Friday, May 28 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET Carb Day – Final Practice
Sunday, May 30 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET Pre-Race Show
Sunday, May 30 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET Race
Sunday, May 30 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET Post-Race Show
One of the major signals that the Indianapolis 500 is about to begin is the balloon release at the end of the singing “(Back Home Again in) Indiana.” As the final notes of the song gradually fade, thousands of multi- colored balloons fill the the sky above the pagoda and float to parts unknown. It is a beautiful site. But for the second year in a row, it will not take place as the Speedway wants to limit the infield to race essential personnel. I get that. The bigger question is, will the balloons ever come back?
There is pressure from environmental groups to stop the balloon release altogether, and the speedway says it is looking into the matter. No matter their decision, someone will be unhappy.
Traditions used to die hard at IMS, but lately it seems that it has become easy to discard some long standing practices. Has the COVId-19 pandemic changed things forever? I think it may have. I could live without the balloon release, although it is one of my favorite parts of the pre-race ceremonies. Perhaps a virtual release shown on the video boards will have to do. We should have an answer to the future of the balloons by this time next year. Meanwhile the fate of this part of 500 tradition is up in the air.
The schedule for Carb Day is simple. Gates are open from 8 am-2 pm. cars are on track from 11-1. There are no other Carb Day activities. I hope for 2022 we can get back to our regular Race Week schedule. It appears the same stands that were open for qualifying will be open tomorrow. I will post the details tomorrow morning.
The race day morning schedule also shows a minimum of activity before the cars fire up to start the race. The program looks like just the bare essentials- National Anthem, invocation, “Taps” “Indiana,”and the command.
I am fine with this I have felt that the pre-race ceremonies have become overly long and drawn out for the last few years, and need to be more condensed. I am not saying to cut any of the elements, except maybe a couple of songs, but as the extended length of the ceremonies really dulls the tense build up to the start of the race.
2022 cannot get here soon enough. Full carb day details tomorrow, and possibly another post later today.
From Road America moments ago:
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FANS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE PADDOCK AT THE 2021 REV GROUP GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE AND IMSA SPORTS CAR WEEKEND ELKHART LAKE, Wis., May 26, 2021 – As the NTT INDYCAR REV Group Grand Prix presented by American Medical Response welcomes fans again at America’s National Park of Speed, June 17-20, attendees will also be able to access the paddock free of charge. Additionally, at this year’s IMSA SportsCar Weekend, August 5-8, all fans will once again be welcome in the paddock, where race teams and drivers prepare the cars that compete on the 4-mile, 14-turn circuit. Tickets are now available for both events at www.roadamerica.com “We are fortunate that our fans understood the situation we faced last season, and now they have the opportunity to get closer to the action at Road America,” said Mike Kertscher, Road America’s President and General Manager. “So don’t wait, get your tickets online now, print them at home and get ready for an action-packed summer at America’s National Park of Speed.” The REV Group Grand Prix presented by American Medical Response weekend schedule, June 17-20, will also be bolstered by Vintage Indy and the Radical Cup series, plus two junior development series of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, including the Indy Pro 2000, and USF2000, of which many drivers of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are graduates. Additionally, all first responders including Police, Fire, and EMS will receive FREE access for the entire NTT IndyCar Series REV Group Grand Prix presented by American Medical Response weekend by showing proof of active status at the gate in the form of a department-issued ID or badge. The IMSA SportsCar Championship and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, August 5-8, will be one of the most incredible weekends of sports car racing in the world. Fans will get to see the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race on Saturday, with the WeatherTech® SportsCar Championship race on Sunday, plus races from the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America and the Mazda MX-5 Cup. Every general admission ticket includes walk-in access to the paddock. Bicycles must be walked in the paddock, and due to space considerations, golf cart access may be restricted in high-traffic areas. Tickets are available, and fans are welcome. Additional event details, ticket pricing, and camping information can be found at www.roadamerica.com or by calling 800-365-7223. Anyone 16-years-old and under is FREE with a paying adult at the gate. Racing runs rain or shine. To plan your visit, check out Road America’s Frequently Asked Questions webpage at www.roadamerica.com/faq ### |
| About Road America: Established in 1955, Road America is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 65 years. Along with over 500 events held seasonally at the 640-acre facility, several major weekends are open to the public, which include the IndyCar Series, the MotoAmerica Series, three vintage racing events, numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and NASCAR. Road America’s park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, numerous camping options, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Fans can also stay and play in cabins conveniently on the grounds and find all sorts of souvenirs, collectibles, and apparel at the 7,500 sq. ft Paddock Shop. Affectionately known by many as America’s National Park of Speed, Road America can accommodate groups of all sizes, including weddings and corporate events in the Tufte Conference Center. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers various group event programs, including geocaching, disc golf, and off-road adventure tours, karting, and the Road America Motorcycle and Driving Schools. For more information, visit http://www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or call 800-365-72 |
The decade of the 80s could arguably be called the decade of multiple winners. Only in 1983, 1985, and 1986 did the Indianapolis 500 produce a single time winner. Every other race had a winner that had either won before or would go on to win the race again.
