Frontstretch Newsletter: Max Verstappen Going To The Rear For Sochi

Published: Fri, 09/24/21

Frontstretch Newsletter: Sept. 24, 2021
Volume: XV, Edition CLXXIII

What to Watch: Friday

- Camping World Truck Series teams are racing tonight at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Coverage of the Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts starts with NASCAR RaceDay - CWTS Edition at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Race coverage starts at 9 p.m.

- NTT IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams are practicing today in Long Beach, Calif. WeatherTech qualifying is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. tonight. That will be streamed at IMSA.com and NBC Sports' TrackPass.

FOLLOW THE FRONTSTRETCH THIS WEEKEND IN LONG BEACH THROUGH OUR COLLEAGUE:

Christopher DeHarde (@CdeHarde)

Also, don't forget to follow our Twitter page, @Frontstretch as well for updates from Las Vegas and Long Beach!!

TV Schedule: Here

Around the World in Motorsports: Sept. 23-24

- Mercedes-AMG's Valtteri Bottas was quickest in Free Practice No. 1 at Sochi Autodromo Friday with a lap at 138.545 mph. His lap was two-tenths of a second faster than teammate Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third quickest, then Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel.

- Free Practice No. 2 was more of the same as Bottas was fastest once again with a lap at 139.780 mph. Hamilton was four-hundredths of a second behind Bottas. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly was third quickest, then McLaren's Lando Norris and Alpine's Esteban Ocon.

The top guys didn't get out of the session without some troubles. Hamilton hit his front jackman in the pits, sending him flying. Thankfully, he dusted himself off and got back to work. Gasly ended his session early because he broke the front wing on his car.

There was also a red flag in the session when Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi spun exiting turn 8 and hit the barriers. The Alfa Romeo had rear end damage and a small piece of the front-facing Tec-Pro barrier was ripped open.

- Daniel Morad announced on his Instagram Thursday that Alegra Motorsports will be back on the grid at VIRginia International Raceway for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR. The team has effectively been parked since the Sahlen's Six Hours at the Glen in late June for reasons that have never been made public.

Today's Top News:

Max Verstappen Changes Engines, Drops to the Rear for Russian Grand Prix

Red Bull has been forced to change the power unit in Max Verstappen's No. 33 after Friday's on-track action at Sochi Autodrom. As a result, he'll join Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the back of the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix of Russia.

Photo is courtesy of Sam Bagnall of Getty Images.

Have news for Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com with a promising lead or tip.

Newsletter Exclusive:

Frontstretch Folio: South Point 400

by Phil Allaway

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series will make their third September visit to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Coverage of the South Point 400 will start with Countdown to Green at 6 p.m. on NBCSN. The green flag is scheduled to fly around 7:10 p.m. The event can also be heard on your local PRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90. Drivers will compete for 267 laps (400.5 miles) en route to the checkered flag.

Records and facts

Last year's South Point 400 started the Round of 12. Denny Hamlin dominated the race, leading 121 of 267 laps. However, Kurt Busch was in position to pounce late. Wood Brothers Racing's Matt DiBenedetto won the race off of pit road to take the lead.

On the restart, Kurt DiBenedetto for the lead. From there, he held on to win the South Point 400 for his first victory in his hometown. DiBenedetto finished a career-best second, followed by Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Alex Bowman.

Among active drivers, Brad Keselowski has the most victories with three. Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. each have two wins, while three others have one.

Jimmie Johnson has the most victories all-time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with four, including three in a row from 2005-2007. His most recent win there was in 2010. Keselowski and Matt Kenseth both have three wins at Las Vegas, while Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Harvick, Logano and Truex each have two..

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 1.5-mile tri-oval, 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Banking: 24 degrees

Frontstretch: 2,275 ft, banked 9 degrees

Backstretch: 1,572 ft., banked 5 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 81.000
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 55 mph
Opened: 1996

Website: http://www.lvms.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LVMotorSpeedway

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LVMotorSpeedway

Say What!

"We haven’t had the best results at Las Vegas. The good thing is I feel like we have been fast out there at times. That’s the frustrating thing. Terrible results. I feel like every time I leave out there I’m mad and ready to go home, but I’m looking forward to this trip. Vegas is a place that I don’t have any ill will toward and again, I feel like we have had pace there. We have just really struggled to get the results. Hopefully, this time is a little different. It would be nice to get a win out there. That would be even better." - Chase Elliott

"Advancing to the Round of 12 was exactly what we needed to do going into the Bristol race. It is obvious we struggled in the first two races in the playoffs, but we went into Bristol with a strategy and Greg (Ives) and the team did a great job with adjustments throughout the race. We fought hard and coming out with a fifth-place finish was big for this Ally team. We want to take Ally as far as we can in these playoffs and putting races together like last weekend will do just that for us.

"Going to Vegas this weekend is a good track for the 48 team. We have seen success there in the past and earlier this season we had a top-10, if not a top-five run going before we had a tire go down. Our mile and a half program is strong and this Ally team has been working hard on our Chevrolets. This round of the playoffs has a lot of good tracks for us, so we are looking to have strong runs the next three weeks." - Alex Bowman

"Vegas has been a decent track for us the past few trips, and one we know we can build off with our success there and at other similar tracks. We’re putting our best foot forward these last group of races and hope to come away with a solid finish in the Guaranteed Rate Ford Sunday." - Ryan Newman

"Heading into Vegas this weekend with some high hopes. I turn 30 on Saturday, so my friends at Built Bar did a special scheme that makes me look like I’m turning 80. We broke a gear running 16th the first race here, so hopefully we can back that up and have an even better run this time. This track changes drastically from the start of the race in the direct sunlight, to the end of the race when it finishes under the lights. We’ve got some good notes that we’ll apply from previous races & stay on top of the changes to our Built Bar Camaro all night." - Corey LaJoie

Phil Allaway is the Frontstretch newsletter manager. He can be reached at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Photo is courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography.

Today at Frontstretch:

Friday Faceoff: Would a Move to Streaming Benefit NASCAR?

by the Frontstretch Staff

4 Burning Questions: Rookie Report Card

by Michael Finley

Fire on Fridays: NASCAR Tires ‘Cutting’ Fantastic Finishes Short

by Michael Massie

Stock Car Scoop: Round of 12 Preview

by Adam Cheek and Bryan Nolen

Monday at Frontstretch.com:

We'll have recaps and breakdowns of all the action from Las Vegas and Long Beach.

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