Legendary Rock Band Counting Crows To Headline Miller Lite Carb Day Concert 

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IMS:

 Special Guest Switchfoot To Open; Fans Can Expect Full Day of Entertainment

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, March 24, 2026) – Grammy and Academy Award-nominated Counting Crows will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Counting Crows will be joined by special guest Switchfoot, which will open the show.
Miller Lite Carb Day is a full day of on- and off-track action and entertainment. All general admission, concert pit and VIP Deck concert tickets include admission to the concert and to on-track activities that day at IMS, which include the final practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the second annual Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 and the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.
“Miller Lite Carb Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “From 33 drivers speeding around the track in the final ‘500’ practice to the Wienie 500 and Pit Stop Challenge, there is no shortage of on-track action leading into a legendary rock concert in Turn 3. It’s a day like no other at the Racing Capital of the World, and many of our fans take the day off work to spend it at IMS, a tradition we can all celebrate.”
Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com, by calling 317-492-6700 or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building.
Counting Crows have enchanted listeners with an intensely soulful and intricate take on rock & roll for more than three decades. Exploding onto the music scene in 1993 with their multi-platinum breakout album, “August and Everything After,” the band has gone on to release seven studio albums, selling more than 20 million records worldwide, and is revered as one of the world’s most pre-eminent live touring rock bands.The band’s double-platinum sophomore studio album, “Recovering the Satellites,” debuted at number one and further solidified their growing reputation as one of the leading American alternative rock bands in the world.
In 2004, Counting Crows recorded the chart-topping “Accidentally in Love” for the animated motion picture “Shrek 2.” The instant success of the track earned the band an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 2005 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.In 2021, Counting Crows ranked No. 8 on Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time: Adult Alternative Artists” 25th-anniversary chart.
The band released their latest full-length album “Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!” to rave reviews in May 2025.
In December 2025, HBO premiered, “Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?” part of the “Music Box” documentary series. The film also received widespread acclaim and chronicles the band’s rise to fame, the pressures of success and the creation of some of their most celebrated albums.
Switchfoot – consisting of Jon Foreman (vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Jerome Fontamillas (keys, guitar) and Chad Butler (drums) – has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide of their 13 studio albums, including their 2003 triple-platinum breakthrough “The Beautiful Letdown” and 2009’s Grammy Award-winning “Hello Hurricane.”Through a unique blend of emotionally intelligent and uplifting brand of alternative rock,
Switchfoot has earned a devoted and loyal global fan base. The band has racked up a string of alternative radio hit singles and performed sold-out tours in more than 40 countries. Switchfoot also has raised more than $3 million to aid kids in through their BRO-AM Foundation.
Miller Lite Carb Day general admission tickets start at $50.
A limited number of concert pit package upgrades that include general admission are available for $90. A very limited supply of exclusive VIP platform tickets also is available for $285, including concert pit access, snacks, two complimentary drinks, dedicated bars and restroom trailers.
The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24. Tickets are on sale at IMS.com or by calling or visiting the IMS Ticket Office. 
 

Penske Entertainment Statement on Passing of Jim Michaelian 

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Editor’s Note: This loss hurts. Jim was Long Beach. I met jim Michaelian on my first trip to Long Beach. Whenever I saw him after that, he always had time to say hi and talk. We lost a giant today.

From Penske Entertainment:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, March 21, 2026) – A statement from Roger Penske about the passing March 21 of Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian:
“Everyone at Penske Entertainment and within the INDYCAR community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Michaelian. Jim was a leader of a small, passionate group who believed in the concept of bringing elite open-wheel competition to Long Beach in the 1970s, worked tirelessly to make it happen despite steep odds and then helped nurture the Grand Prix of Long Beach into becoming America’s premier street race. His vision and energy surrounding this great event remained boundless for 50 years, as no task was too small for Jim even while he served in numerous leadership roles. Penske Entertainment is committed to honoring Jim’s legacy of putting fans and competitors first as we continue to build on the strong foundation he and his staff created for a half-century in Long Beach. Our deepest sympathies are with his wife, Mary, and their sons, Bob and Mike.”

