Conway takes third on Race 2 in Detroit

London, UK – Mike Conway takes his second podium of the weekend in the second race of the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans. He is the only driver to finish both races this weekend on the podium.

Driving the No. 18 Sonny’s BBQ car for Dale Coyne Racing, Conway kept his head during the multiple cautioned race today. On the first lap, which quickly became yellow, he slipped back to second but re-gained on the restart and the following four after that.

Race winner Simon Pagenaud, third place Mike Conway

Photo by: Art Fleischmann

He lost the lead under the fifth yellow (lap 28) due to a routine pit stop but soon took it back again on lap 40. However as his red tires started losing grip, he lost positions and switched back to black on his final stop.

He began battling his way back to the front almost immediately, passing two cars in one turn and with five laps to go, fought hard with Jakes for second place but just came up short.

Conway not only led the most laps today, 31, but also the fastest lap of the race, 77.4371 seconds, which was faster than his pole winning lap yesterday.

Talking about his strategy after the last pit stop, Conway said, “I pushed really hard at the beginning and that may have taken a little bit out of the tires but they still felt pretty good towards the end.

I was catching James Jakes and could see he was on reds, so he started to pull away initially when he first left the pits. I thought his tires would wear out towards the end, and they did, so I used my overtake, the only one I had left but maybe a lap to early. I couldn't quite get close enough."

He then went on to say about the physicality of the track, “It was tough. You're pushing maximum effort all the time. Especially on the restarts. You have no time to relax. But you know, I feel good. Adrenaline is pumping. But I'm sure I'll be shattered tonight."

Despite not having a consistent ride this year in the IZOD IndyCar Series, Conway has shown he’s a threat on road/street courses. In race one yesterday, Conway again started on the front row, but dominated the race and took the checkered flag almost 13 seconds ahead of second place Hunter-Reay.

He now has two podiums in three starts this year and a pole position. In 56 previous IndyCar starts, Conway has 15 top-10 finishes including five top-five’s, four podiums and two wins.

Conway will be back in Europe for the World Endurance Championships, with the next round being the 24 Heures Du Mans on 22th June.

Mike Conway