The 2020 Genesys 300 was an IndyCar Series event that was held on June 6, 2020 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. It was the opening event of the 2020 IndyCar Series, due to race cancellations and postponements tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States 2020 Genesys 300
Race details
1 round of the 2020 IndyCar Series season
DateJune 6, 2020
Official nameGenesys 300
LocationTexas Motor Speedway
CourseOval
1.5 mi / 2.4 km
Distance200 laps
300 mi / 482.803 km
Pole position
DriverJosef Newgarden (Team Penske)
Time24.0227 + 24.0351 = 48.0578
Fastest lap
DriverFelix Rosenqvist (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Time24.1088 (on lap 189 of 200)
Podium
FirstScott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing)
SecondSimon Pagenaud (Team Penske)
ThirdJosef Newgarden (Team Penske)

Background

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On May 7, 2020, it was announced that the season would commence with a condensed, one-day event format at Texas Motor Speedway. Although intended to be run without spectators, Sonic Automotive (which owns the circuit under their Speedway Motorsports subsidiary) followed protocol in use at their NASCAR weekend at Charlotte by allowing owners and tenants of the Turn 2 Lone Star Towers office and condominium complex to have tickets and parking passes to watch the event from their units. Drivers and crew members were subject to social distancing and health screening protocols, and use of face coverings was mandated. Practice, qualifying and the race took place on the same day,[1] requiring it to be shortened from 248 laps or around 600 kilometres (370 miles), to 200 laps (300 miles).[2]

As the pandemic prevented Firestone from manufacturing new tire compounds for the race, existing compounds were used instead. The right-hand tires had originally been manufactured for tests at the track in 2019, simulating the effects of the new aeroscreen introduced to all vehicles for the 2020 season. The left-hand tires were originally manufactured for the 2019 Indianapolis 500. Due to these tire variances, Firestone and IndyCar required that these tires be replaced after 35 laps of use, with each car provided with nine sets of tires to use across the day.[3][4]

Entry list

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In May 2020, DragonSpeed revealed that it planned to prioritize an entry for the rescheduled Indianapolis 500, so that it could initially focus on its core European Le Mans Series operations.[5] On June 2, Carlin withdrew its entry for the race in the #31, citing economic impacts of the pandemic in Europe.[6]

Car No. Driver Name Owner/Team Engine
1   Josef Newgarden  W  Team Penske Chevrolet
4   Charlie Kimball A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
5   Patricio O'Ward Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet
7   Oliver Askew  R  Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet
8   Marcus Ericsson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
9   Scott Dixon  W  Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
10   Felix Rosenqvist Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
12   Will Power  W  Team Penske Chevrolet
14   Tony Kanaan  W  A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
15   Graham Rahal  W  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
18   Santino Ferrucci Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda
20   Ed Carpenter  W  Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
21   Rinus VeeKay  R  Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
22   Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Chevrolet
26   Zach Veach Andretti Autosport Honda
27   Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda
28   Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Honda
29   James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport Honda
30   Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
55   Álex Palou  R  Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh Honda
59   Conor Daly Carlin Chevrolet
60   Jack Harvey Meyer Shank Racing Honda
88   Colton Herta Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport Honda
98   Marco Andretti Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco Andretti & Curb-Agajanian Honda
Source:[7]

All cars ran a Dallara safety tub utilizing the IndyCar mandated Universal Aero Kit 18. All cars also utilized Firestone tires.

Withdrawn

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Car No. Driver Name Owner/Team Engine
31 Unnamed Carlin Chevrolet
81 Ben Hanley DragonSpeed Chevrolet
Key Meaning
R Rookie
W Past winner

Full Results

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Key Meaning
R Rookie
W Past winner

Practice

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Practice ran on race day from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT

