How Kyffin Simpson raced to a breakthrough IndyCar podium

Chip Ganassi Racing’s youngest driver Kyffin Simpson entered Sunday in need of some help to make the most of the day after just missing out on the Fast 12 in qualifying. Rolling off 13th, his No. 8 team knew it would need to get creative to find a way to the front.

Thankfully for the group, a slate of early cautions opened the door for strategic variation. Simpson took advantage for his first IndyCar podium.

Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

“It was a crazy race,” Simpson said afterward. “So many ups and downs. At one point we thought we were in the worst position, then very quickly it turned to one of the best positions. All the glory to God. (My crew) did an incredible job on pit road today. …. Just incredible.”

As one of many starting on the alternate tire, Simpson stretched the rapidly-degrading rubber a full 16 laps while most came in on the opening laps or under caution on lap 4. While risky, it allowed Simpson’s team to put him on a two-stop pit strategy that, aided by a slew of yellows over the opening half of the race, was made favorable and easily doable on fuel.

Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

With the rest of the field coming in for an extra stop, Simpson was able to cycle through to second entering the race’s middle stages. He never saw the lead — Rinus VeeKay was ahead as the lone driver on the same strategy and Pato O'Ward overtook them both for the win. But the 20-year-old avoided putting a wheel wrong and rode the strategy out for a third-place finish.

While a feel-good result on its own, Sunday’s effort also came with a sigh of relief. Simpson had qualified third and come close to a podium run in Mid-Ohio only to see it undone late when he stalled on pit road and ran over tire changer Nico Don’s foot. He finally saw a complete run come together two weeks later in Toronto.

Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Jake Galstad / Lumen via Getty Images

“At Mid-Ohio I was really bummed, because realistically we could have even won that race,” Simpson said.

“To not even be on the podium, I was super bummed there. To come back here and get it done is incredible.”

Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Gavin Baker / Lumen via Getty Images

With Sunday’s podium, Simpson finally has a noteworthy result amid a summer of solid runs. While overshadowed by the heroics of winning teammates Alex Palou and Scott Dixon, Simpson has put together four top 10 runs in the past seven races and made it to the checkered flag in each race, rising from 21st to 14th in the championship standings.