Photo: Can Rinus VeeKay keep his spot on top?

Today’s Schedule

SCHEDULE (all times local):

10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public gates open

12:30-2 p.m.: Top 12 Practice Peacock

4 p.m.: Top 12 Qualifying NBC, Peacock

5:10 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six Qualifying for NTT P1 Award

5:40 p.m.: NTT P1 Award Presentation

TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $20 for Indianapolis 500 qualifications. Children 15 and under are admitted free with paying adult. Free entry for all military personnel with a valid military ID.

PUBLIC GATES OPEN (10 a.m.-6 p.m.): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7, Gate 7S, Gate 9, Gate 10 and Gate 10A.

PARKING: Free parking for Indianapolis 500 qualifications is located in Turn 3 and Lot 7 (North 40), in the South Carousel Lot for motorcycle parking and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Lot and Lot 7 (North 40) for ADA parking. Paid parking is $20 in Gate 1 and $10 in Main Gate, Lot 2, Lot 3G and Lot 3P. Paid ADA parking is $20 in Gate 1 and $10 in Lot 2, Lot 3P and Lot 3G. Bicycle parking is located outside Gate 1, Gate 6 and Gate 9.

The latest from @Indycar_Wxman

Today should be dry and cloudy. The temperature is expected to be in the low 60s for the qualifying runs at 4 pm. Any rain will be light and be gone well before the first practice.

Breaking Down the Fast Twelve

Teams

Ganassi-5

Penske- 1

Carpenter- 2

Coyne- 1

AMSP- 2

Andretti – 1

The group includes the two oldest Indianapolis 500 rookies, Romain Grosjean and Jimmie Johnson. Four time 500 pole winner Scott Dixon and three time polesitter Ed Carpenter are also in the mix.

Jimmie Johnson and Marcus Ericsson are the only two drivers in the final twelve who have not won a pole.

Four former winners representing five 500 victories will run for the pole- Scott Dixon, Takuma Sato, Tony Kanaan, and Will Power.

In this Indycar era of youth, the average age of the Fast Twelve is 40.6 years old. Only three drivers are 25 or younger. The Indianapolis 500 is still a place for experienced drivers.

The practice this morning may not be very busy. In 2021 few cars took advantage of the practice time. Conditions will be very different by qualifying time. Speeds could be even higher than yesterday given the cooler conditions, I’m not sure how much rubber will be put down in the practice period, though.

My picks for the Fast Six-

VeeKay, O’Ward, Rosenqvist, Dixon, Sato, and Carpenter.

Pole winner- VeeKay

I’ll be back after the first practice.