JENNA FRYER

AP Auto Racing Writer

Alex Palou, front left, kisses his trophy as he celebrates with team owner Chip Ganassi, front right, after winning his third IndyCar championship in four years Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Palou finally loses as IndyCar champ’s 2-race winning streak snapped by Kirkwood in Long Beach

Kyle Kirkwood showed that Alex Palou can be beat this IndyCar season and returned Andretti Global to the top of the podium with his second career victory at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Driver Change assist Josh Gibbs pulls Robert Wickens, who was paralyzed from the chest down after a 2018 IndyCar crash, from the car as Tommy Milner gets in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3R as they practice driving changes, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Long Beach Calif., for Saturday's IMSA auto race. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Wickens returns to elite racing with use of hand controls 7 years after he was paralyzed in a crash

Nearly seven years after he was paralyzed in an IndyCar crash, Robert Wickens will return to elite competition when he drives a Corvette in the IMSA sports car race on the downtown streets of Long Beach.

Group 1001 President & Chief Executive Officer Dan Towriss, also CEO of TWG Motorsports, speaks during a news conference in Indianapolis, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.(AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

TWG Motorsports to race coast-to-coast this weekend from NASCAR at Bristol to IndyCar in Long Beach

TWG Motorsports will go coast-to-coast this weekend to showcase its positioning as a powerhouse racing organization.

Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)

Red Bull chose Lawson over Tsunoda, then gave the youngster just 2 weeks before bouncing him

The signs were there early that Liam Lawson was perhaps not mature enough to handle the job as Red Bull Racing teammate to four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen.

Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports and Co-Owner Michael Jordan, of 23XI Racing, pose before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 6, 2024, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill, file)

23XI and Front Row call NASCAR countersuit on antitrust claims an “act of desperation”

The two teams suing NASCAR over antitrust allegations said Wednesday in a filing that a countersuit against 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Michael Jordan’s manager is “an act of desperation” and asked that it be dismissed.

Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia hoists a bottle of milk alongside car owner, Chip Ganassi, right, in Victory Lane while standing in front of the Borg-Warner Trophy after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race, Sunday, May 28, 2000, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

Ganassi’s mantra is ‘I like winners.’ In 35 years of IndyCar, his drivers say it is all that matters

Chip Ganassi started his 35th season in motorsports exactly how he finished the last five years: dancing in victory lane for either a win or yet another championship.

Hornets managing partner Curtis Polk, left, looks on during a news conference for the NBA basketball team in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, file)

In NASCAR antitrust fight, Michael Jordan’s manager goes from adviser to stock car series to target

Long before the battle over the charter system led to the antitrust lawsuit now engulfing NASCAR, its executives found Michael Jordan and his small group of advisers a beneficial resource in discussing growth for the top racing series in the United States.

Josh Berry celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Josh Berry races to 1st Cup Series victory, gives Wood Brothers 101st win with Las Vegas score

Josh Berry raced to the first Cup Series victory of his career, taking NASCAR’s oldest team to victory lane Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Christopher Bell celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Jimmie Johnson has texted Christopher Bell after his 3 victories this season. Bell wants a 4th text

Christopher Bell geeks out when his phone lights up with a new congratulatory text message from Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner walks to the track during a Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Christian Horner wanted to leave a sordid season behind him. Boos mar early days for F1 executive

Any hope Christian Horner had of leaving last year’s sordid season behind him ended at Formula 1’s splashy car launch last month when the Red Bull Racing leader was booed.

Cadillac F1 receives approval to enter global series as expanded 11th team in 2026

Cadillac’s Formula 1 team has received official approval to join the grid in 2026 and its owners insist the team will be ready to compete.

Austin Cindric sits in his vehicle before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Cindric penalized by NASCAR for hooking Ty Dillon at COTA. Team Penske driver avoids suspension

NASCAR has penalized Austin Cindric 50 points and fined him $50,000 for intentionally spinning Ty Dillon in last weekend’s Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas.

Chase Briscoe waves to fans during driver introductions before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Chase Briscoe wins appeal over modified spoiler during Daytona 500 pole-winning run

Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing won their appeal when the National Motorsports Appeals Panel said his Toyota did not have an illegally modified spoiler when he won the Daytona 500 pole.

Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports and Co-Owner Michael Jordan, of 23XI Racing, pose before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 6, 2024, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill, file)

NASCAR countersues 23XI and Front Row, as well as Michael Jordan’s manager, in dispute over charters

NASCAR has filed a counterclaim against Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports alleging they “willfully” violated antitrust laws in connection with the most recent charter agreements. 23XI and Front Row were the only two teams out of 15 that refused to sign the agreements present

Josef Newgarden leads the pack into Turn 2 after the start of the IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race, Sunday March 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)

Fox Sports draws big numbers for IndyCar season debut. Most watched non-Indy 500 since 2011

Fox Sports’ debut IndyCar race drew 1.417 million viewers and was the most watched series event aside from the Indianapolis 500 on any network since 2011. The mark for Sunday’s opener on the downtown streets of St.

