Category: Auto Racing

No Balloons, Bare Bones Schedule for Carb Day and Race Day

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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.

Carb Day: Come In, Watch Cars, Leave

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.

Race Day: Shortened Pre Race

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.

Road America Allows Fans Paddock Access

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From Road America moments ago:


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 Land of the Singing Fences

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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.

Drivers Choose Milk

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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:

How the Front Row Fares in the Race

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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

.

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.

Some Final Thoughts on Qualifications

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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!

Squeakers: Dixon Edges Herta for Pole; Simona Makes the Grid

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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.

Scott dixon pulls in after his pole winning run. Photo by Tim Holle, Indycar

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.

The Last Row- Power’s Close Call

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.

Beth Paretta, team owner, watches nervously as Simona DeSilvestro qualifies.Phot by James Black, Indycar
Simona DeSilvestro waves to the crowd after clinching the final starting spot. Photo by Joe Skibinski, Indycar

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.

Pole Fight and Last Chance Battle Involve Former Winners

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Today’s Schedule; All Times eastern

Gates Open 9:00am 7:00pm

Last Chance Practice 11:00am 11:30am

Firestone Fast Nine Practice 11:30am 12:00pm

Last Chance Qualifying 1:15pm 2:30pm


1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET

Firestone Fast Nine 3:00pm 3:45pm


2:30 PM – 4:30 PM ET

NTT IndyCar Series Practice 5:00pm 7:00pm


4:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET

Grandstands open:

Paddock, Paddock Penthouse, A Penthouse, B Penthouse , E, E Penthouse, Tower Terrace, Northwest Vista and Deck, Southeast Vista and deck.

Note: only limited sections open in all stands.

Parking:

North 40 is free. All other lots are paid. $10

Four former winners have a shot at the pole this afternoon in the Fast Nine shootout. That is a routine occurrence. Onf ormer winner will fight to make the field. That doesn’t happen often.

Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, and Ryan Hunter-Reay earned a chance to run for the pole this afternoon. Dixon had the fastest time yesterday, Kanaan was third, Castroneves sixth, and Hunter-Reay eighth.

I think the pole battle is between Dixon, Kanaan, and Colton Herta. Dixon is favored, but don’t dismiss Herta’s chances.

On the other end of the field, five drivers, including 2018 winner Will Power, need to qualify for the final three spots in the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500. Power had the 31st fastest time yesterday, but the if three of the other four can outrun him, the 2014 series champion will sit out next Sunday. Power, one of the greatest qualifiers in Indycar history, will get one of the spots, but it may be tight. The cars are competing just against each other today, and not against the rest of the field.

Also looking for a spot on next Sunday’s grid are Simona DeSilvestro, Sage Karam, Charlie Kimball, and R C Enerson.

Stay tuned. this will be a fascinating day at both ends of the field.

Some photos from yesterday:

Can Helio Castroneves win another pole?
Always nice to see Robert Wickens at the track
Simona DeSilvestro after her first qualifying run.

Dixon Holds Top Spot All Day; Power Looks to Make Race

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Some thoughts on today’s action:

While Scott Dixon set the bar as the first qualifier, the hotter conditions as the day went on kept his closest challengers at bay. Tomorrow, Dixon will go last. His biggest challengers tomorrow will be Colton Herta ,Tony Kanaan, and Ed Carpenter. I would not be shocked to see Rinus VeeKay or Alex Palou make a strong as well.

Will Power had a tough day today and might have an even tougher day tomorrow. If I understand the rules correctly, power will be the fifth driver on track in the Last chance Shootout. The good news is he will know exactly what he needs. Still, Power sometimes puts a lot of pressure on himself. i hope he doesn’t allow that to get in his way.

It is a great achievement by Chip Ganassi Racing to get all four of their cars in the Fast Nine.

Helio Castroneves seems motivated to prove a point to his former team. he had a great qualifying effort today.

The fast nine by teams:

Gansssi 4

Carpenter 2

Andretti 2

Meyer Shank 1

I wonder how Alex Palou’s car will perform tomorrow after that hard hit he had on his second attempt.

Dalton Kellett played defense by making the late run with time running out. He prevented power from getting another chance.

I’m not sure Simona DeSilvestro has much more speed in that car. It would be a shame to see her miss the race. That team looks to be one of the more organized teams in the garage area.

Top Gun Racing achieved a lot just by having the car make a qualifying run. They don’t seem to have the pace to make the show. I hope they can build on their experience and come back in 2022 with a stronger program.

Disappointing runs- Alexander Rossi, Jack Harvey, Conor Daly, Takuma Sato, Graham Rahal, and Pato O’Ward. I thought a few of theses drivers would in the Fast Nine.

Nice surprises- Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Fast Nine, Ed Jones and Pietro Fittipaldi qualifying 11th and 13th.

Something you don’t see every year- The highest Team penske qualifier was Scott McLaughlin in 17th. Something is not right in this camp.

The drama tomorrow centers on power. Can the former race winner make the field, or will he join other former winners in failing to qualify? Remember Team Penske with former winners Al Unser, Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi failed to qualify in 1995. Other former winners who have failed to qualify include Bobby Rahal, Johnny Rutherford, and Johnnie Parsons. Parsons did start the 1957 race as a last minute substitute.

Off Track

I hope the video boards and the scoring pylon work consistently tomorrow. For much of the day, timing information and standings were missing. Late in the day it would have been nice to have the time to beat displayed in the upper left corner of the screen.

It seemed to be a normal sized qualification day crowd.. Most people rehearsed for the June 7 lifting of the mask mandate in Marion County. IMS needs to step up enforcement. With general admission seating for the entire facility, social distancing was virtually non existent. IMS should have sold reserved seating for today and tomorrow.

It was nice to see the garage area come to life for the first time this week. there was a lot of energy among the teams, and I saw the most fans in gasoline Alley that i have seen all week.

The Fast Nine:

19Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingHonda231.828
226Colton HertaAndretti AutosportHonda231.648
348Tony KanaanChip Ganassi RacingHonda231.639
420Ed CarpenterEd Carpenter RacingChevy231.616
521Rinus VeeKayEd Carpenter RacingChevy231.483
606Helio CastronevesMeyer Shank RacingHonda231.164
710Alex PalouChip Ganassi RacingHonda231.145
828Ryan Hunter-ReayAndretti AutosportHonda231.139
98Marcus EricssonChip Ganassi RacingHonda231.104

The five who need to qualify tomorrow. The fastest three make the race.

12Will PowerTeam PenskeChevy229.228
 24Sage KaramDreyer & Reinbold RacingChevy229.158
 11Charlie KimballAJ Foyt EnterprisesChevy228.401
 16Simona De SilvestroParetta AutosportChevy228.395
 75RC EnersonTop Gun RacingChevy227.283