INDYCAR Writers Roundtable, Volume 33: Who Wins in Laguna?

Today’s question: What was your biggest pick-up from the Portland GP, and who will win the Firestone Grand Prix in Monterey this Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca?

Curt Cavin: I will start by reminding everyone that Alex Palou won in Portland, while Zach and PK’s selections – Marcus Ericsson and Colton Herta – finished seventh and eighth. As for the takeaway, I’m still surprised at how early warnings affect the finish of these INDYCAR races. The top three investors – Palou, Alexander Rossi and Scott Dixon – used early caution in the well, which rewarded them later in the race. As for the choice of this week, it is the Lord. He hasn’t had many glimpses this season, but Laguna Seca is his best song. In 2019, he won his first INDYCAR start there, leading 83 of the 90 laps of the pole. We look forward to a similar performance this weekend.

Zach Horrall: Thanks for this reminder, Curt … I take comfort in leading my INDYCAR Fantasy Challenge League this weekend. But anyway, my biggest shot was how much the championship image can change in one race. I didn’t imagine a 35-point swing in the league table when Alex Palou moved from -10 to +25. But I think that’s what happens when Palou wins and Pato O’Ward finishes in 14th place. My mind, for its part, has thought that this championship is open, and I wonder if Palou has turned around and made this competition second? And because … hell, I have no reason to believe that Palou can’t win again in the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca race, even though all he’s done there is a test. He had never competed in Portland, but was the fastest in practice, winning the pole and the race. I believe in speed and I believe Palou has it.

Paul Kelly: So just shut up in horseshoes, Curt? In your case, even blind squirrels sometimes find nuts. Ha! My biggest takeaway from Portland and my Laguna Seca forecast are related. I was very impressed with the fight that Josef Newgarden staged in Portland, which won a poor qualifying session and started 18th in the rally to finish fifth and keep his hopes for the third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship alive. Newgarden could be the best “Cana, shoulda” driver of the season 2021 because he could have won in Detroit and Road America and made four wins at the moment. I also noticed I believe his voice in a post-race interview in Portland, convinced that he is still in this fight. For all of these reasons, I see Joe New and Team Penske winning in Laguna and tightening competition for the Long Beach final.