From ECR:
Rossi Medical Update
Weather Ends Practice Early; Rossi Accident Interrupts Action
Lightning halted what was an intense, hectic practice session after an hour and m18 minutes. The day after qualifying practice saw lots of running in traffic. Pole sitter Alex Palou was one of the last cars to get on track.
Josef Newgarden had the fastest lap,. 226.198 mph, when practice was stopped due to lightning in the area.
Thirty minutes into the session, the track’s 2026 incident free streak ended with a serious crash in turn 2 involving Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward, and Romain Grosjean. Rossi went too low in turn 2, spun hard into the outside wall, lifting the front of his car.
O’Ward spun trying to avoid Rossi, bit slammed into the side of Rossi’s car/ Romain Grosjean also spun to avoid the incident, brushing the wall and sliding to the grass on the inside of the track.
The older I get. the more accidents like this bother me. I am thankful for the safety innovations IndyCar has implemented. A look at Rossi’s aeroscreen after today’s incident shows that the safety features work.
O’Ward and Grosjean were seen and released by the medical staff. Rossi was sent to a local hospital for further evaluation. I will post an update as soon as I have one.
I took a couple of photos of both cars. O’Ward’s looks repairable. I’m not sure Rossi’s is. Replacing the car is allowed and if rossi is cleared to drive, he will keep his number two starting spot. If Rossi is unable to drive, the car will move to the rear of the field.
Results
Post Qualifying Practice
It’s a very short day.
From IMS:
| INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 17, 2026) – Information about the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Monday, May 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SCHEDULE (All times local):11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Public Gates Open1-3 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Practice TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $25. The General Admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to select grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult. PUBLIC GATES OPEN: Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10, Gate 10A PARKING: Free parking is available in N Lot. Free motorcycle parking in South Carousel Lot. Free ADA-accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot and Tower Terrace Lot. CASHLESS OPERATIONS: 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. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money to a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. 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 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and older) are $23 and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission. |
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INDYCAR Officiating Announces Indianapolis 500 Post-Qualifying Technical Violations and Penalties
From IndyCar Officiating:
 INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 17, 2026) – INDYCAR Officiating has announced post-qualifying technical inspection penalties for the entries of No. 4 of A.J. Foyt Enterprises and No. 24 of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.During post-qualifying inspection of car Nos. 4 and 24, INDYCAR Officiating discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware. According to the INDYCAR rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied. A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing were in violation of :Rule 14.12.1.1. EMS must be used as supplied by Dallara and approved by INDYCAR .Rule 14.12.1.6. EMS covers may only be attached with the supplied hardware and Helicopter Tape. Both cars (Nos. 4 and 24) have had their qualifying results disallowed and have been re-ordered to the rear of the field in order of entrant points. Additionally, Car No. 4 had its three Indy 500 qualification points also disallowed. Subsequently, Car Nos. 9 and 76 will be awarded 10th and 11th place Indy 500 qualification points. Car No. 75 is ineligible for qualification points as it did not participate in Top 12 qualifying. Car Nos. 4 and 24 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly. Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rulebook. |
Palou is Inevitable
Pole position for Alex Palou seemed improbable, but inevitability beat improbability as Palou won the pole for next Sunday’s 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Palou drew number 31 in the qualifying order, which may have resulted in a different outcome had qualifying gone off as scheduled on Saturday.
The 2025 winner ended the first round in 11th, then finished second in the Fast 12. Alexander Rossi went out first in nthe Fast Six and set down a time of 231.990 mph, which held until made his run. Palou finished with an average speed of 232.248 mph win his second Indianapolis pole in four years. Palou also started first in 2023.
Felix Rosenqvist, who dominated the first two qualifying rounds, had nothing for Palou. Rosenqvist will start fourth.
I will have the full lineup up in post late tonight.
Notes
Drivers battled sstrong winds all day on their runs.Tgere were several close calls, but no incidents.
Speeds were down from last year, as they have been all week.
It was another heavy attendance day today, with the crowd spread through the grounds.
Biggest surprises: Josef Newgarden in 24th; Takuma Sato in 13th.
I will have a more complete wrapup tomorrow. Thanks for following along this weekend.
Fast 12 Set
In ana efficieint, incident free first round of qualifying, positions 13-33 are locked in for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Felix Rosenqvistr set a blistering lap to post the fastest four lap average in the first round.
