Arrow McLaren rookie Nolan Siegel put collectively his greatest race within the IndyCar Sequence so far final Saturday night time.
Within the shadow of The Gateway Arch, the proficient 19-year-old California native climbed from twentieth on the beginning grid to complete seventh — a career-best end result, and his first-ever top-10 in IndyCar. Even nonetheless, Siegel couldn’t assist however lament a expensive pit highway penalty that saved him from battling for a attainable podium.
“It was my greatest end result within the NTT IndyCar Sequence to this point with a top-10. The automotive was superior all day, however sadly, I made a mistake dashing on pit lane and that price us a podium — or much more. I am a bit disillusioned, but it surely’s good to be disillusioned with a seventh-place end result.”
The end result got here in simply Siegel’s eighth begin ever (six with Arrow McLaren), however his first with Brian Campe calling technique. (Robert Gue beforehand held the position, however left the group final week to discover different choices.) Campe joined after serving because the technical director of Hendrick Motorsports, having additionally referred to as technique for Kyle Larson’s maiden Indianapolis 500 again in Might. He brings a stacked resumé that features a position as race engineer for Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2015 Indianapolis 500 victory and as chief engineer on Josef Newgarden’s first IndyCar title in 2017.
Siegel was the lone vibrant spot on a troublesome night time for Arrow McLaren: a mechanical concern took out a robust run for Pato O’Ward after 42 laps, and Alexander Rossi was concerned within the carnage that broke out on a controversial restart with 9 laps to go.
Workforce Principal Gavin Ward stated: “Felt like we had three vehicles able to ending within the high 5 in the present day, but it surely did not go our means.”
