Race Report: 2021 GMR Grand Prix

2021 GMR Grand Prix logo

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
May 15, 2021

Use the tabs or menu above to view session results, schedule, entrant facts, weather forecast, track facts and history.

Race Top Five

RankDriverCar No.Laps LedPoints
1Rinus VeeKay213351
2Romain Grosjean514444
3Alex Palou10136
4Josef Newgarden2-32
5Graham Rahal15-30

Post-Race

Event SummaryView PDF
Lap ChartView PDF
Leader Lap SummaryView PDF
Pit Stop SummaryView PDF
Top Section TimesView PDF
Section ResultsView PDF

Sessions

Results

Race

RankDriverCar No.StartLapsTotal TimeLaps LedStatusPointsAvg. SpeedPit Stops
1Rinus VeeKay2178501:47:08.577333Running51116.0963
2Romain Grosjean5118501:47:13.528344Running44116.0073
3Alex Palou1048501:47:23.64991Running36115.8253
4Josef Newgarden228501:47:27.0245-Running32115.7643
5Graham Rahal15118501:47:35.5586-Running30115.6114
6Simon Pagenaud22108501:47:36.4477-Running28115.5953
7Alexander Rossi27148501:47:41.8476-Running26115.4993
8Scott McLaughlin358501:47:44.7635-Running24115.4463
9Scott Dixon9168501:47:45.41353Running23115.4354
10Marcus Ericsson8158501:47:45.7744-Running20115.4283
11Will Power12128501:47:48.3793-Running19115.3823
12Ryan Hunter-Reay28198501:47:48.96654Running19115.3713
13Colton Herta2688501:47:51.6920-Running17115.3233
14Ed Jones1898501:47:52.3883-Running16115.3103
15Pato O'Ward5188501:47:53.1221-Running15115.2974
16Takuma Sato30178501:47:53.5744-Running14115.2893
17Felix Rosenqvist7138501:47:53.9981-Running13115.2823
18James Hinchcliffe29228501:48:13.7762-Running12114.9313
19Sebastien Bourdais14208401:47:15.8714-Running11114.6004
20Dalton Kellett4248401:47:26.5605-Running10114.4103
21Juan Pablo Montoya86258401:47:28.9822-Running9114.3673
22Charlie Kimball11218401:47:32.7868-Running8114.3003
23Jack Harvey6038401:48:14.2524-Running7113.5705
24Jimmie Johnson48238401:48:18.7043-Running6113.4923
25Conor Daly2065001:29:28.3244-Contact581.7803
— Race: Results (PDF) | Back to the session list

Session Notes:

  • All cars but those of Romain Grosjean, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin, Conor Daly, Ed Jones and Ryan Hunter-Reay started on Firestone Firehawk primary tires.
  • Prior to the start of the race, the ambient temperature was 72 degrees under cloudy skies. The track temperature was 104 degrees according to Firestone engineers.
  • While Grosjean led the field to the green, several cars went wide including Conor Daly in the No. 20 Chevrolet, who stalled and brought out the race's first and only full-course caution.
  • Grosjean led a field high 44 laps before giving way to Rinus VeeKay, who went on to lead 33 laps including the final one.
  • VeeKay's win marked his first NTT IndyCar Series victory. His first podium finish and NTT P1 Award were also at the IMS road course, in October 2020.
  • VeeKay became the sixth-youngest winner in Indy car history at 20 years, 8 months and 3 days old.
  • The last win for Ed Carpenter Racing was on July 10, 2016 when Josef Newgarden won at Iowa Speedway.
  • Through five races this season, there have been three first-time IndyCar race winners: Palou, Pato O'Ward and VeeKay. The last time there were three or more first-time winners was 2013, when James Hinchcliffe, Mike Conway, Takuma Sato and Charlie Kimball all earned their first series victories.
  • The series will begin practicing for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Tuesday, May 18.

