Beginning on pole has confirmed to be a great omen for Kyle Kirkwood on the streets of Lengthy Seaside.
Kirkwood led a race-high 46 laps and stored defending champion Alex Palou in his rearview mirror to win for the second time within the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside. It’s the Floridian’s third-career victory and second from pole within the iconic avenue race.
The end result ended a 23-race winless streak for Kirkwood, who gained twice within the 2023 season with Andretti International after debuting with AJ Foyt Racing in 2022, however failed to succeed in victory lane in 2024. It elevated the 26-year-old to second within the standings.
“What an excellent day,” Kirkwood stated. “We managed the race. Even from follow we felt we have been in management. Actually good qualifying. Superb race. Superb technique.
“It was simply execution all throughout the board. (That)’s what gained us that race right here at the moment. As a result of if Palou was in entrance, he would have beat us for certain. This was a monitor place race right here at the moment, with none cautions.
How the Lengthy Seaside GP unfolded…
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
Palou entered Sunday’s race undefeated on the 12 months and did every part in his energy to maintain the streak alive. The Spaniard snuck by Colton Herta from third within the opening pit sequence and closed as much as Kirkwood’s rear wing on lap 65 after pitting one lap earlier on an undercut technique. However Kirkwood averted any points on chilly tires and pulled away by 2.6859 seconds over the ultimate stint, forcing Palou to accept second at race’s finish.
“He didn’t make it simple on us,” Kirkwood joked.
With passing a problem and monitor place at a premium on the tight California avenue circuit, the majority of Sunday’s operating order got here all the way down to tire technique and timing of pit stops. Nearly all of the sphere began on the softer alternate tire, hoping to pit rapidly after passing the necessary two laps for a stint on every compound. Solely six drivers elected to start out on major tires, stopping for alternates in a brief center stint.
Key amongst these on the alternate technique was Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, who rallied from twelfth after crashing in qualifying to snag the ultimate spot on the rostrum. The Dane stayed out till the tip of lap 27 on his opening stint, made it to the tip of lap 39 on his softs and bought on technique with the opposite contenders with a remaining cease on lap 60. He chased down Felix Rosenqvist over the ultimate stint and used a deep lunge to sneak previous the Swede for the ultimate podium place with 5 laps remaining.
Rosenqvist held on for fourth, with Will Energy rising from thirteenth to salvage a top-five in fifth. Scott McLaughlin, Colton Herta, Scott Dixon, Sting Ray Robb and Kyffin Simpson capped off the top-10.
There have been no cautions on the day and all vehicles reached the checkered flag. The one main subject got here for Josef Newgarden, who suffered the identical seat belt subject — 3 times — that in the end relegated him to final in twenty seventh.
Subsequent up for the IndyCar area is a visit to Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park on Might 4, with the Month of Might at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to comply with.
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