Kimball predicts “incredible” IndyCar race on resurfaced Gateway
Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda driver Charlie Kimball says the repaving work on the 1.25-mile oval at Gateway Motorsports Park will create a great race for the Verizon IndyCar Series.
Photo by: Scott R LePage / Motorsport Images
Kimball turned the first ceremonial laps on the new track surface that track owner and CEO Curtis Francois called for following several instances of cut tires during the IndyCar test in early May.
After driving a Honda Accord street car around the track in Madison, Ill., Kimball told IndyCar.com: “I think it's awesome. The investment made to repave and update the surface is significant.
“The fact that we're coming back in August to a much smoother racetrack than we tested on is going to create a lot better racing for Verizon IndyCar Series cars under the lights."
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline, to be held on Aug. 25-26 will be the first time IndyCar has raced on the egg-shaped oval in 14 years.
Kimball, who took his first IndyCar pole at Texas Motor Speedway this year, stated: “To be able to compete under the lights in August on a Saturday night on a short track like Gateway is going to be fantastic.
"I think the way Turn 1 and Turn 3 are so very different is going to lead to an incredible event and the new asphalt will only add to that.”
Kimball’s teammates Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan competed in the last Gateway IndyCar race in 2003, an event won by current Penske-Chevrolet driver Helio Castroneves, just ahead of Kanaan.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
O’Ward, Rossi impressed by McLaren’s “massive step forward”
Kimball to race third Foyt car in Long Beach finale
Foyt team now “engineering-led” after lacking consistency
Kimball rejoins AJ Foyt Racing for Indy 500 and Indy GP
DTM 2024 entry list: Who is driving in the DTM this year?
Mercedes taking action to cure F1 car's “underlying balance” problem
Quartararo: Yamaha MotoGP satellite team "must be an extension of the factory"
Pedrosa says 'unexpected' MotoGP return pushed by "interesting" testing data
The apprenticeship that will aid Ilott's IndyCar to WEC switch at Jota
The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner
Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments