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

Long Beach Will See Some New Looks

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This weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature more experimentation in the practice format and a new look aeroscreen. The version of the aeroscreen announced yesterday is four pounds lighter than the original version. With the lighter frame, which was already on the car, the entire unit’s weight has been reduced by 11 pounds.

From the photos, the screen looks as if it has a narrower profile from the front view, which is a good thing aesthetically. The original screen made the cars appear to be carrying a large wastebasket as viewed head on. The top of the scree has cooling ducts built in. The top piece is 3 D printed rubber.

More Practice Tweaks

Indycar will continue to experiment with Free Practice 1 on Friday. At St. Pete, All cars 20 minutes of practice followed by four alternating 10 minutes periods.

For Long beach, all cars will get 45 minutes followed by a five minute break. Then there will be two 10 minute sessions, with the field split by alternating pit boxes as they were in St. Pete. Rookies will be allowed to run in all sessions regardless of their pit assignments.

The clock will not stop for yellow or red flags in the 45 minute period, but will stop on the first red in the 10 minute periods

I applaud Indycar for doing in season experiments rather than waiting until after the season to implement changes for the next year. Practice can be dull at times as many drivers sit out parts of the time to save tires.

Who’s Driving?

Dale Coyne Racing will have Jack Harvey back in the 18 this weekend, and Nolan Seigel, who was slated for that car, will move to the 51. This is an extra race for Harvey, who will drive for Coyne at various races through the season. I would not be surprised to see him in a car for the Indianapolis 500.

We are still awaiting a formal announcement for the driver of Arrow McLaren;’s car 5. David Malukas is not ready to return, and Callum Ilott has a conflict with his WEC schedule.

Rumors are swirling that F2 driver Theo Pourchaire will be in the seat come Friday, but no word from the team yet.

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Rain Brings End to Indianapolis 500 Open Test

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From Indycar


INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, April 11, 2024) – As rain showers continue to move through the Indianapolis area, day two of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been canceled, concluding the test.
During day one Wednesday, the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program and veteran refresher laps were completed, along with veteran testing. Combined, 34 drivers turned a total of 1,327 laps in sessions that featured adjusted start times in anticipation of weather.
Teams will return to IMS on Friday, May 10 for practice and qualifying ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 on the IMS road course. Practice for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 14, with the race scheduled for Sunday, May 26.
The next event for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 21 on the Streets of Long Beach. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock. Coverage is also available from the INDYCAR Radio Network via the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA and SiriusXM channel 218. 
 

Newgarden Leads Rain-Shortened First Day of Indy 500 Open Test

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From IMS

  INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 10, 2024) – Josef Newgarden must like the view from the top at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as he was fastest Wednesday in the rain-shortened first day of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Open Test.
Reigning “500” winner Newgarden turned the fastest lap during the morning session on the 2.5-mile oval, 228.811 mph, in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Newgarden also led the Indy 500 Open Test in 2022 and last year, when he returned in May to earn his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” after a scintillating, last-lap duel with 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson.
“We’re not trying to do it because I had no idea,” Newgarden said of leading the Open Test for a third straight year.
“I didn’t know it was three years in a row. We want to check off things on our list. Obviously, it’s been right at the front, which is a good sign.”
The first day of testing, which featured separate sessions for veterans, and Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests, was halted numerous times by passing raindrops, including one midday delay of 67 minutes. Heavier showers arrived shortly after 2 p.m. ET to end on-track activity.
Testing is scheduled to resume from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET Thursday, with live coverage in the United States on Peacock and live international coverage on INDYCAR LIVE.
While it was little surprise to see NTT INDYCAR SERIES oval master Newgarden atop the speed chart, the second-fastest driver raised eyebrows and anticipation in equal measure. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson clocked in second at 226.384 in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet as he prepares for his first start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” while also attempting the “Hendrick 1100” double of racing at Indy and in the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26.
“Getting in some traffic and feeling the turbulent air,” Larson said. “The first time I got in traffic, I think my tires still had good grip, so I was surprised. It didn’t feel that different in traffic. Then the last time, I was building understeer, and Newgarden got by me and I was super tight behind him.
“I’m just trying to learn all that and process all that and knowing what I can do in the car to cope with that. I’m just trying to figure out any bit of racecraft today, which I know is tough. Just get notes in my head and all that.”
2008 Indy 500 winner and six-time series champion Scott Dixon was third at 226.346 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, followed by reigning series champion and teammate Alex Palou at 226.201 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Colton Herta rounded out the top five at 225.907 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Herta was the only driver among the top five to turn his best lap in the brief afternoon session before testing was washed out.
All three veterans requiring refresher tests – Marco Andretti, Pietro Fittipaldi and Katherine Legge – completed that program. Christian Rasmussen, Kyffin Simpson and Nolan Siegel each finished the three-phase Rookie Orientation Program.
The 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 26. Practice opens Tuesday, May 14, with PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. 
 