Pos No. Name Lap Time Avg. Speed
1 9   Scott Dixon  W  24.0006 215.995 mph (347.610 km/h)
2 88   Colton Herta 24.1689 214.491 mph (345.190 km/h)
3 5   Patricio O'Ward 24.1875 214.326 mph (344.924 km/h)
4 26   Zach Veach 24.1906 214.298 mph (344.879 km/h)
5 98   Marco Andretti 24.1945 214.264 mph (344.824 km/h)
6 30   Takuma Sato 24.2437 213.826 mph (344.120 km/h)
7 1   Josef Newgarden 24.3029 213.308 mph (343.286 km/h)
8 22   Simon Pagenaud 24.3128 213.221 mph (343.146 km/h)
9 15   Graham Rahal 24.3179 213.176 mph (343.074 km/h)
10 10   Felix Rosenqvist 24.3974 212.482 mph (341.957 km/h)
11 4   Charlie Kimball 24.4184 212.299 mph (341.662 km/h)
12 12   Will Power 24.4281 212.215 mph (341.527 km/h)
13 8   Marcus Ericsson 24.4408 212.104 mph (341.348 km/h)
14 55   Alex Palou  R  24.4446 212.071 mph (341.295 km/h)
15 7   Oliver Askew  R  24.4842 211.728 mph (340.743 km/h)
16 27   Alexander Rossi 24.4853 211.719 mph (340.729 km/h)
17 29   James Hinchcliffe 24.4979 211.610 mph (340.553 km/h)
18 20   Ed Carpenter 24.5508 211.154 mph (339.819 km/h)
19 14   Tony Kanaan 24.5521 211.143 mph (339.802 km/h)
20 59   Conor Daly 24.5561 211.108 mph (339.745 km/h)
21 28   Ryan Hunter-Reay 24.6094 210.617 mph (338.955 km/h)
22 18   Santino Ferrucci 24.6094 210.617 mph (338.955 km/h)
23 21   Rinus VeeKay  R  25.0564 209.893 mph (337.790 km/h)
24 60   Jack Harvey 25.2599 205.226 mph (330.279 km/h)
Source:[8]

Qualifying

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Qualifying was run on race day starting at 5 p.m. (ET)

Pos No. Name Lap 1 Time Lap 2 Time Total Time Avg. Speed
1 1   Josef Newgarden 24.0227 24.0351 48.0578 215.740 mph (347.200 km/h)
2 9   Scott Dixon 24.0393 24.0413 48.0806 215.638 mph (347.036 km/h)
3 22   Simon Pagenaud 24.0507 24.0686 48.1193 215.464 mph (346.756 km/h)
4 28   Ryan Hunter-Reay 24.2439 24.1344 48.3783 214.311 mph (344.900 km/h)
5 26   Zach Veach 24.2942 24.1588 48.4530 213.981 mph (344.369 km/h)
6 12   Will Power 24.2708 24.1937 48.4645 213.930 mph (344.287 km/h)
7 15   Graham Rahal 24.2734 24.2029 48.4763 213.878 mph (344.203 km/h)
8 27   Alexander Rossi 24.2336 24.2855 48.5191 213.689 mph (343.899 km/h)
9 10   Felix Rosenqvist 24.3100 24.2384 48.5484 213.560 mph (343.692 km/h)
10 14   Tony Kanaan 24.3959 24.1917 48.5876 213.388 mph (343.415 km/h)
11 98   Marco Andretti 24.2882 24.3444 48.6326 213.190 mph (343.096 km/h)
12 4   Charlie Kimball 24.4347 24.2917 48.7264 212.780 mph (342.436 km/h)
13 20   Ed Carpenter 24.4153 24.3261 48.7414 212.714 mph (342.330 km/h)
14 88   Colton Herta 24.3807 24.3648 48.7455 212.697 mph (342.303 km/h)
15 29   James Hinchcliffe 24.3560 24.4109 48.7669 212.603 mph (342.151 km/h)
16 55   Álex Palou 24.5459 24.2437 48.7896 212.504 mph (341.992 km/h)
17 8   Marcus Ericsson 24.4232 24.4733 48.8965 212.040 mph (341.245 km/h)
18 5   Patricio O'Ward 24.4068 24.4959 48.9027 212.013 mph (341.202 km/h)
19 59   Conor Daly 24.5452 24.4934 49.0386 211.425 mph (340.256 km/h)
20 7   Oliver Askew 24.7092 24.4657 49.1749 210.839 mph (339.312 km/h)
21 60   Jack Harvey 25.2665 25.1499 50.4164 205.647 mph (330.957 km/h)
22 30   Takuma Sato Wrecked during attempt No Time No Speed
23 21   Rinus VeeKay Did not attempt No Time No Speed
24 18   Santino Ferrucci Did not attempt No Time No Speed
Source:[9]

