Honda IndyCar Report

Our next guest is closing in on some of IndyCar's greatest names. It's Team Penske driver Will Power, the winner of the 102nd Indianapolis 500 in 2018. Power dominated the Grand Prix of Portland on September 1, leading 52 laps to score the 37th victory of his career. That ties him with four-time Champ Car Series champion Sebastien Bourdais for sixth on the all-time victory list. Next up is Al Unser, with 39 wins. The Portland win was the second of the season, all coming within the last three races.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Power after the race to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is another NTT IndyCar Series great. It's 2014 IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power, the winner of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway on August 18. It was Power's third Pocono win in the last four years and the 36th NTT IndyCar Series victory of his career. Power's No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet was in front 32 laps in the rain-shortened race that was called after 128 laps.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Power after the race to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest has had quite a season in 2019. It's Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden, who has led the NTT IndyCar Series standings for all but one race since the beginning of the season. Newgarden has been able to use a solid first half of the season as he prepares to close out the championship in the second half of 2019.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Newgarden to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest has had quite a season in 2019. It's Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud, the winner of the 103rd Indianapolis 500. Pagenaud dominated the Honda Indy Toronto on July 14, starting on the pole and leading 80 laps in the 85-lap contest. It was Pagenaud's first victory since he won the Indy 500 on May 26. The championship battle was just heating up at Toronto.RACEDAY'S Bruce Martin caught up with Pagenaud after the race in Toronto to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is the winner of the 103rd Indianapolis 500 on May 26. It's Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud of France. Pagenaud has used his Indy 500 victory as a springboard to an outstanding season in 2019 where he continues to be honored for his victory in the biggest race in the world. RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Pagenaud at William Behrends' art studio in Tyron, North Carolina after he sat in for a sculpturing session to have his face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy. Pagenaud's face was unveiled in Paris on August 5, the first time the Indianapolis 500 winning driver's image has shown for the first time outside of the United States. Pagenaud talks about the sculpturing process along with the first half of his season on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is the NTT IndyCar Series points leader, Josef Newgarden, who drove to victory in the June 1 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Race No. 1. Because the race was delayed nearly 90 minutes because of lightning, it because a 75-minute timed event. And Newgarden pitted at just the right time, when he dove down pit road on Lap 19 get off the rain tires for the racing slicks once the track was dry. Just as he pulled into his pit stall, Ed Jones crashed to bring out a full-course caution. That closed pit lane and when Newgarden returned to the track, and the rest of the field pitted a few laps later, he was in front of Alexander Rossi. The two drivers fought it out over the remainder of the race with Newgarden prevailing for his 12th career victory.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Newgarden after he won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest scored the biggest victory of his career in an epic Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2019. It's Simon Pagenaud of France, who became the first Frenchman to win the "World's Biggest Race" since Rene Thomas in 1914. The Team Penske driver engaged in a dramatic duel with Alexander Rossi, winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, over the final 13 laps. The two drivers daringly traded the lead in the closing stages of the race with Rossi making what he thought was the race-winning pass going into Turn 1 on Lap 198. Two turns later, however, Pagenaud passed Rossi in Turn 3 and held on over the final lap to win the 103rd Indianapolis 500. It was team owner Roger Penske's record-extending 18th victory in the Indianapolis 500. Pagenaud also became the second driver to sweep the "Month of May" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since his teammate, Will Power, accomplished the Sweep in 2018.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Pagenaud after he won the Indy 500 to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest started on the pole and dominated the April 7 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. It's race-winner Takuma Sato of Japan, who had his No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda out front for 74 laps in the 90-lap contest at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Sato defeated fellow Honda driver Scott Dixon by 2.387-seconds for his fourth career NTT IndyCar Series victory.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Sato after his big win at Barber Motorsports Park to talk about his big win and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is the new leader of Honda Performance Development. It’s Ted Klaus, who takes over for longtime HPD President Art St. Cyr on April 1. Klaus is currently vice-president of Honda R&D Americas and led the Acura development effort of the car that will participates in IMSA Sports Car Racing. St. Cyr, who also came to HPD from Honda R&D Americas in 2012, completed a seven-year tenure as president of the wholly-owned subsidiary and racing arm of American Honda. St. Cyr will return to American Honda’s corporate offices in Torrance, California, where he will assume new duties as a vice president and business unit head of auto operations for American Honda, responsible for product planning, public relations and logistics. During his time at HPD, St. Cyr oversaw the company’s IndyCar Series program transition from single engine supplier to multi-manufacturer competition; the return of Acura to endurance sports car racing; and the success of the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck off-road racing effort.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Klaus last week at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to talk about his now role and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is the man who oversees Honda’s racing efforts as well as the Team Acura program in IMSA. It’s Honda Performance Development President Art Sty Cyr. After its great season in 2019, the hopes remain high at Honda and with the Honda teams in the NTT IndyCar Series season.RACDAYS's Bruce Martin caught up with St. Cyr at INDYCAR’s Spring Training at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas to talk about the Honda effort and the upcoming 2019 season, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is the winner of the 102nd Indianapolis 500. It's Will Power of Team Verizon Team Penske. Power, was honored for his big win in the Indy 500 last May. Both were honored at the recent Automotive News World Congress Banquet as part of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 16. It was Power's first "Baby Borg" and team Roger Penske's 17th as Penske continues to his record as the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history with 17 wins in the "World's Biggest Race." RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Power to talk about that prestigious honor, and a look ahead to 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."

