Photo: Pato O’Ward goes for his first career victory today. Joe Skibinski, Indycar

Today’s schedule All Times Central

7:00am – 3:00pm: Will Call (Hampton Inn | 310 Rex Lake Rd, Leeds, AL 35094)

7:30am: Gates Open

8:00am – 5:00pm: Surgere Fan Zone / Hagerty Car Corral

9:15am – 10:05am: Indy Pro 2000 Race #2

10:30am – 11:00am: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-up

11:25am – 12:05pm: Porsche Sprint Challenge Race #2

12:20pm – 1:20pm: Indy Lights Race #2

2:42pm: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race (90 laps)

NBC coverage begins at 3pm EDT.

The Indycar season finally gets underway this afternoon when the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama takes the green flag. I am assuming the power issues have been resolved and that things will run on time. It should be an interesting race. Two ittle contenders, Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi, start on the front row. Two other favorites for the series championship, Josef Newgarden and Colton Herta, line up eighth and ninth respectively.

Tire strategy will be key today. How long will the red tires last? I expect a couple of caution periods today. The timing of those will also figure into the tire choices.

Rossi has had success starting in front. He usually wins when he is on pole or starts second. Turn one is going to be interesting. Enjoy the race. I think it will be a good one.

Notes

Saturday’s crowd was significantly larger than Friday’s, but still smaller than a normal qualifying day crowd.

The Fan Zone had more vendors and interactive booths yesterday.

Today is expected to be at capacity. All 20,000 available tickets are spoken for.

Another really good qualifying effort yesterday- Conor Daly in the Ed Carpenter Racing number 20 will start 10th.