Tomorrow at the Track

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From IMS:

Note to Bronze Badge holders:

Don’t forget your Bronze badge is also valid for Pit Entry tomorrow (Tuesday, May 14) during public gate hours. This special access will only be available on Opening Day. It will not be available on Monday, May 20. This opportunity is available rain or shine.

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 13, 2024) – Information about 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity, Tuesday, May 14 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
SCHEDULE (All times local):
9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open
9-11 a.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice (All cars)
1-6 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice (All cars)
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $25. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. The General Admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to selected grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (9 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 10, Gate 10A.
PARKING: Free public parking is available in Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40). ADA accessible parking is available in the following lots: the West Museum Lot, the Flag Lot, Tower Terrace and the Lot 7 (North 40).
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located in Pagoda Plaza and outside Turn 1 by concessions stand 7. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.
MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is closed for a major renovation, reopening in April 2025. To learn more, please visit imsmuseum.org/renovation.

Arrow McLaren Confirms Callum Ilott for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500

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From Arrow McLaren:

“Callum brings experience with this team and at the Indy 500 that we think is very valuable as we enter the biggest two weeks of our season”

Arrow McLaren announced today that Callum Ilott will drive the No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, finalizing the team’s four-car lineup for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. 

The 25-year-old returns to Arrow McLaren for his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this season after producing a 13th-place finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and competing at The Thermal Club’s $1 Million Challenge. Set for his third Indy 500 start, he achieved a 12th-place finish last May as the second-biggest mover in the race after advancing 15 positions from starting 27th on the grid. 

The Cambridge, England native has spent parts of the last three seasons racing for Juncos Hollinger Racing, where he’s compiled 36 starts, five top-10 finishes and a front-row start at Laguna Seca in 2022. Last season, Callum finished 16th in the championship. 

Callum currently races in the World Endurance Championship for Hertz Team JOTA where he sits in second place in driver standings after three races. He is coming off a first-place finish at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this past weekend and will be in the No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet throughout the Indy 500 practices beginning Tuesday, May 14.  

Callum came to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES after putting together an impressive résumé in Europe that included stints in Formula 1 as a test driver for Scuderia Ferrari and a reserve driver for Alfa Romero in 2021. Ilott also finished second in FIA Formula 2 in 2020 after grabbing three wins and five poles. 

Following this race, Callum will return to Hertz Team JOTA for the remainder of the 2024 World Endurance Championship campaign. Arrow McLaren announced last week that Théo Pourchaire will pilot the No. 6 Chevrolet from the Detroit Grand Prix through the remainder of the 2024 season. 

Callum Ilott, Driver, Arrow McLaren, said: 

“It is any driver’s dream to race in the Indianapolis 500, and I’d like to extend a thank you to Zak, Gavin and Tony for making this happen. I’m grateful to step into this race with a familiar car and a familiar team now in Arrow McLaren. While our April Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was shortened by weather, the runs we did have were productive. I feel comfortable with the team and know that we can come together throughout the Month of May to put our best foot forward come race day.” 

Gavin Ward, Team Principal, Arrow McLaren, said: 

“Callum brings experience with this team and at the Indy 500 that we think is very valuable as we enter the biggest two weeks of our season. He and the team got along well during the first two events of the season, and we’re looking forward to carrying that over here. I’m confident that Callum and the No. 6 NTT DATA Chevy team will be competing near the front of the grid during qualifying and on race day, just like the rest of our cars.” 

ARROW McLAREN INDYCAR TEAMNO. 6 NTT DATA ARROW McLAREN CHEVROLET

The 2024 Indianapolis 500 Program- A Step Up

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The 500 souvenir program for 2024 is better than the programs of the past few years. First, the cover is a huge improvement over 2023. The solid black cover is a low bar for comparison, but renderings of winning cars from milestone years ending in 4 is an appropriate way to showcase this year’s event. The cost is $20.

I like that the cover says “Indianapolis 500” rather than the “Indy 500” which has infected much of IMS branding of late.

All the things you expect are there- the entry list, driver profiles, and records of all the past 500s.

The program features a moving tribute to Gil de Ferran by Curt Cavin, a story about the solar eclipse event, and a brief article about the new museum.

One item I miss is the Order of the Day schedule with the times of each part of the opening ceremonies. I feel that it sets up Race Day having it in the program. Please bring it back.

In the center is a tear out page with nine perforated cards. Six feature winners from 100, 70, 60, 50, 40, and 30 years ago. The Bill Vukovich card is going in a special holder in a certain blogger’s house. Maybe it is for space considerations, but there is no acknowledgement of the winners from 110, 90, 20, or 10 years ago.

The back cover displays the wreath with the 2024 race logo superimposed on it. It is a scratch n sniff page which gives off a faint aroma of magnolia.

