Returning to Detroit, Michigan this past weekend, the INDY NXT by Firestone drivers were introduced to a brand-new circuit through the streets of downtown after moving away from Belle Isle. Leading into the weekend, many fans and drivers were convinced that the new 1.645-mile circuit was too tight for drivers to make passes and cleanly move up through the field. Christian Bogle, along with the rest of the INDY NXT field, proved those doubts wrong as they put on a show in back-to-back races on Saturday and Sunday for the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Detroit.
In the only practice session of the weekend on Friday, the goal for the drivers was to familiarize themselves with the new nine-turn circuit as they prepared for back-to-back qualifying runs later that day. Still coming up to speed, Bogle finished the practice session 14th.
For a doubleheader weekend, the qualifying format included two eight-minute sessions, separated by a five-minute break, with the first session setting the grid for race one and the second session setting the grid for race two. Bogle qualified 18th and 17th for the two races.
In Saturday’s race, the field quickly went under caution as the two lead drivers made contact at the start. Under caution for the first six laps, Bogle’s race began from 16th on the restart. In the opening half of the 45-lap race, Bogle slowly gained positions eventually working his way up to 12th before a second caution came out on lap 22. As the field went green again on lap 26, the Pelican Energy driver began his battle towards the front of the field as he went around Kyffin Simpson for tenth. Then, two laps later, Bogle was able to slide in around Jamie Chadwick as he took ninth, then immediately moved up into eighth on the next lap after passing Toby Sowery. With 15 laps to go, Bogle made yet another impressive move around James Roe to take over seventh. On the final lap, Nolan Siegel fell back from the lead with a mechanical failure and Christian Bogle crossed the finish line in sixth.
After starting from 18th, Christian Bogle made up an impressive 12 positions in race one as the biggest movers of the race.
Coming off an incredibly strong result on Saturday, Bogle hoped to repeat his results in the second race of the weekend on Sunday. Starting from 17th, Bogle quickly moved up into 16th on the start and began another drive up through the field. By the first caution on lap 15, Bogle had moved up to 12th. After the restart on lap 20, he again moved up to 11th before contacting Rasmus Lindh in the hairpin and falling to the back of the field to finish the race in the 15th position.
With a newfound confidence that he can work his way up through the competitive INDY NXT by Firestone field, Bogle will return in his #7 Pelican Energy entry for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing in less than two weeks’ time when the series returns to Road America for round six of the Championship over the June 16-18 weekend.
Stay tuned to the Christian Bogle Racing social media pages for news, information, photos, and results from the 2023 season.
For more information on Christian Bogle, please visit him online at www.CBogleRacing.com or search Christian Bogle Racing on social media.
Photos: RTD Media