Warm-Up

RankDriverCar No.Best TimeOn LapBest SpeedTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Rinus VeeKay2101:10.559814124.43921--.------.----
2Alex Palou1001:10.59248124.382190.03260.0326
3Scott Dixon901:10.661713124.260150.10190.0693
4Josef Newgarden201:10.827711123.968130.26790.1660
5Ed Jones1801:10.873520123.888200.31370.0458
6Ryan Hunter-Reay2801:10.89947123.843150.33960.0259
7Simon Pagenaud2201:11.018922123.635220.45910.1195
8Conor Daly2001:11.03506123.607210.47520.0161
9Jack Harvey6001:11.06237123.559170.50250.0273
10Graham Rahal1501:11.189216123.339190.62940.1269
11Alexander Rossi2701:11.21078123.302170.65090.0215
12Takuma Sato3001:11.316316123.119180.75650.1056
13James Hinchcliffe2901:11.412016122.954190.85220.0957
14Will Power1201:11.419710122.941220.85990.0077
15Marcus Ericsson801:11.424410122.933200.86460.0047
16Scott McLaughlin301:11.430019122.923220.87020.0056
17Pato O'Ward501:11.52676122.757220.96690.0967
18Colton Herta2601:11.59986122.632161.04000.0731
19Felix Rosenqvist701:11.668619122.514191.10880.0688
20Romain Grosjean5101:11.74658122.381201.18670.0779
21Sebastien Bourdais1401:11.76988122.341171.21000.0233
22Dalton Kellett401:12.071817121.829201.51200.3020
23Juan Pablo Montoya8601:12.190917121.628171.63110.1191
24Charlie Kimball1101:12.41866121.245221.85880.2277
25Jimmie Johnson4801:12.56228121.005192.00240.1436
— Warm-up: Results | Back to the session list

Session Notes:

  • Morning warm-up began under mostly cloudy skies and an ambient temperature of 69 degrees. According to Firestone engineers, the track temperature was 79 degrees.
  • No major incidents occurred during the session, allowing it to run its entire 30-minute duration under green-flag conditions.
  • While just over 0.3 seconds separated the top five, the field of 25 drivers covered 2.0024 seconds on the timesheet with Jimmie Johnson bringing up the rear in the No. 48 Honda.
  • Next up for the NTT IndyCar Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the 85-lap race, set to go green Saturday, May 15 at 2:45 p.m. EDT with live coverage on NBC.

Qualifying

Firestone Fast Six
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Romain Grosjean5101:09.4396126.44723--.------.----
2Josef Newgarden201:09.5665126.216230.12690.1269
3Jack Harvey6001:09.6528126.060220.21320.0863
4Alex Palou1001:09.7118125.953230.27220.0590
5Scott McLaughlin301:09.7140125.949220.27440.0022
6Conor Daly2001:09.8662125.675220.42660.1522
— Firestone Fast Six: Results (PDF) | Overall Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Session Notes:

  • The six minutes of the Firestone Fast Six were completed without incident.
  • At the conclusion of the session, Romain Grosjean's 1:09.4396 earned the former Formula One driver his first NTT IndyCar Series pole. Dale Coyne Racing's last pole came in 2018 with driver Sebastien Bourdais.
  • Behind Grosjean, Josef Newgarden, Jack Harvey, Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin and Conor Daly will start in positions two through six.
  • Daly made his first appearance in the Firestone Fast Six.

Round 2
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Alex Palou1001:09.4743126.38356--.------.----
2Jack Harvey6001:09.5189126.302550.04460.0446
3Romain Grosjean5101:09.5476126.250560.07330.0287
4Conor Daly2001:09.5627126.223350.08840.0151
5Scott McLaughlin301:09.7727125.843560.29840.2100
6Josef Newgarden201:09.7837125.823560.30940.0110
7Rinus VeeKay2101:09.8185125.760550.34420.0348
8Colton Herta2601:09.8222125.754550.34790.0037
9Ed Jones1801:09.8548125.695440.38050.0326
10Simon Pagenaud2201:09.8722125.664460.39790.0174
11Graham Rahal1501:09.9060125.603550.43170.0338
12Will Power12No Time0.000010.00000.0000
— Round 2: Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Session Notes:

  • Round 2 began with an ambient temperature of 70 degrees and partly cloudy skies. The track temperature was 109.0 degrees according to Firestone engineers.
  • Three minutes into the 10-minute session, Will Power caused a red flag when his car stopped off course near Turn 13. He was penalized his two fastest laps and the ability to advance to Round 3.
  • Alex Palou, Jack Harvey, Romain Grosjean, Conor Daly, Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden advanced to the Firestone Fast Six.

