Formula 1

The best tweets as IndyCar drivers feud over iRacing debacle

by Jack Benyon
4 min read

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IndyCar’s iRacing Challenge race at Indianapolis produced the most controversial of endings. As well as four drivers being taken out of the lead in the closing laps, incidents marred the race and drivers were quick to sound off online.

After 175 gruelling laps, Scott McLaughlin took victory after five drivers led between Turn 3 and the finish line on the last lap.

With a myriad of controversy, The Race has collated some of the online stories that followed the dramatic encounter below.

Norris and Pagenaud

Simon Pagenaud felt McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris caused his exit from the lead battle with an aggressive move at Turn 2, which forced Graham Rahal up the track into Pagenaud.

Pagenaud then said “we take out Lando, let’s do it”. After coming off Turn 4 slowly a lap later and catching out Norris, Pagenaud added: “Oh, I was pitting, I didn’t mean to do… I didn’t mean to crash him.”

Norris discussed the incident in the lobby of another game after the race on his Twitch.

Norris had spoken to Pagenaud earlier, without hearing Pagenaud’s above quotes about taking him out, and said that the latter had been “salty”. To those comments, IndyCar frontrunner Alexander Rossi just replied “stop”.

Askew, Ferrucci and…Zak Brown!

Askew – much-loved in the IndyCar paddock already, documented by helping his Arrow McLaren SP crew break down the pits when the St Petersburg race was cancelled – looked set for a maiden IndyCar win before he was taken out in the run to the finish line by Santino Ferrucci.

In his typical polite and well-presented manner, Askew responded after the race referencing the glass of milk usually given to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 at the finish.

The Race’s own Scott Mitchell reacted to Ferrucci’s behaviour, and in reply McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown chimed into the debate.

On the Pagenaud/Norris incident, Brown added: “Not what you expect of a champion.”

Coanda Simsports racer and Dreyer & Reinbold IndyCar driver Sage Karam shared a video replying to someone who had zoomed in, appearing to show Ferrucci turning down into Askew on purpose.

Rahal on charity and his race

Rahal didn’t mention Norris or Pagenaud in his post-race debrief, but gave a short evaluation of proceedings. He also confirmed – which will sadly be lost in all of this – that he and his team raised almost $20,000 for US veterans, something that Rahal was supposed to on track for real but his sponsor United Rentals supported throughout the iRacing series too.

Ericsson and O’Ward

At Turn 3 on the last lap ex-Sauber F1 driver-turned Chip Ganassi Racing pilot Marcus Ericsson dived to the inside of Patricio O’Ward to take the lead. One corner later O’Ward nudged Ericsson’s right rear and took him out. The pair sounded off on Twitter.

Will Power sums up the day

Power was banned from the chat in an earlier race for calling backmarkers wankers, and had multiple clashes in the Indianapolis race. He gave what some may interpret as a sarcastic ending to his short summary of the series.

Did you see another Tweet or social media post you responded to following the race? Reply in the comments below or send us a tweet, @wearetherace.

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