Our next guest is not only one of Honda's most successful drivers, he's also one of IndyCar's biggest stars. It's the winner of the 100th Indianapolis 500, Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport. The 27-year-old Rossi continued to emerge in 2018 with three victories including wins in the prestigious Long Beach Grand Prix as well as the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. Rossi was a serious contender for the 2018 IndyCar crown before falling just short in the season's final race at Sonoma Raceway.Look for Rossi to once again contend for the Indy 500 win and the NTT IndyCar Series championship in 2019 in the No. 27 NAPA Auto Parts Honda.RACEDAYS's caught up with Rossi to talk about his accomplishments in 2018 and his outlook for 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."

Our next guest is one of Honda's most successful drivers. It's 2012 NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winning driver Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport. With 18 race victories and seven career poles, Hunter-Reay knows all about success. He finished fourth in last year's IndyCar Series championships and is primed for a run on another title in 2019RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Hunter-Real to talk about his accomplishments in 2018 and his outlook for 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest is one of the future drivers for Honda. It's 24-year-old Zach Veach, who begins his second full season as the driver of the No. 26 Honda at Andretti Autosport. In 2018, Veach finished fourth in the Long Beach Grand Prix, fifth at Gateway Motorsports Park, sixth at Pocono and seventh in the Honda Indy Toronto.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Veach to talk about his accomplishments in 2018 and his outlook for 2019, as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."

Our next guest on the Honda IndyCar Report is always looking toward the future. It’s INDYCAR CEO Mark Miles, who never has an offseason as he continues to move the series forward.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Miles on the phone from his office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest plays an important role for one of IndyCar's most successful drivers at Team Penske. It's longtime race engineer David Faustino, who helped guide driver Will Power's effort to victory lane in the 102nd Indianapolis 500. Power and Faustino have worked together for most of Power's career, dating all the way back to the Champ Car Series in 2007. RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Faustino at the team's shop in Mooresville, North Carolina to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest plays a very important role at Team Penske. It's Ron Ruzewski, who was promoted from his role as technical director to managing director back in October. In Ruzewski's new role, he is in charge of both the Team Penske IndyCar team and the Acura Team Penske Sports Car team. RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Ruzewski at the team's shop in Mooresville, North Carolina to talk about his new role and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest plays an important role in one of Honda's two-car operations at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's chief mechanic Donny Stewart, who oversees the preparation and crew for Graham Rahal, a six-time winner in the IndyCar Series. RACEDAY'S Bruce Martin caught up with Stewart at the team's shop in Brownsburg, Indiana to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

Our next guest plays an important role in one of Honda's two-car operations at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's crew chief Derek Davidson, who oversees the preparations of the car and crew for drivers Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500. Although Rahal was winless in 2018, Sato got the team into victory lane with an impressive win at Portland on Labor Day Weekend. Those two drivers return in 2019 and will be joined in the 103rd Indianapolis 500 by young driver Jordan King of England.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Davidson at the team's shop in Brownsburg, Indiana to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."

Our next guest plays an important role in one of Honda's two-car operations at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It's team manager Rico Nault, who oversees the operation that includes drivers Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500. Although Rahal was winless in 2018, Sato got the team into victory lane with an impressive win at Portland on Labor Day Weekend. Those two drivers return in 2019 and will be joined in the 103rd Indianapolis 500 by young driver Jordan King of England.RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with Nault at the team's shop in Brownsburg, Indiana to talk about that and other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."

Our next guest won the biggest race of the season. It's Team Penske driver Will Power, who won the 102nd Indianapolis 500 on 27. Power will be honored at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on December 5 when his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy is officially unveiled.Bruce Martin of RACEDAY caught up with Power to talk about that honor when he was at sculptor William Behrends' studio at the end of September to talk about the effort that goes into making the sculpture that is attached to the trophy. Power also talks about other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.

And now, Honda has one more championship to celebrate. It's Scott Dixon's fifth career Verizon IndyCar Series championship. Dixon won the 2018 IndyCar title in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda with a second-place finish to fellow Honda driver Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport in Sunday's INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma. Dixon entered the double-points paying season finale at Sonoma Raceway with a 29-point lead over Honda's Alexander Rossi.After Rossi was involved in contact with teammate Marco Andretti at the start of Sunday's race and ultimately went one lap down to the field, Rossi was able to fight his way back to the lead lap and got to as high as fifth place before he ran out of fuel on the final lap and finished seventh. Dixon's second-place finish combined with Rossi's seventh-place gave Dixon a 57-point margin the final championship standings.RaceDay's Bruce Martin caught up with Dixon to talk about his latest championship and how it adds to his legendary status as well as other topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report."

"Today's Honda IndyCar Report celebrates Honda's 2018 INDYCAR Manufacturer's Championship. This year, Honda power has been the choice of race winners and champions as Honda clinched the 2018 INDYCAR Manufacturer's Cup Championship with two races remaining in the season. Their lead in the constructor's title was so large, Honda clinched the title, simply by having its cars start the August 25 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park. Once again, all of us at RACEDAY want to congratulate Honda and its teams for winning the 2018 INDYCAR Manfacturer's Championship."Our next guest is the man behind that effort. It's Honda Performance Development President Art St. Cyr. He leads the HPD and its various racing programs."RACEDAY's Bruce Martin caught up with St. Cyr before the September 2 Grand Prix of Portland to talk about those topics on today's Honda IndyCar Report.