Welcome to IMS on a gray day. Practice is two hours away and the rain should hold off until after 3 pm. I expect a very busy time on the track when practice opens at noon.

In a press conference this morning, Shell/Pennzoil announced a new racing oil called Performance Plus Racing Oil. It is a re-refined base oil, essentially recycled oil. It is supposed to be longer lasting than previous oils. This oil wil eventually get to everyday consumers, bui infrastructure to mass produce it needs to be in place.

Bree Sandlin, Vic President of Shell Lubricants Marketing North America, said that extended oil life technology is advancing rapidly. Some motor oils can now go10,000 miles between changes. The goal is to produce an oil that can last 20,000 miles.

Post crash updates

Marcus Ericsson will be going to a backup car.

Linus Lundqvist’s car has been repaired and will return to the track today. Lundqvist said that he is eager to get back on track as soon as possible. He said yesterday’s incident was the biggest crash of his career.

I will have a story later today about what Mike Hull said in this morning’s press conference. Mike always tells like it is.

The two seater cars have been on track all morning, so we should be good to start right on time at noon.