 | 4 | 24.4184 | 212.299 mph (341.662 km/h) | |
| 12 | 12 | 24.4281 | 212.215 mph (341.527 km/h) | |
| 13 | 8 | 24.4408 | 212.104 mph (341.348 km/h) | |
| 14 | 55 | 24.4446 | 212.071 mph (341.295 km/h) | |
| 15 | 7 | 24.4842 | 211.728 mph (340.743 km/h) | |
| 16 | 27 | 24.4853 | 211.719 mph (340.729 km/h) | |
| 17 | 29 | 24.4979 | 211.610 mph (340.553 km/h) | |
| 18 | 20 | 24.5508 | 211.154 mph (339.819 km/h) | |
| 19 | 14 | 24.5521 | 211.143 mph (339.802 km/h) | |
| 20 | 59 | 24.5561 | 211.108 mph (339.745 km/h) | |
| 21 | 28 | 24.6094 | 210.617 mph (338.955 km/h) | |
| 22 | 18 | 24.6094 | 210.617 mph (338.955 km/h) | |
| 23 | 21 | 25.0564 | 209.893 mph (337.790 km/h) | |
| 24 | 60 | 25.2599 | 205.226 mph (330.279 km/h) | |
| Source:[8] | ||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was run on race day starting at 5 p.m. (ET)
| Pos | No. | Name | Lap 1 Time | Lap 2 Time | Total Time | Avg. Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24.0227 | 24.0351 | 48.0578 | 215.740 mph (347.200 km/h) | |
| 2 | 9 | 24.0393 | 24.0413 | 48.0806 | 215.638 mph (347.036 km/h) | |
| 3 | 22 | 24.0507 | 24.0686 | 48.1193 | 215.464 mph (346.756 km/h) | |
| 4 | 28 | 24.2439 | 24.1344 | 48.3783 | 214.311 mph (344.900 km/h) | |
| 5 | 26 | 24.2942 | 24.1588 | 48.4530 | 213.981 mph (344.369 km/h) | |
| 6 | 12 | 24.2708 | 24.1937 | 48.4645 | 213.930 mph (344.287 km/h) | |
| 7 | 15 | 24.2734 | 24.2029 | 48.4763 | 213.878 mph (344.203 km/h) | |
| 8 | 27 | 24.2336 | 24.2855 | 48.5191 | 213.689 mph (343.899 km/h) | |
| 9 | 10 | 24.3100 | 24.2384 | 48.5484 | 213.560 mph (343.692 km/h) | |
| 10 | 14 | 24.3959 | 24.1917 | 48.5876 | 213.388 mph (343.415 km/h) | |
| 11 | 98 | 24.2882 | 24.3444 | 48.6326 | 213.190 mph (343.096 km/h) | |
| 12 | 4 | 24.4347 | 24.2917 | 48.7264 | 212.780 mph (342.436 km/h) | |
| 13 | 20 | 24.4153 | 24.3261 | 48.7414 | 212.714 mph (342.330 km/h) | |
| 14 | 88 | 24.3807 | 24.3648 | 48.7455 | 212.697 mph (342.303 km/h) | |
| 15 | 29 | 24.3560 | 24.4109 | 48.7669 | 212.603 mph (342.151 km/h) | |
| 16 | 55 | 24.5459 | 24.2437 | 48.7896 | 212.504 mph (341.992 km/h) | |
| 17 | 8 | 24.4232 | 24.4733 | 48.8965 | 212.040 mph (341.245 km/h) | |
| 18 | 5 | 24.4068 | 24.4959 | 48.9027 | 212.013 mph (341.202 km/h) | |
| 19 | 59 | 24.5452 | 24.4934 | 49.0386 | 211.425 mph (340.256 km/h) | |
| 20 | 7 | 24.7092 | 24.4657 | 49.1749 | 210.839 mph (339.312 km/h) | |
| 21 | 60 | 25.2665 | 25.1499 | 50.4164 | 205.647 mph (330.957 km/h) | |
| 22 | 30 | Wrecked during attempt | No Time | No Speed | ||
| 23 | 21 | Did not attempt | No Time | No Speed | ||
| 24 | 18 | Did not attempt | No Time | No Speed | ||
| Source:[9] | ||||||
Race
editNotes: 1 Points include 1 point for leading at least 1 lap during a race, an additional 2 points for leading the most race laps, and 1 point for Pole Position.
Race statistics
editAverage speed: 175.201 mph (281.959 km/h)
Lead changes: 5
| Lap leader breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From lap |
To lap |
Total laps |
Driver |
| 1 | 31 | 31 | Josef Newgarden |
| 32 | 34 | 3 | Scott Dixon |
| 35 | 36 | 2 | Zach Veach |
| 37 | 80 | 44 | Scott Dixon |
| 81 | 90 | 10 | Josef Newgarden |
| 91 | 200 | 110 | Scott Dixon |
| Source:[11] | |||
| Cautions: 4 for 24 laps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From lap |
To lap |
Total laps |
Reason |
| 38 | 45 | 8 | #21 (VeeKay), & #55 (Palou) accident backstretch |
| 77 | 85 | 9 | Debris |
| 191 | 196 | 6 | #10 (Rosenqvist) accident turn 2 |
| 200 | 200 | 1 | #4 (Kimball) accident backstretch |
| Source:[12] | |||
Championship standings after the race
edit
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included.
Broadcasting
editTelevision
editOriginally scheduled for NBCSN, it was announced on May 24 that the race would move to NBC, marking the first IndyCar Series event to air in primetime on network television in seven years.[14] With 1.285 million viewers, it was the most-watched IndyCar Series event outside of the Indianapolis 500 since 2016.[15]
The race was called at the track with Leigh Diffey doing play-by-play, Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell as analysts, and Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reporting on pit lane.[16]
| NBC | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth Announcers | Pit/garage reporters | |
|
Announcer: Leigh Diffey |
Marty Snider Kelli Stavast | |
Radio
editThe race was carried by the IndyCar Radio Network. Mark Jaynes served as the chief announcer from WIBC Radio studios along with Davey Hamilton as Driver Expert. Jake Query called the field down the backstretch from WIBC studios. Nick Yeoman was the sole pit reporter at the track.[17]
| IndyCar Radio Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit/garage reporters |
|
Chief Announcer: Mark Jaynes |
Backstretch: Jake Query |
Nick Yeoman |
References
edit- ^ Ryan, Nate (May 7, 2020). "IndyCar will open 2020 season at Texas without fans in one-day event". Motorsports on NBC. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "NTT IndyCar Series Season Kicks Off June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway". IndyCar Series. May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Barnes, Joey (2020-06-03). "Firestone-Mandated Tire Restrictions Add Wrinkle to NTT IndyCar Series Opener at Texas". Autoweek. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ "Tire stint limit implemented for IndyCar's Texas return". RACER. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ "DragonSpeed reveals revised plans for IndyCar, IMSA, ELMS". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ "Carlin's No. 31 Chevy parked for Texas opener". RACER. 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ @TXMotorSpeedway (3 June 2020). "Y'all, we have an entry list for Saturday's #Genesys300!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Results".
- ^ "Results".
- ^ "Results".
- ^ "Race Results".
- ^ "Race Results".
- ^ "Home". indycar.com.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-05-24). "NTT Indycar Series Genesys 300 Races To NBC Primetime". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ Brown, Nathan. "NBC delivers IndyCar's most-watched non-Indy 500 race since 2016 in Saturday's season-opener". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ "Texas IndyCar opener shifts to NBC". RACER. 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ Source: IndyCar Radio Broadcast