Indycar at Mid-Ohio – Honda Indy 200

February 26, 2022/Jonathan Rundle/0 Comments

With the 2022 Indycar season kicking off this weekend, let’s revisit 2021’s Honda 200 – Indycar at Mid-Ohio.

A fine weekend for Indycar here in central Ohio. The general admission seating is plentiful all weekend long, with good hills surrounding all the good turns on the course. If you’re looking for starting line and finish line seating (yes, they are different lines here) you’ll have to point up a little extra for bleacher seats.

It’s a packed agenda full of four-wheeled action. Let’s talk about the different races that make up the race weekend.

Mid-Ohio Panorama

Stadium Super Trucks

I first encountered this racing series at the Grand Prix of Portland last year. Founded by Indycar and NASCAR racer Robbie Gordon, these powerful trucks trade paint and fly off ramps that are set up around the course.

Before they hit the track, we walked over to their area of the paddocks. Get up close and personal with the trucks here and you can even poke your head in and take a look. If you’re up to it, maybe even strike up a conversation with the racers.

Stadium Super Truck Mid-OhioStadium Super Truck Interior Mid-OhioStadium Super Truck Interior Mid-Ohio

During the race, I continue to be amazed at the delight I feel when watching these trucks hit the jump. The racing is really tight as the trucks clash on the course in between the various ramps set up on the straights.

Stadium Super Trucks at Mid-OhioStadium Super Trucks Gif

Exploring the Paddock and Pits

With a paddock pass (which is an extra charge when you purchase your ticket), you can walk pretty freely around the garages and trailers for the various racing teams.

Indycar Paddock at Mid-OhioIndycar Suspension

Not all teams take a spot in the garage buildings. Some spread out in the paddock parking area, like the Rahal-Letterman team seen below.

Indycar maintenance

Graham Rahal chats with friends and family on Saturday afternoon.

Graham Rahal

The Felix Rosenqvist team has a little fun with their communications antenna topper.

Rubber chicken head on Felix Rosenqvist's Indycar antennaIndycar in the paddockIndycar Paddock Mid-Ohio

The paddocks offer a great view of the pits, too. While we didn’t have pit passes (an additional charge), we could see the crews working to get the cars ready to race when walking on the paddock’s elevated walkway.

The Indycar pits

As you can see, the second level of the paddock offers a really great view of the pits.

Pit Road Mid-Ohio

A sharp eye will spot drivers and car owners roaming around. Here we see famed team owner Chip Ganassi talking with his driver Marcus Ericsson.

Chip Ganassi Mid-Ohio

Driver James Hinchcliffe scoots with his wife scoot from the pits to the paddock. I was able to catch James outside of his trailer for an autograph that I sent to my nephew who is crazy about Indycar.

Most of the Indycar drivers seemed very open to signing autographs as they walked around.

James Hinchcliffe Mid-Ohio

Here’s Felix Rosenqvist, 2019’s Indycar Rookie of the Year, who strolls the pits with his girlfriend.

Felix Rosenqvist Mid-Ohio

A crew member hitches a ride on the race car as he gets towed back to the paddock.

Pit Road Mid-Ohio

Indylights and USF2000

Not without mention are the Indylights and USF2000 series races. These open-wheel cars look a lot like the main series, but are smaller and feature engines with less power. Nonetheless, compelling and entertaining racing happens all day.

Indycar USF2000 pit laneIndycar USF2000 at Mid-Ohio

The Main Event: Indycar at Mid-Ohio

Race day in Central Ohio! It’s the Fourth of July here at the track, so we get a nice flyover…

USAF flyover at Mid-Ohio

…and some festive costumery.

Man wearing an Uncle Sam hat meant for a little girl

The green flag drops and Indycar at Mid-Ohio has begun.

Green flag at Mid-Ohio

This view from the grandstands affords a view of the starting line and turns one and two, where we witnessed this early spin by Will Power.

Will Power spins at Mid-OhioWill Power Crash at Mid-Ohio

The rest of the race, I walked around the circuit and snapped some photos of the action.

Josef Newgarden's Indycar at Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseJimmie Johnson Indycar at Mid-OhioAndretti Autosport 28 DHL Indycar at Mid-Ohio Sportscar CourseIndycar at Mid-Ohio

The winner, Josef Newgarden, crosses the line. He led 73 of 80 laps. Congrats Josef on your decisive win and eventual championship.

Josef Newgarden's Indycar taking checkered flag at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Experience Indycar at Mid-Ohio

Mid-Ohio provides an excellent fan experience with plenty of room to roam to find your perfect vantage point. On race day, it was very easy to get in and even to get out from one of the deepest areas of the infield.

Best experienced with a tailgate, the infield parking pass is the way to go so you can walk back to your car and eat some pepperoni rolls, drink a beer and wait for the next round of racing. As evidenced by this photo of my dad during the annual Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days.

Dad with pepperoni roll at mid-ohio

Check out all the latest dates for racing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course website.

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