Race

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Pos No. Driver Team Engine Laps Time/Status Pit
Stops
Grid Laps
Led
Pts.1
1 9   Scott Dixon  W  Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 200 1:38:37.7648 5 2 157 53
2 22   Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Chevrolet 200 +4.410 5 3 40
3 1   Josef Newgarden  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 200 +5.806 5 1 41 37
4 26   Zach Veach Andretti Autosport Honda 200 +6.577 5 5 2 33
5 20   Ed Carpenter  W  Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 200 +6.948 5 13 30
6 59   Conor Daly Carlin Chevrolet 200 +7.576 5 19 28
7 88   Colton Herta Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport Honda 200 +8.055 5 14 26
8 28   Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Honda 200 +8.310 6 4 24
9 7   Oliver Askew  R  Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet 200 +8.694 5 20 22
10 14   Tony Kanaan  W  A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 200 +8.963 5 10 20
11 4   Charlie Kimball A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 199 Contact 6 12 19
12 5   Patricio O'Ward Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet 199 +1 Lap 5 18 18
13 12   Will Power  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 199 +1 Lap 5 6 17
14 98   Marco Andretti Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco Andretti & Curb-Agajanian Honda 199 +1 Lap 5 11 16
15 27   Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda 199 +1 Lap 7 8 15
16 60   Jack Harvey Meyer Shank Racing Honda 199 +1 Lap 5 21 14
17 15   Graham Rahal  W  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 198 +2 Laps 7 7 13
18 29   James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport Honda 198 +2 Laps 5 15 12
19 8   Marcus Ericsson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 196 +4 Laps 6 17 11
20 10   Felix Rosenqvist Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 190 Contact 5 9 10
21 18   Santino Ferrucci Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser-Sullivan Honda 156 Mechanical 4 23 9
22 21   Rinus VeeKay  R  Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 36 Contact 1 24 8
23 55   Álex Palou  R  Dale Coyne Racing w/ Team Goh Honda 36 Contact 1 16 7
DNS 30   Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 0 Did Not Start,
Qualifying crash
0 22 6
Source:[10]

Notes: 1 Points include 1 point for leading at least 1 lap during a race, an additional 2 points for leading the most race laps, and 1 point for Pole Position.

Race statistics

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Average speed: 175.201 mph (281.959 km/h)

Lead changes: 5

Lap leader breakdown
From
lap
To
lap
Total
laps
Driver
1 31 31 Josef Newgarden
32 34 3 Scott Dixon
35 36 2 Zach Veach
37 80 44 Scott Dixon
81 90 10 Josef Newgarden
91 200 110 Scott Dixon
Source:[11]
Cautions: 4 for 24 laps
From
lap
To
lap
Total
laps
Reason
38 45 8 #21 (VeeKay), & #55 (Palou) accident backstretch
77 85 9 Debris
191 196 6 #10 (Rosenqvist) accident turn 2
200 200 1 #4 (Kimball) accident backstretch
Source:[12]

Championship standings after the race

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  • Note: Only the top five positions are included.

Broadcasting

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Television

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Originally scheduled for NBCSN, it was announced on May 24 that the race would move to NBC, marking the first IndyCar Series event to air in primetime on network television in seven years.[14] With 1.285 million viewers, it was the most-watched IndyCar Series event outside of the Indianapolis 500 since 2016.[15]

The race was called at the track with Leigh Diffey doing play-by-play, Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell as analysts, and Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reporting on pit lane.[16]

NBC
Booth Announcers Pit/garage reporters

Announcer: Leigh Diffey
Driver Expert: Townsend Bell
Driver Expert: Paul Tracy

Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio

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The race was carried by the IndyCar Radio Network. Mark Jaynes served as the chief announcer from WIBC Radio studios along with Davey Hamilton as Driver Expert. Jake Query called the field down the backstretch from WIBC studios. Nick Yeoman was the sole pit reporter at the track.[17]

IndyCar Radio Network
Booth Announcers Turn Reporters Pit/garage reporters

Chief Announcer: Mark Jaynes
Driver Expert: Davey Hamilton

Backstretch: Jake Query
Nick Yeoman

References

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  1. ^ Ryan, Nate (May 7, 2020). "IndyCar will open 2020 season at Texas without fans in one-day event". Motorsports on NBC. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "NTT IndyCar Series Season Kicks Off June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway". IndyCar Series. May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Barnes, Joey (2020-06-03). "Firestone-Mandated Tire Restrictions Add Wrinkle to NTT IndyCar Series Opener at Texas". Autoweek. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  4. ^ "Tire stint limit implemented for IndyCar's Texas return". RACER. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  5. ^ "DragonSpeed reveals revised plans for IndyCar, IMSA, ELMS". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  6. ^ "Carlin's No. 31 Chevy parked for Texas opener". RACER. 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  7. ^ @TXMotorSpeedway (3 June 2020). "Y'all, we have an entry list for Saturday's #Genesys300!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Results".
  9. ^ "Results".
  10. ^ "Results".
  11. ^ "Race Results".
  12. ^ "Race Results".
  13. ^ "Home". indycar.com.
  14. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-05-24). "NTT Indycar Series Genesys 300 Races To NBC Primetime". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  15. ^ Brown, Nathan. "NBC delivers IndyCar's most-watched non-Indy 500 race since 2016 in Saturday's season-opener". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  16. ^ "Texas IndyCar opener shifts to NBC". RACER. 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  17. ^ Source: IndyCar Radio Broadcast


Previous race:
None, season premiere
IndyCar Series
2020 season
Next race:
2020 IndyCar Grand Prix
Previous race:
2019 DXC Technology 600
Genesys 300 Next race:
2021 Genesys 300