Today’s Schedule: All Times Centrtal

Saturday, April 30

• Gates open 7:30AM
• Radical Cup Race #2 8:00 – 8:45AM
• NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 9:00 – 10:00 AM Peacock
• USF 2000 (Q2) 10:15 – 10:45AM
• INDY LIGHTS (Q) 11:00 – 11:30AM
• NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying/Firestone Fast 6 12:00 – 1:15 PM Peacock
• NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Autograph Session 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
• Indy Pro 2000 Race #1 1:30 – 2:20PM
• INDY LIGHTS (Final Practice) 2:35 – 3:05PM
• USF 2000 Race #1 3:20 – 4:05PM
• NTT INDYCAR SERIES (Final Practice) 4:20 – 4:50 PM Peacock
• Radical Cup Race #3 5:05 – 5:50PM
• Indy Pro 2000 (Q2) 6:05 – 6:30PM

Today’s qualifying carries a lot of importance. Will Power won the race from ninth place in 2012. That is the lowest starting position of a race winner here.

The teams that tested here, mainly Ganassi and Andretti, were strongest in practice yesterday. The teams that didn’t test, namely Team Penske did not fare so well yesterday except for Scott McLaughlin, who was fifth in Friday’s practice. Will Power admitted to being nervous about the team’s chances for qualifying.

It is never wise to put too much stock in a weekend’s first practice. Cars have not had a chance to try out the alternate red tires yet. Some cars perform differently on reds. Certain drivers are becoming Friday stars who fade fast when the sun comes up again.

There is also a slight chance of rain today. Qualifying should be fine. The best chance for rain is between 2 pm and 6 pm. Rain could affect the final Indy Lights and Indycar practices. The rain chance at 2 pm is 50%. Qualifying should be fine, but we’ll probably see rain tires ready on pit road.

There is a 50% chance of rain Sunday. Scattered thunderstorms are predicted, which would make the race a lot more interesting.

Here is the full practice sheet from yesterday:

Notes

I was sad to see that some land on the approach road to the track is for sale and that cutting of trees has already begun. Barber has one of the prettiest approaches to the main gate of any track.

Scott McLaughlin has the weekend’s best livery.

Scott Dixon will make his 292nd consecutive Indycar start Sunday, the second longest streak in Indycar history.

Marcus Ericsson will start his 50th Indycar race.