The Twelve Days of Indy Starts Today

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Here are some things of interest:

Broadcast schedule for the week:

Entry list:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens today for practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. While the entry list is short, cars will be on track for seven consecutive days.

Cars mostly run race setups the first couple days and then get into qualifying mode Friday when extra boost is added.

Last year on opening day the fastest speed was in the 227 range,

Something else expected this week is the anticipated announcement of a grandstand sellout for the race.

There has been a modification to Sunday’s qualifying format, which I will talk about in a post later this morning.

My track schedule this week will be a bit reduced compared to other years. I will spend just half days at IMS Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to take care of some things at home. There are no serious health concerns, I’m just catching up on a few things.

I will still have an end of day report and keep all three of you who reead this up to date on happenings while I’m there.

The guide to today at the track can be found here:

Tomorrow at the Track

Tomorrow at the Track

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From IMS:

 
INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 11, 2026) – Information about the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice track activity Tuesday, May 12 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

SCHEDULE: (All times local):10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public Gates OpenNoon-6 p.m.: Practice (all cars)

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 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 10, Gate 10A

PARKING: Free public parking is available in IMS infield Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40) accessible only via Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free ADA accessible parking is available in West Museum Lot, Flag Lot, Tower Lot and Northwest Gravel. Free motorcycle parking is also available in the South Carousel Lot via Gate
2.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 on 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 10 a.m-5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25 for adults, Seniors (55 or older) are $23 and Military are $18. Tickets can be purchase online at imsmuseum.org.
 

Final Thoughts- Sonsio Grand Prix

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Photo by Bradley Proctor

Few races have all of the elements that combine to create a good, entertaining race. Saturday’s race had all of them. The lead was in doubt until near the end, there was great passing, cautions came (or didn’t) at times that altered pit strategies, drivers were angry at Race Control, and some were mad at their fellow competitors. Contenders became pretenders. Pit issues once again cost a team a potential victory.

Christian Lundgaard won the Sonsio Grand Prix with a bold pass of David Malukas on lap 68. Malukas seemed to be in command of the event after Will Power’s penalty. What started as another Alex Palou beat down turned into a race of different pit strategies.

The first lap incident turned the race on its head. Will Power made an early stop during the first caution and found himself at the front of the field on lap 24 after starting last. Power looked on track to need one less pit stop than the rest of the field until misfortune struck when he exited the pits on lap 58. Power locked up the wheels and ran across the pit blend line. He corrected the car and crossed the blend line properly, but he had moved onto the track and received a drive through penalty. Power’s frustrating season continues.

Rahal Resurgence?

Graham Rahal earned his second podium in three races as Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing continues to show better than they have the last couple of years. The team has improved their qualifying- Rahal started seventh, and teammate Louis Foster made the Fast Six. The team has backed up their qualifying with better results. Foster ended the day in seventh.

Starting tomorrow we will see how much improvement their oval program has made, but they seem to have figured out the road courses./\

Lundgaard a Championship Contender?

Lundgaard’s victory puts him fourth in the point standings, just three points behind Malukas and 55 points behind leader Palou. Malukas earned three bonus points Saturday for leading the most laps, so they are in a virtual tie. Lundgaard’s win would give him the tie breaker if the two end up with the same number of points.

In his second year at McLaren Lundgaard is becoming the team leader.

Andretti Pit Woes Continue

If Kyle Kirkwood is to have any shot at catching Palou for the title, pit work has got to improve. Trouble changing the right front tire cost Kirkwood a chance at the win. Kirkwood had gotten ahead of Palou on track after the Ganassi driver went in the grass to avoid contact. Kirkwood only lost 10 points to Palou, and while the damage could have been worse, no driver can afford to lose points to Palou.

Pit issues in the Indianapolis 500 will be disastrous.

Race Control: Anybody Home?

So far in 2026 the new Independent Officiating Board has been no better than the old officiating system. I venture to say they have taken a step backward. Not throwing a caution so the leader’s race is not ruined can still ruin a driver’s race. And if it does come to that, it’s just the breaks of the game.

Two incidents Saturday drew the ire of fans and rivers toward Race Control. A large piece of carbon fiber lay on the track. It was deemed to be off the racing line, but the FOX broadcast showed that it was at first in the racing line and was blown off the line by passing cars. It could have just as easily been blown back into the action.

Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson were battling for position, both went outside the racing line and they drove around the debris, one driver on each side of it .

A lap leader the most egregious non call of the year occurred. Alexander Rossi had a hybrid issue and came to a stop on the front straight near the pit wall. A local yellow waved. It took two laps to for Race Control to throw a Full Course Yellow. Meanwhile, Rossi is sitting in his disabled car on the fastest part of the circuit waving wildly to get a full yellow.

Rossi eventually exited his car and climbed over the pit wall- on a hot track.

Race Control’s efforts to protect the leaders of the race created a very dangerous situation. Inexcusable.

I hope the 500 is better officiated than Saturday’s race was.

Overall the 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix was by far the best and most entertaining of the road course at IMS run in dry conditions. The race produced the fourth different winner of the season from a fourth team to win a race.

Now we prepare for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Lundgaard Strategy Pays Off

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This will be a brief post. I will have a more detailed one tomorrow morning.

Christian Lundgaard pitted at the right time then passed David Malukas with 19 laps to go to win the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Andretti Pit Woes Strike Again

Pit troubles once again foiled Andretti Global’s efforts to cut into Alex Palou’s points lead. On Kyle Kirkwood’s second stop trouble replacing the right tire put Kirkwood behind Palou. Kirkwood gotten ahead of the points leader after Palou went into the grass to avoid a collision

Will Power looked to have the r4ace locked up, buy instead he locked up the tires exiting the pits on his final pit stop. He crossed the blend line too soon and received a drive through penalty.