Round 2 Group 2
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Josef Newgarden201:09.6101126.13767--.------.----
2Alex Palou1001:09.6589126.049670.04880.0488
3Scott McLaughlin301:09.7537125.877670.14360.0948
4Conor Daly2001:09.7646125.858670.15450.0109
5Romain Grosjean5101:09.8556125.694560.24550.0910
6Will Power1201:09.8963125.620670.28620.0407
7Alexander Rossi2701:09.9012125.612770.29110.0049
8Scott Dixon901:09.9512125.522770.34110.0500
9Pato O'Ward501:10.0726125.304660.46250.1214
10Sebastien Bourdais1401:10.1830125.107670.57290.1104
11James Hinchcliffe2901:10.6174124.338561.00730.4344
12Dalton Kellett401:10.9312123.788671.32110.3138
13Juan Pablo Montoya8601:11.1370123.429261.52690.2058
— Round 1 Group 2: Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Session Notes:

  • Group 2's 10 minutes ran without incident.
  • Juan Pablo Montoya was assessed a penalty for qualifying interference, robbing him of his two fastest laps and his ability to advance to Round 2. He ended Group 2 with the 13th fastest lap.
  • Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin, Conor Daly, Romain Grosjean and Will Power advanced to Round 2.

Round 1 Group 1
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Rinus VeeKay2101:09.4890126.35766--.------.----
2Colton Herta2601:09.5867126.179660.09770.0977
3Ed Jones1801:09.7152125.947660.22620.1285
4Jack Harvey6001:09.7589125.868560.26990.0437
5Graham Rahal1501:09.7918125.808660.30280.0329
6Simon Pagenaud2201:09.8061125.783660.31710.0143
7Felix Rosenqvist701:09.8243125.750560.33530.0182
8Marcus Ericsson801:09.8382125.725770.34920.0139
9Takuma Sato3001:09.8665125.674770.37750.0283
10Ryan Hunter-Reay2801:09.8759125.657770.38690.0094
11Charlie Kimball1101:10.6810124.226671.19200.8051
12Jimmie Johnson4801:11.0455123.588661.55650.3645
— Round 1 Group 1: Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Session Notes:

  • At the start of Round 1, the ambient temperature was 70 degrees with partly cloudy skies. The track temperature was 110.3 degrees according to Firestone engineers.
  • No red flags occurred during Group 1 qualifying and no penalties were issued.
  • Rinus VeeKay, Colton Herta, Ed Jones, Jack Harvey, Graham Rahal and Simon Pagenaud advanced to Round 2.

Practice 2

RankDriverCar No.Best TimeOn LapBest SpeedTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Josef Newgarden201:09.332318126.64220--.------.----
2Rinus VeeKay2101:09.402014126.515170.06970.0697
3Will Power1201:09.474720126.383210.14240.0727
4Colton Herta2601:09.499915126.337190.16760.0252
5Scott McLaughlin301:09.551418126.243180.21910.0515
6Jack Harvey6001:09.619013126.121170.28670.0676
7Romain Grosjean5101:09.621419126.116210.28910.0024
8Simon Pagenaud2201:09.737916125.906190.40560.1165
9Pato O'Ward501:09.739518125.903200.40720.0016
10Felix Rosenqvist701:09.774917125.839170.44260.0354
11Alexander Rossi2701:09.778718125.832180.44640.0038
12Ryan Hunter-Reay2801:09.784715125.821180.45240.0060
13Alex Palou1001:09.845917125.711220.51360.0612
14Ed Jones1801:09.906810125.602120.57450.0609
15Conor Daly2001:09.921815125.575190.58950.0150
16Graham Rahal1501:09.972321125.484210.64000.0505
17James Hinchcliffe2901:09.978914125.472180.64660.0066
18Marcus Ericsson801:09.987717125.456200.65540.0088
19Dalton Kellett401:10.118515125.222220.78620.1308
20Takuma Sato3001:10.135516125.192190.80320.0170
21Sebastien Bourdais1401:10.349719124.811201.01740.2142
22Charlie Kimball1101:10.683316124.222171.35100.3336
23Scott Dixon901:10.77709124.057111.44470.0937
24Jimmie Johnson4801:10.975213123.711161.64290.1982
25Juan Pablo Montoya8601:11.80818122.276142.47580.8329
— Practice 2: Results | Back to the session list

Session Notes:

  • At the start of the session, the ambient temperature was 68 degrees with partly cloudy skies. The track temperature was 108.9 degrees according to Firestone engineers.
  • Practice 2 ran for its entire 45-minute duration without any major incident and no need for a red-flag condition.
  • The fastest driver of the session was Josef Newgarden with a 1:09.3323. He will have the option of selecting if his group goes first or second in the first round of knockout qualifying.
  • Next up for the series in Indianapolis is qualifying including the Firestone Fast Six, set to begin at 4:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage on Peacock Premium.

