IndyCar’s racing quality “under-credited” – Newgarden · RaceFans

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IndyCar’s racing quality “under-credited” – Newgarden

Multiple IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden says the quality of competition in the series is underestimated in motorsport.

Ahead of Saturday night’s race at Gateway, the top seven drivers in the series were separated by just 59 points with three rounds remaining. Newgarden says the level of competition in IndyCar is something to be celebrated.

“I think it’s the best championship in the world, bar none,” Newsgarden said. “There is nothing else that comes close to it.

“I think in some ways it’s under-credited. You look at IndyCar, you can be with any team and have a shot at winning a race when you show up every single weekend. That’s not just a marketing line; it’s a reality. So as much as I love motorsports – this is not to try and build us up or tear others down – it’s just the best championship you will find on the planet with the top-line drivers of the world.”

First year with Alfa Romeo has been “good fun” says Bottas

Valtteri Bottas says he has enjoyed his first season with Alfa Romeo so far after joining the team from Mercedes at the end of last year.

Bottas lost his seat at Mercedes after five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton before being replaced by George Russell. Bottas has scored 46 points so far in 2022 and sits ninth in the drivers’ championship.

“I think it’s been good,” said Bottas. “I can’t even remember all the season, all the details – it’s hard to compare because everything is quite different this year, but I’m happy with my performances.

“There’s always room for improvement and I always try to be better. But it’s been good fun and I feel like I’ve been driving well.”

MotoGP to introduce sprint races in 2023

MotoGP – the world championship of motorcycle circuit racing – has confirmed that sprint races will be introduced to the series at every grand prix weekend beginning from next season.

A sprint race will be held every Saturday afternoon following qualifying and will be run between 50 and 75 kilometres depending on the circuit – half the distance of a MotoGP grand prix. The grid for the sprint race will be set by qualifying, while the results of the sprint race will not be used to set the grand prix grid, which will also be determined by the traditional qualifying system.

The…