500 Entry List Nearing the Magic Number

thepitwindowLeave a comment

With yesterday’s confirmations of Takuma Sato and Helio Castroneves to ride in the 110th Indianapolis 500, the field stands at 31. There has been no formal announcement that Colton Herta will be in the fourth Andretti car, but from what I’m hearing, that edal is complete. The entry list then stands at 32.

The organization that acquired Prema is likely to enter one car, and I’m hearing Abel Motorsports may enter a car. Katherine Legge is working to secure a drive, but which team she would be with is unclear.

I see another 34 car entry list. The former Prema group is scrambling to have a car on track for Long Beach, so I can’t see them fielding two entries for Indy.

Here is a break down of the entry list as it stands now:


Chevy (16)
McLaren (4): O’Ward, Siegel, Lundgaard, Hunter-Reay
Penske (3): Newgarden, McLaughlin, Malukas
ECR (3): Rossi, Rasmussen, Carpenter
Foyt (2): Collet (R), Ferrucci
JHR (2): VeeKay, Robb
DRR (2): Daly, Harvey

Honda (15) (16 with Herta)
RLL (4): Rahal, Foster, Schumacher (R), Sato
AG (3): Power, Kirkwood, Ericsson, (Herta?)
CGR (3): Simpson, Dixon Palou
MSR (3): Castroneves, Rosenqvist, Armstrong
DCR (2): Grosjean, Hauger (R)

Notes

Curt Cignetti will drive the pace car for the 500. Details here:

Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti To Drive Indy 500 Pace Car

For the first time since 2008 IndyCar has averaged more than 1 million television viewers for the first three races. Whatever the series and its tv partner are doing, it’s working.

Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti To Drive Indy 500 Pace Car

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Two-Time National Coach of the Year To Lead Field to Green Flag

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, March 17, 2026) – Curt Cignetti, in celebration of Indiana University Football’s epic undefeated National Championship season, has been named honorary Pace Car driver for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.Cignetti will drive the all-new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X – the most advanced Corvette ever, designed and built right here in the United States – to lead the field of 33 drivers to the start of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Exact Pace Car details, including the one-of-a-kind Indianapolis 500 livery, will be unveiled at a later date.The 2026 Indy 500 is set for Sunday, May 24, with FOX’s live coverage kicking off at 10 a.m. ET.

Cignetti and the Hoosiers have been on a meteoric and inspirational run following his announcement as head coach in December 2023. This includes a nation’s-best 27 victories across two seasons, a pair of College Football Playoff appearances and IU’s first national title (2025-26).Cignetti is the first-ever Division I head coach to start 8-0 or better in consecutive seasons at different institutions and the third ever to begin consecutive seasons at 10-0. He is also just the third Big Ten head coach to start each of his first two seasons with at least an 8-0 record.

He won 14 of the 17 national Coach of the Year awards for which he was eligible in his first two seasons at Indiana. Cignetti is the first FBS coach to win consecutive national Coach of the Year awards from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press, ESPN Home Depot, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation.

Along with the national accolades, Cignetti is the first coach to win both the Hayes-Schembechler (coaches vote) and Dave McClain (media vote) Big Ten Coach of the Year awards in consecutive seasons in conference history

.“Coach Cignetti will have our field in a special victory lap formation as he leads the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the green flag at this year’s Indy 500,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said.

“His Hoosiers have been nothing short of remarkable, and their National Championship run inspired our entire state. He’s the perfect choice to drive the Chevrolet Pace Car, and I know his introduction on Race Day will bring out a special roar of appreciation from our crowd.”

Previous Indy 500 Pace Car drivers include Michael Strahan, Morgan Freeman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Robin Roberts, Patrick Dempsey, Ken Griffey Jr., Tyrese Haliburton and more esteemed Race Day guests

.FOX Sports is the exclusive home of all INDYCAR action, with all 18 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races set to broadcast on network television via FOX in 2026. This includes the world-famous Indianapolis 500, annually the largest single-day spectator sporting event on the globe.

Coverage of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be extensive for fans across the country, with a six-hour Race Day window on FOX for the second consecutive year.

Tickets for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24 and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700.