Johnny Rutherford set the tone in 1980 with his third victory. The starting grid for 1981 included three multiple winners and two other former winners. A repeat champion was a distinct possibility.
The 1981 program had a three page article celebrating Rutherford’s win the year before, making him the fourth driver with at least three wins. A. J. Foyt had won his fourth 500 in 1977.
A Pennzoil ad may have been the first ad I had seen which included a driver’s wife.
The program noted the 70th anniversary of the first race in 1911, featuring a photo of the inaugural race’s last survivor, Ed Towers.
The 1941 race also received recognition on it’s 40th anniversary. It was the past race before racing was suspended because of World War II, and it was nearly the last Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
The starting grid feature four second generation drivers, Geoff Brabham, Gary and Tony Bettenhausen, and Pancho Carter. Also starting was Bob Lazier, father of future winner Buddy Lazier. The second generation would expand in the soon as Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti joined the ranks and competed against their fathers.
On his way to victory, Bobby Unser pitted under a caution flatg. As he exited the pits, he appeared to blend into the field incorrectly, passing 11 cars and getting an advantageous position, which allowed Unser to beat Mario Andretti to the checkered flag.
The official results the next morning showed Andretti as the winner. Unser was penalized a lap for passing under the yellow. An appeals committee returned the win to Unser but fined him $10,000.
Unser’s third win gave the Unser brothers three wins each in the 500. Al would break the tie six years later, and Al’s son, Al, Jr., would add two more wins to the family total in the 90s.
The following year saw Gordon Johncock win his second Indianapolis 500. For the third in a row the race saw a multiple winner. There were more to come in the decade, with a future multiple winner, emerson fittipaldi, getting his first win in 1989.
Editor’s note: I begin today with a poem i wrote about the happiness i felt last week in returning to IMS in May. Later i will discuss 1981, Booby Unser’s third win. Thanks for reading
The Land of the Singing Fences
Two Mays since last I stepped inside the gates,
Now a joyous return to once again,
To the land of the singing fences,
To hear tires squeal and engines roar,
To drink in the sight of a speeding painted rainbow,
To inhale the sweet smell of ethanol,
To hear my favorite orchestra play once again,
Vibrating from the growl and the whoosh
Inside the bright white walls,
Of the sacred ground where fences sing in May.
The 33 drivers in Sunday’s 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 have selected which type of milk to pour over their heads if they win the race. Courtesy of the Indiana dairy association Twitter:
The 2021 front row. Photo by Joe Skibinski, Indycar
Starting in the front row has been a great place to begin the Indianapolis 500 over the last three years. There is no reason to think 2021 will be any different. the cars are basically the same, passing will be difficult, and the front row starting teams have shown great reliability over the course of an entire season.
Forty-four of the 104 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races have been won from the front row. The pole winner has won the most times, 21. Simon Pagenaud is the most recent driver win from the pole in 2019. His win from pole was the first win from the top spot since Helio Castroneves won in 2009. Since 2006, when Sam Hornish, Jr. won at the line from Marco Andretti, the race winner has started on the pole just three more times. In addition to Pagenaud and Castroneves, Scott Dixon won from pole in 2008. Pagenaud’s victory saved the 2010 decade from being just the third decade without a race winner starting from pole. The first decade of the race, 1911-1920, and the 1940s did not see the pole winner in Victory Lane.
Starting second has produced the fewest winners among the the front row starters, 11. That number seems pretty good, but only once since 1970 has the winner come from the middle spot of row 1. Juan Pablo Montoya won from the second starting spot in 2000. The 21 year drought has a decent chance of ending this year with Colton Herta.
The outside of the front row is the preferred starting spot for many drivers. Some say it presents a better approach to the first turn. 12 winners have started third, including Takuma Sato last year
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A look at the chart below shows that starting places 1-7 have produced 68 of the 104 winners. The most wins further back than that come 15th, where four winners have emerged.