Practice 1

RankDriverCar No.Best TimeOn LapBest SpeedTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Alexander Rossi2701:09.878411125.65312--.------.----
2Jack Harvey6001:09.964616125.498170.08620.0862
3Rinus VeeKay2101:10.06245125.323200.18400.0978
4Josef Newgarden201:10.06437125.319150.18590.0019
5Romain Grosjean5101:10.158717125.151170.28030.0944
6Colton Herta2601:10.225015125.032150.34660.0663
7Scott McLaughlin301:10.304620124.891210.42620.0796
8Ryan Hunter-Reay2801:10.435611124.659150.55720.1310
9Graham Rahal1501:10.474313124.590150.59590.0387
10Conor Daly2001:10.499710124.545140.62130.0254
11Simon Pagenaud2201:10.51025124.527140.63180.0105
12Ed Jones1801:10.55418124.449130.67570.0439
13Will Power1201:10.70458124.184130.82610.1504
14James Hinchcliffe2901:10.72589124.147140.84740.0213
15Marcus Ericsson801:10.72908124.141110.85060.0032
16Scott Dixon901:10.77266124.065130.89420.0436
17Takuma Sato3001:10.800916124.015160.92250.0283
18Pato O'Ward501:10.81318123.994110.93470.0122
19Dalton Kellett401:10.86425123.905180.98580.0511
20Felix Rosenqvist701:10.96556123.728141.08710.1013
21Juan Pablo Montoya8601:11.483313122.831131.60490.5178
22Jimmie Johnson4801:11.687122122.482221.80870.2038
23Charlie Kimball1101:12.20043121.61242.32200.5133
24Sebastien Bourdais1401:30.8667196.629320.988318.6663
— Practice 1: Results | Back to the session list

Session Notes:

  • Two cars on the entry list did not participate in the first practice session of the GMR Grand Prix race weekend:
    • Due to travel issues, Max Chilton is unavailable to race on Saturday prompting Carlin to withdraw the No. 59 Chevrolet from the event.
    • Alex Palou did not turn any laps in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda due to a team-reported water leak. The car was brought back to the paddock for repairs.
  • A short 45-minute session, Practice 1 was punctuated by a single red flag when Sebastien Bourdais' No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet stopped on track due to a crew-reported electronics issue. The red-flag condition paused action for four minutes and Bourdais was issued a five-minute time penalty for causing the stoppage.
  • A second five-minute time penalty was issued to Jimmie Johnson for completing a lap after the checkered flag. Johnson turned a session-high 22 laps in the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
  • At the conclusion of practice, Alexander Rossi's 1:09.8784 proved fastest while Bourdais, who only completed three laps, remained mired at the bottom of the timesheet.
  • While just less than 0.3 seconds separated the top five, the gap grew to 0.6213 seconds for the top 10 and 1.0871 seconds for the top 20.
  • Next up for the series in Indianapolis is Practice 2, set to go green at 1 p.m. EDT Friday with live coverage on Peacock Premium.

Green Flag2:45 p.m. EDT *
Drivers Start Your Engines2:39 p.m.
Race Broadcast2 p.m. on NBC
Qualifying4:30 p.m. Friday on Peacock Premium
Qualifying Broadcast6 p.m. Friday on NBCSN (same-day delay)
Practice Sessions9:30–10:15 a.m. Friday
1–1:45 p.m. Friday
10:45–11:15 a.m. Saturday (warm-up)
Full Weekend ScheduleView PDF
Live Timing and ScoringINDYCAR Race Control and INDYCAR Mobile app (iOS, Android).
Radio BroadcastINDYCAR Radio Network affiliates, SiriusXM 205, IndyCar.com and on the INDYCAR Mobile app (iOS, Android).
Video StreamingAll NTT IndyCar Series practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product.
* All times are in Eastern Daylight Time. View the green-flag time in all time zones.

Starting LineupView Table
Qualifications GroupsView PDF
Entry ListView Table
Spotter GuideView
Pit AssignmentsView PDF
Push-to-Pass Parameters200 seconds of total time, with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation.
Tires Available per EntrySix sets primary, four sets alternate (Note: An seventh set of primary tires is available to any car fielding a rookie driver.)

