The Verizon IndyCar Series will return to Pocono Raceway in 2018, officials from Pocono Raceway announced.
Tthe 2018 ABC Supply 500 race weekend will be held August 18-19 at the 2.5-mile triangular oval. It will mark the 25th Indy car race held ‘The Tricky Triangle’ and the sixth-consecutive year in which the Verizon IndyCar Series has competed at the track since returning in 2013.
In 2017, the ABC Supply 500 saw a race-record 42 lead changes and 590 on-track passes, 524 of which were for position. The race was won by Team Penske’s Will Power, who became the first driver to win back-to-back Indy car races at Pocono Raceway.
“The 2017 ABC Supply 500 proved why Pocono Raceway was built for Indy car racing,” said Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky. “This summer’s race was one of the most competitive events in our track’s history. It was also the highest-attended Indy car race we hosted since bringing open-wheel racing back here five years ago. From conversations I have had about the 2018 (aero kit), we should see speeds pushing, if not exceeding, 240 miles per hour next year.”
Tickets for all 2018 events at Pocono Raceway are scheduled to go on sale to the public starting Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
Those who purchased tickets to Pocono Raceway this year are eligible to renew their 2018 tickets now by visiting www.poconoraceway.com/renewals or by calling our Ticket Office at 1-800-722-3929.
Team Penske enters Petit Le Mans with Castroneves, Montoya, Pagenaud
Team Penske will enter an ORECA 07-Gibson in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar season finale – the 20th Anniversary Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on October 7 for Verizon IndyCar Series veterans Juan Pablo Montoya, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud.
The Team Penske trio joins Ryan Hunter-Reay (Wayne Taylor Racing), Scott Dixon and Sebastien Bourdais (Ford Chip Ganassi Racing) in the 10-hour endurance event.
Castroneves just wrapped up his 20th season in Indy car racing, finishing fourth in the series point standings with a win at Iowa Speedway. In addition to his INDYCAR background, Castroneves has also made five starts for Team Penske in sports car competition, producing two poles, three podium finishes and a class victory in the 2008 Petit Le Mans event.
“It will be fun to work with Juan again,” said Castroneves. “The last time I ran at Petit, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the winning team in our class. It was one of the highlights of my career. Now, I’m looking forward to that challenge again and I’m sure it will be fun racing with these guys in this setting.”
In addition to his open wheel experience, Pagenaud, the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series champion, has a vast background in sports car competition. He earned 10 American Le Mans Series wins between 2009 and 2013, including a class win in the 2010 Petit Le Mans while racing for Acura.
“It’s a bit of a homecoming to get back into a prototype car,” said Pagenaud, whose recent win at the Sonoma INDYCAR race led to a second-place finish in the championship behind Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden. “They are great cars to drive and to be paired with Juan and Helio in an endurance event is going to be a lot of fun. This is a chance for me to help Team Penske prepare for next year, while seeing what things we can learn and where we can improve right now.”