With the new year looming, this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast is dedicated to five topics that have our hosts excited already for the 2023 season.
IndyCar regular and regular podcast co-host JR Hildebrand joins The Race’s Jack Benyon to take an in-depth look at some of the key storylines for next year, including Arrow McLaren SP’s ascent and its signing of Alexander Rossi and Gavin Ward, how Alex Palou’s return to Chip Ganassi will go after their infamous lawsuit battle, and the emergence of Scott McLaughlin and his 2023 title chances.
The duo also pick over the exciting resumption of the Chevrolet vs Honda battle for engine supremacy, especially at the Indy 500, and give their thoughts on Andretti’s bid to end a 10-year run without a title
As well as assessing these 2023 talking points, there’s also a news round-up including Marcus Armstrong’s move to Ganassi, Josef Newgarden and McLaughlin’s link up at the Daytona 24 Hours and IndyCar’s latest engine and documentary updates.

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5 things we're looking forward to in the 2023 IndyCar season

Analysis, interviews and race reviews from one of the most competitive motorsport series in the world. The Race’s American Editor Jack Benyon is joined by Indy 500 regular and Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand to dissect the main stories with the help of some of the series’ biggest names

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Alex Palou’s Indy road course win, a host of expletive-filled spats and a look at the Indy 500 starting this week makes up this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.
Hosting duo JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon look at Alex Palou starting May in the same way as last year, with a pole and a win on the Indy road course, what that means for his title rivals and how Christian Lundgaard was hard done by.
Of course, Colton Herta calling his team-mate Marcus Ericsson an “ass” and Romain Grosjean and Santino Ferrucci’s unusual wheel-banging feud are also analysed.
After that, Hildebrand explains some intricacies of how Indy 500 qualifying works, and gives his thoughts on how badly impacted reigning winner Josef Newgarden will be after some of his crew have been suspended ahead of the event.
There’s also a run through the schedule this week and some things to look for as practice unfolds.

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Another ominous Palou win + what to watch as Indy 500 practice begins

It’s a bumper episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast as Theo Pourchaire discusses his new deal with McLaren, and points leader Colton Herta is also interviewed.
Pourchaire will do all of the remaining IndyCar races for McLaren this season apart from the Indy 500, replacing David Malukas who was released after a hand injury.
Pourchaire discusses missing out on an F1 seat (so far at least), the crazy month where he went from “sitting at home” to becoming a full time IndyCar driver, how he's adapting to American culture, and more on his oval test at Gateway earlier this week.
And in our second interview, Colton Herta discusses being the IndyCar championship leader for the first time. He outlines how that’s influencing his approach, the impact of Andretti dropping to three cars for 2024, and what it was like to drive his dad’s 1998 Reynard at Laguna Seca last year.

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Pourchaire on new McLaren deal, Herta discusses points lead

There's a lot to get into on this episode, with two of the biggest IndyCar stories in recent memory sandwiching a race weekend.
Jack Benyon and co-host JR Hildebrand give their thoughts on the scandal engulfing the series last week as Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were disqualified from the season opener for illegal push-to-pass usage.
McLaughlin rebounded in the perfect way to give Penske victory last weekend at Barber and the episode breaks down how he did it, as at one point it was certain his unassailable lead had been taken away from him.
Elsewhere this week, the situation surrounding David Malukas being dropped by Arrow McLaren is addressed as he exits without having started a race and without a publicised recovery time. How the situation has been handled and what is next for Malukas and McLaren forms part of the discussion.
Also from Barber, there’s chat about McLaren’s tough start to the year, how its old driver Felix Rosenqvist has scored top 10s in every race and is ahead of Pato O’Ward in the championship, and why a rejuvenated Colton Herta has jumped into an early points lead.
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Our take on the IndyCar scandal, McLaughlin's Barber win, and Malukas' McLaren exit

On this episode Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand discuss Scott Dixon’s genius and how it led to a stunning victory in Long Beach.
Dixon’s outrageous victory on the streets of California - underpinned by his insane fuel-saving abilities - drew praise from all corners of motorsport at the weekend. As well as discussing how he won and the qualities that mean Dixon can do things his peers can’t, Hildebrand outlines some memories of racing wheel-to-wheel with Dixon and what makes him great in the process.
Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire’s excellent debut for Arrow McLaren is also analysed, along with his prospects for a repeat performance at Barber this weekend, plus the guys dive into how IndyCar officiated the Josef Newgarden/Colton Herta incident that impacted the finish of the race.

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Dissecting Dixon’s genius & Pourchaire’s brilliant Long Beach debut

A crucial test for the Indy 500, an extended injury delay opening the door for the reigning F2 champion and an F1 feeder series juggernaut entering a new two-car team left plenty to discuss on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.
JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon are back to discuss Josef Newgarden and Team Penske’s form after topping the Indy 500 Open Test, and break down NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s second-fastest time performance with some key insight into how he’s approaching advice for his IndyCar debut as well.
Prema Racing’s two-car team for 2025 is outlined with Hildebrand impressed with how well previous drivers and employees speak of the team.
And of course, who to watch in this weekend’s Long Beach Grand Prix, with F2 champion Theo Pourchaire looking likely to replace David Malukas adding to the storylines. Hildebrand explains why he thinks this is more of a long-term move by the team.

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5 things we're looking forward to in the 2023 IndyCar season

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