Marcvus Ericsson stalled the car on his final stop and could not get it restarted.

Today’s race was arguably the best of the May Gps run in the dry. There were timely cautions, four leaders, a winning on track pass, and the outcome was in doubt until we were into the last quarter of the race.

This will do it for me for tonight, Looke for a more detailed report tomorrw. Thanks for following along this weekend.

“

And Once Again, Pole for Palou

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It’s to the point where I can recycle the headline to my qualifications stories. Not only did Palou win the pole for this afternoon’s Sonsio Grand Prix, he won it by a half second over Pato O’Ward. Palou was the only driver to turn a lap under 1 minute 10 seconds.

Palou turned a blazing quick final lap in Rounf=d one to go from 13th to first. The next two rounds were justto make it official.

O’Ward expressed concern yesterday that he would end up in the lower half of the field. He was hoping qualifying would be in the rain yesterday to give his Arrow McLaren car a chance.

“We turned it around,” O’Ward said after aid after qualifying.

Felix Rosenqvist continued his strong qualifying efforts and will start third.

Five teams earned spots in the Fast Six while six different teams advanced from each first round group.

Most disappointing result has to be Kyle Kirkwood’s ninth place starting spot. It will be difficult for Kirkwood to keep with Palou in the points from there.

Notes

Will Power will start last in the 25 car field and Scott McLaughlin rolls off 18th.

Many cars began their rounds on the alternate tires. The starting tire selections will be interesting.

Results

From Earlier

A Decade of Drivel-The Pit Window Turns 10

A Decade of Drivel-The Pit Window Turns 10

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What started 10 years ago today as a fun little exercise has turned into a labor of love. On this date in 2016 The Pit Window first appeared online. I never thought I would still be writing this little column in 2026, nor would I have believed this space would have taken me the places it has.

In 2016, as I prepared to attend my 50th Indianapolis 500, I wrote a story about my first 500 in 1962 for my writing class at the Life Enrichment Center in Tampa. The story reeceived a positive reaction from the class. They encouraged me to post it online.

I heard from several of my friends in the racing media, who encouraged to write more stories about my race experiences. At that point, I decided to establish a blog. The original title, “The First Fifty Races are the Hardest,” was cumber4some. After about a year I changed the name to The Pit Window, whioch better reflects the theme of my column.

My good friend George Phillips of Oilpressure encouraged me to apply for media credentials. My first race as a media member was at St. Pete. Green Savoree has been very kind to me. In 2018 I earned credentials to IMS.

Writing The Pit Window has allowed to witness and learn much about IndyCar through moments of triumph and tragedy. I have seen the joy of Indianapolis 500 winners in the post race press conferences, felt the pain of drivers bumped from the field., and I was there in 2019 when the Speedway was sold to Roger Penske. I’ll never forget the atmosphere in the media cener that day.

I have many people to thank for both the creation of this blog and its continuing to this point. I apologize if I leave anyone out.

First, the wonderful folks at Life Enrichment Center who have made me a better writer. Without them, especially John, Arleen, Pat, Sherrie, and Cheryl, without them, this space does not exist.

George Phillips, Steve Wittich, and Eric Smith, all of whom gave this awkward media center newbie somemgreat tips on navigating the area.

Finally, my partner Marti Strum, who has always supported my constant travels and the time I spend time writing.

And to all my readers, many of whom have been with me since day one, and those who have come on board since and are still here. Thank you all.

It’s Race Day*

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(*…and Qualifyimg Day)

A better weather forecast and a packed day of racing is in store for the IndyCar series today due to yesterday’s postponement of qualifying. The Yesterday’s session was postponed because of water pooling on the front stretch and the medical helicopter being grounded. Track action is not allowed when the medical helicopter cannot take off.

The revised schedule with broadcast times and channels:

The only cancellation is the morning warmup. All other races will go on as scheduled.

The weather calls for cool but dry conditions for qualifying and sunny and 72 degrees for race time. A little rain would greatly improve the race, however.

Qualifying Groups”

I’ll be back with a report after qualifyingt.

Revised Saturday Schedule

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From IMS;

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 8, 2026) – Information about Sonsio Grand Prix track activity Saturday, May 9 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, revised with schedule changes due to the rainout of NTT P1 Award qualifying Friday for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

SCHEDULE (All times local)
:7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.: Public Gates Open8-
8:40 a.m.: USF 2000 Race 2
8:55-9:45 a.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 1
10:45 a.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying
12:30-1:10 p.m.: USF 2000 Race 3
1:20-2:05 p.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 2
2:38 p.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone Race 2 (30 laps
)4:57 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps)

TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $50. $65 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), Paddock (Section 9-14) and Pit Road Terrace and ADA. Children 15 and under are admitted free with general admission and flex ticket paying adult. Reserved seats range from $67-$150.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 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, Lot 3P, 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 for $20 in Lot 3P, Lot 2, $25 in the Northwest Gravel Lot, the West Museum Lot, the Flag Lot and the Tower Suites Lot and $50 for Gate 1 Lot. Infield vehicle parking is located inside Turn 3 and Turn 2 for ADA parking with a pre-purchased parking pass. Free and ADA parking is located in Lot 7 (North 40), accessible only via Gate 10 off 30th Street.

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 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25 for adults, Seniors (55 or older) are $23, Military is $18. Tickets can be purchase online at imsmuseum.org.