Arlington Recap- Kirkwood’s Pace Overcomes Pit Stop Issues

thepitwindowLeave a comment

The king of the streets has returned. Kyle Kirkwood used the blistering he showed on Saturday to pass Alex Palou on lap 55 to win the inaugural java House Grand Prix of Arlington. The win was the sixth of Kirkwood’s fairly young career. Five of the victories coming on street courses.

It was not an easy victory as Kirkwood had issues on two pit stops. A loose wheel nut rolled in front of Kirkwood’s car as left on his second stop, turning the nut into a missile which ricocheted off of the pit wall. His final stop was 9.5 seconds, nearly two seconds slower than Palou’s simultaneous stop as the right rear tire was slow getting on.

Kirkwood quickly brought the deficit down and made a brilliant pass in turn 13 to overtake the reigning series champion. Kirkwood expanded the lead to more than thre seconds before a caution for Christian Rasmussen slowed the field on lap 68. Kirkwood pulled away on the restart to begin the final lap as the yellow flew again Roman Grosjean and Nolan Siegel collided.

Thoughts

Will Power bounced back from his troubles during the first two weekends with a strong third place finish. Sunday was the first session in which he did not make contact with the wall or another car. Power led 16 laps, the same number of laps that both Palou and Kirkwood led.

In addition to Kirkwood’s pit woes, Andretti teammates Power and Marcus Ericsson also had difficulties in the pits. Ericsson finished fourth. The pace of the Andretti cars allowed them to overcome their long stops. Pit work cost Colton Herta a couple of races over the last two years. If the team can improve their service work, Andretti can be a consistent contender.

Phoenix was a tough act to follow, but I thought Arlington produced a good race. Several tire strategies were in play, and there were fights for the lead and some battles further back in the field. A pass for the lead with less than 20 laps remaining is always a good look.

The long street course with a wide surface helped produce the good racing. It was nice to see a street course with room to maneuver. From what I saw, the event was a huge success.

Teams on the Rise

Meyer Shank Racing and ECR are showing signs of gaining strength and being in the mix all season. Had Felix Rosenqvist not jumped the restart at the end, Meyer Shank was looking at having both cars finish in the top 10. Marcus Armstrong ended the day 10th, and Rosenqvist was in fifth before his penalty.

ECR saw both Alexander Rossi and Christian E=Rasmussen qualify in the top 10. Rossi came home ninth Sunday. Rasmussen ended last after his crash on lap 68. Rasmussen led most of the way last weekend at Phoenix before his incident with Power. Rossi has two consecutive top 10 finishes.

FOX

Some questions about the broadcast:

Will we ever get a live pit stop timer?

Can the network show a little more flexibility with commercial breaks? Yesterday ads were so frequent and ill timed that I thought there would be a commercial break when the leader got to turn 10 on the last lap. Full screen commercials late in the race were especially annoying.

Fast Six Shootout

I talked about the shootout Saturday in my post

Ericsson Takes Arlington Pole

A Welcome Break, then on to Barber

The series takes a short break next weekend before heading to Barber Motorsports Park.

The first three races have produced three different winners from three different teams and three different pole winners from two different teams. In 2025 IndyCar did not see a third different winner until Mid Ohio in July. I hope this competitive diversity continues.

A different driver has led the championship each week. It’s nice to see the title in doubt.

Race Day at Arlington

thepitwindowLeave a comment

A reminder that the green flag and broadcast windows have been moved up. The revised schedule\:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup 9:30-10:30 a.m. Eastern FS1. The session is from 9:50-10:10 am ET.

INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Arlington 10:30-11:30 am ET FS1. Green flag 10:45 a.m. ET (30-minutes).

FOX Pre-race show 11:30 a.m. ET

Java House Grand Prix of Arlington green flag 12 Noon ET, FOX

From yesterday:

Ericsson Takes Arlington Pole

Winds are predicted to be near or above 20 mph from the Northwest with gusts as high as 50 mph during the race. Had the race started at its original time, the winds would be stronger.

My pick for today is Alex Palou, who will also retake the points lead.

If you are at the track, stay safe.