A 500 mile race is long, and many things happen. there have been pole winners who haven’t completed the first lap. Roberto Guerrero in 1992 spun into the the inside fence on the pace lap. Scott Sharp in 2001 crashed in turn 1 of the first lap. There are no guarantees, but if you are playing the odds, the pole and the third place starters are decent wagers.
Should Indianapolis 500 qualifying be just a one day show? The last chance shootout resulted in almost an hour of no on track action. The shootout should probably be flexible depending on the number of cars involved. I will expand on this thought tomorrow.
What happened to Chevy? The engines seemed equal with Honda during the week, but they didn’t take kindly to the added boost. I hope they are more competitive during the race.
One thing I realized I was missing yesterday- the sounds of the cars firing to go onto to the track for their qualifying runs, and th3e sounds of the cars on the backstretch. The PA crew for some reason thinks every moment has to be filled with their mostly inane chatter or bad 80 rock n roll music. Here is what I want from the PA- car location, lap number, speed, brief driver bio. I don’t want music during the out and warmup laps. I want to hear the cars. End of old man rant.
The forecast temperature for Sunday right now should make for a pleasant day for fans and possibly allow some passing. Warning- it’s only Monday and this is Indiana.
This weekend’s attendance was the biggest qualifying crowd since 2016. people were excited to get back to the speedway after last year. The big test comes next year, when we will see if qualifying cab draw the same or better crowd.
So few cars took advantage of the practice time offered this weekend. I wonder if those pre -qualifying periods will be reduced in the future. Only 5 of 14 cars took practice laps yesterday.
It seems like the pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 should get a special pole award sticker rather than the one given out at every other race.
The first three rows are a nice representation of the state of Indycar- veterans and young drivers competing against each other. I am comforted seeing that when the older drivers retire that there will be a smooth transition to the new stars.
By the way- It’s Race Week!
Don’t play King of the Mountain with Scott Dixon. You will lose. Colton herta and Rinus VeeKay tried to knock Dixon off the pole for next Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. They came close, but couldn’t do it. Dixon won his fourth Indianapolis 500 pole by just 0,0197 seconds, 0.03 miles an hour. Just moments before, Herta had knocked Rinus Veekay off the pole by 0.0966 seconds, 0.1 miles an hour.
It was a history making front row. It is the youngest front row in history, despite Dixon’s advanced age of 40.. VeeKay is the youngest front row starter in history. Today’s pole is Dixon’s fourth at Indianapolis, tying him for second place all time with A. J. Foyt, Rex Mays, and Helio Castroneves. Dixon also won the pole for the 500 in 2008, 2015, and 2017.
The rest of the Fast nine saw several drivers change spots from yesterday. Helio Castroneves went from sixth to eighth, Tony Kanaan went from third to fifth. Alex Palou moved from seventh to sixth, and Ryan Hunter-Reay went from eighth to fifth.
VeeKay had a big wiggle in turn 1 on his lap, but he saved it to complete the lap. The bobble may have cost him the pole. VeeKay qualified fourth last year and now starts third. He is the fastest Chevy in the field again.
The first three rows have a mix of drivers that represent former series champions and 500 winners and the younger generation of drivers. Five of the first nine drivers are 40 or older and represent six 500 victories. Three are in their early twenties. Marcus Ericsson is 30.
In the Last Chance Shootout, the biggest drama came on Will power’s qualifying run when his right rear tire hit the outside wall. It was a glancing blow and he completed the run to qualify for the middle of the last row. I heard that the tow link was broken, which meant he would have had to withdraw his time to repair it and possibly not have another chance to make the field. next Sunday will be Power’s worst career start will be Power’s worst career start.
Simona DeSilvestro made her qualifying run, then sat in her car for the remaining hour of the Last Chance period to see if she would need to go again. Neither Charlie Kimball nor R C Enerson had anything close to her speed. kimBall took two shots at her time, but didn’t come close.
Kimball had started the 500 for 10 consecutive years through 2020. Enerson, a rookie, and his new team, accomplished a lot just by putting a car together and having it run a qualifying set.
DeSilvestro’s team, Paretta Autosport, is a team consisting 75% or women on the crew, some of whom will be working the pits on race day. It is great to have a woman back in the field for the 500.
I will have some thoughts on the qualifying weekend tomorrow. I wish to thank everyone for following along this weekend, which set a viewership record. I appreciate all of you.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 