That’s as well as at least a dozen other genuine contenders, including (deep breath, and apologies to anyone we don’t name…) all three Team Penske pilots, the rest of CGR’s four-car roster, every driver in an Arrow McLaren entry, the always-quick-at-Indy (as in, both the road course and the oval) ECR machines, and Grosjean’s AA teammates, Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta.

45 entry, Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Callum Ilott, and even Chip Ganassi Racing’s road course rookie, Marcus Armstrong, to be in the thick of it on Saturday. He already owns a pole and two second-place finishes in just four Ind圜ar starts on the track, but look out, too, for the likes of Lundgaard in Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s No. Watch out for Andretti Autosport’s Grosjean this weekend. Which is maybe why guys like Romain Grosjean and Christian Lundgaard can be so competitive, so quickly, on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn layout. The remainder of the circuit is within the infield, and because it was first conceived to host Formula 1, the smooth surface, wide racing line, and even the curbing give it something of a ‘European’ feel. The IMS road course includes portions of Turns 1 and 2 and the front straight of the oval, but running in reverse. Kicking off the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the GMR Grand Prix, the NTT Ind圜ar Series puts on a Saturday afternoon shootout on the road course, before switching to oval mode and two weeks of buildup to the 107th Indianapolis 500.

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Ind.

What: GMR Grand Prix / Race 5 of the 2023 NTT Ind圜ar Series

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