Author: thepitwindow

I'm a retired educator and lifelong racing fan. I hope to return to fostering greyhounds in the near future. Living mainly in Indy and wintering in Florida. I attend about 10 Indycar races a year as well as some sports car events

2019 Indianapolis 500 Tomorrow on NBCSN

thepitwindow

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Update: NBCSN will show the 2019 St. Pete race tomorrow instead of the 500. Still at 2:30 ET

It is a bit of consolation for race starved Indycar fans. NBCSN will show the 2019 Indianapolis 500 tomorrow beginning at 2:30pm ET in place of the cancelled Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. I have heard from two of my three readers who have already been watching old Indycar races on YouTube. For those like me who don’t have televisions smart enough to do that, tomorrow’s showing will be a welcome treat. I’m hoping for a huge rating on this rebroadcast.

Other items from yesterday:

The Long Beach Grand Prix still is looking for a way to reschedule the Acura Grand Prix.

Many drivers are talking about doing sim racing and inviting people to watch. I believe Discord is setting up something.

In addition to the cancelled races, the open tests at Richmond and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will not occur either. My guess is the IMS test will possibly move to early May.

If you have any suggestions for content you would like to see in this space for the next six weeks, send along your ideas to tutorindie@yahoo.com. I’m planning to repost some Bump Tales and do a couple biographies of drivers from the past.

Miles: Focused on May; Looking for Fullest Season Possible

thepitwindow

Mark  Miles addressed the media this afternoon following the mid day cancellation of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He said the series felt it was the right thing to do for everyone’s well being. More cancellations of other sporting events after yesterday’s announcement that the race would be held may have been a factor. NASCAR also cancelled its race slated for Sunday. But Miles is looking ahead.”…we are absolutely focused on May,” he said. The series will continue to evaluate the situation and adjust accordingly. Miles hinted that there might be adjustments to the May schedule.

In cancelling the first four races of the season, Miles explained that it was in everyone’s best interests. He has the support of the NTT Indycar Series’ partners.

“We’re going to race as much as we can race. It was clear to us from overnight and this morning that the right thing to do right now was to suspend our competition, really all on-track activity through April…But really I think what happened subsequently was the sense that it’s not responsible to ask people to get together. ”

Asked about possibly running doubleheaders to increase the number of races, Miles said the idea will be “taken into account, when we make the plan going forward. What can a broadcaster cover? What can the promoters do? What works for Honda and Chevy and our suppliers? We’ll do whatever is possible to do to create the fullest season. ”

Some Thoughts

In the 1950s the Indianapolis 500 was the first race of the season, so starting in May is not unprecedented.

Double headers would be nice at some places, but not at the expense of the Road to Indy or other support series.

Long Beach as the season finale would be great. Both IMSA and Indycar will be out there anyway.

I appreciate Indycar making every possible effort to run the race this weekend.

 

Acura GP of Long Beach Cancelled for Now, Possibly Rescheduled?

thepitwindow

A statement from the Grand Prix of Long Beach this afternoon:

STATEMENT ON 2020 ACURA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH

March 12, 2020

In light of today’s announcement from the City of Long Beach prohibiting all large-scale events in the City through April 30, 2020, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will not take place as scheduled on April 17-19. While we recognize that this is a serious inconvenience for our loyal attendees, sponsors and other clients, nevertheless, this action is consistent with our primary objective of assuring the public’s safety and well-being at our event.

We are in conversation with the City of Long Beach, various race sanctioning bodies and the Long Beach Convention Center to discuss the viability of rescheduling this event at a later time in the year. If that is not possible, then we look forward to presenting the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 16-18, 2021. Further details about possible refunds or credits will be forthcoming.

 

The City of Long Beach has cancelled all large gatherings through April 30, 2020. Long Beach is one city that could reschedule a street event. I hope Indycar can find an alternate date. Long Beach is one of the races Indycar shares with the IMSA Weather Tech Championship. No Grand Prix in Long Beach this year would end a 45 year run for the event.

 

The Race Will Go On; No Spectators

thepitwindow

The good news is there will be a race Sunday. The bad news is there will be no spectators. With other sports suspending their seasons and postponing or cancelling events, it is a relief that Indycar decided to press on. Any distraction from the Coronavirus is welcome.

The Indycar schedule is for one practice Saturday followed by qualifying. I assume thes sessions take place at the originally scheduled time. I will publish he schedule when it comes out.

All team personnel on the grounds will have a health screening.

The Road to Indy’s three series will each have one practice and one qualifying session. I assume some of these will be tomorrow, since Indycar won’t be on track. The qualifying round for each rung covers both races. The schedule should be out soon.

Here is the official announcement from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg:

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