Starting Lineup

SPCar No.DriverEngineTire
151Romain Grosjean (R)HondaAlternate
22Josef NewgardenChevroletAlternate
360Jack HarveyHondaPrimary
410Alex PalouHondaAlternate
53Scott McLaughlin (R)ChevroletAlternate
620Conor DalyChevroletAlternate
721Rinus VeeKayChevroletPrimary
826Colton HertaHondaPrimary
918Ed JonesHondaAlternate
1022Simon PagenaudChevroletPrimary
1115Graham RahalHondaPrimary
1212Will PowerChevroletPrimary
137Felix RosenqvistChevroletPrimary
1427Alexander RossiHondaPrimary
158Marcus EricssonHondaPrimary
169Scott DixonHondaPrimary
1730Graham RahalHondaPrimary
185Pato O'WardChevroletPrimary
1928Ryan Hunter-ReayHondaAlternate
2014Sebastien BourdaisChevroletPrimary
2111Charlie KimballChevroletPrimary
2229James HinchcliffeHondaPrimary
2348Jimmie Johnson (R)HondaPrimary
244Dalton KellettChevroletPrimary
2586Juan Pablo MontoyaChevroletPrimary
(R) Rookie
— Starting Lineup: PDF

Entry List

Car No.DriverHometownSponsorTeamEngine
2Josef NewgardenNashville, Tennessee, USASnap-onTeam PenskeChevrolet
3Scott McLaughlin (R)Christchurch, New ZealandPPGTeam PenskeChevrolet
4Dalton KellettStouffville, CanadaK-Line InsulatorsAJ Foyt RacingChevrolet
5Pato O'WardMonterrey, MexicoArrow McLaren SPArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
7Felix RosenqvistVärnamo, SwedenArrow McLaren SPArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
8Marcus EricssonKumla, SwedenHuski ChocolateChip Ganassi RacingHonda
9Scott DixonAuckland, New ZealandPNC BankChip Ganassi RacingHonda
10Alex PalouBarcelona, SpainThe American LegionChip Ganassi RacingHonda
11Charlie KimballCamarillo, California, USATresibaAJ Foyt RacingChevrolet
12Will PowerToowoomba, AustraliaVerizon 5GTeam PenskeChevrolet
14Sebastien BourdaisLe Mans, FranceROKiTAJ Foyt RacingChevrolet
15Graham RahalNew Albany, Ohio, USAFifth Third BankRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
18Ed JonesDubai, United Arab EmiratesMOUSER MOLEXDale Coyne Racing with Vasser SullivanHonda
20Conor DalyNoblesville, Indiana, USAEd Carpenter RacingEd Carpenter RacingChevrolet
21Rinus VeeKayHoofddorp, NetherlandsSonax / AutogeekEd Carpenter RacingChevrolet
22Simon PagenaudMontmorillon, FranceMenardsTeam PenskeChevrolet
26Colton HertaValencia, California, USAGainbridgeAndretti AutosportHonda
27Alexander RossiNevada City, California, USANAPA Auto Parts / AutoNationAndretti AutosportHonda
28Ryan Hunter-ReayFort Lauderdale, Florida, USADHLAndretti AutosportHonda
29James HinchcliffeToronto, CanadaGenesysAndretti AutosportHonda
30Takuma SatoTokyo, JapanPanasonic / Shield CleansersRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
48Jimmie Johnson (R)El Cajon, California, USACarvanaChip Ganassi RacingHonda
51Romain Grosjean (R)Geneva, SwitzerlandNurtec ODTDale Coyne Racing with RWRHonda
60Jack HarveyBassingham, EnglandAutoNation / SiriusXMMeyer Shank RacingHonda
86Juan Pablo MontoyaBogota, ColombiaArrow McLaren SPArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
(R) — Denotes NTT IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year candidate
— Entry List: PDF

INDIANAPOLIS WEATHER

Track TypeRoad course
Length2.439 miles
Race Distance85 laps (207.3 miles)
Number of Turns14
DirectionClockwise
Track Map
2021 GMR Grand Prix track map
Credit: INDYCAR
Event Twitter Account & Hashtag@IMS , #INDYGP

Past Driver Performance IndexView PDF
Last Five Wins— 2020: Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
— 2019: Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske
— 2018: Will Power, Team Penske
— 2017: Will Power, Team Penske
— 2016: Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske
Last Five Poles— 2020: Will Power, Team Penske (1:10.1779)
— 2019: Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing (1:08.2785)
— 2018: Will Power, Team Penske (1:09.8182)
— 2017: Will Power, Team Penske (1:07.7044)
— 2016: Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske (1:08.6868)
Qualifying Lap Record1:07.7044 (Will Power of Team Penske on May 12, 2017)

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