After a long break post-Road America, the IndyCar Series is back in Mansfield as the series makes its annual visit to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
After a dominant win at Road America, Josef Newgarden sits third in the championship standings. Three points in front of him lies Will Power, who won at Detroit earlier in June. However, the majority of the pressure may lie on Indianapolis 500 winner and championship leader Marcus Ericsson. Ericsson enters Mid-Ohio with a 27-point lead in the standings over Will Power after the Swede notched a second-place finish last time out at Road America.
Newgarden, the only driver on the grid to have multiple race wins in 2022, won this race one year ago for the second time in his career. After his win at Road America, the 31-year-old had this to say: “We just need to keep on a good track here till the finish. (I) feel very positive about our group. I mean, we don’t have anything negative going on.”
Despite Newgarden’s recent success, it is six-time champion Scott Dixon who is the king of Mid-Ohio. The Kiwi has racked up six wins over the years on the 2.25-mile road course. Simply put, it is up to him to turn his season around this weekend.
Thunder Valley. The Keyhole. The Esses.
You won't want to miss all the action at @Mid_Ohio this weekend.
Full weekend details: https://t.co/34Zngfl7NF#INDYCAR // #Honda200 pic.twitter.com/z31s7vnovQ
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) June 28, 2022
The Circuit
Opened in 1962, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, located just outside of Mansfield, Ohio in the small town of Lexington was originally a 2.5-mile circuit. In 1990, it was renovated and turned into a 13-turn, 2.258-mile circuit. Turn 2, known as “The Keyhole” is a looping hairpin that will surely feature some lunges down the inside come race day. After that comes a long straight which feeds down into Mid-Ohio’s take on “The Esses” where drivers will have to weave their way down to “Thunder Valley”. To finish off the lap, drivers rumble through the treacherous “Carousel” that is turn 12, which feeds into a short pit straight.
Championship Standings
As always, the battle at the front remains tight going into Mid-Ohio. Marcus Ericsson currently sits in the lead, but there are four drivers within 50 points of the Chip Ganassi driver, including the aforementioned Power and Newgarden, along with Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou.
- Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing – 293 points
- Will Power, Team Penske – 266 points
- Josef Newgarden, Team Penske – 261 points
- Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP – 248 points
- Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing – 246 points
Race Predictions – Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Every year, tracks like Mid-Ohio can easily create chaos, and I see no reason why this year should be any different. That being said, I do think Josef Newgarden continues his hot streak, however, he will not stand on the top step. He will come in second to Scott Dixon, who has had a combination of bad luck and lack of pace so far in 2022 but has won six different times at Mid-Ohio, something that will certainly serve to his advantage. Coming in third will be Romain Grosjean, who has at times underperformed for Andretti Autosport this year.
- Scott Dixon
- Josef Newgarden
- Romain Grosjean
How to Watch (All Times in EST)
- Practice 1: Friday, 7/1 – 3:30 P.M. on Peacock
- Practice 2: Saturday, 7/2 – 9:30 A.M. on Peacock
- Qualifying: Saturday, 7/2 – 2:45 P.M. on Peacock
- Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio: 12:30 P.M. on NBC (Green flag at 12:53)
All IndyCar and Indy Lights sessions are broadcasted on the radio through the IMS Radio Network, which airs on Sirius XM and the IndyCar mobile app, along with FM and AM affiliates nationwide.
For the 2022 season, all IndyCar and Indy Lights sessions will be streamed worldwide through IndyCar Live. For a full list of international availability, click here.
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