Kimball ties career-best finish of second at Pocono Raceway

LONG POND, Pa. – Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing (NNCGR) driver Charlie Kimball finished second in Round 11 of the IZOD IndyCar Series in the Pocono INDYCAR 400 at Pocono Raceway. The podium finish comes in Kimball’s 42nd career IZOD IndyCar Series start, tying his career-best finish of second in the Honda Indy Toronto on the Streets of Toronto in 2012.

Race winner Scott Dixon, second place Charlie Kimball, third place Dario Franchitti with Chip Ganassi

Photo by: Chris Jones

For the first time since 1989, open wheel cars lined up on the Pocono Raceway grid, with Kimball starting from the outside of row 4 in 12th position for a three-wide rolling start.

As the field picked up speed for the first lap of the 160-lap race, the track immediately fell under caution for an accident in Turn 1. Coming out of the caution, the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car showed strength early on and battled past cars in the top-10, where it would remain for the entire 160-lap race. On lap 34, Kimball led his first of four laps throughout the race before making his first pit stop. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team made quick pit stops throughout the race, represented by Kimball’s first stop which kept the No. 83 in the top-10 exiting pit lane.

On lap 50, Kimball reported the NovoLog FlexPen car was experiencing slight understeer in Turn 1 of the 2.5-mile tri-oval. As the track fell under its second caution shortly after, pit lane opened, and the No. 83 team took advantage of the break to pit for fresh tires, fuel and a tire-pressure adjustment.

The No. 83 steadily moved up the grid and led three additional laps which marked the second time Kimball has led laps on an oval and the fourth-time he has led laps in his IZOD IndyCar Series career (Indianapolis 500 - 2012, Grand Prix of Alabama - 2013, Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit - 2013).

The NovoLog FlexPen Honda made its fourth and final pit stop from first with 24 laps remaining for tires and fuel. Following this stop, Kimball exited pit lane in second position alongside Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Dixon, in first, and Franchitti, in third. Kimball and his teammates held position for the final 27 laps until eventually crossing the finish line for a Chip Ganassi Racing one-two-three finish, tying career-best finish of second at Toronto in 2012 and mark his career-best finish on an oval.

With the result in Round 11, Kimball moved from being tied for 13th to 12th in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings with 234 markers, -122 points behind leader Helio Castroneves.

Honda is second in the manufacturer point standings with 78 points, trailing Chevrolet with 87.

Chip Ganassi Racing