Rows 5-11
Row 5: Sato, Carpenter, Castroneves
Row 6: Rasmussen, Armstrong, Ericsson
Row 7: Lundgaard, Power, Siegel
Row 8: Foster, Hunter-Reay, Newgarden
Row 9: Grosjean, Kirkwood, Legge
Row 10: Schumacher, Harvey, Rahal
Row 11: Hauger, Abel, Robb
The Fast 12:
Felix Rosenqvist 232.599 mph
David Malukas 231.813
Conor Daly 231.744
ScottMcLaughlin 231.623
Rinus VeeKay 231,591
Alexander Rossi 231.580
Caio Collet 231.413
Scott Dixon 231.411
Pato O’Ward 231.248
Santino Ferrucci 231.224
Alex Palou 231.195
Kyffin Simpson 231.085
Sting Ray Robb had the slowest time-226.572 mph.
The biggest surprises of 5he session were Caio Collet making the second round, Takuma Sato not advancing, and Josef Newgarden falling to 24th.
Thde Fast 12 begins at 4 pm Eastern. Palou wil,be the second car on track, and he willset the bar for the 10 remaining cars.
I will be back after qualifying is complete.
It’s Pole Day
Good morning from IMS:
Television schedule
Qualifying order
Much better weather conditions are in store for today’s postponed qualifying. The temperature should be just above 80 degrees by the time qualifying ends for the 33 entrants. The drivers who drew early numbers may have an advantage with the coolest track conditions.
fans lined up early waiting for the gates to open this morning to witness a packed day of qualifying. A fan on line last night pointed out that there will be 51 qualifying runs today.
The first practice group is about to take the track. track temperature is currently 74 degrees and the air temperature is72. The air will be about 10 degrees warmer when qualifying begins.
After the 12th qualifier completes their run, things will get interesting. Alex Palou is 31st in line, Alexander Rossi goes out 20th, Pato O’Ward is 18th in line, followed immediately by David Malukas. Takuma Sato is the 26th driver to make a run. Heat and track conditions could play a big role in the way the field lines up next Sunday.
I will be posting occasionally, and be back with a report of the qualifying results and to mset up the Fast 12 shootout.
Sunday- Pole Day Plus
From IMS
| INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 16, 2026) – Information about the PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, Sunday, May 17 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway .SCHEDULE (All times local):9 a.m.: Public Gates Open9:30-10:30 a.m.: Practice (two groups)10:45 a.m.: Armed Forces Enlistment Ceremony, Pagoda PlazaNoon: Indianapolis 500 Qualifying (all cars)3:15 p.m.: Monster Truck World Speed Record Attempt4:30 p.m.: Top 12 Qualifying6 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six Qualifying TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $35. The General Admission ticket will provide the opportunity to move between the IMS infield viewing mounds and first-come, first-served access to select grandstands to view racing action from different vantage points. All military personnel are admitted free with a valid military ID. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult.Note: All tickets from Saturday will be honored Sunday. Saturday hospitality and suite tickets will grant Sunday General Admission access only. PUBLIC GATES OPEN (9 a.m.-7 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 parking is available in Main Gate, Lot 2, and Lot 3P for $15. Free public parking is available in IMS Infield Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40) accessible only via Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free motorcycle parking in South Carousel Lot. Free ADA accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot, Tower Terrace Lot, Northwest Gravel Lot and Lot 7 (North 40). Pre-paid ADA parking is available in Gate 1 Lot for $25 and in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $15.Note: Suite and hospitality parking from Saturday is not valid Sunday. CASHLESS OPERATIONS: 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. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money to a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. 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 open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and over) are $23 and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission. |
Qualifying Postponed; Action Packed Sunday in Store
In the end the rain won the day, but IMS and the fans will get a huge victory tomorrow. Qualifying foe the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 has been postpone to Sunday.\
The revised schedule: All times Eastern.
Practice split group, 30min apiece, 9:30 am-10:30 am
Qualifying starts at noon: All 33 drivers will get a single attempt.
At 4:30pm, the Top 12 run, single attempt.
At 6 pm, the Fast 6, single attempt, pole is set.
For older fans, qualifying will be like the old days, when each car/driver combination received one attempt to make the field. The pressure tomorrow comes for those who have a shot at the pole. Laps have to be perfect.
I like that the elimination round to determine the final 3 spots in the Fast 12 has been scratched.
Sunday will be an action-packed day filled with drama. I just hope the series anf IMS get the ifea to make qualifying one day affair in the future.
Today was a long day, and a valiant was put forth by the speedway to get the track ready to go. Things don’t always work out when man battles nature. A shoutout to all thre workers who drove countless laps attempting to dry the track.
And, an even bigger shoutout to all the fans who stayed until the end, enduring twice having to find shelter. Race fans are the greatest fans in the world.
Qualifying order
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 