This Week in Racing

April 13, 2026

The Big Story

Palou's Indy Road Course Reign Continues! Alex Palou's mastery of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course shows no signs of waning. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver secured pole position for the Indy GP, continuing his dominant form at the circuit. While Palou has a strong track record in IndyCar, his command on this particular layout is truly remarkable. The Spaniard seems to have found the perfect setup and rhythm, making him the clear favorite heading into the race. Can anyone challenge Palou's dominance this weekend? The other drivers will be closely analyzing his telemetry and pushing their cars to the absolute limit to try and find a way to beat the reigning champion.

Around the Track

* Cindric Sets the Pace at the Glen: Austin Cindric topped the charts in a weather-affected NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Watkins Glen. While practice speeds can be misleading, Cindric's performance indicates that the Penske Ford team has a solid baseline setup for the challenging road course. He'll be hoping to convert that speed into a strong qualifying run and a good result in the race. Road course racing is a specialty within NASCAR, and Cindric will be relying on his skills to navigate the twists and turns.

* Larson Remains Unfazed by Win Drought: Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, isn't letting his current winless streak weigh him down. Despite the pressure from fans and media, Larson seems relaxed and focused on the bigger picture. He knows that consistency is key in a championship-winning season, and he's confident that the wins will eventually come. With his immense talent and determination, it’s hard to imagine Larson staying out of victory lane for too long.

* Preece Surprised by Texas Penalty: Ryan Preece expressed his surprise at the penalty he received for his on-track incident with Ty Gibbs at Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR officials deemed that Preece was at fault, resulting in a fine and points deduction. This kind of in-race incident and subsequent penalty is common in the world of stock car racing, and the line between aggressive racing and overly aggressive conduct is sometimes blurry.

* BMW Celebrates First WEC Hypercar Victory at Spa: In a thrilling and incident-filled race at Spa-Francorchamps, BMW secured its maiden victory in the World Endurance Championship's Hypercar class. A well-executed strategy and flawless driving by the BMW team ensured a spot on the top step of the podium. The win marks a significant milestone for the German manufacturer, proving their commitment to the WEC program.

Worth Watching

Formula 1 Academy champion Doriane Pin has recently stated that her F1 dream is now a tangible goal after testing with Mercedes. This is an important step for Pin as the next level of equipment is used, including things like a fire resistant Nomex Balaclava (~$25). It's great to see young talent making progress in the sport and pushing the boundaries for future generations. This trend highlights the growing emphasis on developing young female drivers and providing them with the opportunities to reach the highest levels of motorsport. Could we see Pin on the F1 grid in the coming years? Only time will tell, but her recent test is a significant step in the right direction.

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