Strong Run Puts Toby Sowery 13th in NTT INDYCAR SERIES Debut at Mid-Ohio
Lexington, OH (Sunday, July 7, 2024) – Dale Coyne Racing’s Toby Sowery made an impression in his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut moving up from his 24th place on the starting grid to finish 13th thanks to a strong performance aboard his No. 51 Global Karting League / Vuzix Honda. His teammate Jack Harvey, who has been suffering from neck and shoulder pain all weekend, also put in a strong performance but a stall in pit lane set him back to finish 26th.
Toby Sowery, #51 Global Karting League / Vuzix, Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
Started: 24th
Finished: 13th
• Sowery who was making his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend, moved up three positions at the start of the race.
• He maintained his 21st place in the opening laps and then steadily moved up the field.
• The rookie made his first stop for fuel and a set of alternate Firestone tires from 13th on Lap 25.
• He continued to run competitively keeping drivers such as Romain Grosjean and Josef Newgarden behind him.
• He once again entered pit lane on Lap 53 for fuel and another set of the alternate Firestone tires.
• With cars on different strategies, he exited the pits in 21st place and made his way back up the field.
• He took over 13th one last time on Lap 77 and maintained his position while closing in on the car ahead of him to take the checkered flag in that position.
• Sowery finished the race with the most on track passes of any driver in the field with 10.
Post Race Quote
“I’m super happy with that race. Obviously going into it, we didn’t really know what to expect. It was a bit unfortunate with qualifying yesterday. It’s a completely new chapter and a new learning experience for me, so to come away with 13th and fighting the big teams on merit not a lucky situation or on strategy, just pure pace and good calls from the team, I’m super happy. I’m also pretty tired, it was a challenge mentally and physically. I want to thank Dale Coyne, Chariots, Global Karting League, Vuzix and everyone that has come on board. Everyone has put in their efforts, I wouldn’t be here without them and it’s a group effort that got us here.”
Jack Harvey, #18 INVST, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Started: 26th
Finished: 26th
• Harvey who was suffering from neck and shoulder pain all weekend gained a couple of positions at the start.
• He was running 18th by Lap 13 and had moved into 14th before making his first pit stop on Lap 26.
• Unfortunately for Harvey, he stalled upon exiting his pit box and that sent him back to 26th in the field.
• Harvey continued to push through the pain and registered competitive race laps, but the time lost on his first stop ultimately cost him in the end and he took the checkered flag in 26th place.
Post Race Quote
“I’ve never driven with that level of pain before. I’ve had food poisoning and I’ve been able to drive no problem, but this was a whole different thing. I was really concerned before the race that I wasn’t going to be able to finish it. I’ve been having some upper back and neck spasms. INDYCAR Medical have been brilliant today in trying to help me through it, through a variety of different procedures. About 20 laps into the race, I was just gassed. We need to check what happened with the stall, cause the warmup wasn’t good either, in the race we stalled on the first stop and the getaway on the second stop wasn’t good so there’s something we need to look at there. At the end of the race, I couldn’t push any harder than I physically was able to and haven’t been in that situation before so that was a shame.”
Next up: The Hy-Vee Homefront 250 at Iowa Speedway July 13, 2024.