Katherine Legge greets fans before an IndyCar auto race, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Katherine Legge to be the 1st woman in 7 years to compete in NASCAR Cup Series race

Katherine Legge will become the first woman in a NASCAR Cup Series race since Danica Patrick in 2018 when the veteran makes her debut Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. Legge will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Liv Fast Motorsports.

Dan Towriss, the new owner of Andretti Global, and Jill Gregory, president of Andretti Global, stand in front of Colton Herta's race car before the season-opening race, Sunday, March 2, 2025, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

AP spent the IndyCar opener with Andretti leadership, including Jill Gregory in her debut race

The Associated Press was embedded with Andretti Global for the first IndyCar race of the season to watch the team operate under its new leadership.

Scott Dixon drove entire IndyCar season opener with no radio communication and still finished 2nd

Scott Dixon ran the entire IndyCar season-opening race without radio communication in a miscue that probably cost him his first career victory on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg.

Michael Andretti, third from left, stands with his son, Mario, left, wife Jodi Ann, second from left, and Andretti Global new owner Dan Towriss, second from right, with his wife Cassidy Marie, right, before the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race Sunday, March 2, 2025, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Michael Andretti enjoying retirement as he takes in IndyCar opener as a fan instead of team owner

Michael Andretti was tanned and thinner when he made his way from his yacht to the starting grid for IndyCar’s season-opening race. He was also relaxed.

Will Power greets fans before an IndyCar auto race at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennesee, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Power struggles on 44th birthday as he begins IndyCar season seeking a Penske contract extension

Will Power had a rough 44th birthday when he lost power in his car, brushed the wall during practice and had his hybrid engine changed before qualifying for IndyCar’s season-opening race.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, at Station F, during an event on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chip Ganassi Racing partners with OpenAI in first motorsports venture for AI company

Chip Ganassi Racing on Friday said it has partnered on a strategic research collaboration with OpenAI — a deal that makes the two-time reigning IndyCar championship winning team the first to bring in a partner from the artificial intelligence field.

Colton Herta, of the United States, drives during an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Colton Herta hedges on if he wants one of the Cadillac F1 seats because of his dedication to IndyCar

Colton Herta raised eyebrows when the IndyCar driver said he’d have to think about a move to Formula 1 with the new Cadillac team should he earn eligibility for the global series.

Josef Newgarden celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Indy 500 champ Newgarden becomes 1st driver to sign with Klutch Sports Group management agency

Two-time reigning Indianapolis 500 winner champion Josef Newgarden has signed with Klutch Sports Group. The Rich Paul-founded management agency also represents LeBron James, Darius Garland, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green and USC star JuJu Watkins.

NASCAR drivers, from left, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez promote the June auto race, Wednesday Feb. 26, 2025, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

NASCAR stars enjoy immersive Mexico City visit ahead of first international Cup Series race

Daniel Suarez led a quartet of NASCAR stars through the streets of Mexico City in search of a nightcap following a full day of showcasing his native country to his fellow competitors.

Josef Newgarden leads the pack into Turn 2 after the start of the IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race, Sunday March 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)

Palou, Pato, Newgarden and Fox: IndyCar starts season with big stars, big hopes and new TV partner

IndyCar enters a new era with broadcast partner Fox Sports, which takes over the television rights after the series spent 16 years with NBC Sports. The season starts Sunday in St.

Group 1001 President & Chief Executive Officer Dan Towriss speaks during a news conference announcing that the Indiana Pacers basketball arena will be renamed Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the NBA basketball team's media day in Indianapolis, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.(AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

Cadillac F1 to be managed by global group TWG Motorsports. Dan Towriss named CEO of racing portfolio

The group that owns Cadillac Formula 1 officially launched TWG Motorsports on Tuesday as the division responsible for its rapidly growing motorsports portfolio. Dan Towriss was named CEO of TWG Motorsports.

Chase Briscoe waves to fans during driver introductions before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

NASCAR deals Daytona 500 pole winner massive fine for 2nd consecutive year

Daytona 500 pole-winner Chase Briscoe was dealt a major penalty Wednesday when NASCAR said Joe Gibbs Racing had a modified spoiler on the No. 19 Toyota in time trials. Joe Gibbs Racing was docked 100 driver/owner points and 10 playoff points.

Kyle Larson (5), Cole Custer (41), Anthony Alfredo (62), and BJ McLeod (78) crash during the second of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Why can’t Kyle Larson win the Daytona 500? Jeff Gordon believes defeats are ‘getting in his head’

Owen Larson called it when he said his dad wouldn’t win the Daytona 500 because “he probably needs to try really hard because he’s not good at superspeedway racing.” The 10-year-old was right in his assessment.

Denny Hamlin (11) and Cody Ware (51) collide between Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Hamlin expected a late caution would give him a 4th Daytona 500 win. NASCAR never threw the yellow

Denny Hamlin surged into the lead on the final lap of the Daytona 500 and thought he had a fourth victory in “The Great American Race” within his reach Sunday night. Especially when Riley Herbst went spinning through the infield grass.

Brad Keselowski relaxes in his garage before a practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Final Daytona 500 practice is paced by Keselowski as Fords dominate session 17 drivers skipped

Ford led the final Daytona 500 practice with Brad Keselowski pacing the field as he attempts to snap a 15-year winless drought Sunday in “The Great American Race.”