‘It doesn’t get better than INDYCAR’: Fans fired up after Mid-Ohio
JUL 30, 2018
Fans and analysts alike were ecstatic after Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, the Verizon IndyCar Series race that featured 114 position passes and zero full-course cautions. Highlights included Scott Dixon and Alexander Rossi battling wheel-to-wheel with championship ramifications and Sebastien Bourdais passing 20 cars without being passed throughout the 90-lap race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Check out some of the many, many responses to the action on social media.
"But @BourdaisOnTrack says, 'I'm coming through anyway.'"
— IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) July 29, 2018
📺 CNBC (NBCSN encore, 6:30 p.m.)
📈 https://t.co/SAdeSxSfa7
📲 Verizon INDYCAR Mobile
📻 Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network#INDYCAR // #Honda200 // @Mid_Ohio pic.twitter.com/Q3IC96ncdW
Cracking @IndyCar race last night. Miles better than F1 and full of racing like this! 👍 @BourdaisOnTrack he passes when he wants! https://t.co/zThHTU2Xll
— Tom Banks (@banksyt87) July 30, 2018
Oh, there was also that ice-cold move by Josef Newgarden that had fans fired up.
That @josefnewgarden move 👀
— IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) July 29, 2018
📺 CNBC (NBCSN encore, 6:30 p.m.)
📈 https://t.co/SAdeSxSfa7
📲 Verizon INDYCAR Mobile
📻 Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network#INDYCAR // #Honda200 // @Mid_Ohio pic.twitter.com/YMm5mE5kXS
To top it off, there was reaction to Rossi’s hilarious and futile attempt at celebratory doughnuts on the narrow road course.
.@AlexanderRossi: Really good at racing.
— IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) July 29, 2018
Also @AlexanderRossi: Maybe not so great at donuts.#INDYCAR // #Honda200 // @Mid_Ohio pic.twitter.com/GxiSSZvNfj
In short, the Verizon IndyCar Series put on a great show. Esteemed British racing analyst Tiff Needell said it just doesn’t get better than our race at Mid-Ohio.
“The way I see it,” Needell tweeted, “is that if motor racing is going to keep attracting fans and TV viewers, it has to be entertaining racing and right now it doesn't get better than @IndyCar! Proper tracks, wheel to wheel battles and on-board shots that just make you want to climb in the cockpit.”
Don’t just listen to all of us @indycar who are biased, take it from a pro like @tiff_tv! Indycar is the best racing going right now, it’s just that simple. https://t.co/e5rv1oRBdG
— Graham Rahal (@GrahamRahal) July 29, 2018
Longtime motorsports journalist Robin Miller wrote Monday on RACER.com that it was Mid-Ohio’s time to shine:
“Whatever was in the water Sunday afternoon at Mid-Ohio, it was contagious. Not only was it one of the best Indy car shows ever staged at this ol’ girl in the middle of Ohio, it was one of the most competitive road races you will ever see.
“Yeah, yeah, I know there was no dramatic finish because Rossi won by 12 seconds, but in terms of pure, unadulterated, wheel-to-wheel warfare on an undulating, worn surface that opened in 1962 for little sports cars, this was as good as it gets.”
Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network turn announcer Nick Yeoman said it was the best race he’s seen at Mid-Ohio.
Caution free race and the leader won by nearly 13 seconds but I’m telling you...that was the greatest @Indycar race at @MidOhio I’ve ever seen. There was side by side racing and insane battle ALL DAY LONG. Left me out of breath in turn 4.
— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) July 29, 2018
Ryan Eversley, a driver in the Pirelli World Challenge, asked his sports car followers if they were watching.
They were.
Was there in person (I've most years since '07) and it was the biggest crowd I've ever seen. @Mid_Ohio fans are awesome! pic.twitter.com/Kh3jdh5zh1
— Cameron Taylor (@CameronTaylorOH) July 30, 2018
@IndyCar is putting on a damn good show. I wish they had a race in the Northeast!
— DerrickF (@DerrickF3) July 29, 2018
Good crowd indeed. #IndyCar #Honda200 pic.twitter.com/arfSlwPZk9
— Peter Leung (@BaronVonClutch) July 29, 2018
Fans across the board echoed those sentiments.
@IndyCar put a great race on today at Mid Ohio. 1 of the best races I've ever seen there. Congratulations to @AlexanderRossi for a great drive, the celebration not so much & to @BourdaisOnTrack for an amazing drive thru the field. That race had everything other than a safety car
— Joey (@JoLeKo011) July 30, 2018
Best. Racing. In. The. World @IndyCar #HondaIndy200 and its not that close
— Miko Reb (@mrebz126) July 29, 2018
Quality racing. A few tweeks to the Superspeedway package and you'll have the perfect aerokit.
— Andy #BringBackGroundEffect (@Tigerkart) July 29, 2018
This sport is in safe hands with quality drivers like Wickens, Rossi and Newgarden definitely being the future.
(As you say, the future starts now!)
.@Mid_Ohio + @IndyCar never disappoint! Incredible racing! #Honda200 pic.twitter.com/FOTFfVPtlb
— Steve Hoagland (@steve_hoagland) July 29, 2018
Sunday boiled down to one word: impressive.
Just one word. Impressive.
— Swapnil Datta (@Swapnil_98_) July 29, 2018
The Verizon IndyCar Series action continues at the “Tricky Triangle,” the uniquely shaped Pocono Raceway that hosts the ABC Supply 500 on Aug. 19. See it in person by visiting PoconoRaceway.com for tickets or watch live on NBCSN at 1:30 p.m. ET.