Test Day 2 at IMS-Rain Will Reign

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Photo of Kyle Larson by Kyle McInnes

Good morning from rain soaked Indianapolis. Rain through most of the night continues currently, and the forecast calls for constant rain with chances above 55% all day.

I will venture to IMS and try to gather some information this morning, then see where the day goes from there.

Friday could be a makeup day, but that is doubtful since teams need to start preparing for Long Beach.

I’m disappointed we may not see any on track action today, but I would [refer getting all the rainy weather done in April and have a totally dry May.

I will keep you updated through Xwitter and The Pit Window Facebook page.

Newgarden Tops Morning Session

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@023 500 winner Josef Newgarden lead the morning session of the open test at IMS on a cool day interrupted by raindrops several times. Rookie orientation had a brief weather dely. ALl rookies have completed the program, and Katherine Legge needed some time in the afternoon session to complete her refresher. All 34 cars are cleared to participate the rest of the day and tomorrow, weather permitting.

Biggest surprise of the morning was Kyle Larson posting the second fastest time., ).42 seconds behind Newgarden.

Notes

David Malukas will not drive at Long Beach. Arrow McLaren has not announced his replacement, but many believe it will be theo Pourchaire.

Rain is falling at the moment and no track drying is taking place. We may be done for the day.

Results:

PREMA Enters Indycar with Eyes Wide Open

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Photo: From left-Piers Phillips, Rene Rosin, Jay Frye

“Everything is on the table,” according to PREMA principal Rene Rosin at a media conference this morning. The European team will enter a two car team in the NTT Indycar Series in 2025 powered by Chevrolet engines.,

PREMA has won80m championships in various European series in their 40 y=ears . Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, and Callum Ilott all drove for PRFEMA.

“Piers Phillips, who has worked in Indycar before, will the CEO of the Indycar operation. He looks forward to combining his Indycar and European experiences to create a new team. Phillipos has worked for Rahal and Schmidt.

“Oh, the first thing that excited me is obviously working with Rene and his team preeminently what a wonderful opportunity to be part of such a fabulous organization with such an amazing history. The challenge is something we all live for, you know. Anybody that’s a race that gets out of bed to go win and you know, the challenge of LeMans or the challenge that’s associated with that. But, you know, for me, starting from what is effectively a blank pitch Yeah. And being able to incorporate what I know from my time here in the US and this amazing championship, and my previous experience, and obviously the premier experience from Europe, being able to blend that and really produce a, you know, a different sort of culture and a really progressive thinking organization along with, you know, our partners at Chevrolet really excites me by putting a consistently competitive team together.”

Jay Frye commented that a 29 car grid is a problem Indycar needs to solve as some tracks may not be able to accommodate that many cars. Frye sais, “That’s a good problem to have.”

PREMA is open to all possibilities and has not made decisions about drivers, personnel, or whether to form a technical partnership with an established team.

I think PREMA will be a great addition to Indycar. The team adds international prestige to the series and enhances IndyCar’s credibility. The team is entering the series with a realistic approach, and with a CEO who has Indycar experience.

500 News: Livery, Sponsor, and Driver Announcements

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Karherine Legge r4turns for4 the 108th running of the indianqapolis 500 with Dale Coyne Racing. Legge will drive car 51 with sponsorship from e.l.f.., a cosmetics company. Legge drive for Coyne in 2007.

The livery for Conor Daly’s car was revealed yesterday. Sponsored by Polkadot, a blockchain company.

According to the press release, “Polkadot is positioned to serve as the powerful, secure core of Web3. (Its) decentralized governance places the community at the center of decision-making processes; every holder of the Polkadot token (DOT) has a voice towards shaping the platform’s future direction.”

My technological illiteracy is such that I’ll just say I’m happy that they are sponsoring Conor and leave it at thtat.

Marco Andretti’s livery also occurred yesterday. The 98 car has sponsorship from Mapei.

Coming up- a practice update at the end of the veterans session and a story on PREMA joining Indycar.