I had felt the programs of the last few years had become dull and predictable, but the 2024 edition has a lot to offer.

Quick Thoughts- Just Another Day at Work for Alex Palou

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

It was a fun race for the first two laps. Christian Lundgaard made a great move to get past Alex Palou and led most of the first half of the race.

Cars were banging into each other, running opponents off the road, and fighting for position. Then the race fell into a processional F1 style event.

the race came down to pit strategy, and that’s where Palou gained the advantage. He made his final stop before his two closest pursuers, Lundgaard and Will Power, and didn’t look back.

Alex Palou talks about his win.

The late yellow was not a problem as Palou pulled away to six second lead a the finish over Power.

Overall, it was a typical IMS road course race, a bland appetizer to what should be a delicious entree in two weeks.

Notes

Josef Newgarden has had two straight finishes below 15th place. His chances of winning the championship are fading quickly.

Colton Herta improved 17 positions to finish seventh.

The last time DHL was the sponsor on a winning car was 2018 at Sonoma. Ryan Hunter-Reay won for Andretti.

Six different teams placed cars in the top 10- Ganassi -3; Penske-2; RLL_ 2; Andretti, McLaren, and MSR 1 each.

Palou leads Power by 12 points in the championship. We have seen this movie before.

Like 2023, Palou has a chance to be the third driver to complete a May sweep. Will Power and Simon Pagenaud accomplished this feat in 2018 and 2019 erespectively.

If your last name begins with P, younhave a great shot at winning this race. Power, POagenaud, and Palou have 10 wins combined on this track.

Thanks for following along this weekend. I can’t wait for the next two weeks.

Armstrong Fastest in Warmup; O’Ward Loses Engine

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Marcus Armstrong turned the quickest lap, 1:09.8485, in the 30 minute warmup session for this afternoon’s 85 lap Sonsio Grand Prix.

The session ran green untill the final minute when Pato O’Ward lost an engine. McLaren is also changing the engine on Alexander Rossi’s car.

Santino Ferrucci seemed to push Romain Grosjean up close to the outside wall.

NBC goes on air at 3 pm Eastern. Green flag is at 3:45 pm.

Results

Race Day at IMS

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Today’s schedule and gate information from IMS:

Saturday, May 11

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 10, 2024) – Information about Sonsio Grand Prix track activity Saturday, May 11 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

SCHEDULE (All times local):

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open

7:55-8:40 a.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 2

8:55-9:35 a.m.: USF2000 Race 2

11:15-11:45 a.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-up

Noon-12:45 p.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 3

1:10-2:05 p.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone Race 2 (35 laps/55 minutes)

3:45-5:40 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps)

TICKETS: $50 for General Admission. $64 for flex ticket seating in Northwest Vista (Sections 11-20), Southwest Vista (Sections 1-10), North Vista ADA (Sections 26-30), Tower Terrace (Sections 37-47, 75-79) and Paddock (Sections 9-14). Children 15 and under are admitted free with flex ticket paying adult. Reserved seats range from $59-$129.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN (7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 9, Gate 10, Gate 10A, Gate 11A.

PARKING: Paid public parking is available in Lot 1A, Lot 2 and Main Gate lots for $20. Gate 1 Lot parking is available for $50. Motorcycle parking is also available at South Carousel Lot for $20. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 3P and Lot 2 for $20 and in Gate 1 parking for $50. Infield car parking is located inside Turn 3 for $25. Free parking is located in Lot 7 (North 40).

CASHLESS OPERATIONS: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.

Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. Cash-to-Card machines, which convert paper money onto a temporary debit card, will be located in Pagoda Plaza and outside Turn 1 by concessions stand 7. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.

MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is closed for a major renovation, reopening in April 2025. To learn more, please visit imsmuseum.org/renovation.

Palou on Pole

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Photo Kyle McInnes

Alex Palou started the Fast Six Round by going off track into the grass. He came back to win the pole for tomorrow’s Sonsio Grand Prix by edging Christian Lundgaard by 0.09 seconds.

Palou is the defending winner of this race.

Team Penske teammates Will Power and Josef Newgarden will start in row two.

The Fast Six saw four different strategies from the teams, some starting on primaries while others used reds for the entire six minutes. Newgarden started on scuffed reds, then he switched to sticker reds.

Pato O’Ward gambled and waited until the second half of the session to record a lap, He will start fifth.

Lundgaard has a stellar starting record for the grand prix. he has started 4th, 8th, 6th, 1st, 2nd and 2nd.

For the first time this year Felix Rosenqvist did not make it to the final round. He did advance to round 2 and will start 10th.

I will have more tomorrow morning. Thanks for following along today.

Indycar warmup is at 11:15 tomorrow morning and the green flag is at 3:45.

Results: