NASCAR Bell Wins at COTA, Formula 1 Testing Continues, IndyCar 2025 Lineup Takes Shape

Yesterday in Auto Racing: NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1 Highlights

NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of The Americas (COTA)

Christopher Bell secured his second consecutive victory in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at COTA, showcasing his road course prowess. Bell held off a hard-charging William Byron in the closing laps, with Tyler Reddick rounding out the podium. Kyle Busch led a race-high 42 laps but faded to fifth in the final stages[1][5].

Chase Elliott made an impressive comeback after a first-lap incident with Ross Chastain, climbing through the field to finish fourth[1][5].

The race featured a new shortened layout at COTA, creating faster and more aggressive racing conditions. This change forced drivers and teams to adapt quickly, particularly in tire management and braking zones[1].

In qualifying, Tyler Reddick secured the pole position with a time of 98.076 seconds, narrowly beating out Bubba Wallace. This marked the first front-row qualifying sweep for 23XI Racing[2].

IndyCar

While no IndyCar race took place yesterday, preparations are underway for the upcoming season. The 2025 IndyCar lineup is taking shape, with several key driver announcements:

- Arrow McLaren confirmed Christian Lundgaard, Pato O'Ward, and Nolan Siegel as full-time drivers, with Kyle Larson joining for the Indianapolis 500[8].
- Andretti Global announced Marcus Ericsson, Colton Herta, and Kyle Kirkwood as their full-season drivers, with Marco Andretti set to compete at the Indy 500[8].

The 2025 season will feature the "Year of the 3," with Josef Newgarden aiming for a historic third consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory and Alex Palou pursuing a rare three-peat as series champion[8].

Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing

Formula 1 teams continued their pre-season testing at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain. Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:29.348, narrowly edging out Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari[3].

The day saw 18 cars hit the track, with only Max Verstappen and Alex Albon sitting out. Mercedes showed promising pace, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli finishing fourth and fifth respectively[3].

Notable performances included:
1. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 1:29.348
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 1:29.379
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:29.431
4. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:29.778
5. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:29.784[3]

Looking Ahead

NASCAR heads to Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children's 500. Christopher Bell will look to continue his hot streak, while Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano aim to make their mark on the one-mile oval[1].

In Formula 1, teams have just one more day of pre-season testing before the 2025 season opener. All eyes will be on the final day's performances as teams make their last adjustments before the first race.

IndyCar fans are eagerly anticipating the season opener on March 2 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where the battle for supremacy in the "Year of the 3" will begin[8].