First Impressions: Gateway 2017

1. Josef Newgarden grabbed the championship by the scruff of the neck tonight. He took hold of the race after Will Power spun on the first green flag lap of the night. He would relinquish the lead to Hélio Castroneves but a stall by the Brazilian allowed Newgarden to regain the advantage. Then he lost the lead on the final pit stop to Simon Pagenaud. He didn't settle for second. He didn't settle for being second in another Penske 1-2. He threw it up the inside of Pagenaud into turn one, made contact with the Frenchman and he made the one lead change that was worth a damn well worth it. He isn't scared. No first year jitters, no easing his way into the fray. Newgarden is taking the crown at Team Penske.

2. Scott Dixon didn't give up tonight and he kept himself in the right position throughout the race. He couldn't keep up with the Penske drivers at the start but he stayed in their tracks. He was in the right position and made up a position, passing Castroneves on the final round of pit stops and he was able to keep the Brazilian behind him and he was able to slide underneath Pagenaud as the Frenchman walked up the race track after Newgarden took the lead. Dixon held on and on a night where he thought he had no shot at victory he finished a just as improbable second. He kept his title hopes alive and the final two races, Watkins Glen and Sonoma, are right in his wheelhouse.

3. Simon Pagenaud is upset and it is understandable. There is something about being bumped out of the way. All control is taken away from you and Pagenaud was just along for the ride trying to keep the car out of the wall after Newgarden went by. But I feel if roles were reversed, Pagenaud would have done nothing different from the move Newgarden made. It is frustrating but Pagenaud is still alive. He leaves St. Louis with another top five.

4. Hélio Castroneves could have had more. He took the lead and it appeared the second half of the race would be his. Then he stalled on exit of his penultimate pit stop and from there on he didn't have a shot at the victory. He is upset. He still has a shot at the championship but he could have swung momentum back into his favor heading to Watkins Glen. Unfortunately, the pendulum has swung away from Castroneves.

5. Conor Daly had his best career race in IndyCar. I know he has finished second before but a fifth place finish tonight after starting 11th and having to battle the likes of Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Carlos Muñoz, Charlie Kimball and Alexander Rossi is a top-notch drive. He might have secured himself a seat with A.J. Foyt Racing for 2018 with this drive tonight. He is coming on strong at the right time.

6. Alexander Rossi ran in the top ten all day and he finished sixth. He didn't really have what it took to break up the Penske drivers but he was running in fifth and sixth most of the race. This is another solid finish for Rossi. I can't believe Michael Andretti would let him walk, especially considering he could finish as the top Andretti Autosport driver in the championship.

7. Charlie Kimball had a slightly dirty night. Passing was difficult enough entering this race and Kimball didn't make it any easier with his borderline blocking. Kimball doesn't back down but he walks a tightrope and he has had one too many close calls.

8. James Hinchcliffe had a solid night and finished eight. There really isn't much more to say than that. He didn't put a wheel wrong.

9. Carlos Muñoz finished ninth and gave A.J. Foyt Racing its first double top ten finish since the second Belle Isle race in 2015. Muñoz looked strong at the start but fell back after the first stint. I thought he could have challenged for a top five tonight. Ninth is really good and like Daly I think Muñoz should be back next year with A.J. Foyt Racing.

10. Sébastien Bourdais finished tenth in his IndyCar return. He led a few laps during a pit cycle. He kept his nose clean and he completed all 248 laps. I am not sure he could have wanted more out of this race especially after being out of a car for three months. It is a great showing and I think he will only be stronger at Watkins Glen and Sonoma.

11. Sebastián Saavedra benefitted from attrition and finished 11th. He didn't put a wheel wrong. He looked good in his four starts this season. He probably didn't change anybody's opinion about him overall but he did well.

12. Graham Rahal left his pit stall with the fuel hose still connected and it cost him a shot at a top five finish and he had to settle for 12th. It probably also killed his championship hopes. He trails Newgarden by 111 points with two races to go. He could win out and even that probably won't be enough to win the title. It has still been a good season.

13. Ed Jones completed all 248 laps and finished 13th and he is the 2017 IndyCar Rookie of the Year. Congratulations!

14. Marco Andretti couldn't get off the bottom and finished 14th

15. Quickly through the field: Ryan Hunter-Reay's brief brush with the wall killed his top ten finish streak. Tony Kanaan is angry. Max Chilton and J.R. Hildebrand both got caught out by turn four. Takuma Sato, Ed Carpenter and Will Power all want that initial start back. Power is 83 points behind Newgarden. He isn't out of it but he has to win at Watkins Glen just to give himself a shot at a Hail Mary.

16. I was really nervous at the start of this race. Not for driver safety after seeing Carpenter leapfrog over Power's car but because the first 20 laps were run under caution and the first incident came before the green flag was even waved. First impressions are important and with the second-best oval crowd of the season at a track IndyCar had not visited in 14 years I thought IndyCar was ruining its chance of long-term success in the St. Louis spotlight and before the first pit stops most people would decide not to return next year.

The racing wasn't great. It was Phoenix-ish but slightly better. Newgarden's lunge into turn one for the lead might have saved the night. I am disappointed IndyCar didn't try something different. After all, this is the one and only time these aero kits would be used at Gateway. I wished after the test the series would have decided to try the low downforce package in hopes of preventing drivers from being flat out all the way around the track. The aero kit will be different next year but IndyCar has to realize next year has to be exponentially greater than the race we just saw tonight.

I hope most people had a good time and I hope they are willing to come back for year two. Gateway Motorsports Park and the Bommarito Automotive Group did an amazing job. Both parties wanted an IndyCar race in the St. Louis-area and they have shown us what is possible when you really want something to succeed.

17. On to Watkins Glen and the good news is it appears at least four drivers will be battling for the championship regardless of what happens next week. Newgarden leads Dixon by 31 points, Castroneves by 42 points and Pagenaud by 43 points. It isn't over yet and I am going to bed. Good night.