Strong oval performance for Andretti Cape at WWTR
This past weekend was a return to action for Andretti Cape INDY NXT, contesting a race at World Wide Technology Raceway. With the team’s successful run at Iowa Speedway last month that resulted in Salvador de Alba’s first INDY NXT by Firestone podium, morale was high as attention turned to the 1.25-mile oval just outside St. Louis.
Qualifying took place Friday afternoon, with de Alba earning the ninth starting position in his Grupo Indi entry. The team collectively felt there was more pace in the car than the qualifying results showed, and adjustments were made ahead of Saturday’s main event.
de Alba battled against a tight field of cars as soon as the green flags waved, working hard to keep his front wing free from damage. He succeeded in that endeavor and avoided a couple incidents in the chaotic opening laps.
On the restart on lap 16, de Alba used the high line to his advantage and made up three positions in the first two laps. The rookie slowly worked his way further up the order throughout the middle portion of the race until he found himself running in fourth position two-thirds of the way through the 75-lap event.
de Alba dropped a few positions on a late restart, deftly saving the car from a slide in the middle of Turns 1 and 2. The misstep did not affect his composure, however, and he set to work gaining back the lost ground. He was able to place his #2 entry to the inside and the outside as needed and quickly made his way back to the fourth position, just outside the podium.
In the final push to the checkers, de Alba turned a lap of 28.1155 seconds at an average speed of 160.054 MPH, a speed that was bested only by the race winner and Andretti team-mate Louis Foster. The Andretti Cape crew celebrated the impressive drive that saw their young driver move forward five positions during the day and jump from eighth to sixth in the overall points standings.
The team heads west to Portland International Raceway next for the final road course race of the season before a pair of oval events round out the 2024 season.
Salvador de Alba
“Happy with the result, but not super happy. P4, one step from the podium. It hurts, but for sure we had the best car and the best pace overall. I managed to fight for positions and gain ground. The restart wasn’t that great. I had a very big moment and lost a couple spots. But this is racing, and I’m happy overall.
“In two weeks we have the Milwaukee and Nashville ovals, but for now I’m just thinking about Portland. Last time I was there I got a podium, so I’m thinking about getting another one.”