Top Gun Racing

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Top Gun Racing
Owner(s)
BaseBrownsburg, Indiana, United States
SeriesIndyCar Series
Race drivers75. United States R. C. Enerson
ManufacturerChevrolet
Career
Debut2021
Races competed1
Drivers' Championships0
Indy 500 victories0
Race victories0
Pole positions0

Top Gun Racing is an American auto racing team that currently competes in the IndyCar Series with R. C. Enerson driving the #75 Dallara UAK18-Chevrolet Indy V6 part-time.

History[]

2020[]

Top Gun announced that they would start to compete in IndyCar in 2020, with Enerson driving the #99 Hagerty Dallara UAK18-Chevrolet Indy V6 at the Indianapolis 500.[1]

Following the announcement that the race would be held with a limited spectator crowd, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Top Gun announced that they would not compete at the 500, as their partners wanted a full capacity event to be involved with.

2021[]

For 2021, Top Gun participated in a test at World Wide Technology Raceway in May, with Enerson driving the #75 Dallara-Chevrolet, which had a throwback livery to the Johnny Lightning-sponsored cars that Al Unser, Sr. and Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing used to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1970.[2] Following this, they officially entered the Indianapolis 500.[3]

Entering qualifying, Enerson had completed only 83 laps (the second lowest was Santino Ferrucci with 144 laps).[4] On the first qualifying day, Enerson posted a four lap average speed of 227.283 miles per hour, which was not fast enough to make the top 30 and guarantee a starting position.[5] He later went out for another attempt, but waived off after the first lap speed was 227.410 miles per hour.[5]

Enerson then participated in the Last Row Shootout the following day, as one of five drivers who was not qualified in the top 30. He would post an average speed of 227.298 miles per hour, which was the 34th fastest speed, meaning he was too slow to qualify.[6] The team made adjustments to the car, which was not approved under the penalty of having the speed (which was already not in the field) removed.[6] Afterwards, Enerson made another attempt and had an average speed of 226.813 miles per hour, which was ultimately the 35th fastest speed, meaning that Top Gun failed to qualify.[6][7]

The team and Enerson would return at the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix at Indianapolis.[8] Additionally, they sought out applications for small sponsors on the car, which would go on brick decals (like the ones on the start/finish line at Indianapolis).[8] Enerson would qualify in 25th place (out of 28 cars) for Top Gun's debut race.[9] In the race itself, Enerson retired due to a throttle sensor issue after 12 laps, causing him to finish in last place.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Pruett, Marshall (April 28, 2020). "New team aims to field IndyCar for Enerson". Racer. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Pruett, Marshall (May 10, 2021). "Top Gun Racing makes test debut ahead of Indy 500 entry". Racer. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Brown, Nate (May 12, 2021). "IndyCar confirms Top Gun Racing's Indy 500 bid with driver RC Enerson; field set at 35". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Pruett, Marshall (May 21, 2021). "Top Gun 'know we're the biggest underdogs' - Enerson". Racer. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ryan, Nate (May 22, 2021). "Day 1 Indy 500 qualifying results: Ganassi overcomes nerves, puts four cars in Fast Nine". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c DeHarde, Christopher (May 23, 2021). "2021 Indianapolis 500 Last Row and Fast Nine Shootout Live Qualifying Updates". Frontstretch. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Fair, Asher (May 2021). "IndyCar: 2021 Indy 500 - Full Bump Day qualifying results". Beyond the Flag. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Dejewski, Kevin (July 10, 2021). "After missing Indy 500, Top Gun Racing to race at IMS in August". Motorsport Week. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "2021 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

External Links[]

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